The Emergence of the Legacy Man

CHAPTER FOUR

Keith's smile slowly faded, it was certainly more than a person the footsteps confirmed it. He wiped his sweaty palms against his pants, his heart pounding against his chest. It could be Sheila, but she hadn't come alone. He felt half his anticipation and courage slip away with the hope he managed to establish minutes ago.

Sheila soon appeared before him and he assumed she wasn't alone. Her parents stood at each side of Sheila and two cops stationed behind them armed with their batons. Keith gulped down nothing but his heart relaxed a bit when he saw Frank wasn't in attendance.

"Jeez, Keith, is that you?" Sheila's voice was soft, her lips stretched into a teasing smirk, "I almost didn't recognize you through all the filth," she wrinkled up her nose in disgust.

Hurt spilled through Keith, these people had messed up his life despite his sacrifices. Mrs. Hockings regarded him with her head held high and a pitiful look fixed on her face but it was a different story for Mr. Hockings, who was staring at Keith with a wide grin. His eyes settled on Sheila and from the look on her face, the rest of his gathered hope shattered away. Sheila regarded him with disgust and mock, her face conceited as she stared at him like he meant nothing. Everything in Keith knew that his Sheila was gone and replaced with this monster but an irrational part of him still refused to believe that his Sheila was completely gone.

Hurt filled Keith, "Sheila…" Her name slipped through his tongue like redemption. He gulped down nothing and daringly reached out to touch her but Sheila let out a surprised squeak and stumbled back away from him. 

"Don't touch me." She snapped. 

"It appears your time here has taught you nothing," Mr. Hockings growled unhappily and the smile vanished from his face. "You should know your place by now, Keith, and not go after things you are unworthy of." 

Mrs. Hockings tugged at her husband's arm, "Don't add salt to his wound, dear," she turned to face Keith with a smile far from sympathetic, "You know, I always liked you and it hurts me to see you like this. If you beg I'm sure I can convince my husband to take you in as a house help."

Keith's fingers tightened around the steel, glaring at Mrs. Thompson, "Never."

Mrs. Thompson smirked, "I'm just trying to help."

"Don't bother, mum. Help should only be given to those who deserve it and this piece of shit deserves to die in this hell hole." Sheila chipped in.

Keith flinched, surprised by the hostility dripping from Sheila's voice. "What did I ever do?" His voice broke from lack of use, "Why?" He whispered.

Sheila scoffed, "Why? You were so stuck up with your head so high on that imaginary horse of yours riding on cloud nine, just because you managed to get some status to your stupid name and I simply reminded you that you are worthless trash."

Keith's frown deepened, processing her words slowly, "You are calling me proud?"

"Well if not proud, you certainly don't deserve anything. People like you are meant to be below us and stay down so we can trample." Sheila's vile words fueled his anger.

"I did everything right with you, Sheila. I gave you anything you wanted." 

"You didn't have to do anything wrong Keith, you just don't know your place." Sheila fired back.

"You are despicable," he yelled at the people before him. "I did everything…"

"You really shouldn't say that out loud young man," Mr. Hockings interrupted. "What man in his perfect sense would agree to let go of all his money."

Mrs. Hockings giggled, "Young men and making rash decisions. Anyway, thank you for saving our daughter and our family from shame."

Keith took some time to realize the hidden meaning behind those words and the meaning behind Mrs. Hockings' smug smile. His eyes widened and he gasped, he thought back to what he saw at the house with Frank and Sheila, and he dragged his gaze to Sheila. "You and Frank…?"

Sheila smirked, she tossed a paper he hadn't noticed at him before. "Sign it."

He shook his head, "No."

Sheila turned to the cops, "You know what to do."

When the door to his cell opened, Keith had nowhere to run as the men grabbed him and hit him with their baton. The men hadn't let him go until he provided his signature.

…

Sheila stepped out of the suffocating building and sucked in a deep breath. ‘Finally, that fool always proved to be stubborn,’ she thought, sweeping her hair over her shoulder. 

Her mood immediately lightened with the sight of her friend, Jenny, leaning against her car. Sheila beamed rushing over.

Jenny giggled, "Someone's in a good mood," she teased.

Sheila scoffed, "You can't imagine how good it feels having him off my shoulders."

"No more suffocating husband," Jenny cheered. 

Sheila rolled her eyes, "I wouldn't call him my husband, anyway Frank gave me his card," she gushed, "Let's go shopping."

Jenny chuckled, "Hey Mr. and Mrs. Hockings."

Sheila peeped over her shoulder at her parents, "I'm going out," she informed them.

Her dad rolled, "Be careful."

"Yes, Sir." Jenny grabbed her arm, "Let's go."

…

Keith tightened his hold on his aching side, his jaw clenched so painfully together. He kept his gaze on where Sheila and her family had been and he felt his anger and hatred rise. He hated them, for what they did to him, for this humiliation. And he was never going to forgive them. 

He gathered all the strength he had left and dragged his feet to the gate. "Guard," he called, and not long after a tall, lanky man appeared before him with a frown.

"What do you want?" The man asked rudely.

He ignored the tone of the man's voice, "A phone, I need to make a call."

The man eyed him for some moment then strode off. For a moment Keith thought the man wouldn't return but at the sound of someone approaching, he heaved a sigh.

The man handed him a phone through the hole, "Be quick." He ordered.

Keith nodded. He slumped against the wall for support and proceeded to dial the number he had memorized by heart. And luckily the person picked on the second ring.

"Hello." The familiar voice reached Keith's ear and he calmed a little.

"It's Keith Thompson. I need a favor." He said into the phone, glaring at the wall up front.

…

The cool air washed over Keith the instant he was out of the police building. He took in a breath of fresh air and his lips curled up a little, happy to be free again. He moved again and pain shot from his side but he ignored it and focused on moving. He needed to get a ride, he thought as he moved sluggishly down the lane.

He sighed when he finally spotted a cab coming his way. He held out his arm and waved, flagging the cab down. At first, Keith thought the car would zoom past him but it stopped and a young black man popped his head out the window. The man gave him a scrutinizing look,

"Do you even have money to pay?" The man asked curiously with a brow raised at him.

Keith frowned, suddenly remembering he needed money to get transported. He looked back at the man and opened his mouth to speak but the man beat him to it,

"Get in." The man ordered. 

Keith flashed him a grateful smile and wasted no time getting into the back seat.

"Where to, man?" 

"The City Bank," Keith said without hesitation and sank into the car cushion, looking out the window.