by Aray Brown
“When can I see you again?” Khi yelled.
“I’ll find you.” Price yelled back.
Price turned the water on and slowly undressed. Khi stared at her frame, the symmetrical line trailing down her back to her perky derriere. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Beautiful.
Khi left the room before she could notice.
Price parked two blocks from the house to remain inconspicuous. She extracted the binoculars and peered through the window, stumbled upon Chow and Isis arguing. It was heated. He slapped her, and then left. Chow was rugged looking, lean, half-white and half-Filipino.
His exotic wife, Isis was Korean.
Medina followed him to a private bank and watched him take out a suitcase full of unmarked bills. He climbed back in the car and drove to his next target. After two hours of driving, Chow pulled up to the corner of a busy street and walked five blocks to the check off point where a swarthy man approached him. They made an exchange. He had a non-profit organization where his shady dealings came into play, which the government knew nothing about. They had hunches although it was nothing concrete.
Chow was the shadiest character she had ever come across.
However, his wife was a different story. She was born and raised in Waikiki and an army brat. Her parents were immigrants. Isis made a living taking pictures and started her own bamboo tiki bar near the beach. Now she’s just a boring housewife.
Price decided to scope out the place.
From what she’d been told, it was mildly successful.
Khi was behind the bar, serving drinks and flirting with fellow islanders. Price was rather impressed. He seemed like a slightly different person from the one she’d met.
“Hey barkeep! How about a Mai Tai?” Price asked from behind.
Caught off guard, he clumsily hurled the drink at the woman’s dress.
“Sorry, let me get that for you.” Khi said, trying to wipe it up.
The woman jerked his hand back and shot him an evil look.
“Smooth. You must be rich, considering who your parents are.” Price said.
“It wasn’t always like this. They just got lucky.” Khi said, pouring her drink.
“Did he ever tell you where it came from?” Price asked.
“He said he made some investments.” Khi asked.
“And you believe him?” She asked.
“Why does it matter to you if I believe him or not?” Khi asked.
“I’m just being curious.” Price replied.
“If my father heard you talking like that he’d…..” Khi’s words faded away. He knew the ramifications.
“He’d what?” Price asked.
30.
Today was Khi’s birthday and Chow and his wife had put together a classy shindig. All of Khi’s friends were there as well as his father’s colleagues and potential benefactors. The penthouse was fit for a king and queen. It looked even better inside. A crystal chandelier and priceless paintings adorned the ballroom. Champagne was flowing. Music was playing. People were mingling. There was a ridiculously-large birthday cake in the back.
Khi and Medina entered, arm-in-arm, observing their surroundings. They agreed on one thing. They hated fancy gatherings.
“Surprise!” The crowd roared.
They glided down the staircase as Price whispered happy birthday in his ear.
“Happy birthday son.” Chow greeted, grinned.
“Happy birthday.” Isis chimed in, sized Price up.
“Thanks. “Khi replied, disappointed.
“You don’t look pleased.”Chow said.
“I wanted something simple--“Khi said.
“You’re my only son--“Chow interrupted.
“With just my friends.” Khi finished.
“They’re your family. You’ve known them since birth.” Chow said.
“They’re your people not mine.” Khi said, sternly.
“Ahem! Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Isis cleared her throat, gesturing to his date.
“This is Medina.” Khi said.
“How do you do.” Chow said, kissed her hand.
“What a unique name. It’s so nice to meet you.” Isis joined in.
“The pleasure is all mine.” Medina said.
“You look familiar; have we met somewhere before?” Chow asked, playing coy.
“Nowhere you wouldn’t remember.” Medina said, grabbed a glass of champagne off the serving tray.
He laughed it off even though Medina was dead serious. Isis smiled as if it was an inside joke she wasn’t part of.
“How long have you two been dating?” Chow asked.
“Two weeks.” Khi replied.
“I’ve lived in Waikiki all my life and I haven’t seen you.” She pointed out.
“Maybe you haven’t been looking in the right places.” Medina said, sipped the champagne.
“What are your intentions with my son?” Isis asked.
“Let’s mingle.” Khi interjected, taking her hand.
“Yes, by all means. Intermingle with YOUR friends, considering what this is all costing me.” Chow said, glaring at him.
Khi grabbed a glass of champagne, swallowed it, and then greeted his father’s associates who were only there to conduct business. It was just another opportunity for his father to show off.
Growing tired of the whole charade, he joined his friends. Dissatisfied with Chow, Khi made a speech.
“Thank you all for coming out. To my father, the rich prick who cares more about money than his own son. Go to hell. I don’t want anything from you.” Khi said, poured the champagne on the floor, and then stepped on the glass with his shoe.
The crowd gasped. In the corner of the room, Medina was smiling on the inside. They weren’t so different after all. She caught herself staring at him and it was obvious the attraction was there.
“It’s still my party, and I want to spend it with the one person who might actually love me. Let’s go Dina.” Khi said, clutching her hand.
They trudged past the cake and jaw dropping guests, searching for a quiet place.
They found the one room in the whole house that has been kept exclusive, better known as the study.
They opened the door to unlock the secret getaway. The atmosphere was stuffy. Medina took a step further and admired the silver statues on the mantel.
As she opened her mouth to speak, Khi grasped her face and devoured her lips.
Kissing him back, enfolding her tongue with his, Medina looked him in the eyes.
“I love you.” Khi gently whispered.
“You don’t even know me.” Medina said.
“I know enough.” Khi replied.
“You only know what I want you to know.” Medina said with a cold sober look on her face.
Silly boy, you don’t know what you’ve got yourself into. She thought.
“I’m not afraid of you.” Khi said.
“You should be.” Medina said.
Khi pulled her close, craving her lips.
She refused to admit her affection for him. Her need for revenge was far greater than her feelings for him. Khi was the enemy in this scenario. She was the victor.
They lay on the floor indulging in the forbidden fruit, shedding their inhibitions. Khi was more than willing. Once their intensity increased, Medina climbed on top of him, entangling her tongue with his. She moaned with delight and then reached behind the desk; pulled out the carving knife she had stolen and plunged it in his chest.
I’ve always had the pleasure of business.
Medina sculpted a Giant K in his body and hollowed him out. It was her best masterpiece yet. Blood was everywhere, on the walls, the statues, and the carpet.
Medina wiped off the knife, kissed his forehead.
She then examined the room and searched for an exit when suddenly she heard a woman’s voice. The door was locked. The knob jiggled.
“Open this door. Open this door right now. This woman, is no good for you son.” Isis or
dered.
In the far right corner a small window revealed itself. Medina looked at it then advanced toward the window.
“If you don’t do as I say, I’ll get your father to knock it down.” She shouted obscenities in her native language.
Chow charged to the door and slammed his taut body against it.
Medina raised the window, therefore triggering the screeching alarm.
Chow drove the heel of his foot into the door.
Medina abandoned the weapon.
Chow gave another momentous kick to the door.
The wood splintered.
Just as Medina climbed out of the window, her heels got caught on a hook.
31.
Isis stepped in; unaware of the terror she would come face-to-face with. The statues and the wall were drenched with his blood. She slinked down, walked to the center of the room…
Isis let out a gut-wrenching scream. The hollowed-out shell of a man was exposed. His face was unrecognizable.
Chow hurried to the study to witness his worst nightmare come true. The guests followed. There were no words to describe what he was feeling. The guests turned pale.
Why so peaked? This is some of my best work.
Medina peered through the window and hid in the darkness before they could capture her, and then disappeared in the gloom between the bushes.
A cab pulled up on the opposite side of the street. The driver was Chow’s right hand man. Medina paid him handsomely and in turn, he proved to be an ally.
“How was the party?” He said
“It was a show-stopper.” Medina said.
Chow consoled his wife while the detective began his questioning. She looked at Khi’s rotting corpse as the coroner lifted it up.
“Don’t touch him! My beautiful little boy.” She said, hysterical.
The coroner halted.
“Why don’t you sit down?” The detective said.
Chow and his wife sat on the couch. The detective handed her a tissue.
She dried her eyes and noticed the police officials swarming around. Another was outside checking all the perimeters.
Medina was masked as a male crime scene technician dusting for fingerprints. When they weren’t looking she glanced from the across the room.
“Who was the last one to see your son alive?” The detective asked.
“Everybody. Wait...” She paused.
“His girlfriend. After his speech, they went to the study.” Isis said.
“What a way to go. Did she give a name?” The detective asked.
“Medina Price.” Khi said.
“I’ll put a warrant out for her arrest. Is anything missing?” The detective inquired.
“No.” She said.
A female officer approached, carrying a large bag with the weapon inside.
“I found this outside near the bushes. The knife is wiped clean.”
“Is this yours?” The detective showed her. Isis examined it closely.
“It’s... my butcher’s knife.” Isis said, carefully.
“Do you make many enemies Mr. Hung?” He asked.
“Who doesn’t?” Chow smirked.
“I’ll need a list. We’ll find her. If you want my advice, lock up tight. In the meantime, one of my officers will plant a bug in case an opportunity presents itself.” The detective said, motioning to the crime scene technician.
Medina planted a small but effective bug on the ceiling, Gotcha.
32.
“Hello?” Chow answered.
“Mr. Hung, this is Detective Aasa. I wanted to talk to you first.” Aasa said.
“Have you arrested her yet?” Chow asked.
“I don’t see how that’s possible.” Aasa replied.
“Why? “ Chow said, confused.
Detective Aasa took a long drawn out pause making Chow very unsettled.
“I asked you a question!” He said, hostile.
“She doesn’t exist. I searched numerous times. There’s no record of her anywhere. It must’ve been her alias.” Chow lost his grip on the receiver, stunned.
“Chow? What’s wrong?” Isis rushed to him.
Medina set foot in a run-down church twenty blocks down the road. An obscure reminder of the one she visited at a young age, when her life made sense. My mother always told me if you confess all your sins you’ll be forgiven. That’s nothing but an old wives’ tale.
Medina sauntered down a vacant aisle, shrouded in black and avoiding the onlookers. She went behind the curtains and sat in the small enclosed booth.
“Forgive me father for I have sinned.” Medina said.
“What is your sin my child?”The priest asked.
“The people I’ve killed. The bodies I’ve buried. It’s catching up to me. I’m becoming someone else.” Medina said.
“Who?” The priest asked.
“My sister.” Medina replied, dead eyes.
Price staked out the penthouse, slid the earpiece on and indulged in a heated conversation involving Chow and his wife.
“What do you mean she doesn’t exist?! You let that bitch come into our house to slaughter our son!” Isis shrieked.
“He’s your son, has been since birth.” Chow said.
“Screw you!” Isis replied, her voice was earth shattering.
“You lost that game already, remember?” Chow said, smugly.
“You bastard!” Isis slapped him.
Price watched her hurl priceless heirlooms at his head from the window.
“That’s enough!” Chow ordered.
“Who is she? What does she want?” Isis asked.
“Me.” Chow said.
Price emerged from the shower stall with a plush towel wrapped around her, turned on the TV and witnessed the last twenty minutes of Khi’s funeral. It was a media circus, swamped with reporters hounding the family about the details. Isis was dressed in black, clutching a handkerchief that had supposedly been stained with her tears. Chow was wearing a dark grey Hugo Boss suit, glasses to match. He worked up a few tears for the cameras. Although he was genuine, it looked rehearsed. A police sketch appeared on the screen. Price studied the curves of her face.
“This mysterious girl has not yet been found. Needless to say the killer’s still at large. The police are doing all they can to put her reign of terror to an end. All prayers go out to the Hung family for their severe loss. I’m Aloha Williams reporting for KGMB.”
Immediately, Price was nauseous. She felt something surge from her gut and into her throat. Whatever she had ordered from room service was filing her mouth, she hurried to the bathroom, lifted up the toilet seat and freed up the foul stench within her. This can’t be happening. She thought, flushing the toilet. Price splashed some cold water on her face and eyed the cold-hearted person staring back. What did you do to me?
The idea of having a part of him growing inside sickened her. The chunks rose back in her throat, taking in its putrid scent as Price kneeled beside the toilet, puking her guts out. She didn’t need a pregnancy test to dictate her destiny. Price was the definition of picture perfect health and Zoe raised her to be strong, maybe even stronger. They didn’t break her. Price didn’t accept fate or God. Another myth meant to brainwash little girls and boys into making the right choices. If you do wrong you get punished. If you do good deeds you’ll get saved. What a crock.
33.
Chow and his wife had a new security system installed, and the only ones who knew the code were his new henchmen and his personal slave, Cyrus. Chow trusted him and she used it to her advantage. Judging from their previous conversations, Isis wasn’t aware of what happened but somehow she was a part of it. Maybe I’ll make it easy on her. Then again... you are the company you keep.
Price bided her time until he left and disarmed the guards. She pulled out the wire cutters, mounted the pole, and then cut the power source and the phone line.
She shimmed down the pole and gained entry holding a flashlight.
Price scaled ups
tairs and looked in several rooms. She went downstairs and then located Isis in the favorite amenity in the house, the Indoor pool.
Price shined a light on the water and then dove in. Isis spotted her, grabbed her legs, took her to the deep end and attempted to drown her. Isis scrambled to the top, grabbing the butcher knife at the edge of the pool.
“Stay away from me. I called my husband. He’ll be here soon.” Isis said.
Price glanced at the cell phone. There was no signal.
She moved toward her.
“Don’t come any closer.” Isis said, hand shaking.
Price snatched the knife out of her grasp and without hesitation she cut off her face. Price pulled her to the deep end and held her down until there was no more life left inside her. She saw the blood covering the pool as if it was the third sign of the plague. Price ascended from the pool like she’s just been reborn.
As she vacated, Cyrus shot her from behind. She struck him with everything she had before fleeing the scene.
When this was all over, could she be normal? Have a regular no-nonsense lifestyle like the rest of the drones?
Price was too far gone. Hatred drove her. She didn’t care about anyone, or anything. Who she was, was just a memory.
“Ah!” Cyrus winced from the pain. The man Price thought was strong turned out to be the complete opposite when wounded. She looked at him as weak.
“Be quiet. It’s just a flesh wound.” Price said, patching him up.
“Flesh wound my ass.” Cyrus said.
“I had to make it believable didn’t I?”Price replied.
“Believable? You almost took my skin off.” Cyrus said.
“I’m almost done. I thought you were tough.” Price said,
“No one’s immune to pain.” He replied.
“You can get used to anything if you’ve had it your whole life.” Price said.
“Do you believe in God?” He asked.
“There is no God. There is only me. God didn’t save my family. I waited. Nothing happened. I grew up…and realized there is no higher power. No heaven, no hell, just carnage.”Price said, wrapping the bandage around his arm.