Maiden name By Zara Iko

At about 3am, Tina woke up from sleep, her husband John was away on a business trip. She could hear that the front door of the house was being fiddled with. Her room window was above the main entrance of the house, so she could her clearly. She lay still on bed shaken, hoping that the fiddling would stop, but it got worse, she heard clearly the voices of the people- they were men and definitely more than one. The fiddling got louder and the voices sounded more agitated, still she lay frozen with fear on the bed. Then a big bang, the door to the main entrance of the house flung open.

Tina jumped off her bed, and ran fast to her children’s bedroom, jasmine the eldest of the two had gotten up to put on the light, asked her mum as she saw her mum rush in “mum is daddy back?”. Tina shook her head, grabbed her and moved to the bed where her son, Albert, sat looking at both of them with sleepy eyes. She yanked him from the bed but the weight of both of them sent them all crashing back on the bed. She carried both of them again, tip-toeing out of the room, but she heard the footsteps of the men on the corridor leading to their rooms. She locked the door and sat on the bed holding the children tightly in her embrace that they almost choked, but they were despondent and stayed silent; the fright on their mother’s face sent the message.
There were no voices, just footsteps. Her heartbeat increased more rapidly as the footsteps grew louder. They checked the first room which was hers and her husbands’ one of the men said “there is no one here” and moved again to the next and repeated same “empty too”.  Finding the rooms empty seemed to agitate them; their pace increased to the children’s room which was securely locked. They shook the door violently attempting to open it. Tina’s imaginations ran wild-horrid pictures  of their blood splattered on the wall and floor of the room.Her grip on the children got tighter as she imagined more horrid scenes, they winced in pain but Tina didn't let go. She was brought back to reality as the door flew out of its hinges.

John was to be back from his trip on the evening of the previous day but because of the infinite demands of his wife and kids; he had stayed back one more day to do some more shopping. They spoke to him before going to bed and were expecting him back the evening of the morning they were being attacked.

Tina sat back on the bed helplessly as five hefty men all clad in black with facial masks and guns in their hands entered into the bedroom one after the other. One of them, appearing to be the gang leader stepped in front of the others and stood right in front of her. The kid's grabbed her so tightly that their fingers pierced her skin. The front man pointing his gun at her head asked, "Where is your husband?”
“He is not here”, she replied quickly.
He grabbed her by her arm and jerked her off the bed. She pushed her children off her and far from the armed men.
"What is your name?" She replied "Tina Delaney".
 The room went silent then the leader turned back to look at the others. The smallest of the gang members started off complaining,
“We shouldn’t have taken this job it wasn’t well planned, and yeah it’s just to go in do the job and out then we get paid but this is a mess now”.
The leader shouted at him “shut up!” then turned back to Tina, “Do you know your neighbours, what is their family name?” “No, I don’t. I don’t know my neighbours.” “Wow, this Robson’s are lucky. What a waste! First nothing to identify the target with, then uncertainty about the house address not knowing  if it house no.9 or 10? “We will be lucky if we are not caught today, well it’s our first job and we will only get better,” the gang leader said. He turned back to face Tina, "you are damn lucky we wore our facial masks otherwise you and those Robson's would be goners. Have you got any money, jewelry, valuables?"
"Yes. They are all in the bedroom", she responded. They rushed into the bedroom, gathered all they could find and left the house.

Once she was sure that they were out of the house, Tina rushed into her bedroom and saw the mess they had created. Lying on the floor was the month’s electricity bill she planned to pay later that morning addressed to John Robson.
She rushed back to her children’s room. Still in shock they had not moved from the position she tossed them, she fell to the floor crying. She had come pretty close to dying but somehow her confusion and fright had saved her.

The gang had moved to the neighbours’ house and were told the house of the Robson was the one they had just left. They hurried back to the Robsons but by then they police was on the ground, surrounded with no means of escape they surrendered.

Still on the floor crying she felt a hand touch her and she shook in fear but she calmed as she saw it was a policeman.

“What’s your name ma’am?” “Mrs Tina Robson”
“Are you alone” she shook her head saying no. She pointed to her children. still on the spot she tossed them. The policeman called the paramedics to check up on the children as soon as they were done they led all three of them to the living room.Seated in the living room with her children by her side, the police continued questioning her.
 “Where is your husband madam?” “He isn't in the country”.
“His name please” “John Robson”
“Are they your kids?” “Yes they are-Jasmine and Albert”
 “They wanted my husband he was supposed to be back yesterday; they were in the right house. I got so confused with fear I mentioned my maiden name” Tina said in disbelief.
 “You were really lucky. we are not going to leave you and the kids here on your own tonight you will have to come with us, we will call your husband later in the morning" the policeman said as he led them out of the house.

Full moon part 4 by Zara Iko

“For the umpteenth time it was not my imagination, Fredrick was standing behind this tree,” Nelly said pointing at the spot she saw Frederick. The police scanned the area thoroughly but did not evidence of anyone’s presence. They led everyone back into the house, asked that all doors be locked. In case anything strange is noticed they should give the police a call immediately. Nelly stayed awake all through the night too scared to close her eyes; she got so tired that her eyes gave in to sleep, but she forced it back open, her sleepless nights continued and by the third day she was a nervous wreck.

Nelly and Amy hardly spoke to each other since they argued.Trying so desperately to get talking with Amy again without being the one to make the move, Nelly went on a hunger strike and by the 2nd day she succeeded and Amy broke the ice.
 “The way you are going Nelly one would think you have given up”.Nelly said nothing and continued mopping at the ceiling. Nando busied himself reading a sports magazine while Hazel assembled her princess castle -one of the many indoor toys her parents bought for her to keep her busy so she wouldn't miss going out to play much. 
“Nelly I am talking to you.  If I permitted everything you did, ignoring your wrongs would it make me a good sister?”  Nelly said nothing but shifted her gaze to Amy “at least I have your attention” Amy continued “I can’t watch you go on this way” Nelly cut in “you did not have my back, you supported Frederick for trying to kill me” 
“you know you are acting like a spoilt brat Nelly, it’s not about taking sides, that I did not agree with your decision doesn’t mean you made the wrong decision it is my opinion, you have a right to your decision and action. The deed has been done let’s move on I need you to survive, I love you”.Nelly burst into tears reached for Amy’s hand squeezed it then smiled at her sister –Amy’s reassuring love released some tension that had built up in her. All three women slept in the same room that night, Nelly slept peacefully with her sister and Hazel while Nando slept in the guest room. 

The coming weeks brought a rapid occurrence of events- Deen carter who had been charged with attempted murder was on trial, Nelly was present at the  court proceedings, evidence after the other where presented convicting Deen of the crime,  he maintained that Nelly hired him to kill Frederick, the conversation between him and Frederick was aired and the boys who  had driven by that night witnessed against Deen- it was obvious he lied , so he had to confess all –Nelly smiled as the jury found him guilty and his sentence read to everyone hearing “ .......you are hereby jailed for life......”.the judge hit the gavel and the case was closed. Nelly smiled and left the courthouse with joy. However, her joy was short lived because as she lay on her bed to sleep with Frederick still on the loose. her fear came alive again.

“I can’t wait for all this to end, I want my life back. I am tired of living in fear what could possibly be the end of this - me or Frederick dead or him in jail. She walked to the back of the house, screaming at top of her voice “Frederick come and get me” continuing her screaming “if you can hear me now come and get me” Amy grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the house “you have gone crazy, what would you do if truly he comes after you, try not to get yourself killed you are talking to a raging lunatic who will stop at nothing till he gets, employ wisdom” Amy said to calm her down.

Two months passed since Nelly saw Frederick and every night since then she would look out of the same window expecting to see Frederick there but she never did. Desperate for something to happen Nelly became more daring she would leave the house alone, a stroll around the neighborhood, window shopping at the mall her eyes opened to what she had been missing being locked up in the house in fear, she talked less about Frederick and moments spent mopping into the air in deep thoughts reduced; she shared more fun evenings with the family telling stories, sharing jokes, helping hazel with homework and even cooking for the household. As she settled she realised all the rich friends she spent some evenings with wining and dining had abandoned her. Right now she had only Amy, Nando and Hazel, she and Amy had been orphaned years ago. Nelly reached out to her two best friends from the university she had not been very close to since she got married to Frederick – her busy life as Frederick’s wife, organising and attending various functions and events exposed her to a new circle of friends. Nadine and frank had gotten married to each other and were well aware of what was happening embraced their friendship like there had been no break.

Nelly decided while she was going out more often she would need more clothes and money. She and hazel were invited by Nadine, frank and their son to a children’s movie premiere. Hazel had been so excited before she left for school about their outing Nelly could not even think of disappointing her. Nelly called for a taxi to the house she and Frederick used to live in, she asked for the driver to wait a bit. Still afraid of being in the house alone she looked round, everything was pretty much the same way she left it the last time. She hurriedly put some clothes in a bag, opened the drawer she kept her jewellery- gold, diamonds, ruby and pearls arranged in their sets dazzled back at her; she had even forgotten she had some of these things. She picked up the 24k gold set Frederick bought her during their first year wedding anniversary trip to Dubai.

Frederick tailed her to the house; he sneaked into the house without notice. Making his way upstairs, he heard footsteps from the front of the house, he hide behind the main door because it was wide open. “Ma’am it is more than fifteen minutes I have been waiting and we start to charge waiting time after fifteen minutes” the taxi man speaking loudly so Nelly could hear. Immediately Nelly rushed down “I am done” she pulled the front door shut and locked with the key not even realizing Frederick was there. A few seconds later, Frederick stood by the window and watched the taxi drive away.

The evening was going wonderfully well. Hazel had been so excited sitting in the same movie theatre with some of her favourite actors, her eyes shone bright like a crystal throughout, Hazel’s joy was viral and it caught Nelly, they were both so excited- Nelly could see hazel was joyful just being out with other kids after too many days muddled up in the house with adults. After the movie the duo decided they didn’t want the evening to end yet, they sent Nadine, frank and their son off, hopped into a taxi and headed to a travelling funfair a few miles from the cinema. It was half seven in the evening, still bright-longer days shorter nights -the duo were going to make the most of their outing, “Hazel look what I have got” Nelly flashed the content of her bag at hazel” surprised hazel opened her eyes and mouth wide then she yelled in excitement “woohoo” jumping up and down. Nelly answered her saying “we can spend as much as we want I still got some in the house. “That’s our little secret” and then winked at hazel. They arrived at the funfair hazel ran wild in utter bliss; Nelly could hardly keep up with her. Hazel talked and moved as though she was on fast forward, she became more hyper as she topped up on candy. Two hours passed, exhausted and ready to call it a night Nelly brought out her phone to ring up a taxi, she saw over thirty missed called from Amy and Nando. They were due back home hours ago, she started to wonder why she didn’t call to inform them that they would be later than expected; perhaps she didn’t want to get discouraged. She dialled Amy back, just then someone grabbed the phone from her hand, she felt a sharp object poking her back and Frederick’s mouth on her ear “if you make any noise the kid will be punished for it” she looked sideways and saw Frederick had his grip on hazel “just turn back give me a hug like we are old friends and everything is ok” Nelly turned back shaken, she couldn’t bring herself to hug Frederick, hazel didn’t look scared she was unaware of what was going on. Frederick repeated “hug me or she pays for it”. “Hello, hello” Amy’s voice came through the phone; Frederick cut her off placed the phone in his breast pocket. The environment was rowdy people moving in groups interested in their own fun and not worried about other there. She shut her eyes tightly and hugged Frederick, it felt horrible. He smiled and patted her back. “You two must smile until we leave this place”   Frederick said as he led them out of the park, they had gone unnoticed all evening but they looked weird with the plastered smiles on their faces they were made fun of by people they passed by, one of the louder voices screamed “this family must be stoned, their kid too” and the others burst out laughing at them. 

Nelly had been waiting for the confrontation with Frederick for a long time unfortunately it came when she least expected it, especially with hazel being there. “Frederick please let hazel go” Nelly said as she saw hazel try to wiggle her way out of Frederick’s firm grip but he didn’t “uncle Frederick” Hazel said as she usually called him my hand hurts but he didn’t answer Hazel, she wiggled more trying to free herself he still didn’t let her go instead he used both his hands to hold her still, then he gave her a smack on the face “if you do that again I will give you more smacks” she sobbed and nodded.

Nadine and frank and a host of others had joined Amy and Nando in the search for the missing duo. Information had been passed on the police radio describing what they both looked like, what clothes they had on and the possibility that they could be in the company of a man describing Frederick.

The police went to the mall where the cinema is located, surveillance showed both of them get into a taxi, the taxi driver was contacted and he said he dropped them off at the funfair. The securities at the team park were alerted - Amy, Nando and the others converged at the theme park and then started to sweep through. By then Frederick had gotten them far from the fair to a deserted footpath, he let Nelly walk free but he still held hazel firmly so Nelly followed him like she was hypnotised. “You are free why don’t you go, I got hazel here in your place,” Frederick said and laughed wickedly. Nelly went on her knees grabbing Frederick by the leg “No, no, take me, it is me you want, I am the one who hurt you not her” Frederick kicked his leg free and continued walking. “Frederick I did not cheat on you, I used a sperm donor from the cryobank” “Frederick stopped and looked back at Nelly angry. His eyes had turned red with anger she had just pressed his wrong button “you lie, I know you know I couldn’t have been responsible for your pregnancy” his eyes were wide open he was in a rage. She walked towards him pleading, she dipped her hand into her bag hanging from her shoulder, she had a pepper spray she carried everywhere. She stood right in front of him and sprayed the pepper in his eyes. He released hazel using both his hands to rub his eyes. Nelly push hazel “run, run fast and run the way we came, get help for me”. Frederick stumbled after hazel and fell down because he couldn’t see.

With hazel gone Nelly mustered every ounce of courage, she could engage in a daunting confrontation with a man twice her size.She had the advantage, he could not see. “you are every bit a liar and a cheat that you accuse me of being. You never told me about the vasectomy, you knew how badly I wanted a baby and you pretended to want one too, I didn’t cheat on you Frederick I would never have” she was standing in front of him. He tried to open his eyes but she sprayed the pepper in his eyes again he groaned in pain swinging his hand at her, he hit her on her head and she fell to the ground. He moved forward searching for her then he stepped on her, he bent down grabbed her legs stood upright and tried to kick her but she landed a hard kick on his groin first he fell on his knees howling in pain and holding his crotch .She got up, picked up metal laying close by and hit him hard on his back. He fell flat on his tummy, she hit him again  and was going to the his head, at that moment a policeman arrived with hazel pointing  a gun at her “drop your weapon and get on your knee” he said, she dropped the metal and went on her knees he rushed to her and handcuffed her. Frederick still lay on the ground helpless. Eventually, more policemen arrived in police cars and they were both taken away in handcuffs.


A year later, with Frederick locked in jail for life without parole, Nelly had done well picking up the pieces of her life. She had taken over all that belonged to Frederick, sold the house they both lived in and bought one close to her sister’s. She found love in the policeman that rescued her the night she beat Frederick up, they were preparing to tie the knot and expecting their first child.

Full moon 3 by Zara Iko

There was pandemonium in the hospital. More Security men were alerted, and they including the two policemen searched for the strangler. The medical team was in the room trying to resuscitate Nelly while Amy stood still in front of the room crying, unaware of what was going on. Nando searched with the policemen for the man they suspected suffocated Nelly.


Minutes later the door to Nelly’s room opened and she was wheeled out hurriedly. “Nelly!, Nelly!!, oh my God, where are you taking Nelly to”? Amy screamed, trying to push through the medics and hold Nelly back. A nurse stopped her while the others wheeled Nelly out of sight. “Ma’am, she’s been resuscitated. She’s being wheeled so she can get stitched up again. Please come with me, you can stop crying now. Our team is doing their best to see she is alright after this”. Nando walked in to meet Amy, nodding his head to affirm that they did not catch the man. His vision blurred with tears, he stopped where he was, stretched out his hands and Amy ran into his embrace. “I can swear it is Frederick,” Amy said.


A Month and a half passed after Frederick’s second attempt. Nelly had been discharged from the hospital and settled in her sister’s house, and was in the process of getting her life back together. Her therapist played a big part in her recovery, but her paranoia was rooted in the fact that Frederick had not been caught and could be anywhere. That alone gave her nightmares. She was aware the house, she shared with Frederick was empty, but there was no way she was going to live there especially not on her own. It had been confirmed that the man who tried to kill Nelly was Frederick lodged in the hostel as Marcus Marsden. Surveillance cameras had traced him coming out of the hotel and fingerprint samples from the hotel room had matched with  Frederick’s. He was a wanted man. A successful businessman who had abandoned all he has and running from the law for attempting to murder his wife twice. Frederick cut her off financially. Her credit cards had been blocked and the little money she had saved up was used to clear up the hospital bills. Nando and Amy catered to her, She was like a child again. She lost her confidence, peace and focus.


The wind whistled, the leaves on trees clapped to the rhythm of the wind, rain poured down continuously and heavily, yet it was a full moon.An unusually bright night for the weather. Every other person in the house was deep asleep except Nelly. She sat in the family living room writing down a list of her prized possessions left over to Frederick’s house, she had to go and collect when suddenly, the front door swung open and  Frederick entered into the house with a shovel in his hand. He wore a black suit, white shirt and black tie and water dripped from him on to the floor of the living room. His black shoe was covered in mud and it stained the living room floor. His hair covered his face so she couldn't see his eyes. He launched at her but missed, she jumped from the chair and ran out through the back door which was the easiest thing she could do since he blocked the way through the front door and climbing the stairs would lead to a dead end. On bare feet, the rain poured on her and her night dress soaked clinging to and exposing her body. Frederick launched at her with intent in his eyes. Behind the house are big oak trees and behind the trees a lake. She paced towards the lake with Frederick behind her. Because of the speed she was running as she saw a pool of water too late and she fell right into it. Frederick was right by her before she could make the next move, but still she tried to raise herself up. He landed a shovel on her back so hard she  fell right into the pool again and drank the water from her nose and mouth. He pulled her out, she coughed to get her breath back. He laid her on the floor face up, took off his clothes then he got on top of her. She woke up from the dream screaming. Nando and Amy rushed to her,
 “It’s only a dream,” Amy said, holding her. Nelly looked round and the weather was calm. “I won’t feel safe until Frederick gets caught, ” she responded.


The uncertainty of Frederick’s where about and the frustration of having to live life so cautiously had taken its toll on everyone of them. The bubbly Hazel that loved to spend weekends outdoors with her friends running wild and free in the park was trapped in a world of paranoid folks. Nelly had barely stepped out of the house and the few times she did, she went with a company, sometimes she feared even her own shadow. Weekdays
Were the worse, She placed so many panic phone calls to the police that the police resolved to have a police car parked outside the house from the time the others went to work until they returned.


After much thought, Nelly Summed up courage with the help of her sister, brother-in-law, and Hazel, they went over to the house she shared with Frederick. A locksmith accompanied them. She lost her keys and she had not been to the house since the night she first got attacked. She stepped into the house and she staggered back almost passing out. The events of her last night in the house flooded  her mind. Inside the house was dark, the curtains were closed, the windows shut and all the lights switched off. Amy pulled the curtains open and dust filled the air, the whole house was covered with dust and spider web. Holding her sister tightly, they walked upstairs together, leaving Hazel and her dad down. Upstairs looked the same way it was when she and Frederick lived as a happy couple except that everything was covered in dust. She entered their bedroom and Frederick’s smell was still strong in there. It frightened her, she held her sister's tightly. "Let's leave Amy, I feel he is still here". Amy held her firm and said "No, it’s just his open perfume bottle; there is no way anyone is in here with all this dust”. Nelly stepped ahead of her sister and looked around the  room; everything seemed to be in the same place she left them months ago. She flashed back to the good times she and her husband shared in that same bedroom that now looked deserted then tears welled up her eyes. She thought to herself, “I will not cry. I have shed enough of tears”. She chuckled and opened her eyes wide until the tears dried up. “It was nice having all those fancy clothes, jewelry, first class flights overseas. Who would have thought an ordinary bank cashier like I would have had all this”? She spoke in a low tone to herself. Standing in front of the dressing table, she looked at her left hand, she still had her wedding ring, she slid her fingers  round, shut her eyes tight, released a sigh and took it out. Immediately she felt lighter like some weight had been lifted off her, finally the only thing that still connected her to Frederick was gone too. She placed the ring on top of the dressing table and turned to Amy, “let’s leave”. 
Isn't there anything you want to take back with you Nelly? 
“Not today”. 
As both walked out of the room, she noticed Frederick’s wardrobe wide open and the safe in it slightly opened. Some papers sliding out of it stopped it from shutting properly. She walked over while Amy went down to meet the other two and pulled open the door. It would have been empty but for the papers. She read through the papers and discovered Frederick had a vasectomy years ago. She thought to herself, no wonder he never seemed bothered when she worried about not getting pregnant. . No wonder he wasn't pleasantly surprised when she announced to him she was pregnant, the night before he first tried to kill her. No wonder he was so bent on killing her, he must think  she cheated on him. She felt the sharp pain in her heart and she released a cry. Her strong resolve not to cry was broken by this piece of information. She sobbed hard, but quietly. Meanwhile, Amy noticed Nelly wasn't behind her; she rushed back to the room. Nelly hearing Amy’s steps hurried back on her feet cleaned her tears returned the papers back to the safe walked to the door where she met Amy “I am right behind you sis”, Nelly said smiling. She felt the weight lifted off her after she took off her wedding ring had been put back on her.

That evening after dinner, Hazel sat on her father’s laps watching TV in the living room. Amy busied herself with the dishes while Nelly sat in the kitchen with her sipping tea.
 “Amy I have something to tell you. You've been the best sister I have always had. Nando and Hazel have been so wonderful too. You all have adjusted your lives to accommodate me”. Amy turned back to look at her sister 
“Before you continue Nelly are you planning to kill yourself”? Amy demanded. 
“Hell no” Nelly replied. 
“What’s up with the speech”? Both sisters laughed. 
Nelly put her serious look on again.
 “Amy I can’t keep it any more. I have not been perfect at all. I have made mistakes that would push my husband to want to kill me. Amy pulled up a chair and sat by her sister; she was done with the dishes. Nelly continued, “at night before Hazels fifth birthday, I told Frederick I was pregnant. He didn't seem excited at first. He looked rather angry but he pretended to be happy. Afterwards, the only question he asked was how many months gone? I told him I was two months gone, then he smiled. We watched a movie in bed together; I slept off on his chest. I had to leave early the next morning to help prepare for Hazels party. We seemed fine. I found out earlier today that Frederick had a vasectomy years ago,so he knew he wasn't the father of my baby.
 Amy used both hands to cover her mouth, shaking her head too in disapproval. 
"Amy I didn't cheat on Frederick. I went to the Cryobank. I wanted a baby badly. I am thirty five with no kids. When would have been a better time to have a baby? I got desperate and my husband didn't care. I did what I had to do to make myself happy, to feel like a complete woman”. 
“Nelly you were wrong to go behind your husband’s back and get pregnant like that”. Nelly snapped back at Amy “I didn't tell you all this so you can judge me”. 
"Look now, you have messed up all your lives. The poor man has turned into a psycho killer thinking his wife has been cheating on him." Amy fired back both raising their voices. Angry, Nelly got up excusing herself to go to bed. 
"No, Nelly, I am going to bed, it’s been an exhausting day”. Amy stormed out of the kitchen. Sad and angry, Nelly sat back in the kitchen for hours thinking deep and crying. Drained of tears she got up to go to bed. She went to wash her tea cup and opened the curtain just above the kitchen sink. There he was, Frederick, standing by the oak tree behind the house, looking directly at her in the dead of the night giving her the “I see u” sign. She dropped the cup and screamed aloud, Amy and Nando with hazel on his hand scampered into the kitchen.