Cross Roads: Pick a Path

by Janaath Vijayaseelan

  “Sarah, you can come down now!” I shouted.

  She came down, shocked and shivering she pointed to the door on the left.

  “That’s where the girls should be,” she said.

  I tried to yank the door, but it wouldn’t budge. It was locked from the outside, and I’m pretty sure that one of these bodies lying around must have had the key. Sarah began checking the bodies of the men, but I noticed how scared she was.

  “Sarah, don’t worry about it. I’ll find the key,” I said.

  She smiled and waited on the side, as I flipped through the bloody mess I caused. Khaj helmed the key at his waist, and when I placed the key in the whole and turned it in the right direction I took a deep breath. I could be walking into a trap, it wasn’t easy at all to get passed those few men, but there really was a possibility of more waiting beyond the door; considering the fact that I hadn’t heard a single voice in reaction to all the gun shots being fired.

  Running in Sarah cried, hugging the other women. I was breath taken, I was in disbelief; I couldn’t believe the amount of women that were being held captive in such a small space.

  “Arrun!” Screamed a voice.

  Nilani, she came rushing towards me, relief. I didn’t care about anything in the world, she was fine and that mattered enough to me. Nilani held on to me tight, and all the captivated women came and circled us. It felt amazing; they were all filled with tears of relief. I felt like I gave them hopes of a safe passage home, but there was still one unfinished business.

  “You’re bleeding Arrun,” said Nilani.

  “Where is he,” I asked.

  There he was at the corner of my eyes, trying to sneak through the side.

  “Khan!” I shouted.

  There it was, the fear, it was in his eyes again. Where’d all that tough talk of his go? Where were my friends? Dead, they were dead; he had to beg. I wanted him to beg for his life.

  “Get on your knees,” I ordered.

  “Fear it’s a beautiful thing isn’t it. It comes to terrorize, and in a spark of a moment you think you have control over it. Though it will return. It does return, doesn’t it? Isn’t it fear in your eyes right now? You should’ve felt the fear of my presence when cutting Thambi piece for piece. You should’ve known the fear of your future when you made me watch as you sliced Remone’s neck before my eyes. The barrel in the revolver has one bullet left. Lets give it a spin, and see how lucky you get. Three shots, if you withstand it all I ‘ll let you walk away.”

  “Please,” he begged.

  “One shot, I guess you’re a little lucky today,” I said.

  “Two, damn you must have done something great in your life,” I continued.

  “Sorry, I’m Sorry! I’ll walk away, from everything!” Khan cried.

  “Three! Well then, I guess you deserve to walk free. Get up!” I ordered.

  We both knew he wouldn’t get to walk; I mean wouldn’t you kill the devils minions if you had the chance. Shaken with lost hope he got up off of his knees, and tears drenched down his face.

  “Some men don’t deserve the blessing of tears,” I said.

  The barrel emptied, and as his blood splatted across my chest, you could hear the piercing of a bullet going through his skull, but it was finally over. No respect was shown, some of the women even spit on his dead body.

  Chapter 17 – Commencement

  I left back my blood stained red shirt, and walk out with the black t-shirt I wore underneath. Whipped the revolver clean, and placed it in Khan’s hands before wiping the machete and hiding it behind my shirt. When I walked out of the house with say forty plus captive girls, a large crowd had begun to form. The Commissioner and his men had just made their way there, and he was glad to know that Nilani was safe.

  I guess he didn’t want to step down; he simply gave me a nod to acknowledge my actions. After speaking to her father, Nilani came back to my side. She was insisting that we head over to a hospital, or at least the standby paramedics on site. Though there remained one person to take out of the picture. One thing was certain; Trent had to be working with Khan, and with him out of the picture, there was no purpose that Trent served.

  Nilani followed me as I headed into the building I first searched. He was awake by the time I got back; I could hear the banging on the door.

  “Where are you going Arrun,” asked Nilani.

  “Unfinished business,” I replied.

  “Arrun, leave it. Khan’s dead; there’s no point anymore.” She said.

  “No lose ends, I’m not watching anyone else get hurt!” I shouted.

  She knew that there would be no purpose in continuing to argue. She simply followed and watched as I opened the door. Trent was stunned; he fell back to the ground and attempted to crawl backwards. Nilani didn’t want to watch, but I guess she understood.

  “I’m sorry,” he cried.

  It’s seemed as if that’s all he’s been doing, apologizing. I wasn’t going to feel bad about this; in fact if there were one thing I learned, it would be to never spare a man that has a negative impact on the lives of innocent souls. He pushed his arms out and covered his head when I swung out the machete. I crowned it in the air and just when I was about to force it upon his life I heard a scream. Sarah was at the door, with her hand covering her mouth.

  “It was him! He was there,” She screamed; the chill in her voice was evident.

  “Where?” I questioned.

  “He was with that other man, the one that brought us all here,” she replied.

  “They drowned that journalist girl; he was there,” she continued.

  Twisted, that’s what I felt. Twisted in thoughts that shouldn’t have been raised.

  “Who’s she talking about Trent,” I asked.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he repeated.

  I smacked him across his already bruised face once more.

  “Hasini! It was Hasini!” He cried.

  There it was, the answer I didn’t want to hear. The machete dropped to the floor, as I did too. As tears began to drench down my cheek, I realized that I mourned the wrong death. It changed everything, it wasn’t the way things were supposed to play out; Hasini was taken away from me. A blank mental state, I didn’t know what to do. I remembered it again; I remember her face as she laid covered by the white cloth. I remember crying for her to return; I didn’t need to be here, she didn’t need to be dead.

  “Who was it? Who was the other man you piece of shit! Who was it?” I shouted.

  “Miran.” He replied.

  Shame on me, I called him my brother. How could I be so naive? I knew the type of the person he is; yet I gave him another chance. He is responsible for the death of the woman I loved. The woman that taught me to love, the one I pictured being the mother of my children, and at one point or another laying at my side while I’m on my deathbed.

  Instead he was the only one responsible for the treachery I inhibited trying to forget what once was, what she was.

  “Did she cry?” I asked.

  “Did she beg?” I continued.

  “Did he hit her?” I urged.

  “I’m sorry,” he replied.

  “Sorry, sorry, sorry! That’s all you’ve been saying. Do you think that’ll save you? You guys took her from me! Why’d you do that, she saw you as a friend. Do you have any clue of how many good things she has told me about you?”

  I didn’t waste another second before I picked up the machete again. I swung it up and down with force, multiply. I couldn’t stop; I didn’t know what got into me. It was something beyond anger and rage. His blood spattered all across the floor, and his limbs were breaking free and yet I couldn’t stop. I continued to slash him till I felt the pressure of Nilani pulling me back. Drenched in blood, tamed by grief I sat down against the wall and just cried.

  “Nilani, they took her from me,” I cried.

  “She didn’t need to die,” I continued.

  “Where was I? I bet she cried out for me, and
I couldn’t do anything.” I shouted.

  “Arrun, kill him,” she said.

  I glanced back up at her, and she wiped the tears off my face. I know how much she meant to you, and she didn’t deserve to die the way she did.

  “I don’t know if I want to support all the crimes you’ve committed, but Miran deserves to die a cruel death. Don’t let him get into your head, be the strong man that I love. Don’t harm yourself asking irrational questions; surely you would’ve gone to help her if you had known the situation she was in. You fought the odds to find me, and that’s an indication of how strong your power to love is. Finish it Arrun, end it all, and give this place a new beginning.”

  She was right, but in those moments I felt miserable. I couldn’t spark my mentality reckless enough to fuel vengeance. I continued to cry; both Nilani and Sarah helped me walk out the building and outside stood my men. I failed to consider whether they knew of Hasini or not. Marona was the first to catch my attention, and I his; he walked towards me and I was boiled with mixed emotions.

  “Arrun, are you okay son,” he asked.

  “Did you know?” I countered.

  “Of what,” he asked curiously.

  “Hasini,” I responded.

  “Hasini? Should I know who that is,” he asked.

  “My ex-fiancée, the love of my life that your son killed,” I said.

  “Arrun, son, I swear I had no clue,” he replied.

  “Yeah, bet you didn’t know that he was working with Khan either!” I shouted.

  “Where the fuck is he?” I shouted, as the rage finally began showing its form.

  Most of them stood in shock at my accusations, like they didn’t want to believe it. Though things started to make sense; Khan had always seemed to figure out our whereabouts, Miran wasn’t acceptant of my arrival at first, and from what the guys say he hasn’t been home since I saw him speaking to Trent. I was furious, and I yearned to drench myself in his blood.

  I felt it tearing apart, my mentality was beginning to snap; Nilani’s grip against my arm didn’t favor a thing either. I turned, looking deep into her eyes, and I knew I should walk away. It was best for her; my actions, my surroundings will kill her. With trembling hands I took grasp of her fingers holding tight against my arm, and pulled apart.

  “Walk away,” I said.

  “Arrun, I could stay,” she replied.

  “Not just now, don’t come back,” I continued.

  “Do you know what you’re asking of me,” she asked.

  “Please,” I pleaded.

  “Arrun, don’t do this now. You don’t want to,” she said.

  “Just get out of my face, this isn’t your fate,” I said.

  “Arrun.” She cried.

  “Leave!” I shouted.

  I knew that I was hurting her, the tears made it evident. I held back mines and walked away. I had a bigger plan in mind; all my focus was set on finding Miran. I looked back, I really do love her, but her well being had to be my priority. When her father began walking her to the car, she kept calling out my name, but I turned away and didn’t look back. That’s the secret in turning back, you can’t look back to truly walk away.

  “She loves you man, don’t leave her like that,” said Verone.

  “You think I don’t? She’s better off without me, she’ll realize it,” I replied.

  “Please, lets just figure where Miran is. Will you help me?” I asked.

  “You’re more of a brother than he ever was, of course I will,” replied Verone.

  Everyone stood around me. Marona, Verone, Renny, Sethu, and all other friends; except one. One who silently walked away, thinking he’d be unnoticed. He was looking really suspicious, and I had a doubt in the way he spoke on the phone. I figured he’d be talking Miran; Jeremy was one among the house who shared a close bound with Miran. They’ve known each other through their childhood, and he must’ve been filling him in on our next move. As the others tried consoling me, I remained keen on keeping my eyes on Jeremy, waiting for him to cut the line.

  Eventually he did, I shoved aside both Renny and Sethu before walking towards Jeremy.

  “Where is he,” I asked.

  “Who? Bro you’re bleeding!” He replied.

  “Cut the bullshit, where’s Miran?” I shouted.

  Everyone started noticing our conversation on the side, and began walking forth.

  “What’s the problem here?” Asked Marona.

  “This trash right here knows where Miran is!” I shouted.

  “Is that true Jeremy, do you know where his,” asked Verone.

  “I swear I don’t, I was just calling home,” He replied.

  “Check his phone,” I suggested.

  He showed retaliation, and that moment alone proved his guilt. I acted off instincts and hit with force across the face. Once he fell to the ground I kept beating him, until an officer on scene came rushing towards us.

  “Stand down officer,” ordered Marona.

  The officer, or any officer for that case really had no voice in this part of the world. He couldn’t help but walk away, revolting would’ve just left him dead; at least he was smart. Something Jeremy wasn’t; he remained quiet, loyalty at his finest.

  “I’m going to dial Miran’s number, keep it on speaker, and you’re going to ask where he is,” I said.

  We stood around as the ring went through, and when Miran answered, Jeremy did as ordered. All to the point where he tried to flee.

  “They know where you are Miran! Leave!” Shouted Jeremy.

  That was the death of him; Sethu smoked him with a bullet and didn’t thinking twice about it. There really wasn’t a purpose for him to serve, and his loyalty to Miran would’ve eventually led me to kill him anyhow, so no one really showed any care. Miran was supposedly at some girl’s house, the house of a widowed woman he’s been seeing for sometime now.

  “Call our guys in the area, and ask if they’ve seen Miran,” I instructed; Sethu walked away to the corner in response to my orders and began making calls. Verone stood beside me and urged for me to get some medical attention, I tried deny the request, but I was actually starting to bleed out quite hard. There was an ambulance that remained on scene, and they helped get my stiches done. All the while I forgot that Sarah and the other girls were still present. The time was nearing 6am, and the media started rolling in, and as I assumed they eventually started shedding light on my face.

  “Are you done yet,” I asked.

  “One second…done,” replied the paramedic.

  That was my queue to walk away; I really wasn’t ready for the camera’s to start capturing my face. I shoved them to the side as I got into the car with Verone.

  “I know a place we could go Arrun, it’ll help, trust me,” said Verone, trying to keep my mind of things. I really don’t think any place in the world would make me feel at ease right now, but he was holding the ashes of Remone at his side, so I sat quietly as he drove.