Chapter 20: Beginning of the end
Anesu rode the bike to a secluded park. He laid Panashe on the ground as the young man tossed and turned holding his head. His hands on his head as if he wanted to readjust his brains. Anesu was getting annoyed by the wriggling but he had no choice but to wait until the whole process was completed. 'I should have brought a car.' He thought to himself. His peace was interrupted by a group of three individuals who came up to him.
"Hey Anesu." Munashe greeted his former workmate as he walked out of the shadow. Tapiwa and the man from the apartment were behind him with their gear buzzing for action.
"Wow. You really want to kill this kid don't you?" Anesu spoke as he prepared himself for a fight.
"I want to save him from maniacs like you. What are you getting by doing this for Humba. The man hunted down people he once worked with. Killed his own house leader and now he wants to kill the council." Munashe spoke as he approached Anesu who burst out laughing.
"The council is a lie Munashe. They used all of us to do their dirty jobs as they researched how to make the anomalies benefit themselves."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"It's pointless. How about we just beat each senseless just like how our leaders want us to."
Munashe hesitated before he saw Tapiwa charge. The fight started and Reed's man also charged as they tried to land hits on Anesu who was holding his own quite well. Munashe saw the fight progress and Anesu was still managing to keep the two men back.
Munashe decided to join the fight as to conclude it early on and just by his energy alone the other two jumped out of the fight. Munashe was driving Anesu back and after several blows to Anesu he stopped to take a breathe. Anesu seemed overwhelmed by the man and his angry face had lost all the joy of capturing Panashe.
"Even if I try harder. You won't let me win will you?" Anesu spoke as he realized there was no way he was going to win a fight against Munashe.
"This isn't for the council or Humba, Anesu. This is for Ruvarashe." Munashe continued with his assault of concentrated punches against Anesu's face.
Anesu could only dodge a few punches before Munashe started landing hits on the rasta man's face. Anesu tried pulling back but Munashe grabbed the rasta and pulled it down sending Anesu to the ground. The one sided fight was a clear demonstration of why Humba wanted to kill Munashe. Anesu only groaned with pain as he laid on the ground staring up at Munashe.
"Next time you touch one of my members. I. Will. End. Your. Miserable. Life." Munashe said as he placed his foot on Anesu's face.
Panashe finally stopped wriggling and sat up straight. Anesu was down on the ground and Munashe was searching the man's pockets. He saw Munashe taking out the necklace and he flinched. He moved backwards revealing the fear he had in his eyes. Anesu saw how scared Panashe was and decided to act heroic by grabbing Munashe's leg.
"Run kid before they brainwash you again!"
Panashe got up and started running. He didn't know where he was or where he was going but it was far away from this group of people. He looked behind and saw Tapiwa right behind him. With his memory intact he knew it was impossible for him to outrun Tapiwa at all so he looked around for the closest structures. He went straight for a vehicle charging port he saw and realised he was close to the flat he stayed.
It didn't take him the effort to scale up to the roof of the charging port. Tapiwa wasn't going to let him of easily as he chased Panashe from the roof of one stall to the other. Panashe was running out of breathe when he saw an airship descend to their level. He then stopped after he knew he was now wasting his time trying to outrun Tapiwa.
"Why are you running Panashe?" Tapiwa asked but his expression was hidden behind his mask.
"Why not? Munashe wants to take away my mind and that other guy wanted to kill me."
"You betrayed us. You went to the digital witches and...."
"I went to them because they are the only choice I have at finding Jess. They told me who Nhamo was going to kidnap next and it happened didn't it. None of you could find that information but they did in a matter of seconds."
"But why tell them about us?"
"I didn't tell them about you. I helped them on a hunt and they gave me information."
"Then how did they know your name?"
"Come on man. They are the digital witches. They had information on Munashe and I was staying with Munashe. That was easy for people who can track anyone and managed to steal that chikwambo we had cornered. The probably knew about us already."
Tapiwa looked confused as he tried to search for his next words.
"Then come with me. We can tell Munashe about that and I will try to convince him to...."
"There is no need Tapiwa. I no longer care about the foundation or digital witches. I am going to find Jess and after that Munashe can clear my mind all he wants."
"What about us?"
"Just treat me like the others who had their memories wiped. There is really nothing to do about."
The airship he had seen was hovering by and the door opened. Humba was standing at the door but the young adults didn't know it was him so they weren't alarmed. Tapiwa saw Panashe walk away and he just stood there.
Munashe and the other man arrived as Panashe stepped into the airship with Humba. Munashe was shocked as he saw the face Humba smiling down on them. He wanted to call Panashe but his voice couldn't escape his mouth. Fear and despair weighing him down as he saw an enemy take one of his own initiates.
The airship had landed close to a river that ran through Mbare. Panashe and Humba stood at the banks of the river.
"So what do you want from me?"
"There is nothing you can offer me kid. I am the man who gets what he wants but there is someone who wants your help. This girl here." Humba projected an image of Mellisa from his phone.
"Hey that's Allen's friend. What happened to her?"
"The UAEC caught her and are keeping her at the town house."
"The city councils head offices."
"Yes. Tomorrow evening you are going to set her free as I draw the attention of the UAEC to me."
"Why me?"
"Because you need Nhamo and I need to keep my world a secret from the UAEC and the UAG. Simple isn't it."
"I don't understand your intentions at all."
"Don't worry kid. Tomorrow everything will be clear. For now the pilot will take you home and give you a new set of gear. You will go to school and come back home and meet the man who will help you with your task."
"Who are you?"
"I am Humba. Munashe's enemy and the current most powerful man in the anomaly hunters market but lately things have been going out of control. I am failing to keep our world hidden as the number of anomalies are increasing."
"Hmm nice to finally meet you I guess. After I get what I want I am done with this life."
"I know kid. I know."
Humba watched Panashe walk into the airship and it ascended into the night sky. Anesu arrived as the airship flew away and went to his boss.
"So did he agree?"
"He didn't answer but I guess he agrees. It's time to introduce the hunter anomaly to the world."
"So you don't care about the secrecy anymore?"
"Of course I care about the secrecy of our world. I am doing this to force the council out. When an anomaly goes haywire in the most populated city down south they will review themselves and I will dispose of them."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone