Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts

No part of this work is to be copied and distributed without the prior written permission of the author.

Synopsis:

Tears!

What can I say, if nothing lasts forever? And there’s always that version of ourselves we are not aware of. The love that knows no boundaries, the beautiful and the ugly, like the bond that ties water and blood.

Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts

No part of this work is to be copied or distributed without the prior written permission of the author.



Synopsis:

Tears!

What can I say, if nothing lasts forever? And there’s always that version of ourselves we are not aware of. The boundless love, the beautiful and the ugly, like the bond that binds water and blood



Prologue: SET IN THE PAST


She could hear nothing, and her legs refused to disappear with her.

Ginger created this bubble world in her head and never made it back to the real world, where she was before everything came to a standstill.

In the midst of the alarms blaring, she remained unperturbed.

“Take her away,” the hoarse voice said.

The wailings in the background were increasing, but Ginger was still in her bubble world as she was dragged outside inhumanely.

“Watch your head,” another voice said.

Ginger hesitated for a while as her eyes were glued to the car parked outside the house. She glared in that direction until they forcefully dragged her into the van.

“Give her back,” the piercing voice from earlier stated, “You are evil,” she said and continued wailing.

“Parents, take your kids away,” they commanded and sped off.

The car from earlier followed until they were lost in traffic.



******************
If i don't update here on fridays, meaning, i got busy so you can get next chapters on clicksnlikes.com/youngice

Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts

No part of this work is to be copied or distributed without the prior written permission of the author.


CHAPTER 1 – SET IN THE PRESENT



The weather outside Hell’s Gate was refreshing. The entire scene had been taken over by debris from the previous night’s storm.

She came out after the beep at the gate, clad in an exquisite all-ginger jumpsuit. Flying her arms in the air in a clockwise position, she smiled with her mouth open.

“Wow, it smells heavenly.” “Cheers to some freaking air!” Clasping her hands together, she laughed hysterically, and carefully placing one foot in front of the other, she found steady ground.

“I’m alright.” She murmured and looked back at the giant wall behind her.

The waves of fresh air brought her out of her thoughts. “How did I end up in the middle of nowhere?”

“T-a-ck.” She made a mental note and walked away, finding a tree to lean against while lighting up her cigarette.

**************

“Jewel, are you up?” Elis called out with her piercing voice.

She waited for a second, then pushed herself against Jewel’s door. Unfortunately, it was locked from the inside.

She chuckled and knocked gently on the door.

Jewel heard her mom earlier but wasn’t ready for her long speech. She threw a pillow over her head when the third knock landed on the door. Elis was persistently knocking, which was irritating her daughter.

“Mom, that’s enough already; I’d be out in a minute.” She squirmed under her pillow.

“Good, because James is here.”

“James?” She yelled out to her mom.

“Yes, James, the boyfriend.” He’s been waiting all morning. Elis spoke softly, with her ears pressing against the door.

Jewel snorted and hit her head on her palms, then her alarm rang. She stretched her arms to the small clock on top of her bedpost to turn off the alarm when her eyes caught the note on the clock.

“Oh my God, Ginger.” She jumped off her bed and went straight to her wardrobe.

“Are you okay, baby?” Her worried mom asked when she heard her wail.

Jewel hurriedly took out her blouse from yesterday and sniffed it, then threw caution into the air. “This should do.” She took off her nightgown and slipped it on.

She dashed to the restroom, gagging on her mouthwash, then rushed to the door and picked up her sandals and bag she had left right by the entrance yesterday.

She threw the shoes inside her bag and pushed the door open. Her mom stumbled as she was still behind the door.

“Sorry, mom. “See you later.”

“Sorry, and that’s it?”

“Not now, mom.” “I have to go.” She turned around to face her mom, who was still holding on to her face.

Jewel ran her hand through her hair and left her mom still staring.

Elis followed her abruptly.

“Brunch is ready, and your boyfriend is still waiting.”

Jewel forced herself to face her mom again when she mentioned her boyfriend. She forgot he was still in the house.

James, who was behind the pillar dividing the hall, quietly peeped when he heard his name. He caught a glimpse of Elis and smiled.

“Mom, tell my boyfriend to call me next time he wants to visit.”

“Jew…l…”

“Mom, save it.” “I’m late, and again, James should have called.” She turned around and bumped into him, but James grabbed her before she could fall.

“I was trying to warn you about that.” Her mom said that and left them both staring at each other.

“Emmm, babes, I’ve got to go.” She managed to say that instead of the usual affectionate greetings.

She slipped out of his grasp without another word and rushed to the door, leaving James speechless in the centre of the room.

“Jewel.” He thundered across the room. His forehead sunk in, and his eyes suddenly glowed.

She paused immediately and stared at him.

“You were saying?” She frowned.

“We need to talk.” He spoke rather calmly.

“And I need to be somewhere right about now.” “Do you have a problem with that?” She asked sarcastically.

He sighed. “No, see you later then.”

“Thank you, babes.” She rushed to hug him and intended to steal a kiss, but James held on to her face for a few minutes. They both seemed lost and didn’t want to let go.

Elis, who was seated at the brunch table, kept smiling and misguidedly dropped a spoon.

The two lovebirds paused and glanced at her. She mouthed “sorry” and turned away to the kitchen.

James, holding on to her waist, laughed. “Do you think we have time for more?” He winked.

“No, I must…”

“Yes, you have to go.” He let go of her waist and scratched his forehead.

“When I get back, we’ll talk.” She muttered.

“The hundredth promise, but I’d be patient until you make time for us.” He sighed heavily.

“Thank you so much, James.” She happily gave him a quick peck and rushed off through the door before he could hold her back.

James instantly frowned and wiped the lipstick from his lips with the back of his palm. He walked to the curtains, pulled them aside, and watched as Jewel drove off and the security closed the gate. He then chuckled while scowling.

His mother-in-law came at that moment, and he looked back, forcing a smile on his face.

“I’m so sorry about earlier.” She apologised for Jewel’s behaviour.

“That’s fine, we’d work it out, but do you have any idea where she runs off to every Sunday morning?”

“My dear, I wish I knew.” “She’s been this way for the past four years.” She said it uncomfortably.

“What about pops?” He inquired further.

“He’s too busy to even notice.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing serious.” James encouraged her.

“I hope so,” Elis said, and she invited him over to the brunch table.

James forced another smile and walked over to her side.

**************

Jewel drove at top speed, constantly ignoring the traffic lights.

She hit her brakes abruptly, smiled, rolled down her window, and then took off her shades.

She rushed out of the car after spotting Ginger at the entrance.

With her arms opened for an embrace, Ginger just looked on for a while and then brought out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She took one out and lit it.

“You do know how to make an entrance in red,” Jewel muttered.

“You are late today,” Ginger said with a puff.

“I know and I’m so sorry,” Jewel said, rushing into her arms.

Ginger hesitated to put her arms around her, so Jewel let her go.

“You’d have to make it up to me then.” Ginger poked her nose.

“You got it. “Now let’s go home.”

“Home? Same home?”

“Yes, or where do you want to go?”

“A hotel or any place that isn’t home.” She threw the cigarette on the floor and lit another one. “You want one?”

“No, I don’t smoke, and it’s fine; we’ll get a hotel on our way from the restaurant.”

“Goodness, I’d get decent food!” Ginger yelled.

“I guess someone missed me.” Jewel smiled and made a mental note.

“In your dreams.” Ginger hit her gently.

“No arguments on that. “Let’s get going already.”

She dragged Ginger along to her car.

Ginger let go of her hand and turned back to the writing on the giant gate.

She shook her head and walked to the other side of the car.

“Are you okay?” Jewel asked.

“Not really, but I’d miss this prison I called home for the past twenty years.” She spoke while lost in thought.

“Eighteen years.”

“What’s that?” Ginger queried.

“I mean, you were only brought here after the mental institution and juvenile court didn’t work.”

“A year each in those centres was even worse than this place.” Ginger pushed her tears back.

“You know I’ve got you, right?”

“I’m not exactly sure, Jewel.”

She frowned. “What is that supposed to mean?”

She asked, and Ginger just kept staring at the two vans that passed by earlier.

“Who did you tell I was getting out today?”

“You haven’t answered my question, and y…..”

“I’m not going to ask again.” “Who else knew I’d get out today?” She yelled angrily.

“Calm down. You said to tell no one.”

“You little brat,” Ginger kept ranting while walking towards her.

“You called me a brat?”

“Get down,” Ginger yelled angrily.

“What?”

“I said get d…..” Ginger was saying while rushing to Jewel’s end.

She jumped on her, pulling her to the ground.

Suddenly, the entire prison yard became chaotic.

Gunshots were making noise, bullets were flying around, and Ginger was still shielding Jewel with her body.

Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts

No part of this work is to be copied or distributed without the prior written permission of the author.


CHAPTER 2 – Prison POV



She kept tapping so loudly that it drew everyone’s attention to her.

They gave her a look, and she stopped.

“That’s an amateur’s job,” Ginger chuckled.

“What did you say?” The lady in the waiting area asked.

“If you want to catch a high-profile murderer, you play their game.” “You use their enemies, not their prey.”

“Wha……” The lady was about to say something when she was interrupted.

“Smh,” she said, blowing a raspberry. “You journalists are always looking for stories, not justice.” Ginger muttered and walked out before the lady could speak.

“How did she know you are a journalist?” The investigator on the other end of the earbud asked.

The lady shrugged, as though the investigator could see her.

There was a thud from the door at the entrance, and guards ran after Ginger because she slammed the door behind her.

“You love solitary, don’t you?” She could hear them yelling at Ginger.

She stuck her tongue at them and went into her cell.

**************

“Who was that?” The voice at the other end of the speaker asked the lady in the visiting room.

She turned to inmate 777. “The investigator wants to know who the lady from earlier was.”

“Oh, that was Ginger.” “She’s like the messiah in here.” Inmate 777 answered.

“Did you get that?” She asked the investigator.

“He’s asking what her story is.”

“No one knows, just that she’s always in trouble and spends her time waiting here every visiting day since I arrived 5 months ago.”

“Has anyone ever come to visit?” The journalist asked.

“No, I heard from the old folks that she’s been here for 11 years and that the day she arrived, she went dark.”

**************

There was a screeching sound, and the car pulled off the road and into the bush.

“Who took the shots?”

The older man asked his three friends. He looked from one person to the other.

“Costa.” He finally settled on a name.

“Who cares?” “It’s done already.”

“Jewel was there.” The guy with the scar on his face answered.

“So?” Costa queried.

“You forgot our instructions were to get rid of the other lady, not Jewel.”

“I didn’t forget the instructions, but I got that shot.” Isaiah jumped into the conversation.

“Shut it, Isaiah!” Their boss thundered. “We were hired to do a simple job.”

“It was impossible to get rid of the target without Jewel ending up in the crossfire.” Costa jumped to Isaiah’s defense.

“So, you let him fire anyway.”

“But, boss..”

He gave them a scornful look.

Everyone had a stupid look on their face.

“That’s it? “You are all benched till I make this right.”
They all nodded, then his phone rang.

He stared at the phone for a long time before answering on the third ring.

“Is it done?”

The voice on the other end of the line inquired.

“No, we run into a few problems.”

“Problems that can’t be fixed?”

“It’s impossible because Jewel happened.”

“Jewel?” The caller sounded surprised.

“Yes, she was with her.”

“You guys hold on for now.” I will call on your services again.

The call dropped before they could demand their fee.

Adam, their boss, gave them a knock and instructed them to drive off.

Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts

No part of this work is to be copied or distributed without the prior written permission of the author.


CHAPTER 3


After a few minutes, everything came to a standstill.

“Are you okay?”

Ginger heard a familiar voice behind them.

“Martin, I think we are okay.” She recognised the voice of the guard.

She quickly rose from Jewel’s body and continued to examine her.

“Have you been hit anywhere?” She kept asking.

“You saved me, Ginger.” She jumped into her arms.

Ginger held on to her this time. She winced in pain, and Jewel let her go.

“It looks like you are not fine.” One of the guards with Martin said

“I’m okay; remember, I can take care of myself.” She feigned a smile.

“Are you sure, Ginger?” Martin asked, concerned.

“You two got this, right?” She asked them with a weird tone.

“We’d look into it, but you’d need to visit the police station for a statement.”

“I’d rather not, Martin; besides, whoever they were, they’d be back for me, and you know what happens when I get hold of them.”

“I know you are strong, but I’m w…..”

“Martin, we’ve got to go.” Ginger dragged Jewel along.

“What are you going to do when you find them, Ginger?”

“Are they going to die?” Jewel was constantly bickering.

“Goodness, can you stop bickering, Jewel?”

“But I’m concerned and…”

“You don’t have to be this annoying right now.” Ginger pushed herself into Jewel’s car.

Jewel got behind the wheel and wiped her tears.

“Stop being a baby and drive.” Ginger thundered.

She wiped her tears again and then started the car.

It was a silent drive from the Yoke women’s prison, with both ladies mad at each other.

**************

“I need some cash,” Ginger said for the first time on their way from the prison.

Jewel pointed to her purse on the dashboard. She grabbed it and signalled her to stop.

She came to a halt, and Ginger walked out without another word.

After what seemed like ten minutes, she came back with a medicine bag.

“Wait a minute, have you been hit?”

“Mind your damn business,” Ginger said.

“Look, you don’t get to treat me this way, Carla.” She hit her hand on the steering.

“Would you stop yelling?” “And the next time you call me by that name…..”

“You’d what? Kill me?”

Ginger just kept staring at her face and then took a deep breath.

“No,” she answered softly. For some reason, she didn’t want Jewel to know she was dead inside.

“Have you been shot?” Jewel asked again.

“I can take care of myself.” “You are not the only brave one.” Ginger muttered.

Jewel stared at her sweaty face and shook her head. “Ungrateful.”

“Drive to the damn hotel already.” Ginger thundered in pain.

She obeyed and drove to the hotel. Ginger waited for her to finish the booking, and she rushed to pick up the first key card, leaving Jewel to sort out the food.

She rushed into the room and took off her jackets, only to notice the bullet wound on her left side.

Ginger sat on the floor, took out the new knife from the medicine bag, and started fishing out the bullet when Jewel walked in.

“Omg.” She rushed to her and started crying.

“Shut your mouth and help me here.”

“I’m calling the ambulance.” She pulled out her phone from her bag.

“I’d slit your throat, Jewel.” “Put that phone down and get your naive self here,” Ginger yelled on top of her voice in pain.

Jewel took another look at her and dropped her phone to the floor.

“What do you need me to do?” She fidgeted with her hands.

“We’ve got to get the bullet out.”

“I can’t do that.” Jewel took her eyes off her instantly.

“Do you trust me?” Ginger asked her, and she nodded. “Good, so follow my lead.”

After a good ten minutes, They were successful and proud of themselves.

Ginger sterilized her wound and was hand-stitching when their doorbell rang.

They both looked at each other.

“It’s just room service.” Jewel informed her.

“Good. I hope you ordered something strong.”

“Not really, but I asked for red wine.”

“Great,” Ginger muttered.

Jewel wiped the blood off the floor with Ginger’s jacket and walked over to the door.

Taking a look at Ginger’s condition, she asked the waiter to leave the cart for her.

She dragged it in by herself and helped get Ginger cleaned up before they started their meal.

“So, Martin.” Jewel broke their silence.

“Ahuh! “We’ve had sex several times.” Ginger answered her straightforwardly.

“Okay, I wasn’t expecting you to be that straight with me.” She laughed.

“Come on, we aren’t kids anymore.” Ginger picked up her wine glass with a smiley face.

“Is there anyone in your life?” She boldly asked.

Jewel just kept staring at her face. “Some guy.”

“Some guy, huh?”

“Yeah, and I love him, but at the same time I’m uncomfortable around him.”

“Isn’t that the whole point of love?” Ginger laughed.

“I guess so.” Jewel joined in the laughter.

“So, how’s the police commissioner?”

Jewel nearly choked on her wine. “What?”

“Oh, come on. “How else would you have found me all these years?”

“How did you know about him?”

“Prisons have ears, my dear.”

“Of course, but it was just a one-time thing, Ginger.”

“You call sleeping with your mother’s friend in order to find a murderer a one-time occurrence.”

“Ginger, you are no murderer to me, and as you said, I wouldn’t have found you and we wouldn’t have been here today if not for that sex trip.”

“It was a trip, huh?” Ginger laughed.

“Sort of, but it’s over.” “He got what he needed, and I got you back.”

“It’s a win, I get it, but what happens if your mom finds out?”

“I don’t care, and I may even tell her myself.”

“You’ve grown so bold now,” Ginger said, and there was suddenly some silence in the room.

“I miss you, Ginger,” Jewel said, reaching out for her hand.

“I missed you too, but are you sure you told no one we’ve been in contact for the past six years?”

“I swear my life on it.”

“I believe you, and I’m sorry I called you names out there.”

“That’s okay, but you know we’d still have to go home and meet the family.”

“Yeah, when we get there, we’ll cross that bridge.”

The girls reached out for a long hug.


“Wait, Ginger, she pulled herself out of her arms; if you knew about the commissioner, then you might have had help from up the chain because your records were sealed.”

“Yes.”

“So you could have found a way to get an early release.”

“I could, but I don’t think it would have helped.”

“Let me guess, you just didn’t want to come out.”

“Jewel, my heart stopped the day I was ripped from your arms.” “I died, and I don’t know what life I would’ve had out here.”

“You are out now; are you still dead?”

“I’m still dead inside, but I’m only out to…”

“To plan my wedding?”

“Weddings; I love them.” Ginger quickly changed the topic.

***********************If you are following this thread and I've not updated in a long time, check on clicksnlikes.com - they might have an earlier update.

*****************



Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts

No part of this work is to be copied or distributed without the prior written permission of the author.


CHAPTER 4


James hit his steering wheel and set off the alarm. He realized people were staring at him, so he drove off.

“Jewel, I’d teach you a lesson.” He wiped his teary eyes and drove on.

His phone rang at that moment.

“Dad, I’m on my way home.”

“What happened?”

“Happened where?” James shot back.

“Jewel!” You tracked her to the Vuitton hotel an… ”

“Yes, her car was parked outside, but there was no sign of her,” James told his dad while trying to hold back his emotions.

“Now you believe me.”

“Let’s talk when I get home.” He quickly said that and hung up the phone.

James pulled over at the side of the road.

He picked up his phone and dialed Jewel’s number.

“Come on, Jewel.” “What are you doing in that hotel?” He scowled.

James started his engine and sped off, heading home to see his dad.



********

“You should have answered.”

“And tell him what?” Jewel asked Ginger.

“I’m not sure; maybe tell him you’re with me.”

“You seem to forget that you were erased from everyone’s lives.”

Ginger painfully swallowed her saliva. “But you didn’t.”

“That should tell you I’m stuck with you.” Jewel tried to make light of the situation.

“Thank you, Love, but I insist you call him.”

“James would be fine.”

“James?”

“Ginger, just let it go.”

She raised her hands up. “I give up, sis.”

Ginger squinted her left eye to check if Jewel was watching her make faces.

Their room was quiet for a while, and you could literally hear a pin drop.

“Urgh.” Jewel squirmed and reached out for her phone.

“He’d most likely no…” Ginger was saying when Jewel spoke up.

“Babes, I missed your call.”

“Where are you?” James asked over the phone.

“Emmm, just out with a few friends.”

“Friends?” James asked.

“Yeah, an….”

Ginger motioned for her to put him on speaker just as she was about to say something.

“I called your friends, Jewel.”

“They are new friends, whom I met a while ago.”

He let out a low groan. “Alright, when are you coming home then?”

“I’d call you up when I get home.”

“That’s a long way home, so I’ll see you in the morning.” He stated flatly that Jewel could not read him over the phone.

She has always been able to read James, even over the phone. But on that particular day, she seemed lost.

“Sorry…”

“Have a good time,” James concluded and hung up.

Jewel stared back at the phone in her hands.


“Is everything okay?”

“I hope so, Ginger.”

“Your guy sounded weird earlier.”

“Exactly my concern.” Jewel retorted.

“I think you should go home.”

“It’s a long way home, Ginger.”

“What did you say?”

“James doesn’t like it when I drive late at night?”

“No, what you said earlier.”

“It’s a long way home,” Jewel repeated.

“Yeah, that.”

“What about it?”

“He said the same thing,” Ginger countered.

“He, who?”

“Your boyfriend!” She exclaimed. “How did he know?”

“James probably just guessed.” She smiled.

“Does he do that a lot?” Ginger asked inquisitively.

“Not really, but can we start making some plans for the days ahead?”

“If you say so, babes,” Ginger said, standing up grumpily.

She slowly walked to her window, scouted for a while, and then walked back to her bed.

Jewel looked on and smiled. “You are being paranoid.”

“Better paranoid than dead.”

“That’s enough,” Jewel hit her gently.

They talked for a while before nightfall. Jewel left at dawn and promised to be back.

****************

She opened the front door gently and crept in so no one would notice she had just come back.

Luckily for her, the lights were off in the hall, so she kneeled down and struggled to take off her shoes.

“Where were you yesterday?” His hoarse voice thundered from behind.


“Gosh, Dad. “You scared the heck out of me.” She stood up immediately, stumbling a few times.

Then the lights came on.

Jewel turned around and feigned a smile.

“Sorry, but your mom said you left early and were unreachable the entire day.”

“Yes, and last I checked, I’m not 5 years old anymore.”

“Got it.” Mr. Knox mumbled and walked away, sipping his coffee.

It appeared he just came out of the kitchen, and while heading to his room, he turned off the lights.

Jewel finally succeeded in taking off her shoes, and she chuckled.

She was headed to her room when she bumped into her mom, giving her a weird look.

“What?”

“Are you cheating?” Her mom asked.

“What!” Jewel exclaimed.

“James seems to think y….”

“So, he ran to you again?” She let out a soft sigh.

“Sweetheart, you left home in a hurry, and no one h…”

“And you both thought I was cheating.”

“I never said that.”

“Mom, I can’t do this now.” “I need to rest a bit before work.”

She rushed off into her room while her mom called after her.

Jewel shut her door and slumped onto her bed.

Elis stood in the middle of their hall, staring at Jewel’s door.

“She’s you.” Elis saw her husband staring at her.

“I know Knox.”

They both laughed hilariously.

Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts

No part of this work is to be copied or distributed without the prior written permission of the author.


CHAPTER 5 – Prison POV

***************

“Ginger, come with me.” He reached out to pull her out of the crowd before any of the guards could know she was responsible for the riot.

“Who are you?” Ginger asked, coughing from the tear gas used to disperse the crowd.

“If you want to sleep in your cell tonight, come with me.”

He dragged her out of the crowd before the lockdown protocol was initiated. Somehow, Ginger trusted this new guard until they were out of sight.

Once they were out of there, Ginger pinned him to the wall.

“Who sent you?” She had her arms on his throat.

“Ma……”He could barely make a word because her arm was still against his throat.

“You’ve been watching me for two days, and you think I wouldn’t spot a spy.”

He managed to shake his head, but she didn’t let go. Then their eyes met, and somehow she let go of him.

He coughed for a minute while massaging his throat from the choking that Ginger meted out to him earlier.

“Who are you?” She inquired softly this time.

“I’m Martin, the new guard.”

“I’m not stupid; I know you’re not a guard, so tell me the truth right now.”

“I’m here to help you, Carl….”

“You want to die?” She didn’t let him finish.

“No, I’m here…”

“I don’t need your help, and the next time you call me by that name, I’ll let everyone know who you are and then kill you.”

“I got it,” he said while smooching his throat.

He watched her leave and never took his eyes off her until Ginger disappeared into the hallway.

**************



Jewel walked into her office briskly, admiring her five-inch heels. She sighted her secretary going into the coffee room and waved at the security guard, who had a frown on his face.

“Sam, bad night?”

“No Miss.”

Jewel snorted. “Then smile.”

Sam feigned a broad smile while Jewel grunted and strolled into her office.

Her secretary, Ana, followed her immediately.

Ana bit her tongue and said, “James dropped this for you.”

“He was here?” Jewel asked, reaching out for the box in her hands.

“An hour ago.”

“He was early then.” She slumped into her chair and made a mental note.

Ana walked out quietly, closing the door behind her.

Jewel threw the wrapped gift on the sofa and dragged the stack of papers in front of her.

*********

Ginger in her hotel felt ill all night, but she decided to take her antibiotics and wait for her temperature to drop.

She contemplated reaching out to her sister but decided against it.

While still in her thoughts, the room service employee she ordered came in with his trolley.

She asked to be helped up so she could sit upright.

“Lady, are you okay?”

“Yeah, just a little hangover.” Ginger confirmed.

The room service guy fixed her up and walked out.

He reached out for his phone and stalked her for a while before dialing the number.

*********************

Ana rushed into Jewel’s office.

“Jewel, Eric is on the line for you.”

She raised her head from the documents she was reading and asked, “Eric who?”

Ana shrugged, “He mentioned Vuitton hotel and insisted to spea…….”

She instantly sprung up and got hold of her handbag while searching through it for her car keys.

Ana was wondering what was going on when James tapped her from behind.

But she quickly stood in his way and gently held on to the door.

“Is she in?” He asked calmly.

Ana mumbled, “Aaaaahhh.”

“Please.” James pleaded with his eyes.

Ana gave up and opened the door widely for him.

Jewel, who wasn’t paying attention to the voices, rushed to the door and met James staring at her.

“Hey, you are going out?” He murmured.

“Yes, and you’d have to come back some other time.”

“But I just got here.”

“I know, and I’m on my way out.”

“Let me drive you then.” James offered.

She thundered, “I said no.”

Jewel rushed off, leaving James and Ana stunned.

She located her car in the driveway and drove off at high speed without checking her rear-view mirror.

James followed in a cab immediately and directed the driver to follow Jewel. He was very furious and was hitting his hands on the seat. The driver of the cab kept adjusting his mirror to check on him.

It took them an hour to get there, and since James suspected she was going to the Vuitton hotel, he instructed the driver to speed up. He got to the hotel five minutes before Jewel.

While Jewel was finding it difficult to get a parking space, James got off his cab at a vantage point and was in the hotel building waiting to follow up.

Jewel walked into the reception and recognised the guy who called earlier because she asked him that morning on her way out to keep an eye on Ginger.

She got hold of the key card and headed inside the elevator.

James followed swiftly while hiding the whole time.

He watched the elevator stop on the third floor, and he took a gamble by joining the next elevator.

Jewel rushed in and sighed.

“You scared the crap out of me, Ginger.” She dropped herself on the bed.

“Hey, thought you had work?” Ginger sounded unhappy.

“Yes, but the receptionist said you weren’t well.”

“I’m okay, though my temperature was off the charts earlier, but I think the antibiotics kicked in just fine.”

“You look unwell to me, and if that’s the case, we need to go to the hospital.”

“Are you still this naive?” “Who goes to the hospital with a gunshot wound without a report?”

“But Ginger, I can feel you aren’t fine.”

“I’ve handled worse in twenty years.”

“Alright, let’s call your boyfriend.”

“You mean Martin?” She managed a smile.

“Yes, he’s a guard, so he may have some reliable connections.”

“Honestly, I feel fine.” Ginger stressed.

A knock came on their door as Jewel crawled onto the bed to wrap her arms tightly around her sister.

They both looked at each other weirdly and shook their shoulders.

“Probably just Eric the receptionist.” Jewel smiled mischievously.

“You control freak, I knew you were behind that fine dude checking up on me.” Ginger threw her hands in the air, followed by a smile.

“Don’t tell me you slept with him too.” Jewel hit her gently before standing up to open the door.

She opened the door while still teasing her sister, but his perfume gave him away, and she looked up. They came facing each other, like enemies.

Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts

No part of this work is to be copied or distributed without the prior written permission of the author.


CHAPTER 6 – Prison POV

***************

She was hit in the abdomen, and in the hallway was a blood bath. Ginger managed to get herself into the infirmary while the alarms went on and off, leaving a trail of blood.

The prison was on lockdown immediately, but she was lucky to have left the scene of the massacre.

“What did you do now?” The doctor, who didn’t look scared, asked while reaching out to Ginger. He grabbed her and pulled her to the bed, where he rolled her on her back so he could attend to the wound.

“Mmmhh,” Ginger groaned in pain.

“I told you we’ve got to stop meeting like this.” The doctor muttered, then there came a heavy knock on the infirmary door.

“Don’t ope…..” She managed to tell the doctor.

“I’ve got to. They’ll storm in here the moment I hesitate.

“Help me up.” Ginger commanded.

The doctor held her up and watched her rush into his small office, holding onto her abdomen.

He waited for her to hide before he opened the door.

“Where’s she?” The guard asked angrily.

“Who?” The doctor asked with a straight face.

“Don’t play with me; the blood trail led me here.” “And I saw her going into that hallway 30 minutes before the lockdown.”

“No one is here,” the doctor said while blocking his way.

“Ginger, come out now.” Martin thundered.

There was a loud thud as he thundered around the room, pulling covers off the bed.

The doctor rushed to where Ginger was, and she was on the floor and out of breath.

**************

Prison POV

Ginger woke up three hours later, and the first person she saw was Martin, the guard, staring at her.

“You let him in?” she asked the doctor, still groaning in pain.

“I let myself in, lady.”

“I wasn’t talking to you.” She smirked and turned to the doctor. “I’m not in handcuffs.”

“Yes, Martin took care of the blood trail, and, well, the rest of the rival gangs, who seemed to have no idea about the duel, are in solitary right now.”

Ginger, chuckled. “So they have no idea I was there.”

“No, we had to carry you back to your cell for inspection and then back.”

“Who asked you to speak?” Ginger muttered.

“Look, it’s either you behave so I help you cover this up, or you go back to solitary and never see the light of day again.” Martin squirmed.

The doctor gave her a pleasant look, and she heaved a sigh of relief.

“So what do we do now?” The doctor inquired further.

“Her cellmate already covered the alibi part, and so far it seems like two gangs went to war and didn’t survive.”

The next thing they heard was a shriek. They turned to Ginger, who was holding on to her abdomen and still laughing.

“Why are you two so worried about this?” “The commander can’t afford the press all over this prison, so there’d be no investigations.”

Martin was surprised she could still stomach laughter in the midst of all the chaos.

“You’ve got to stop doing this, Ginger.” I won’t be able to help you the next time you come in here reeking of blood.”

“She’s done this before?” Martin asked the doctor.

He shook his head, and his forehead sunk in. “She took out two guards on her third week of being inmate 007.”

Ginger gave them both a “stop talking about me” look.

“Guards?” “Why guards?” Martin asked with a confused look on his face.

“Isn’t it obvious, Dickhead?” “I love guards.”

Martin seemed like he wanted to smile but quickly covered it with a smirk. “And why do you help her so much?”

“She was the youngest inmate I’ve ever seen working with prisons.

“Younge……”

“That’s enough, doctor.” Ginger silenced him before he could keep talking.

They were still talking when her cellmate, Bea, came in.

******************

“You?” “How did you find me, James?” She was obviously angry.

“I knocked on every door here.” He sounded angry.

“So, you followed me, just to prove a point?” Jewel scowled.

“Explain to me what you are doing in this hotel.”

She held on to the door, preventing him from entering. “Last I checked, I don’t owe you anything.”

He pushed himself against the door and said, “Really, let me in.”

Jewel kept blocking his way.

Ginger, who had been struggling to stand up for the last minute, finally held on to the bedpost and walked to the door.

She tapped her on the shoulder, and they came facing each other while still holding on to the door firmly.

Jewel mouthed, “I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay.” She admitted.

Jewel finally let the door open for him.

He pushed himself in with speed and stumbled.

When he found his balance, their gazes met.

James seemed like he saw a ghost because he suddenly went from a guy who was arguing earlier to one who couldn’t talk.

They stared for a few more seconds before they both looked away quickly, pretending that moment didn’t happen.

“Suddenly, you lost your voice.” Jewel teased.

“I’m sorry, you could have informed me that you were with emm…”

She scoffed, “Before you think I’m into women now, this is my sister.”

Jewel interrupted him before he could conclude. He went back to staring while Jewel continued to introduce her sister.

Ginger stumbled and was going to reach out for a handshake, but she realized James wasn’t paying any attention to them.

James, who hadn’t stopped staring at Ginger for the past few minutes, regained consciousness when he heard the thud.

Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts

No part of this work is to be copied or distributed without the prior written permission of the author.


CHAPTER 7



“Ginger,” Jewel screamed and rushed to her sister on the floor.

James quickly joined her, checking her pulse.

“She’s got a pulse.”

“Is that good?”

“I believe so, but if she’s your sister like you mentioned, I’d need you to call your dad.”

“No, she wouldn’t want that, James.” “Let me call 911.”

“Look, she’s not about to die on my watch, so give me a hand and call your dad now.” James ordered.

Jewel raised herself from the floor and kept mumbling, “She got shot.”

“Follow me and keep trying, your dad.” James ignored her and carried Ginger to the door.

Jewel couldn’t stop trembling.

“Put yourself together and get the door for me.”

They managed to carry her unconscious body down to Jewel’s car, and James drove off to the nearest hospital.

Ginger woke up in pain and was looking around the room when she spotted her sister sleeping it off.

“Did I not tell you, no hospitals?” Ginger, who was up, grabbed her sister by the hair.

“Stop it, you are going to hurt yourself.”

“You took me to the hospital….” She was talking when Knox walked in.

“What’s the scuffle about?” He thundered across the room.

“Wait a minute, you called Knox?” Ginger whispered to Jewel.

Knox stood in the middle of the room, avoiding her daughter’s gaze.

“I asked a question, and no one has yet responded.” He growls this time.

The whole room went quiet all of a sudden, and the two sisters were staring at each other.

Ginger then curled up and turned her back to them instantly.

Jewel straightened her wig and muttered, “It was my fault, so don’t make a scene here, dad.”

Ginger, who was unconscious for five hours, didn’t know her dad was around. That was the first time she had seen her dad in twenty years.

“Dad, can you leave us for now?” “I need to talk to my sister alone.”

Knox hesitated for a while, then walked out.

She walked to her sister and tapped her to turn around.

“I’m sorry, I disobeyed you, but you scared us and I didn’t know what to do.”

“Us?” Ginger, suddenly found her strength.

“James and I brought you here.”

“And the gunshot wound…” Ginger retreated.

“Don’t worry, Dad spoke to the doctor.”

“Why would you do this to me?” She sniffed as if she were on something.

“Your life was in danger, Ginger.”

“So now the whole family knows I’m back.”

“It’s going to be fine.”

“No, it won’t, because no one wants me here.”

Jewel reached out for her hand, then heaved a sigh of frustration. “You mean Mom?” She’d have to go through me this time around.


“I don’t want to cause trouble for you, Jewel.”

“I know, but if you leave again, I’ll follow you.”





******************



Ginger stared at her for a minute and cleared her throat.

“What?” She knew there was a sarcastic discussion coming up.

“James!” Ginger exclaimed.

“Relax, I didn’t tell him you were in prison, and besides, Mom and Dad made sure we erased you from our lives, so he had no idea I had a sister until today.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes, that’s the one thing I never told him, and I’m happy I don’t need to sneak around to see you anymore.”

She winced in pain and said, “Tell me how you two met.”

“Shouldn’t you be focusing on getting better?”

“Spill it, I’ve had worse.”

She tapped the bed for a few seconds. “You do realise I never forgot about you, right?”

“Absolutely.”

“I started looking for you after my twenty-first birthday.” “Everyone managed to avoid talking about you or the incident, so I decided to check the Connecticut public records.”

“You know my records were sealed, right?”

“Yeah, I found out after I met James there and he mentioned it.”

“What exactly did he tell you?”

“Remind me why we are talking about him again.”

“Is that a crime?” Ginger raised her eyebrows.

Jewel kept looking at her and suddenly smiled.

“Okay, he only said that if people don’t want to be found, their records are sealed, and unless I know someone in a high position, those records remain sealed.”

“That explains sleeping with Manuel the commissioner so you could find me.”

But it worked. “I got your location and started visiting you.”

“Emmm, are you sure that was all you two spoke about?”

“You mean James?”

“Ahuh.”

“Of course, he didn’t know who I was looking for.” I think I told him for some school project. “But we met later on at the supermarket near our old house.”

Ginger kept staring at her sister and shrugging off her thoughts.

“You guys moved?” “You never mentioned it.”

“It didn’t come up during my visits, but it was mom who insisted we move out.”

“I understand. You get rid of the black sheep and the memories.”

“Don’t say that.” “I would have done the same, and besides, I wasn’t well after the incident, and I had to stay in the hospital for seven months.”

“You mentioned that.”

“I…” Jewel was saying when James came in.

“I brought some soup.”

“Soup won’t make me forgive you.” She stared with a frown on her face.

“I know that, but it’s not for you.” He shot back at her with a grin.

“Hey, I’m the invalid here.” Ginger chipped in.

“Glad you are doing good.”

“Thanks for helping out, and nice to meet you.”

“Anything for my sister-in-law.” He glared at Jewel.

James walked around the bed to drop the bowl while trying so hard to avoid Ginger’s glance.

“Your dad is just outside talking to the police.”

“Police?” Ginger raised herself up.

“Relax, sis, you were the victim here, and I told Dad everything earlier.”

She heaved a sigh of relief and laid back on her bed.

“I’ve got to go.” “My dad needs me.” James said while scrolling through his text messages.

“Thanks for coming.” Jewel mumbled.

“We’d talk, right?” He asked, still avoiding Ginger’s gaze.

“I’d see about that.”

Ginger hit her sister gently, and she smiled.

“Okay, I’ll call you in the evening.” Jewel recanted.

“I was thinking I’d come over.”

“Okay. Love you.” Jewel replied, and he smiled on his way out.

Ginger shook her head.

“Was I too hard on him?”

“I don’t know the kind of relationship you two have, but he wasn’t right to follow you.”

“Thank you, sis.” She hit her hand on the bed like it was her first time getting acknowledged by someone.

Then they heard voices not far from their door, and they both looked in that direction.

Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts

No part of this work is to be copied or distributed without the prior written permission of the author.




CHAPTER 8



Knox came in with one policeman.

“Are you alright to answer some questions?”

Ginger chuckled and pulled the woolen pillow over her head.

Knox glanced at Jewel. “Talk to her and get her to cooperate with the investigation.”

“Ginger, ca………”

“Stop calling her that.” Knox was surprised by the name.

“Dad, this isn’t the time; she changed names, so go along with it.”

Ginger, pulled the pillow off. “Ask your questions before I change my mind.”

Jewel signaled the officers to proceed. The bald officer cleared his throat.

“Do you know why someone would want to kill you?”

Ginger stared at his head and smiled. “Why are you bald?”

“Ginger, be serious here.” Jewel turned to the officer. “I apologize.”

“Okay, it could be because I killed someone.” She retorted.

“I’m well aware of your record, and you’ve done your time.”

“Then I guess it’s your duty to find out who tried to kill me, officer…” She raised her head to read his name tag.

“Brandon. Officer Brandon Bald.”

He gave her a mean look while Jewel shook her head.

“Good, though they could be after my sister.”

“Sister?”

“She was with me.” Ginger pointed at Jewel.

Jewel waved at him. “That’s me.”

“You can start from there.” Ginger winked, which confused Brandon.

“If anyone wanted her dead, they could have done that easily behind bars and not waited for 20 years to create a scene, unless whoever it was thinks she’s a danger to their loved ones out of prison.” Jewel chipped in, shaking her head.

“Even my 27-year-old sister could figure that out.” Ginger teased.

“But you said they could be after her.”

“Don’t you get it?” “I said that so you know where to start.”

“I don’t get it,” Brandon grumbled.

Ginger meant someone might have followed me since I was the only one who knew she was being released.

The policeman was embarrassed and, at the same time, felt like smacking Ginger.

He wrote inside his small book and glanced at Knox, then back at Ginger.

“Have you made any enemies in prison?”

She had a mischievous grin on. “Not civilians, but definitely cops.”

The silence in the room was deafening, like they were in an empty space.

“I think we can take this up another time, Brandon.” Knox hit him on the shoulders.

“Sure boss.” He murmured while walking out, constantly looking back.

When the policeman left, everyone in the room was just staring at each other.

Jewel grins from ear to ear. “Dad, say something.”

He scratched his head. “Are you in p……”

Knox turned to Ginger.

She chuckled and avoided his glance.

“At some point, you two would have to get along.” Jewel cautioned.

He walked closer to her bed and asked, “Do you have to be rude to that police officer?”

“And that concerns you because…” Ginger was saying when he cut in.

“I can see prison didn’t change you at all.”

“Dad, don’t make things worse.” Jewel chipped in.

“No, let him.” “The worst he can do is throw me back in jail.”

“You think it was fun for me to see you taken away like that?”

“Yet you let it happen.” “Twenty years and not a single visit from you.”

Knox laughed. “Your naivety still baffles me.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You think I risked my career to seal your records just because I hate you?”

“Well, you never liked me from the beginning, so it’s no news to me.”

“You sound like your mother right now.”

“Don’t bring my mother into this.” She didn’t leave her gun unlocked for a child to find.

“And somehow, that was my fault when I warned you two several times not to enter my office without permission.”

“We were kids, so I don’t know exactly what you were expecting.”

“To be kids and not shoot another kid because they made fun of you,” Knox growled.

“You say I’m naive, but now I know after all these years, you are the dumbest person I’ve ever met.”

“Ginger!” Jewel exclaimed.

“What? ” “Don’t tell me I’m wrong.”

“What I want is not to relieve the past.” “It messes with my head.”

Ginger glared at Jewel and mouthed “sorry.”

“I’m going to pick up some clothes.” The doctor said you’d spend a few weeks here.

“Weeks?”

“Yes, apparently you have a few broken bones that haven’t healed properly.” Knox muttered.

“I don’t want anyone invading my body.”

“But y….”

“You want us to fight?” Ginger gave her dad a weird look.

“No, I’d talk to the doctor about having you come home on Wednesday.”

“I want to leave right away.”

“Okay, just hold on for a while.” Knox was irritated earlier, so he gave up.

“Why?” Ginger retorted.

“I need to talk to…

“You need permission from your control freak of a wife.”

“You know what?” “I’m not going to allow you to keep making my life difficult.” “Do whatever pleases you.”

He was walking out when Jewel called after him.

“Where are you going?”

“To get the doctor to discharge her, and after that, she’s on her own.” He muttered and walked out.

Jewel frowned for a while.

“You need to stop treating Dad that way.”

“I’m sorry I called your mom names.”

“That’s alright but can we agree you’d take it easy on us.”

“I’d try.”

“Great.”

*********************

Ginger and Jewel are half-sisters. They were each other’s keepers until Ginger was taken away by the police one night.



Jewel was always the sick and whiny one who needed protection, and somehow Ginger always felt left out, but she also loves her sister because she was the only one who cared about her when things went south with the family.



To Ginger, her dysfunctional family is the only thing keeping her sane, especially Jewel. She thought living around her family would keep her from going off the rails.

Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts

No part of this work is to be copied or distributed without the prior written permission of the author.




CHAPTER 9



Ginger made a loud noise and woke up instantly.

“Shhhh.” “You are alright.” Her sister cuddled.

“Is everything alright?” Knox asked.

“I think so, dad.”

He focused back on the road, stared at the Northville Street sign board, and looked back at his children.

Northville was where they lived before the incident. Jewel had earlier managed to get Knox to agree to Ginger coming home with them.

“Does that happen a lot?”

He pulled off the road.

Ginger just avoided him, then her sister signaled for him to drive on.

“Tell her the rules—no drugs, weapons, or men in my house.” He whispered and hit the road once more.

Ginger chuckled.

They were on the road for another hour before they got home.

Elis was sitting in front of the gate.

Their dad got out first and asked Jewel to help Ginger in.

As they walked by, Ginger said hello, and Elis ignored her.

Jewel rolled her eyes at her mom and walked away.

“I thought you were not bringing her over.”

“Not now, Elis.”

“How would we live with ourselves knowing we have a murderer and ex-convict in our home?”

“Look, I’m not exactly sure how this would go, but can you give me a few days?”

Elis growled at him. “3 days, Knox.”

She walked inside the house and found Jewel attending to her sister.

“Mom, is there any broth for Ginger?”

“Do I look like an invalid?” Her mom retorted.

“Elis?” Jewel yelled.

“Hey, calm down.” “Tea is fine.” Ginger drew her sister’s attention.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded.

Knox gasped and let out a loud sigh. “Now that this is sorted, she’ll sleep on the couch tonight, so we’ll figure out what to do tomorrow.”

“Dad, there’s an extra room next to my room.”

“I know but…”

“But what?”

“You guys think she’s not part of the family?”

“I never said that.”

“Jewel, the couch is fine.” “I’ve slept on the floor most times in prison, so the couch shouldn’t be a problem.”

“No, it’s either you have that room or I move out with you right now.”

She heaved loudly. “You have a big bed, right?”

“Not really,” Jewel said grudgingly.

“I can stay with you tonight, and we’ll change the bed tomorrow if that’s okay with you.”

Jewel snorted at her parents and agreed. She left for the kitchen, and her dad went upstairs.

Elis walked to where Ginger was and hit her on the shoulder.

“I don’t know what you are doing here, but I want you gone.”

Ginger adjusted herself on the couch and glared at her.

“What are you looking at?” I don’t want you here anymore.

“Is that why you sent someone to kill me yesterday?” she asked, examining her face.

Elis’s face was suddenly heavy, and she tried to walk away, but the faster she walked, the more she found herself standing in front of Ginger.

“So, it’s true.” Ginger didn’t know for a fact, but she wanted to see her reaction to confirm.

“What’s true?” Jewel suddenly appeared, asking.

They were both silent for a while.

“Mom, what’s true?”

Her tongue was too heavy to lift itself.

“Jewel, your mom just confirmed she insisted you guys move out of the old place.” Ginger lied while Elis’s heart was beating so fast.

She walked away quietly.

“I thought I already told you that.”

“I needed to confirm,” Ginger smirked.

“She did have broth.” Jewel carefully handed the bowl of soup to her sister and sat beside her.

Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts




No part of this work is to be copied or distributed without the prior written permission of the author.




CHAPTER 10 – Prison POV




Martin stood at his quarter’s door and waved to Ginger to come quickly.

She peered down the corridors and dashed into his quarters.

“Hey!” Martin greeted.

“What’s the emergency?” “And I told you the fact that you saved me once does…”

“More than once.” He interrupted.

“Whatever,” she shrugged. “I don’t owe you any visits.” “Especially not in here, so stop slipping coded notes under my pillow,” Ginger muttered and glanced around the room.

It was a small, shared chamber with wallpaper of islands—something that would only be found in the outside world. Ginger smiled and walked closer to the wallpapers as they caught her attention.

“Do you like them?” He inquired in almost one breath.

Ginger jumped out of her skin. “Bleep!” “You scared me.”

“I’m sorry. He apologised and reached out for her hands.

For a minute, everything came to a standstill, then Ginger pulled away.

“What’s this place called?” She inquired, pointing to a wall-papered island.

“Oh, that’s Kauai.”

“I like it, auai” she mimicked and laughed.

“No, Kauai…”

“I heard you clearly. “Now tell me why I’m in your chambers,” Ginger asked.

He scratched his face and then moved to his head. Ginger watched as he fidgeted.

“So?” Ginger prompts with her hands in the air.

“I pulled your files.” He retorted.

“I thought I asked you to leave it alone.”

“I know, but I don’t understand why you don’t want my help to get out of here.”

“Because I don’t want to, and it’s impossible.”

“Ginger, you were 13 at the time.” “Who in their right mind throws a thirteen-year-old behind bars for using a gun left by grownups?”

“I didn’t tell you that,” Ginger said as she walked away from him.

“I don’t know if you know this, but someone went to great lengths to seal your file.

“I’m guessing you have them redacted.” She muttered in an undertone.

Just when Martin thought everything was okay, Ginger yelled. She was swamped with waves of emotions. Martin glared into her bloodshot eyes. He was sure; she wanted his help a few months ago when they attempted to talk about it.

“Who do you think you are?” If I ask you not to do something, you don’t. At this point, she was yelling.

Martin held her tightly as she struggled to get out of his arms. That was the only way he could end whatever emotions she was feeling at that time. She finally gave up after 10 seconds and broke down in tears.

“It’s okay.” Martin held her to the floor. “I’m sorry, I brought back memories.”

“I didn’t…” she said amidst her tears when Martin kissed her.

Ginger hesitated for a while before giving in. She came to her senses when the siren outside blared. Ginger pulled away immediately and rushed out.

Martin, who was embarrassed, rushed after her to make sure she wasn’t caught. He rushed through the corridors, then to the cells, while the siren was still blaring in the background. Then he came face to face with the riot going on in the inmates’ dining space. Bumping into a few inmates, he set off to find Ginger, and his eyes caught a glimpse of her keeping her cool in a corner watching the rest fight.

He stood far away and smiled. Martin was surprised for the first time since he got in there a year ago—she was not the ringleader of the riot.

“Man, what are you standing there for?” “Hit them and lock them up.” He got startled in the midst of the noise and spun around to see his colleague giving him a bat.




**************************

Elis couldn’t sleep the entire night; she kept checking on Jewel as if Ginger had some disease that would plague her daughter. She went in to do her final checkup while the two sisters were soundly asleep.

Elis picked up the pillow that fell off the bed and moved towards Ginger.

Hatred settled in, and fear of Ginger destroying their almost perfect life engulfed her.

As she walked over to suffocate her, Jewel woke up.

“Mom, what’s going on?”

She jumped up quickly. “I came to talk to you.”

Jewel tried to get rid of the sleep in her eyes and stared at the wall clock.

“At four in the morning?”

“Well, I couldn’t sleep until I was sure you were fine.”

“I’m a big girl now, so you’ve got to stop sneaking up on me.”

Elis was quiet for a while, glaring at Ginger.

“I just worry about you.”

She read the expression on her mom’s face. “I haven’t had an episode since I stopped the medication.”

“I know, but I’m not sure now that she’s back.”

“So, this is about Ginger.”

Elis walked over to her bedside. “I don’t want the past to take over your mind again.”

She took her mom’s hands into hers.

“Has it ever occurred to you that Ginger going away was what made me snap?”

“Maybe, but we had it under control.”

“I know, but I snapped and couldn’t talk for an entire year when she was ripped from my arms like a murderer.”

“But she is a murderer,” Elis murmured without an iota of regret.

“It was an accident, mom.”

“How do you know when you weren’t even there?” Her mom frowned.

“I know my sister would never hurt anyone intentionally.”

“Yet a child died, and another is bedridden.”

“For the record, Luke walks now.”

“How do you even know that?”

“Forget it, mom.” I guess all I’m saying is, “Give Ginger a second chance to right her wrongs.”

Elis heaved a sigh of relief. “It doesn’t mean she didn’t take an innocent life.”

“I know, mom.”

“Okay, she can stay and keep the other room.”

“Yaay, m…..”

“Shhhh.” On condition that she behaves and avoids me.

Jewel rushed into her mom’s arms. “I love you, mom.” “Oh, mom, she’s Ginger now.”

“So I heard.”

“Can you go along with that and support her as you would me?” Jewel pleaded.

Elis sighed heavily. “I just hope we are making the right decision here.”

“We are, and I promise she’d do right by you.”

Elis held on to her daughter for a while before letting go.

As soon as she went away, Ginger laughed.

“You heard all that?”

She turned around. “Thanks for standing up for me like that.”

“Always my love.”

There was silence for a while.

“You know how you said you were ripped from my arms?” Ginger asked.

“Yes,” Jewel replied with concern registered on her face.

“What do you mean by that?” Ginger’s heart skipped for a moment.

“After we heard the shots from outside, I cried to be let into the room to see you, and you looked so fragile that I rushed into your arms just for the police to enter at that moment to take you away.” “I remember you had blood all over you, and I still can’t take my mind off it.”

“That’s okay, let’s go back to bed.” Carla quickly shut her up.

Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts



No part of this work is to be copied or distributed without the prior written permission of the author.



CHAPTER 11 – SET IN THE PAST



Judge Saltman slipped a note under the Attorney Generals’ door and rushed back to his car.

He hit the steering wheel twice and his forehead sunk in.

“It’s been 15 years, what do you think that piece of information would do?” The lady in the back seat startled him.

“Gosh! Zara.” He yelled and picked up his portable oxygen tank which had fallen off the seat and adjusted his nebulizer.

“I’ve got to find this girl and make sure she gets the justice she needs before I die.”

“She must be a woman now, Judge.” Zara, his assistant, replied.

“That doesn’t mean she isn’t deserving of justice.” “I know what I did was wrong, but if I had known my son wouldn’t have lived beyond the time limit, I would have insisted she stays in Juvi.”

“I thought you found her dad.”

“He didn’t return my voicemails, proving…”

“He was in on it,” Zara mentioned.

The destructive judge took a deep breath and asked Zara to come to the front and drive. He adjusted his seat at the other end, and Zara drove off.

“Once she gets out, we’ll find her.”

“I hope I’m still here in 5 years when she gets out.”

“You will, and since you signed off, your office will be notified.” Zara said as she returned her gaze to the road.

***********************
SET IN THE PRESENT



James walked out on his dad earlier, and when he got back, he hurriedly rushed into his room to shower.

His dad kept banging on his door.

“Will you open up?”

“Go away, dad.”

The furious Amos forced the door open.

He was fixing his belt when he walked in.

“How dare you disobey me again?” The old man thundered.

“In case you haven’t noticed, I stopped following your orders when I fell in love.”

The next thing he knew, his dad landed a slap on his face.

Amos raised his hand for the first time against his son.

“What was that for?”

“For disobeying me.”

“Dad, that family is harmless, so I don’t know why you need me to ruin their lives.”

“You are very gullible, Jam…” Mr. Amos was interrupted by the doorbell.

“We are not done here.” He issued a warning and walked out the door.

James slumped on the bed, trembling.

Mr. Amos got the door opened, and it was Jewel.

He feigned a smile. “We didn’t know you were coming.”

“Yes, I thought I’d surprise James.” “I brought your favorite doughnuts.” She smiled cheekily.

“You do know my taste.” He went on with his pretense.

After a few chit-chats, Jewel left him to check on James.

His door was opened halfway.

She peeped and smiled. “Pennies for your thoughts.”

James sprung up. “Babes. “What are you doing here?”

She closed the door behind her and walked to his bed.

“I’m here to apologize and also do this.” She leaned over and kissed him while holding on tightly.

James didn’t want to go far, so he slowly pushed her away.

“I’m really not in the mood now, Jewel.”

“Okay, but I’m sorry.”

“I understand you love your sister and want to keep her secrets, so I won’t blame you.”

“Thank you so much.”

“But whatever secret kept her away, is it over?”

“Well, yes. “So far as she doesn’t get herself in trouble again.”

“She’s trouble, I guess.” He reached out for her hands.

“Most of the time, she’s the most amazing person I’d give my life for…”

“Ouch, that hurts.” James teased.

“Don’t worry, I love you too, but family first.” Jewel countered.

“How about we have dinner together with your sister?”

“What? I’m not sure Ginger would agree to that.

“Why not?”

“It’s just that sh…”

“She doesn’t like me.” James concluded for her.

“I never said that.” She’s been through a lot, and I don’t want to make her feel left out.

“The more reason she has to go out and have fun,” James said, poking her cheeks.

Jewel mumbled for a while. “Alright, I’ll talk to her when I get home, but for now, I need to go back to work.”

She stood up, stole another kiss, and ran off before he could convince her to stay.

Copyright © 2021 by Loudest Thoughts




No part of this work is to be copied or distributed without the prior written permission of the author.




CHAPTER 12




Ginger tiptoed out of the room while they were still asleep. For some reason, Jewel has refused to sleep in her own room for the past six days since Ginger got back.

She pulled a backpack from under their bed that Jewel had no idea she had when they got home.

Jewel figured she must have brought it home when she went out briefly that week and left Ginger at home with her parents, who don’t care.

Ginger heard a creek behind her and got startled. She looked back and saw the light in her parent’s room come on. She waited for a few minutes, and it went off.

Walking down the steps gently, she kept checking her wristwatch.

"Right on time." She whispered to herself and tiptoed out the door.

When she got to the main compound, she saw a motorcycle waiting for her.

Ginger rushed to the motorcycle, hopped on, and signaled the rider to drive off.

Jewel, who had been hiding the whole time while following her sister, fidgeted with her car keys and got in her car. She drove off at top speed, hoping to catch up with her sister’s bike at 3 in the morning.

She sat in her car terrified the entire time, believing Ginger knew no one outside of prison, and they arrived at Simi's nightclub on 4th Avenue after what seemed like a long drive.

Jewel, who had parked a few blocks away, saw her sister get off the bike after looking around for a while. She let out a sigh of relief.

She laughed so hard. "Silly me!" She's here to have fun. Jewel reassured herself and was about to get out of the car when Ginger got off the bike and reached out to the person whose bike it was for a hug. She didn't think they knew each other.

With a confused look on her face, she sat back and decided to follow instead.

Ginger looked around nervously and smacked her lips, then Bea tapped her on the shoulder.

"Ging," the lady she was walking with called out. I think you are being followed.

"You felt that too?" She sprawled around to face Bea.

"Yes, so I’d do a sweep around the club, and you go do your thing." She smiled and handed Ginger an envelope.

"What’s this?" Ginger inquired.

"Whatever you need to know about your target is in there." Bea told her with a stupid grin on her face.

She was going away when Ginger pulled her back after opening the envelope.

"This is a teenager, Bea." She pointed to the picture she took out of the envelope earlier.

"Yes, is that an issue for you because I know you’ve done worse?" Bea muttered, annoying the snot out of Ginger.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ginger raised her hand against Bea's face and slapped her hard.

Bea held on to her right cheek. "You slapped me?"

"I told you, if I’m going to do these kinds of jobs, I make my own picks."

"I get that you want to run things, but it’s not possible, Ginger," I told you this when I came to see you a week before your release.

"And I remember telling you, if I’m going to be taking a life in the outside world, I want to run things."

"You know what you're asking me to do would be putting a target on our backs."

Ginger nodded. "I’d get rid of your man at a later date."

"You are still going to kill the kid, right?"

"The mention of the kid made Ginger sick in the stomach. "Now go check the perimeter."

She spoke, and her eyes caught the washroom. Ginger rushed in there with speed.

Unknown to Ginger and Bea, the club had a back entrance to the main dance room.

Jewel saw her sister walking to the washroom and hid behind the door leading to the dance room.

After what seemed like minutes, Jewel saw them enter the dance room, where they disappeared without a trace. She kept knocking people off the dance floor. They all reeked of alcohol. Most were young girls and boys who probably had a fun night and were having their last dance before morning.

She finally spotted Ginger being directed to a private room, and she followed, stumbling a few times.

Fortunately, the door wasn’t locked, and Jewel rushed in.

"Ginger!" She yelled and fell to the floor.

Ginger was facing the entrance with a pillow pressing over someone’s face while Bea looked on. Either they forgot to lock the door or they thought it was going to be a fast one.

Bea quickly drew her gun before she saw who it was. Ginger’s heart sank, and she jumped out of her own skin, probably because she was caught unawares.

"Put that away right now." Ginger quickly reacted and thundered.

She was rushing to Jewel when the young man she was hired to kill woke up grudgingly. He appeared so out of it, probably on ecstasy, because he obviously didn’t feel a pillow over his face earlier.

"What’s g...oing on?" He asked sleepily and drunkenly.

"Get out!" Ginger yelled while checking her sister's pulse. "Now!" she yelled again, glaring at him.

He stood there like a lost puppy. Ginger pushed him out the door, forgetting to close it. Jewel regained her consciousness slowly, and her eyes met her sister's. She jeered like a scary little cat dumped in a pool of water.

"Where’s the body?" Jewel inquired in a single breath.

Ginger tried reaching out with her hands, but she ran off.

"Don't come near me." She shifted away from Ginger's reach and rushed to the door, but Bea was quick to close the door and pull her to the floor.

She kept trying to free herself from Bea's arms as Ginger walked over.

"Easy Jewel." She forced a smile on her face.

"Get away from me; you killed him." She pushed her sister's hands away when she tried to touch her.

"No one is dead here; just relax and I can explain," Ginger reassured her.

"Bea, let her go." Ginger muttered sternly while Jewel whimpered.

"But s......"

"Who's in charge here?" Ginger countered with bloodshot eyes. She was so frustrated at not knowing how to handle the situation. Ginger knew if she didn't cooperate and Bill found out she saw what nearly happened, she'd have to do what she's spent her whole life protecting Jewel from.

"You are," Bea answered and let go of Jewel mischievously.

She ran around the room and finally remembered where the door was.

"I’m not going to hurt you, and you know that," Ginger said, glancing at Bea and the door. Bea got the message clear while Jewel headed for the door.

They both got to the door at the same time, and Bea held her down again.

She wailed while Bea locked the door behind them.

"Let me go, and I won’t tell anyone." She continued to cry and turned to her sister. Ginger, I promise I'll forget this. "Please, I want to go home." She cried out loudly now, while Bea held her hand over her neck.

The look on Bea's face seemed like she was irritated. She finally ripped her scarf and gagged Jewel so she couldn’t talk.

Ginger, in her confused state, sprawled around, then punched the floor.

"Omg!" "She never listens; now I’ve got to take care of this." She cursed and turned around, walking back to her sister, who was still being held down.

"Take the gag off," Ginger ordered.

"But Ginger….."

"What?" Ginger yelled.

"You never leave a witness." Bea reminded her.

"Like I left you alive?" Ginger inquired and gave her a long stare.

"That was different, Ginger, and you know Bill won’t let this go."

"Bleep Bill." "How do you expect me to get rid of the one person I’ve lived my life trying to protect?"

Bea glanced at Jewel squirming on the floor, then reached out to her pocket with a handkerchief. And before Ginger could say anything, she took off Jewel’s gag and covered her mouth with the handkerchief while she struggled to breathe.

"What did you do, Bea?" Ginger dashed over and pushed her away from her sister.

Bea landed on her hands, but it was too late. Jewel had already passed out.

"No, you didn’t. "Tell me you…….." Ginger pounced on Bea, and the look on her face restrained her.

"She got back to her sister and carried her while Bea held the door for her. They rushed out while everyone was busy dancing or sleeping it off.

Ginger had grabbed the key from her sister's jeans pocket earlier and pressed on the alarm button so she could locate Jewel’s car.

"You know how to operate this," she said, pointing to the car.

Bea nodded and took the car key from her.

"Get your bike in the boot and take us home." She spoke with a strained voice.

"Home?" I don’t think it’s a good idea, Ginger.

"I spared you earlier, so hush up and let me deal with my sister the way I want to."

Bea watched on while Ginger adjusted her sister on the backseat and sat beside her, supporting her neck.

"Hurry, get your bike in, and let's go before she wakes up and sees you." Bea woke out of her reverie when Ginger whistled.