Blackmail – a cooking pot and twisted tales

She was almost convinced that the Reverend’s sermon on giving up one’s sins was directed at her; a Church service had never left her literally feeling the heat of the brimstone.

Heaving a sigh of relief at the end of mass she rushed to the bus-stop and boarded the city bus back home, tussling in her mind whether to continue going to Church or to give it a break for a while.

As the bus wove its way through the city, the first message came in.

Beads of sweat popped out on her forehead, her heart accelerated and she developed an urgent need to use the toilet when she stared at the undeniable photo of her finagling money from the Church till.

Every hour that passed was a stab of fear; messages promptly came in from the unknown number at the turn of each hour.

Stretched Part 1

Tara hated herself for what she was doing, but her clogged mind just couldn’t think of any other way out of her problems.

Her meagre earnings were stretched beyond its capacity that to eat one meal a day was now a hurdle.

Sending money back home to the Philippines to assist her folks with the younger siblings and her dad’s medication took virtually everything.

With a pounding heart, she prayed for forgiveness in the silence of her heart, cast furtive looks around and quickly dipped her hands into the offering bag; the small clutch of cash felt like burning coals in her palm.

John Paul saw her through the CCTV and smiled to himself; what a golden opportunity, he had her where he wanted her.