PAY BACK!!!

Destiny said something.But Ivy was light years away.She remembered Christie's wedding day,the way the gown flowed on her body,how happy she looked.

It had indeed been a beautiful ceremony.Of course the groom's family had spared no expense.Everything was over the top, from the Wedding gown to the decor.

Ivy remembered her own tears that day,seeing her baby sister walk down the aisle towards the love of her life.

....the love of her life.





A dark cloud hovered over her thoughts like the presence of an evil entity.

Is this what "real love"passes for these days? Ivy
 wondered. Is this what being married to the love of your life entails?

What was the point?

"Are you okay?"came Destiny's voice.

Ivy's mind snapped back to the present.She realized they'd been driving in silence for a while.

"...Yea...em....I'm fine...just a little distracted"

Destiny stared at her best friend skeptically  for  a few seconds.

"...are you sure you want to do this?"Destiny asked cautiously as she turned the car into another street.

Ivy shot her a near hateful stare.

"was that a joke.....didn't you see her???"Ivy asked with barely contained rage in her voice.

Long silence.

"I did...and I'm sorry for asking....I just..."Her voice trailed off as she realized her best friend was lost in her thoughts again.

"I've got your back babe....just know that.."She said finally as she drove the car into the parking lot of the Restaurant.

I'm so sorry Abiye. Ivy thought to herself as she casually took off her wedding ring and tucked it into the front pocket of her jeans.

Destiny watched her,and quietly did the same.

The message was clear,

They were doing this as single women....it was personal.

Destiny brought the car to a halt just outside the restaurant and they sat in silence for a while.

How could Christie have let this happen....what was she thinking?Ivy wondered.

This was unacceptable....just unacceptable......

She clenched her fists till her fingers hurt.

Who was she kidding, she'd never done this sort of thing before.She didn't even know if she could.

She felt scared and angry....but mostly angry.

The rage she felt was intense...it almost caused her pain.She knew this had to be done .There was no other way.

"...are you sure we've got the right place?"Destiny whispered.

Ivy didn't respond,her eyes remained focused on the entrance of the establishment.

It was mid day and most workers were showing up for their lunch breaks.

She slowly turned to stare at Destiny.

"She said he always eats here at 12noon...like clock-work"Ivy said calmly.

"..he's never deviated? Are you sure.??.."

"...she's more or less your younger sister too"Ivy snapped with the contained rage still in her voice.

"...stop talking to me like that....your family is my family too.."Destiny replied evenly.

"....I know what has to be done.."She continued after a long silence.

"....my husband might hate me for this but...."

"Do you think I give a flying rat's crap what MY husband would think?....Jesus! Destiny,didn't you see her?"

Long silence.

"I did,....and I'm sorry....I'm as angry as you are"Destiny said with a nod.

They continued staring at the entrance for a few more seconds.

Then he finally showed up.

His car pulled into one of the parking spaces in front of them.

"Lets go"Ivy said.

The two women got out of the car and went to the trunk of the vehicle.




Paul was having a great day.He'd just gotten promoted,and the weather was just right.

He was looking forward to some deliciously hot Afang soup.Everything just seemed perfect.

The only dampener to his mood was what had happened at home that morning.

He shrugged it off.His father always taught him not to fret over things he had no power over.That was life.He thought as he got out of the car.

"Hey Paul,"a female voice called out.

I know that voice.He thought as he turned around.

"Hey Ivy, didn't know you ate here.how is my favorite Sister in law?"

She paused in front of him for a few seconds.There was a look in her eyes he'd never seen before.

"Guess what I found when I went to your house this morning?"Ivy began with what looked like a forced smile.

Paul's heart skipped a beat.But he kept his cool.

"....what did you find?"He began cautiously.

"Oh!...just my kid sister...lying on the kitchen floor, beaten almost to the point of death"She said with a light shrug.

"...Ivy...em..."

"...and you know what's funny...?"she interrupted him.Her manner was almost playful.

"...there was so much blood..and not just from the five month pregnancy..which she lost by the way.....thanks to your beating...."

"...Ivy...it's more complicated than...."

But She wasn't even listening.

"....but when we got to the hospital,we realised that all that blood came from wounds on her face....(giggles)....can you believe that?"Now she had a maniacal look in her eyes.

It was a little unsettling.

"Ivy,....this is between husband and wife,...it truly doesn't concern you"Paul said in a slightly defiant voice.

"....I agree..."Ivy said,jabbing a finger at his chest.

Paul retreated a few steps.

"That's why...we're not here as family,...we're here as ...'concerned citizens"Ivy said with a smile.

"..We...??"Paul began.

But no sooner had he opened his mouth,when he heard movement behind him.

He barely had  time to react, before he felt a sudden blast of pain at the back on his skull.

He fell to the ground HARD,his vision suddenly blurry as he temporarily lost sensation in his fingers.....he was still conscious.

Ivy stood over the now dazed Paul and stared at her best friend.

Destiny still had the Two-By-Four wooden plank they'd retrieved from the trunk of her car.

All around,there were gasps of shock as people moved away from the epicenter of violence.

"May I.......?"Ivy said playfully extending her hand to her friend.

Destiny tossed the wooden weapon, which was caught expertly by Ivy over Paul's grunting form.

"This...."She began,flexing the weapon in the air

"...Is for my sister!!!"With all her might,She brought down the edge of the plank,crashing it into Paul's back.

Paul let out a loud gasp.

"THIS,..... is for every rib you broke"Ivy snarled as she unleashed a series of brutal Plank-blows upon Paul's body.




This can't be happening.Paul thought as extreme  pain  exploded on the side of his face.He could feel a warm wet sticky fluid trickling down his face.

 Every pain receptor on his body was on fire, he could literally feel the his consciousness slipping away.

Through the agony,blurriness, and intense ringing in his ears,he could just make out the sound of Ivy's voice in fragments.

"....tell m...who's the....bitc.....now???....ANSWER ME!!!"

Ivy gingerly stepped over Paul's body.She seemed almost childlike as she flexed the wood in her hand.

She threw her friend an evil grin.

"Tell me something,Destiny..how many do you think he deserves for killing his unborn child....five,ten blows....???

Destiny mirrored her expression and said,

"...ten sounds nice..."

Ivy's grin widened.

".....FIFTEEN blows it is then"she snarled.Then with all her strength, she hit Paul with the plank,again...... and again.....

....until he passed out.



For a long time,Ivy stood over him,holding the plank as if it were a sword held by a victorious gladiator.

She was breathing heavily,sweat was pouring out of her pores and her arm ached.

Destiny noticed something strange and alien in her best friend's eyes.It was a little creepy.

All around them,people were staring in horror at the brazen brutal display of violence.

Another eternity passed.

Ivy threw her now disfigured weapon on the ground.

It made a loud slightly jarring sound as it hit the concrete.

Without a word,the two women returned to their vehicle and drove off, leaving behind a broken unconscious man and a stunned crowd.

LIFE IS A CHOICE MY FRIEND
SO CHOOSE WISELY
ENOUGH SAID.