₦airaland Forum

germaphobe:
mhmmmm, wish i was as handsome as this guy that made girls trip for him.

Just take only the handsome part...

Chapter 22
The Bigger Picture

Jerry wished he could escape from Chief immediately but he knew that might cost him his life. So, he took in a deep breathe, smiled and rose from the seat. Then, he hurried to Chief and prostrated.
‘Ahhh! The boy is well-mannered. Stand Akanni. Let’s wine and dine.’
Jerry followed Chief, knowing he was done for. The room suddenly became choky.
Then, a lanky man entered the room. His moustache was straightened to compliment his slim statures. Closely following him was Grace and a small boy. She wore a yellow gown, which was dotted with blue. Bidemi wished the ground would swallow him at that instance. Most of the ladies in the room adjusted themselves as they saw this woman.
Jerry swallowed hard and turned quickly.
‘Anomi, hope all is well?’ Chief asked as he placed his hand on Jerry’s back.
‘Yes sir… I want to use the toilet’.
‘Peter, take Anomi to the toilet’.
‘I know the way sir. I’ve been there before’, he said as he went towards the door. He looked around and didn’t see the lady on blue anywhere in the room. As he moved out of the parlour, he wondered if he wanted to bear the name Chief was calling him ‘Ano mi’ (my in-law) especially with what he had heard about Chief.
He expelled some carbon dioxide. He held his breathe. Why the irrational decision? Jessica that would help him out of that place was in the parlour with her father. There was no way he could escape without her help.
Knowing that he had to escape everyone in the room, he went towards the male toilet and was about to open the door when someone whispered to him from the lady’s toilet. He pulled back to see another lady, a familiar lady: the old haggard beggar, Martha.
‘Come here’, she said, whispering. He ran to her. And they entered the toilet. She had removed the burglary in the toilet and that aided their exit from the house.
‘Follow me’, she said as she squeezed herself through the toilet window. Jerry did that also, not minding that the wall tore a part of his shirt.
They landed on a tiled part of the house. They were at the back of the house.
‘What took you so long?’
‘Chief is in the parlour’.
‘Come on. Let’s go’.
‘Wait! The woman that came that day and was crying that she is my wife. I saw her entering here. Please, make sure she is safe’.
‘What did they tell you I am? Your personal slave? I’m helping you because Jessy wants me to. Now, let’s go’.
They squatted and crawled. Meanwhile, the music from the house still came out loudly and clearly. The scent of small chops and drinks still held the air captive. The house was fenced high and the fence was wired, therefore, the thought of climbing the wall wasn't part of the option. When they got near the gate, they hid behind the generator house.
'What are you looking at?' Martha asked repulsively. 'The only way is through the door. We are building something for Nigeria here. It's not a child's play'.
He grunted his response.
‘Wait here’, Martha ordered and limped out of the darkness. As quiet as a breeze, she hobbled towards the gate and spoke to the gateman, bringing out something from her cloth and giving it to him.
‘I no fit take am. Chief talk say if anybody leave here, im go kill me. Abeg aunty Martha, go and come back when Chief don permit me to open the door’, the gateman said loudly.
The lady kept talking in low tones and gestured hurriedly.
‘I no fit’, the gateman said. ‘Come see. I go need to enter code before I open gate. So, if Chief hear say I be dey sleep when you enter im go talk say na lie’.
She talked again, gesturing.
‘Abeg… Come dey go… Come dey go’.
Suddenly, two men came towards them, running.
‘Kasali, you see anybody for here. You see Leech’.
‘I no see anybody, na only Aunty Martha I see’.
‘Mat, you see Leech’.
‘No…’
‘No let anybody go outside, remember say na die ooo and Martha what are you doing here? Chief wants every hand on deck’.
Martha stylishly looked at where Bidemi was hiding and rubbed her hair as she followed the two men.
Bidemi sat on the ground. He wondered how he would escape. He couldn’t sit there expecting a miracle. He had to do something and whatever he would must be done very fast. He turned and rested his back against the wall of the place he was hiding, wondering why he had agreed with Pastor Matthew and had followed Rita down there. He should have listened to his inner voice.
Noises began to erupt from different parts of the house as men trooped out, holding lamps and walking stealthily. The feel of the night made him cringe more into the corner. He had to escape this haven and must leave Fortune City, if possible. But first, he had to leave this hiding place and look for another place because as close as the place was, it was easy to find.
‘Bidemi’, Once called,’ it’s me, Once. I know you are around here and I’m going to be the one to find you, to redeem myself’.
Jerry swallowed hard as he waited for the light to come upon him. He knew he had no other option than to run for it. However, he still squatted there, and peeked from time to time.
‘Chief will not kill you. Come out… come out… Rita is becoming worried’.
Jerry shifted forward. The interlocked tiles under him made a crunching sound. He put his hand on it hurriedly to stop it from giving him away and discovered that the tile was becoming loose. He removed it without making any noise. Watching the torchlights roamed from time to time, he held the tile in his hand firmly.
Once was holding a gun and was limping, quietly. The others had gone towards the other part of the house but Once refused to leave that part of the house as he continued searching the garage.
Seeing his big opportunity, Jerry decided not to waste it. He sneaked behind Once and hit him hard on the head. His heart lurched as Once screamed and tried to turn. Jerry hit him again with full force, bringing Once to his knee and making him fall flat on the floor.
The night was a good cover for him. Jerry took the gun and headed for the gate.
‘You…’ He said in low tone as he pointed the gun to the gateman’s chest. ‘Open this door before I use this gun to open your chest’.
‘Oga abeg... no vex’.
The gateman entered. Jerry followed him with the gun, and watched as the gateman began to press buttons. Then, the door opened.
‘Good! Stay down there… Lie down my friend’ Jerry said as his hand shook.
Jerry ran outside and headed for the gate, not minding the ray of light that was moving towards the gateman’s room.
‘Bidemi’, a voice boomed over a megaphone as he came out of the gate and started running.’ I have your wife here and your son’.
The new information rattled him that he had to stop in his path. He didn’t know his wife brought his son. He quickly rested on the wall and moved slowly to the gate.
‘I will count to five. If you don’t come out. I’ll kill them now’.
Jerry wondered if he should escape or allow the men to shoot them. No matter what, he wasn't ready to allow anybody die for him. Not to imagine what would happen if they killed his son.
‘One…’
He took two deep breaths, entered the compound, angry at his wife for coming to this party with their son. He raised the gun to a vantage point as he moved nearer. The men with the torchlight moved towards him. The gun was still in his hands.
‘Move back....’ He said, snarling. He didn’t know how he knew how to use gun but he had a clear shot and could shoot Chief but he couldn’t bring himself to take the shot. He shook his head.
‘Let her go… And I will give myself up… Let the boy also go’.
‘Drop the weapon before I agree to do that…. ‘
‘No… I will come to you gently…and you would allow me to come to you. When they cross the gate, I will drop the gun. If you are in doubt, your men are behind me, they will catch me before I do anything’.
Chief looked at him for some minutes and allowed them to go. Grace ran towards him.
‘Bidemi’, she said and hugged him, 'I will call the police for this son of many fathers’.
‘Daddy’, Ademola said running towards them.
‘Leave here now…’ Jerry said as he warded them off. He didn't remember much about his son and he was angry that his memory was wiped.
Grace and Ademola left him, looking back from time. He was at a vantage position and was sure he could get at anybody that tried to intercept them. Grace ran to the parking space and drove away.
When he was sure their car had zoomed off, Jerry turned his gun to Chief, and the other men took some steps forward.
‘Okay, what do you want from me?’
‘I know you Bidemi, you are a man of your word. You won’t go back on your word. Oya, drop that gun and let us face business’.
‘Where do I know you? What do you want from me?’ He said moving towards Chief.
‘I want you to build a car for me.’.
Jerry stopped and laughed. He pointed at the house. ‘You that have this house can’t you just talk to any car producer to build a car for you, why me that do not have the knowledge?’
‘A car that runs on water. Water car’.
Jerry stared at Chief. As he stood there, the desire to build the car came to him again. It had been his dream ever since he woke without memory. If chief knew about it that means he had been working on it before and he loved to continue.
‘Leave me alone….’ Rita shouted as she ran outside pursued by Jessica and Martha. ‘Jerry leave now…’ She turned to Chief and spat on his face, making Chief shift back.
‘Abomi...’ Chief shouted shortening the word ‘abomination’. He charged towards her like a wounded lion and slapped her. She missed her steps and fell.
‘I could never imagine in this world that you my father would be the cruel demon he was running from. Jerry didn’t do anything for you and you want to kill him’. She said as she struggled to her feet.
‘Me… You spit on me… Your father?’
‘Rita, calm down... Everything is in control. Chief, if you promise to leave my family’, he said, wondering if he should still consider them as his family.’ If you promise me that no harm will come to them, I will see what I can do’.
A big smile came on Chief’s face.
‘Ahba.What does it do to people? I will even help you to guard them… Nothing will happen to them’.
Jerry dropped his gun and some of the men ran to the take the gun. Once came out of the side of the garage, rubbing the back of his head.
The men rushed to Jerry and held him.
‘Fools, leave him’, chief shouted, jumping.’ Is something wrong with your mothers? If any of you touch him, I will kill you. That’s Ibu owo. Source of money’. Chief turned to Rita whose mouth was widely agape.’ You, I disown you. You are useless to me. Kill you cannot kill, be useful you can’t be’.
‘You will pay you for this. You will rot in prison’.
Chief glanced at his men and burst into laughter.
‘Leave my house. Fool! Get out. I gave birth to a fool. She has eaten the intestine of her slowpoke mother. Get out’.
‘Chineye’, he shouted.
One of his men went to call his secretary as they knew that was whom he was referring to. The lady on blue rushed out
‘Take this boy to the underground room…’
‘Okay. Chief. Has he agreed to build the car’.
' Yes o'.
Chioma smiled. 'That's what he always wanted before someone hacked my laptop and put a kill order on you. Now, we can transition from being nuisance to legal assassins. Nigerian CIA'.
‘Ehn… You're talking too much'.
'Whatever! So Chief?'
'Yes? Chineye’
‘It’s Chioma. What about Once? You said anybody that caught Bidemi would kill Once’.
Chief smiled as the light reflected on his face.
‘I like this girl. She don’t forget something’, Chief said.’ No. Once will not die now. The death that wanted to kill him had left him for another purpose. Tell those Aboki it’s time to start’.
The lady on blue smirked and came towards Jerry, her perfume, Mountain flower, overshadowed his sense of smell as she came closer and said, ‘follow me…’
Rita ran to him and hugged him tightly. 'He will pay. To God who made me he will pay for everything he has done to you’.
Jerry sighed and followed the lady in blue, Chioma. Now, he had been placed within the devil and the sea. He trudged on and she led him through the house into the room and from there she opened a trap door.
She led the way on graciously and Jerry wished he hadn't chosen to give up. He changed his mind. He knew that he wasn't wanted dead and even if he were wanted dead, it would still take time.
She locked the door behind him. He turned to face her and to ask questions but she came to him like a hungry bear and ran his back against the wall. She kissed him and began to caress him. Kissing him as if she had been starved of kisses. He tried to push her away but she was adamant and wouldn’t give up on him; instead, she kept pulling his cloth. After a long fight with her fierceness, after a thorough struggle with the urge to continue, he succumbed and they ended on the bed, a very soft bed.

germaphobe:
bloody mary!!!

Staining the tiles

I'm really surprise. Our little things do count. It does. In her words

'Hello Sir! I'll be reporting/presenting your short story/chic.lit titled Little Words and Happiness in our class. Can I ask you some questions Sir? If it's okay.'


Here's a link to the story..

https://www.nairaland.com/4685907/little-words-happiness

Ann2012:
See gobbe oooo
Thanks for the update

Plenty gobbeee.. You're welcome..

Eberechi24:
Hmm, Jerry in lion's den.

Indeed...

skubido:
Hmmmmm


OP thanks for the update

You're welcome boss..

Moment of the untold
Jessica ran to her room when she entered the compound, after escaping her father’s watchful eyes. Dinner would start soon. She had told Martha to put ears to the ground for any information concerning Bidemi and she was sure no vital information would pass her by as she began to dress up. Luckily for her, people do not barge into her room anyhow and she didn’t allow the few friends she had to visit her in the house because she didn’t want them to see the kind of life she was living. Bidemi’s picture was pasted on every place in the room, even on the edge of her bed.
Then, someone knocked the door. She paused as she looked for what to hit the person with. She hated when people knocked on her door, it reminded her of Bidemi. When he was still with her, she told him several times to enter the room without awaiting her permission but he insisted on knocking the door.
However, the person was knocking with an unknown forgiveness. It couldn’t be her Father or Martha: they always called her name when they needed to see her. She swallowed hard as her white linen gown caught her eyes in the wall mirror. She had always been told she was very beautiful but she discovered it herself now, her catlike eyes shining. She stared at the cloth. All it needed was the red touch- the killing touch.
The knocking stopped and the sound of shoes heels rocked the tiles of the floor as the person walked away. Jessica opened the door and saw the figure of the person.
‘Bambino…?’ She said. The person turned.
‘Oh! Nutricia’.
‘Oh! My God….’ Jessica shouted, sniffing as she ran to meet her.
They both burst into laughter. The clog of worry vanished from Jessica’s heart as she embraced her sister. She screamed, jumped, and flew on her sister. Her sister had left home for close to since she was 15, no one knew her whereabouts except her father.
The two of them kept laughing, turning themselves round and round. Tears rolled down Jessica’s cheek. She had so much missed her bambino, Rita. Bambino is an Italian word for baby. Jessica started calling her sister, Bambino, when they came across the word in a film. And Rita had been calling her Nutricia after looking for the word that best soothes Jessica. Nutricia, which is Latin, means Nurse. Jessica had always nursed her and that was what she enjoyed most- nursing her older sister.
‘Where have you been? Why did you leave us all? Why did you leave Baami?’
‘There is a lot of time for that but there is no time for this…’ Rita said, shaking her body as a big smile overshadowed her face. 'I’ve brought a guy at last, and this one will stay’.
‘He is not a gold-digger? Baami told me how he wanted to kill those gold diggers of yours’.
Rita pouted and made her mouth swell with smile. ' Yeah! I saw that in your last letter. He’s not. He’s cute. No, scrap that. He’s worth dying for. And he’s good in bed…’
‘Whoa… Where is he?’
‘In the parlour’.
Jessica’s heart warmed up. The happiness of her sister is her own happiness and she had to make sure this new guy didn’t mess with her sister.’ Let’s go see him…. Wait let me put the red rose on this dress…’
‘Come on. Let’s go now…’
‘Come on, Bambino. Allow your Nutricia package well’. Jessica said. She turned towards the room and was about to enter it when Martha rushed towards her, limping.
She came close to her and whispered. ‘Bidemi is here… He is damn here… And Chief knows…. Chief said nobody in the house must do as if they have ever seen before. And that includes you. And we, that he had seen since he regained his memory, must not go near him’.
Jessica felt as if she had been hit on the head with a bell. She couldn’t hear anything again as she shifted back and hit her back against the door. Her eyes widened. And her throat couldn’t stop swallowing spit, as she couldn’t bring herself to talk.
‘Did you …?’ she shouted as she rushed towards Rita who was still smiling happily. However, Martha knew Jessica’s next action. So, she withheld her and pinned her to the door.
‘Is anything wrong?’ Rita said, perplexed.
‘You don’t want to do any foolish thing…’ Martha said in a raspy voice.’ You need to hold yourself tight and buckle up your brain. We need to get him out of here’.
Jessica nodded as she entered her room. Here is the time she needed Rachael the most. She was breathing hard as she watched from one corner of the room to the other.
Rita entered.
‘Go to the parlour. I’m coming, I will meet you there’. Jessica said as she held her anger in check. She was shaking.
‘Are you fine, Nutricia…?’
‘Please, go…’ Jessica said almost crying as she strained herself from reining her anger. She knew that when Chief wanted things like these to be done, nobody could defile him- not even her, his favourite.
She opened her mouth and locked the door. She sat on the bed, panting, and rocking forward and backward, not knowing what to do.
‘Jessy…’ Martha called after many attempts to open the door.
‘Mat… I’ll come soon’.
She couldn’t trust Martha with this type of thing. She trusted only two things. Her addiction and her suppressant, Rachael.
‘I’ll be fine. I’ll come out to tell you what we will do’.
‘If I don’t see you in the next twenty minute. I’m breaking this door’.
Jessica nodded as she held herself. Her lips vibrated. The house was full with trained assassins, who felt it was their duty to kill Bidemi.
She rushed down to the edge of her rug and pulled it up, unveiling a trap door. It was a small hole containing her addiction- hard drugs. She had kept that little potion there for months now because she couldn't throw it out. She was afraid that the sight of it would make her start again and she was afraid that she might not find one when the desire to have one finally came.
She stared at the container that held it. It was the only thing that helped her think straight and strategize except, of course, Rachael. Whenever, Rachael wasn't around and she needed to hold herself in tough situation, she had to go to the cocaine for help.
‘Racheal, you said you would always be here…To advise me…’ She said, trembling. She closed her eyes to think but she was still trembling. They were going to kill Bidemi again and Rachael wasn't here to stop the situation, to disrupt anything Chief was planning.
‘Racheal’, she shouted as she threw the container at the wall in anger.
Her phone rang. Only two people had that number- Rachael and Martha.
She rushed to the phone and picked it, her hands still trembling horribly. ‘Rachael…Rachael…’
‘Calm down, Jessy… Don’t use that drug… I’m here for you…’
‘How… How-?
‘I’ve planted cameras in your room to make sure you are always safe’.
Jessica looked around to know where it might be hidden.
‘Don’t bother yourself. You can’t know where they are...What’s the matter?’ Racheal said with her silky, motherly voice. Jessica could feel that her oval eyes roaming over her as it did always. Her body craved to get a touch of Rachael’s warm body again. Her heart yearned for her.
‘Bidemi… Bidemi... He is here now…’
‘What? How in heavens did he find his way to Brown Valley? Who brought him down there?’
‘It’s complicated?’
‘Complicated? Can he get away?’
‘I don’t know… I don’t know… Rachael where you? Come down here… I need you badly....’
‘Come down there? Let’s finish the matter here. Is there a way you can take him out of the house?’
‘Chief said nobody must do as if they know him. He’s gonna kill him again’.
‘No. He’s not gonna kill him. He didn't want to kill him before. if you calm down…. Now count one to ten with me’.
That helped. Her nerves began to relax and her breathing began to normalise. Her head also played in tune- logically arranging events to her.
‘Oh Yes. I got an idea…’ She shouted and rose.
‘Stay down there. Are you out of your mind...? You’ve got an idea and you are rushing off? Won’t you plan it at all...? Come on sit back there and let us talk it through…’
They set the plan in motion, Rachael guiding her through every steps and giving her plan B for every step. Rachael knew where to touch and where not to touch, how to go about a thing and how not to go about such thing.
‘Are we good to go?’
‘Yes. Rachael, wait. Come back. I need you… I need you’.
‘No. I can’t. I need to be as far away from you’.
‘Please, Racheal I want to feel your lips on my body again, your warm touch…’
‘Jessy, things are complicated. More complicated than the feel of my touches’.
‘You have always escaped complication... I know you can escape this also. With you, there are no complications.’
‘I’m sorry Jessy. And this is the last time I’ll be contacting you. Don’t try to call this number again, it’s going down the drain immediately. And erm... Please, take care of the father of my baby’.
‘Who?’
Racheal sighed loudly over the phone and disconnected the call. Jessica sat on the bed, staring at the rug, not knowing she had ceased her breathe as she tried not to believe herself about who the father of the baby was.
***
Jerry couldn’t stop staring at the interior of the house. He felt like going back to the gate of the house, and from there, restart the admiration of the house, savouring every little beauty as if they honey. He had only seen houses like this in movies, American movies. He didn’t believe a Fortune City's house could be that mind-blowing and breathe-taking. Rita’s father had chosen a right place to build the house and it looked as if he was the only one living in the Brown Valley because anybody who entered the street will only focus on his house. Jerry watched people moving about in the house and was so eager to meet Rita’s father, to start a conversation with him.
A lady in blue walked towards him intently. The dress was cropped at the centre of her chest and was too short to cover her thigh. Jerry pinned his mouth together as he wondered where Rita was.
‘Good afternoon’, the lady said as she stood in front of him, holding out her hand. He replied and stretched his, to take hers. She used her other hand to cover his and began rubbing it.
She wasn't stunning but her cloth can hold any man’s eyes to her body. Jerry replied her and she started conversation with him. Jerry couldn’t explain how she did it but he soon engrossed with her and enjoyed every bit of the conversation except those times she mistakenly or knowingly rubbed her body with his.
Then, someone came and whispered something into her ear.
‘I’ll be right back’ she said, giving him a warm smile. Jerry shook his head and smacked it. He wondered if he always lusted after beautiful ladies before he lost his memory because he was already fantasizing how it would be to be alone into a room with her.
Someone shouted in the room the lady went into. A few seconds later, the lady stormed out of the room, banging the door behind her. She didn’t return to Jerry’s side. Instead, she scrambled into another chair and sat there, sulking and staring at him.
At that moment, he wished Rita would come in before he agreed to the urge of rising to continue his conversation with the meet the lady. Luckily, Rita did come in.
She looked worried
‘Worry less and good things come next’, he said the moment she landed beside him.
‘It’s my sister, someone told her something and she started acting weird’.
‘Is she okay now?’
‘She said she will meet me here’. She shrugged and smiled.’ I trust her, she can take care of herself. All I need is approval for us to start going deep into each other’.
‘I’m sure he would give us? All I’ll do is to let him know that I’m stealing you away forever and puff, he will give the affirmation’.
Rita looked at him. ‘Dry. I’m talking about Jessica’s confirmation’.
‘I’m not all that handsome but I’m not bad…’
Rita turned to him, staring into his eyes as if they were in the middle of the sky, over the oceans; where the breeze kept blowing peacefully around them and the birds kept hovering over them in the sky.
‘Don’t sell yourself short. You are handsome, the most handsome guy I’ve ever come across. Even some men are dying to be like you. I heard a man saying he prays for half your handsomeness the other day’.
Jerry smiled at her. ‘You are a liar and you’re good at it. You’ve almost convince me. Tell me you are doing me a favour by loving me. I won’t be sad’.
‘I know what I’m saying’, she said staring at his head dreamily. Her eyes crawled to something else and stopped there, something above his head. She stared at the thing and a big scowl overshadowed the smile on her face. He turned to see what she was staring at: a frame.
‘Do you see that picture?’
‘Yes....’
‘I mean what those birds are doing? They are trying to separate two worms and that has a future meaning… I don’t like what I’m thinking.’
Jerry turned back to her. She didn’t like people, him especially, telling her that she was only being fretful. Even though, he saw nothing wrong in the picture, he nodded.
The house was so great, the building structure, the effect and that was the only thing he saw. The ladies were tempting. Even the music coming from the home theatre was too good to be real- it was like heaven. He looked towards the lady in blue and their eyes connected. She moved her eyebrow towards the door that led to a place.
He didn’t know the reason he felt compelled to stare at her. At that moment he could hear Pastor Matthew’s voice repeating itself in his head. The message was that he shouldn't allow any lady to take him from the path. He swallowed hard as their morning devotion kept playing in his mind. Ever since he had been living with Pastor Matthew, he had been studying more of the Bible- the laws, the prophets, and the apostles.
‘So, what are you suggesting?’ He said to assure her he understood her fear.
‘After tonight, you must not leave that place anymore. I’m talking about that place you said you people are hiding. I think you need to be extremely careful these days.’ Rita said. He didn’t know what to do as he stared at her. And he didn’t want to smile at her.
The last time she had this fit of belief, he smiled at her and she burst into tears, claiming he was taking serious issues with levity. So, he inhaled and looked back at the lady in blue. She batted her eyes at him.
‘I’ll be careful’, Jerry said.
The lady at the other end stood and left for a room. He needed to leave the room to relieve himself of what he was seeing; the dresses of the ladies in the room were making him slip out of concentration and he needed a clear head. It would be so demeaning to have conversation with his father-in-Law-to-be and to keep on thinking about these ladies, 'where’s the toilet?’
Rita pointed to the same side the lady entered. He rose and couldn’t help noticing the people around watching him in one way or the other. He saw someone’s eyes trailing him off to the toilet under this person’s glass of champagne. He saw a lady in pink looking at him from the corner of her eyes.
He entered the male toilet and entered one of the cubicles. He needed to see his father-in-law-to-be on time and leave for Folarin village where he must still find his way into the forest.
The door of the toilet opened and closed but he wasn't concerned as he zipped up and headed for the door. Upon looking up, he met the lady-in-blue staring at him seductively, playing with a curl of her hair. And she was looking intently at him.
‘What are you doing here?’ they asked at the same time. And she laughed. She moved closer to him, making him feel uncomfortable. He shifted back.
‘You should leave now. I love you to leave this instant but I can’t let you leave like that. I ought to get another chance with you’. She said as she came closer to him. His breathe became stuffed with her perfume and his feeling swirled as she planted a kiss on his lips. Then someone knocked.
Jerry ran for the door and was happy as a short guy came in to use the toilet and grumbled about Jerry locking the toilet.
Knowing that if he should remain in the toilet with the hope of escaping the ladies in the parlour, he would fall into trouble with the lady on blue.
Jerry opted for going into the sitting room, and he saw Rita and someone talking. From afar, he knew he had seen the person somewhere but he couldn’t see the person well from where he was.
‘Oh my God!' Jerry mouthed as he saw who it was when he got nearer. He looked around and realised why many people had fixed their eyes on him.
She turned towards him and placed a finger on her lips. Then, she extended her hands.’ You must be Jerry?’
Jerry nodded, swallowing hard as he wondered how he would escape the lion’s den. He turned. And a lot of people’s gaze were on him. Although, they tried to avoid his glances, some of them, the men especially, had hands in their suits.
Suddenly he felt heat rise from within. He extended his hand to accept that of Jessica’s. She held his hand firmly, batting her eyes to hold him still as he was shaking.
‘Yes… I’m Jerry… And you must be Jessica’.
‘Yes ooo... That’s my Nutricia, Jessica. Baami is calling me. I would be back. I think it’s time he left his room’, Rita said as she stood, straightening her gown.
Rita left Jessica and Jerry staring at each other. She gave them a quizzical look as they kept communicating with their eyes.
‘What’s wrong with you’ Jessica said, whispering.
‘I didn’t know- Oh God! Is this… You know?’
Jessica sniffed. She looked around and eyed his hand then left. He looked at his hand and saw a paper there. He didn’t even know she had placed a paper there.
He opened it.
You will meet someone at the male toilet in the next thirty minutes. Be safe.
Jerry knew he had to keep his calm in this place if he didn’t want to die. He sat back. And waited for thirty minutes to come. On the dot of the thirtieth minute, he stood to leave for the toilet.
‘Is that him?’ A voice boomed in the room,’ ah! my son-in-law, Anomi’.
Jerry crumpled into the chairs as he recognized the man.

queenitee:
This Rita girl, why am I feeling one kain one kain.
Bidemi, come back to us

Chai.. We always think there are no good people in the world...
Why Rita...?

germaphobe:
e don red, gan gan gan kirin kirin

E just start dey red...

LightQueen:
Well done dear

Thanks a lot..

skubido:
Don land oooo finally finally.
OP Weldon. Baba u too much, all d update na die


Omo this jerry fineness na hot cake ooo

Welcome.. boss.

Eberechi24:
Finally, I have caught up with you guys.

I don't know, my spirit is not a peace with Rita's character. The rate she believes anything is suspicious

Good to have you meet up with us again. She needs a husband. She had been broken and had lived with vicious people for years, so she knows liars well...

Ann2012:
Thanks for the update

You're welcome.

Chapter 20
Rays of hope

Normally, Grace would have dropped Ademola with her friend, Mrs. Akintoye, but she decided to take him along with her.
Things were expensive everywhere, especially water. She didn’t want Ademola to disturb Mrs. Akintoye as regarding water.
‘Mummy, are we going to see Daddy?’ Ademola said the moment he entered Grace’s Kia Rio.
Grace released the breath she had been holding because of the stench coming from a neighbour’s body. She stared at Ademola, and swallowed hard.
‘No. We are going to a party’
‘Party! Will Daddy come?’
Tears welled up in her eyes. She had not told him that his father was dead when Bidemi was first reported dead. And she had not told him about his father’s sudden appearance in Green City 'I don’t know, dear… I don’t know. If only I can see him once more’.
‘Mummy, why are you crying?’
Indeed, tears were pouring down her face and she didn’t even know. She got out her handkerchief and wiped the tears off her face.
‘I’m not crying-', she sniffed and gasped, shaking her head,’ I’m not crying’.
Even in her twelfth year of knowing Bidemi, her seventh year of being in a relationship with him, she still couldn’t control the obsession she had for him.
‘You will be alright’, Ademola said.
Grace smiled at him and he bared his teeth. That was the latest slang they used in the house.
Ever since, she became the deputy Editor-In-Chief of the bestselling Newspaper in Fortune City, The Morning Dew News, she had always wanted to meet the CEO, whom few people met. And today, the first of January, she was getting the opportunity she had always craved for.
As she turned the corner of the street, rain dropped on her windscreen. She screamed with ecstasy. her voice echoing the voice of people outside.
‘Rain… Mummy… Rain’
She stopped the car and turned towards the house.
*** After a forced morning devotion with Pastor Matthew, Jerry prepared for the call from Miss. Jacobs. He wore his red-checked-with-white shirt and a cream trouser, making his fair skin glow. Pastor Matthew advised him to take a small Nokia phone with him.
‘I don’t need it. This one’, he said, pointing to the techno in his other hand, ‘will be enough’.
‘You don’t know what you need until you need them’.
‘I won’t need it at all’.
‘It is not advisable to reject a gift of an elder especially his gift of advice’.
‘Okay…’ He collected and pocketed it.
Meanwhile, Pastor Matthew had paid some men that would cut down trees in the middle of the night. And now, he was complaining about fund, which Jerry promised to help him with when he returned from his visit to his father-in-law-to-be.
As he was about to leave the house, drizzle of rain began to pour on the dry ground.
‘Pastor,’ He said as he stood on the door post, ‘are you sure I should go?’
‘Yes go….’
‘Don’t you think this is a bad sign? The rain’.
‘No… This is not a rain’ Pastor Matthew said as he concentrated on his construction.
‘I hope…’ Jerry said, his voice lingering off as the rain stopped as if it had not fallen at all.
He checked the time again - 3:30pm. He replayed the description of his journey as he moved on: Pastor Matthew had given him directions.
Jerry felt he should use public transport because Pastor Matthew would need his car to do his business of the ark. He was alert for any movement, if any at all, as he moved from the bush into civilisation. The walk was tiring but he was happy when he entered Folarin village.
‘That means there is still hope’, a woman said to her neighbour as Jerry came out into an untarred street. 'The rain will be back soon. It will wash away evil hearts and plans and it will refurbish our country’.
‘Mama, my own concern is the price of food that is gradually increasing’.
Jerry continued his walk, hoping that he would soon see a bike that would take him to his destination.
He couldn’t fathom how everything still smelt dust. The little drops of rain had reduced the stuffiness of the dry season. No one could explain what had happened but no one seemed concerned with the water coming back. All they needed was to get enough water for their family.
‘Ah!’ A fat woman shouted, jumped from the stool she was sitting on, and ran. The way she ran made Jerry rush out of the way for her. He retreated as she ran like a wounded elephant.
‘Two-hundred-naira water’, she shouted as she rushed towards a skinny boy that was carry a big bowl. The boy had splashed some of the water before the woman started running and maybe because of the way the woman was running toward him, he splashed more on the dry ground.
With a blinding slap, she removed the boy from under the bowl. He cried out as he fell. The bowl landed on his feet, making him cry more.
‘My water… My water… My money’ the woman cried and pounced on the little boy. The water rushed towards them, sinking into the dry ground.
Some people saw the fallen bowl and ran towards it with anything they could grab- cups, plates and the ones that had been used to eat, someone even took a potty-, and they scooped the water they could and ran out of the reach of the woman that was lamenting.
Jerry shook his head as he beckoned on a bike rider and climbed it after cleaning the dusty top, describing his destination to the bike rider.
‘Is it getting this bad?' He murmured.
When he got to FCU, he received a call from Rita that they should meet at at KFC before a popular bank. And she described the way he would go when he asked for direction.
When he saw her, he couldn’t close his mouth. She was very beautiful and different as if she had been renovated. She wasn't wearing a wig today; instead, her hair had been attached with a human hair and was oiled, flowing. She was putting on a red sleeveless short gown, which held on to her body firmly, and she was wearing a small chain to compliment the lovely earrings she was putting on.
Jerry couldn’t help but notice her nails, unlike her, were fixed and painted. And her lips, worth being stare at, was painted red, portraying affluence and real beauty. She was different.
‘Wow’, Jerry said as she came towards him with a radiant face. She embraced him tightly, resting her head on his chest. Jerry inhaled her body spray and held it in.
‘Jerry… Jerry’, she kept on saying, her shrill voice sending a big smile to his lips.
If time would permit it, if the wicked men of this world would allow it, he would have loved to stay there hugging her. However, he had to stop hugging her in the public especially now that his life was in grave danger.
At the moment, he agreed with Pastor Matthew. Was that what he would have missed?
‘Rita, let’s go inside’ he whispered.
She smiled at him, turned, and pulled him after her.’ Good! It’s time I tell you about myself… My real self’.
Jerry was perplexed. He hoped she wasn’t another impostor.
When they got inside. Jerry led to a corner that was secretive, cool and cosy. When, the waiter attended to them, he allowed her do the ordering,
‘I’m still wondering why you asked us to meet and eat here, Rita’.
Rita looked up at him and smiled again.’ I’ve to let you know something before going to my father’s place’.
Jerry looked at her with mixed feelings. He bent his head to a side to assure himself he was safe. Something in her look made him know that whatever she going to say wouldn’t affect him like those of the beautiful night thief.
‘Then spit it out. Don’t keep the heart of man yearning for something you can give him immediately’.
‘What’s your problem?’ She said as she took a spoonful of the ice-cream and pointed it at Jerry’s mouth.’ Fill the belly first and fill the head later’.
His eyes darted to the door and back to her eyes. He opened his mouth and swallowed the content of the spoon.
‘Oh My Good God!’ someone shouted.
The guy was dark 5.7ft tall person, handsome in his own way. Jerry and Rita looked up to see the guy going down on his knee.
‘Rita….’ The guy said, his face becoming sad.’ I’ve searched everywhere for you?’
‘Kay…’ Rita said, confused and half laughing.’ Don’t bother, it’s over. Move on with your life’.
She brushed her hair to the back with her right hand. 'I’ve moved on with my life. See, this is my fiancé. He’s not like you, gold-diggers. He’s not pompous and definitely not a loser. Meet Jerry’, she said smiling broadly.
‘Please, I don’t want us to be over’, Kay cried, his eyes becoming red. ‘It wasn’t my fault. Sodiq-'
‘Scrap it. I don’t like to dwell on the past, it dirties the future. So, if you don’t mind, I need to collect my own spoon of ice cream from him’, she bared her teeth at Jerry.
Jerry felt proud.
‘Rita, please I’m not Stanley, Joel, Maxwell, Segun. It’s I, Kay… I’ll never do such thing. Sodiq framed me…’
Rita rolled her eyes and smirked.
‘Kay, you are pouring palm oil on my neat reputation. Please, leave, my fiancé would soon be annoyed. Please don’t let him be’
‘Okay…’ Kay said, standing,’ I’ll like to pay you back for everything. To show you I didn’t run away with your ten million naira’.
Jerry was surprised.
‘Kay... Leave it alone… Ahhh! Leave me jare’, she shrieked.
‘Bros. You need to leave now…’ Jerry decided it was time to interfere.
‘Okay… Take my card. Please. Do me that favour.’ Kay said as he brought out a business card and gave it to her.
She smiled at him, shook her head, and tore the business card.
‘Please, I’ll not leave here if you don’t collect it’.
‘Rita… Take it and let him be’, Jerry said, raising his brows. She smiled, as she understood what he meant, so she collected the business card and drop it in her bag.
‘Now… I’ve done your wish… You can leave’.
‘Thank you… I’ll always love you’, Kay said as he stood and left her side, looking back from time to time as he headed towards the door.
‘What was that…?’
‘That’s part of the things I want to tell you’, she said,’ but don’t be a spoiler. First give me my share joor’.
Jerry sighed and did as she requested, knowing that she wouldn’t tell him until the time she had planned. She checked her wristwatch.
They kept playing and she was making Jerry happy as they kept talking that he didn’t even remember what she wanted to tell him until 4pm.
‘Okay… It’s time to tell you’.
Jerry sat straight.
‘Every information you know about me is correct except that I’m not a teacher. I’m a very rich businesswoman and deals in importing of golds for sale. You see… I’ve been having trouble with men trying to dupe me. I’ve had many relationships which would look rosy at first but would later go down the drain’, she sighed as she stared at him. ‘I’ve not told you my age. I’m 28 years’.
Jerry raised his eyebrows.
‘Yes… I know… I know I’m older than you but I don’t mind. I don’t mind at all. I know you love me with all your heart. You were not after my beauty; neither were you after my money. You were not like other men, you didn’t want to have sex with me, use me, and dump me. You had a big plan for me…. Jerry please don’t leave me because of age. Age does not matter, you are wiser than many fifty years old and more matured’.
Jerry stared at her. Even though, her confession was not as heart-smashing as that of the beautiful night thief, he couldn’t fathom how to do this. He should have known. He should have sensed something. He ran his hand in his hair as his mouth remained open. Rita’s expression was stoic as she watched him.
He stood and left for the door. Rita didn’t follow him, she sat there, and watched him leave with tears deciding whether they should fall from her eyes.
Jerry looked at both side of the road and crossed. Rita was still staring at him through the glass of Kfc. He couldn’t organize his thought looking at her. There was actually nothing to lose. He knew he still loved her. And she was the only one that might remain the one he loved especially now that everything that was happening to him.
He crossed back to KFC.
‘Okay… You will always be my love. I think I should tell you something also’, he said as he sat and raised her head for she had dropped them on the table. He held her hands and stared into her glassy eyes.
He took his time and narrated his whole ordeal to her, not missing a part. And she, a good listener, knew men don’t love to be interrupted while talking.
When he finished, he waited for her reaction. She didn’t talk; instead, she called on the waiter, paid him.
‘Jerry, we need to leave to my father’s place. If what you say is true, which I do not a doubt, we need to get going’.
He rose to leave. Rita rushed to his side and hugged him.
‘Thank you… Thank you’, she said, whimpering. He patted her hair.
‘Let’s go before my people come around’, he said smiling.
And they journey, on the first of January, to her father’s place, having assured themselves of the love they had for themselves. Jerry, not knowing that was the last time in a long time he would be returning home, went with her.
***
This was a new year and Jessica's grounding was over. She made sure her father was out of sight and ran off, not minding those that were preparing for the party. Her father said some very important people were coming. And that she needed to be in her best before their arrival but she couldn’t be in her best when she had not told Jerry about himself. She rushed off and almost hit three people with her car but she didn’t wait. There was urgency in the air and she needed to tell him. Moreover, she wanted to talk to Pastor Matthew again as her father had suddenly intensified his search for Jerry. He had used every method possible to find him but he hadn't gotten the opportunity to do so. Nevertheless, she knew her father, every means (evil or not) is a means.
‘Bidemi?’ she said the moment she opened the door of Pastor Matthew’s secret abode.
‘He had gone to his fiancé family…’
‘What?’ You allowed him to go out’.
‘He had to see her’.
‘Wait… Wait which fiancée is that? Who is she?
‘She is-'
‘How could you allow him to go?’
‘He had-‘
‘Ohhh… Uncle Matthew, I hope he is safe’ she said as she headed for the door.
She banged the door after her, disturbing the serenity of the room.
She opened the door again.
‘Where did he go?’
‘Aderibi something street’.
‘Aderibigbe… Oh my God!’ She shouted as she rushed out of the door.
‘Where is that?’
'Have you forgotten our baami's fake name?'
Jerry was in trouble and she needed to be there before his arrival on that street. If any of her father’s people saw him on that street, he was done for. What’s wrong with Bidemi, can’t he stay put? Can he not stay in one place until he was made whole?

AmaUwana:
nxt plz

Yrszk ma

germaphobe:
abeg his memories should come fast fast, i have this feeling dat if he gets his memory back the story is gonna be more awesome

Let's hope.. lol

queenitee:
Ehn ehn, I'm going there now

Lol..Good..

Ann2012:
Hmmmm Jerry....the ladies man
Thanks for the update

Lol.. Indeed.. You're welcome

Chapter 19
Last Year

Sometimes, adults see children as fools- rather, as people with low IQs- and tend to do and say everything in front of them as if they are deaf. Bidemi Adeoti’s (A.K.A Jerry) story started in the compound of Delight Nursery and primary school. During the regular long break which was fixed for 11:00am.
Four little boys and two little girls of about the age of six each ran across the field playing the game they called ‘catcher-catcher’, which entails one of them touching one of the other kid. And if he/she touches any of them, then the person touched will be the catcher. Yes, easy. But it is hard to catch the other children especially when every other person except the catcher has about 10 invisible houses- usually the corner of a place or under a desk and sometimes the middle of the field.
It was with this same frustration that Ademola Adeoti, Bidemi Adeoti's son, ran after the other kids; he was bent on catching them. He had almost touched a girl when she shouted ‘kilinkilinkilin, I have entered my house’.
He ran after another person but was cut-short by this person’s house. Therefore, when he saw Ayomide, the girl who cried at every touch, he ran to her and knew he would touch her. With all his strength and will, he ran after Ayomide who was shouting ‘you cannot catch me!’
And yes, yes almost there. He was few inches away. And he touched her but he couldn’t control himself as he ran onward, into her. She fell flat on the grass of the school.
She cried,’ my hand’.
The other children ran to meet them and watched her as she laid on the floor, crying. The other children began to talk at once, and someone went to report to their teacher.
‘I will tell my daddy for you’, Ayomide cried.
‘Sorry, Ayo. I will give you biscuit’
I don't want’ she moaned and bent her head to a side.
‘I will give you that thing that I bought that time’.
‘No’, she said again, still crying.
‘I will give you my daddy's car’.
‘My daddy too has car…’
‘My daddy said that his car uses water.’
Ayomide stopped crying and scowled.
‘My daddy said that cars use petrol’.
‘Ah! My daddy told my mummy that joor’, Ademola said, assured that he knew what he was saying.
The children pulled Ayo up and their teacher came around. She warned them to desist from engaging such game, saying it would get them injured.
When Ayomide got home that day, she told her daddy about the car and forgot about it but her father didn’t. Her father had been looking for a way to make Chief Suberu happy. And had always wanted the job of the editor-in-chief of the newspaper owned by the chief, but he didn’t know how to get it. He knew that if he passed the information to Chief he would get the job and lot more. And so he did pass the information to Chief Ajanaku Suberu.
***
Bidemi Adeoti (who in later life would be called Jerry) was ready and was getting impatient as he waited for his wife, Grace. She was, then, a Teacher at Delight Nursery and primary school. He was in his brown golf car. He hated being in this car for so long but his wife was keeping him waiting and the only solution was to keep honking the car. He picked his family- Ademola, his son and Grace- thirty minutes after the closing hour.
‘Daddy, Daddy’, Ademola shouted as he ran happily to meet his father, who had come out of the car.
‘Oh! That’s my boy. How are you?’
‘Fine. My aunty say that she loves you’.
‘Hun.’ Bidemi raised his eyebrow. He had learnt never to take whatever his son says with levity, ’why will your teacher say that?’
Bidemi tickled Ademola’s cheek.
‘Ehn…Mummy say-’
‘Said.’
‘Mummy said that you buy-’
‘Bought’
‘Bwought. But my aunty say- My aunty said bwought is when someone bwing something’.
‘It’s bought. Bought is the past tense of buy. You know what past tense is, right?’
Ademola nodded.
‘Good. That’s my boy; now tell me what your aunty said.’
‘Eh ehn.... Mummy said you bou…’
‘Shhh. Your mummy is coming. Get inside.’
Bidemi and Ade entered the car as Grace moved towards the car. Her nose flared up in anger as she saw Bidemi’s face. She opened the car, entered, and dropped her things on the chair beside Ade, at the back seat.
‘I said I was coming’, she said as she entered the car.
‘You didn’t tell me anything’.
‘I told A…’ She smirked and turned,’ Ademola didn’t you tell your daddy what…’
Ademola stared at her with his fingers in his mouth.
‘And you know I told you I have to go to Mr. Thomson’s place. You know if I don’t go today, it is till next week Thursday again.’ Bidemi said.
‘I know…’ Grace grumbled.
‘Or do you like to be the only one paying the bills and everything?’
‘I said I know’.
To avoid any such thing as a quarrel, he decided to face the road. He hated when he was angry and she was angry. One of them was supposed to have a clear mind at that moment. Although, he was not driving fast, a bike rider almost ran into him, making him skid to a halt.
‘Are you okay?’ He shouted as the bike rider rode off as if he didn’t know what happened.
‘Do you want to kill us because you are angry?’ Grace said as she steadied herself in the car after she was sure Ademola was all right.
Rest assured that if he replied they would keep on arguing till they got home, Bidemi decided not to talk. Quickly, he checked his side mirror to be sure he didn’t cause mayhem for oncoming cars. He didn’t see any trouble at the back, which was good for him. He slowed down, and paid full attention on the rear-view mirror. Bidemi shook his head as tried to remember if he had seen a black car that day. The car was three-cars-away.
Many black cars had passed by his side that day as he plied the road that led from Fortune City University (FCU). These different cars had moved harmoniously that day, making him fall in love with the particular black car that was following him now. In fact, he almost hit a car because he was looking at the make of the black car from the rear-view mirror. So, he was sure the car had been there that morning.
The car was there when he took his wife to school that morning and when he was going to the FCU.
‘Do you want to kill us?’ Grace said again, nauseating him as he drove faster.
Ademola shouted. Bidemi checked the rear-view mirror to be sure Ademola was all right.
‘Kill us… Kill us because of money. As if I said I was tired of you. Did I complain about the money we have been using?’
He needed full concentration now, but Grace kept frustrating him into talking and he wasn't ready for that.
He suddenly turned towards another road..
‘Oh God!’ Bidemi muttered as the black car followed him.
‘Mo go, Bidemi…I’m stupid’, Grace said, bewilderedly, making Bidemi turn his face away from the road to look at her.
‘Guy, face front? ‘A bike rider shouted as Bidemi quickly changed path into the road that leads to FCU.
‘AH! Grace’, Bidemi shouted, banging his hand on the wheel. And the car honked. ‘Someone is following me…’
‘Is that why you didn’t reply me?’
‘Don’t you understand? This person had been following us since we left home in the morning’.
Grace looked at him, swallowed hard, and looked back, stretching her neck to be sure he was saying the truth.
‘Daddy, who is that?’ Ademola said and tried getting up to look through the back screen.
‘Shut up, my friend’, Grace said,’ and get down… Get down, I say’
She rose and smacked him on the back. She faced the front again.
‘That’s why I want to go into FCU, we will be able evade him there…’
Grace replied with several nods.
‘Where… Where is it?’
‘The fifth car from us’.
They were on the lane that led into the FCU. Until the traffic warden told them to move into the university, they can’t move. When the rough dark woman controlling the traffic motioned for them to move, Bidemi felt like turning at the roundabout in front of FCU but decided against it. He would pass the second gate.
Trying to avoid being seen, the driver of the black car kept moving at a far distant.
‘Do you see them?’
Grace turned swiftly and looked at them. Ademola had risen to look at them.
‘Ade get down. Now’, Bidemi ordered.
‘Yes. There are two guys at the front’, Grace said with a shaky voice. ‘I’m not sure, but it seems I see some other people behind’.
‘Good.’
‘Good? God! Bidemi drive faster’, she shouted.
‘I will do what I can. Let me concentrate.’
‘I am doing my best. Who are they?
‘I don’t know. Grace calm down. It’ll be alright’.
‘Don’t tell me it will be alright? Who knows if it is those German again?’
‘That’s impossible. They don’t know I broke the code and that was many years ago’.
He used to love puzzles and had helped a friend, Charles, solved one that later caused problem for them but his friend took the fall for it.
‘What if they are the one?’
Bidemi shook his head ‘That’s impossible’.
‘What if it’s capo? What if he is after me, after all these years?’
‘Come on, Grace. Be calm. Cappo is now a Christian’. Grace used to be a cultist in her first year in the University.
‘Can it be those Boko Haram again?’
Bidemi and his friends had gone up against Bokoharam once but they failed because some corrupt people pre-empted their moves.
‘No….’ Bidemi shook his head as he turned into another road. 'Maybe…'
‘Oh! Please shut up! You’re making matter worse. Think of the way we can avoid these people, then tell us what we would do…’
Grace swallowed hard as she took in a deep breath. She turned again, and looked at the car intently.
Bidemi drove past two popular halls in FCU. They sped on and the driver of the black car sped after, not hiding his intentions any longer.
Knowing the roads very well, he deceived them into driving somewhere and indeed they missed the road. Bidemi smiled at Grace and she smiled back.
‘Baby, get up’, Grace said with relief as Fela Hall. They both finished from Fortune City University as Linguists. So, she knew they had escaped the guys.
Bidemi decided he was being edgy for nothing and so he reduced his speed.
‘I’m sorry for that’, he said.
‘Bidemi’, Grace shouted.
The black car ran towards their car but Bidemi was faster. He stepped on the brake, making the cars behind ram into his.
Bidemi turned quickly to see if Ademola was fine, and he was fine- a little bruise on the lip. His eyes were stretched out in their sockets as he stared Bidemi.
Grace was panting.
‘Are you fine?’ Bidemi asked her.
She lifted the upper part of her face.
‘Talk to me… Tell me you are fine’
‘Bidemi…’
‘Tell me you are fine’.
‘The men’, Grace said as two men from the car walked towards them.
***
Then, Jessica’s phone rang, making her stop her narration. Martha was on the other end and she said Chief had been looking for Jessica to confirm if she had used her drugs. He had sent people to her room but no one met her there. Martha had covered for her that she went to a friend’s place and that she, Martha, didn’t know the place. Chief had tried calling her other numbers to no avail.
Seeing that he didn’t find her, he had asked Chioma, his secretary to look for Jessica with her laptop.
‘Oh God!’ Jessica said as she scrambled out of the sofa.
‘What’s that?’ Pastor Matthew asked, turning from his work to face her.
‘Chief. He is looking for me’, she said and hurried towards the door.
‘So what happened? When will you come back to tell me the rest’.
‘Later… Bidemi…. They didn’t catch you that day. You later went to them by yourself’, she said, closed the door after her and ran for the path that led away from the house. Jerry ran after her.
‘How did I go to them?’
‘We’ll see later’, she shouted and disappeared through the bushes, the dry leaves rustling after her as she ran through them.
Jerry smacked his head.
Although the memory was fuzzy, he was beginning to remember most of the things she described especially the features of his son.
The event came to him again. The men walked towards the car that day and Grace was whimpering and shaking horribly.
He held on to the steering of the car, knowing that any opportunity for him to escape might be a final one.
The chances of escaping was becoming slim, when Abefeles (the school police) came towards the cars, making the men back off. And that was how he and his family escaped.
Then, he couldn’t remember anything afterward. He hit his head severally with the hope that it would produce any form of memory but nothing came. He returned to the room and was still thinking of this when he dozed off.
***
Jessica got home and tried sneaking into her room, like other days but she met her father seated in front of her door. His countenance said enough for her not to talk. She folded her and pouted, trying to give him her look but he was not deterred.
‘Where did you go? Do you want to kill me?
‘Baami…’
‘You are not leafing this house anymore till next year’.
‘It’s not like that… I was….’
‘Where?’ Chief said as he stood to leave. ‘You want to disgrace me in the public’.
He shook his head and stormed out, his fat body rocking from side to side.
Jessica knew he would be monitoring her throughout the remaining days in that year; yet, she wanted to see Bidemi to tell him all he ought to know. She wanted to see him again and keep looking at him like she did when he was there, to keep adoring him.
She wanted to know why he left the get-together organized last year earlier than expected.
She sniffed, looked at the rug, shook her head and climbed the bed.

Chapter 18
Meeting Jessica
Jerry rose gently from the bed. He had to be sneaky. Who knows, it might be a replica?
‘This is going to take a long time, Uncle Matthew, a very long time, and I don’t like the smell of things’, a lady said. The lady’s voice sounded familiar. It sounded like the last voice he heard before he became unconscious.
‘Don’t worry about tomorrow, Jessica. The trouble of today is sufficient for today’.
‘Uncle, don’t you see this is a fruitless effort. Why not tell people to leave town?’
‘And go where, dear?’
‘America, Ghana, anywhere’, the lady's voice said, frustrated, 'I want you to take him away from here. You know Chief is in Brown Valley. Why did you bring him here?’
Jerry edged forward and was eager to know who this person was. Soft music from Pastor Matthew’s DVD player filtered into the air.
‘I wish I knew Chief was looking for him. I wish you had come to me on time to explain things'.
‘I couldn’t come to you. He was there and I was at home, pretending to be sick while I allowed Rachael and Martha watch over him’.
‘Then, you could have sent one of them to inform me. To let me know how to treat him, and where I should advise him to go and be because he looked up to me for advice on many issues especially love matters’.
‘What love matters? Are you saying- Do you mean?’
There was a pause for sometimes. Jerry pined to get more information.
‘Pastor, you can still leave Brown Valley now’.
‘And watch all these people die?’
‘They will die anyway’.
‘Says who? Who is man to say a thing when God have not said it’
‘Yes. They will die. If the water doesn't kill them, their disobedience will kill them. They are all strong and block heads. If what you are saying is true, then you will see a representation of what was said in the bible concerning the children of Israel in the days of Noah’.
‘You still remember your bible lessons. Even when fire is at its very worst, one must resort to it for cooking. At least, few people would be saved and would be prevented from missing heaven’.
‘Uncle Matthew, you can’t go on telling people about a God who is going to release rain to them. Which foolish God is that?’
‘Jessica, be careful of your words. They have effects here and in life to come’.
‘If God was not…’, she shouted and paused’, okay… Sorry about that. But why will God pour out another rain? Why didn’t he send you out of the country and why did he ask you to come to Brown Valley?'
Jerry entered the parlour and saw a tall slender lady, who had the body of an athlete. Her arms were strong and Jerry was sure she could fight four men at the same time with the way she was standing.
‘Now… You’ve brought him here. You’ve brought him here’.
‘Nothing will happen to him’.
‘How did you know?’
‘I know’
‘How? Maybe you didn’t hear of it but my father…’ She said and paused. Pastor Matthew was staring at Jerry who was coming from behind. She turned.
‘Continue… Who is your father? What did I do to him?’ Jerry said as he moved near her slowly.
‘Oh Bidemi’, she said and gasped. Her gaze was fixed on his face and she stood, looking like a statue, making him wonder if something was on his face. He touched his face and saw nothing of interest there.
‘What?’ Jerry asked. 'Tell me, what did your father do to me that made me forget everything that ever happened to me?'
‘Bidemi…’
‘Stop calling me Bidemi for God’s sake’, Jerry shouted, stomping his right leg on the floor. His hands, stiffened, moved up and down as he shouted, 'Stop. My name is Jerry… ah’.
‘Your name is not Jerry. Your name is Bidemi… Bidemi Adeoti’
‘My name is not Bidemi… It’s not Bidemi’.
‘Bro Jerry…’
‘Please, Pastor stay out of this. I’m not letting her go or say any other thing until I know what happened to me’.
Then two things happened. His phone rang; Miss Rita Jacobs was calling. The day after he got to Brown Valley, he got a bought a new sim for 100 naira and immediately registered it. He had tried calling Miss Jacobs but she didn’t pick his call, so he sent her a message, informing her that he was the caller. Now, she was calling in the middle of a very big revelation of his life.
Even if he had the mind of picking the call, he couldn’t because the Jessica was the second thing that happened. She fell and began to vibrate on the floor as if there were electrical charges in her.
‘Bro. Jerry. Help… Get me water. Get spoon’.
Jerry ran to the kitchen and picked a bowl of water. God! Water was scarce. Will they waste this whole water on her? He picked a spoon and rushed to the parlour. She was convulsing. Foams poured out of her mouth. Jerry had never seen anything like that before.
‘Fan… Bro. Jerry, fan…You shall not die but live, Jessica. You shall not die but live. I relieve you in the name of Jesus’.
‘Oh! God, Pastor’, Jerry exclaimed, pointing at Jessica. She was unconscious. He himself vibrated internally. Jessica was dead. He rushed to her and placed his ear on her chest.
‘She is still alive’, he said as he expelled more breaths loudly.
‘Give me some water, Bro.’
Jerry took the basin of water to the pastor and watched her lie there as Pastor Matthew brought out a handkerchief. Pastor Matthew cleaned up the mess while Jerry was trying to regulate his breath.
‘Who is she?’ Jerry asked when the tension had reduced.
‘She is my niece. Her father is the Chief that you must have seen. He is fat’.
Jerry remembered the fat man he saw coming out of the house. So, that was the man that made him forget everything he had ever done.
‘Why is she helping me?’
‘You know’, Pastor Matthew said, shrugged and stared at the table that contained his constructions and everything he needed to plan for the oncoming rain.
‘She loves me?’
Pastor Matthew hissed tiredly. Jerry frowned, wondering if he was the promiscuous type. How many women did he fall in love with before his memory loss?
‘How did she know this place?’
‘Her mother… She owns this place and she allowed her to know all about this place'.
‘Her mother… Your sister?’
‘Sister-in-law or late sister-in-law’.
‘Wait! Are you saying that her father, the one that had been trying to kill me is your brother?’
Pastor Matthew nodded and sighed.
‘Children of the same parents?’
‘Yes…’
Jerry scowled as he watched Pastor Matthew rubbing his head. Pastor Matthew rose from his seat.
‘We have big plans in our family. Trust me, we do. Our plan is to be the first to discover something, to dominate. And that’s my brother’s biggest problem. I’m sure whatever he’s planning, we are in for a big trouble and that’s why I must continue what I’m doing before the time comes. He always thinks he is doing the right thing. And I think that's true but he goes about it the wrong way’.
Pastor Matthew left him and faced the construction he was making. Soft music flowed into the house as Jerry wondered what he should. Should he find his way to Brown Valley and find a way of contacting the beautiful night thief whom he believed would help him. If it were possible he could find the policeman that was investigating the death of the first person that tried to kill him. Then, his phone rang again.
‘Hello, Jerry. Where are you?’ Rita asked the moment he picked his call. Jerry looked up at Pastor Matthew, remembered how they suffered to get here.
‘I’m sorry, something came up and I had to rush down to Brown Valley’.
‘What happened? I had been trying to locate you for days and I had been going mad when I thought you left me’.
‘I wouldn’t do such’, Jerry said as Jessica began to rise from her unconsciousness.
Jerry rushed to her when she tried to rise but fall. He had to remove the phone from his ear and used the other hand to lift her up as she moaned.
‘Did you hear me?’ Rita asked when he replaced the receiver on his ear.
‘No. You were saying?’
‘I said I’m coming to Brown Valley’.
‘For?’ Jerry asked hurriedly. His heart skipped beats as he imagined what would happen to him if she ever died, if any of the people following him tried to kill her. ‘Erm… Are you sure that’s a good idea?’
‘Of course. I’m coming to celebrate the new year with my father’.
‘Good’.
‘And he wants to meet you…’
‘What!’ Jerry exclaimed. Jessica stood and began to move all around the room like a zombie.
Jerry frowned at Pastor Matthew, who had turned from his work. He mouthed ‘she is okay’ and returned to what he was doing.
‘What’s that?’
‘Nothing’, Jerry said and sipped air. He wasn't ready to play to chance again. He didn’t know if in his previous days, he would have loved to meet her parents but after coming close to death for the third time in six months, he knew it was time to lay low. Yet, he didn’t want to miss the opportunity of meeting the parent of the damsel, the one nearest his heart. The one he had always wished to marry.
‘So, are you coming?'
‘Ehn… 'He said, scratching his head. Pastor Matthew looked back, and stood still, watching him. He put call on speaker phone.
‘Jerry please… I already told him about you and he is eager to meet you…’
‘No…’
Pastor Matthew nodded. Jerry shook his head. His eyes widened in disbelief and he raised his brow as Jessica kept walking all about the room.
‘Jerry, please’.
Pastor Matthew nodded to tell him it was okay to go. Jerry held his breathe and turned to Jessica for advice but she was still engrossed in walking about in the room.
‘Okay… I’ll be there’.
‘Oh, Jerry! I love you. I love you', she shouted and kissed the air.
‘I love you too’, he replied and caught Jessica giving him a cold glare.
‘What if those men see me? I’m not ready to die’.
‘The lord is saying…'
‘The lord himself know that I’m not ready to die… Why did I even call Rita?’
Jessica sat straight. Jerry watched her in awe and glanced at Pastor Matthew. She caught his reaction and smile. 'You need not worry. After my fit of epilepsy, I am always disoriented for a while. I'm okay. Now I think it is time to tell somebody the story of his life’.

Wadewaltz:
Finally gettin d recognition

By the way, what you're doing on people's stories is called Trolling and I might have to ban you if your next post reeks of trolling.

Wadewaltz:
Sosa u broke rule 22,divepen1 do ur job or I will do it for u

Thanks.. You're doing your job as a supermod...

sosa993:
Hey guys. I'm really sorry. The story is edited, but they won't stop banning me. It's becoming irritating and annoys by right now. I don't know what else to do. I'll try to upload another short one tonight. Hopefully, I'll be allowed to post. If they ban me again, I don't know what I'll do. Also is there a mod one can talk to privately?

No one hates you. I like your story sef but Antispambot is a robot.. It sees long posts, it clangs and screams that you're a sinner; then, lock you out. It's a religious fanatic. We are still teaching the idiot empathy.
To that end, I've unhidden your posts.

Quote these former posts so that your readers will see them afresh, then mention my name. I'll hide the previous ones and gbam, you're a champion...

kayusdguy:
Jerry must be a really handsome guy for all those girls to like him that much. How many of them bayii? Divepen1, you too much o

Thanks.. I think that's about 5 now..

germaphobe:
boss boss, carry go

Thanks for having my back..

francium001:
Are you see what I am sawing, he's a genius.

Lol... Covers face.

LightQueen:
Divepen1 you three much jor

Awawnn.. You flatter me. Thanks.

queenitee:
Oh yeah, Chloe my lover.
I think I would love Bidemi, Jerry, Leech or whatever his name is of a guy irrespective of whatever his past was. I'm guessing he was a dangerous assassin and also had a soft part to him regardless of how ranked he was before losing his memory and I'm almost certain when he regain his memory, he won't be thrilled remembering who he was and his kind of life

Yeah. Chloe.. If you're following the ones called Dogs, you would have encountered him oo