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Happy New Months

Moon Walker
Author: Onyeneke Abel
Category: Fantasy
Language: English
Prize: #300
Number of words: 46668
Description: How would you feel if you had so much power that makes you feel cheated in life? How would you feel if your dreams were cut short because of a sudden responsibility heaped on your shoulders?
A prophecy foretold the reign of an all powerful tyrant “Gaza” who would enslave and terrorize the entire clan of the moon elites and it’s environs.
And goes on to foretell a Savior, who would conquer this tyrant and unite the people back in peace.
Sara, never imagined that the powers she sees as a curse, is actually the hope of the world and equally the desire of many.
She never fathomed her life would be the hunt of every supernatural who had thrist for powers and Authority.
She kissed her normal life goodbye and watched her dreams go down the drain, when she discovers she is a savior to an entire clan of the moon elites, planet earth and virtually the whole world.
Though, her powers are great and infinite. But her enemies are not to be toyed with. They don’t just want her dead, but desire her powers to conquer the world.
she falls in love with the son of her immortal enemy “Arthur” But soon discovers the sacred rule that forbids her to love a man, with consequences of death!
How tough it gets, when she faces werewolves, vampires, demons, creptones and all supernatural beast of different terrifying thirst for blood and power. In her adventure, would she succeed? and when it comes to a path to choose; would she choose love over the mission? find out in Moon Walker. A story with intense war, battles, powers unleashed, romance and love!
Some Comments on Moon Walker
oghenefaith :The book is a bomb! I jus felt like I was watching a movie! U r truly a born writer! More grace sir!
perpetual 44: Oh my God! the book is simply the best! God bless you,nyc work I was laughing and crying at some point, full of action!
Angelbae4: I really don't know what to say, like this story is one of the best I have ever read.
Eclatmay: The book kept me hooked till the very end. Full of suspense and lots of action! This is great, I enjoyed every bit.
Would Sara succeed in this mission?
A great Adventure story within your grasp, Join the team and get your copy to get the thrill!!
https://okadabooks.com/book/about/moon_walker/16303

This is 23 minutes plus... I'm closing down this thread till 6 pm. If it's yours send me a mail with the information I asked.

IjeleNwa:
Azeequeen you can drink panadol for my headache

You mistake typo error as spoken english?
Your case is worst! Stop derailing my thread.
Be warned

Or continue

my number is there to confirm if its Talius or not

Okay, just provide us with your full name... In the next ten minutes and send a screen shot of your Okadabooks account.

Azeequeen:
When I started reading this, it registered in my brain that I've read this before. This is so unfair. Why are plagiarising someone else's work? This is Cracked Sources by Talius Dike

Ijelenwa, you've been accused and I investigated it and it was true... What do you have to say...

6 Imprisoned in Knowledge
After the police left, Joana was still in shock when she received a call from Raphael. At first she tried to pick the call but the battery went off. She was surprised. She charged it the other time. Checking it, she discovered that she was using the worse one. As if she was on fire, she removed it and inserted the better one. Then, she called Raphael's phone again.
'Joany, your life is in danger'.
'Yes. Someone just broke into my house'.
'Someone broke into your house? Are they mad? Who are these people monitoring your life? As in The one here is also monitoring your life. After what happened, I tapped to my boss' phone call and had been monitoring his calls'.
Joana, who laid on the sofa and had promised herself a good sleep, sat up. 'So?'
'I don't understand what they mean, but someone wants you dead or so. They are searching everywhere for you'.
Joana fingers danced on the sofa, and was sure she would soon cry out in frustration.
'What do you mean? I know the devil has started working or is it God?'
'What are you saying?'
'God wants me to tell the world about my encounter but I haven't done so'.
'But God will not do bad things for us like that'.
'But he is God, he is the ruler of the Universe and would get his demands, if he so pleases'.
There was a short pause from Raphael. 'That's what I hate about all these S.U. You make others hate God. But will God send someone to kill you?'
'Yes.'
'You didn't make me say what I want to say. I don't even know if the person is even trying to kidnap you like the others'.
'Oh God', she shouted.
'Trouble!' Raphael also shouted. 'Bottle of urine'.
'I know. I'm in serious trouble'.
'NoNo. It's not you. Do you have television there? Switch it on. Hear the news. Listen to what they say to what they are saying'.
'Where?' Joana scrambled out of the sofa and ran for the remote control. Then, she hurriedly began to change the TV stations.
'Ah! Idiot! Go to FcTv'.
She hurriedly turned the station to Fortunecity TV and heard the news. So far, the twenty-four people who saw the vision about hell had gone missing.
'Ah! I'm dead. Raphael, I have to tell the world tomorrow. God will be angry at me'.
'You're mad. You want to die, right? You will just die. Someone is kidnapping people and you want to talk. No. Go out and paste it on yourself from tonight that "people, I want to be kidnapped'.
She watched the news blankly. There was no way Raphael could convince her otherwise. 'See, Raphael, I must share my testimony o. And I must let people come back to God'.
'You're deceiving yourself. OkayIf you will do it, let me hide you'.
Would she want Raphael to hide her? He was a sinner. But what bad would it do if a sinner began to help her, a believer? The bible said if you find favor in God's eyes even the heathen would scramble to help you. All she needed was a place to write from and publish. Then, maybe she can do videos too.
'Okay'.
'In other words, you have to move immediately'.
'No. I've not taken anything'.
'Ah! Joany, who made you as foolish this? Don't you understand, people are after you? They want you dead or to kidnap you. They would smash your body, and crunch it'.
'I understand'.
'Where's your place?'
'Johnson Avenue. Sophia Close. The last house'.
'Not far. Not far. This is 9:27. Meet me at Samuel Junction in 40 minutes. If I don't see you there then, I'll call the police'.
'Okay'.
'Thank you'.
'Thank me when you're safe'.
Raphael had always doted on her when she was still a prostitute. He never allowed any other person service him. Most of the time they spent together met him showering her with love. He would continually request for her hand in marriage; a request she graciously refused. He promised to do anything for her, even become one of her puppets, but she adamantly refused.
Those days, he was more of a Christian than she. So, she believed he would try to make her a church-goer because he believed in the spirit of discernment, which he wrongly called the spirit of the prophets. She packed her clothes and left home; yet, sad that the word of God would make her leave home.
***

Nosa had woken immediately he felt Shayla removing the handcuffs. She said she wanted to try something else on him that night. She called it sex with handcuff or whatever. But she was naughty and calculative. She knew he might have reasons to run away again before the morning came, and God was his witness, if the cuffs weren't there, he would have used the fly boat to the land to meet Joana.
He rose from the bed, packed the load of CDs on the visions and stealthily entered the sitting room with his laptop. Then, he entered the kitchen, took and opened a drink and returned to the sitting room.
There, he watched the videos, skipped all the frivolous introductions, and began to note names of Pastors. The most consistent names were the general overseers of two big churches in Green City, Bringer of Life Ministry and In Christ's Might Church'.
Tomorrow, he would visit them. And his whole investigation would begin or should he say continue there. He should comfort Chloe, and wish her a merry Christmas. He picked his phone and chatted up Chloe on WhatsApp. The message was sent, but not delivered, that suggested one thing. Chloe's phone was off. Chloe rarely switched off her phone. She loved to be abreast of news and new information.
'Maybe she hasn't updated the WhatsApp still', he mumbled as he inserted one of the CDs to watch. Then, he returned to his seat, where he was vigorously jotting down information. He would have loved to ask people questions, but the problem was becoming rampant. It was high time he became the knight in shining armor for these ladies. They might really be killed off, and he wouldn't want their death to be pinned on his heart for long.
'Baby, what are you doing?' Shayla's voice reverberated behind him. He jumped slightly and smiled. She was good at catching him unaware.
'You see', she said and laughed. 'I'm your boss, I will always make you fall'.
He chuckled. 'I was dozing off'.
He was known for never being caught off guard. The only person that had ever caught him off guard was Shayla.
'Over and over again', she said as she bounced towards him, and dropped beside him on the chair.
'Never and never again. You've hit your mark for the last time. I'll always be ready'.
'Like the last time'.
'But I said that flippantly'.
'Like you said the last time...Just admit it now. Admit I'm your boss, and I'll never do anything to win you again', she said as she cuddled him. He dropped his head on hers.
'You're not my boss. I'll always be steps ahead'.
'Why?'
'I'm a P.I, by the way, Merry Christmas'.
'I'm with the Federals. Merry Christmas'.
'You're not with the federals, you're with the locals'.
'The locals are with the federal and that means?' She said as watched him for an answer. He knew the answer but he loved to make her wait for it.
'Just say and let's watch this rubbish. It means what?'
'Information'.
'Yeah...So admit I'm your boss'.
'No. I'm the boss'.
'If you don't agree with me, at least the person kidnapping is a step ahead of you'.
'No... The person has kidnapped 24 people. I'll catch her'.
'That means I really knock you out', she said beaming. 'I told you about another kidnapped person while you were asleep'.
'Jesus...' Nosa shouted and jumped out of the chair. 'What's her name?'
'One Joana or something?'
'Oh, God! She cried that people were after her'.
'Was she the one that called yesterday?'
'Yes. But she hasn't publicized the revelation. Are you sure you got the name right?'
Shayla shrugged. 'Maybe I was knocked out too. Maybe it was the name you said while receiving that call that stuck to my brain'.
He rose and went to pick his phone. Joana complained of not sleeping well because of fear. She might still be awake. He dialed her number, but it was switched off.
'She had been kidnapped?'
'But who could be kidnapping these people. This person is good and slippery', Shayla commented and was lost in her thought. He glanced at her just in time to see her holding out 6 fingers to herself.
'I'm going after her', he announced and began to tidy the table.
'No. You're not going anywhere till the morning comes'.
'I'm on this case'.
She stomped her feet. 'No, baby. My people would be on it. I'll give you information'.
'You don't understand; she needs me'.
She rose as he turned after he picked his keys. She cocked her gun. He heard it well.
'What? What's wrong with you?' He asked as he hoped she was joking by pointing it at him.
'Nothing? You said I have the right to do this immediately you become heady'.
'I don't mean this way'.
'I'm not concerned o. Move to your corner of the bedroom'.
He sighed and moved to the bedroom. The last time he disbelieved her, she shot the gun to brush his skin, but not to give him a deeper wound. That was what happened when you fall in love with a woman obsessed with you.
'I'll give you all information you need. But this morning, till 10, you are for me'.
She made him cuff himself to the bed, then she dropped the gun on her side of the bed and climbed him. 'You're going nowhere, not now'.
Even if he tried to hurt her now, she was at a vantage position. And there was no need to go violent since it wasn't a matter of life and death. He slumped into the wood as she continually kissed and caressed him.

Or is it your dead wife? May her gentle soul rest in peace. Sweet girl. I know you might not have a desire to have any other relationship after the one you had with her, but you have to try'.
'I'm trying. I'm really trying. See me, I want a relationship'.
'That means, it is truly that other girl'.
'What? No. No. She is not the one. Alexis. Ouch! She can't be the one. Never'.
Aunty Gbemy looked about. 'Or has that thing. The memory. You know what I mean. Is it back? Is the memory of that thing flooding back?'
'What memory?'
'Secondary school'.

He batted his eyelids repeatedly to ward off the pain of that memory. He hadn't thought about it for a long while now. She was talking about him being raped by a man, when he was in secondary school. Those times, no one believed him. Only three people believed him, Usman, his junior in school; a friend, that used it to his advantage and caused trouble for him; and his aunt, who fought his case and even helped him overcome the feeling by paying for his sessions with a psychiatrist.

'No. I'm not disturbed by that'.
'So whats wrong? Talk to me?'
'Let's forget it. The saleswoman will be waiting for you.'
'To hell with her. Tell me why you're refusing to tell her'.
'I will tell her. I'm just bidding my time'.
'In this dispensation. How old are you? About 36? Do you want to have grey hair before finally telling her how you feel about her?'
'I will soon'.
'How soon? Four years is also soon'.
'Before February'.
'Are you serious? Are you out of your mind? By January first, when you come to celebrate the new-year with me, you must have told her. Or else I'll'
'Dis-aunty me?'
'Naughty boy', she sniggered. 'He knows my words'.
'Then I'd better dis-nephew you'.
'But on a serious note, ask for her hand in marriage'.

He promised to do soon. They returned to the stall, and said their goodbyes after Aunty Gbemy had collected Mirabel's contact. But Japheth was sure he wouldn't utter a word about his love for Mirabel to her until he was sure he was free. Mirabel couldn't stop disturbing him about how she had never seen him happy to see anyone in his life. She even promised to change his name to Aunt's little baby.
When he got home that night, he asked the gateman if Alexis came around, and he dejectedly replied in the negative. Maybe he was becoming free at last. Maybe he wouldn't have to wait till February after all.

Chapter 6

Staring at the Gate
Gladys reminisced on what happened at her mother's place as she sat in her car, since no one was in the Church yet. The woman would never cease to amaze her. The only reason she went there was to see how she was doing. As usual, her mother had taken her coming as if it was that of a president. Gladys had cautioned her to no avail with the way she stressed herself to prepare one of her favourite dishes for her. 'Can't I feed my daughter again?' Her mother chided.
Like every other time, she sighed and she traced, with her tongue, the morsel of pounded yam in her mouth. The aroma of the pounded yam, alongside the vegetable soup, made her swallow hard. Her mother's food always topped the reasons she went to Greencity.

'Mama, I saw a vision', Isabel, Gladys' sister, whispered through a mouthful.
Her second sister, Roselyn, chuckled.
Gladys glanced at Isabel, then at Roselyn.
'She is joking right, Mama?' Gladys glanced at her mother whose face was gradually becoming red. Roselyn threw a knowing glance at Gladys. She muffled a laughter when Gladys couldn't see the reason for the amusement. She threw a glance at their mother's face, signaling to Gladys to watch the event unfold.

'My God will burn your vision to fire. I call on the God of Elijah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Ayo-Babalola, Kenneth Hagin, Adeboye, Chintok, Selman, Okonkwo, Copeland...'
'Mama, that's okay'.
'Gladys Omobolanle. That's not okay. That's not okay', she shouted as dropped the morsel of pounded yam into the bowl in front of her. Then pointed to Isabel. 'Isabel Isabel If I'm your mother. If it's I, Josephine Imole Bolawole, that gave birth to you. If I born you well, I must never hear you talk about seeing any vision in your life. Now or Forever. My God will burn your vision'.

Roselyn burst into laughter, while Isabel kept a straight face. If Gladys knew her sisters well, she was sure they were playing a prank on their mother.
'But Mama if I saw a vision, won't I talk again?'
'No. Don't talk'.
'Mama' Gladys said, but was cut short by her mother's sharp wave.
'Don't Mama me. Are you people deaf? Youve seen the happenings. People are disappearing. May God punish that vision of yours. He will burn it with brimstone and fire'.

The two girls exclaimed, and Isabel gave up on the act. She burst into laughter, and began to cough terribly. Yet, she didn't stop laughing at her mother. The reaction aggravated Roselyn's laughter the more, she fell down from her chair. Isabel grabbed a cup of water, gulped it down and erupted into another bout of laughter. Gladys chuckled as she tried hard to be an adult. They all knew that their mother's reaction to everything always went like warfare.
'Mama, they were joking. You've been living with these two clowns for years and you cant tell when they are playing with you'.

Their mother flared up as she realized she was being played. 'You bastards'. She threw a morsel of pounded Yam at Isabel, who bent to make it splash on Gladys' face. The girls burst into laughter.
'Oh my daughter', her mother said, scurrying out of her seat to wipe the morsel off Gladys' face.
'It's okay Mama'. She had to hold herself from shouting at her mother for always being too overbearing and over-caring. 'I'm fine, Gladys' mother. I'm fine o. I said I'm fine, Mama'.
Her mother turned quickly to slap Isabel, but she seemed prepared for it as she jumped out of her chair. They all returned to their seats, and Gladys asked for the full details of the people being kidnapped.

Her mother took up the position of the storyteller, she informed her about the way those who saw visions of hell kept disappearing. Later, she told Isabel and Roselyn to excuse them because she wanted to talk to Gladys. They grumbled but left.
Gladys guessed and was right about her mother's reason for doing so.
'Gladys', her mother said. 'A flower that hides from butterfly would forever live in isolation'.
'Mama', Gladys said. Her mother wanted to start her normal talks on how Gladys should and must be married in her prime.

'See your late Uncle, Gabriel, he didn't marry because he was still biding his time, and it affected him'
Suddenly, Roselyn poked her head into the room. 'No matter how important what you are saying is, I don't care. You've got to come outside now'.
Gladys felt like stoning her with a shoe. 'Rose, must you always interrupt us whenever we are having a private heart to heart discussion'.
'But Mama'
'Scram' Her mother yelled. 'Get off'.
'It's the Landlady. Madam Joana'.

Her mother's face was flushed with a tempting desire to go outside. Gladys knew her. The landlady, Madam Joana, was her friend. So whenever someone informed her about her, she was always ready to see what was happening.
'A minute', she said and rushed off after Roselyn. Her voice resounded as she rushed off. 'What happened?'
Sighing, she followed them. Her mother would surely rant if she never showed her face at whatever was happening outside. She believed one must have a little knowledge of whatever was happening in one's environment. The woman was Gladys' nightmare.

Upon getting to the farther end of the passage, she saw one of her mother's neighbours, Claudia, clapping repeatedly at Joana, who was also shouting that they would leave her house.
'You'll leave my house', Joana shouted and faced the other lady, Tracey. Tracey was a tall dark, beautiful girl whose face could make a lady wish to be a man. Gladys shook her head to keep such nauseating thoughts out of her mind as she watched Claudia, the slim, short lady, whose frail body seemed suddenly enlarged by her rage, with the veins under her skin protruding in red lines around her skin. Tracey was speechless as she glanced at Gladys with guilt written over her face. She and Tracey and even Claudia weren't that close, but they have had reasons to discuss on general issues once or twice. Gladys made face at Tracey to know what happened. Tracey shook her head. Gladys felt like hugging the beautiful innocent face. She shook her head again and faced the other side.
'You two. In my house. That is sodomyYou are sodomites'.

Gladys' mother was trying to tear the two of them apart, while her sisters continually made crazy insulting gestures behind Joana's back. On a normal day, she would have shouted at them to stop.
Claudia steadied herself as she brushed Tracey aside. 'What does this woman think she is? A sanctimonious... Is she Jesus? Even Jesus was a good person. I will show you pepper and fire. Do you think we don't know your history? We've heard how you were once a prostitute'.
With her round short body moving about like a ball, Joana jumped and shouted, 'thank you. But now I'm saved. See the two of them, Lesbians. And I know who taught who. You this short tiny devil. The Lord forbids you'.

'Oh!' Gladys said as she glanced at Tracey with scorn. Traceys eyes widened and she attempted to explain herself, but Gladys shook her head and stormed back to her room. Everybody is crazy. Everybody is dipping their hands into bowls of marshy sins. She slumped on the bed and slept off, thereby avoiding her mother's call. But the most memorable and horrifying thing about that night was the fact that she saw her body dangling into a place that looked like the home of a rich person. Then, that body followed the woman to a hideous underground room. The dream was fuzzy, but she could still remember how she saw a woman with a knife stabbing a man to death. The man was laid on what looked like an altar. Although she didn't get the chance to really see the woman's face, she looked like Stella.
Staring out of the car, and waiting for someone else to enter the Church premises before she did, she tried to keep her mind off her nagging fear. Everything she did was consistent with the Bible; yet, there were some irregularities.

She must have been so deep in thought that she didn't know when Japheth's car drove into the parking lot because the first time she saw him was when he was alighting from his car. He was unusually early for a fornicator. She sat up in her car as she watched him stand in front of the massive Church building. She honked, and Japheth looked up towards her direction. She sized him up.
He was very handsome and would surely make a good husband, but she just couldn't take him or have any thought about him. In fact, she couldnt afford to have thoughts about him until she was sure he was holy, righteous, purified, sanctified and justified. And with all her energy, she would do everything to make him reach the right standard, of God. She would make sure of that. One of the implications of that was that she wouldn't go easy on him. She stepped out of her car to honour him, smiling.
He walked briskly towards her with his hands in his pocket, and they exchanged pleasantries, though he did it with a little reserve.
'Come into my car', she said, and tried to avoid suggesting that they moved to his car though she longed to see how neat it was.
He nodded. 'Thanks'.

After a few awkward seconds of silence in the car, she turned to him. 'Why are you in Church so early? And I hope you have prayed about what I told you?'
He fiddled with the dashboard, and swallowed hard, staring at the figure on her dashboard. 'I came early to talk to you'.
'Oh! That's good because you need to really talk and confess your sin'.
He nodded repeatedly. 'I have prayed to God. I hope he just forgives me because I'm so tired of going back'.
'Bro. Japheth, do you want me to tell you the truth? Only Confession wouldn't solve your problem'.
Surprised, he turned to face her. She loved the fact that he was attentive.
'See, what you did is that you nailed God to the cross afresh. It's like perdition. That's why you have to pray for a new heart. That will be refreshing', she said and tore her eyes away from the mirror she was staring at.

'But the people that helped me become a new person in Christ said that I don't need to even ask God for forgiveness because we've been forgiven the sins of the past, present, future...'
'Ah! Who told you such lie? That's preposterous and heretic and a sin against God and man. First John One says if we say we have no sin we lie and the truth is not in us'.
'I'm not sure I get you. Are you saying the truth is not in me?'
'The Bible says so, Bro. Japheth. You're getting angry quickly. You need to receive the Holy Spirit. I'm sorry if I come as harsh but it's the gospel truth and I'm one of the few around here that tell it'.
He frowned and she could feel the tension in the air. Even if she wanted to bring her voice down, it was useless. He needed to hear the raw gospel truth to grow.

'I don't get. But I have the Holy Spirit They told me. I have the Holy Spirit'.
'Are you kidding me?' She said as she stared at him in surprise. Whoever had been filling his head with rubbish had failed because she was now there to put things right. With the real word of God, she would wash him clean, and make him strong enough to stand on his feet. 'What's your evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit since you believed?'
He stared at her, glanced at the roof of the car, opened and closed his mouth repeatedly.
'You don't know...'
He nodded.
'Do you read your bible?'
'Yes'
'How?'
'I just read it. In fact, I spend 20 minutes on it'.
'Wow20 minutes', she said and stared at him. 'And you've been a Christian for just two months?'
His face brightened. He was delighted in his mediocrity.

'I make sure I'm consistent'.
She chuckled. 'You're funny. This is your second month; you should be able to have at least...at least, two hours of studying the bible'.
'Ahan. Will I not go to work again?'
'That's sacrifice. That's the sacrifice. You can't be here at this level any longer'.
She bit her upper lip, and wished he could quickly go through all the stages of growth like a hybrid poplar. Then, she would feel the need to pray about him, about any possible chance of him being the man for her.

'I'm trying. I'm just new. I don't know who will guide me. Everybody has abandoned me'.
She felt like badgering him, but thought otherwise. 'You need a mentor'.
He sighed. 'I think that will do it'.
She smiled. He was ready to learn. Maybe she was too harsh. In fact, she didn't always do that to people or even strangers, but he was becoming special to her.
'Will you be my mentor? You are knowledgeable about the bible'.

'Me?' She muttered as she touched herself. 'I'm...I'm...'
As if God answered the quick prayers that ran through her mind for an escape, Stella knocked her side of the car, and poked her head.
'What are you doing? The service will start soon. We need to start pre-prayers. Good afternoon Bro....'
'Japheth'.
'Sister Stella, meet Bro. Japheth. He is a new member'.

Stella's face brightened. Gladys felt like taking a picture of that smile, especially as the sun reflected on Stellas face. The picture, as a wallpaper, would fit perfectly beside the vase of City Flowers in her room. Seeing both of them would make her happy always, for long. Stella had the sweetest smile she had ever seen and she craved it.
'Welcome, Bro. Japheth. It's nice meeting you. I'm Stella'.
'Welcome ma'.

Gladys' face brightened as an idea struck her. 'I know this is an awkward situation but Bro. Japheth is a new Christian and he needs a mentor. But what he really needs is a discipler. Can you be his discipler?'
She glanced at Stella then at Japheth, whose face was lit in awe.

'Yes. Let's talk after service', Sister Stella said.
Gladys felt like hopping about like a frog throughout the service. Her most prized man was becoming a gold. Stella would purify him with the word and power. Now, she would watch him grow and then they would pray about relationship. It was babyish for her to think of this, and this feeling was strange, but she needed it to ward her mind off the dream she had overnight.
The scariest part of the dream was that she loved what the woman in the dream was doing and she wanted to be the one killing the person tied down. In the spirit, she drank the blood and desired for more. She hoped to God it was just a dream, and nothing else.

After service, Mr. Akanni came again with his disturbance, and she warded him off, disgusted at his desperate promise to do anything for her.
'What? Are you that desperate? Common, man. Nothing must happen to me. The way you are acting is sending cold down my spine'.
He backed down. 'No. Nothing. I only mean to help you'.

She gritted at him and smiled. She would give him something illegal and impossible to do.
'So, my mother's landlady at Greencity has these lesbians in the house. Evict them'.
He opened his mouth, awestruck. That was definitely an impossible request. He didnt know her mother, her mothers landlady, or even where the house with the gay occupants was. Was he supposed to just go to Greencity, moving from street to street in search of her mothers house?
She smiled at him, and walked away. She had kicked another man in the balls. When Japheth was still under training, how would she stop getting ready for him?
'Where Where is her place?'
She shrugged, not looking back. 'That's your problem, not mine'.
***

After exchanging phone numbers with Stella, and thanking Gladys for being a path to his becoming a changed person, he drove to the hospital. He wasn't one that always went out to parties and places of fun, but since he had been trying to escape being around Alexis, the only way he could get her off his head was to be with the one person that really loved to be with him for the fun of being around him.
Mirabel wasn't on duty that night, but they were heading for a restaurant again. Although her mother wasn't around, she still wouldnt allow him to enter their house. So, when he met her outside, typing furiously into her phone, he had to honk to bring her back to the world.
'Welcome back to the world and my car'.
She looked about in it and sneered at him. He knew she was still shocked by Saturday's discovery. But she had assured him she believed him.
'How's our wife?'
'She is on the way'.
'She's coming?'
'No. I mean I'm yet to have a wife'.
She hissed and hit his hand. 'Fish'.

They went to a restaurant, had a nice time, and were returning to her house, when he saw Aunty Gbemy buying something at an event planning shop. He stopped the car, and jumped down.
'Where to?' Mirabel shouted after him.
He stopped behind Aunty Gbemy, and whispered into her ears, 'that's how my aunt would come to Black Town and not inform me'.
She jumped, frightened. Then, she turned towards him and giggled, holding her chest. 'You this naughty child. Don't you want to grow up for once in your life? How can you frighten me like that?'
He laughed and rushed to hug her, lifting her a bit. 'Aunty Gbemy'.

She giggled and slapped his shoulders repeatedly, 'drop me. Drop me. Japheth. Japheth'.
He dropped her, panting. She was slightly huge. Her plump body had always made him desire to never be as fat as she. Although she was still fit, and better than a woman in his new Church, he still always pondered on why she loved that stature. People around threw them side glances and smiles. Even, Mirabel had dropped out of the car. He turned to see Mirabel as she came towards them just in time as he saw a bright smile smearing her face, showing she was accusing him of something.
'Aunty meet my friend, Mirabel'.
His aunt's face lightened up. 'Oh! The Mirabel. Wow! She is beautiful, more beautiful than you even put it'.

He had never told his aunty about Mirabel. He stopped telling her things like that since he got to Black Town, two years ago. But then he remembered that someone made that statement in one of the animation DVDs he sent to her. She loved animations, so he sent so many from his collections to her as birthday gift in March. She was definitely using a line from the animation 'The Lorax'.
'Mirabel, don't mind Aunty Gbemy. Aunty Playing the Lorax with me?'
Mirabel's eyes brightened. 'The Aunty Gbemy'.
He heaved in disbelief. He had only mention Aunty Gbemy maybe twice in front of Mirabel. So he couldn't fathom the reason she was mimicking his Aunty.
'Yes', he said sarcastically. 'The Aunty Gbemy. The two of you are troublemakers. Mirabel, this is the Aunty I lived with during'
'So she is the one. Youre the woman', Aunty Gbemy exclaimed.
'No, Aunty'.
'No, ma'.
'What do you mean?'
'Aunty, we are just friends'.

'He's my best friend', Mirabel said, and winked at him. 'In fact, he has a girl he is eyeing'.
He raised his hands to heaven, dejectedly. 'I've told you, she is just a girl, a friend. She is not a prospective wife and can never be'.
Aunty Gbemy stared at him as if she was staring into his grave like she did her brother's, his father's. She turned to the woman selling the things to her, and informed her she would return to pick the goods. She dragged Japheth off, and told Mirabel they would be back.

Immediately they got out of Mirabel's earshot, she dropped his hand and snapped her fingers repeatedly in front of his face. He blinked.
'Good. You can see that. What's wrong with you?'
'Nothing. I'm fine'.
'You're not fine. If you're fine, you wake up and smell the wifey in front of you. See her there'.
'Aunty, she is my best friend'.
'Shut up. How will a boy and girl be best friends? Tell me, what's wrong? Is her character bad?'
'Mirabel? No. No'.
Aunty Gbemy scanned his eyes through her glasses, in the dim light.
'Truthfully, she is good'.
'Then what is happening? Why are you two not in a relationship?'
'Aunty'.

Alero3Arubi:
Yes.

who..

Alero3Arubi:
ejuma.net

Do you know their owner

I've written for many.... The ones I choose are mostly on Sunday mornings lol... I've only been disappointed once when the person's job was rejected because of some other writers but he refused to pay me too...

ERF:
Nice update.. Pls ride on...

Thanks boss.. I surely will

Pioneer18:
Divepen1 keep it up, I'm enjoying the story already.

Thanks boss..

nuoladee:
Learn to encourage people. Haba.

Thanks a lot jare ...

nuoladee:
Learn to encourage people. Haba.

Thanks a lot jare ...

ExInferis:
Carl....Fred....Paul
Such 4-letter generic names.
This is another weak attempt at a genre so far no one on NL has gotten right.

Thanks for talking...

marenx:
Chewed pen could work very well. Every where your readers see it they will remember the setting of your story and celebrate you. Using these and many other common words is a key to huge success in writing. No wonder scientists say a common thing is never common.

Example: In 2006, my husband's girl friend gave my husband a fountain pen as a birthday gift and he stored it in memory of her. Now my daughter chewed its bottom and threw it in the lavatory. I was afraid, she must explain why she did so.

Nice.

judette:
Wow...

Thanks

The Ones That Taught Me First Love

I’m starting this throwback series called the #Fortunecity4. After writing my book, A Dread in the Spine, I saw how four friends were really connected and how little things brought back strange memories. I’m hoping to compile a book on the little things that really spur deep things in us. If you like to be a part of this memory thing, just write about the events that happened between three people and you at the same time(you can use anything jare, only pictures or even videos) and use the hashtag #Fortunecity4 and #ADITSmemory ( A Dread In The Spine memory). Let’s share memories and smile or cry or make a call we haven’t made in a long time.

I’ll be posting these stories every Thursday on my website, as well as my social media handles. Mine will be Thursdays, yours do not necessarily have to be that day (but what if it is on Thursday too- how sweet).

By the way, have you downloaded my story, A Dread in The Spine, it’s available at Okadabooks and Smashwords (and its numerous affiliates) You can follow this link:

http://writertain.com/2018/03/01/the-ones-that-taught-me-first-love/

To my story
I met these three at different times, but I started understanding the concept of love from them. Although the lesson didn’t last for long, it was resounding.

We just got to Ikorodu then, 9-9 to be precise. I met Oluwole in church. That day, he was trying to leave the church premise, and his Aunt kept shouting,’ Wole, Wole si bi yii’ i.e. Wole get inside. I was awed by the name, and also by this handsome boy. Before long, Wole and I became friends, and through him I became friend with Eugene.

I think some school terms later, a young round little girl came to our school, and she became a competition for I, Junior, and Ahmed, all of whom I have no contact with till today. Her name was easy to remember, Olawunmi Olaniyi.

Wole loved to play and build castles in the sky with his imaginations, while Eugene was a guy that just didn’t get it the way people wanted, but still loved God even at a tender age. Olawunmi was the girl that made boys in my class stand on their toe academically.

Let me tell you story about a day around them.
I slightly opened my bag to show a classmate a card I bought for a special girl. He was awed and brought it out and began to show the world that I bought love card for Olawunmi. The rancor was too much that she heard about it, and was awed. She told me to bring it.

However, at the close of the day, she returned it with a fear that her parents would see it. At the age of ten, I took the card to a stream and prayed over it that if God wanted her to be my wife, he should let the card float. Owing to the fact the stream wasn’t flowing, or should I say the side of the stream wasn’t flowing, the paper refused to move. So, I shoved it and saw it float away. Well, the prayer didn’t have the two of us love one another or get another chance to declare our love, but the last time we had a little conversation over the net, I wrote a long message full of blunders, telling her how much it was good to have learnt how the heart rejoices on the sight of love.

After that I went home, and headed for Wole’s house, which was a street away. At Wole’s place, I came to understand what a best friend means. We ate together, and I can remember that I learnt my first checkers from him. He won me 19-1, with me winning the last one. I learnt my first steps to boxing from his brothers, and loved books because of his dad, who had a lot of encyclopedia that were calling on to me. Then, when I wrote my first book, his brothers believed it was publishable, and they gave me my first sets of encouragement as a writer.
During our play, we would head to Eugene’s house. He is someone that I learnt a lot from. Eugene, even when angry, always refrained from foul words. At my tender age, I always felt drawn to such humanity that lived in the heart of a young boy, who believed that we don’t need to defame others to feel good.

For Oluwole, I might have not given a story as I might have written like others (the other throwbacks), but I can’t forget the guy, who became my best friend, whose life and family member were really a source of encouragement to my growth.
And how will I forget the girl that made me first learn to love. I remember the days we read and wrote together. The days it was only me, her, and Junior playing together because we could be called upon anytime to represent the school. And I wrote my first story, a story I heard from Uncle Kingsley of Foursquare Gospel Church, Destiny and the seven mountains because of her. I think she loved to read a lot that time.

While Eugene taught me to love God. I remember trying to avoid certain foul words because of him.
These guys taught me love, and are the ones that made my Fortunecity Four Friends for today.

For The Love of the Children
Today on Fortunecity4, I’ll be talking about three other people that made friendship a good memory in my Place of Primary Assignment (P.P.A) even while we’re serving at Osun state. They are Benjamin Victoria(itunes), Victoria (Veeka), Oluwatoni (Proof… Famzing a big rapper).

By the way, have you gotten the book, you can do so at http://writertain.com/a-dread-in-the-spine/
Now, being around these guys made teaching fun. The staffroom being overcrowded with old women, who have spent their lives in the school educating the students, whose parent were mostly negligent of their behavior could only be lightened by the presence of these three.

I’m not sure I’ve mentioned the title of the book, ‘A Dread In The Spine’ (Well, if you’ve not gotten your copy, you’re missing).
ITunes, as everyone knows is my best friend there, probably because we sit together or because we did our clearance together or because we were always competing for the first to get to school. While Toni is also a Uite. I met him when he first came to OBS (Orientation broadcasting Service, Osun) for an interview, and when he was asked to freestyle, and he performed as if he was breathing. Then, Veeka, is whom we referred to our slay mama. The children are always awed by her dressing, and she herself was always ready to go in a grand style. I have learnt so much from being around these ones and I think they are worth being referred to as the typical #Fortunecity4

Let me write a story on a typical day around them.
With the women teachers abusing themselves about their villages and towns or telling one horrendous news about the country and its people- by the way, they are very hardworking- I’ll be in the staffroom battling with my lesson note, constantly glancing at the door.

‘Corper… Big man’, Mrs Ishola, one short, dark motherly teacher, would call from her seat, which was placed opposite ours. I’ll turn to her with her eyes staring intently at me.
‘Ma?’
‘What of Mummy Gold?’ She would ask and point at Itunes’ seat. Normally, she doesn’t wear glasses, but this time you would see one on her face because she was also working, anticipating 8am, first period’s bell.
‘She should be here soon’.

As if she was at the door, waiting for Mrs. Ishola’s question, she would hurry into the staffroom, courteously bending the knees of her small frame fair body, and greeting everyone in the staffroom. They would abandon their discussions, greet her, ask about her welfare and her baby, and return to their works.
She would drop her bag on the seat, and hit my arm. ‘Serious chaid’.

Like a gentleman, I’d take her high five, and continue what I was doing. She too, like the remaining teachers, would soon try to engrossed in the work.
‘Ehen Akin, do you know that my Oga hasn’t returned from that meeting’, she would say, and we would start our discussions that would go like that of gentle people or so. We always like to pretend to be gentle early in the morning.

Suddenly, she would turn to me and tickle me in the ribs. Being sensitive, I would shake, and open my hand. She would laugh and giggle.
‘Oh! God! I didn’t know you were ticklish. God! You’re ticklish. I know Toni is ticklish, but not you’.
Then, we would start arguing, with me telling her how she got that because she caught me by surprise.

At that moment Victoria would enter, probably wearing a very long yellow skirt, and a jean tucked into the skirt. When I say long skirt, it’s not the skirt that would describe a typical person referred to as SU. Her beautiful long skirt is one that has these beautiful pleating at the side that would reveal her gold leg chain, and her white boots. She would greet everyone in English, and they would reply her. Suddenly, most of the women would returned to speaking Yoruba, but instead of abusing one another, they would start talking about Victoria’s golden Gallas hair, and begin to cite examples of things that she had done wrong. One of them would even have the effrontery to come to meet her.

‘You need to set example for this kids?’
Veeka would only laugh and smile at the woman, ‘I’m doing it the best way I can’.
The woman, unrelenting and unsatisfied, would come to her front, gesturing and telling how dressing modestly was the best thing. On a normal sense, the dress was modest. But most of them are not comfortable with the hair. Immediately the woman leaves, the other women would keep talking.
Irritated, Itunes would turn to me, and say without trying to lower her voice,’ but Akin, why do they like doting on her, and why can’t they tell her in English?’

‘That’s one problem language is causing’, I would say.
Within a few minutes, Toni would stroll in just as the bell for the first period would ring. Toni lived at Ogooluwa, which cost him N150 naira per day.
‘Principal’, Toni would hail me as he tries to dust a seat.
‘As in’, Victoria would say, ‘I got to the attendance book, and saw he came to school around 7:10’.
‘Don’t mind Jide, he just like to teach. He is a fish. And tomorrow, I will first him’, Itunes would say.

Then, we would keep working on our lesson notes, sharing jokes from the previous day. Then, we would start laughing at people’s tweet and Savage responses. We have another great person, Eric, but since I’m doing three, I chose the top three.
‘Toni, can you guess what happened today?’ Itunes would say, looking up suddenly.

‘What?’ everyone would say, focused on her.
‘Jide too is ticklish’.
Everyone would laugh, and the topic would change again.
‘Veeka, when is your class?’
‘I don’t have a class today’.
‘And you wasted a hundred naira to this place from estate. You’re trying’.
‘I have to do some works with the children’.
‘What about you, Toni?’

‘No class. I want to do some something with my students’.
I knew Itunes only came around to make notes. She is such a teacher that would spend her time reading the notes through and through, correcting every mistake. She is as good as that.
‘You? Itunes’, Veeka would ask.
‘She doesn’t have a class’, I would say.
‘I want to mark the notes of the students’.

Glancing at the bottom of her desk, I would see notes from two classes under her desk. In each classes, there are more than a 100 people. She would go through each note and ensure their spelling were correct. The permanent teachers, weary from working too long, and the fact they are receiving half salary, would try to work harder. Many of their half salaries were more than the pay of each of these guys. Yet, they spend up to one third of their monthly allowance on teaching when the school is not paying them, and not providing accommodation. Instead, they’ve demanded punctuality and dedication from them. These guys inspired me. They are always after the future, these children.

Most times during tests, we have to water down the level of our tests to meet the standard of what the children in the class of the N-Power and permanent staffs are teaching. I don’t wish to berate these sets, I just want to show how effective these guys are.
These guys are inspiration to me. The thought of them wake me daily, and make me get ready to expend my money on the transportation to school, close to four thousand naira four hundred, spent per month. They come around for the love of the students, while I go there daily because I teach the usage of English Language, and it is a daily class. I go because it is my duty. They come out because they love the children. And that’s why I am writing to you and about you guys, you’re have made me a better teacher, and made me love teaching.

Oh! Veeka and Eric passed out of the scheme and had been replaced by Azeezat, who is a photo freak like Veeka. Interestingly, she is also spending almost the same amount as Veeka. I remember the time Eric and Veeka would leave school, they assumed the students wouldn’t miss them. And it was surprising when the students came with gifts to wish them farewell.
God bless you my #Fortunecity4

5 Error 404

Joana, depressed after the session of prayer, and encounter with Nosa, trudged home. She felt she needed to preach the gospel before she got to her room. However, she had to change her mind when she remembered a previous ordeal.
Her house was referred to as Fish estate. Although her house wasn't located in an estate, the houses in the compound looked like an estate. The compound was very large. There were four flats, beautifully painted and properly maintained, within it. Also, it had a story-building with thirteen rooms. She inherited the house from her grandmother, who sold fish when she was alive.

The ordeal rang in her mind as she climbed the stairs. She remembered the day because that was the first time she had a share of heavenly visitation. It was the fourth of January. That day, Joana headed for the room of the two ladies in her house. They were known to dress awkwardly, and might end up in hell and also take a lot of people along with them. So, she made a duty to preach to them. That day also, the night had covered the house. More so, fear still tugged her heart, and the coldness of the month made her shiver from within.

When she got to the door, she whispered their names and wanted to knock when she heard the strangest of thing. Someone was moaning in the room. She would have probably overlooked the moaning if she hadn't done it before. One of the ungodly ladies was with a man in the room. She hissed and walked towards her room, but decided to break the defiling of her compound by making sure she preached the gospel.

So, she returned fearfully. She wasn't sure she was doing the right thing. She was yet to see where Jesus did that type of thing in the bible. Logically, she was trespassing but she couldn't let them go to hell. Suddenly, she heard something vibrating. Her mind went immediately to Victoria, her prostitute-friend, who later gave her life to Christ and made her a Christian. Victoria used vibrator a lot. The moaning from within the room was definitely moaning from someone using such. She decided it was time to stop the ungodliness in her house. She knocked harder. The door opened with her first push. And lying on top of each other weren't a man and a woman or a woman with a vibrator, but a woman on a woman, sweating profusely. Joana screamed.

The two of them jumped off the bed. The two ladies, Claudia and Tracey, were rattled. Even Joana was too perplexed. She ran out, pulled the door and shouted again. Even if the world didn't come around to listen to her cry, they would see the result of her anger. She was angry on God's behalf. There was no way she would allow such thing as this to go undiscussed or unresolved. Her home had turned to pseudo-Sodom and Gomorrah.

'Ah! My house that should be referred to as a place of worship had become the habitation of the vilest of things. God forbid', she screamed outside the room. 'Come out you fools'.
From within the house, Claudia was shouting repeatedly, while Tracey called after her as if she was pleading with her. But Claudia was the stubborn one. She had always wanted the innocent Tracey to be the only one in the house. She should have followed what she felt at that moment.

'You people would pack your load and your sodomization out of this sacred house', she yelled and bounced about like a big balloon ball. She was so sure that the Lord purposely sent her to their room because he wanted her to discover the secret that lurked in that their room. Tracey was an unusually dark, tall lady. She had a knack for plaiting her hair, and that made her face shine in a very pretty way. Her face alone was what many in Joana's former line of business referred the face of the perfect beauty. Men died for her type of body because she was full in the right places. Even if she wanted to fornicate she shouldn't have dabbled with the addictive lesbianism.

'Shut your foul mouth, you this rubbish can', Claudia shouted as she rushed out. She came out as if she was prepared to make Joana as slim and short as she with enough beatings. Even if she wouldn't be involved in any physical fight with them, she would express her mind to them, and ensure that they leave her house with immediate alacrity. She would ensure that they run like men whose wives suddenly appear in a hotel to confront them for their adulterous way of life.

'I won't curse you, I won't pray for you but my mouth wouldn't stop talking. You people are nuisances'.
By this time, her neighbor's daughters, who might have come out of their room because of her noise began to try their best to be around them probably to make a jest of her. They didn't really like her, and she too didn't like them. The only people she loved from their fatherless family was their mother and elder sister, Gladys, who were serious Christians, and were worth emulating.

Yet, she couldn't focus on them as she and Claudia kept ranting at one another. In the next few minutes, Mummy Gladys was out and was trying to pull her away.
'Madam Joana, blessed are the peacemakers'.
'That's your job. Mine is to purge this house of the filthiness that's creeping into it'.
Luckily, Gladys was in the house. Most people in the house, even her, always craved the type of blessings and behavior.
'You two. In my house? That is Sodom… You are sodomites'.

Gladys' mother tried to tear the two of them apart. Tracey pulled Claudia, but she brushed her aside as if she had taken a drug that expanded her muscles, urging her to fight.
'What does this woman think she is? A sanctimonious... Is she Jesus? Even Jesus was a good person. I will show you pepper and fire. And to be clear, I am the fire and the pepper. Do you think we don't know your history? We've heard how you were once a prostitute'.

Joana felt hurt as she saw Gladys sympathizing with the ladies. She had seen hell and knew that people like them would surely end up in the lake of fire, and she didn't want Gladys to be a part of them. She, therefore, wielded the last weapon in her armory.
Joana jumped and shouted,' thank you. But now I'm saved. See the two of them, Lesbians. And I know who taught who. You this short tiny devil. The Lord forbids you'.

Gladys gave a Tracey a cold glare that made her Joana's heart dance within her. Now, she would have a reason to make the ladies come to the realization of seeing it. Gladys returned to their room, probably disgusted.
Joana, still infuriated, allowed Gladys' mother drag her away. She had to stop fighting when she was very sure she had gotten to Gladys. With the way Gladys now felt about them, one of them would begin to have a changed mind and would probably change for the better.

As she inserted her keys into the new lock, she was very sure the fight was having its effect in their life. She entered the kitchen to get her food.
For hours, after she finished washing the empty plate, she watched the numerous videos of those that had gone to hell. Yet, she was restless. Her eyes were heavy from a desire to sleep, but she took a bottle of sleeping pills and popped one. She had prayed along with the various videos of the testimonies of those ladies that went to heaven, but she wasn't satisfied. She would do whatever it took to make heaven. She had given all her money to the church and had stopped wearing hair attachment, rubber attachment, wool attachment; none of her clothes showed any part of her body. The only visible part of her clothes were her head and hands, then her feet.

As she kept watching the videos, someone gave an interpretation that ignited the information Nosa wanted from her. She jumped with ecstasy and aimed for a paper and a pen.
'Hallelujah! I got the name', she shouted. 'Oh, I got the name'.
She wrote it down and slumped back into her seat. If she called Nosa that moment, it might be a wrong time as the midnight had just passed. She would wait until the next day.
'I got it', she shouted again as she concentrated on the video.

As soon as the midnight passed the thirtieth minutes, someone began to fiddle with the door. She was startled. That was surprising. She tiptoed nearer to the door and strained her ear to be sure she was hearing well. The person was definitely trying to break in. She should raise alarm, but her body could do only one thing that was programmed in it: what she had prepared for a day like that.
Gradually, she increased the volume of the loud television until she was sure one of the tenants would lament about how she had started her display of craziness, but she wasn't concerned. There was no way she would allow backbiting that was prevalent with harlots, and regular unchristian-like women affect her or stop her from saving her life.

She rushed into the kitchen and unlocked it. Luckily, she always greased her door. So, it would definitely not make any unnecessary noise. The back of her kitchen led to a bush, which she knew like the back of her hand. Her grandmother had planted a lot of crops there and always dragged her along. She hid there and was very sure nothing would bring her out till the intruder left.
Although she didn't expect her fear to be true, she couldn't risk her life. The intruder might truly not be after her for her dreams. The intruder might only be a thief but might end up killing her. She couldn't allow herself to play to that risk. Heaven helped those who helped themselves. When she was sure she was safe in the bush, she dialed Nosa's number.

***
Nosa laid beside his three-month-pregnant mistress, widely awake as he wondered why women could be so irritating, irrational, and irresponsible.
'Nosa. Baby...Did you hear what I said?' Shayla said and cuddled him.

'I heard, and seriously I think that's off the mark. You're losing your mind off the target set for you'.
'Wow. That's pure. Isn't it? Am I just another puppet? Or, yes, I'm your mistress, whom you can stress on the bed, but can forget at any moment'.
'Seriously, what're you saying?'
'I'm saying it was high time you made me your wife like you promised the other time'.
'But this isn't our present mission. You're to remain, my mistress, as you called it. We promised it won't go far. The plan was that it wouldn't go this far?'
'Wow! Pure truth from a foul mouth. Can you hear the rubbish that is being spilled from your mouth right now?'
'Seriously. We didn't make plans on it getting this ridiculously far. Have you seen Breaking Bad?'
'How's that my concern?'
'If you've seen it. You would understand that you are behaving like one of the characters, you…’
'I don't want to understand anything'.

'I remember the day we discussed this. We had two bowls of pepper soup, how many bottles of beers? I'm trying to help you seriously remember that particular day…'
'Nosa, you know me. I'll make you sink, you'll rot in the deep and no one will take a look at you, not for any reason'.
She was right. He needed to be gentle with her. Despite being on probation, she still had a lot of influence. Or she could decide to make Chloe aware of the whole situation.
'Whatever it will be, just calm your nerve. I'll find the right solution for you. We will...'
His phone rang and rattled on the table he placed it. It was Joana.

'Joana, I told you to stay calm. Some police officers are coming there', he growled into the phone.
'That's not why I'm calling. They are here already'.
'Then, why?'
'The name I told you I wrote on a piece of paper',
'Yes'.
'Someone took it'.
Nosa sat up. 'How?'
'I don't know'.
'Did they take any other thing’?
'No. They took only the name'.
'That's strange. Why will the person be after the name and nothing else'.
'Am I God? Only God could have known. But he won't even tell me at the moment. He is still angry with me for not telling the world about the visions. I'll…'
'Joana. Joana, do you remember it at this time?'
'No. I wish. I wish. Oh God! Why am I forgetful?'
Nosa felt like slapping her, telling her to keep quiet and think of the possible names. He inhaled and looked about in the room that was blue because of the blue bulb in Shayla's room.

'Calm down. Sleep and wake tomorrow, you'll remember'.
He wished he could go to her place, but he couldn't. He was on a boat with Shayla. There was no way she could allow him to go, not that night, not until the day was bright. She was the only one that could prevent him from working. And now, she was doing that.

6 Poked


Carl was silent throughout their walk through the stampede from the glass box to a big hall labeled 'Conference Room'. Some of the soldiers wearing yellow uniforms opened the door, and stood by the door as if nothing could move them.

The Peacelearners spread across the hall. Despite their naivety, and fear, some of them began to pick their seat at different positions in the hall. The hall was so big that it could contain the population of the present world. It was draped with those banners, which he had considered beautiful at the beginning, but now considered one of the instruments of destruction. The hall was a good example of lovely halls and Coliseums used by the Romans, who believed in public executions and battles. He wished he had a better history about the Romans, the Greeks, the Asians, the previous world. All they gave them in history classes were crumbs of these people. The hall was beautifully adorned with theatrical lamps that danced from one end of the hall to the other. Cool air soaked the hall.
Carl carefully walked with Regina and Fred; the two geeks moved towards the beginning of the hall - prepared to grab anything if the ground opened. They kept rambling and whispering. He would have found it amusing or wouldn't have been concerned about them at all, if they didn't keep asking for his opinion on many things such as what formula could possibly help in the creation of the hall. How was he to know such details, when the only thing he cared about was his health, and ability to be an alpha male?

He glanced at them from time to time, wondering what he was chosen for. Many of the people there were more of geeks. He was nothing and would be of no use to this cause, which he was sure he was beginning to hate. He sat and took the details of the room in. Cool air brushed the part of his body that was opened. He rubbed his hands together. The white girl beside him rubbed her hands also, wheezed, and looked ahead like a statue. He wondered what was running in her mind and hoped to have the opportunity to sit like that for months undisturbed. Then, she sniffed.

'Are you alright?' He asked.
She nodded and sniffed again. Despite not knowing her, he rubbed her arm and smiled assuredly at her beautiful face.
'Calm down. It will be fine. That means crying shouldn't be part of our way here'.
The girl nodded severally as tears streamed down her eyes.
'What will happen to our parents? What will happen to those that were thrown into that horrible hole? What if I don't meet their standards? What will happen to me?'

'You are working yourself up. See, our parents are worried about us already. And we will not do them any good by crying or worrying about to them too. And for that hole, I'm also afraid. But I told myself, if I can make it to this hall without any fear then I can make it through anything they might want to bring'.
'You seems so confident', the girl said coyly as she rubbed away her tears.
He winked. 'I'm pretending to be confident. You should see me when we were running. You would think my tail was on fire. That means all these are for show'.
The girl smiled. 'Me too. Oh God! I thought I wouldn't make it'.

'Same here, as I was beside two geeks. By the way, if that fat guy over there could make it, I see no reason a beautiful, slim girl like you shouldn't make it. That means you're swift and beautiful'.
She smiled. 'I'm Iris'.
'I'm Carl'.
'You're the Carl. There's been rumor about you. We heard one of the Instructors or whoever they are took a liking to you'.
'Don't mind her. She just made me an object of attack', Carl said and pointed to the front. 'That's her. She is...'
'She is what, hot?' Iris said and winked.
Carl gave her fake frown. She laughed.

'Please, let silence be a part of this place', Diana said into a microphone. 'Today, we welcome a new set of Peacekeepers into our world, to our home Etyes. At this point, you will have many questions, but they won't be answered just yet. You would only be given such liberty when you would be made to go through a medical test. And by that time, there won't be room for much questions because you won't have need for any question. Some of you would want to run away. Don't try it. This is home now. However, I must tell you that people chosen to this place are those who got the highest in different exams. Some of you got the highest in their normal exams. While some of you got more than five of the hidden questions in your exams. This test required having the best attitude'.

Carl looked around to see curiosity staining the faces of most of the Peacelearners. But nobody dared mumble any question.
'All right then, proceed to the dining room, where you will meet your handlers. Remember, orderliness'.
Iris glanced at him and he shrugged as they rose. Everyone followed the person near the door she pointed to. Although the hall wasn't like the one they just left, it was massive and was fashioned in a way that one would know that it was a dining table. The only peculiar thing about their tables was that they had glass demarcations. Each of them had side demarcations too.

Carl opened his mouth in awe as he saw the large hall. It was very big and would house a great number of people. Light glowed from the big balls of tiny lights that had many colors. Their light raced from one end of the room to the other. Different chandeliers hung from the roof. The room was divided into six parts by barricades, and each section was labelled with different names. Carl could only see three of them- Peacelearners, Troublefinders and Mouths.
They followed Diana into the room labelled 'Peacelearners'.

Diana spoke into the P.A System, 'Find your names and seats. Oh! The last name first. Search for your last name.' Everyone moved about silently as they searched for their names. The hall was wrapped with in the serenity of a musical. A tiny guy ran into him and steadied himself. The boy shouldn't have been there, especially with blind eyes as his. He mumbled, 'Sorry', and ran off.

Carl stared at him as he stumbled away, and at his own silver cloth. The cloth made them look like a sort of experiment. If Carl was given the chance to pay back at the boy for being so stupid, he would have shown him the back of his head with a suitable slap. With the stature of the boy, he might begin to have a great hatred for lanky people; being around them meant trouble. He brushed dirt off his clothe.
'We look like an experiment in these things', he muttered to Iris as they both searched for their names.

'On the brighter side, we look like divers'.
'Drivers?'
'You heard me', she said and hit his shoulders. 'I'm looking for Cole'.
'Oh! That's cool. Coals are always cool. But when set on fire they can be hot like the beauty in front of me'.
Iris looked at him quizzically. Then, her face brightened as she realized he was playing on the words. She laughed. 'You're funny, cow'.
They searched for a few seconds and found their names beside themselves. The table was as wide as a table tennis board. However, it was very long.

'Hey, Carl. I found my seat', Fred shouted from the opposite side. He smiled at Carl. Everyone looked at Carl, some for too long. Regina was beside him. Carl looked at her quickly. The two seemed to get along easily and seemed not to care about what might happen next, as though they had no fear. Their countenances, unlike that of every other person around them, were different and incomprehensible. Carl smiled. They've given him hope, and he would wallow in that. A little hope was surely good for making the best plan in the world.
'Thank you', Iris said, making him come out of his fear.
'For?'

'For making me laugh. With you, I think I have no fear, as though you're a fear trashcan'.
'You shouldn't be afraid. That means that where fear treads, problem gets attracted to such place'.
Iris nodded. 'How do we get food?'
'I've been wondering too except they want us to eat the table'.
'Oh! Why didn't I think of that', Iris said and smiled. She sniffed again and smiled brighter as she shook her head.
'Have you seen your seat?' Diana asked.
Carl looked about and saw the lanky guy, who ran into him the other time, raising his hand. 'Yes, what's your name?'
The boy replied inaudibly.a
'I can't hear you. You will have to do better'.
'Jonathan Zane', the boy screamed as if he had been stung by a bee. Fear played in his voice.
'With that name, you should know that your name should be at the end of everything'.

The boy throttled off. Carl watched him and smiled warily. He shouldn't be too hard on the boy. He must still be afraid, they all were. But if anyone could make it into the conference room, he was sure they were brave and strong enough to endure anything.
'Now, press the button in front of your table. It will take you through a tutorial of what to eat. But today, you're lucky. Your handlers have been informed of your arrival and they've been waiting for you', Diana said and pointed to the door.

A large number of young people filed into the room. Many of them would be around eighteen to twenty years old, Carl thought, since he was just 17 years old, and many of those he came with were within the same age bracket. He didn't expect anyone to be younger than that. Their uniforms were different- black, grey, white, and blue. These one had been there before them and he hoped to be with one that also had plans on escaping from that place. No matter how much he would have enjoyed the competition of this place, he wouldn't want to end up where the others ended.

'By the way, I'll like to welcome the youngest, and brightest among them. I would have told you her age but most of you might want to tackle her because of that and she might break your heads. She is in her second year. She was last year's best Peacelearner and had even beaten the ranks of a TroubleFinder. She was involved in the operation that brought many of you from Africa to this place', Diana said beaming. 'Fortunately she has been assigned to be the handler of the freshman, who had proven to be a great Peacekeeper. He also got the highest in our aptitude test. What's that his name again? Carl...Carl Cokers.’

Carl's eyes roamed to Fred, who gave him a thumbs-up with excitement glowing on his fat cheeks. Murmuring crept into the midst of the Peacelearners and it took a bit of cough from Diana to send calm into the hall again. Iris winked and flashed him a bright smile. By this time his heart was thumping. What if this handler decided to be a strict follower of rules? Those best students are mostly always upholding the rules of any organization. His handler might give him a tough time, and he hated the fact that his handler might top the list of those he hated, sending Diana to the second place.
'Her name is Sonia Banks. Please, come up here. Let the Peacelearners see you'.
Carl held his breathe as she walked past him. He glanced at Fred, who seemed to have stopped breathing too. His smile froze, and his mouth agape.
***

Richard checked the pad in his hand again as he fiddled with his pen. That was the third day, and he hadn't gotten a confirmation of Joyce's entry into whatever place they were. Such thing pointed to something: they were killing the children. Joyce was right and he had just led to her death. He bit his lower lips. No one must even hear of it. How would any of his superiors hear that he had done something as reckless as that? None of them gave him the go-ahead to do what he did. He knew what their reply would have been, so he didn't even bother to tell them what had happened because they would disprove it; instead, they would have wanted him to send in someone with enough training, which might take years that weren't available.

From what he could say, the kidnapping was for a big purpose. The problem was that no one could see the links between these kidnapping. They claimed they were random and he was angry at them for their shortsightedness. While they were having their regular secret meeting, some of them claimed that not only students from college were disappearing and that if they were really focused on children, they wouldn't have gone to the extent of kidnapping other people. He claimed that wasn't their Mode of Operation. They were meticulously picking college students from each country. They were being taken for a reason. But the others disproved his theory, saying that blood stains were found on some of the place of disappearance. Moreover, three people were taken out of Nigerian that year. How would he link those together?
Richard wore his glasses and pressed a button on the side. They resorted to using that method for communication after the world government began to tap their messages and calls etc.
'Get me the director', Richard said to the computer.
'The director has refused to see you until you start raking in money by finding missing people for the firm'.
Richard was perplexed. He had never known the director to treat him in such manner.
'Tell him I need his authorization for something'.
'I'm sorry Agent Richard', the computer said. 'I'll have to take you off the system unless you will like to talk to someone else in the organization'.

Richard stood from his seat as he made his conclusion. They needed to use a clog-effect. They would catch one of the kidnappers, then they would surely interrogate him till he gave them the necessary answer. The problem now was that they don't know who these kidnappers were, and what they wanted, and how to catch any of them. He picked his phone and called Tina, the only lady that believed him.
'Thin, I need to talk to the director'.
'You know what you have to do', she said coyly. He removed the phone and stared at it.
'C'mon. Give me something else. Another favor. I'll repay you'.

'That's what you've always promised. I need this favor. If you're ready, meet me at my place'.
Richard stared at the door. What does he have to lose? He was in a make-believe marriage. The law of the world was that everyone must be married and must bear children. But since he wasn't ready to have such lifestyle, he married a woman who didn't really believe in such too. They have lived happily after. And he wouldn't break his celibacy just yet. He dropped the glasses on the table, wore a polo shirt, picked his small car key and got out of the room.
***
There are some things that shouldn't be done or tried if you haven't done your calculations well. An example of that was what Joyce was about to do. She placed her feet down and someone screamed, 'who is that?'
She jumped and hit someone behind her. This person screamed. The whole place was so dark that even the eyes couldn't adjust to it.
'It's okay', Joyce shouted as she ran into someone else.

Someone else was shouting for calm as people began to mumble and fidget. The lady kept shouting for calm until everyone kept quiet. The lady's voice was strong and authoritative like someone that used to be Senior girl” in her school. Joyce stood her ground. What could she have done better? When she saw the wall, she should have run as if her mind depended on it. And yes, she did. But, she was just too late.
'Is anyone near a wall?' The lady shouted. Nobody answered. 'Are you telling me this place is an open space? Someone must be near something'.
'If it's of any of help, I am holding a sort of rail', a male voice shouted.
'That's good. I think since we are not dead they must have a reason for keeping us. So we need to be calm about what is coming', the lady said.
'But I didn't ask for this', a lady shouted.
'Yes...' Another affirmed.
'They brought us against our will. It should have been voluntary. At least, they would have gotten people dedicated to whatever training they were giving here'.


'Shut up your mouths, you rats, and new comers. You're disturbing us', someone shouted. 'If you need advice on how to endure here, you better come near. No one can ever leave this place, but I can tell you how to survive'.
'If we find our way around this thing, we can find a way out, at least to a place out of the dark', the first girl shouted.
'You will only waste your lives if you believe her. We've been here for how long? You'll all suffer, if you don't come near', the opposing voice said.
'I prefer to die, waiting in the dark than try something that is not real', someone else shouted.
'You're wise. If you don't want to die the same way many have died, stay here. We've been here for long, but it was better than anything you've ever known. It opens the mind to some philosophical truth that men can't fathom'.
'Whoever spoke last should shut up that nasty mouth. Cowards', the girl with the authoritative voice said. 'Now, I am near the rail. Anyone that isn't ready to die down here should follow me by signifying with a loud noise'.

'I', Joyce shouted before she could stop herself. She preferred to die than remain in the darkness. They've been there for long expecting redemption, but it wasn't coming. They had to find it themselves or die trying. She wanted to activate the tracker immediately they got down, but she knew how wise she was for not pressing it. If she died someone else would take the glory. She was the one that made the discovery, and she would be the one to get it. All she needed was to work with the right people and she would get all the access she need.

'Come towards the rail', the lady said,' towards my voice'.
'I', a male voice came also in reply, and about three other people joined the cause.
Joyce heaved as she hoped she was doing the right thing. A good PI should have a hunger for danger. And that was the reason she agreed to do this in the first place. If not, she would have kept running till someone found out about those kidnapping. She was good at running and would have done anything to avoid them.

People complained and yelped as she tried to find her way to the rail, but she was undeterred. The darkness was comparable to blindness.
'Any other person? The lady shouted near her. 'And if you are not for us, move aside.’
'Where should we move to?' A frail male voice asked.
'You ask my hand when it starts moving. I will count to fifty. Anyone coming should do so and anyone not with us should move away'.
'Why?' Asked the guy with the frail voice again.
'Because I build hope in the heart of those that have fear and I would not allow anyone take that hope from them'.

'I'm here', Joyce said. The lady seemed rattled.
'Oh! Let me start my counting'.
Joyce weighed her option as the lady counted the numbers, slowly and loudly. She wouldn't make any impact by staying back in that place.
'Right now, we want to see how we can get out of this stupid thing', the lady said after she had made sure they were alone. 'I plan to go first'.
'Don't you think we should wait for them', someone asked.
The lady was quiet for some time.
'Why are you here in the first place?' Joyce asked.
'That's the spirit', the lady said.
Joyce beamed. Yet, she wouldn't revel in the little achievement. They still had to leave the place.

Books: Our own Babies

Today on my #Fortunecity4, I will talk on people that I got connected to because of our love for Books. #Fortunecity4 is a story inspired by my story (A Dread in The Spine #ADITS). Who are your Fortunecity4?

I might not have much to say because we really began to break the ice between us in the tail end of December, but I can’t go without talking about Glory Anna Oshafi, Debbie Oyegue, Keren Adelaja.


Glory Anna Oshafi, we were course mates in UI but became friends this NYSC years. We started by wrecking havocs together online, giving savage replies, and having the same view to the same joke. Our ice began to break when we both loved Percy Jackson, and wanted to show how much of it we’ve read. Maybe we both had a reason to be friends, but didn’t follow it through. I remember how she and someone won the spelling bees for my department, while I and Olamide, a departmental mate, won the quiz competition for the department (all those excos sef refused to give me my certificate for winning). But ever since, we’ve always been drawn together by books- especially mine. She blogs about books at Reelyree.. If you want to encounter a voracious reader, who has read the oddest of book, meet her. And I love books. I love readers. That’s why having our own bookstores like Okadabooks, Buboox, Flipng and our various bookstores.

Also, Keren (Evajael), We were both excited to talk to each other the first time we had the opportunity. She because the moderator, Divepen, wanted to chat with her. Me because the lady whose story threads got close to, if not more than, 100 pages on Nairaland on just one story. One page has 32 comments. For her to have such level of committed followers was just too sweet.

She also became my friend and had remain so through books. She was gushing over my book, Grabbing The Hot Gate, and I feel she is an inspiration. She just got admission into the University; yet, she has a great command of the use of English language. She inspires me to know that I’m getting older per time and can’t just relent.
Debbie Oyegue, Debbietiyan also became a friend with me after saying she loved to criticize my book, Purified Tomorrow. That book, I felt it didn’t get enough details, so when she resonated my thoughts, I knew this is the person I want as a friend. And since then, I have always wanted to discuss plots with her. She is always excited whenever her story makes FrontPage on Nairaland, and would go to the extent of sending me an appreciation letter as if I did it. Whereas, my job is to recommend to the Admin, Mynd44. But meeting you in a short while had exposed me to the fact that I need to learn more. I must also commend your entries into the story ‘Writertain Chronicle: ‘Few and Deep’. More so, she can like to have all the books in the world in her house. I’ve seen books I’m dreaming of getting in her hands.
I read her criticism, and I saw some writing jargons that were used in the write world, and I felt this is someone that know her onions. She blogs about books at www.everythingfiction.com


These three have helped in one way or the other to Fortunecity Nigeria. Although we didn’t have the connection of a group, I can’t help but talk about them because they were connected in my books especially ‘Purified Tomorrow- one as an editor, the other as a better reader, the other as a pure reader.
Thanks guys.
Who are your #fortunecity4 ?

http://writertain.com/2018/03/15/books-our-own-baby/

Fazemood:
Good story bro, keep it coming

Thanks boss

Thanks. I think having a knowledge of the use of symbols can really deepen your story any day any time.

But like many people have advised, using the sun to open a novel is not always ideal except it is really needful. Only a veteran can use it without causing a dull reading of his or her books.

To some people, mere things like a chewed pen can deepen their story.

queenitee:
Hmmm, wow

Thanks...

itzUrboykally:
I've been trying to paste my own stories on Nairaland, but I don't know were to.

Go to the board and create a topic....