The Game Changer Episode 14

The Game Changer Episode 14

© Tisa Phiri

” stay in the back Steve you are hurt.” Ackim ordered me after unitieing me and led me out as the gun shots went loose outside the entire area. It was so noisy everywhere.

” hell no, am not leaving this God damned place without making these bas***d pay for messing my face” I responded taking long steps behind Ackim who was holding his two guns ready to fight.

” i thought you could say that!” He smiled throwing me a rifle , 20 rounds long rifle he had put on his back.

” ooowoooo! This is my baby.” I shouted happily and turned to the exit shooting our way out leaving a trail of dead bodies in the long passage, Pushing forward making the other guys step behind.

” our guys are outside! Ackim shouted as he aimed at a guy shooting 12 o’clock ahead of us.

” how many?” I asked running to duck behind some vehicle outside as some fast shots came towards us.

” two” he shouted standing up and shooting ahead before coming to me.

” are you sh*tting me right now?” I chuckled.

” no am not soldier, why? You scared ?” He teased running forward and shooting to avoid the shots.

” i like small groups. More efficient” he added with a laugh.

” dammit!” I scre-med in pain as my back hit the wall as i tried to follow him. I saw a guy aiming at him from the other side and i stoped making sure i had a clear shot before he got to Ackim.

” stay down! I shouted to him and he bend immediately giving me chance to fire straight at the sniper.

” i thought they finished you” he teased running ahead. I sighed shaking my head and looked back.

I saw the guy who came to torture me running to the car in the back of the buildings behind.

” i see you my friend” i whispered to myself rushing back.

” Steve where are you going?, we have to go now before others get here!” Ackim shouted but i I raised my hand at him pointing to the back.

” not before i settle some idiot! ” i told him and ran back before the car i saw him run to left.

I took out both tires and the vehicle went down flat. The guy with two others stepped out and started shooting at me but i got behind the block p-nting as i waited for an opportunity to take my shot, my long gun pointed out. I couldn’t mind the small stones pricking my bare feet. I was not even feeling cold anymore with only a short that Ackim had got me from one of the guards. Am sure in day light it would look so funny and small.

The shots continued coming towards me and immdeaditely it was quiet i peeped seeing the guy loading his gun. I fired straight at him and he went down without a sound.

” get that dog!” I whispered to myself and charged forward. I needed to get to my target so i went ahead to the building I suspected he had gone to.

I looked around taking steady silent steps as i got to the dark room. He made a mistake shooting before he had me clearly so i knew which direction to shoot.

One steady shot and I heard him squirm in pain.

I fired again and sure i had him, i walked towards him. Just then the lights went on and a guy came through the door firing.

” oh big mistake” I smiled mockingly and took him off in an instant.

” who the hell trains you guys to shoot Amos? You are so pathetic” I pushed the gun from near my torturer as he cried in pain. I noticed I hit his shoulder and leg.

” you you… I will…” he stattered in pain

” yeah yeah, i told you keeping me alive was a big mistake but like always people never listen to me” i smiled stepping on his wounds.

” ouchhhhhh! ” he cried loudly.

” now you are dead meat you fool! But I will have to learn something from you before you get to hell” I pulled him up.

Ackim came in running and stopped in his steps seeing me standing over a man.

” you are so…” he shook his head smiling.

“s€×y?” I teased looking at him

” full of bullets !” He responded and walked to me.

” this jerk made my pretty face messy,” i told him.

” his mistake though was keeping me alive and he wouldn’t listen when i told him so.” I chuckled

” yeah you should have listened to him ” he teased the guy and helped my lift him when I indicted we were goinng with him.

An hour later we were heading to Mumbwa after going in circles making sure no one followed us.

” am glad to see you General. You saved my life once again” I gave Ackim a quick shoulder hug. After we had put prisoner secured.

” yeah I couldn’t let you die before you teach those fools some lessons. I came in an hour after you leftthe other day. I wanted to surprise you but was told you left for some woman” he paused looking at me.

” you didn’t tell me there is a woman man, should we worry about her? Trust me having someone that close and trying to work through this type of thing will not be easy” he sighed giving me a knowing look.

” no man it’s not that kind of a woman” I shrugged leaning my head to the wall as I felt my head cracking with pain.

” mmmmm are you sure?” He chuckled narrowing his eyes at me.

” she saved my life. She’s the girl from the jungle I told you about last time. I brought her out here and I need to keep her safe. Someone knows about her now and i know She’s in danger. She needs to stay alive no matter what” i expalined to him as he nodded in agreement.

” you care about her i get it, more than you even know for that matter and i want you to get this clearly. Make sure you finish this thing man, you are not to stop until everything is done or you can forget about keeping her alive. Such people never stop man and you are the one to decide their future from now on ” he patted my hand.

” yeah you are right ” i sighed sitting on my bed.

Queen came running and banged the door open. ” Steve! Oh my God you are alive !” She cried hugging me close I winced a bit.

” oh sorry did I hurt you?” She asked with concern looking at my face her hands still around me.

” yeah a little bit” I smiled at her

” oh God look at what they did to your face. You should have stayed away Steve” she cried

” well, well, don’t worry Queen am alright. Meet my friend Ackim, he rescued me from the hands of death” I pointed at him as he watched us in silence.

” thank you so much” she looked at him

” yeah don’t worry he’s going to be Okey, he’s been through worse you know “he smiled looking at me.

” get washed up man i will be outside !” He raised his hands at me and looked at Queen one more time before heading out.

” are you Okey?” I asked her as she kept inspecting my swollen face.

” let me get something to clean your face, you are hurt and…” she couldn’t finish her statement and i pulled her back as she tried to look around for something to use to clean my wounds.

” i will be Okey, alright?” I smiled at her with assurance.

” it’s just that i was so scared the past two days. I, I…i.. thought you were..” she paused crying.

” oh please let’s go away from the city. We need to go back to grand father it’s dangerous out here” she cried fear in her eyes.

” what’s going on Steven? Who are these men around here? Who are those guys after you? What do they want? What are you people doing?” She asked without giving me a chance to respond to any of her questions, her face w-t with tears.

” calm down Queen, please calm down. You are safe here no one will hurt you atleast as long as am alive” I held her face.

” now give me some minutes I wash up and put on something decent then I will tell you what you want to know. Is that cool?” I asked smiling at her.

” yeah” she responded nodding her head continuously and wipping her tears.

” good, wait for me here ” i placed her to sit down and walked into the bathroom which was right in,side my room.

Minutes later i sat on my bed feeling better. She was disinfecting my wounds and covering them gently as I went through the wh0le story.

” so like i told you, these guys need to be stopped. ” i added.

” I knew it, the first instant we came here i knew you would go after those people. Please stop this already it’s too dangerous and there are a lot of them out there like you said yourself. How are you going to defeat them with only a handful of men you have around here?” Queen shook her head.

” well, i will die trying my dear. Even if I wanted to quit now it’s too late, they will come after me and every one I care for as long as am alive. The only way out is to need this war my dear. That’s how it is going to be” i frowned closing my eyes.

” you are stubborn Steve,My God you scare me so much with this your courage” she said almost in a whisper her soft voice soothing my very soul.

I opened my eyes and looked at her. She was looking straight at my face her eyes watery.

” what are you scared of Queen? Is it that I will die or i will finish those Vilians?” I teased

” stop jocking about this Steve, am serious ” she spoke now tears spilling off her eyes.

” stop crying for me lady, i signed to die in this war the moment I decided to start it. It doesn’t matter what happens in the end. Whether I live or die but i will have to finish it. ” i sighed sitting up and wiping her tears.

” so you only care about yourself? You are so selfish Steve, you don’t realise how hurt those who love you would get as long as you achieve your dreams” she cried and I looked at her puzzled.

She sat back a bit and sobbed silently as my hand hanged in the air above her shoulder realising what she was driving at.

” oh God, Queen” I whispered pulling her to face me.

” you didn’t fall in love with me did you?” I shook my head worried.

She looked straight into my eyes. ” even if you don’t see me as i would want to, i still care so much about you and sometimes I want you to see that and try and live Steven.” She spoke with tears.

I looked at her lost of words. I never wanted to envoke what i was feeling for her. I needed her to stay safe and continued living. There was no way I was going to tell her my feelings when my future was not guaranteed.

” look at me Queen” I spoke finally after minutes of silence. She looked at me, ” listen, i care about you so mucc more than I would want to. But i want you to forget about me. Am not the man for you my sweet lady, you deserve a decent good life with a decent sober man. Am just a junky filled with sh*t” I let a small laugh shaking my head.

” i get high to calm my nerves, i act impulsively and above all am not sure of my tomorrow. No no no, i will not subject you to that. ” i sighed

” So please forget I exist and live on okey?” I tried to smile but she didn’t answer, she instead stood up and looked at me, this time i noticed she was upset.

” you are full of sh*t for real and selfish” she spoke and ran out crying I remained stunned by her last words.

“What was that?” Ackim asked walking right through the open door.

” dammit I fu*ked up” i shrugged

” eheee ” he chuckled

” yeah” i frowned.

” okey welcome to the world of women soldier they will twist your mind and make you feel like sh*t when you mess things up, they are like guns, you master a good way to use them they will give you some good satisfaction, handle them bad and you get injured” he smiled sitting besides me.

” that is what i have avoided my entire life man, am better at guns only” I giggled.

” okey so tell me what’s been going on. I couldn’t stay away I felt you could use my help I had to plead with my woman to let me come and finally she said yes, so here i am. That’s if you will have me to help…”

” yeah you bet I need you. Or what? You thought I would fight those Vilians without the help of a legend?” I teased making him laugh a little bit.

…to be continued