At a distance, a loud thud echoed in my ears. In one moment, I am feeling the touch of my beloved lips and in the next the cold touch of the rain hits my face. Pain in my gut numbed my senses. The sound of Nancy screaming reaches me as I am lifted and thrown in the back of a land rover. I turned to find the face of one of the Chief's men filling my vision. I can remember that face anywhere. He was the guy who tried to have his way with Nancy in the thicket. He smiles, and I took a look at his shirt searching for an officer number only to find the name Ezra embedded there. I punch on the face was the next thing I remember as my jaw sang of the pain it felt. My vision blurred and laughter filled the air. We hit a bump; I moved with the motion only to meet a boot to my gut. I looked up to ask why, when Ezra pulled another punch to my face. The hits kept coming, and I used my hand to protect my face when the punches went from my face to my stomach and kicks to my back. I never heard the car stop but the feeling of falling made my heart stop for a moment. Next thing I know, I was on the muddy ground.

A grab on the shirt collar went tight around my neck, the choking nearly making my eyes roll back into my eyes as I was dragged. Vision was coming back to me when I heard a click. The rain socked my clothes and a look around told me I was at the police station. Armed police officers gathered around me. I moved to find my hands in colonial cuffs attached to a stone. I made no motion to talk as I knew my rights and as soon I was out of these cuffs they wouldn't have their jobs. Ezra made his way to me with a folder. He looked at me, smiling as he flipped through it. He mentioned my name and said I was captured in the offence of (impregnating a woman whom I had sexual activity while she was underage). What? Despite my pervertness I enjoyed older women, the youngest woman I've been with was Emma and she was in college, old enough to have sex. The woman in question was Nancy Peter, a complaint brought forth by the village doctor. No. All this was allegations. I didn't do all these things. This was just fabricated lies and this guy knew it, I could tell from the smug on his face.

He asked whether I denied the charges. I was about to say yes when a punch landed on my jaw. Blood spilled from my mouth. Ezra asked again if I denied wooing a young girl and impregnating her. Again, before I could speak a punch landed on my face. As I recovered my senses I spit my blood near a policeman's boot that landed me a kick in the gut. I was no fool. Ezra was running this criminal operation. He knew the truth since he did try to force his way with Nancy. I knew the odds were against me since he was acting out because I got what he most wanted Nancy and a bonus her innocence. This was his revenge. I should have reported him when I had the chance, maybe I wouldn't be here.

The sound of my beloved callingout my name filled my ears and pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked to find her running towards me only to be stopped by Ezra. She forced herself out of his hand and tried to make her way to me only to be blocked. Then Ezra shouted that I told them I didn't love her. I started to make my way to her when I was put down again, a hand on my shoulder, pressing me to the ground. She looked at me and looked at Ezra. Her gazes going back and forth. I was about to shout it was lies when I was punched in the face again. Her shouts filled the air. She implored Ezra to stop and free me.

Ezra closed the distance between them, his hand grazing her cheek. I felt disgusted. My eye was beginning to swell up, I could tell as my vision began to impair. Despite it, I saw as Ezra forcefully landed a kiss on Nancy's lips. She fought, landing a hard slap on his face that echoed in the wind. Uncontrollable laughter came after from his men. Playing hard to get, he said over his shoulder. His tone showed he was furious. The next events transpired in a heartbeat as he grabbed her and started gripping her womanhood. Nancy fought but Ezra used the opportunity to rip her dress. Realization hit, he was going to rape her, in front of me. They struggled till they ended up on the ground, Ezra on top. Anger seethed through me. I shot up, elbowing the officer who held me down and ran, grabbing Ezra and hurling him from my beloved. Nancy shot up and I shoved her shouting at her to run. RUN. A punch hit my face hard enough to deposit me on the ground. Agonizing pain radiated in my head and my vision become blurry but good enough to see my beloved run. I was turned to my back, my face becoming the receiver of Ezra's anger. She won't get far, you can't protect her. As soon as I am done with you, I am going for her. His stood laughing as he spit on my face.

I saw nothing but felt pain all over my body. I couldn't protect my beloved in chains, but I could give her a head start. My only prayer was that she ran away from this village where Ezra couldn't get to her. With the hope she'll do just that, I struggled to move. I tried to stand, lying back on the ground defeated. Instead, I laughed. Ignoring the pain, my body sang, I knelt, laughing. An officer punched me and I punched back, striking nothing but thin air. Laughter filled the air. A punch in the gut and I threw one of my own, this time it landed on something hard. An angry growl told me I hit someone face and from the sound of it, it was Ezra's. Punches came, and I threw some of my own. I felt a few ribs break but I didn't stop. I kept on; he caught my hand, dislocating it. Pain come out with a scream and a boot in the face drove me down on the ground to unconscious.