Skull Island

by T. Styles

  “After I told him other girls would be there, he ain’t think nothing about it,” He said in a flat voice. “He wanna hump something I guess. The nigga Hector a freak. All the bitches know.”

  Blakeslee’s jaw twitched.

  She was mad that Hector was playing Nikki so inconsiderately, and that he was willing to leave her for the freaks Mason rolled with. But what could she do? Up until that moment Mason had always gotten her out of a bind.

  He always saved the day.

  Why should it change now?

  ****

  The party was fire.

  Mason had more girls than boys at his event, something he always planned. His father was out of town over night, to pick up cocaine from Nidia and didn’t mind leaving him with the babysitter who only came by to let Mason ‘kiss her special place’ due to being the child pedophile that she was, along with his uncle.

  So basically he was alone.

  Everyone was dancing to the 80s hits except Blakeslee. She stood in the corner, wearing a dingy white t-shirt and blue jeans, her hair pulled back in a ponytail because her father couldn’t afford someone to braid it, which Mason loved. Mainly because when her hair was pushed back it always placed her beauty on shine, despite the ‘Dom-ness-tivity’ that she was trying to possess.

  On the opposite end of the spectrum, surrounded by three girls, Mason attempted to look as if he was having the time of his life but it wasn’t working. He couldn’t keep his eyes off Blakeslee. Wanting to be with her and dancing to the music.

  Oh how he wished she wasn’t so fucking pretty. How he wished he could hate her, and not be used to get who she truly wanted…Nikki. Why couldn’t he lose count of the nights he pictured her face in his mind, and how the curls surrounding her angelic face would always find a way to wiggle out of her braids?

  The boy was in love.

  Point. Blank. Period.

  Bolting from the throng of girls who fought for his attention, Mason found his way in front of tomboyish Blakeslee Wales instead. “Why you over here by yourself?”

  Blakeslee shrugged.

  “You wanna dance?” Mason asked, tucking his hands into his brand new jeans.

  She frowned as if he were an oozing pimple on a nose. “Come on, Mason, you know I’m not ‘bout to dance with you. It’s not like—”

  “Not with me,” Mason said, interrupting her. “You thought I meant with me?” He pointed to himself.

  Silence.

  They looked away from each other in embarrassment until Mason looked at her again. “So, you not gonna have no fun? You gonna sit here and—”

  “Where Hector?”

  He shrugged. “He here.”

  “Where though?”

  “In the back. With some girls.”

  Blakeslee was so heated her light skin reddened. “I mean, why she wanna be with somebody who treat her so bad? He don’t deserve her.”

  And she don’t deserve you. Mason thought to himself.

  “Let me go check and see what he doing right quick.” Mason strutted toward the room in the back of the apartment. He gave Blakeslee a speech but the truth was he knew exactly what Hector was doing...finger fucking a girl from the block.

  When Mason walked into his room, he saw a huge sheet covered bump on the bed, in the darkness. “Having fun?” Mason grinned from the doorway.

  Slightly annoyed, Hector peeped his head from up under the sheet, the girl’s face still concealed. Her box braids dangling. “You know it,” Hector smiled. “But close the door though.”

  Mason nodded and walked out.

  Having seen all he needed to, he hit it back to tell his best friend that he was in possession of enough information to destroy Nikki’s relationship for good. At the same time, he had to be careful. Would giving Blakeslee the intel actually destroy Nikki and Hector’s relationship, which he really didn’t want? Or would Mason come out like a hero for saving Blakeslee again by giving her the secret to get what she desired?

  Mason held all the power.

  He just needed to see how it would benefit him first.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Minnie sat in the hot tub inside the mansion trying to soak away her tears with Shay, who was equally rocked by what transpired in the dining room.

  They actually saw a woman’s neck break like a twig.

  It was an atrocity at best.

  Both young women assumed life would be somewhat easier. Neither didn’t have any firm expectations, but no one couldn’t imagine so much misery in such a beautiful place.

  Minnie was beside herself. It hadn’t even been a week and already she learned her brother was dead and both had seen someone get murdered before their eyes.

  They were still talking and trying to get their minds around Whoyawanmetabe’s evil energy, when Tobias walked into the pool house wearing black swim trunks.

  Shay saw how her sister friend looked at the man and so she eased out of the hot tub and grabbed her towel. “I’m going to study my books, Minnie.” She wiped her tears away.

  Minnie nodded.

  Shay approached Tobias. “Sorry about your sister.”

  He smiled and she walked away.

  Minnie thought about leaving too but something about the stranger intrigued her. Not that she was in the market for a new boyfriend, but still.

  Before the homicide, she saw him across the dining room table, and briefly mentioned to herself how fine he was. Unfortunately the thought quickly exited after witnessing a murder.

  “You mind if I get in with you?” He asked in his heavy accent. “I mean, I can come back later if—”

  “No!” She cleared her throat. She sounded jive extra and had to calm herself to avoid looking anymore desperate. “I mean, you’re welcome to stay. Plenty of room.”

  He slid into the hot tub and took a deep breath. “My name is Tobias.” He extended his hand. “Yours?”

  “Not interested.”

  He dropped his hand. “I wasn’t trying to come on to you. I just wanted…just wanted to introduce myself. Maybe make a little small talk to get my mind off of watching my sister get killed. As if that’s possible.”

  Minnie immediately felt like shit. She knew she had a nasty way about her mouth and although she had meant to be kinder, wanting and doing were two different things.

  She extended her hand slowly. “I’m Minnie. Minnesota Wales.”

  He waded through the water to shake her hand and the instant their fingers connected, there was an immediate attraction, although both knew it was neither the time nor the place to explore the moment.

  “I’m sorry about your sister,” she said honestly emerging deeper into the hot tub, allowing the bubbles to caress her collarbone.

  “Me too.” He lowered his head although his breath increased as he battled with how to suppress the rage to kill everything and everybody. “My mother and father burying her now.”

  Minnie nodded having heard the brief story on how Bet had murdered Oswalda in the kitchen. There wasn’t much time to explore the topic, because she had to deal with Harris being dead too, but she knew enough to realize that her family was responsible for this man’s misery.

  “My mother, when she did whatever she did, she wasn’t in her right mind. At least I don’t think so.”

  “Whatever she did?” he repeated. “She killed my sister. That’s a fact.”

  “I didn’t mean it that way. I…I mean…if we’re going to get to know each other, since we’re forced to be here, you’ll learn that sometimes I say the opposite of what I mean…I mean…my mother is sick. I always knew it, based on the strange things she used to do around the house but I guess, I mean, I guess we all tried to suppress it. There’s no hiding it now. And I am sorry about your sister. My father is too.”

  He took another full breath. “I never show much emotion.” He said. “I find it useless anyway, but since Oswalda died, I never got a chance to reconcile with losing her you know? And now with Emetine I’m…I’m confused. Felt like I
could’ve done something.”

  “You tried to,” she said.

  “I feel the same. My brother was murdered recently. It’s like you have people around you and don’t know the importance of having them until they aren’t here anymore. If I had known, if I had any idea that I wouldn’t see my brother again I would’ve hugged him. Told him how I feel but now…”

  He nodded in agreement and sunk deeper into the hot tub. “You’re wise. To be so young.”

  “How you know my age?”

  “Fifteen or sixteen right?”

  “Sixteen…and a half.” She did her best to boost her age and her chances with him unconsciously.

  He laughed quietly, saw his sisters’ faces in his mind and his expression carried the weight of extreme sadness and guilt. There was nothing to be happy about. Nothing to smile about either.

  “Are you okay?” She asked softly.

  “I will be.”

  She nodded. “So tell me about this island. How big is it?”

  “Your property is about fifty miles wide all way around but toward the east it connects to another much larger island. You have to drive over a wooden rocky road to get there but even if you could you wouldn’t want to.”

  “Why?”

  “Not everybody is excited about having outsiders here. Some people are, well, upset.”

  “Is that where you and your family went? When you left.”

  “We buried our sister over there…but since we can’t leave…I mean we like it much better anyway so Emetine will rest here. It feels like home.”

  “But it shouldn’t feel like home,” Bet said entering the pool house. Having an unrequited crush on Tobias, she didn’t take too kindly to him being so close to her daughter. He on the other hand, despised Bet, especially after entering the kitchen minutes after Bet killed Oswalda.

  “Mrs. Wales,” he said through clenched teeth in an attempt to show respect for a woman he despised. The hate was apparent.

  “Leave us alone, Tobias.” Bet demanded.

  He nodded, exited the hot tub and grabbed a towel.

  On the way out of the pool house, he ran into Arlyndo in the hallway.

  “I don’t know who you are but that girl isn’t available.” Arlyndo said.

  Tobias found the boy amusing. He hadn’t been around the Lou’s long, but he observed enough to know they were the reverse of the Wales family. Like weird doppelgangers. Lacking class and couth.

  “My sister just died and—”

  “I don’t give a fuck about that bitch.” He pointed at the floor. “Stay away from Minnie.”

  Tobias dabbed his face with the towel. He looked down and slowly his eyes met Arlyndo’s. “You’re like your father.”

  “Fuck that supposed to mean?”

  “You lack self control. That’s gonna get you in trouble in the near future.”

  “What that got to do with me and my girl?”

  “If I want her, you’ll know. But for now you’re good so relax.” Tobias attempted to walk away when Arlyndo grabbed his arm; sharp nails digging into his flesh.

  “I went through a lot to get her back. For your sake don’t get in my way.” He released him and Tobias walked down the hall, smiling all the way.

  ****

  “Ma, I wasn’t trying to be fresh with him,” Minnie said as she shared the hot tub with Bet. “So stop saying that. He was being nice and—”

  “It’s not about being nice. It’s about so much more. That family has ulterior motives and with Whoyawanmetabe roaming around, we can’t be sure about the Nunez family’s intentions. He is very dangerous and I’m trying to explain it to your father. What if the Nunez’s and him work together to kill us?”

  “Mother…what really happen the night you murdered that girl?”

  Bet looked away. “I can’t explain it…she was…she was…tormenting me. As if she could, read my mind or something. And I realize this sounds odd. Whenever I talk about it your father, you kids, nobody believes me. It’s like, she would be around, filling my head with the wildest thoughts, even in my sleep.” She sat back. “And what does your father go do? Invite them to stay longer. Stupid, man!”

  She frowned. “Maybe that was on purpose.”

  Bet’s eyes squinted. “What does that mean?”

  “If the Nunez family hadn’t been here, maybe he would have broken your neck instead. Or mine. Or Shay’s.” She paused. “Uncle Mason was always gonna fight back. So I’m glad Pops let them back even though I feel bad.”

  “Minnie, you have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “True, I wasn’t here for what you went through, ma, but dad is smart and—”

  “You so easily still refer to him as daddy.” Bet said, her expression crooked and connected to malice. “That’s nice.” Her eyes were wide and wild.

  “But he is my father.”

  “Technically he’s your mother but…who cares about titles.”

  Minnie glared. “You both worked so hard to get us to follow the family rules and now you want me to change?”

  “I don’t want you to change and you bet not tell Banks that either!” She yelled, eyes wild and crazy. “I just want somebody in this damn family to remember that, that man left me and Joey on this island alone. And when he comes back he brings the Lou’s with him! What about me?”

  Minnie nodded although this was another glimpse into the picture that maybe her mother was mentally sick and worse, completely unhinged.

  “Are you, are you better now, ma?”

  Bet soaked deeper into the hot tub and closed her eyes.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The sun shined behind Banks as he met with the Lou’s, Wales and Nunez families in the living room. After Emetine’s murder there was no mistaking the severity of what they were dealing with when it came to Whoyawanmetabe. The approach had to be smooth to avoid further casualties since they were out gunned and out manned.

  Whoyawanmetabe was ruthless.

  And to prevent the family from leaving Wales Island and crossing over into the larger connecting island, Whoyawanmetabe’s men did tours on the raggedy bridge leading to the adjacent land.

  They were all hostage.

  Mason and his sons had taken down their vigor several notches after Emetine’s murder, although they were still ready to attack if Banks gave the word.

  With a bowed head Banks said, “We gonna do this. We need to give him what he wants.”

  Many sighed but they already knew the choice was not their own.

  “What does this mean, Banks?” Jersey asked softly, clutching Bet’s hand so hard her fingertips ran blue. “I understand we must comply I’m just…I need to know what are we supposed to do for him?”

  Banks tugged at his shirt’s hem and looked at her with lifeless eyes. “They will follow us around with their cameras. Basically taping all aspects of our lives. It sounds harmless enough.” He didn’t believe his own words.

  “So we gotta worry about these niggas taping us while we sleep too?” Mason asked. His voice alone irritated Banks.

  “No, I told him when we’re in our rooms the cameras are off limits.”

  Mason chuckled. “And let me guess, you believe him?”

  Banks’ neck corded as he tensed up. “We don’t have a choice. Even if we think something else is going on, even if we know there’s another reason he’s here, we have to fake like we’re clueless at this point. Because…” He ran his hand down his chin. “…We are.”

  “So, daddy, should we put on a show?” Minnie asked softly.

  “Like the real housewives of—”

  “No,” Banks said, cutting Shay off abruptly to stop the stupidity at the door.

  “Well like Minnie said, if we can do a little more, maybe we can get them out of here sooner,” Tobias responded, his eyes red and black from stress and being knocked out.

  “Well don’t do too much,” Arlyndo glared at him from across the room. “You could hurt yourself, my nigga.”

&
nbsp; Tobias smiled. “I’m Latino.”

  Arlyndo’s jaw twitched.

  “I don’t see anything wrong with giving them a little show, but you have to be careful,” Banks warned. “This man is way smarter than he appears. Follow the line to your emotions, to what you really feel in the moment, and if you can add a little more to make it good for filming do that. But I don’t want our families more damaged than they already are trying to appease him.”

  “Man, I can’t believe we going through with this shit,” Mason said shaking his head. “This dude got us performing like circus clowns. I mean, what the fuck is really going on?”

  Banks looked at him. “We staying alive. Besides, we tried your way, remember? And what happened?”

  Everyone looked at the Nunez family who was shooting visual daggers Mason’s way.

  “You ain’t gotta remind me.”

  “You sure?” Banks asked moving closer to him. “Because the look in your eyes tell me you still ain’t getting it.” He pointed in his face. “It’s making me think you still believe this is all a game.”

  Mason smirked at Banks as if he were his worst enemy. “I’m out.” The entire Louisville family rose and followed Mason through the door.

  Banks took a deep breath and looked at his family and the Nunez’s. “Be easy with this entire situation, until I figure things out. Okay? That’s all I’m asking.”

  ****

  Banks and Whoyawanmetabe sat in the lounge; both had whiskey glasses in hand. Although it was not cold out, Banks enjoyed the fireplace and so it crackled, casting soft orange glows on their faces.

  “They’re going to do it,” Banks said taking a sip before placing the glass on the table. It clanked lightly.

  Whoyawanmetabe smiled in pleasure, although it wasn’t as if any of the three families had much say in the matter. “This is good, for all parties involved. And it makes me really happy.”

  “What are you doing with the footage? I mean a few niggas in Baltimore know us but other than that, not many people will be interested in what we do in our day to day lives.”