by Tia Siren
Tasia smacked Anton’s shoulder, signifying she wanted his presence. She was flirting.
“Do you want to take a walk outside?” He asked as he pulled something from his pocket.
“What? Are you insane? It’s cold out there. Can’t you see?”
“Look. I bought two tickets for the cinema. One for you and one for me. Yah?”
“Ummm… I-I don’t know. He might see us.”
“Don’t worry, Java is out of the country. He’s in Ukraine and won’t be back until tomorrow night.”
“Are you sure?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
“Have you?” She frowned her brows, thinking of the moments he lied to her.
He laughed. He knew what she was talking about.
Ten millimeters of snow covered the face of roads around Ablina Ulitsa Street where the warehouse was located. Withered trees were clothed with white blankets. Although the sun was blazing in its full glory, its heat barely touched Tasia and Anton’s faces as they walked to the cinema.
He looked at his watch.
“Why do you keep looking at your watch?” She asked.
“Ah, that… I’m just making sure I keep track of the time. Just for some private reasons.”
“Private reasons?” Her eyebrows met in wonder.
“Yeah….”
He promised to her he was not going to lie ever again, but it seemed deception was sewed in his mouth. As he finished talking, he remembered his father who kept looking at his watch when his mother was in the hospital – on the edge of death. That stuck in his mind.
Every time he looked at his wristwatch he remembered him, wondering whether he was still alive or already resting underground.
“Hey, let’s help the lady.” Tasia yelled as she saw a black lady slip over, caused by the slippery snow.
“What?” He asked, back to his senses again.
Following her, he was astonished to see her gentle side. That side of her that he fell in love with.
“Are you alright, lady?”
“Are you from America?” The old lady asked, noticing Tasia’s appearance.
“Yes. What about you?”
“Me too. Hey –“ She pulled her closer, aware that Anton was fast approaching.
“Be careful around here. I know there’s something going on in that huge factory over there. Take care of yourself!”
She was talking about the warehouse where she worked. All of a sudden her poor mother came to her mind. How’s she doing? She wondered as loneliness crept into her.
“Hey, are you ok?” Anton asked Tasia with deep concern in his voice.
“My mom… I miss my Mama. I want to go back home, Anton. Please help me!”
Beads of tears began to take shape around her eyes. He could feel how she missed her mother. Because he experienced it himself.
“What? I-I can’t. You know why, don’t you?”
He took her hands and placed them over his shoulders as he drew her into him.
She kept sobbing. Tears wetted his coat, but he did not mind.
She pushed him away as she felt her stomach turning. Spewing out, she released the cereals she’d eaten for breakfast out of her mouth. To her aid, he wrapped his own coat around her for extra warmth, despising the chilling wind. He thought it was just a simple cold. But it was far greater and risky.
“Are you ok?”
“Yes. I’m fine. I must have eaten –“ She paused as she continued vomiting.
Arriving back to the warehouse, Java was by the door waiting. His weight was as heavy as his anger. He was pissed off. The rest of the brothers who flew to Ukraine with him were arrested. Now, he needed to dissipate his anger to someone.
“Where you been? Both of you?” He interrogated.
“We’ve just gone for a walk,” She replied as her voice trembled.
Touch her and you’ll see what will happen. Anton said to himself as he noticed she was terrified.
“I told you not to leave your department, didn’t I?” He shouted at her as his saliva spat at her face. Disgusting.
Then, Java grabbed Tasia’s arm.
But before he could pull her in, Anton grabbed her back as quick as lightning. “Don’t touch her!” He said in a very stern and candid tone, indicating he was serious.
“Anton! What are you doing?”
“She’s my rookie. I brought her here. She’s under my supervision. Let go of her!”
Anton’s eyes flamed in vexation. Java knew when he was serious. Out of respect to the rules and regulations, he pushed her away back to him.
“You better take care of your rookie. She’s used every luck she has.” He said as he spat to the floor.
As they walked away, he called one of his slaves by finger sign, a code of quiet calling.
Eyes must be vigilant.
“I want you to spy those two. I smell something fishy is going on between those two monkeys. Find out what it is.”
“Yes, sir.” The servant saluted.
It was him, the person who was outside their door that night.
Chapter Seven
Why do my breasts hurt so much?
Tasia was looking in the bathroom’s mirror, examining her growing body. She had been sick for the past few days with severe nausea and cold. She thought it was because of the changing weather, but she was heedless of something that was springing up within her.
“Hey, Tasia. We’re having a fitness check-up in a couple of minutes. So hurry up!” One of the brothers must have been told by Java to call her.
“Yeah… I’ll be there in a minute.”
Getting to the assembly area, she saw Anton standing opposite her where the leaders sat along with the huge monster.
Fitness in Sekret rynka mafia was taken seriously. They had to be extremely fit to perform important tasks. There was no room for any lanky member.
One. Two. Three….. Fifty-four had gone through the check-up, and now it was her turn.
As soon as she stepped on the scale, the red arrow quickly swayed to the right.
“You need to reduce your diet. You’re too unfit and heavy. Watch your weight!” The checker said to her with contempt in his voice.
Java cut in.
“I thought you don’t have any appetite, Tasia? Why are you getting fatter and fatter every day?”
She couldn’t breathe. His words stung.
She laughed, instead, purchasing time to make up a convincing lie to cover up her mischievousness.
“Hahaha….. Sorry, but I’ve been eating chocolates lately. I have a sweet tooth, so I love candies.”
Java’s squinted eyes narrowed. He knew something was not right. He was just waiting for her to confess. But he knew she would not sing as quick as she could find a way to get away with it.
“Very well. You may continue your work.”
“Thanks!”
****
“Hey, tell me. Is there something that I need to know about?” Anton asked as he followed Tassia everywhere she went. From the kitchen, even to the bathroom.
“Nothing. I’ve already told you I’m fine. I’m good as a cow.” She giggled pretentiously.
“Don’t lie to me. I know you’re keeping something. What is it? Do you have cancer, or bulimia, perhaps?”
“Don’t be stupid! How many times do I need to repeat myself – I’m freaking fine. Don’t worry about me.”
Although he knew she was getting extremely annoyed now, he still kept asking to find out what was bugging her.
“Why’s your stomach getting bigger and bigger every week? Is it true you’ve been eating chocolates?”
Her silence responded to his question. Why did he need to ask?
“Hey, answer me. I feel like I don’t exist in your life anymore.”
She finally broke her silence. “Do you really want to know?”
The way she said it struck him. He knew something was not right.
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?�
��
“Yes.”
“I-I don’t know if I can –“ She turned away as she embraced herself, trying to comfort her own sadness.
“Trust me. I’ll never judge you.”
“Anton. I-I….. I’m pregnant.”
Chapter Eight
Java had known it before Anton did.
He and his henchmen were out to hunt them down.
They would track every corner of the globe just to kill them.
Anton knew it.
For that reason, he decided to fly her back to America. But not to Chicago, but Pennsylvania where no one knew who she was.
“Time is running out! It’s almost daylight. Sooner or later he’ll be here to shoot us all down. Hurry up!” The pilot shouted in anxiousness.
Anton managed to convince his pilot friend to return her to where she came from. It was a costly move. Millions were spent just to keep her and their baby safe. He must have used a quarter of his fortune to ensure his family was taken care of.
Rain of tears kept on pouring down her face as he wiped her cheeks in shared agony with her.
“Why? Why does it need to end like this? Anton…. Please, please… come with me.”
As she let her words fall, his heart was being torn in half. No one foresaw this coming. Neither him nor her. As in no one. Everything could happen in a blink of an eye.
“I-I can’t….” He sobbed.
“But why? We can live far away from here. In Alaska? Or even…..” She paused thinking of a place they could hide.
“Antarctica? What? Say something!” She cried out.
“No matter how hard we try you know he’ll track us down. You don’t know him, Tasia. He’s a nefarious man.”
“I don’t care. If you’re gonna stay here, I’m gonna stay too. We’ll die together.”
“Are you insane? What about the child in your womb? Our child. Don’t you care about it? Your mom? Please, don’t make it hard for yourself and me. Go now. I beg you!”
As soon as he dropped the last word, a tumultuous sound of roaring cars dominated the quiet atmosphere in the private airport’s runway where the airplane was waiting. Her tears dried up as her heart quickened beating. She was alarmed.
What would she do now?
“Go now….” He pushed her toward his friend.
She screamed and screamed. The veins in her neck almost ripped out of her skin.
His pilot friend seized her as he pulled her into the airplane.
“Let go of me! Anton….” She squealed.
The plug door slammed. She could not see him anymore.
Whirling in a circle, the propeller whistled loudly as it was about to take off. Gun shots fired in the mid-air, aiming at the airplane for it to stop. Bullets made out of bronze were no match against the steeled surface of the flying fish, specifically designed for heavy duty.
“You betrayed us! How dare you –“ Java’s fist crashed against Anton’s jaw.
He blocked out.
****
Damped. Cold. Filthy.
Anton’s hands were tied on a thick plumbing steel pipe under the warehouse. Mice were licking his wounds as they squeaked and squealed in delight. He was still unconscious.
“What are we gonna with this mongrel? He’s a traitor. He deserves to be killed. He breached the rules and regulations of Sekret rynka.” One of the brothers said.
“Just wait. We need to find out where she’s gone first.” Java spoke.
Cold and dirty water from the drainage splattered all over Anton’s face, forcing him to wake up.
“Hey, traitor. Wake up!”
“Ha?” Anton weakly replied.
“Where is she?” Java yelled.
A sudden worry crept into Anton. Tasia?
“Hey, I’m talking to you. Answer me!”
A horse’s riding crop whipped against his face, head, neck, chest – anywhere it hit. It was painful like his father’s beating when he was just a kid. His most feared nightmare came to life. He hated pain. He’d had his fair of it since he was a boy. But, would he give in?
“I-I don’t know,” He replied weakly.
“Liar!” Another whip struck his face.
Flesh split in half, his wound kept oozing blood. He was determined to keep his family safe. Although he never wished to leave his unborn child fatherless, he could not afford to lose them either. One way or the other, someone had to make a sacrifice.
He already made a decision. And he was adamant to stick with it. Death’s grip had no power over him.
“Tell me, or else I’m gonna tear you and your slut girl into pieces.”
Slut? How dare you! Fury boiled in Anton’s blood. “Be careful with your mouth, you fat cunt!”
Java stepped back slightly, frightened to see him turned red in wrath.
“What would you do now? You’re bound and helpless. No one can help you. She’s not here, and she’ll be gone forever when I find the cave she’s hiding in.”
“Don’t you dare lay your hands on her. I have many tentacles, Java. I could easily kill you in this instance.”
“Oh, really? What about if I cut one off?”
He whipped his left leg repeatedly to the point where Anton could no longer bear the pain in silence. He screamed in an agonizing cry, calling Tasia’s name for help. He kept on struggling, and at one point the rusty plumbing pipe broke where he was tied on.
Java fell over by the pipe’s impact. It hit his right thigh, pushing him away.
Realizing luck was on his side for the first time, he stood up in relief. A shadow in the drainage caught his attention. Papa? He thought as he saw his father’s reflection in the dirty water.
It must have been his own hallucination created by his initial insensibility during the time he was unconscious.
It as it gave him the strength to face Java.
“I told you I have many tentacles. Bad grass is hard to die. Say your last prayer.”
No one was left in the underground, except Anton alone.
It was now Java’s turn to taste the dose of his own medicine.
Chapter Nine
Sitting by the window, Tasia’s mother, Tonya, was thinking about her daughter. She was regretful of gambling their house for the sake of her entertainment. Tasia had not come back home for over a year now. She spent Christmas alone. No gifts. No Christmas trees. Just a simple meal.
Knock. Knock. Knock. Someone was outside the entrance door.
“Who’s that?” Tonya yelled.
No one answered. Instead, the knock kept on going, louder and louder.
For goodness’ sake. Who’s that? “I’ll be right there. Hang on minute….”
As she opened the door, a slim black woman stood before her with a baby girl clutched in her arm. She did not recognize her. She had changed so much. That little girl she had once taken care of was now a full grown woman.
“Tasia? Is that you?” Tears welled up in Tonya’s eyes. Disbelief clouded her mind.
“Mama?” Tasia began to cry.
“It’s you. Thank goodness, you’re alive. Oh, my daughter…”
Lifting her arms up, Tonya let them rest on her daughter’s shoulders as she pulled her in closer, savoring the moment. Every second of it was more precious than diamonds. It was a gold that can never be purchased, its value beyond a price one could afford.
The baby smiled at her grandmother sweetly, entertained by her reaction.
“Is that my granddaughter, Tasia?”
“Yes, Mama. Her name is Alexis.”
“Oh, sweet heaven. She’s beautiful!”
“Like mother, like daughter.” She laughed.
“Where’s your husband?”
“Ummm… Let’s talk about that inside Mama. I don’t think this is a good place for that topic.”
“Yes, of course. Sorry, darling. Come on in.” Tonya shut the door.
****
It had been days since Tasia had arrived back in Chicago. Since then, she had been pr
aying that her mother would not ask about Alexis’ father. She thought Anton was already dead, and she did not want to keep her hope up, afraid to be hurt again.
Since he was gone, Alexis had been her source of strength. She was the reason she found the courage to visit her mother again. Without her child, she would have gone insane by now.
“Alright, Alexis, mommy and grandma will take you to the park. You like that, don’t yah?”
Alexis giggled, exposing her toothless gums.
“Mama…”
“Yes, Tasia?”
“Are you ready? I’m gonna take Alexis to the car, alright?”
“Yes, darling. Just make sure you put her in the car-seat. She’s not allowed in the front passenger seat.”
“Cool. Thanks!” Tasia made her way down the stairs to the carport where the car was parked.
Driving to the park, Anton came to her remembrance as she noticed Alexis was sleeping. She really looks like her dad when she’s asleep.
As they came to stop at the intersection, Tonya noticed her agitated face. “Is there something bothering you?”
“Ha? Ah, no… I’m alright, Mama. I’m just thinking of what we should feed Alexis when she wakes up.” She lied.
Truth be told. She was thinking of Anton.
Sitting on a red picnic mantle, she watched her baby crawl around. How she wished Anton was there to see their daughter’s growth. But he was not. He was dead. As least that was what she thought.
Not far off, Anton stood under a tree, trying to find the courage to approach his family. Papa, if you ever hear me, please help me be a father that I should be to my daughter.
Since the time Anton saw his father’s reflection during the fight with Java, he was convinced his father had long desired his forgiveness. As Anton allowed himself to forgive, a sense of relief followed him all the time. It was the power of forgiveness that had taught him healing.
A cold breeze hissed at him. Goosebumps stood up on his skin. Was it his father’s spirit who was helping him out?
“Alexis, don’t go that far,” Tasia told her daughter.
Oblivious to who was behind her, a hand grabbed Tasia’s shoulder. She recognized his smell and the texture of his palm. Don’t tell me his ghost is haunting me?