A Little Kindness

CHAPTER 4

Freddie sat over a table outside and the ocean breeze violently shook his hair about. He had a bottle of beer in front of him and a tumbler with little of the beer in it. 

Few minutes later, Paolo walked over and sat on the chair at the other side of the table. He had a bandage over his face 

“looking good” Freddie teased him and began to pour out a drink into the tumbler. 

Paolo scoffed and looked away. “Now I have another scar for life” he said 

“and you can't hide this one under sleeves” Freddie mocked and gave a short laugh. He sipped beer from the tumbler and dropped it. 

“don't tell me. I want to get that girl. Get her and make her pay! That wench!” he croaked 

“well, you can make her pay when she's off this ship and off my hands. But as long as you're on my ship? And she's under my custody? You can't lay no finger on her” 

“I see you like the girl”

“I do. She has what I'm looking for”

“you want to take her for yourself right? You just want to have a taste of her before anyone else? Eish! You b@stard!”

“Hahaha! No! Of course not! After seeing what she's done to you? Nah! I can't take chances. Besides, my men raped her before bringing her here” 

“then why? Why do you care about her so much? You personally killed the Asian girl who dared to cuss at you and hit you. Why won't you let me do same to someone who has ruined my face?”

“your face has always been ruined Paolo. It just got a little bit more ruined”

“stop teasing me. It's not funny”

Freddie laughed and gulped down beer again. 

“that girl... Is money in human form” he spoke up with a more serious and evil tone

“she could fetch us millions of dollars. She's exactly what he wants. Tall, fair, beautiful. Do you know how much we would loose if she gets a single scar on her body?” 

There was silence for some seconds. 

“I'm sorry. I didn't think that”

“I don't want you or anyone else near her or her friends. Let's get them to him and get off this side of the world” 

***

“hey, get up! Come out all of you!” another masculine voice echoed through the cell. Avril's eyes popped open and she looked up.

“get up. Up!” he said again and the other girls began to stand. Nana motioned to the Chinese girl to also stand up and she did. 

Avril who had slept off with her back leaning against the wall, tried to gain a clear vision first. She then tried to stand but felt s sharp, terrible pain in her lower abdomen. She let out a shrew cry and sat back down. 

“Avril! Are you okay?” Nana asked and bent over to her. Avril held her hand and Nana pulled her up. 

“are you okay?” Chidi asked 

“my belly... It hurts so bad” Avril cried and leaned against Nana 

“the pain just settled in. Don't worry, you'll be fine” Chidi said 

“follow me” the man said and began to walk away. They too moved out of the cell, helping Avril to walk. They kept walking for too long a distance and Avril couldn't cope with the pain anymore. Her face and arms hurt. Her tummy felt like a hot metal bowl was placed on it and her legs were just too heavy. 

“how big is this ship? Why is it taking so long to get to wherever we're going?” Nana asked. She was getting tired of Avril's groans and cries. She felt her pain. 

“be strong okay?” Chidi encouraged and smiled at Avril who just nodded. 

Finally, they got to a door and the man opened it. 

“this is where you'll be staying until we reach our destination. Go in and rest properly” he said and left immediately 

“this is where we'll be staying?” Chidi asked rhetorically 

They entered and looked around, not able to believe it just yet. 

It was a small room but bigger than their cell. There was a table in the middle of the room and a small couch. There was a wooden chair also. 

On the wooden chair was a stack of neatly folded duvets and blankets. 

“wow. It's warm” Avril managed to say

Nana helped her sit on the couch while they looked around. 

The Chinese girl pulled up a curtain and opened a tiny window. Ocean air blew into the room and the girls went to look through it. 

“wow. The ocean is beautiful” Nana said 

“if only this was a vacation. I would have enjoyed the view”

“how do you like the room. It's better than the cell right?” Freddie spoke from the front of the open door. Non of them answered him though 

“well I figured this place suits you better. Oh, you, how is the pain now?” he asked, directing his question at Avril. 

“she's in lots of pain. I had to help her walk here” Nana spoke up 

“your muscles are sore. I'll get one of my men to bring some hot water and balm for you” he said and turned to go then stopped and looked at Avril 

“what's your name? I only told you mine earlier” 

“oh. I'm Avril Henderson” 

“lovely name” he said and walked out 

“he's the guy that saved you?” Nana asked and sat beside her 

“yes“

“he's handsome, no doubt” 

“I wonder why he's helping you. He was the one who k–” Nana was going to tell Avril that he killed The Chinese girl's friend but Chidi glared at her 

“he was the one who did what?” Avril asked 

“he was the one who kept us here” Nana said and glared back at Chidi. 

“I thought about that too. He seems like the boss here” Avril said 

“we have to be careful. Extra careful. But we are however grateful to him for your life” Chidi stated 

Nana got up and walked to a door behind them. She opened it and gasped 

“look guys! A bathroom!”

“a bathroom! Oh thank God!” Chidi exclusive and ran into it immediately then closed the door in Nana's face. 

“hey! I found it and I'm supposed to use it first!” Nana yelled and banged on the door 

Avril chuckled softly and stared down at the floor. Even though she was supposed to be happy and relax in the warm room, she couldn't help but worry. Earlier, while walking with Nana's aid, she had stepped on her left leg. That was her jinx and she knew something bad was going to happen to her.