His Dark Mercy

Chapter V

Today has to be the worst day of my life by far. I went to work and I was told I was on leave with pay until further notice, which I didn’t understand how but I didn’t question it because I felt like shit and I didn’t want my patients to see me like this. On my way home I decided to grab some Ice-cream even though I already had ice-cream in my freezer I just wanted to delay going home afraid he would be there.


When I finally reached the store I headed straight for the Ice-cream isle. I knew it like the back of my hand because I had been here so many times I had lost count. Ice-cream was a must in my life. When I reached for the last chocolate and vanilla bucket of Ice-cream my favourite, a hand beat me to it.


I felt like my heart just literally got stabbed by a fork several times, this was not my day. I felt like crying. When I looked up at the person who beat me to it, it was a woman probably my age and she looked like she was going through it. She took one look at me and flashed me a smile but I could see she was not okay. She looked like she was going through hell, I knew exactly how that felt like so I smiled a genuine smile back. It’s the least I could do.


“Hey, you look so sad and you look like you need this but I also need this, so I propose we just share it because this is my favourite and right now I feel like I want to just die.” The woman rambled on and her eyes became glossy and I felt like hugging her so I did. I felt like I could relate to the painful look in her eyes. So many emotions were running through me.


“Thank you, I honestly needed that.” She said when we finally parted.


“Hi” I slightly chuckled with a heavy heart, the sadness that was in her eyes was unbearable to look at.


“I am not some creep who normally gives hugs to strangers at stores but you looked like you needed that and honestly speaking I needed that too. I will take you up on that offer you know girls need to look out for each other. “ I finally said smiling.


She smiled back holding out her hand” I’m Yasmine.” I shook her hand.


“I’m S’nazo but you can call me Zoe.”


“Okay” she smiled showing her teeth. She had a beautiful smile. She was beautiful.


“Well let’s go eat this ice-cream as a celebration of a new friendship but that’s only if you want to be friends.” I quickly said at the end.


“No-no, I would really like that.”


We paid for our bucket of ice-cream and headed to her apartment because she said it was closer. Her apartment was homey and she had beautiful paintings hanging on her walls which she painted herself, she was talented. There was one that caught my eye it was a painting of a black woman her skin was a golden brown and she had a majestic crown on her head.

Her hair was so beautiful and puffy it looked like a crown itself. It made me think about a lot of things. My mom had always told me how strong I was. A part of the world sees black women as these strong creatures and yes we are strong but we are also human. There is only so much we can take before we crumble. At this point in my life I didn’t feel strong at all I felt helpless and not in control of my life.


Yasmine and I sat on her couch and talked about any and everything. While enjoying the ice-cream. I learned she was from America and came here seeking a fresh start, she was psychologist for children. We didn’t talk about why we were both so sad because we didn’t want to ruin the mood. We spoke for hours laughing and learning new things about each other.


I had a lot of fun with her and my mind almost forgot about crazy Mateo. I also met her roommate Justine, she was so nice and seemed so close to Yasmine. It was at night when I decided to head home. Today wasn’t all bad at least I made two friends. The way the conversation flowed one would say we had been friends for ages. I really didn’t want to go home because I was really enjoying myself and I didn’t want to face my problems.


I finally went home, and all the fear was flushed back into my system. I refused to cry anymore and feel sad for myself but I was so scared and I felt alone. I didn’t want to call my mom. If I told her what was going on she would probably come here and drag me home. I want to go home but I still have a dream and I refuse to let that psycho shatter my dreams.


I quickly went upstairs and took a quick shower, I didn’t feel like eating so I didn’t cook. I decided to go downstairs because I knew sleep wouldn’t come any time soon. When I got downstairs Saraphina was sitting on my couch on her phone speaking to someone. When she saw me she smiled this huge creepy smile. I wasn’t surprised that she let herself in. I wasn’t mad either because I told her I was okay with it.


“Hey.” I tried to smile a genuine smile but I couldn’t, I could see that of all her siblings she favoured Mateo the most even though she was gorgeous I couldn’t help but be slightly paranoid and scared thinking Mateo would enter any minute now. She quickly indulged me into a heart warming hug.


“Hey, how are you? I haven’t seen you since the dinner.”


“I’m – I’m uh-uh I’m fine.” I didn’t want to break down in front of her. There was a huge lump growing in my throat the word fine refused to be uttered by my mouth. We sat down comfortably on the couch.


“Mateo sent me.” I instantly froze, did she know what her devil of a brother was putting me through, would she help me if I asked or would she tell Mateo. When I didn’t reply she continued.


“He said he isn’t sure when he will be back.” She said getting up heading for the kitchen shouting so I could hear her and going straight for my fridge, making herself a snack.


“He said I must apologize about the blood he isn’t usually so messy when torturing and killing people, his head hasn’t been straight recently. He also said to tell you to behave.”


I kept quite for a while I felt like I couldn’t move was there something wrong with Saraphina, was she hearing herself, maybe she was used to this because of her family running the Mafia and all, but I on the other hand wasn’t okay with hearing things like that. Mateo was not someone to be messed with. How in the world would I get out of this situation. These people were not normal nor okay. Killing someone, taking someone’s life was not okay.


“Oh and I almost forgot my brother Mateo’s partner wants to meet the woman Mateo is crazy about.” she giggled.


I took a moment to look at my surroundings. What the hell happened to my life. I don’t see this ending well for me. I felt slightly dizzy. “uh- I’m not feeling well-” she quickly rushed over to me concerned holding her hand against my forehead.


“What’s wrong? Are you okay wait let me call Mateo-”


“No no no please Saraphina don’t call him, I-I I’m just tired I will go to sleep and I’m sure I will be okay in the morning. Okay just please don’t call him.” My eyes were glossy and my heart was racing, I was scared of just the thought of being in the same room as that man. She didn’t look convinced, she was about to say something when my phone rang.



“Did you forget about me?” Sebastián asked through the phone, Saraphina snapped her head towards me.


“Oh, Sebastián I’m so sorry, how about tomorrow something came up today.” I promised to drop off some documents for him at work but I completely forgot.


“Zoe you know I could never be mad at you. How about you make it up to me by finally agreeing to me taking you out to dinner. ” Sebastián was my co-worker and he was very handsome, he has been asking me out for the past few months but I always said no because a man was not on mind, I was too busy with work. And the fact that Sebastián was a hoe but for the past few months he stopped hoeing around trying to please me.


“Sebastián I will see you tomorrow to give you your documents and I will make it up to you by being early.” I said smiling as he chuckled. Even if I wanted to give him a chance I was not stupid enough to do it now after the conversation I had with Mateo this morning. More like the conversation he had with me.


“It’s fine I will wait for you, you are worth waiting for.”


“Bye. ” I quickly said trying not to blush hard which I miserably failed at. I quickly hung up facing Saraphina who seemed to be in her own world.


“Goodnight and don’t worry about me I’m going to work tomorrow anyways so I will just have one of my friends check me up. Lock the door behind you.” I quickly said hurrying for the stairs. I raced to my room closing the door behind me and heavily sighed. I got into my bed and slept. I didn’t want to think about my life I just wanted to sleep.


….


I was sitting on my couch and thinking after calling Yasmine, she sounded so scared her voice would break every now and then but she kept on telling me she was okay. She claimed her voice was breaking because she was watched an emotional movie earlier on. I wasn’t convinced.


Today in the morning I kept my word and went to see Sebastián to give him the documents he needed. We ended up getting coffee and I enjoyed myself he made me laugh and feel like everything was normal, I felt like my old self again. After coffee with Sebastián I went to Yasmine’s apartment but she wasn’t there so I figured she was at work I tried calling but she didn’t pick up.


I came straight home after that I needed a day out with Telo. I was still trying to resolve the paid leave I was given which I didn’t even ask for. It was giving me a headache because no one was giving me straight answers they were all beating around the bush. So when I got home I called Yasmine when she picked up I was relieved. After our conversation I finally decided to pay her an unexpected visit because I wasn’t buying her story.


I stood up heading for the door when the door suddenly opened. Mateo came in and stood in the middle of the room glaring at me. I felt like peeing my pants, he looked so calm but his grey eyes gave him away. He was livid.


“S’nazo.” This was the first time he called me by my full name and I didn’t like it at all. It sent a shiver down my spine. Goosebumps covered my arms, my hands were trembling. How is it that I am so terrified of this man.


“What did I tell you yesterday ?” he calmly asked. I looked anywhere but him. “T-that I belong t-to you” I whispered looking down.


“Where were you this morning?!” his accent thick, his words were filled with venom, I felt like apologizing even though I didn’t know what I did wrong.


“I-I I was out with a friend.” I saw something snap in his eyes. His long strides reached me within seconds I felt paralyzed, too scared to attempt to run. I screamed as his hands wrapped around my hair making me face him.


“Who the fuck do you think I am?!” he questioned angrily, I was screaming and crying.


“Mateo you are hurting me, please let go.” My pleas fell on deaf ears.


“Mateo he’s just a friend.” I tried to get him to calm down. My scalp was burning, as he dragged me by my hair to the door while I was crying and begging.


“Let’s go see your little friend.” he suddenly smiled and got his hand out of my hair. He gestured for me to go out first I felt like running back into my room and locking the door. I didn’t want to go anywhere with him.


He guided me out of my apartment and building into his car and then got in the car. He drove like a mad man with his hand gripping my thigh I was sure there were going to be bruises on it. My vision was blurred by my unending tears to see where we were going. The car finally stopped and when I looked outside the window we were at a old abandoned warehouse.


I felt like throwing up thinking about the last time we were here. Mateo got out and opened the door for me. “Mateo please don’t make me go in there.” I begged crawling away from the door. He quickly dragged me out kicking and screaming then threw me over his shoulder. He paid no mind to my fidgeting and fighting.


When we went inside the building painful screams and begging could be heard. My stomach felt queasy.


“Mateo please.” I was full on crying but he ignored me. We finally reached the room where the screams were and he put me down. I quickly closed my eyes and cried even more at what I saw before me. My whole body was trembling as I looked at Mateo who was grinning. This was not normal. Telo was on the other side of the room not looking at me. I was scarred for life. No one who was mentally stable would do this to someone.


The man before me was tied to a chair, he had one hand with no fingers the other one was chopped off, his legs were gone. His eyes were missing, his teeth were gone, his nose was broken at an uncomfortable angle. He looked like he was in a great deal of amount of pain, his cries and screams were ignored by everyone around as if this was normal. His face was barely recognizable but I knew who he was. Sebastián. At this point I was hysterically crying. Mateo was looking at me.


“Why are crying, Are you crying for this man?!” he asked menacingly heading towards me.


“n-n-no no Mateo I’m not, I-I I’m just really s-scared.” I partly lied looking at him hoping he would not hurt me. Mateo needed help. I was not going to tell him I was crying for the poor soul before me because he looked like he would immensely hurt me.


“You shouldn’t be scared you did all of this to him. I fucking warned you. Yet you go ahead and you let this fucker touch you. You smile at him and you laugh at his jokes. You even go by far as blushing at the shit that leaves his mouth.” he wrapped his hand tightly around my throat cutting off my air supply, lifting me off the ground. I tried scratching his hand but it was no use, so I begged.


“Zoe do you want him?” he asks looking into my fading blurry eyes. “No, no Mateo I-I only want you. I only want you.” I rush out slowly losing consciousness.


“Bueno, because you have no fucking choice Zoe.” he finally released me and I fell on the ground heaving for air I didn’t get up as I watched him take a machete by the door and slice the other hand of the man. I couldn’t move or scream I felt immobile, Sebastián was screaming with painful wails coming out if his mouth. Mateo finally ended him as he cut his head off, that’s when I started screaming and backing away.


I felt so petrified as the head rolled on the ground and Mateo looked satisfied. Telo looked emotionless. I crawled away trying to run. I felt hands wrap around my waist I completely stopped moving.


“Save your tears Zoe you are going to need them.” I looked at Telo and begged her to help me as Mateo dragged me out. I screamed and begged for anyone to help me but everyone looked the other way and kept quiet. I felt defeated and scared.


“Carry on screaming and I will slice your tongue out. ” I immediately stopped screaming but continued crying, the tears couldn’t stop. When we got to the car Mateo lead me in and then he got in and started driving.


“Mateo please don’t hurt me, I’m so so sorry.” I pleaded holding my legs to my chest and rocking myself mentally preparing for what was to come. I scooted away from him making sure he wouldn’t notice I didn’t want to be near him. He just chopped of someone’s head without hesitating. Sebastián had a family, how would they feel knowing how he died.


He completely ignored all of my pleas and kept on driving. I begged and I cried but it fell on deaf ears. I was so scared of what Mateo was going to do to me. I had no idea where he was going the road we were on was deserted and we were surrounded by trees and it looked like we were driving deeper into the forest.


For a minute I closed my eyes and prayed that he would not kill me or hurt me. I was so petrified of this man beside me, I was scared of him before but now I couldn’t even describe the fear I had for him. I don’t recall doing anything so horrible in my life to deserve this but yet here I was.

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