“Alright, nobody should move on stage. Stay right where you are or I’ll blast your skull for you.” He was surprised to hear his own voice maintaining such coolness even in his first major operation. Ukaegbu’s gun was pointed squarely on the half-unclothed girls on stage. The show had started an hour ago and this was the climax. He chose the time to strike as he was instructed by Charly to lead the strike. Immediately the lights went off as arranged, he jumped to his feet, aimed his gun at the high windows and shot through the louver glasses.  The deafening sound of the shot and that of the shattering glasses sent the audience berserk. He only hoped that the crack team positioned at the gate would do their job of disarming the gate boys properly if not…. On his part, Otiaka was to control the audience and make sure no one moved until instructed so.



He watched every movement from the corner of his eyes, ready to fire at the slightest provocation. From behind the mask he stared vaguely at the girls on stage. With the torch held with his left hand he illuminated the stage while his right held tight to the pistol. His second finger curled around the trigger. The gun was hot but he held on to it. It represented the power to negotiate, his only way of escape and protection from counter attack. One thing astonished him even as dead silence pervaded the atmosphere.He could not trace Kendy’s whereabout. Moments before the light went off, he was behind the stage, while Miss Princess displayed herself before the crowd. A thorough flickering of his torch at the stage could not give any clue to the cult lord’s position. He had no orders to execute him but he was being vindictive.  Intent on settling a score, Ukaegbu  had planned a tactical elimination once Kendy was trapped in the auditorium.  Confusion reigned in his mind as he contemplated on the next line of action.

“Now listen. All guys should stand up and leave this bloody place.” His order sent the audience moving. Both boys and girls moved towards the door simultaneously in panic but the Deadskull crack team that now occupied the gate had strict instructions to allow only boys to leave.  Sporadic gunshots ruled the air outside. A little distance from the school auditorium, members of Deadskull and Blackbirds slugged it out in a battle for supremacy.It was as if the attack was anticipated by Blackbirds.

Ukaegbu ensured that every boy had left the auditorium. They left in a hurry, in a heavy stampede. His eyes never left Loretta whom it was obvious, Kendy had deserted in the present circumstance. His mind rumbled with ideas on how to send a message home to her boyfriend.

“Now in single file, all girls should march out from here. No shouts, no screams,no giggling or I shoot off your arse. Now start moving.”



His feet  were growing unsteady on the ground as he watched Otiaka unleash his brutal kicks on the girls. Duke was a beast and heartless. He kicked any girl that tried to leave the cue, while moving towards the exit. Various other armed members of Deadskull moved into the auditorium. They all wore masks shaped into the face of an owl. The remaining members of the squad were previously posted  to positions around the auditorium to prevent infiltration and sabotage of the operation. Kendy, the target had escaped but no one knew how. Ukaegbu and Duke Otiaka followed the girls closely, while the last batch made their exit. It was clear any Blackbird boy around had beat retreat in panic. Cult members dreaded being caught in a crossfire during rival cult operations. The rather sane option is to clear from danger zones. Mustering unorganized opposition might prove fatal. This night, though Kendy succeeded in picking a handful of boys to offer resistance, he was ill-prepared and was simply beaten back.

Now outside the auditorium, Ukaegbu barked out an order.

“Move to the car park.” His voice was growing panicky and yet venomous. They all knew he would not hesitate to pump bullets into anybody that appeared to be an enemy. His torch focused on Loretta all the time. She would be his obvious choice once at the car park. The thought of having a taste of his arch-enemy’s girlfriend filled him with glowing excitement.

“Whoosh, the LovePeddler !!! He spat out.

Here is a link to the book. Buy your copy and critique it http://www.authorhouse.co.uk/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000362431

Thanks
Dr. Paul Ihuoma Oluikpe