₦airaland Forum

yungbanks:
Thanks alot man really appreciate no one wished me a HBD cos am an introvert no friends just sit at home with my phone lemme say Nairaland is my bestie

Never apologise for being the brightest one in the room. introvert= intelligence.

yungbanks:
Wow so so real and a great journey thanks alot

Young man. Welcome to your 20's. Happy birthday in arrears. And thank you for joining me on this journey.

EbonyQueen001:
Wow!

Thank you Creeza.

It's been a while I read something this thrilling.

Thanks once again.

I appreciate all your time and effort on the thread. Means a lot.

cassbeat:
Wow weve reached the End of this Nice sizzling ride.... Bravo creeza and I hope to read more from you.. Keep it rolling....

Thank you bro. You made the ride easy.

enirock:
So because she didn't heed his instructions/admonitions, the first gentleman reasoned that the easiest way to get a divorce was to plot a coup to unseat his wife?? Wow. Thanks for bringing this to an end Creeza and to see Ife and Kelly know how their resemblance came about and Jerry making it out of surgery makes everything 'balanced'. Thanks for this piece.

Thanks bro. You guys are the real MVPs

Episode 29-A Double Meaning
Narrator

The American told her to give the flowers to Jerry. She obliged.
Realising he had not done proper introductions, Jerry said “ Ife, meet Kelly. Kelly, this is my fianceé, Ife”

“ We already met. Thanks anyway. Couldn't have even happened without your help” Kelly Green said.
Detective Itoro Abasi praised him. Called him a champ.

“ You did awesome, bro.” Itoro continues“ You are a legend. And I'm so proud of you“ He paused “ I know Mathew would feel the same way about you, if he was to be alive today”
A moment of silence followed before Jerry asked “ Has he been buried?”

“ Not yet. Soon. When the coast is finally clear and you are out of the hospital”
“ What happened to your nose? The boy asked.

“ Oh this?

“ Yeah!

Ife and Itoro laughed together.

“ It's a long story.” Detective Itoro said.

“ Make it short".

Itoro urges him to get well first. He provides an envelope from his coat. He says the DNA test came back positive, that Kelly and Ife are paternal twins.
“But different mothers. Matthew was right all along with his deductions”

“ Wow” Jerry blurted“ That's cool. Right?”

“ Obviously” Kelly was indifferent “ Makes perfect sense when you actually think about it. ” she smiled.

“ But that's by the way” She provided his necklace. “ You had this in your palm when Gerrard and I found you unconscious- must mean so much to you”

He collected it. “ Thanks"

He turned to Itoro. “ Genesis 9:5-6. Seriously? Whose Idea was that?

“ That was mine. Mathew had something else on mind. He wanted it to be Jeremiah 12: 5-6. More like an advice to you. But I convinced him otherwise.”

“ Well. I don't know what those Bible passages mean” Jerry opted.

“ Ha-ha-ha-ha" Ife mocked him “ How possible? You are a pagan. Genesis 9:5 and 6 justifies Capital punishment for capital crimes”

“ Jeremiah 12 : 5 and 6? ” He asked.

“ That's yours to find out. Leave me alone” Ife said.

Little Aisha burst into laughter.
“ See. The girl is laughing at you.” Jerry chipped in “ really? You just said-”

“ In a turn of events and what seems to be a dramatic irony -”
A newscaster cut him short in his sentence. They all paused to focus at the TV hung at an opposite direction to the bed.

The Newscaster continues “ Reports gathered info that barely 48hours after the government disclosed an explosion earlier sighted in Abuja as nothing but unidentified flying objects ( UFO)s needing no cause for alarm"

Jerry looked at Itoro. No cause for alarm ideed.

“ However, an alarm might have been triggered in president Bukola Alakara’s administration few hours later. Fresh source reveals that the explosions; a previous plane crash in lokoja; an ambush in Benin City and a series of recent events may be linked –.” He paused “ to a larger sinister plot. A democratic coup plot. ”

“ Still raising alarms is a sudden resignation of Vice president Chukwuebuka, thus leaving a vacuum which will be filled by the Senate president, Mr Alex Atanda. All members of the ruling party. AUC.”

“ the most shocking of all is the arrest and prosecution of the first gentleman, Mr Samuel Alakara- the president's husband over cases of corruption, money laundering and high treason. He will be charged to court soon and –”

Jerry glanced at Itoro.

“ Yeah” Itoro replied. “ He is who you think he is ”

“ Interesting. ” Jerry uttered. “ Damn interesting.”

******

“ the most shocking of all is the arrest and prosecution of the first gentleman, Mr Samuel Alakara- the president's husband over cases of corruption, money laundering and high treason. He will be charged to court soon and is likely to face a lifetime imprisonment or even a death penalty....”

“ How deep the mighty has fallen” Bukky’s voice caught him off guard.

He hadn't noticed her entrance into his cell. Or maybe pretended not to. She took a seat next to the tv hung on the wall. The cell looks up-class and well furnished. Something he was used to before his present predicament.

“ At least someone remembered to visit me inside my hole” he replies.

She looked at him with so much disdain. For brief moment, one would think they weren't couples.
“ I want a divorce” She dropped the papers on the table “ I'm putting an end to all of this.”

He laughs without even glancing at the papers. Looked away and said “ I lost my darling wife a long time ago. The person sitting before me is a total stranger. I failed trying to bring her back to her senses.”

“ Was it worth it? She asked“ Why? Casmir was a power monger but you- ”she was going to utter his name. She decided-not to. She decided- to let things flow how they were going. “ You are the devil. Even worse. After all I gave you? This is how you repay me?

“ Stop being righteous! ” He snapped. A stern look grew on his face. “ You are no saint either!”

“ No wonder! She said.

“ Wonders never end” He gave her a sarcastic reply“ Do they?

“ Little devils and crimes are like 5 and 6”

“ Really, now? he said “ That should have a double meaning because I won't say less for politicians and corruption”

She stood up brazingly. Paced the room then returned to her seat.

“ I heard rumors” She said “ But I still couldn't believe it was you”

“ All of these- what did you gain from it all?

He inhaled then exhaled deeply before replying “ Alot. Everything I could ever wish for” He stares as her and ask “ You? what did you gain? hmm?

He waited for her reply. And he hoped she would speak up. Only if she would. Only if.



The End.

Episode 28- Humour
Narrator.

A loud oviation erupted in the hall. They had done it. The missiles had exploded in the atmosphere after colliding into each other. A heat signature registered within the same radius where the flying objects had been spotted few seconds ago.

“ Yes!” Mr Green became the happiest man on earth. He jabbed his knuckle into thin air with so much vigour and excitement. Bukky Alakara slumped into her seat with enthusiasm and it was very obvious she was exhausted. This phase of uncertainty is now a thing of the past.

She stood up and exchanged warm hand shakes with almost everyone she could reach. A job well done. They succeeded in this particular victory over terrorism. A victory, although it came with a price is still a victory.

She spotted Ife re-enter the hall from the left side of the building. She must have been to the cafeteria. The beautiful lady had a cup of ice cream with her.

Such a cheerful soul. As she stared at her, Bukky could not help but reminisce of her own younger days. The girl sliced a spoonful of ice-cream, sucked into her mouth; releashing the moment as she slid the rubber spoon fractionally against her lips. She glowed with brilliance.
Yet the look on her face was indifferent.

The POTRON called out to her. She responded.

“ Can I get a taste? Bukky asked playfully.
“ Oh sure! Why not? Ife said with a beam of happiness.

“ Uarrghhh!” Bukky exhaled. Then inhaled once more. “ That feels better than o.rgasm”
Ife puffed her cheeks in a bid to laugh.
“ Young lady...Don't be shy” Bukky said“ We all have our own fetish”

She scooped another from the cup. “ hmm ..this is so good. Just what I need right now"

“ I'm glad you like it” Ife said“ I can get you another if - you know--” she said while staring at Bukky's military body guards who stood side-by-side with arms crossed and lips sealed. They made Ife feel uneasy.

Mrs Alakara noticed the look on her face and said “ Na! Don't worry about them. I'm sure they'll pass...” She licked another sizeable cut from the cup. “ You know the only time I had something this nice was ages ago”

“ Wow! That's medieval”

“ Oh! You can say that again.” Bukola said “ I'm old school but not going out of trend anytime soon”

Ife giggled.
“ Come. I want you to meet someone” She gently pulled Ife along by the arm.

“ Mr Green” She called “ I'd like to introduce you to Ife”
Mr. Edward Green turned and a stroke of surprise glowed across his deep blue eyes. “ Well.. she ...Im..”

“ Don't be. ” Bukky urged “ I felt the same too. She looks so much Kelly... Your daughter... I even had this crazy thought in my head once: that I we'd never be able to find Kelly, God forbid such happens, I'd have given you Ife as replacement.”

The trio laughed out loud.

“ Now that's wierd” Mr Green said “ Such resemblance. Out of this earth. I'm marveled. ” He paused“ My dear you make me appreciate my own daughter's beauty even more.”

“ Thank you sir!”

“ I'm curious though. Please. I'd love to continue this conversation soonest”

“ Anytime, Sir” Ife replies before he turned to take his leave.

Her eyes went to the screen in the hall then returned to Mrs Alakara. She said “ Uhmm! Your Excellency. Pardon me, uhmmm. Any word from Jerry? I uhh–”

Bukky's countenance switched.

“ What? Ife asks.

“ Oh dear.” Bukky began“ I'm so sorry–”

“ Its not that bad, is it? Ife cut in with a blank expression“ Is he dead?

*******
Wednesday, 11AM GMT.
Venue: The Senate Chambers, ASO Villa, Abuja.

Mrs Bukola Alakara stood in front of a full house and glares of a hundred eyes. The Senate building had been teeming with expectations before her arrival. Now she is here, ready to defend herself admist impending impeachment above her head.

“ Honorable members....Today I stand before you not just as a head of state but as a human being who is falible and prone to mishaps. ” She paused. “ For the past 120 hours of my life, Ive not had up to 24hours of sleep. And I admit. I admit, I may be right or wrong- but I admit to the charges leveled up against me; Not consulting the house on key decisions about National security; Putting our democracy to a test, sacrifing lives for a just cause but saving millions in the long run. I agree. I may have gone too overboard....but ...” She paused again, took a quick glance at the Senate president, Mr Alex Atanda who had vacated his seat for her just for the meanwhile.

She continues “ I understand I've been impeached at the lower level of assembly, the house of Reps.

That's fine. I promised to be present today and here I am with a single aim of letting you know I had good intentions all backed with logical reasoning.

Before you judge me and cast your stones in this instance, your votes, because my name Bukola and not Stephen.” The house erupted with a brief laughter in response to her sense of humor.

After recapturing their attention she said“ Just before that. I'd like you to hear my own side of the story...”

*****
Friday 9:38 AM
General Hospital, Benin City, Edo State.

“ He will be fine. Don't worry.”

“ Can we see him now? Ife asked when the doctor was through with explanations about the surgery and implications attached to it.

“ Sure! Why not?” He said abruptly “ Ofcourse you can”

“ Hey! Ife said when her eyes met with Jerry's.
They had entered the intensive Care unit where Jerry was stationed on a bed to rest.

“ Hi!

She struggles to not allow her emotions get the best of her. So many hospital equipments and gadgets in the room that she gave little or no concerns about. Rushing to his bedside, she held on tighly to his left arm and rested her head upon his chest.

“ I thought I'd lost you” she says.

“ I'm here. I'm here, baby. I'm still here” he says as he stroke her hair with so much affection. If he had his way, he would unplug the drip needle on his right arm to allow him cuddle her better.

She looked at him with a tear escaping her eyes “ You promised to come back unharmed. Look at you now ” Her voice cracked as she held the tears swelling up in her gut.

“ Please dont ever get shot again. Or even get hit on the face”

“ I promise. I wont” he said.

“ Hey! ” He continues hoping to convince her more“ don't look at the face. Look into my eyes.”
She responded.

“ It's over now. Seth, Ray, the brotherhood. They are all gone. No one is going to disturb us anymore.”

She dropped her head on his chest once more before he pulled her up to his chin. She wanted this so badly and he of course could read her mind. Their succulent lips engaged passionately and the tears finally dropped down her cheeks. Hot balls of passion which dropped unto his own cheek. And he let them dry upon where they touched-sinking into the pores on his skin. After all, they were two halves of a single heart.

Itoro cleared his throat. “ Urrrhmmm! Are you guys done? He cleared his throat again.

“ Hello!” Miss Kelly Green said while standing next to Itoro. They stood opposite the bed near Jerry's foot. Little Aisha came too. She had a bevy of flowers in her bossom. The melanin on her face glowed on purpose with such an angelic smile that could melt even the strongest of hearts.

Maria may not survive this one. It's very difficult to survive a gun shot bullet to the neck. Lucky she didn't get hit in the aorta, that would have been instant death.

But the windpipe, very rare and still deadly.

EbonyQueen001:
That was me complimenting you when I said it's not easy writing. This should be you accepting it for what it is and, not explaining to me on writing and storytelling oga.

As a Theatre Artist, Stage Director, Educational Critic, a Playwright and an Editor, I do know the difference.



That said, well done on the updates.

Still, I follow.

Wow! I'm flattered. Honestly. Thanks though. But I had an instinct that you are the busy type. Guess I was right to an extent.

Means alot coming from you. A literal giant, would be fun if I get to work with you one day.

...

Puvo:
I will capture it na
But I liked Seth sha..he gives me good vibes

He was my favorite too.

enirock:
I have missed. So Seth is dead and Jerry is on the brink of death I guess we are gradually getting to the point where the master mind will be exposed.

Seth played his part well. Nonetheless, he was going to shoot Jerry dead. I guess it got to the point of survival. And I tried all my possible best to give him one last touch of humanity by showing his feelings and thoughts. Obviously beneath all the evil genius and wickedness of his man, he was only human after all.

To redeem him would mean justifying all he did as right. But we can't, can we? I'm a fan of James Hardley Chase's timeless thrillers and one thing I've come to realize as a general and natural law-even though James did portray it in most if not all his books- is that crime never pays.

An interesting scene too is when a famous gunslinger who terrorised the whole of NYC in the early 90's, " Two Gun" Crowley wrote at the point of dripping dry with blood and multiple gunshot wounds even after sending a bunch of policemen to the greater beyond- these were his words “To whom it may concern... inside this chest of mine, lies a heart so gentle and calm. one that would never wish Ill towards any mortal. ”

( Ref. Dale Carnegie's HTWFAIP ( how to win friends and Influence People)

The list goes on.
Cc puvo

Puvo:
I wonder why Seth died o

Look If you had One shot Or one opportunity To seize everything you ever wanted In one moment Would you capture it Or just let it slip? Slip... -

cassbeat:
Cruisey ride

indeed bro. Burna boy said “ Time flies like a thief in the night.... We all got a story to write.”

I guess he wrote that song for me.

yungbanks:
Cahirman i no be sir ooo i will be 20 come Tuesday ooo i still be teen

Happy birthday in advance bro

continued

Jerry
A gangster who just got shot like a cop.
That's how I feel right now.

Trying to lift my feet off the cold tarmac felt Herculean. My whole body must prolly reak of sores and pitiful sights. Yeah. No doubt.

I felt numb and then pain all over again. How did I end up on this path of life? Who did I offend?

I winced my eyes as tears cloud my eye sight. The bullet hit me hard in the abs. To the right. Prolly my liver. I don't know. Or a Vena Cava, or my abdominal aorta, which of course I’ll be dead in two minutes or less.

But Ive lost track of time and I'm still here. The abdomen: a very tricky place to get shot. Id prefer my legs any day. Too many organs and vital blood vessels in that complicated space.
This is more than I can manage. The question of how much more can I take? Is switched for “ How long before I bleed out? My body, brain and emotional architecture begin to crumble benearth the weight of all this reality. Not of the gunshot but that of uncertainty.

“How much more?” “ Freedom... All the charges against you. I can make it all go away–” The president’s voice echoed in my head.
“ Come back to me” Ife’s voice. “ Safe and unharmed”

“ And maybe someday, when I’m gone...” Mathew's voice “ I'll be proud I did not allow you waste your talent in the streets.... becoming another wasted destiny...”
All in my subsconcious mind.

“ Ever wondered why Ray had you code named TWELVE? ” Seth brought me back to the painful reality.
I could feel vibrations from the iron bars. A loud horn from the distance. My eyes noticed the bars behind him providing support to the bridge were missing a screw. A joint was vibrating in reaction to the freight train coming from afar.
“ Ever wondered? He asked again.

****

Seth
He remained silent. I asked twice before he replied.
“ cause he found me when I was twelve years old...on the ... Str...streets? Jerry groaned.
“ No! Screw that pity bullcrap” I shared, gesticulating my 9mm against the skin or the night's air. “ We all came from the streets”
“ Ray always thought you to be a Judas among his boys... The shiny little fox, clever but cunning. ” I paused “ He was right all along and I'd been very impatient to listen...”
“ you don't get it, do you?
“ Enlighten me” I reply.

“ The society is fuvckd” He says through a sweaty face. “ It's been a rigged game all along. Crime begets crime. Same goes for murder and terrorism...” He paused, still struggling to pull and sit his weight up against the bridge. “ We lost...”
“ That gives you no right to betray the brotherhood” I yelled angrily.

He remained mute. Kept trying to sit his ass up. Pulling painfully upwards. Empathy. I could feel his misery.

The train was not so far away now. The jostling and whistling of its engines we're closing in.
I quickly have to check the device. Nine minutes left. Banging it close, I dropped it for a moment beside my right foot. I'd grab it soon enough and jump on the train when it enters the tunnel under the bridge. By the time the federal troops locate this boy's body, I'd be long gone- thats after I put him out of his misery by planting a bullet in his head. Poor thing- and the missiles would have hit the targets at Central Area.

“ Remember those train tracks we saw at Uromi? The overhead bridge? ” I asked Jerry.“ Well. This is where they ran up to and they don't stop here after going under this bridge. They run all the way to the Niger Delta” I paused “ So will I”
“ But before I go. I'm curious. ” I continue “ How did the Federal troops find us?

He remained silent. Then laughed a while.
“ Talk to me boy” I grit my teeth.“ How did they find us?

“ That thing around your neck” He says with blood soaking the floor where he still struggled to sit up. Pulling himself from the ground.
Unlucky bastard. Thanks bullet must have hit his spine. He'd not be able to walk again even if I let him live.

“ That thing around your neck..Thing..” He repeats.
“ what thing?

Immediately, I strapped off his bullet necklace from around my collar bone. Stared at him and caught a glimpse of dark circles scoring his eyes. He must really be in so much pain.
“ What about it?

“ Thats how that found us” He says.

Pricking the bullet cartridge open with my dagger, I noticed it was empty- no gunpowder, left for a tiny blinking device and a little scroll.
No time for second guessing. The blinking object is a gps device and the little scroll, what's this?

The dagger and bullet necklace fell off my right palm as I rolled the scroll open to reveal an inscription.

Very confusing.

“ Genesis 9:5-6” My lips uttered.

Now I'm bewildered. Will not say I'm a pegan neither am I churchy.

“ What does that mea–”

I raise my head in anger to ask but the next action is totally unscripted. Jerry's yelling cut me short. He was already two inches away from my position.

“Oh shit! " completed my sentence.

I felt light weight, my backbones broke something or something broke them. Eitherways, I found myself in mid air. Sort of dejavu as it flashed through my mind's eye. The gun in my hand, displaced. In a blink, white beams of light and a monstrous looking creature with a loud sound charged for me- even before I could touch the–. Wait! The bridge is far up. I can't grab the bar. I'm desc– “ Fuvk me!” It's the train...

****
Jerry
After that one last attempt and calculated move of ramming Seth right off the bridge. I knew intanstly he was going to die. And indeed, before he hit rock bottom the train smashed him to shreds.

“ To be honest” I said why staring down at the fast moving train “ I don't know what that Bible passage says or mean... I'll... I'll ask Ife and tell you. Soon. See you..see you in hell, brother”

Only if he could hear you, Jerry. I reminded myself. I'm drowsy. I'm feeling a bit dizzy. I don't know why. Lost in confusion. I immediately grabbed the necklace and the GPS from the floor. I reached for the briefcase and opened it. I pressed the screen and it miraculously rejected my thumb print.

“ Access denied” The AI replied.

“ Damn it! My eyes popped when I noticed it was just seven minutes left. I picked myself up from the ground and retraced steps back to the camp. It's crazy when you think about how much Seth was willing to sacrifice for this device. Like how was he even planning on accessing it after the missile strike? Really a question for debate.
Well my people say “ A man the gods wish to kill, they first make mad”

I can't go this slow. I increased speed but the pain in my abdomen did not spare me.
Dizzy. I see blurred figures. Like threads, spiraling and walking. They are running towards me. I winced my heavy eyes. The world spinned around me before I caught glimpse of the blurry moon in the sky. Are those butterflies? Or mosquitoes? They are glowing. Wha--
My head hurt from behind and I know I just fell. Echoes of voices fading into the backdrop of my inevitable reality.

Congrats. I'd love to read a bestselling novel from you.

But a little favor: Crime thriller or action packed would be spicy for me

yungbanks:
Ermm............... Now i know the reason u titled it 5&6 wow 5&6 indeed ride on man

Good morning sir Thank you.