Dis Youngstown, Partner,
You Ain't Know?
"Oh, my God! What are you doing?" screamed Kanesha.
The sight of blood pooled on the floor was the least shocking thing before Kanesha. Byron lay on his side with his arms and legs hog tied behind him and duct tape covering his mouth.
"Byron!" Kanesha screamed and ran to him. Tears drained from her eyes like an open water faucet. She ripped the tape from his mouth.
Byron opened his mouth to warn Kanesha of the impending danger behind her just as the blow landed on the back of her head. Kanesha saw darkness as she fell to the floor.
When Kanesha opened her eyes, she prayed it had all been a nightmare. The piercing headache, mixed with her inability to move her limbs and the sight of Byron hog tied next to her, let Kanesha know she was actually living the nightmare.
"Why are you doing this to us?" demanded Kanesha. "Did you think it would be that easy to get rid of me?
Y'all two witches thinkin' y'all betta 'den me," snarled Percy. "Naw, y'all ain't nothin'." Percy stood over his two victims and kicked Byron in his side.
Kanesha had paid no attention to Percy leaving the bar but even if she had, nothing like this would have crossed her mind. There was no telling how long Byron had been in the midst of this horrible situation.
"Percy, we ain't done nothing to you. Why are you doing this?" Kanesha tried the best she could to speak to Percy in a calm voice. She thought that by hiding her fear, Percy would be more receptive to her pleas.
"You threw me out like a piece of trash. And this punk laying here treated me like I was less than nothing," Percy growled.
"I don't owe you anything, Percy. While we were together, all you did was use me, take from my kids and hit on me like I wasn't nothing!" Kanesha was so upset she didn't realize she was screaming at her attacker. She was angry and frightened for both her life and Byron's. Kanesha was so upset that her body shook and her teeth chattered.
"Shut up! I ain't tryna hear all that. You always tryna' talk down to me like you my mama." Percy bent down on one knee and punched Kanesha in her face. Blood shot out from her nose. She screamed out in pain. Byron lay helpless on the floor next to Kanesha, struggling to free himself.
Wanting to prevent Kanesha from screaming out for help, Percy decided it was time to shut her up. He tore Kanesha's shirt and stuffed it in her mouth before slapping duct tape on her lips.
"Since you and that man are so in love, why don't I make y'all suffer together?" He was obviously unaware of Kanesha and Byron's break-up. Percy applied the duct tape to her mouth with so much force; Kanesha thought her front teeth may have chipped. "Come on Byron, protect this piece of trash now," taunted Percy. "Now, Kanesha, I've planned an eventful night for da three of us." Percy's voice sounded demonic and threatening.
Kanesha's eyes grew as wide as saucers when Percy crept closer to her with a knife in hand. She began to squirm in vain as Percy cut what remained of her shirt. He then cut her laced bra. His eyes grew dark as his lips curled into an evil smirk as he concentrated on cutting all of Kanesha's clothes from her body.
Kanesha cried and tried hard to free herself with each cut of her clothes. Byron's rage seemed to reach a boiling point as he watched what Percy was doing to the mother of his child. Kanesha watched Byron struggle to come to her aid, but it was all in vain. She took her eyes off Percy and looked into Byron's eyes, pleading for him to do something. She knew Byron was in no position to save her this time. The subdued couple mumbled and swarmed around on the floor, to no avail.
After cutting off Kanesha's white laced panties, Percy began his reign of torment on her. "Look at you now. Laying there with no choice, but to spread ya legs for me," smirked Percy. "You would never be a freak for me when I wanted you to," Percy looked from Kanesha over to Byron and let out a toe curling laugh, "but it looks like you don't have a choice tonight."
"Man, Byron, would you look at this," said Percy while he stared into Byron's eyes, enjoying the tormented look on his face. "For a broad as young as her, don't you think her body is sickening? I've never seen a woman with so many stretch marks," teased Percy. Kanesha would only have sex with Percy with the lights off because of the toll having babies had taken on her body. Kanesha never thought that Percy would use such personal information to hurt her. Byron would always tell her that her body was designed by the wisdom of time and she had nothing to be self-conscious about.
Listening to the things Percy was saying made her more embarrassed than she already was. She had heard hateful things about her body come out of Percy's mouth before, but with another man in the room hearing his evil tirade, Kanesha wanted to bury her head in the ground.
"Call on me and I shall answer," God's voice echoed in Kanesha's head. She searched for strength to survive each passing minute.
"Let's get started," announced Percy.
Kanesha shook her head from side to side as her eyes begged Percy not to hurt her. Percy stood over Kanesha and slowly unzipped his pants. Byron continued to move about in hopes of loosening his restraints.
The room filled with an odor of rotten eggs and spoiled fish when Percy lowered his pants. Kanesha thought she would choke on her own vomit from the offensive smell. Percy held the six inch knife in his left hand and began massaging his muscle with his right.
"Pray for strength, child. Call out to me and I will hear your cries," instructed the strong, dominate voice. For the last few months, Kanesha was hearing the teachings from her mother speaking to her but as she lay on the floor, terrified of what might happen to her, she knew the only voice ringing in her ear was that of a higher being. Kanesha's heart and soul told her that the Lord was talking to her.
Kanesha tried to regain composure when she realized her fear empowered Percy. She was able to find enough strength inside of her to stop the tears from seeping from her eyes. Her ability to do so was not over- looked by Percy.
"Oh, you ain't scared no more?"
Percy released himself and grabbed Kanesha by the hair. He chopped off a handful and threw it on Byron. Kanesha refused to cry out, even when Percy banged her head onto the floor. All of the will power in the world is what Kanesha needed to keep herself from giving her attacker the satisfaction he was after.
"What? You think you bad now? That's okay because I got something for ya stupid behind."
Percy lay on top of Kanesha and rammed himself inside of her. Kanesha screamed on the inside, but refused to allow Percy to see any more fear from her. She focused her eyes on the chipped paint hanging from the ceiling. Each thrust caused an out of shape Percy to lose his breathe.
"You, stupid broad! I'll teach you to treat me like I'm some piece of trash you have to step over to get to where you going." Percy raped Kanesha and called her defiling names. Byron lay next to them with his eyes closed tightly. The lack of reaction from Kanesha and Byron infuriated Percy even more.
Kanesha listened to the voice in her head reminding her to never give an enemy power over her. 'Fear is the most powerful emotion we have. Being fearful of an enemy gives them complete and total control over you. Call upon me child, I will never forsake thee.' Kanesha could feel the Holy Spirit hovering over her giving her strength.
Percy thrust in and out of Kanesha for what felt like forever. Unwilling to scream, cry or beg, Kanesha prayed for help and strength.
"You ignorant broad," spat Percy, "ya so stupid you don't even know to cry while having ya dignity took."
Kanesha continued to stare straight up at the ceiling. Byron lay next to her squirming, trying to free himself.
Percy withdrew from inside Kanesha and snatched the duct tape from her lips. He pulled out the piece of material from inside her mouth and put the knife up to Kanesha's neck.
There was a sound just outside of the front door causing Percy to apply more pressure to the knife he held at Kanesha's neck. "If you say a word or try to scream for help, I'll cut your throat from ear to ear," Percy threatened.
Kanesha remained as quiet as a church mouse but Byron chose to use the situation to their advantage by moaning in agony as loud as he could.
"Shut up!" Percy yelled in anger as he kicked Byron in his ribs. "Ain't nobody here to save you."
All of the will power Kanesha used to remain quiet also gave her the courage to follow Byron's lead by making as much agonizing moaning and groaning as she could.
Percy began to panic and grabbed her by the hair again. He snatched her head to the side and forced her to sit up. One tear escaped her eye from the pain. Her instinct was to touch her head where it throbbed, but her hands remained tied behind her back.
Percy yanked Kanesha's head back and scraped the dull blade across her throat. Again, Kanesha screamed out in pain.
"Shut up! You ain't hurt."
"Please, Percy, I'm beggin' you. Please stop," cried Kanesha.
"Oh, you still think I'm playin' wit you," Percy snarled. "Let's see how you like this." Percy reached over and rammed the knife into Byron's leg. Byron threw his head back in agony as Percy twisted the blade before pulling it out.
Kanesha's cries grew louder as she witnessed Percy's cruelty.
"Shut up, witch. Why you cryin' anyway, this is ya fault!"
"Please, Percy, don't hurt him anymore. I'll do whatever you want me to, just don't hurt Byron."
"Don't act like you got a choice. I know you gonna do what I tell you to."
Kanesha fell back onto the floor in tears wondering what was taking help so long to rescue them. The sight of Byron in agony and the thought of never seeing her kids again was more than Kanesha could take. Her mind raced, trying to find a way to get Percy to stop what he was doing. At that moment, Byron's well being was more important than that of her own.
"Byron, Byron, please be strong. Just think about Brianna and your boys, this will all be over soon. All of your kids need they daddy, so be strong," cried Kanesha. She thought Byron may go into shock by the amount of blood seeping from his leg.
"Naw, forget that mess. Dis ain't gon' be over 'til I get tired, and trust when I say, it won't be no time soon," promised a glassy eyed Percy. Percy plunged the knife into Byron's leg again, this time pulling it out slow and twisting it from side to side.
Byron passed out.
Kanesha screamed for help in hopes that her neighbor would hear. Percy punched her, forcing blood from her mouth. "Shut up!" screamed Percy.
Kanesha screamed for help again. Percy sat Kanesha up against the wall and stood over her, planting his legs on each side of her. "I got something to shut ya tail up." Percy continued his verbal tirade as he rammed himself inside of Kanesha's mouth, forcing her to perform oral sex on him.
"You never knew when to shut ya mouth. Always runnin' dat smart mouth of yours into da ground."
The smell of Percy made Kanesha sick to the stomach and vomit forced its way into her mouth." Kanesha began to choke. She silently recited a prayer to God, begging for help. Dear Lord, if I've ever needed you before, it does not compare to how much I need you now. Please help me, please help us get us out of this situation alive. Lord, please forgive me of all my sins and receive this prayer, cried Kanesha inwardly.
"What da-?" Percy was enraged by what he saw. Blood from Kanesha's neck trickled down her chest, causing her to panic.
Kanesha's life ran through her mind along with the faces of her four children. She was determined to see them again, hold them, and teach them about the sacrifices Jesus made for them. I will carry you when you are too weak to walk on your own, spoke the Spirit to Kanesha's heart. Kanesha knew God would see her through as long as she didn't give up. It was at that moment, Kanesha felt empowered to fight for her life, for her family's future and Byron's well being.
"I'm gonna die, Percy. Please, stop this. Just tell me what you want from us," begged Kanesha.
"Shut up, witch! You ain't got nothing! Do you hear me? There is nothing I want from you besides your life."
Kanesha had to think fast. She knew time was running out for her and Byron. Looking over at Byron, she saw all the blood gushing out of the knife wounds on his leg. Byron looked back at Kanesha, trying to say something to her with his eyes. Kanesha wasn't sure what it was he wanted to say, but she whispered to him, "Stay strong, God will see us through." Byron blinked his eyes rapidly and shook his head up and down. Percy was now pacing the floor, never taking his eyes off Kanesha.
"You stupid, witch! I should kill you right now, but that would be too easy. You deserve to suffer for throwing me out on the streets like I was trash."
"Stop for a minute. Think about my kids." Kanesha's voice was desperate and pleading, but her cries were exactly what Percy wanted.
"I ain't tryna hear that mess. You think I care about dem bastard kids of yours?"
"Please, Percy, I'm all they got," Kanesha continued to plead.
"I said, shut up!"
The knife cut Kanesha across her chest, and again, Percy punched her, forcing her to scream out in pain. Percy punched her again. Kanesha lay in excruciating pain, believing her jaw to be broken. She didn't move when Percy drew his fist back to punch her again. Kanesha closed her eyes in an attempt to brace herself for the blow.
The binding on Byron's wrist had loosened up from the blood that had soaked into it. Percy had all of his focus on Kanesha and he made the mistake of leaving his back turned on Byron too long. "You, bastard!"
Byron grabbed Percy's arm, preventing it from finding its mark a second time, and body slammed him. Losing his footing in the pool of blood, tears and vomit, Byron fell along side Percy. The two men struggled, both trying to dominate the other with strength and power. Byron was in a battle for their lives. The two stab wounds in his leg handicapped him from subduing his attacker the way he had wanted to.
Percy was taken by surprise. He was totally unprepared for the physical battle before him. With Byron falling, and not as strong as he had been the day Kanesha threw him out of the apartment, Percy felt he could overtake Byron.
Byron glanced at Kanesha, who lay still on the floor, and he thought she was dead. He tried desperately to overpower his attacker.
Percy noticed Byron hesitate to get back on his feet and took advantage of the situation. He kicked Byron in his leg, making him scream out for help.
"Shut up, boy. Ain't nobody coming to your aid," Percy spat.
Percy tried to kick Byron again when he slipped in the blood and fell face down. Byron threw himself on Percy and fought for his life. Again, Percy overpowered his opponent. Percy straddled Byron and wrapped his hands around the weaker man's neck.
Byron tried effortlessly to pry Percy's hands from his neck.
"It's over, partner. Who da witch now? Who's da witch now?"
Byron struggled to breathe.
Kanesha's eyes opened. She lifted herself from the floor, struggling to sit up without falling over. Percy continued to choke Byron who was slowly losing consciousness, when all of a sudden-Boom! The front door was kicked in and forced off its hinges.
"Freeze! "Police!"
Percy released his grip on Byron's neck and grabbed the knife next to him.
"Don't move," instructed a young police officer.
"Get down," yelled another officer with S.W.A.T. across his bullet proof vest.
"Drop the knife!"
Percy ignored the orders being barked at him by the numerous police officers inside the living room and lunged toward the officer standing the closest to him. "I ain't goin' back to prison."
"Stop!" ordered the officers in unison.
"Drop your weapon!" warned the sergeant.
Percy took three steps toward Kanesha as the police continued to yell orders at him.
"I'm not dying alone," vowed Percy as he lunged toward Kanesha.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three taps of the trigger from a policeman's gun stopped Percy in his tracks. The room was quiet, except for the rustled sounds of footsteps by the police.
"Ma'am, the ambulance is on its way. We're gonna get you help," promised a twenty-something looking officer who covered her with a blanket.
Kanesha looked into the police officer's eyes, unable to verbally respond due to the pain in her jaw. She took a deep breath and thanked God for ending the horrible ordeal. The officer covered Kanesha's body with a blan- ket before turning his attention to his partner who was tightening a belt around Byron's leg to stop the blood flow.
Byron looked over at Kanesha and reached out to touch her. Kanesha found Byron's hand, giving it a squeeze to let him know she was okay.
"It's over girl; we're going to be all right. It's over," said Byron after one of the police officers removed the tape from his mouth.
'When we are in our most vulnerable state, finding that inner strength that we all possess, is what will get us through.'
Kanesha tightened her grip on Byron's hand and closed her eyes to say another prayer, thanking God for allowing her and Byron to survive the horrible ordeal. When she opened her eyes, Kanesha looked over at Byron. With tears streaming down her face, she whispered, "I get it, Mommy. I finally get it. Thank you, Lord, for seeing us through the darkness and into the light. I am nothing without you heavenly Father, thank you."
The paramedics rushed in and immediately began tending to Kanesha and Byron. Less than ten minutes after their arrival, the E.M.T.'s had stabilized both their patients enough to transport them to the nearest hospital.
"She needs me, let me go! Kanesha, I'm here, baby! Please, let me go with her." Wilson pleaded with the police officer who had been restraining him from entering the duplex.
After dropping off the drunken patron, Wilson called Kanesha to let her know he was on his way home. It was not like Kanesha to ignore a ringing phone, especially when her children were not home. Wilson tried repeatedly to reach Kanesha. With each unanswered call; his heart sank a little more. He was worried that Byron may have lied about not feeling resentful about their relationship and had, in some way, harmed Kanesha. Wilson drove back to the south side to make sure Kanesha was tucked safely in bed, and for whatever reason, just didn't hear her phone ringing. He would not be able to get a good night rest until he was sure Kanesha's welfare was as it should be.
Upon arrival, Wilson wondered why Byron's car was still parked outside of Kanesha's duplex. He trusted Kanesha and thought maybe Byron's car had broken down or some other reasonable explanation. He stood outside of Kanesha's door, fighting with himself for showing up on her door step at four in the morning unannounced. Just when he was about to turn and leave, Wilson heard a strange noise come from the living room area of Kanesha's home. He tried to be quiet as he backed away from the door. He quickly pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911.
In the midst of everything, Denise Ramsey was awaken by the weird noises coming from her neighbor and rushed to call for help. Fearing that her and her kids might have been in danger as well, Denise gathered them up and decided to wait for the police in her car. She swung her door open and was startled by Wilson. He grabbed Denise's daughter from her left arm and led them out to his car and away from danger.
Wilson and Denise watched as the police approached and secured the building before kicking in Kanesha's front door. Wilson jumped from his car when an officer rushed out to retrieve blankets and first aid kits from his police cruiser. He stepped aside when fire trucks and ambulance workers rushed the door.
After the officials granted him permission to join Kanesha in the ambulance, Wilson was frightened by the sight before him. Kanesha was covered in her own blood and both her eyes were black and swelling shut. Wilson reached out to touch Kanesha but quickly pulled his hand back in fear of hurting her.
"Kanesha, it's Wilson. Everything is going to be all right. You're safe now. I promise you, I'll not leave your side," whispered Wilson through teary eyes.
Unable to move her jaw or open her eyes, Kanesha held out her hand and found Wilson's knee. Wilson gently placed his hand on top of Kanesha's and smiled when he felt her squeeze. It was her signal to him that she was grateful to have him with her. The simple gesture spoke so much between the two sinners whose individual walks with God would soon become one.
Wilson bowed his head and prayed out loud. "Our Father who art in heaven, please forgive us of our sins and please receive this prayer. Though we have both fallen short of your will, you did not give up on us and for that we are forever grateful. Thank you for delivering Kanesha and Byron from the evil that lived inside of Percy. Please continue to be with them both as their earthly bodies heal. Kanesha and I thank you for hearing and answering this prayer. For this and all things, we thank you dear Lord, Amen."
Wilson laid a gentle kiss on the back of Kanesha's hand and allowed the tears to fall from the back of his eyes and his heart. "Thank you, Lord, we thank you."
On this day, their belief in Jesus, patience with Christ and acceptance of the Holy Spirit proved that Even Sinners Have Souls Too. . .souls worth saving.
By
Victor L. Martin