"Don't make any silly mistakes. That's his aim," Aunty Jessica grunted and leaned back on the hospital bed.
I've felt angry before, I've lashed out before and even I know how nasty my temper is but this, this feeling is too much for me to process. It kept me calm, too calm that the only movement I was making was the tremor racking through me. I found myself trying not to black out, the reason why I clenched my jaw too hard, the pain keeps me grounded.
"Janelle," she reached for me but I sprung up from the chair I'd been sitting on for over one hour and slapped her hand away.
"Don't touch me!" I snapped at her.
Her expression darkened as a sneer curved her lips up.
"Don't you fucking try anything stupid. Calm the fuck down!" She snapped back at me.
"Don't tell me what to do," I hissed and started for the door.
My body slammed into the door, a grunt escaping me at the harsh impact, the same time aunty Jessica grunted painfully.
"Damn right I will. Get it together, I swear I'll put a bullet in your fucking leg if I have to."
Her forearm was pressed into my throat, making it hard for me to breathe.
I felt it then, the anger that threatened to swallow me whole, clogging my vision and making my heart race.
I threw a jab at her and she grunted. Her response was to press further into my throat, her angry eyes blazing into mine.
I wheezed and sent another punch flying at her and she countered it with one of hers, her free hand going down to counter another punch of mine.
I hit her arm, just enough to ease the tension on my throat and when I got the opportunity, I swung at her and she swiftly dodged it.
"God damn it! Janelle not fucking now!"
She gave me space and I blindly followed her, hoping to get more hits in but she sent a kick flying at my stomach and I doubled over.
She hissed and held her own stomach, it was starting to ooze blood.
Guilt flooded me at the sight, I shouldn't have hit her. She has a bullet wound because of me after all. That bastard went after her, at a conference, on national TV.
Within four hours, blogs had gone crazy, different speculations as to why a prominent political figure was shot. It's only a matter of time before some secrets gets out.
I don't know Vince's game but I will give him what he fucking wants.
A nurse knocked and strolled into the room just then and her eyes widened at the sight of the both of us bent over. She hurried out.
"This is my problem with you. You never think first! Are you a child?!" Aunty Jessica hissed.
I ignored her and started walking out. I opened the door just in time to see Isaac who easily dodged a flying tray.
"The hell is wrong with the two of you?!" He hissed and pushed me inside.
He slammed the door shut and glared at us.
Aunty Jessica sighed and limped back to her bed to lie down while I stormed out of there, not wanting to be anywhere near anyone.
The hospital though clean had a sterile smell to it, something I'm not very comfortable with.
I went for the stairs, despite my heels but it's what I need. Maybe a short hike will help me, I headed for the roof, four floors up.
I sighed heavily and sat down on the pavement, my legs dangling over the hospital walls and facing the busy street that looked small compared to the twenty eight storey that housed the hospital.
My mind traveled far, to places I don't like visiting. A part of my mind that held painful memories that despite how strong I convice myself I've become, those memories have a way of breaking me all over again.
I felt someone behind me and before I could react, Isaac came into view and sat with me, his eyes pinned on me.
"Your aunty is fine," he said.
Good.
"Good for her," I said.
He hummed and nodded.
"What are you afraid of?" He asked after a while.
I looked at him and shook my head.
"Madam Buchanan has nothing to fear," I scoffed.
He hummed again.
"She's your only family. I get it."
I sighed and rubbed my nose, chasing the tingling feeling I got there.
"I will go mad if she dies," I said.
It's the truth. No matter how many times we fight, she keeps me sane. The thought that she's in this world keeps me sane. Vince knew how useless targeting me could be, he went for the prize.
"She raised you to be this person, she's strong," Isaac murmured softly.
"She still has her lapses," I shrugged.
"Jane."
I looked at him—familiar and safe.
"You won't lose anyone else."
His voice was firm and steady, very reassuring.
I nodded my head and sighed.
The hairs on my body stood on alert and on cue, Isaac pushed me.
I tumbled to the roof with Isaac pinning me down and then I saw it, an onslaught of bullets flying at us.
"Up!" He grunted.
I sat up and grabbed the gun he offered me before we steadily started crawling out of there.
"Jessica," I panicked.
"Stay focused! She will be safe. I need you here now. With a clear head, what do we do?"
I stared at him with fear gnawing at me. The thought of aunty Jessica being targeted eating me up but the thought of not doing anything and cowering like a coward straightened me up.
"How many men do we have?" I asked him as I checked the bullets in my gun.
"Twenty on ground," Isaac nodded at me, respect flashing in his eyes.
"Good. Jessica's men will get her out of here. Vince can't be here. Box in as many of his men as you can, let some go and have your boys tail them. I will smoke that motherfucker out," I ordered.
"Yes boss."
"On me."
Together we snuck out of the roof and went into the frantic hallways.
Bastard keeps going low anytime I think he can't go any lower.