The Case Manager by Latoya Chandler

Author:Latoya Chandler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2019-02-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-three

Blackout: Bittersweet

Nakita

Walking into Hope House, anger instantly infiltrated through my veins. As I headed toward the staircase, I heard groans like the sound of a rusty hinge. “Aughhhhh.”

Taking two steps at a time, I heard the groans grow louder and louder.

“You sick bastards!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, witnessing Anthony power-driving Paul.

“Join in or shut up,” Anthony shouted as Paul cried for him to stop.

Only anger and silence followed me at that point. With each passing minute and each second, fury nagged and taunted me to the core. My eyes stared at them, forming an intense gaze. Images of Mr. Frankie, Paul, Ms. Nancy, and Anthony flashed before my eyes, triggering tears to well up. A heightened level of rage pumped through my entire being at an elevated rate. I could see that my glare was starting to make Anthony uncomfortable. He was trying to squirm his way out of Paul’s backside.

“Not so fast, freaks.” I blacked out, grabbing the metal bat we kept by the door. Without notice, something took control of me, and I began swinging.

I swung with every ounce of pain, abuse, and mistreatment stacked in each blow. I thrashed as if my life depended on it, each time connecting with the back of Anthony’s head. As his body slumped over Paul’s frame, I continued striking with everything in me. Blood fled their bodies as if it too were trying to get away from them. The more blood I saw, the more I swung.

Ticktock! Ticktock! Ticktock! Ticktock! The alarm clock sounded. The sound of the alarm clock startled me. It was louder than usual, sending every experience through my head. Memories replayed in my mind repeatedly.

“Leave me alone!” I screamed as my cries echoed throughout the house. I could feel numbness spread throughout my body as my voice continued to scream. I no longer had control over it. My eyes bled with pain as I collapsed on the floor.

I was swollen with emotions as fear rose behind my eyes. “Oh, my God. What have I done?”

“Nakita! No! What have you done?” Candice’s voice cracked.

“I . . . I don’t know.”

“About-face. Ms. Jasmine, please don’t bring the kids up here,” the nurse from the hospital begged.

Kneeling in front of me, Candice cried her eyes out.

“Listen. Please listen to me, Candice,” I urged. It was painful to see her like that. All I could do was embrace her and allow the torrent of her tears to soak through my bloodstained shirt.

With her enveloped in my arms, I begged, “Please, Candice, no matter what happens to me, please promise me you will love and care for Adrianna as your own. Love her as you do me. I love you almost more than I love myself. If you don’t do anything else for me, please take care and love my baby. I will rest easy in my grave knowing she has a better life than I ever did. Please promise me, Candice. Please,” I wept.

“Nakita, baby, I am so sorry it has come to this,” Ms.

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