Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Seven

The competition has taken a toll on everyone but the excitement is something to reckon with, the market days were consuming and exciting. The students of the institute felt they were attending a fair.

The first week of the competition went by just like that in merriment and excitement. Fiona hasn’t seen Ama show her face to her again making Fiona wonder what Xavier was up to.

Xavier seems to have shifted his attention from Maxwell and focused on her.

The children are ready, Matt said to her from where she stood and she nodded. Thank you, Matt. You Lillian and Daisy have made all these easy for me.

No, Fiona, you made everything we have been doing count and important with your acknowledgement.

It has been super cool working with you, and I am delighted.

Daisy hasn’t stopped yapping about how huge the academy she just entered is.

Fiona smiled at that.

She is excited about it, and I am happy for her.

Do you need to brief the children before they go ahead, he asked her.

I will be there shortly. This week is mainly for them, I am hoping they will be fine.

Of course, they will be, Matt assured her.

***

“I want you all to have some fun while at it. It’s okay to lose but winning also has a kind of feeling to it and I am sure you all are champions”

Yes, Miss Fiona, they all echoed.

Now, go on you all and make history, out there. I already am proud of you, you made it this far, now go make me prouder, she said to them and saw as they ran onto the stage.

Today they do the ballet and singles dance, Daisy had taught them. A combination of ballet and freestyle using an upbeat.

All that they organized has never been used before.

The children grew up on the street, so they used street music mixed with classical music which was rare in the history of ballet dancing.

Fiona once again stood behind the viewing space to watch the children.

She was so immersed in it that she didn’t realize she had a visitor standing behind her to watch her.

If I knew you’d become this capable in the future I would have kept you under my wings, Ama said behind her making Fiona freeze.

When she turned to her, she gave her a blank face making it difficult to read her.

Grown some moods eh, my girl she said in her thick voice.

Cigarettes are bad for your health, Fiona said in return, now hear the way you speak a crooked voice is too bad for that beautiful face of yours.

At the mention of her face, Ama flared, her face got burnt because Fiona had swung a burning coal on her face with a stick giving them an avenue to run away.

You dare mock me after making me look like that, she said in a low voice but Fiona seemed unfazed.

What happened to the woman after that incident, Fiona thought.

The Ama she knew would have brushed it off with a smile and played her instead.

Was it some kind of a trick to make me fall in?

No, Fiona thought. It’s Ama the woman who is a master of acts.

I see you’ve grown into your brains Ama smiled now.

Her smile made Fiona confirm the ruse in front of her. What can I say? Fiona clapped her hands together, you taught me well.

Good, do my teachings to you include you being a stupid person trying to poke your nose where it doesn’t belong? Ama said to her.

I don’t know Ama, Fiona countered.

But then, I have the habit of poking my nose where it doesn’t belong. Is that not how we met? Fiona asked her.

Got wits too and a sharp tongue, I see.

I wanted to come and see the child I raised, Ama said to her, may I? She stepped on the slab underneath the viewer beside Fiona.

Let’s watch the kids together like old times, she said to Fiona with a gentle smile playing on her lips.

Fiona turned to look at the kids with worry in her mind but she kept it to herself. They stood watching the children in silence for some time before Ama broke the silence.

Your children are capable too, don’t you think? Ama spoke to her now.

Making her alert.

What do you mean? She asked.

Ama shrugs at her.

I don’t know, they look fresh and juicy, mind trading some secrets? Ama asked her.

Fiona turned to look at her with annoyance now.

She leveled her eyes on her and spoke coldly. If you touch a hair on their head, I will have you cut down into pieces.

There, Ama thought, the fire in her.

****

Maxwell Harold, Xavier greeted him while he went in search of Thompson who was with him on the chair.

Turner suddenly exited the VIP area to run an errand and Thompson had been gone a while making Cassie worried.

With the looming threat of Ama returning and Xavier’s sudden visit. They needed to watch out for themselves but Tom was nowhere to be seen.

Now, he bumped into the last person he wished to see.

Hello, Xavier, gotten out of your cave already? Maxwell said.

I see you come with a minion. What happened Derek is hiding his ass somewhere? Max tutted.

Looking at the man in the Mask.

Xavier’s presence in the hall spells danger. Now he is worried for two people.

Fiona is down this hall and so is Thompson.

You thinking of your people, Max Xavier said seeing through the taunt.

Don’t worry your snot has a visitor as for you, I have someone to show an old friend, he said with a smile.

Maxwell dreads the moment.

The person on Mask pushed a man whose nose had been botched forward and Maxwell saw his good friend.

What have you done? He moved forward but Xavier stopped him.

Now don’t blame me, I didn’t do anything my good friend here helped me with the doings, remember him.

Xavier pointed to the masked man.

And he removed his mask. Maxwell looked straight at Turner who had a cold smirk on his face.

You… Max pointed.