Quaku and Ayebea goes missing mysteriously. Their Father who is terribly sick is kept in darkness and told that they traveled. All efforts to search for them proves abortive and all these leads to the discovery of the Strange Room



This story is written by Abhynha Yankey and it's a short one, I'll be posting everything today, I start before 3pm. Enjoy

Source: www.youngicee.com

Sitted oya bring it on

1.


1.

"What does he take me for? Tell me. Who does he think he is? He can't live a luxurious life at the expense of my sister's life.

Leave me alone! Leave me alone!! I must go there and face him", those were the last words of my elder brother before he left home. It's been two weeks since he left and we still have no trace nor heard of him. The worst of it all was that none of us knew who my late sister was dating before she passed on. Did I say "passed on"? She's nowhere to be found. If we knew who the guy was, we would at least have an idea of where my brother was. Everything was just like a dream. Neither myself nor my mum seemed to believe what was happening.

The case was reported to the police by Bro Quabena. He was a very close friend of Quaku.

He couldn't sit in his seat any longer when he heard of the tragedy. As for my dad, we didn't want to tell him of the predicament which had befallen us since he was unwell. Whenever he asked of my brother and sister (Quaku and Ayebea), I was quick to reply him that they had traveled and would return soon. "How soon?", I always asked myself whenever I replied my dad. Anyway, I only pray they return to the house wherever they are, because I can't keep telling lies to my dad. What if he found out that I'd been telling him lies all the while?

"Akosua! Akosua!!,"that was my mother calling. I ran towards her direction as I responded. She looked happy for once. That at least relieved me of all my unending thoughts.

"Mum, I can see you are very happy today. Can you share with me your secret?", I asked. "Happy you said? I'm more than happy. I had a phone call from the police on my way to the house. They said..."

A call came in just when she was about giving me the good news.

"Ako, that's Quabena calling. I'm sure he's with the police. Receive the call and put it on loudspeaker", my mum said. "...but mum, dad is not asleep. He might hear us. I think we must go out and listen to it well. Today is the happiest day in my life," I said.

The police have done well. Not forgetting Quabena, I was over excited that I abruptly rejected the call instead of receiving it.

"Aagh Akosua!", my mum shouted with rage. "Mum, easy. All I need to do is to return the call, then we are good to go", I replied. I called back and this time around, a police man picked.

Me: hello. Good afternoon. Please let me hand the phone over to my mum since she is here.

Mum: hello...really? Hmmm...anyway thank God. I will be on my way.

__

(I was kept in the dark concerning what transpired between the two on phone so I enquired from my mum)

"Mummy, what is it? " I asked. "Hmmmm, it's Quabena I spoke with. He said the police said they've found some bodies, but they are saying they won't allow him to see the bodies unless I come around", she said with tears in her eyes.

"Does it mean my siblings are dead? Oh No! It can't be!", I shouted.

"Ako, what can't be?"my father asked slowly from the room since he was bedridden and very weak.

I ran to him to make sure he was okay, but put up a lie that the exam I'd been preparing for and waiting to write had been cancelled.

"Don't worry dear. You will make it even if it takes three years so relax and learn okay", he replied.

"Okay dad. Will you need anything? I will be going to see my friend who lives down the street with mum. I learnt she's very sick. We won't keep long", I said.

"Alright but don't keep long. Tell your mum to get me some fruits on her way,"he said as I opened the door.

I hurried out of the room and saw my mum almost out of the house. I ran after her but couldn't say a word. We were both sad. We anxiously walked side by side with tears in our eyes. For once, my mum passed by people without greeting them.

I wasn't surprised though.

"Papa police, good day. Please I'm the mother of the deceased. I mean both children. Can I have a look at them?", she asked when we got to the police station.

"Madam, how do you know they are your children without having a look at them? Besides they are three people. Anyway,let's go in. The guy who called is in there waiting for us all to go and identify the bodies", he said and led us to Quabena. Quabena walked to us immediately he saw us. He seemed to have been crying but he tried to console my mum and asked that she put herself together.

He put his hand around my neck and held my mother's hand as we followed the police man to where the bodies had been kept.

"Here are the bodies. They are three in number so I will take off the cloth for you to identify yours," he said while taking off the cloth.

I was scared but I wanted to be a witness, so stood still and pressed Quabena's hand tightly.

"Nooooo...my God! Why me? So where are my children? Officer, please my children are not part", my mum said. She sat on the floor and shed uncontrollable tears. Quabena tried to console my mum but there was no way she would listen. She had lost two children just like that, and my dad was also sick and bedridden.

I went closer and knelt by her with the idea of going to console her but I rather worsened the case. I shed tears as I had my head resting on her shoulder.

"Mama, it's okay. I trust they aren't dead and will return home wherever they are", I said.

Quabena was short of words. Quaku had been his best friend from childhood.

"Mum, why don't we cause the arrest of Godwin?", Quabena asked? "Who is Godwin?"we both asked.

*
*
2.


"Wait, are you saying you don't know Godwin? Godwin is the boyfriend of Ayebea. He is not in this town anyway, but I know his house very well. I remember Quaku and myself used to go there to warn him to stay off Ayebea," Quabena replied.

I was a bit relieved. At least, there was someone who knew where the guy lived. My mum got up, dusted her cloth, thanked the police officers, then we rushed out.

"Officer, please we will let you know whenever something comes up", Quabena said as he made his way to the door.

We sat in his car and he drove off. We were all quiet in the car. He suddenly stopped the car.

"Quabena why have you pulled over?", my mum asked? "Easy mum. Take a look at that building. Isn't it beautiful?" He asked. "3h3, yes, and what has that got to do with me? Please drive on. We talking of my children here and not an apartment", my mum angrily said. "O mum, it seems you don't get what I'm saying. I'm talking of that 4 storey building. Take a good look at it and I will tell you something", he added.

"Bro, please tell us what the issue is because currently, none of us is in a good state. My dad is also home and you know of his condition",l chipped in.

"Well, that is Godwin's house. The guy Ayebea was dating. This is his house", he said. "No no no, you mean this belongs to him? How old is he and what does he do for a living?" I asked. As for mum, she was shocked. She didn't want to believe it. "Come on, don't you trust me? He is 26 years of age. He is always home or sometimes at the pub chilling with friends. He is unemployed. This is where Ayebea used to hang out , so you now understand why I asked that we caused his arrest. Let's go back to the police station and report it", he said.

"Yes hurry, hurry. No wonder before my son left the house, he kept saying the boy can't use his sister for rituals. Now I see. Hurry up, take me back to the police station", mum said. We got to the police station in no time. Though my mum was impatient in the car, we managed to calm her down for her to talk softly to the police. She convincingly got them to follow us to the house.

It was a very big apartment with dogs all over. They started barking when we tried entering the house.

Someone I presumed to be the security guard came from nowhere to sack them. We greeted him and asked that we saw Godwin. His reply proved to us that whatever Quabena said was true.

"My master you mean? He is in the sitting room. Let me go fetch him for you", he said. "Don't worry. Just direct us to where he is. We want to have a short meeting with him", the police said.

The compound was filled with many cars. The security guard led us to a room which had an automatic door. We got to the sitting room but he wasn't there. I was eager to see that guy who had used my siblings for rituals. As for mum, she was boiling within. Few seconds after we had got to the sitting room, he appeared from another room with wine and glass in his hand. He indeed had been living a luxurious life.

The police greeted and enquired from him if he was called Godwin. His answer was affirmative. They went further to probe if he knew Ayebea and Quaku. He again gave an affirmative answer. The police asked him the connection he had with them and he said, "Ayebea is my girlfriend, and the guy in question is her brother. He has been coming here with this man (Pointing at Quabena) to warn me." "Well said, so where is Ayebea?"the police asked.

_____

"Ayebea? She's not been here for some time. She called me some weeks back that she was coming over, but never heard from her. Her phone has been off since then", he replied. They asked what he did about it when he wasn't hearing from her, any effort to see or reach her but he said he didn't want to ever come around our house. That perhaps wasn't an excuse. He seemed tensed up with the numerous questions which were being thrown at him.

"If I may ask, does this house belong to you?", one of the policemen asked.

"Yes please", he responded.

"And what do you do for a living" the police further interrogated.

"I'm a final year student at legon", he said.

"Woooow...and you have all these? Anyway, permit us to search your apartment", the police said.

He tried to restrict them initially but finally gave in.

They searched the whole house but found nothing. While coming out of his sophisticated bedroom, I saw an old black polythene bag on the floor. It was a big polythene though.

It was behind the door.

I alerted the police to search that one too, it might be of help. They opened it and we found 'kujey' , 'thick gloves' and a black overall. This raised suspicion.

What was the use of these if not robbery? I had watched many movies and if my memory served me right, I saw them rob and operate with such items. "Oh so he was an armed robber as well", I thought.

"Boss,you will have to follow us to the police station and explain yourself. Whatever you say here will be used against you. Now move!", the police ordered him after handcuffing him.

We followed them closely. As for Quabena, I never believed my eyes when I saw him weep. I'd always had the notion that men don't cry so why now? I consoled him. He had no other friend aside my brother. It was obvious there was no way he could drive so one of the policemen offered to do so.

We got to the police station sooner than I imagined. My mum, Quabena and I sat outside while the police took Godwin to a small room for further interrogation. All attempts to get answers from him proved futile.

Due to that,he was put in cells. We spent almost the whole day at the police station, forgetting about my dad. Quabena quickly drove us back home when I reminded him of my father.

To be continued...

Your comments are welcome


Read the next episode here: http://youngicee.com/2018/01/strange-room-episode-2.html

2


“Daddy, daddy I’m home. Daddy…” I kept calling as I went to his room to check on him, obviously to give some flimsy excuses for not getting his fruits. It seemed he’d been struggling for some time before we got there. What was he trying to get? I got there and saw him on the floor. He was unconscious. I screamed out his name. It drew the attention of my mum who was outside having a conversation with Quabena. They quickly ran to the room when they heard the noise.
“Ako, are you okay? Is everything alright with you? What is happening? What is wrong with your father and why is he on the floor? Let’s try lifting him unto the mattress”, mum said without waiting for answers.
“Mum, we need to rush him to the hospital. I came to meet him on the floor like this. He looks unconscious. Quabena, please help us. I know you are tired but do this for us”, I pleaded.
Quabena helped us to the hospital. The nurses rushed to meet us at the entrance when they saw us. They came with a stretcher to convey him to the emergency unit. “Madam, please get his folder while we attend to him”, a nurse requested .
I ran to the records unit to get the folder, gave the necessary information and waited for them to finish up. All this while Quabena was pacing up and down. I guess he was asking God why all these were befalling us. I by my mother, held her hand and prayed silently in my heart. I saw one nurse dash out. She returned with one man whom I later found to be the doctor. Just when they entered, another nurse also came out. Quabena ran to her and asked, “how is he? Hope he would make it.” “Yes, sure. We trying hard to revive him. He’s currently receiving oxygen. Let’s pray it goes well ok, but trust me, he would make it”, she said.
_____
I was extremely overwhelmed when i heard that. We sat for a moment. I was just thinking of all the predicaments, then I heard one lady (nurse) call out my mother’s name. She got up and entered the room where dad was.
“Nooooooooooooo! No no no….Eric, talk to me”, that was what I heard my mum say when she entered the room. This alerted everybody around. I ran to the room without being called. It was too late by then. No! This can’t happen to us. My siblings and dad were no more. Quabena was left to console us.
How could dad have died without telling us anything. What at all could have killed my dad? Father please talk to me.
I watched them cover him with a cloth and asked that he be taken to the morgue.
My father was no more part of the living. I trailed them while they took his body away.

There was nothing I could do than go home with Quabena and mum. As for mum, she could cry no more as she kept swallowing her tears to catch her breath. She had lost all within a twinkle of an eye.
While in the car, I asked my mum, “mum, I know there is no money so what are we going to do about dad’s body?” “Hmmmmmmm Akosua, I will have to go and inform the family, then plan the day with them. I’m hoping it won’t take even two weeks for us to burry him”, she replied. “Very well then”, I said. That evening when we got home, I couldn’t say a word. We both cried as she took her phone to make the necessary calls.
All the while, Godwin was still in police custody. He was taken to court for case hearing, but the court ordered that he be put back for necessary investigations to be done. I actually wished he would even die and rot in jail. After killing my siblings, I lost my father because of him. Hmmmmm…
My mum went to our village the next morning to break the news to them. They came to our house a week after to mourn and observe the one week celebration.
The date was set for the funeral. Quabena helped with the preparation for the final rites.
All too soon,the time was up for us to lay our dad to rest.
It was just a pitiful scene. One of my aunties who lived abroad came down. I didn’t know her. According to my mum, she left the country before I was born. She’s been coming down but had never stepped a foot in the village. I was introduced to her. In fact, she was lovely. Why then was she not coming home or sending us money? Well, that wasn’t mine to answer.
She offered to take us home. “Sister, thought you would be staying here with us or are you lodging in a guest house?”, mum asked.
“Oow dear, I have a house in the next town oo. Remember I was pregnant before I left the country. I gave birth to a baby boy. He’s all grown so he’s now managing my business here in Ghana”, she said.
“O really? I thought you aborted that pregnancy. You’ve really done well. Come on, let’s go. Let me go and meet my son whom I’ve never seen before”, mum said. We jumped into her car with Quabena. As she was about driving, we heard someone call my mum. It was the pastor who prayed before we lowered the casket in the grave. He asked that he had some few minutes with my mum. She got down and attended to the pastor. I didn’t hear what they said, but mum came to ask my auntie if the pastor could come with us. He joined us in the car.


My auntie entered the same house Godwin lived in.
She blew the horn severally and finally the security guard whom we went to meet came to open the door. He was so happy as he jumped about. We were all wondering what was going on?
*
*
“Sis, is this your house?” My mum asked. “Yes. I’m yet to see my son”, she replied. We all turned to look at each other’s face. It was obvious she hadn’t been to the house upon her arrival.
“Musah, where is Godwin? I’ve been trying to call him but his phone has been off. I hope he hasn’t started mingling with bad friends”, she enquired from the security. “Hmmmm…madam. Few days ago, some people came here with the police. I don’t know what happened, but they took him away. Since then, he’s not been home. I don’t know which police station they took him to. We were all surprised. As for my auntie, she became disturbed all of a sudden. We managed to calm her down, took her to the hall and told her all that had happened. I mean the relationship between Godwin and Ayebea, the sudden disappearance of Ayebea and Quaku, and worst of it all the things we saw in his room.
“O my God! My son can’t do that. I got him those things for him to use when riding his motorbike. He just loves to be in those. Where did you take him to? Take me there”, my auntie said impatiently. “Calm down woman. Your son is innocent and that’s the more reason why I’m here. The truth would be known today”, the pastor said. His statement struck all of us. “You mean you know who is behind these?” My auntie and mum asked at the same time. They both took their seat, forgetting we have to go to the police station.
“Madam, if I may ask, who is this young man here? (pointing at Quabena)”, the pastor asked.
“He is Quabena. A family friend and a close friend to my son,”my mum replied.
Quabena felt uneasy as the pastor stared at him.
“Well, I don’t have much to say but the spirit of God revealed many things to me when I saw him at the funeral grounds. Man (turning to Quabena), it is better you confess today and save your soul because from what I’m seeing, you have few days to live. You can’t die in your sin.
_____
Everybody was stunned. What was the pastor talking of? My auntie was becoming impatient. All she wanted to see, touch and hold was her son. The pastor asked that Quabena confessed. It was becoming difficult for him to do so.
“Well, I think I need to get my son out now. He can’t be in police custody,” my auntie said. “Yes, he can’t be there. He would surely be out by the close of tomorrow. I mean we can’t go there to get him out just like that. We need to get all the evidences against Quabena too before we take any step”, mum said. “Mum, I think we can still get him out and hand whoever the victim is to them later. My cousin needs to be out”, I said. After all Quabena wasn’t willing to talk. He made me have the feeling that he indeed had done something worst.


After deliberations, we finally agreed to go get Godwin out. We first went to see the CID who helped us with the necessary processes to get him out. We promised to hand over the victim to them soon. Godwin looked unkempt when he was brought out. My auntie couldn’t but ran to hug her only pride. They both shed tears. My mum and I apologized for causing his arrest. He had a forgiving heart. He smiled to us, held our hands and said, “it’s really painful but I understand you. I have nothing against you”. We thanked him and left for the car. It was a family car so it could accommodate us all.
“Sweetie, I’m sorry for everything that happened to you okay. Nonetheless, there is something I need to share with you once we get home”, my auntie said. What could that possibly be? We begged to leave when we got to the house. “No no. We need to reunite. I need to introduce you to my son”, she said.
I’m sure Godwin didn’t understand all that was going on. We sat down and my auntie started.
“Godey, I must first of all welcome you and thank God for your life. I must confess I fell ill when I heard you’ve been arrested, but with the help of my sister who is your auntie, I was able to overcome all and get access to you”, my auntie said. Godwin was shocked to hear that. “My what! She’s the same woman who caused my arrest. Tell me, is it a crime to fall in love with your daughter?”, he asked my mum. I thought he had forgiven us but no! “Yes it’s a crime to fall in love with her daughter. The woman here is my biological sister. The woman I always talked to you about, so that means you were dating your own cousin. She did what any woman would do because she can’t find her daughter and son till date. Just forgive them”, my auntie said.
He sat down with his head bowed for a while, then stood up to my mum, held her hand and embraced her. I wish I could be hugged too but mine never was.
To be continued…


Read The final Episode here: http://youngicee.com/2018/01/strange-room-episode-3.html

Oyinprince, such a lovely tory