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61

How do I tell Sandra that her parent belong to a secret cult and have abducted her to eat her flesh, how would I convince her?

How else could I explain her mother’s monopoly of the timing of her journey? How could I explain her unrealistic journey to Lagos, how could I tell her that it was just like mine?

Where are the other people that were in the bus together with us; the screaming woman, the men, others apart from the guardians, where did they all go? Are they dead, or are they in some room as we are? Did a family member also betray them?

I turned and looked at Sandra, she had lost her spark, I felt sorry for making her so emotional, so perplexed, but did I really have a choice?

‘What year did you start attending The Spirit and the Blood Ministry?’
I began

‘Oh about three years from now’ she replied slavishly.

‘That is about the same time I joined as well, I mean my family and I’

‘Well that’s just coincidence’ she shrugged, seeing no big deal.
I wish she understood where I was driving at.

‘Around what time did you leave home for the motor park?’

‘Oh c’mon Dave what kind of question is this? We were on the same night bus. Did I still have to say that I left my house in the evening?’

‘No. Not that really, I meant that…’

‘Wait! I think I now understand your question…’ she interjected ‘but what is the implication of this?’
She immediately loosed her grip from the pillow and let it fall on her laps. Afterwards she interlocked her fingers in a show of surprise; knuckling one finger by each second.

‘Yes I left in the evening but I was supposed to leave in the morning. Actually, I fancied the idea of traveling at night. However, mom insisted that I travel by day. Her reasons were quite explicit; uncle does not like the idea. And that was all.’

‘Your uncle? You mean pastor Salami’ I shot her a sarcastic gaze.

‘Pastor Salami is not my uncle! I don’t like that joke’ she pouted in mild anger.

I wish she knew that I was serious.

‘I am sorry, but you mean your journey was scheduled for morning and you eventually traveled at night…’ I fell back to the neutral.

‘Yes. The night before I was to travel, that is three days back, my mom received a strange call. I heard a familiar male voice speaking over the phone, although I did not hear what he said, or what he was saying, I could still pick the texture of his voice’
.
‘I was eavesdropping at the entrance of the door that led to the children parlor where she was staying.
As I appeared immediately after the call, she flinched with fear. I could read panic all over her face. It was absurd, because she was not the fearful type.

In my surprise, I asked her why she suddenly flinched.

‘I have been having night mares for days and its really freaking me out!’ she said romancing her brow.

‘Nightmares, how?’

‘It’s all about you; I could not stand the emotional distress you have been going through. I always have terrible dreams, that you travel to Lagos and refused to comeback, or that something terrible happens to you, you know I am so into you. It is freaking me that everything scares me, this is not the best time to snick on me’

‘But I did not snick on you’

‘Oh you scared me, you appeared like a ghost’
She lifted her two hands in opposition.

‘I am sorry if I did’
I had quickly apologized.

‘Its okay, just assure me that you will not run away from me’
She spoke with heavy emotions. I was already melting-

‘Oh mom do not let us address this issue again, it is over, and please let it be!’
I raised my voice.

‘Its okay love’

After some seconds-

‘You are no more traveling tomorrow morning; you will travel by night buses’

I jumped up in excitement, but suddenly-
‘Why the sudden change at this time, did uncle change his mind, or did you try to persuade him? If yes, then why?’

‘Oh not really, but uncle just called’

‘But that was not uncle’s voice?’

‘You are right, it was his secretary’

‘You mean Uncle Soji has a secretary and he works this late? Why is it a male and not a female, and why does he work late at night, doesn’t he have a home? Or what is happening here…’

‘Its complicated’ she said bowing her head.

Suddenly-
‘Wait, do you mean you were eavesdropping, did you pick on our conversation?’
She was almost panting

I starred at her with surprise-
‘I did not, why should I, beside the phone was not on speaker so how do you expect me to have heard?’

‘Are you sure, or there is something you are hiding?’

At that moment I wished I had listened to what they were saying, I wondered what was so clandestine.

‘Is there something I was not supposed to hear’ I gave her an intense look.

‘Nothing really, you should not hear moms call’

‘You are acting absurd; I don’t seem to get you this right’

‘It happens at times’
She said; brushing my shoulders as she made for the exit.


‘That was about the time I was alerted about my award ceremony in Kaduna. I mean that was about the time I told my parents about the event’ I said (David)
I suspected my dad for the call. It is very possible that they are close.(Sandra’s mom and my dad)

‘Why are you speaking in grandiose speeches? What are you driving at, it’s freaking me out!’ she yelled

‘Cant you see it?’ I yelled back at her. I really wanted her to see what I was seeing.

‘See the goddamn what?!’

I did not know why it was so heavy for my mouth to utter. What was I trying to point out, a bunch of coincidence that does not necessarily lead to anywhere? It is just hypothesis after all.
If she cannot see it, then I may have to forget it. It’s more than disheartening to hear such tragic news about your parents…

‘David, you are freaking me out, can you please say something?’ she shrieked.

I turned and looked straight into her eyeballs-
‘Cant you see that we have so many similarities. Can’t you see that cupid has thrust his arrow into our hearts? We are so compatible, so for each other. Look deep, take a critical look at our similarities; we blend like milk and chocolate.
Sandra, by each fading second, I come to discover that you are just a shadow of me…’

What the hell am I saying? Bur did it matter? I was keeping her heart away from further damage.

I continued
‘Maybe you may say this is an absurd time to say this, but we cannot guarantee tomorrow, time and chances happen to us all. We are meant to be for each other. Either we make it together or not, either we climb this mountain or this mountain climbs us, either we joy beneath the sun, or joy above the sun in the world beyond, what ever betides, just know that I L-o-v-e Y-o-u’

‘Dave what are you talking about? We were talking about…’

‘Miseries, yes we were talking about miseries, now we are talking about love’
I gave a melting smile.

‘Dave..’ she called out of brokenness and confusion

‘Cassandra, forget it. Forget the complexities, you do not have to think any negative all I was driving at was similarities. I was looking at the compatibility of us. How deep cupid’s arrow pierced from my heart into yours’

‘David, this is emotional confusion, you are not letting me think, I do not know how I feel, I mean the way the words came, the way they are coming, Daa- vid..’

‘I love you, can’t you see that both good and evil has put an invincible ring in our fingers?’

A tear fell from her eyes. I quickly cleaned it for her before it fell to the matress.

‘I love you to, I said that before, but this time it’s deeper’ she said in broken sweetness.

She reached forward and touched my lips. Her finger wandered the length of my lower lip until it began to pout gradually, like two glued papers loosing their tenacity.
It was not the silencing touch. I knew where this was going to lead to, and for sure that is a messy idea.

‘Don’t forget that your weirdo is a pastor…’ I ended with a smile.

I could feel her disappointment.

‘Oh you are weirdly sweet…’ she said in-between tears and laughter.
She dropped her hands to my chest, and then removed it and placed it on her laps.
I jerked a bit.

I felt an inner joy. It was not because I had kept the truth from her, but because I had kept her misery away from her, and transformed her frustration into a deep feeling of love.

‘Let us catch some sleep dear, my eyes are heavy’

‘Me too’ she said, smiling. A tear rolled down her bulging eyes, tickling down to her cheeks until it disappeared into the abyss of her dimple.

We both slept with our sides facing each other.
Our hands interlocked and laid in the space created between us. We both watched our interlocked hands, as if it was not part of us.

I did not know what she thought, but deep down a thought whispered-
‘What if these blended hands transform into a wailing child, wouldn’t it be beautiful?’

I raised my head and looked into her eyes.
‘Yes it would’ I said imagining she read my thoughts.

‘Yes it would’ she replied.

I was surprised but all I did was smile. Probably she was just thinking what I was thinking, or peradventure it is possible for two lovers to hear each other thought.

That was my perfect night, I did not know when the chariot of sleep bagged me to the dream world

….

Next Episode

The earth became milky, and gradually dwindled into color variant.
I tried to move my hands but they were tied… Where is Sandra?
I turned my head and saw darkness struggling with dim blue bulbs.
Is this a party? I asked myself.
My pulse raced as I saw hefty men in black overall, tying red turban… chanting terrible songs.
I wished it were a dream, but behold doom knocks on man’s door, man opens, and get doomed!

tonyxxx: AMAZING... Dats wat ur story is,simply MIND~BLOWING & AMAZING.... Hv been a silent follower & i say more greese to ur elbow aswell as more muses to inspire ur creativity.

thanks a lot Mr. Tony.
i appreciate the fact that u came out of your shell...
that on its own is a liter of grease and a plethora of muses...
kip ff-
the story comes to an end soon.
Thanks.

to others-

expect some TRAGEDY coz this story raps up soon-
the next episode is ready but cant really post it now;
some itches...
expect it 2mao- early hours.
well, its climax and a lil tragedy...
get ready

@ Mynd - thanks Bro, first tym comment, u welcome to my haven-

@ Ade- oya we r watin-
u welcome to my haven as well

@Daniel- my mainest man, thanks-

cont-

Her eyes were watery, but she quickly cleaned it as soon as she noticed.

‘Take it easy dearie’ I comforted.

‘It’s fine. I never wanted to dig it up, but you insisted. I just wanted to be happy. Since then, I went for whatever could make me happy, so I could forget the tragedy.
That was why when I saw you in the bus; I made a concrete relationship with you. Apart from the fact that I found you irresistibly handsome, it was still part of my purpose of pursuing happiness.’


‘Its fine Sandra, I know its hard, really I do not know what to say, but its like I am saying something already, all I want you to get from my weird speech is that I feel what you feel and I am truly sorry that such ugly experiences can happen to such a beautiful girl as you. But sometimes life hands us what we do not bargain for, my lady, I’m truly sorry’
My face was clouded with emotions.

She smiled all through my speech, I was so glad that I somehow I had uplifted her soul.

‘David its fine, thank you, you are weird, but I like you that way, you have just brought my spirit back to life’ she smiled the more.

‘Oh it’s my pleasure dear. Don’t think about it anymore, let us face what we have here, then afterwards we can face what we have outside there.’

‘Who knows maybe it was my fathers plan or even my mothers… maybe she wants to dispose me’ she said almost in a murmur.

There she was thinking towards the right direction, but there was no way I was going to let her go towards that way. The emotional trauma would be too much on her

I reacted as if what she said had struck me so hard.
‘How dare you think towards that direction?’ I scolded her at once, wearing a thick face.

‘Oh do not scold me too soon dear, you know that when frustration clouds a woman’s face, she barely see things the way they are. You may just have to look at things from other angles when the one perceived does not make sense’ she spoke sorrowfully.

‘I know you are emotional, but even at that there are things you must never think of, your parents love you, even if they are not your real parents. They can never do this to you. This is the work of some evil men; do not try that direction it is from the pit of hell, from Hades!’

She sobbed a little, pressing her pillow harder on her bosom.
‘I know that it is preposterous to think towards that direction, but I did not even know what made me to think that way’

‘No problem, I understand. Many things happen when people are emotional’ I comforted.

She nodded. Her eyes were still clouded with tears.

Suddenly it came hard on me that there was no point keeping back the road to the truth, I do not have to tell her, I could just make her figure it out herself. If I do not tell her now, or give her inkling, she would eventually get to know when we get through this.
Just then, I found the right spot to place my tripod stand.

‘Your journey to Lagos was it your idea or your mom’s’

She twisted her finger a little as if searching for how to begin.
‘Actually, I told my mom two days after my birth day; that was on Saturday. I told her that I would love some privacy. There was a lot I needed to figure out my self, and she got the point right away. She said that it was fine, but this was how she had put it-

‘Yeah I have been thinking about that to, and in fact we have been making arrangements for you’

So it was not hundred percent my idea she had been making plans already.

‘We? Who is ‘we?’ I had asked.

‘Oh, colloquialism again catching up with me, I mean myself, just me’ she responded absurdly.

‘Or do you mean dad?’ I had asked, not believing her completely

‘No, just me, have you begun to twist my horn in the thicket of my own colloquialism?’
That was always her silencing words in the face of grammatical blunder.

‘You can continue mom’ I had told her.

‘Actually I would love you to go and stay with your uncle in Lagos, the one that stays at Victoria Island’

‘Uncle Soji you mean?’ I had asked excitedly

She nodded in the affirmative.

‘Actually Soji was not his name, it was the name I had given him because he was social and outgoing. It’s a Yoruba slang meaning social and outgoing.
I was so excited about it.
‘When am I leaving?’

‘Plans are still in place’ she replied.

‘Who are those making the plans?’

‘Those making the plans? Are you throwing my colloquialism at me again?’

‘The way you say it is as if other people are involved, and it’s really sounding awkward’

‘You know it has not been easy on me’ she had tried to excuse herself.

‘If it’s about things not been easy I should be the one nagging’

‘So you mean that I am nagging?’ she frowned narrowing her eyes at me.

‘I am sorry’ I apologized.
However, I knew that it was her own way of deflecting.

After some seconds she continued.
‘I do not know the exact day you will be leaving, but I can assure you that it will be soon. I will just make some contacts with him and some others and then I would fix a date for you’

‘I can’t wait to leave Kaduna!’ I said anxiously

‘I understand’

‘But why are you sending me to uncle Soji, when you could simply send me to my real mother’s place after all you said that she lives at Lagos’

‘Sweet heart I knew your mother then, but we have lost contact. In fact, I do not even know if she is still alive. I did not know why she hated you. She called you an unwanted child. She wanted to kill you but I saw that you were so beautiful aside that you looked somehow like me. Then I was having no child, so I took you. I loved you ever since and you know that I gave you the best a mother could give. Do not forget that I am now your mother. It is me, please forget about her’ she spoke soberly.

‘I know that you have been good to me, I know, but I want to see my mother! I am not saying that I want to pack away and start living with her. You brought me up, trained me and sent me to school. You have done a lot. However, you are only standing in the gap. I want to see my mother; I want to see her face. I may kill her, shout on her, hug her, I may do anything to her, but I want to see her. More than anything, I want to know why she threw me away. You said that I was beautiful, why would she throw a beautiful child away, I need to find out many things from her’

‘Sandra I said that you were unwanted’ she said with a bit of frustration.

‘I have heard that, but I want to see my mother!’ I nagged.

‘I said that I have lost contacts with her years back, why are you trying to make me feel guilty’ she said almost bursting into tears.

‘You should feel guilty, why should you loose contact with my mother? Don’t you know that one day I will get to know and definitely no matter how bad, spoilt or irresponsible she is I would still want to see her, did you not envision it?’

‘Sandra’ she called in-between sobs.

‘Answer my question!’

‘I never wanted to loose you and there was nothing that connected me to your mom again, she was so obnoxious I could not bare her ruthlessness, she was disgusting. I bet you would not like her!’

‘I think you are already loosing me’ I spoke bluntly.

‘Please do not do anything funny, you know that I have loved you, you are mine sweetie, sweetie you are mine, please just try to understand.’ She sobbed the more.

I watched her sober face with pity, and the next thing she collapsed on her kneels begging me, her eyes soaked in tears.
I did not know what to say so I just joined her in sobbing.

We sobbed for sometime. Afterward she stood up and went for the door.
I began to feel bad that she was walking away from me when I needed her most-
‘Is this the best time to walk away?’ I called behind her, my eyes clouded with tears.

.she turned and as her saw, her red eyes my heart burned, but it was not my fault so I did not let it to bother me so long.

‘There was something I forgot to give you; it was part of your birthday present’

‘What birthday present is more important than the talk we are having right now?’ I shot at her angrily.
She looked at me and walked out without saying a word.

Already she had given me a Plasma TV as my birthday gift, which I was yet to install in my room.
Dad had dropped fifty thousand for me; that was the only thing he knew how to give, he never gives attention.

The next moment she came in with a picture in her hand.

‘What picture is that?’ I asked as I flew out from my bed’

‘It’s your moms’ she said

A hurtful tear rolled down my eyes as I saw the young girl of about 21. She was fair and pretty, I did not really look like her. When I had asked why, she said that I looked more like my father, her boyfriend, and that was one of the main reasons why she never liked me. She said that my father was not responsible and had abandoned her, so she in turn abandoned the child, which was I.

If my true father was not responsible, and my fake father was same, then I think I have a luck of bad fathers, it was destiny.

Somehow the picture she had handed me, looked very familiar, but I could not place things together.

I clung the picture to my breast and cried all day. My mom did not go to work. She stayed with me at home. Although she did not stay in my room all day, her presence in the house was comforting.

That picture was so important to me, in fact I kept it in the small traveling bag I traveled with; another strange thing is that I have lost the bag.

‘It’s with volturis- I said (David)
‘I just pray we will recover it that is if it was not abandoned on the road. My remorse again Sandra, I am truly sorry that you had to pass through all these ugly experiences.’

She nodded; she could not utter a word. Her mind was heavy with emotion.
‘So why were you on your way to Lagos?’

‘To see my uncle of course. Although I had the thought of secretly investigating my mother’s existence’

‘You have gone through a lot’ I confessed

‘Yes a lot, but what lays ahead looks worse’

‘I nodded’

She did not know the whole truth and she said that, what of if she does?
By all indications, I suspected her mother were in the same cabal with my parents which are linked to Volturis.

It was hard to take, but I began to understand that Volturis was not just the underground feature made of blocks and expensive tiles, but that there were other structures which were made of flesh and blood lurking in the streets, starting from my parents….’

EPISODE 59 and 60

‘I was raised by a single parent and that person is my mom. However, by this time last week, that is to say, Thursday, everything around me suddenly changed; starting from my dotting mother, down to the lifeless wall of my room…’

‘This time last week sounds soooo familiar…’ I interrupted

‘It should not sound any familiar to you, because it was an epic of evil. Although it was meant to be a good one, because it was my birthday; but things happen and this is just one’

And that was it!
This was too big to be a coincidence-
‘I cannot believe that we are birthday mates!’ I spilled out in joy

‘You’ve got to be kidding me!’ she yelled in awe-excitement.

‘This is lovely Cassandra, so how old are you? Well, without asking I know that I am older’ I ended with a smile.

‘Look at you, what do you mean?’

‘Well I meant that you should just answer the question and prove me right’

‘Well you go first’

There was nothing in my age to hide, I knew that I would be older, no mater what, at least with a year.
‘I am seventeen’ I said proudly.

She burst into billowing laughter.
I felt mildly irritated.
‘Why are you laughing’ I asked in a soft voice, trying to suppress my irritation.

She covered her mouth in a gesture to kill the laughter, after ending with some scoffs, she spoke out-
‘Its funny, really funny… you sound so sure that you are older than me, and here I am older than you by one whole year’
She pushed her first finger UP, demonstrating ONE.

What was the big deal it was just one year!
‘So you mean that you are eighteen?’ I said in jealous tone.

‘Well if you are good with mathematics’ then you should have solved it by now’ she scoffed.

She was feeling her self too much; I must cut down her wings.
‘Well, I caught you, I lied before that I was seventeen, I am actually nineteen’ I said.
It was a big lie, but what do I care.

‘You are nineteen for real?’
She burst into laughter again.
It was embarrassing
‘Why are you laughing, you think I am lying?’ I yelled in guilt.

‘Do you have stunted growth, or it is just how you are?’

‘What do you mean?’ I asked getting more impatient.

‘I mean that all the guys I know that are eighteen or nineteen at most, have handsome beards. But all you have are some cytoplasmic strands, so tiny that I bet that the microscope would have to strain her eyes to see them’

That was a big bomb, but I knew that anger would be unnecessary at the moment, so I jettisoned the feeling.

‘Or you had a clean shave?’ she teased further, raising half of her brow, with a half smile on one-half of her face.

‘Well I suppose that what is happening to me is consequential to my deepest fears of not wanting beards. Unlike my peers who wanted it so badly, mine was different.
Some of my peers applied mentholated spirits to stimulate the growth, among other madness.
But I did not fancy the madness. The idea of shaving and having bombs struggling for survival on my face was out of it; I never liked it I grew up with that notion, and here I am stunted of the growth of beards.’

She chuckled.

‘I thought you would have been angry, well you just passed my test of maturity’

‘You mean that you were testing me?’

‘What does it mater, you passed already’ she pushed me a little.

‘All right, that’s great then, so now you know I am matured right?’

‘Hmmm, yeah, but not completely, you do not have beards yet’ she winked

‘And your breasts are not yet full enough, in fact they are not matured. If they were to be a mango, they would be still be green by now’
Jeez!I did not know when I said that. I almost covered my mouth in shock.

She laughed over it, and that was soothing.
‘Well, I am an endomorph, and you do not expect me to be as busty as a mama Bomboy, or you like girls really busty?’

‘I do not know what I like’ I said, trying to kill the subject.

‘But are mine indeed small?’

‘Can we change the topic please?’ I offered semi-fed-up.
I always brought to the lime light the romantic mood, but on the contrary, I am still the first person to bolt

‘No answer my question before I change it’ she insisted

‘Are you trying to draw my attention to your…’ the word was bigger than my mouth this time.

‘Well it already have your attention’

‘It? As-in? No! What do you mean?’

‘Idiot’ she cursed, grinning.

‘You are spoilt!’ I said almost in laughter.

‘I agree, but you will bet that you are more spoilt because I did not know how your eyes got to my…’

‘Just kill it there, don’t mention it’ I interjected.

‘Better, then do not look for trouble again’

‘Trouble, you mean this kind of trouble?’

‘Em, not really, this kind of trouble is not really a bad idea, or what do you think?’ she winked.

‘Well I’m not sure I’m having this conversation right now, we were talking about your…’

‘Yeah, we did not have the conversation, and that ends it’ she said in a neutral mood.

‘That’s fine’

‘So tell me your age I mean your true age.’ She asked.

‘All right, I was just teasing you, I am seventeen. I am a Christian, and lying is not me- I mean...’

‘Fine, I got it pastor!’ she snapped, closing my lips with the first finger, on her right hand.

‘I am eighteen and I am older’

‘Oh it’s fine, just continue with your story’ I said not wanting to argue any further.



SANDRA

‘That’s okay. But before I continue the story, it is important that I tell you this-‘

When I said that I was raised by a single parent it was actually out of anger, and I say that quite often because it is semi-true.’

I had a dad, but he was not my father. My mom said that she had married him after my father had died. She said that my father had died when I was three years old, sure I could not remember anything then.
However, my question had always been, why would my mother make such a big mistake as to marry such an irresponsible man. I could not call him my father, not even stepfather.

He was a traveler, he hardly stayed at home, and whenever he comes back, he is always flirting with women. In fact, he has another wife in Kaduna where we stayed. The woman has two girls for him. He was also a terrible drunkard, but he does that indoors.

He wasn’t a poor man at all, probably if he was, he would have been a better man. He was the CEO of his own company. He deals in distribution of petroleum and gas. In fact, he has two gas plants in Kaduna, and a filling station.
It could be deduced from that that his wealth was what bought my mother over

He placed my mom on salary; about Five Hundred Thousand Naira per month, but his money could not bribe me. I did not like the way he cheated on my mom and showed her no love.
My mom was a hard working woman she did not let the money-pamper of her husband to spoil her, she still worked as an accountant in a small firm.

I have two younger sisters; stepsisters actually, they are ten and twelve.

Now all those are just backdrops. What really got me upset with my mom was the bitter truth she told me on the eve of my birthday.-
She said that she was not my mother and that my mother had abandoned me ever since I was three. She said that the idiot lives in Lagos.

‘I never wanted to tell you, I took my time to pay the price of bringing you up’ she began.
‘I do not want to loose you, so far as I am concerned I am still your mother. I washed your diapers, I brought you up; I trained you in school… I did everything I could to bring you up, and you can attest to that’ She said soberly.

I was shocked to my bones as she spilled out those emotional words. To me all she was saying was gibberish. I could not believe that she was not my biological mother, I looked like her, although not too much, but the likeness was there. She loved me and I knew that, it was so unbelievable!

I spoke out in-between tears.
‘I look like you; you cannot tell me that I am not your child! At least it was enough to take when you told me on my eight years birthday that the man I had been living with all my life calling ‘daddy’ was not my biological father. Was that not enough? What is this gibberish that you are feeding me with? Please tell me this it is a joke, please!’ I yelled at her.

‘Sandra, I am sorry and you just have to believe me. I told you the first part of the story when you were eight, because I did not know how you would have felt if I had told you everything at once. I waited all these years to tell you the other part. Will you crucify me for telling you the truth? Or have I done wrong by telling you?’

I could not contain it. The family I had been so attached to all my life, all of a sudden turned into a strange place. I could not imagine what kind of idiot gave birth to me. It was such a shame!

After I had cried a little, I begged her to tell me more about my birth and her abduction.

She could not really say anything substantial, she was just crying and all the words that came from her mouth was ‘sorry, I know it is hard, but here is the truth’

I could not live a day in that house conveniently so I begged her to allow me go visit my uncle in Lagos. I needed time to think, and probably ask my uncle about my parent.

That was how I got on the bus, and found my self in this place, you can see that life has poured on me two cups of vinegar.
…………………

SPLENDIDFLOZZY: Weldone.... Getin interestin day by day

Thanks Flozzy--

harrinhurla: Wow!!! Like seriously I'm short of words,I've been on nairaland for some months now but I've never commented on any story,but this one I MUST comment...well done jay,I love this,more greece to your elbow..,next episode pleaseee

I feel honored to have your first comment on my story-
thanks a lot, ur comment is the greace u speak of-

the next episode comes immediately
59 and 60 combined

Thanks-
;-)

EPISODE 58

I starred into the message before me in amazement. Sandra was also looking at the same direction. I knew that she perceived things just the way I did.
Suddenly my hands began to shake as a chicken drenched in the rain, gradually at first until it became pathetically obvious. The IPAD danced on my palms.

This was a product of my inner fear, locked up behind the solid bars of my repression.

I counted it a sign of weakness to allow a girl discover my fears.

I quickly tapped the delete button represented by the image of a refuse bin at the top of the message. Without wasting any further second, I dropped the phone on the tiny space between Sandra and me.

I cracked my fingers to bring them back to life.

Afterwards, I turned and looked at her, making my eyes speak volumes; but her face was so blank of reply, or better said, they looked rather discouraging.

She grabbed her pillow from her left and squeezed it tightly on her bosom with her two hands, clenching it without mercy.
I observed her for a short while; afterwards I did the same.

We were still sitting with backs rested on the neck of the bed, mopping into the secrets hidden in-between thin air.

I broke the silence.
‘Now that the priest has confessed to taking the license, I guess there is hope that he is still on our side…’

‘David, that is been optimistic, however it’s still a terrible self-deceit.’ She began.
‘Did you not read the later end of the message where the priest said on a prayerful note-
‘I pray you will survive’?’ she raised her brow.

Of course, I read it. I was only trying to reduce the tension the message had created. Could she not see it? I questioned in my mind.

She continued.
‘That is no iota of hope; rather it speaks of the evil coming upon us in a sudden. So great, that he has no power to stop it.’

‘It is likely that the empire is already aware of Capon’s death and has ordered no exit or something like that. You cannot tell if Salami is aware of this development or not. For the fact that Scorpion knows about it, then the whole empire does. Moreover, who else would be the prime suspect?’

‘The priest cannot claim it, and neither can he push it on anybody. He may believe that the spirits had pushed you to do it, but who would take that bunch of deceit?
We are the prime suspect and it cannot be anybody else.
Even if scorpion acts suspiciously as he had started in the hallway, it is still no sufficient prove to say that he murdered them.’

‘This is a cult and not a law court where matters are twisted based on canny arguments.
Everything falls back to us, and the next moment they will push down this door, spin our head from our body and crush us for breakfast.’

‘Come to think of it, what is the most polite way of telling someone to his face that ‘you will die’? Could it be more polite than the way the priest had said it? ‘I pray you will survive it’?’

I was surprised at her deep analysis. I knew deep down that that was the bitter and inevitable truth.

She continued.
‘This is a cult where no one would want to act suspiciously, not even the priest. No one is indeed greater than his fellow brother in cultism, that’s why it is cultism. Maybe you do not know- cultism is only a synonym for brotherhood.’

‘So you can see that even if the priest was moved by compassion previously, his compassion can never be greater than his vows to the cult, except he is ready to face the evils that accompanies rebellion. I tell you it is death or worse.
I strongly feel it that the priest feels for us is nothing but pity, and you know that pity cannot stand challenges, pity cannot stand fire, it will melt like wax!’

‘Now back to the message. He told us to sleep so that we could have strength to face what is coming. Can you not see that all that lies in our tomorrow is nothing but evil?!’

She became more passionate.
‘Yet it’s the spirits that pushed you to act foolishly, in as much as I would not like to bank on that, that has become our major problem here. And now the spirits are locked up in the mortuary, impotent of help. They cannot help us, neither can they help themselves.’

My heart beat increased, maybe you know why

She continued.
‘I was thinking that all the priest would have done was just to walk us out of this empire through a secret passage before daybreak and off we go forgetting all what we ever saw, all the slaps we ever received, all the fears our fragile heart ever carried, and all the..’
Her voice broke down with passion.
She tried to control the inner burst of emotions by taking a short pause.
I shook my head, fixing my watery eyes on her, shackled in pity.

‘…But here we are terribly perplexed and distressed in dire complexities’
She shook her head. I did not have to taste her tongue, I knew by instinct that they were very bitter with agony, and so was mine too.

This was the moment I had tried to avoid. I never wanted this feeling, and definitely this water that blurs my vision, aches my heart and causes my nose to run down in streams. I never wanted the further reaction that squeezes my face into tiny drops of sorrowful tears, leaving me aching in groans that cannot be understood by men.
But there I sat fastening my fist together, building my defenses, suppressing my fears.

‘No Sandra, let us look at the other side, let us be optimistic, a miracle can happen no matter what’ I said in a soft tune, trying to balm her heart.

‘Come close’ I called to her, holding her in my arms by her shoulder. She still held her pillow, and it crushed against my bosom.

We stayed in silence, just swallowing back or tears. But that didn’t last for me, things changed, my head began to bang seriously, I began to feel terribly sleepy, I had barely slept all through this miserable night.

My eyes swole up and became unbearably heavy. For the first time in the empire that night, I felt my eyes heavier than my problems.

I did not know how to tell Sandra that I wanted to sleep badly. It was not that I suddenly stopped been afraid, but I felt that taking the opportunity of a bed while I had one was a fine idea. Little did I know about the twist the future would bring-

‘David, just say something, my head is thinking so many things at a goal’ she said, as she pulled out from my embrace.
She sat up again resting her back on the neck of the bed.

I just wanted to tell her it was bedtime. However since she wants a conversation, I felt that it was the best time to ask her about her parents.

‘Please can you tell me about your parents, you evaded it the other time’ I asked carefully.

Her mood suddenly transformed into irritation.
‘My parents? I think you should just forget it!’ she snapped.

I could not hold back my surprise. Her reaction anyway told me that there was something interesting about her family. It would lead me to understand how and why we were abducted.

‘Did they offend you before you traveled, I think if they did you should just forgive them, you know parents could be so annoying at times, but it behooves on us to forgive. You know, that phyla feeling of family love is always there’ I tried to end in a lightened mood.

‘David I said I do not want to talk about my parents!’ she snapped.

The sudden tenor in her voice was frightful. I had never heard her talk so mean.
‘But what could be so bad?’ I asked my self, puzzled.

‘But-’ I tried to press a bit further.

‘David!’ she yelled, her eyes wide open in threat.
‘If you don’t have something to say then forget it; there is no way I am going to tell you anything about my family, Never’

‘But-’ I tried to press further.

‘I think you should just shut up!’ she yelled.

It was a command and I obeyed.

The next moment the loudest sound I heard, was my heart thumping like the shoes of thousands of battalions matching to battle.

I shivered, but it was initial.
I found no reason why she should shout at me, I kept nothing back from her, so why should she keep back anything. I thought she had said that she loved me. well, maybe I forgot to ask her,
‘You love me, but for how long, or how deep?’ I think that would have been most appropriate.

I looked at her with disgust, and turned away immediately.

She was silent for minutes and so was I.
‘I am sorry’ she said after sometime

‘There is no need to be sorry’ I snapped, ready to fight her.

I grabbed my pillow angrily, and backed her, grumbling beneath.
She must be out of her senses!

‘Puh-lease…’ she tried to beg.

‘Your voice is a cacophony of zenith vexation; please you can just like to shut up!’ I barked

‘David but I said I am sorry I was not just in the mood’ she pleaded in nags.
As if that was not enough, she went further to pull my arms to her self.

I ignored her for sometime allowing her to pull and push me. When I saw that she was not giving up, I shouted at her again-

‘Sandra!’

It was more of a threat. I had made up my mind that she was going to pay for shouting at me, more so I really wanted her to tell me about her parents I knew for sure that it had strong attachments to our abduction.

‘This is not fair’ she said in a wailing voice.

‘You weren’t fair and it’s not my fault so please just leave me alone!’

‘You know girls, we could be…’ she tried to say

‘Emotional and irrational at times, yes I know’ I completed ending it with a loud sigh.

She paused.

After some time-
‘All right I know where it pinches, I will tell you about my parent’

This was the reason for my anger. I smiled, I was backing her so there was no way she could see my face, or so I thought.

She gave a wild laughter,
‘I can see your face stretching, oh my God you are smiling!’ she shouted in excitement.

I felt embarrassed, she had caught me red-handed and it was a big shame.
I quickly turned and faced her.
‘Does it look like I am smiling’ I tried to be hard, squeezing my lips to form a frown.

That did not work. Rather she laughed the more; pointing two of her tiny fingers into my face in a tease-

‘I see laughter hiding beneath your fake frown, oh my jeez, I see it, you are smiling! There it is…hohoho’ she jeered.

I could not resist her gleeful tease; it broke down my frown like a virus. My lips stretched out into broad smile until it became a very large grin struggling to expand.

Her white teeth sparkled like the Milky Way in-between two succulent red lips that pushed out her tow puffy cheeks, so fresh and plump as a ripe avocado. On it were two valleys of dimples, so sweetly carved to speed up seduction. Her round shoulders moved forward in giggles… The next moment we were both giggling at our childishness.

‘You are such are naughty boy!’
She pushed a tiny finger on my lips. There was an internal spark.

‘Naughty girl’ I responded doing the same.
We grinned and teased some more.

‘I was raised by a single parent…’ she began

SPLENDIDFLOZZY: Oh my! Cnt bliv i av mised so much.... Anyway it's gud 2 b bk... Getin tough by each update. Hapy sunday jay, hop der wil b an update 2day?

FLOZZY! Bin a while, welcome tho-

happie sunday to, mine is a burst of spontaneous efferescence recaptured in friskies-

for update today- (sad face) u knw wat dat means

lets see what happens later tonite-
THANKS

RAFIC: I think it's high time I commented..... U'r realy good bro. Jst I dnt believe in ghosts. Bt finally its a nice story.

Thank you Rafic.
well its not so ghosty
i also did not believe in ghost until i had...

well that will come up in my next story- CHRONICLES OF THE SPECTRES AND the GHOST DAIRY-

but that will be much later- well ghost are real, but its also fine if u dont believe-

we believe in God and the devil, this personalities are not mortals- well ill stop here 'cause it seems im already preaching a ghost sermon- (LOLLZ)

Thanks

Daniel2802: Its getting more intersting by the day.

YEAH thanks man, you always around to kip me encouraged-

EPISODE 57

I closed the door behind me. My heart gave my chest heavy punches as it expanded and contrasted in active duty. I rested my back on the door bridging it with my palms filed together inches above my buttocks. I tried to calm down. The mysteries thrown at me were just too much, from the fear of survival to the fear of ghost, and then of evil men. Strangeness, magic, irony, betrayal, complexities…

Sandra had flinched when I ran in, but not too far from the door. I could tell that she had been eavesdropping.

She looked directly into my eyes, I looked back at her as well, but all I saw were images of the priest walking away from me into his chambers.
I could not ascertain if he was still for us.

‘What happened?’ she asked as she brought her slender seductive body towards me pinning me to the door.

‘You heard all didn’t you?’ I asked.

‘Yeah I did but-’

‘Look I do not know how the license disappeared I kept them in my back pocket’ I panicked.

‘You need to relax; in fact you should come to bed’

She held my hand and we walked to the bed.
I slept on the edge while she took the other part.
I could not lay flat for worries, so I sat up on the mattress, mopping into thin air.

‘We will get through this, I do not know but somehow.’ She comforted.

‘Yeah I believe’

The next second, her succulent cold palm grabbed my left laps, and gradually like a crawling snail, up and down; she sent high-tension waves of sexual current all through my body. My eyes dimmed immediately. I was so not ready for sexual arousal.
Yet everything was changing so fast, my body was exploding, the male thing was happening so strong, and the next second I knew that I would be groping for love with no mercy!

‘Please stop it that would affect me in so many ways you cannot imagine’ I called out from un-welcomed pleasures.

She stopped the movement but left her hands on my laps, and looked directly into my eyes. Her hands were still performing wonders.

It was not that I was not attracted to her as a matter of fact I was- but-

‘I’m sorry I just need to focus a bit’
I could not look directly into her eyes for guilt sake, so I looked ahead, at the door, starring even at the absent beyond.

She did not say anything for some seconds, and I was getting guiltier.
I turned suddenly to her, wearing a guilty face, making it so obvious.

‘Are you angry, I am sorry but-’ I tried to apologize.

She grinned, rubbed my laps for the last time and removed her hand.
‘No it’s nothing, I understand, you need focus and I am distraction’

I gave a deep breath.
‘Not exactly it’s not like you are disturbing…’

‘NO I understand. We both need to focus, and face our troubles with blue faces’ she interjected.

‘Not exactly, come on you are sounding angry’
I looked her. I was indeed sorry for hurting her, but I expected she would understand.

‘No I am not’

‘I know you are. I am sorry dearie’ I weaved my face into sobriety.

‘Come on, it’s nothing’
‘Are you now refreshed enough to explain what happened in the passage?’ she gave a deep look of concern.

It was then I got the point, her little romance was to bring me back to stability; in her own words ‘to refresh’
In as much as I saw it as a distraction, I guess it served its purpose

‘I love the fact that you are not throwing allegations against me due to my murder allegations’ I began

‘I knew you would not murder anybody, and beside we are a team’

Oh no, she was so wrong. I indeed murdered. However, if we were indeed a team, then there was no point holding anything back. Besides, it was something that I would actually love to discuss with someone.

‘Actually I killed them both, but it was not me, I could simply say that I was possessed by a demon’ I confessed.

‘Jeez!’ she exclaimed, ‘you mean that you…’
She was shocked beyond measure. However, I felt that it was better she hears from me.
I rubbed her laps just like she did me, hopping it would bring her back to stability the way it did me.

I quickly narrated my experience in the mortuary(the parts I did not tell her before)
I knew that she was scared of ghosts, but that was what happened, and that was the only justifiable explanation.
Even if I were to be in the law court, I would call it insanity.

‘David, you indeed want to freak the life out of me by all theses your ghostly stories. How do you expect me to believe that a ghost raised you up, and gave you the ability to punch the life out of a man? Is this some fiction story? Yes it is and I think you are good with fiction, go and write a book’

I explained further, but she instated that she cannot tolerate ghost stories,
‘I do not know if ghosts are real or not, but they freak the life out of me’ she had said.

‘If you can’t tolerate hearing the story, then how would you have been in the face of reality’

‘You mean reality with ghost? That will never happen to me’

‘Pray hard’ I taunted

‘So are you wishing me evil?’

‘No I’m wishing you good, but the path way to good is never good’ I ended with a smile.

‘Hmm that is deep’ she said nodding her head.

‘You’ve gone through a lot, and I think that this murder would bring us into deeper shit’
She sat up and drew her body closer to mine. I could feel fear all over her body.

‘I know, and that was why that short loud man came banging our door.’ I paused and then continued.
I took the license because I felt it would be useful in future, that is if I get a chance of escape, it could be a lead to a destructive plan’

‘And you cannot find it?’

‘Yeah that’s the headache’

‘And you do not think that the priest has supernatural powers?’

‘I do not think that the priest would dare use his powers on me again, not after…’ I said in a whisper should in case the priest has an audio picker transmitting to him from our room.

‘What do you mean?’ she questioned surprised
.
I did not know how to start Solomon’s story—
‘We had an encounter and he thinks I wield spiritual energy’ I coined.

‘What is spiritual energy?’

‘I do not know exactly but I think it’s a natural gift that repels enchantment.’

‘And you have that?’

‘Yeah, that was what he said’



I could not also tell her that I had just gotten serious with my Christian life. But why should I not when in the face of terrible demonic powers hovering around my head like butterflies. Why wouldn’t I, when I found my self in a room full of white witch craft… How could I tell her, she would not believe me? I had tried to kiss her in the bus, I had killed, I had lied, I had done terrible things, no it would be a shame to tell her that I am now a Christian, or I am trying to be one. I knew Gods power is supreme, the kind found in our archaic church, and that was what I needed if I must survive this empire.

We did not say anything for some time.
Meanwhile I went back to rehearsing in thoughts the scenes of the passage.
Who is scorpion actually? Why was he scared of the priest searching his pockets. Looking at it from the respect perspective, I do not find it in any way, demeaning.

At this point, I could not tell where the priest stood, on my side or not. I had taken all his acrimonious words against me in the passage for sarcasm, but the way we had parted, I could no longer tell.

Peradventure he is so interested in Sandra and not me in particular, who would not after all. She was a paragon adam-apple-ish beauty.

Why would he want to help me? I see no reason- except if there is some hidden secrets.

She broke the silence.
‘You are smart and I am proud of you- gosh see the way you were talking in that passage, so bold; so confident.’

She made her voice sound more awe, like a presenter in a prize-giving ceremony.

‘You faced spirits. You talked with them, you killed two muscular men in a snap, mate, you are great!’

I was flabberwhelmed. How could she count the regrettable murder of the two men as one of my exploits?
Girls could be so amazing at times, but this kind is indeed strange.

Hiding my shock, I grinned.
‘Thank you, you to, you are smart’

‘Thank you-I never knew that you were so smart when I met you in the bus. You know the way grasshopper was throwing words at you, and all the melodrama…’

‘You never knew that I was smart yet you wanted to kiss me?’ I said ending with a vague smile.

‘See you’ she punched my arms.
‘I do not mean it that way, beside I was only enchanted by your cuteness’

‘You were then, so what about now?’

‘Would you police me again if I say I love you?’ she gave a winkish smile.

‘No, I would police you, if you say you do not love me’ I ended in a smile.
We were both smiling like two roasted goats.

After some time….
‘I just pray that we would survive this abduction, I mean together’ she said stroking my hair.

‘Amen. I believe in miracles.’
I knew that I should change the aura-

I began-
‘There used to be a pastor in my former church, he always boasts against death. He often says that he is not afraid of death, That if death peradventure come in a sudden, then that would be sudden death, sudden glory.
That’s the way he puts it’

‘When did you become a pastor’ she gave me a teasing look.

‘What is so amazing? I have not said anything that is so pastoral’ I shrugged.

‘No you just changed our love mood into a churchy mood thereby frying my entire libido.’

‘Jeez!’ I yelled in laughter.

‘What church do you attend?’ she proceeded

‘Pastor Salamis church, you?’

‘Same here, we joined two years back, my family and I. we are in the Abuja branch’ she said


………………………………

Seeing that we were from the same church and victimized of the same grieve, something technical popped from my brain.
I had the strong feeling that there was a round table meeting among the volturis before we were brought in, in a fatal abduction. It all look like a plan, they knew us before.

‘ Probably they do this every year, as a festival, where they eat male and female.’ I thought

Pastor Salami had said that he had eaten his children before he compulsorily sent the last abroad. Peradventure he did not tell me the whole truth. Maybe he had used his children as examples for other volturis to eat their children.

It became clear by reasoning, that my father belonged to a cult, VOLTURIS.
Scorpion had made it clear in his drama that volturis is a big modern cult.
I knew that in cultism, members kill to keep the bond, even their loved ones.
No loved one is too big to be offered for the purpose or for the need of the cult.

If there was a round table, then it means that my parents should know her parents.
That was another dimension-

Suddenly, it occurred to me that my father used to have an official meeting every last Friday of the month, and it’s usually over night.
I had questioned what kind of meeting it was, but he had called it planning meeting for the forth coming month. My question had always been ‘why must it be overnight, and on a Friday?.

One fateful Friday my dad came in around 5am, he usually comes back around eight am, but that day he was strangely early. Somehow as his car pulled over, and I woke up.

I had rushed to meet him. But to my surprise, he was surprised to meet me.

‘David you should be asleep by now, how come you are awake?’

‘Yes I was asleep, but as you pulled over I woke up’
‘How was your meeting sir’ I had asked.

‘Oh the planning meeting was so stressful’ he rubbed his brow in a show of exasperation.

‘Let me help you with your bag’ I had offered.

Suddenly as I flashed back, I discovered that the bag he was holding that night was the same type of bag pastor salami had used to envelope the supposed Sandra’s head and another.
Probably there was something about the bag.

My dad flinched with panic as I tried to hold the bag.
‘No, do not touch’ he said in sudden reflex, pushing my hand away from him.
He did not want me to touch it but I did not make much of it then.

‘Why can’t I help you to carry it’ I had asked puzzled.

‘Because what is in there is very fragile, you should not even touch it’

‘What is it sir and beside the way you are holding it does not look fragile’ I argued.

‘You ask too many question, as you can see I am coming in from a very stressful meeting, you should go to your room now, I need to rest.’

‘But that was what I was trying to do, to make you rest, to release your load’

‘David you should go to bed, I’m tired’ he snapped and walked away..
My dad behaves strange sometimes; this was just one of his idiosyncrasies.

Things were becoming clearer by the moment. But I could not still imagine the height of betrayal I got from my parents. The funny thing again is that Sandra is in same shoe, I know her parents had betrayed her, just like me. I would probe into her family.
Our parents were nothing but beasties!

………………………………………….


‘So we are in the same shoes, we are ignoramus volturis’ I teased her.

‘That is scary’ she shrinked, I had already told her about the communion the Mensa Domini.

‘Yeah, very’

‘Come we are schmoozing as if we are sure of tomorrow’
I brought her back to reality. I wanted to bring her to the setting where she could analyze from deep perspectives, before I eventually ask her about her parents. And in the long run tell her about mine as a step to unveiling her similar predicament.

‘So you are not sure of tomorrow?’ she gave an absurd look.
I knew it was sarcastic.

‘Are you?’ I also picked up an absurd face.

‘You are the one with excess spiritual energy, you alone can tell’ she teased.

Suddenly the IPAD the priest had gave Sandra started buzzing from beneath the pillow.
I quickly picked it up from beneath me, because I was relaxing on the pillow.

Sandra came closer.
I opened the phone lock, and to my greatest surprise what was written on the screen was

Message from David.


I could easily guess that it was the priest.
The message read-

I know you have so many questions David,
Especially about the missing license.
I know that if I do not tell you this, there is no way you would be
Able to sleep- and you need to sleep.

When you fainted I was the one who took the license from you
I knew what could happen in the future…its not magical I took it from you in the lab
For now you have to sleep, there is a great task ahead-
I pray you survive it-

Delete immediately- we will see if the gods permit




I looked at Sandra-
What task is he talking about? And what is coming that makes him so powerless that he has to bank on fate for our survival?
This was no message to make me sleep, never!

Daniel2802: That one na unto disappearing and appearing tinz oh.

abi-

xtophera: i would really like to know about d 'ghostship' of solomon o

Solomons ghost had bin threatening me,
i dunno (sad face) i nid to gather some spiritual energy to defeat him
b4* i continue
;-(

OKAY now i would really love analysis, encoragements, comments... a plethora, although its not a basis for the next update-
so dear visible and invisble followers lets get talking-
thanks a lot

EPISODE 56

His right hand searched my left pocket thoroughly. I was surprised at how everything had suddenly boomeranged towards me. It was unlike me to have no defense when I needed it the most.

I knew that I had kept the two licenses in my right back pocket; it was just a matter of seconds before his hand would dig into it.

Now it was my turn to ask my rhetorical question.
‘What level of demon had possessed him?’
(Referring to scorpion)

I looked at the priest’s hairy hand as he removed it from my left pocket, empty.
He flagged his palms before scorpion,
‘You see there is nothing in the first pocket’

‘I see it to, go ahead sir’

Gosh! He spoke with so much assurance, his assurance made me unstable.
I stood queasy, melting into sweat like a cube of sugar in boiling water.

Maybe the priest never imagined I took the license.
‘What would the boy do with it by the way?’
I could imagine him asking himself.

The next few seconds he had thoroughly searched my left, right and left back pocket respectively.
Actually, he had found some one thousand naira notes in my left back pocket. However, scorpion had rebuked that he must continue. He was so sure, he had said-
‘Now it is sure that the ring must be in the other pocket.’

My heart jerked. It had just occurred to me that it was the ring they were looking for; not the license. However, finding the license with me would still be implicating.

At once, I wanted to accuse scorpion for putting the license in my back pocket, and further accuse him of having the ring.

But it was only a thought. My lips glued together. All I could do was let them quiver with no words coming out.

His hands sank gently into my pockets, deeper and deeper until it touched…

My heartbeat increased. My eyes became cloudy. Goose pimples covered my skin in no time. I bowed my head. I did not want my nervousness to be discovered.
I was breathing hard, and at the same time trying to control my shoulder from rising. The inner battle was so strong, that I began to sweat in my pants.



I closed my eyes. Multiple wishes began to cloud my mind. The strongest was-
‘I wish the priest would not just bring this stuff out’
What could I do more than wish?

Unfortunately, my prayers were not answered.

The priest brought out his hand. I could not look at him, I could not imagine him flagging the license in my face and calling me culprit. It was not about him, it was about the stranger.
I was blanketed in shame; I did not expect life to be this cruel.

The priest began-
‘And I have searched the last pocket, I think this is satisfactory’

I was still looking down.
Silence sustained.
I was expecting scorpion to jubilate in joy and blow his trumpet, after all, he had just won his battle. I was disappointed in the priest.

My neck was already as stiff as a rusted bolt; I turned it gently towards the priest.
I could not believe my eyes.

How could he have given scorpion so fast? Or so I thought.
I turned and looked at scorpion. He wore a disappointed face. There was nothing on his hand aside his phone, which he held down in defeat.

I was surprised at the melodrama.
‘Where did the license go? Is this a miracle? Or had God just answered my wish, did the priest change his mind about bringing it out?’
I could not contain the joy that overwhelmed my heart.
‘God I am lucky’ I had said to my self

I turned and faced scorpion, this time I was full of pride.
Starring at him for some time, I spat out-
‘What do you gain from lying; the bible says, say the truth and the truth shall set you free’

He gave a deep breadth and examined me for some time before he replied.
‘I am not a liar, and as a matter of fact, I do not believe you!’

‘I think you doubt the priest, not me’

He chewed his mouth for some time, and then turned to the priest.
‘Please can you permit me to search this boy again?’


I frowned.

‘Is it that you do not believe in me, you think I am a deceiver, or you’re thinking that I am on the side of this small demon?’ the priest said, irritated.

Scorpion wanted to say something however before he could say it the priest stepped in-
‘Go ahead and search him, see things for yourself’

‘Sir but this is not right, is it that he does not trust you?’ I reacted, fear bubbling in my throat like butterflies.

‘It is not about that’ he said firmly.
‘I stand for one thing, the truth and nothing but the truth. He should confirm for himself, that would be fair; I mean, that will be right’

I shrinked but shielded it with a frown.
I tried to stylishly check my back pocket for the license, but before I could-

‘Remove your hands from there you demon, hands up!’ Scorpion attacked, taking hold of my arm.

‘Take it easy now I am not a criminal’ I nagged as I fearfully lifted up my hands.

Why did the priest not stop him for searching, what is he doing?

He started searching from my right side pocket to my left and then my left back pocket before he got to my right back pocket where the stuff was.
‘JESUS’ I muttered beneath my breadth.

His hands went in-

‘If you find anything there then you put it there!’ I yelled.

But there was no use because he did not find anything there.
My body became cold with shock, what is actually happening?

I turned and looked at the priest, but he took his gaze away.
‘I put the thing there, I am sure!’ I argued with my self.

It was hard to put the scene away without answers.

Scorpion scratched his head. I looked at him with disgust.
‘I ask you again what do you gain from lies?’ I shot at him. Deep down I was confused, but I must not show it.

‘You had better shut up!’ he screamed, opening his whole eyes like a vampire.

‘It’s your turn to be searched’ the priest said, ending our prospective fight.

It was like a bomb on scorpion with the way he reacted.
‘You know you would find nothing on me’ he nagged.

‘I do not care I still have to check you any way’

I knew that there was no way the priest would find anything on him. I took the search as a waste of time... not until..

The priest handed me his IPAD and told me to video the scene.
Scorpion was so surprised
‘You mean that you do not trust your fellow volturis? Sir we are of the same cult, in the same cult, living in the same cult, we are brothers, and you cannot do this.’ he nagged.

Already I had started the video.

‘Do unto others what you want them to do unto you’ the priest spoke softly.
I began to sense that something was about to happen.

The priest came closer, but scorpion went backwards in the same distance. It was like a mother trying to catch her stubborn child after a misdeed.
The priest was fed up of the catch-game.
‘Scorpion what are you doing, is this game or something, are you nervous? No, Do not tell me that this true’ the priest shut him a serious look and ended it with a pitiful nod.

‘I am a man priest. You cannot humiliate me before this mere human that does not know what the human body taste like, never had sex, Before this riff raff, ah priest, you cannot do this’

‘But that was our agreement’ the priest said bluntly.

‘But it is not right I never imagined that it would come to this!’

‘But it has come to this already’
The priest came closer to him; I also drew closer, zooming the camera so that the camera would pick his nervous facial expression.

At last he stayed still, but he was still vibrating like a chicken in the cold.
Deep down I knew that there was something he was concealing, but I could not understand what it was.

As the priest dug his hand into scorpion’s right pant pocket, Scorpion flinched backwards.
Priest tried to take it forcefully, but this time it was climax, he pushed the priest’s hand away, and dusted his pant.

‘I cannot do this priest, every volturis have his right, I am sorry’ he said as he walked away digging his hands into his pockets.
I made sure the camera followed him all through the long passage until he stopped at a distant door, which I supposed was his room. Getting to the door, he looked back for some seconds before he eventually disappeared into the room.

I stopped the video.

‘David’ the priest called from behind me

I quickly turned back, and handed him his phone.

‘Nice one he said examining his phone’

‘What is nice’

‘Everything’

‘What is everything?’

‘Everything that had just happened’

‘Yeah’ I said. Not really knowing what to say.

‘Things are getting more tortuous every second’

‘How?’

‘The conclusion is that I do not know if plan A can still work. Maybe I will have to use plan B’

‘What is plan A and what is plan B’ I asked.

He looked at me and started walking away. Probably he was soliloquizing and not necessarily addressing me.

‘Sir’ I called behind him.

He turned.

‘Are you leaving?’ I asked.

‘But you called me back’ he gave a puzzled look.

The last time I had met him I never took him as a savior, I placed him far off and even taunted him. Now the coins have changed, and I do not know how to address him.

I wanted to ask him about Solomon, him saving us and so many other things; but I did not know where to start.
Somehow, I felt that the license would be a great start-

‘Sir what about the license?’

‘What license?’ he asked stunned.

‘I mean for the room’ I tried to twist.

‘What room?’ he asked with a touch of anger
I could not believe my ears.
‘I am sorry’ I apologized in sober confusion.

He turned and walked away.

‘Sir,’ I called after him

‘What?’ he replied with an angrier tone.

‘Are are you really on on on, our s-i-d-e?’ I stammered risking the words.

He examined me for some time-
‘As you can see I am walking away’ he paused and examined me more intent-
‘Lock the door behind you’
He said as he walked away.

I watched him walk down to his chamber.

I dug my hand into my right-back pocket and found nothing.
‘Where did the license go?’


Suddenly, I heard a door creak from the long passage.
Blanketed with fear, I ran into the room, shutting the door behind.

thanks @ Scon-p and Dan i really appreciate you guys

lollz @ damex.

well here is the next episode

EPISODE 55

I peeped again through the pinhole.

The face that starred behind the door was quite strange. I could not decipher his mission, function, or reason for intrusion- all my mind was saying was, BEWARE!
I wish my mind said it loud enough, probably, that would have evaded a facet of evil.

I turned back and signaled Sandra.
‘A strange face’
I formed the words in dumbness carefully curving my lips and biting my last consonant. I did not have to repeat it a second time; she read my lips, perfect.

Getting my words, she snatched the mask from the bed and covered her face. The next second she was the ghost that had made me faint-

Three heavy knocks pounded on the door again. It was as if the knocks landed directly on my blinking heart.

The priest’s command was straight and clear; lock the door behind you!

However, If I let this man wake the whole empire and bring on my head more troubles than I already have, then, I think that would be self-destruction.
I thought

Sandra came and stood beside me. I saw the way her heart rose and fell like the sea tide.

‘Should I open the door?’ I whispered into her ears.

Before I could slur my last word, I heard an aggressive voice from behind the door-
‘David, open this door now, or you would not love the consequences!’

My heartbeat quenched for two seconds.
I could not understand how he knew my name, and how he had so much gut as to order me out. ‘Who is he, what does he want’, were the questions that repeated in my mind.
I tried to listen to the voice again, it did not sound any familiar.

The next moment he was vehemently shaking the door from the knob, ready to pull it down.
Then I knew that it was a do or die affair, but what could be so serious?

‘Where is the priest?’
I whispered into Sandra’s ear. She was already shrinking in fear,

‘He is just a man. He could be asleep, or with the little you have told me, maybe things have really gone sour’

Indeed things went sour.

As I unbolted the door from behind, the stranger impatiently pushed the door open.
Sandra was hiding behind the door.

I stood blocking the entrance. Gradually, I clenched my fist. My palms were already like a leaf beneath the dew.
Face to face with the stranger, I showed no intimidation.

He was a short man. He had a little swelling on his chest, which he would joyfully call muscles. His eyes were blood-shut. His aura was that of haste, he reeked of something terrible.

‘You little demon…’ he roared as he tries to grab my hand. However, I was faster than he was.

‘Are you not afraid to touch a demon?’ a walking voice approached.

Our heads immediately turned towards the direction of the voice. Seeing the priest, my heart gladden with joy.

‘Priest’ the stranger greeted at once bowing his head.
I could feel Sandra smiling at the corner where she was.

‘Little demons can be curtailed’ he said at last, his face was as strong as stone

‘What do you want from him, is it not too early for all this parade’ the priest was still approaching.

‘Sir, I wanted to bring him to you’ he said with disappointment in his voice.
Something told me that he was lying.

‘Why? Was it not I who ordered that they should be here? Everybody wants to now break the constitution of volturis?’

He raised his voice and made it coarse
‘What is this sudden trend of rebellion and confusion? Little wonder grasshopper was killed by Solomon in an attempt to kill pastor Salami. I show no remorse for him, and neither will I show any remorse for you if you dare break the edge!’

The stranger paced inconveniently.
‘Sir I went into the archives and I saw capon and Solomon drained and swimming in their own blood.’

My heart jerked a beat. I thought that the priest had cleaned up the mess. Why did he not?

‘I also discovered that their pockets were searched, in fact the black ring of capon was no longer there. I felt that searching this boy would just confirm the strong fact that he killed those two men’

I later on discovered that the black ring was equivalent to the black box in a plane. Any thing that happens to capon was stored in the black box. Capon is solely the property of the empire. He barely had a secret life.

‘Why didn’t you report to me first?’ the priest snapped.

‘Sir I felt that after I do this I would report to you. I wanted to be sure he actually did it’

‘What gave you the slightest inkling that a small boy as this, can take down capon and Solomon. Are their bones made of water and noodles? Or do you think that this little thing has got extraordinary powers, is he a super man? Come to think of it, can this boy cause you the slightest injury?’

‘Sir, but this boy is about seventeen, he is a young man’

‘And so he can kill you?’

‘Sir but he used a gun’

‘And so what? Wasn’t capon trained as a soldier, what is this thought that comes into your head. Are you drunken, no it’s too early, I guess you had a bad dream, go to bed.’


The stranger rubbed his head for some seconds as if searching for what to say.
I knew that he could not stand the embarrassment he had just bought himself.

‘Sir Are you not grieved by the sudden death of two volturis?’ he said after pacing in confusion.

‘No I am bothered that you are not on your bed. Do not make me sound bossy, you know I do not have time for all you guys idiosyncrasies. Do not shit with me. You should rather mind your chambers, I mean right now!’

That was harsh, and I felt for the stranger.

‘Sir-’ he called out from his surprise.

‘Leave that boy alone, today is the day of sacrifice. I was the one who took the black ring. The murder is an indoor person, a volturis.
I would address the empire this morning, together with pastor Salami. The murderer would face what is greater than death.’
He narrowed his eyes, ‘do not jump the gong boy. Mind your chambers.’

‘Oh I am glad you know about the murder.’
He shot me an offensive look.

The priest turned to me. His eyes burned with fire.
‘And you little demon, sleep now, because hours from now you shall be in hell’
I did not know if that was drama or reality, either ways, it made me shrink.

‘Sir he deserves more than death…’ the stranger protested.

Just then, something intellectual popped out from my mind.
‘How could I have gotten into the mortuary without having the keys, I thought that the mortuary door was always shut’ I said.

Indeed the mortuary door was locked with key when I got there. However, the spirits had opened the door – and then came the saga
‘I could raise something from that.’ I had thought.

The words struck them hard. The stranger looked at me with sheer anger. He began to swell. I could tell that he really hated me.

I did not care. I looked into his blood –shut eyes as I completed my statement.

‘It is quite simple. A volturis led me to the door after he had killed Capon and Solomon. He was so in haste that he could only point at the door before he disappeared.
By the nature of the death, I could tell that there was malice in the scene.
The purpose of him bringing me there was to frame me up as the killer. When I got into the room and I found the dead bodies, my heart burned. I had never seen such a brutal murder before. I was fooled!
However, I did not have to worry long; I knew that it was only an unprofessional move.’

I turned to the priest, looking into his eyes as well.
‘Priest’ I bowed, showing respect.
‘That person is this man.’ I pointed at him
‘He killed Capon and Solomon. He is a murderer! May their souls rest in peace’
I placed my hand on my chest, bowed and then dug out my head, in a show of remorse.
It was all mockery.

I could feel the shock waves in the stranger’s heart.

Beating his imagination I had immediately framed him up and left him dumbfounded. I could not even believe my self.
‘No volturis must be aware that the priest is on our side.’ I said within me.
I knew that for the time been; I have that as my sole responsibility.

The stranger’s mouth fell opened, he tried to say something but he was totally dumbfounded. All I heard were just cracks in his mouth.

I went further in my allegations.
‘Can you see that you are dumbfounded? You think I would never open my mouth to say it. You thought I would be scared of dying? I am not a coward, not even in death’

He stammered for some time afterwards he turned to the priest.
‘You see the way he talks, this boy cannot be trusted. He is a demon, cant you see deceit written all over his face. This boy killed capon and Solomon in cold bold’

‘Address me and not the priest’ I charged at him.
‘If you say I killed capon and the priest then who opened the door to the archives?
Who? Oh do you think I am scared of you?’ I ran my eyes from his head to the ground beneath the feet,

Afterwards I said-
‘I repeat; that was unprofessional’

I knew that the priest could not help his shock. I had created a perfect condition where he could help me and save himself as well, if truly he wants to save.

The stranger ran his eyes from me to the priest in confusion.
He wanted to say a word, when the priest interjected.

‘What the boy said is it true. So this was your entire plan. You had the guts and effrontery to kill capon of all people, scorpion you had the guts?’
The priest was such a good actor.

It was then I knew the strangers name, scorpion.

Scorpion could not take it any longer.
He rushed to me, pushing his face into mine. His mouth smelled badly. I almost threw up.

‘How dare you lie on my head? Are you mad, do you know who you are fucking with?’
He tried to point his short fingers into my face.

I kept a disgusted face, and looked at him with no relevance. Actually he wasn’t.
‘Answer the question!’ I pushed my face into his.

‘Come do you think you can beat me in a fight, what are you feeling like’ then he switched to pidgin ‘ watin you dey feel like sef, I go wound you o’
He tried to push his body into mine to scare me.

I stood with nonchalance.
‘You see what I am saying’ I turned to the priest.

‘If I cannot beat this small man, then is it tall capon and muscular Solomon that I would be able to take down, it is not logical!’ I snapped

‘I believe you’ the priest comforted.

Scorpion turned sharply to the priest as if the priest had suddenly injected him.

‘Priest, did you just say that you believe this little wizard?’
He turned back to me
‘And you you dey call me small man ba? Yo dey madt, abi craze dey chop your brain?’
He dug a little finger into his skull in demonstration.

‘I am sorry I do not understand that kind of English, please can you say it in proper parlance, maybe if you can try to attempt the proper one, I would understand you better’

‘David will you stop that!’ the priest rebuked.
‘What is giving you such guts as to challenge a volturis? The fact that you did not kill Capon and Solomon does not mean that you would not die, so what is all this your boastings?’

‘He is a fool na’ scorpion complemented.

I smilled in a taunting manner.

Then I picked my words gently.
‘Priest, with due respect, you said that I would die, but I am not dead. If I am not dead it means that I am living. If I am living then it concludes that I have emotions. This small man, oh please pardon me, he said that he is big’ I grinned

Scorpion shook his head.
The priest pretended not to hear it.

‘He accuses me of the murder of two gigantic men. But how is that possible? He is only trying to use me to wrought revenge on this empire. He has issues with this empire that you have to dig into. This man is evil and a threat to this empire. He had threatened me not to tell any body. In fact he said that if I do he would kill me.’

‘I do not understand the drama he has brought to my door this early morning. Maybe this was his plan to bring you out of your chambers and frame me up. He knew that I was just a boy and that volturis would execute me in some hours. He also knew that I could not revenge it on him later on in life…’

‘Priest please look into this matter, I am been emotional, see the way I am talking to you, you would perceive that I am a respectful person. I am just like everyman with feelings. You can bear me witness that when ego is trampled, even an ant would scream back to save its life’

Scorpion placed his hands on his head

‘David I understand you’ the priest comforted again.

‘Priest!’ scorpion yelled in a crying voice

The priest came closer to scorpion and placed his hands on his shoulder.

‘Scorpion, you are a volturis and so am I, I would never allow any thing no matter how big or small to stand between us. We are one big family. However, when the truth is not found between us again, then we seize to be brothers. When two brothers do not tell each other the truth, then their brotherhood is fake’
‘I will ask you for the last time, did you kill capon and Solomon?’ he narrowed his eyes.

‘Priest you talk about brotherhood, but you do not rust me as a brother ought. Even if I say that I did not kill them, you would not still believe me believe me’ he spoke with a sorrowful voice.

‘Sir can you see his grammar? He said that even ‘if he says’, meaning he killed them’ I interjected.

‘Noted’ the priest replied.

A tear fell from scorpions eyes.
‘Sir so you also believe that?’

‘He only brought out a suggestion and I said that was noted. Can you defend your statement?’

When the priest saw that scorpion could not come out with any reasonable explanation, he continued.

‘With the little I know about murder, one thing must be evident, there must be malice.’

‘Malice’ his voice cracked.

‘Yes before you kill anybody there must be a grudge’ he explained

‘Sir Do you want to use that against me? You know that I have never really had it in good terms with capon, why do you want to do this to me, abah na, you said that we are volturis, brothers’ he broke down.

‘Now you see why I should believe the boy? You have never had it in good terms with capon. And now he is dead, you should be glad that he is. Nevertheless, you left your room to stand before this brat, accusing him of murder. How come you are the one fighting for capon? You of all people! No I cannot believe you. If not that this boy is smart I would have just taken your allegations hook, line and sinker’

‘Oh my seven stars, what level of demon is operating in this boy, sir cant you see his enchantment?’

‘The last time I checked I was the priest of volturis!’ the priest snapped.

‘Sir’ scorpion sobbed

‘One eye witness is better than ten hear says, you are guilty of murder scorpion’

‘How dare you lie on my head?’ scorpion yelled at me, in-between tears

‘You keep asking that, prove it. If it is not that the truth has clogged your tongue; in so much in so much that lies have been locked up in shame!’
‘Oh you thought you were smart!’

‘You will definitely pay for what you have done’ he said pointing his short finger again at me.

‘I did not say a word I just looked away.
Seconds passed and nobody said anything.
I could see him rubbing his palms together from the corner of my eyes. Fed up he rested with his back on the passage wall, still facing me.

‘Priest how about capons ring, let us search this boy, it must be on him’ he broke the silence.

My heart skipped a beat, already capons two fake licenses were with me. I had kept them for future purpose. My whole body froze.

‘Look at him; he is rubbing his palms together. He is nervous you need to check him now, maybe then you would believe me’ he said pointing at me
I quickly dropped my hands, and frowned at him.

‘Sure, come here David’ the priest ordered

‘Sir I will have to video this scene and show the entire empire, I know that this boy is guilty, he is a demon. This video would prove it, no I cannot allow a small demon to frame me up and doom me, never!’ scorpion roared

‘Go ahead, and I will video your search as well. I need to prove to you that I am not on this demons side, but I stand for the truth. I am not partial’ the priest expressed.

Scorpion brought out his Samsung Galaxy Tap, and covered the scene.

The priest dug his hands into my pocket-
I knew that I was finished…
My body began to shake- here is DOOM!

THANKS
to Damex and Scon P for endorsin-

*.and also to all others who would have...

EPISODE 54

I rested with my back to the mattress, admiring the POP ceiling and the beautiful bulbs that smiled from its face.

In no time, Sandra was done with the lavatory, and so was I. I walked out; anxious to hear her continue her story.

‘And who do you think the man is?’ she asked knowing I was close enough to hear her soft voice.

The question left me standing beside the bed in shock. Who could that person be, who could be so foolish?
I shook my head in the negative

She twisted her hand as her habit was.
‘I do not seem to know his name, but I think the priest said his name is Capon, the administrative head of this empire-’

‘Capon?’ I called with shock.

‘Yeah, what is so surprising?’

I hurriedly sat beside her, looking directly into her eyes like a baby wanting a hug.
‘Did you say that the priest told you that? What relationship do you have with the priest?’
I raised my brow.

‘One step at a time…’ she gave me an eye to finish the line, a Jordon Sparks music- one-step at a time

‘There is no need to rush.’ I completed
‘Yeah I know that, but-’
I spread my two hands before my face in stammer.

‘Back to capon, so what did they do to you, hope they did not rape you afterwards’ I examined her body for signs
‘You know that you are beautiful, by all standards you qualify to be called diva…’

She interjected.
‘Well I was not raped, and thanks for the complements. However, it was terrifying to find my self in a small room, struggling with my eyelids, and shielding my eyes from the bright ray of light that brought into my mind the black thoughts of abduction. It was like the stories, the movies, the folk tales, I had soon become a victim behind closed doors; waiting for the worse to happen.
That alone is a rape of my freedom, which is also as important. At that state, death, rape and rituals were all possibilities.’

As she mentioned ‘small room’, my mind flashed back to the small room in the ICT lab where I had also faced such uncertainties, saw the living ghost of Solomon, and all that- I was eager to hear her say that it was the same room. Actually, there was no reason for the wish.

She continued.
‘As I woke up, the first question I asked my self was,
Where am I?
Next was –
Was I raped?
I hurriedly checked my lower dichotomy, searching with my fingers for anything funny, sticky, or whatever-
Satisfied, I ran my eyes through the room, and asked my self to the hearing of my ears-
What am I here for?’

‘The only question I could answer was the second. I stood up from the small mattress placed on the ground. The room was empty; I mean there were nothing aside the mattress and myself. I did not even know where my traveling bag was’

‘As I stood up pacing in fear, I heard a mild knock. My heart jerked immediately.
I pretended to be asleep again, however as I laid in my feigned slumber, a hand tapped my shoulders three times. However, I increased the gear of my sleep, adding slight snores, to give the impression that I was not just asleep but deeply asleep’

‘The man stopped at first, and although my eyes were still closed I could feel that he was starring at me. The next moment, I felt his hands trailing my cheeks downwards. By the time it got to my neck, and it was still trailing down in tickles, I jerked up in reflex, my heart beating with aggression, as if my chest would push open’

‘As I jerked our face came face to face. I wanted to rebuke him, but by the time, I saw his elderly face and his sparse gray hair, all I did was stammer’

‘I am sorry, he said calmly, I knew you were awake I just did that to…’

‘Yes whatever… I replied with nervousness.’

‘For some seconds I looked into his eyes without saying a word. He was not the person that had injected me in the bush. Somehow, I remembered the scene at that moment. I pushed my index finger to my neck to feel the exact spot. The pain had become so tiny, and I felt like scratching it because it tickled me’

‘What do you want I asked the elderly man, who was about fifty-five years old.’

‘You have been abducted and yet you are asking what I want?’

‘What should have been the right question to ask?’ I threw back at him.

‘He starred at me blankly; I had pinned him to a corner. Nevertheless, there was something with the way he looked at me. It wasn’t of excess libido, but it showed something like pity.’

‘My name is priest, I am your savior take this mask’ he had said almost immediately.

‘He handed me a skin mask having the face of a girl, I was shocked. I could not trust any stranger, not after I had trusted a stranger and got the payment of a syringe stuck into my jugular vein.’

‘After some arguments, he convinced me, and I believed him. Somehow, he sounded real, although he did not still tell me the reason, he promised that he was working something out, and I should do it quickly that he would see me later.
I was surprised at his concern and how much favor he was showed me. More to it was his elderly looks and elderly manner of approach’

‘Why are you doing this to me, I had asked him.’

‘You would understand very soon’ he replied.’

‘After I put on the mask, he did some adjustments and told me to follow him. As I came out of the small room, I met a big living room. He showed me a door out, and told me to go through the door that I would see something impressive. Meanwhile he assured me of keeping an eye on me’

‘I was dazed at the mission, and I urged him to just let me go, if indeed he wanted to save me. I began to doubt him again. The bush scenes were rushing into my mind.’

‘I do not understand, I do not understand! I had nagged-
Why would you not just let me go, let me go please, if indeed you want to help me?’

‘Afterwards, he came close to me and tapped me on my shoulders. His hands were heavy and fatherly.
He made me remember the fiction of my family, although that is by the way.
Then he spoke passionately, I want you to see David, so that you would know that he is still alive.’

‘I did not have time to ask him how he got to know the name David or the person. Or even how he got to know that we had only met in the bus and we were all over ourselves. As he mentioned your name, my heart jumped up with joy, I was very glad that I had not lost you, I was glad that you also made it through the storm.’

‘However, as I was about going through the door, I asked him why I was wearing the mask and whose face the mask is.
He just tapped me gently, pushing me towards the door.’
‘He started’
‘I do not want anybody in volturis to know that you are alive, you would not understand, there are so many deep things about your self that you cannot understand. But know that everybody here is your enemy, know that you are to die soon, but if my plan prevails you would be saved.’

‘But how would David know that I am Sandra. I asked’

‘He does not have to know. All that you need to know for now is that he is alive. He would cope; he is a man. More so, he is with the volturis, the toughest people in volturis and the people you should fear, because they wield evil powers; they are very strong.’

‘Most importantly, is the fact that he fears that you are dead, he had seen your head in a bag, thinking you are dead. That was part of my plan, so you need to wear that mask to protect David and to protect yourself.’

‘There is no time for further questions go now, do not reveal your identity, your name is Amanda, you are a victim like he is, go and make him feel he has a friend in volturis, someone that is into what he is into, I will take over from there. This is necessary for the emotion of David, and I know you love him’

‘I love him, thank you, although it is love at first sight’

‘So long there is love there, the adjectives matter less, hurry and go and see him, you do not have time’

‘I walked through the door. Surprisingly I found a crescent and about five steps leading to the crescent passage, the architecture was strange.
There was a pair of shoe in front of the door, quite a big one.
I did not know what the passage offered, I just believed that I would see you somewhere around.’

‘To my surprise, I met you there, and then you thought I was a vampire, and all that happened, you remember?’ she asked

My heart could not hold it any longer
‘Jesus!’ I yelled within range
‘So you mean that Amanda does not exist, you mean it was you I met in that mysterious passage?’

I could not contain my joy, I spread my two hands on my chest, as if I want to remove my heart to give her, as romantic scenes have it.
A cheerful smile expanded on my face, until my white teeth brightened before her face.
Gradually my teeth also pouted, it was just centimeters between the end of my smile and my tingling ears. My cheeks puffed out like two red apples. My eyes kept brightening with joy, like the rise of the sun. There was something like honey dropped into my mouth, my stomach rumbled for joy.

She held my hand. Her hand was as soft as cotton and foamy alike.
She squeezed them as if she was sucking orange-
‘Do not worry there is more’ her calm voice said soothingly.

It took us a whole minute smiling, and letting all our hidden expressions speak our innermost thoughts.

She continued
‘The legless shoe was surprising to me, and the only reason why I had followed was because of the previous encounter I had with the priest. Although I did not know how the shoe came about, it was the same shoe I saw at the entrance of the door. However, for a shoe to move on its own is and was a puzzle I do not know how to solve.
I was also as scared as you were and that to my teeth. However when I saw that the letter was signed with a name ‘savior, I could easily plus things together’

‘As I followed the shoe, the shoe alighted in front of the door that led out of the passage; I picked up the paper and opened the door.
As I opened the door, I met the priest by the door,’

‘Good job’ he praised

‘Good job?’ I had questioned ‘Did you see me, did you know what I said, did you know if I removed the mask, do you know if I told him that I am Sandra, you do not know any of this, why then should you believe in me? Why should you trust me?’

‘Well, I do not trust you’ he began ‘however, you should know that I am a priest and that I am the eyes of this Empire’

‘Are you saying that to scare me?’ I had asked.

‘Well, you should actually know who I am, and what it is for you to have me on your side’

‘I wanted to continue the conversation, however he told me to keep quiet and said that we do not have time for long discussions. Afterwards he led me through the long passage and brought me to this room. He urged me to close the door behind, and put on the mask until I see you’

‘However he sent a message to a phone he gave me.’

She reached for an I-pad beneath her pillow.
‘That was about fifteen minutes before you came fainting by my door. Here is the message.

Good news Sandra, your lover comes to you pompous and riding with a lion,
However open the door, that he may not knock, leave your mask on.
But by the time he comes to you, and you have shut the door behind him, do
Not grieve him any further, reveal your self to him-
This is the beginning of your adventure, and now the battle gets tougher



‘That is the text, and I must say that I do not understand any thing in the text aside what was clearly stated that you were on your way and I should unbolt the door, but leave the mask unbolted until I have bolted the door with you in this chamber…’

‘I think I understand the text’

‘Really? Please explain’

I took some time to organize my self
‘Let me have the phone’ I offered. She had not given it to me before, she just read it out before my eyes.

I held the phone, and read the text from the beginning to the end.

I began.
‘From your story, I can fix so many puzzles that have bothered me ever since I opened my eyes in this empire.
To be brief, I can ascertain, from your story that the priest has eyes every where and these eyes are not spiritual as you think, but the eyes of the camera, which means that right now he is watching us and listening to what we are saying’

She jerked,
‘How did you know that?’ She asked, panic in her voice

‘Well you do not have to panic. I was in his ICT room, and it is not so much big deal if he is hearing us now, since he is on outside. Even the man that sat beside us was also on our side, but he is dead right now’

I quickly shared how grasshopper died, and the ambiguous words he had said, uptil the last words he said- find your father, Amanda and S-s
By the time I was done, her mouth fell agape.

I guess what was most fascinating to her was Pastor Salami.
She could not believe that such a man she had reverenced as ‘anointed’ could be so filthy.
However, I did not tell her that I had inklings that my parent had alongside brought about my predicament. I did not tell her that pastor Salami had tried to rape me.
I only told her he owned the empire and that he was a cannibal; a little segment of his profanity

‘Now back to the text’ I continued

‘The first line
Good news Sandra, your lover comes to you pompous and riding with a lion,
He could tell that I was pompous because he must have heard my conversations with the pastor, capon and others. I was not yielding, I was wild with them’

‘The ‘lion’ was a metaphor describing the man that was bringing me, he was heartless, and in fact he had said that I should sleep with him. I almost fell for that…’

‘Homo?!’ she exclaimed
‘Are you gay?’

‘God forbid’ I quickly snapped across my head
‘But most of the men here are gay. Probably that was why the man in the bush did not rape you. He is not attracted to girls, and this may shock you, Pastor Salami is also gay’

‘Jesus!’ she screamed. ‘No this is unbelievable’

‘Close your mouth’ I said gently, observing that she had forgotten to close he mouth for shock.
She grinned, and obeyed

‘Well it is not so strange, these are the last days, and we have so many scandals going on, it happens everywhere, gay pastors, covered in priestly garments, hypocrites!’

‘Hmm’ she nodded.

‘So that is the meaning of the first line.’ I continued

‘Every thing there is clear. However, what I would not want to believe is that the adventure had just begun. It may not be so easy for us to get out of this place. If it was not easy before the death of Solomon and Capon then it cannot be easy now. I do not know what is going to happen, but I know its going to brutal for both of us, especially I. It is only God that can save us from this evil’

‘Amen, but how did they die’

I had been hiding that part all this while; however, I saw that holding back anything was not worth it, we both are in it together.

I quickly explained what happened in the mortuary-
The last words she said before she squeezed my hands again were,
‘David, I do not believe in ghosts, please tell me it was a dream’


I had not told her about the dream which was even worse, however, evaluating her weakness, I kept that back.

‘David we are into trouble’

‘Yes we are’

‘But we are in this all together’

We fell into a shoulder hug.

Then she whispered into my ears-
‘If indeed the priest is as powerful as he professed, then he should be able to deliver us’

‘Do not forget that the priest owes this empire his life, and he would not want to loose it, not even for us. He would not want any body to know that he let us free. He had not said that he is quitting cannibalism and his priest hood. All he wants to do for us is a secret escape. But now that things had become so bad, who would he pin things on, how would he handle the death of the administrative head of the empire, how would he with this entire still bring us out’

‘I understand’ she spoke in-between sobs, a tear falling from her eyes.

‘But why does he want to save us,’

‘Who are we to him’ she continued

‘What does he want?’

We pulled from our embrace-
We both looked into our cloudy eyes,

‘It would take a miracle to get us out of here, the volturis is a cult. They would not show mercy if any of their member dies, not even the priest’ I said soberly but profound

I had not told her what happened in the ICT room.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
My heart jumped and hanged on the mouth of my throat.
We both looked into our eyes for some seconds.

‘Maybe it is the priest’ we said together.

I rushed to the door, and peeped through the pinhole to confirm.
As I saw the person my heart shook, it was not the priest-

‘God what is happening?’ I muttered beneath my breadth.
My heart became sour,

Why is it that happy moments do not last?

wow (ehales)
we have come a long way in What Lurks In The Dark
and i am really grateful for your support, words of E and C
-
The story should come to an end this month.
however, it would be unclimaxed if this story does not get to the front page-

on this note I'm solicitin for your endorsement.
thank YOU-

www.nairaland.com/1330912/what-lurks-dark

EPISODE 53

‘Things like what?’ I asked Sandra, my gaze still glued to the skin mask lying on ground before me.
My hands folded into a serious mood on my bosoms. My shoulders rose high in raptness, forming two muscular mountains beside my head, which towered up to my ears.
My legs clung together like two old time lovers- My face slanted with my piercing eyes and thick brow digging into the untold mysteries hidden beneath the face of the mask


She wagged her legs and cracked her fingers. I could perceive that she was not too bothered about the turn of events. She finally spoke after some seconds.
‘I mean the reasons why you should be thankful’
I heard a sugary taste of laughter in her voice.

Suddenly, it was as if an overwhelming lightening flashed through my mind and left me ranting in my sudden darkness. I all of a sudden found no reason to smile. I felt an odd feeling deep down my heart; I guess it owed to the volumes the lifeless mask was uttering.

‘Cant you see, cant you see’ a harsh voice ministered from the inside.
I jerked, pushing my face into hers, I said
‘Look Sandra, I do not understand you, probably you are part of Volturis. How did you get this mask, why were you spared, why do you have a room to your self, why are you not scared, how come you survived…wh- wh-hw-hw-’ I stammered due to volume of words.

Using my buttocks as wheels, I drove my self to the left, creating an obvious distance; my brain was breathing hard, almost pushing my skull open.

‘Volturis? What is volturis?’ she asked amazingly. Her eyes brightened with doubts.

I gave her face a quick scrutiny,
‘You mean you do not know?’ I raised my brows.

‘I have never heard of such name before’

That was hard to take, however her face showed sincerity. It was later on I discovered that girls are very good actors, good with making faces.
Nevertheless, I took her words for truth, in my sheer ignorance!

‘This place is called The Volturis Empire’ I said in a lecturing tone.

‘Wow, I see’ she nodded, trying to digest the words.

‘What does it mean?’

‘Sandra there is nothing in this life as confusing as this mask starring at me from the floor’ I raised my voice a little, trying to kill her question-

However, it seemed futile-

‘I asked what the meaning of the name was…’ she said ignoring the tenor of my voice.

‘S-andra!’ I called passionately, trying to make her see how unsecured I felt without an explanation.

‘What is that face?’ she asked, grinning in a frown.

‘Sandra tell me about the mask, tell me now, or you will make me believe what I do not want to believe’ my eyes were almost closing as I spoke with profound passion.

‘No tell me the meaning of the name and then I would tell you the story behind the mask’

I punched the bed three consecutive times showing frustration, however her mood was same, she just smiled, whispering ‘no way, no way’ as I lingered the more, she turned it into a song, I saw that my nagging was producing no result, helpless, I bent my spine.

‘Vultures, it means vultures’ I blurted out.

‘Wow I see’ she said still smiling, this time her white set of teeth and dimple somewhere on her cheek, made me almost forget all my troubles.

‘Can you go ahead before I loose my insufficient patience?’ I brought my self back to reality.

After some preambles, that I was not interested in, she finally got to the part where I dropped my listening ears.


She began.

‘It all happened like a mystery when I found myself running for cover inside an unknown thick forest. The sound of gunshots, the rapid steps coming behind, and the panic in everybody’s voice, triggered a kind of adrenaline that I could not explain. We were so carried away that we even forgot we had a bond of friendship, everyone had one priority and that was survival. Probably that bolt for survival is what has brought us together again’


‘I ran like a rocket from earth to space, in my uncontrolled speed I dashed my feet against the root of an old knotty tree. It was terrible; I crashed on the grasses ahead. Been too fat, the grasses let me down to the ground. Because it was not a direct crash to the ground, I did not sustain any serious injury’

‘However, before I could get my self together and continue my aimless race, I found a man standing beside me in black overalls. His muscles angrily pushed his clothes out to shape. He was broad, tall and thick. My heart skipped a beat.’

‘Scared to my teeth that my doom had arrived I made an attempt to run, but before I could dream standing up, he grapped my two legs, with his two hands, and would not let me go.
He raised my legs up, and the only thing left on the ground was my grazed jaw, and puffed chest. I was like an inclined plane. I felt my blood rushing to my brain’

‘It was hurting, and I knew that struggling would cause me injury, so I kept calm, with a stream of tears rolling down my eyes’

‘What do you want’ I had asked him in-between sobs, he was not a man of so many words, so he simply said,
‘We want you’. The word struck me hard. For the fear that I would soon be victimized of a brutal group rape, I screamed to my peak. Peradventure you may be close by or that offensive man that sat close to you in the bus. That was my thought.’

I wanted to tell her that grasshopper was already dead and that he was also on our side before he died, but I could not put the words together before she continued.

‘Well its not like you could pull the man down, and as a matter of fact you did not show up’

I felt sober and insulted at the same time. The temptation to brag that I killed capon and Solomon enticed me, however-

‘Sandra, I heard your voice, but it was at the same time my evil befell me’ I decided to take the other angle

She gave me that lovely look, ‘its okay’ she ended


‘As I screamed, the man dropped my legs down with force, as if he was dumping a bag of cement. The pain made me scream.
The next second, I found myself trying to utter words. The man came on me and covered my mouth.
I could still remember his words-
‘Keep your mouth shut, or I will you shorten your life’
My lips were hurting; his fingers sank into my cheeks, with his other hand bridging my breast to the ground beside me.’

‘I nodded repeatedly, trying to tell him that I would not scream again. He removed his hand from my mouth and looked straight into my eyes.
‘Thank you’ I uttered immediately’

‘He did not reply, rather he just kept looking straight into my eyes.
Getting queasy, I pleaded,
‘Please do not rape me, I am a virgin’

‘So what is my business with you been a virgin?’

‘I am sorry, but please do not rape me’ then I was already planning of the evil I would do to him if he dares.

‘I do not rape girls’ he said sounding more irritated.
I wanted to ask him ‘then who do you rape, and why are you starring at me like a dog’ but before I could say anything, he bundled me in his arms like a baby and we dashed into the dark’

‘I was hearing sounds every where; people screaming, running, falling, owls singing doom songs, I heard different sounds as we dashed into the dark.’

‘Where are you taking me?’ I questioned my captor.

‘Somewhere special’ he said, bouncing into the dark.

‘Please just let me go, please release me…’ I cried.
Suddenly, he dropped me to the ground and started starring at me. Already we were far into the bush. However, where we were was a bit cleared, with no trees, but bushes.

Then he began a surprising speech, he said-
‘When I saw you, and looked into your eyes, I saw a girl that does not deserve what was about to befall her. I wanted to rape you, but I saw something in your eyes that pleaded for mercy, and pricked me with condemnation. That was why I carried you in my arms like a child and brought you to this place’

‘So what do you want to do with me here?’ I asked looking stunned.

‘I want to release you’ he said looking back into my eyes.

‘But I still hear gunshots, afar off’

‘Look at that he pointed to a small path in-between the bush, run through that path, I will stand here and ensure that no one runs after you. After about five minutes, you will get to a small village, when you get there find someone you can stay with until daybreak. Then when the sun is out, you can go on with your journey’

‘He dug his hands into his pockets and handed me two mint naira notes.’

‘I collected it with gratitude, amazed at how much favor I had received from him.
‘Thank you sir’ was all I could say to him. I could not believe my fortune, well fortune I thought!’

‘Deep down, I was scared of running into the bush just I get into an unknown village, just to start another wandering for shelter. My plan was to find somewhere convenient in the bush and afterwards come back to the road when everywhere is clear. However, the uncertainty of someone picking me up at the dead of night was almost out of it. In a country like Nigeria, any person standing helpless on the road in the dead of the night could easily be passed off as a witch.’

‘While I yet battled with my thoughts, he hasted me to go immediately
‘Run now before my friends come and get you’ he had said with concern.

‘As I wanted to run, he showed dismay, and said that I was so ungrateful. Dazed I asked him how, and then he told me that I could not even give him a hug before I left that he had saved my life.
I tried to argue that he was the one hurrying me to leave…
Then he said a word that some how broke me, he said
‘Is a hug to much, or maybe I should have just raped you’

‘I thought it was just a hug. Actually to be candid, a hug was not too much for someone who had saved your life. I never knew that evil lurked me in the arms of a stranger.’

‘As I got into his arms for a casual hug, he held me tight, squeezing me like the bell of a cow. Time was ticking and I was still in his embrace. Suddenly, I heard heavy steps approaching, but the stranger would not let me go.’

‘I wanted to push him off and hurry to where he told me to go. But as I was about doing that, his hand came on my buttocks pressing me to himself, the next second he fiddled his fingers all through my back tracing my spine roughly until he reached my neck, I almost groaned in pleasure.
However, before I could gain my self and rebuke his immaturity, I felt a sharp injection directly into my jugular vein; it went in so fast and came out so fast. Before I could even scream, he gave me a dirty slap.

I did not know what the syringe he stabbed me with contained, but as he slapped me I fell to the ground, and became drowsy immediately. I could not utter a word.
The last thing I saw through my blurry sight were some men bringing in dead humans from the bush to where I laid.
‘Fool, who shows pity for you?’ was the last word I heard before I passed out.

…………………..


‘Please I will like use the lavatory give me some time’ she said as she stood up.

I heard her but I was lost in her story. She had to tap me to bring me back to reality.

‘I want to use the lavatory’

‘Why?’ I asked, selfishly wanting to hear her complete story

‘I want to piss’ she said walking away.

It was then I remembered that I was also pressed.

‘After you!’

I picked up the mask from the ground…
So how did this mask come about?
I muttered to my self.

its on page 8

Daniel2802: ****Picks up phone and checks,no update.Disappointed walks out****

i am sorry i had posted it for some time but the post was hidden-

thanks

I stood at the entrance of the door, leaving it ajar. I could not stand the sight of Amanda.
She was lying on the bed, my fearful entry made her jerk, her cloudy eyes starred back at me.

I received a bullet of shock, which sunk into my bones and veins like electric current.
My hands began to shake, gently at first before it became vigorous and uncontrollable. It was as if I was fanning a dry coal. I felt as if my blood drained and gathered in my fingers. My palms became cold like a dead man. Sweat welled down from beneath my jacket hands, tracing my veins down, until it leaked and flooded my palms.

I did not know when my lips became agape, my tongue spread all over my mouth in a sour taste, my eyes shone like a 500-watt bulb.
Already my whole body was shivering. Electric shock regenerated from my heart and spread all across my chest, until it diverged to my two legs. In no time my whole body was shaking, my shoulders were flapping, as if they wanted to clap. It was as if my body was no longer mine, I could no longer feel my self.
It was a great battle trying to bring my body to stability, of which I was defeated.

A pitiful tear rolled down my swollen cheek…
‘A…ma..aa..a.an…da…da…’ the name struggled from my mouth and left my lips separated.

‘Da…vid…’ she called back.

Suddenly everything began to happen very slowly, she dropped her legs from the bed.
My heart beat increased; I began to breathe with my eyes, nose, mouth and ears, my shoulder following the rhythm.

She pulled herself to full height. Her stomach glued to her body. Her waist was like a wine cup. She was slim and beautiful. Her legs twisted as she tried to take a step away from the bed.

She wore a sleeveless pink gown, which was free from her waist downwards and ended just inches beneath her knees. Her legs shone as if she creamed it with olive oil.
She wore a black jacket atop the gown, which she left unbuttoned. Her black curly hair fell behind her.

Her eyes glowed from beneath the thick darkness of her eyelids and eyelashes. I wondered how she could breathe with her small nose, and how my puffy name could manage to squeeze out from her tiny mouth.

She took a step and stopped beside the bed.

The bed was not so far from the door.
It was just a room with a bed, cupboard, television on the wall and a lavatory at another end.

We were lost in the world of each other’s eyes for some seconds.
There was something awkward about this Amanda, she did not look exactly like Amanda her face was a bit different. Well I owed that to the thought that she was a ghost.
However, I was wrong about one thing; she was not a ghost…

‘Amanda you are dead, please just go away, your sight no more thrill me, it shrills me…’
I managed to say after sometime.

Definitely, the priest knows something about the presence of this ghost. Probably it may not even be Amanda but a mere ghost appearing in her form.

She slanted her head to the left in a show of pity. Her mouth fell apart to no words at first; then she gathered her mouth again and spoke.

‘I am not dead… you have to believe me. Close the door behind you, there is something we have to discuss…’

I looked at her and then the door, shifting my gaze from each in confusion.
I looked at her thoroughly again as if searching for a reason on her body to close the door.

‘Close the door…’ she said again.
Suddenly I discovered something on her body that stole my attention.
I closed the door, and rested on it with my back.

I was pointing to her cloth with my two hands. My heart clouded with doubt.
‘Is…is… that… not..the..i..i..’ I managed to say

Her face fell into a broad smile.

‘Why are you smiling’ I asked stunned
‘That- that- cloth you are wearing…’

‘What is wrong with it?’ she bent her head to examine her cloth, as if she did not know what she was wearing before.

‘That is not the cloth Amanda wore, I know that cloth…’
‘Y-you said that you are not Amanda. Why have you decided to taunt me like this?’

‘I am not taunting you’ she said fed up with me. She sat on the edge of the bed, wagging her legs in an I-don’t-care way.

‘That was the cloth Sandra wore, and you are appearing in the form of Amanda’ I spilled out the words at last, my face ending in a sour.

‘I am not Amanda’ - bluntly

I paused and looked at her again.

‘Lock the door behind you; I want to show you something’ it sounded more like a command.

I starred at her for some time and then finally closed the door with my hands behind me, still resting on the door.

‘I am Sandra…’ she said.

I burst into laughter ‘such a joke…’
‘Look I do not have time for ghosts even the priest cannot stand my powers, I am a Christian-’ I bragged.

‘David, when I said you were a man I saw something in you…’

Her sentence had just triggered a flashbulb memory in the bus. I looked at her, more stunned.

She placed her hand on her face, as if trying to squeeze it. What are you doing! I almost shouted at her, as her face wrinkled like an octogenarian woman. She squeezed her shoulders… my heart began to shake. She was changing into something I could not imagine. Her body was wrinkling.. What is happening?
I tried to unlock the door quietly from behind me.

My doubts had been clarified; this is not Sandra. Volturis had planned it all evil for me.

I faced the door, wanting to unbolt it and find my way out before things got worse, however a thought struck me like paralysis ‘where are you going to’ the question was unanswerable. In my dismay, I turned back. She was still struggling with her face…
Suddenly her head divided, and the front part fell to the ground….


I starred at my horror with disbelieve
She was wearing a perfect mask. The mask was the perfect replica of Amanda.
Was this what I had called ghost? However, what I still saw after the mask fell, was another dimension….

‘Sandra’ I called with disbelieves
‘But you are dead… I mean I saw your head in the bag of pastor Salami’

‘Really you did? You think I was dead?’

‘Wait I must be dreaming, I can’t figure this out’ I rubbed my two hands on my bushy hair in confusion.

‘David’ she called my name softly as she stood up again, approaching me.

‘Wait, do not come close!’ I shouted stopping her with a hand sign; stop.
She stopped and starred at me.

I could not believe that Sandra stood before me. The flashes of her beheaded head flushed through my mind.

‘Sandra you are dead, all the people I knew that got into this empire with me are dead. I am left alone, I saw your ghost…’

Suddenly, I remembered what Amanda said when I saw her in my dreams with Sandra. She said that it was just a reflection of her. She said I would understand; could this be it?

‘Really maybe they made you think that I was dead, but I think you can see things yourself’

‘Where did you get that mask from? Who are you, are you part of volturis? Or are you a ghost?’

‘How many questions are you going to ask me standing at that door? Well the most important thing is that I am not a ghost, I am still your Sandra, no I am not yours because you never asked me out’ she ended with a smile.

I was not in the mood for smiling. I starred at her, my heart full of doubt.
‘Prove it to me that you are Sandra and not a ghost’

‘Really, how do you want me to do that?’

‘I do not know just prove it’

Then she walked close to me. Each step she took towards me made my heart jerk.
‘I said you should not come close’ I said panicky.

‘But you said that I should prove that I am human’

She was still coming close, this time it was four more steps to get to me’

‘But I did not say you should come close’ My heart beat was still increasing.

‘How then do you want me to prove…’ she ate the last words, and brought her self close and closer and…

The next place I found my self in her firm embrace. She was warm, and that was to answer all my questions.

Whispering into my ears, she said
‘Ghosts do not have bodies, you cannot feel them, and if at all they reincarnate they have cold bodies… do I make you feel cold?’

The answer to her last question was ‘NO’. However, I was thinking about what she said of Ghosts. If that is true of ghost why then does a ghost operate a Tecno Phantom phone. Why did Solomon… well I did not feel his body, probably he would have felt cold. I wondered what his mission was…

We un-tightened our embrace and looked directly into the black apple of our eyes.
‘David’ she called soberly, as if keeping back her tears.
‘Sandra’ I responded, my heart tearing apart with crazy emotions.

‘This is a miracle’ I squeezed out
‘I never knew that I would see you again, I thought you were dead’

‘Well now you know that I am not dead, shall we…’

We walked to the bed-
‘I think we need to sleep before the day finally breaks and we face a new world of miseries’ she suggested.

‘I cannot sleep, not in this place’ I said as I sat beside her on the edge of the bed.

‘Me too I could not sleep, not until now, I mean now that I have seen you. The first time I saw you come in, my heart jumped with joy, but suddenly you fainted, I was scared for you, I felt like you had died already. I knew how scary it would look like, but I never knew you could figure out the death of Amanda’
‘How did you do that?’

I told her a brief story of my experience in the mortuary, but I did not tell her that I killed two people; neither did I tell her what I dreamt of; It was secret- top secret.

‘You mean you experienced a ghost, are they real?’ she said surprised.
‘I do not believe you; maybe you are saying that to scare me’ she rubbed her hands together.

‘It is true’ I said gentlemanly.

She burst out into laughter pulling my hands to her,
‘Tell me that you are pulling my legs, tell me that it is a joke!’

Probably what was most thrilling to her was the whispers of the ghosts and how they pulled and pushed me, it was so unbelievable to her.

I finally spoke after dancing to her push and pull laughter.
‘I wish I was. I wish I was so creative in telling stories probably I would be feeling so joyful that I thrilled you’ my expression was blank.

She let go of me, gradually. It was as if the words sank gradually into her mind.

‘You are a man’ she said after seconds of silence.

‘Why did you say that? I asked looking into her eyes again.

She shrugged.

‘Well I would have called you a woman, but that would sound somehow. Like you would look too motherly with that word, it’s far bigger than you’ I ended with a grin.

She chuckled.
‘Yeah, its better you call me lady, you know, it’s cool. Or… no call me sister, I prefer it that way’


‘Yeah’

There was silence as we both mopped at the wall ahead of us.
‘I am missing my people’ she broke the silence.

‘Your people? Me too, but it is like I do not feel like seeing them’

‘Why?’ She asked looking deeply concerned.

I could not tell her that I have lots of evidence to prove that my parents were involved in my kidnap. It was not just annoying but shameful!

‘No it’s nothing really;’ I began
‘You know that we are going to die after all. Or just live our rest lives as slaves to the philosophies we do not like, until we become so deep in what we never wanted. There are just so many things I cannot figure out about this Empire; it is such a big world of mystery.’

‘Is that why you do not feel like seeing them’

I shrugged.

‘Really you want to be a cannibal?’ she asked looking stunned.

‘That is the point; I do not want to be a cannibal. But we seem so helpless in this place. As my literature teacher normally says in school, I guess it is a Chinese proverb.
It states ‘as grasshoppers are to wanton boys so are we to the gods they use us for their sports’ We are victimized. And I do not see any hope of our exit… it is like the whole empire would crash on my head very soon’

She did not say a word. She bent down, and tried to draw something on the floor.
I diverted my attention to what she was drawing, it looked like a cup shape, but by the time she drew it again I knew that it was a love shape.

‘A love shape?’ I voiced out.

‘Yeah I think God is love, He can do all things’

It was a stab on my emotions, yes, God is love and I am a Christian, but I was expecting her to relate the love symbol to me. it would have been more exciting. I was disappointed. Or did she just lie?

She sat up and looked at me-

‘I think you should be thankful to the priest’
My eyes brightened immediately.

‘Why, what do you know about him?’

‘Nothing’ she said nonchalant.

‘I really think you should be grateful to the priest’

‘Sandra you are speaking parables’

‘Or do I have to doubt your personality?’ I said to my self.

I looked at the mask on the ground, then looked at her face-

‘Sandra there is something you are hiding’

‘Not really maybe there are things you should know’

‘Things like what’



‘Maybe you should wait for the next episode’ she replied grinning.



sorry for the delay, you know its getting tougher so i need some time.
never mind though, this week things should flow better.

thanks.

im sorry i cannot update to night as promised...

a bit fatigued, moreso theres an urgent essay i need to submit tonight...

thanks... always.

EPISODE 51

The continuing whistling of Solomon, who suddenly appeared before us interrupted our gaze.
We turned and looked at him with compassion.

Somehow, I felt he deserved it. However, on the other hand, I was flabbergasted at how the evil had just evaded me.
Was it the short prayer I prayed that saved my a-ss… Or was it that the priest actually made a mistake in his incantations.

‘No this cannot happen to you’ The priest began
“Ah spirit of transformation you cannot do this. The lion does not roar at his cubs, ah when the dog climbs the hill to tear the stranger apart, it drops its ear beneath the hill, to hear the voice of its natives and owners.’

‘Ah! No matter how flexible and cunny a snake is, it does not turn to bite its own tail, not in provocation, not in excitement. Are you excited or are you provoked, or have I wrongly invoked. Shall a mother hit her child for grasping her scrumptious breast out of excitement? Out of hunger, out of dire need. Ahhh! Shall the spear of evil also stab the very elect?
Why have you done this to me, to shame me? Why have chosen this morning for your evil deeds, what is it that aileth thee…’
He went ahead speaking to the air. Or should I say, speaking to his god.

After some more appeal he switched to incantations- afterwards, he made a proclamation.

‘I speak to you beak, disappear and let him find peace on the surface of the earth!’
Afterwards he blew breeze on Solomon’s face, but nothing happened.

‘What is this!’ he shouted jumping up and shaking his head vigorously.

‘I speak and you must hear me. It is the same voice that ordered you to act, that orders you to un-act. Now again I command you, come back to normal, naaaaaaaaw!’
He blew breeze on his face again, but nothing changed, his protruding beak seemed even longer.

Solomon became uneasy. He was trying to say something, but all we could hear was the whistling of a chicken. By his demonstrations, I could tell the height of his frustration.
He clenched his fists and banged them angrily on the air.

When the priest saw that, nothing was happening; he paused and shot me a suspicious look.

‘David are you a Christian?’ he asked softly.

Solomon got tired of whispering with nobody paying attention to him. Placing his hand on his head in a frustrated gesture, he took his seat. He was still whispering, probably throwing tantrums, all to himself.

I looked at the priest’s frustrated look, why does he feel so powerless.

‘Yes I am’ I answered soberly.

‘But you go to the Spirit and the Blood…Ministry, how come…’

‘So you mean that those that go to the church are not Christians?’

‘You know the truth don’t you?’

‘Yeah but I cannot understand a truth; why do I seem like a threat to you?’ I stylishly changed the subject.

‘A threat? No you do not seem like a threat to me’

‘Why then did you ask if I was Christian?’

‘I feel a greater power trying to pull down this empire, this place suddenly changed, I don’t really know what happened. But I know things like this can happen when a Christian prays. However, I do not see that Christian aura around you’

I smiled in my mind.
‘Well if you do not see it then it must be something else’

‘Something like what?’

‘Really I may not know’

Solomon stood up, this time in anger probably he was tired of whispering to himself. Facing me, he blurted in strange whispers, I wonder what was so provoking.

‘Please have your seat you would be fine’ the priest offered

He did not seem to listen or even want to. He pointed his index finger at me, fuming greatly. He seemed cute in his chicken beak, a cute male parrot….hoo hooo hooo ;-))

‘I said seat down, you would be fine’ the priest raised his voice.

He shot me a threatening look, and then finally sat down. However, he did not take his stare away from me.
I wanted to yell at him saying- ‘why are you starring at me like that, what of yours did I take, can you please face your front- don’t you even know how cute you look in your beak!’ and probably end it with a scorn.
However, I just looked at him for a while, after wards I faced the priest who stood before me.

‘David…’ the priest called softly.

‘Sir’ I answered, surprised at his sudden soberness.

‘You have not slept through out the night, and now the time is about 5 45 am, you should get some rest’

I did not know what to say-
Truly, I had not really slept, and my eyes felt heavy, nevertheless I did not know where I would feel convenient as to sleep in this place.
What would assure me that I would see the light of day, what would assure me that I would not be killed in my dreams…
What would have made the night fair is far gone, Amanda is gone…

‘Follow me’ he said as he walked towards the door.
My legs could not move, I could not trust where he was taking me. Probably he wants me to excuse him so that he could deliver Solomon from his spell.
But really, is it not spirits that liberate mortals? I thought that ghosts were more powerful than humans were.

The priest had walked to the door assuming I was following him.
Getting to the door, he turned to find me sitting comfortably.

‘David, I said you should follow me’ he said soberly

‘Where are you taking me to?’

‘A place where you can spend the night’

I knew that already, however I did not feel like going with him, and I also did not feel like staying with him in his Shrine either.

Sluggishly, I walked up to him-
‘Thank you’ he said ‘follow me’

Suddenly I heard I loud cock-crow
‘cock-a-doo-doo’

Immediately I turned back, only to find that it was Solomon.
He felt shy. He covered his face immediately. It was as if the sound came out of him without control. It is normal for a cock to do that about that time. He was fast becoming a chicken, I thought he just had a beak, I never knew that it was worse.

Afterwards, he removed his hands, removed his shyness, and tried to say something— ‘what is your business, face your front!’
The words did not come out, but I could guess that he tried to say that.

I did not know if I should burst into laughter…
The priest shook his head. He felt deep pity for him. He wished he was not so helpless.

He opened the burglary, and then he went further to open the double door.
I was anxious to see where I was, and where the door would lead.

I smiled when I discovered I was in the former passage. The ICT lab was just at the other end of the passage- that is the mortuary in reversed position.

He walked towards the room where I had fainted, each step I took towards the door made my heart beat.
I could hear my shoe trying to pronounce ‘A-man-da A-man-da’ with the combination of three steps A- MAN-DA

My heartbeat increased; it became heavier and faster.
At last, we got to the former door where I saw the ghost of Amanda; the door closest to the mortuary. Somehow, I felt the ghosts were still there but maybe they only work at night. I was disappointed…

‘Go through that door, have a nice rest, shut the door behind you, good night’ he said leaving me behind the door. I wondered why he did not open the door and put me inside. Solomon did the same thing.

What are they concealing, does it mean that it is instant death for whoever enters the room, and could that be why they are avoiding it?
Now he says I should lock the door behind me. No way!

‘I cannot enter this room’ I blurted out

‘Why’ he questioned concerned.

‘Not until you enter first’

‘There is no big deal, it is just a room, I swear’

‘Why should I believe you’

‘Because I am not compelling you’

‘What does that mean?’

‘I mean if something evil lurked you in that place, I would have forced you in’

I wanted to say I saw the ghost of Amanda in there the other time. However, I did not know, my lips moved but no words came out.
I ended up starring at him for seconds.

He assumed I heard nothing to say, so he walked away.

I wanted to shout him to stop, but I just watched how his round shoulders disappeared into his room, the door shut behind.

I was choice-less, however I knew that it could not be worse than the mortuary, nothing actually can be more horrifying than the scenes of the mortuary… but that did not kill my fears completely.

My hands shook as I held the knob. My prayer was simple-
‘Oh lord I am fed up of seeing ghosts, please do not let me see one again’


As I opened the door, I knew that my prayer was not answered…


Next( coming today)

‘Amanda you are dead, please just go away, your sight no more thrill me, it shrills me…’

‘I am not dead, close the door behind you, there is something we have to discuss…’


The next episode should leave you smilling…

xtophera: Wow,very intriguing

thanks dearie-

bin bit busy-

update comes tody- max 2mao-

sorry for the delay------

EPISODE 50

Our eyes locked for some time, I could see how his lips moved in phonetic sound shapes with no word actually coming out. Finally, he took his gaze away and looked at the now paused video. From that view he spoke.

‘I have heard of some strong humans who have high influence on spiritual powers. No matter the powers that be, once they step in, they neutralize those powers. Or they just earn the respect of those powers.. These people are either Christians or people unknowingly possessed from their dreams, childbirth, by any means at all. Also it may just be the power that resides in one of a pair of twins. Sometimes he may wield spiritual energy.’
‘I could easily assume that you fell into the first group because of your former church…’

‘Former church?’ I voiced out. I knew he was referring to my archaic church. But one thing I could not get in the snap of my fingers, was the way he got to know.
Is this how they deal with their victims? Do they indeed read their biography before taking them?
Or is it that things are just so different with me. When pastor Salami said something similar, I was not surprised because he had an affiliate with my dad. He said they were auld Lang friends. But for the priest knowing this much, I find it preposterous.

I could feel a fear that erupted from my unconscious living in the past. So these men have been monitoring my life all this while. If of a truth they have, then there must be something special they see in me. But what could that be. I see my self as an average teenager who is ruled by his emotions, wants his voice to be heard, his feeling like an adult would not let him take any form of downgrade from those who may seem older. That is who I am, and that is the summary of my smartness.

Then I began to see things from a different angle. Probably my coming here is not really to die but for something else. If they had waited patiently for me to finish school, (by what I perceive, its like they have known me for some years.) or if they had done thorough investigation on my lifestyle before adopting me, then my purpose here can not be to be wasted on one god forsaken altar of sacrifice.

Could it be about me wielding spiritual energy? No I do not think so, he just discovered that. So what could be my purpose of coming into this empire. Already Salami had told me secrets, the priest does not seem secretive by what he has been saying..
If indeed I am meant to die, then I should not be awake by now. The night is far spent. What I know about the sacrifice of goats and chickens, is that they are tied somewhere before the time of sacrifice. No one cares about them probably they are even starved, after all, death awaits them. But, why is mine different?


……………………………………………………………………………………………..

TWO WEEKS BEFORE-

‘David’

‘Sir,’
Dad called my name softly as we sat on the dinning table, our plates empty before us.
Mom and Vera had just packed the empty cooler of food and their plates to the kitchen.

‘You know that you are a special child’

‘What makes me special? I barely do my house chores. Sometimes I misbehave and do naughty things. If you had simply said David do you know that Vera is special I would have agreed without a second thought, because I know how wonderful she is, but for me I do not see anything special in my self, except it is a word of prophesy’ I grinned as I ended my speech. He grinned in response.

‘Well, maybe I choose the wrong word’

‘So you mean that I am not special?’ I said, shooting him a teasing look.

‘Well so now you want to be special’

‘Want? So you mean I am not special’ my face broadened with smile.

‘Of course you are, so will you let me say what I want to say?’

‘Of course. Its just that some pre-ambles sound weird at times’

Something about my family is that the children have a little freedom of speech. Its not like the typical Nigerian family where children are afraid to exchange words with their parents, run for cover when their father is around, and their legs become a different part of their body, uncontrollable, when standing before their dad.

‘You dream to be a lawyer and you are bent on doing that right?’

‘Of course, you asking me that question is not just strange but…’

‘I know’ he interjected.
‘What I am saying is that, what of if you find yourself in a place where your dreams cannot be accomplished, what would you do’

‘Sir I do not get your question clearly’
Vera came in and packed the remaining plates.
‘Thank you sweetie pie’ I whispered to her. She replied with a wink.
There was something about her wink; it always comes with her dimples, so beautiful and perfect.

Dad continued.
‘What I mean is that, the most important thing in life is to know what you want from. It is not about been a lawyer but what do you really want to achieve as a lawyer. For example, if your aim, is to influence the government or become an activist, even if you do not read law, you could still achieve that. It could be mass communication,, political science or any other thing. But the thing is that at the end, whatever life feeds you with, you will still be fulfilled, that is the essence of knowing what you really want, and not just the path way to what you want’

He continues-
‘Some people only know the way to where they want, but they do not kinow what they want to see at the end of the way. You see, law is only a means to an end, what do you really want?’

‘Hmmm’ I Gave a deep breath, trying to churn the hard meat he had just given convoluted brain.

He continued.
‘You know the state of our country, it is so competitive, and the school you have chosen is making matters a bit tough. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Things may not go well, but before things go wrong or opposite, you have to know the deep thing you want. Well, do not forget that I would not dare take you to those glorified secondary schools nick named universities’

We both smiled.

‘What if I send you abroad and you get initiated into a gang, a tough one that you cannot let loose, will you still meet your purpose in life?
For instance if your purpose is to save lives, even in that terrible situation, you will still remain fulfilled. That is because you can use your powers to save people- you see what I am saying…’

We continued talking for some time. After the deep talk I told him I would think of a purpose for life—I was still thinking, second week of my thinking, when I got adopted.



……………………………………………………………………………………………

‘A secret gang abroad?’ the thought came into my head.
Peradventure this was what he was trying to tell me, that one day I would find my self in Volturis. Does that mean I am to be initiated into Vollturis? Do death actually mean the death of my former self as human, and the resurrection of a different been, called cannibal?

I examined the words my dad said clearly
‘What of if I send you abroad’ abroad simply mean a large place, it may not mean going beyond the boarders. Now he sent me abroad, the road from Kaduna to Lagos, is deem fit to be called abroad.

I considered the next word.
‘And you get initiated into a secret gang’
That gang could simply mean Volturis. Gosh! My dad was fully aware of my predicament; he had prepared me for the day. He called me special.

But why me, why would a dad wants his child to be a cannibal of all positive things in life. The only reasonable reason could be because he is one himself.

So I am not really going to die, or doesn’t it seem obvious. It was as if every hour I spent in voturis unveiled strong reasons why I should hate my parents. I could not fathom their level of heartlessness. Could it be that that firm embrace and watery eyes I got from my mom when I was about entering the bus was a farewell?
My heart burnt with anger and pity at the same time.

The priest continued
‘Of course your former church…’

‘How did you get to know my former church’ I looked at him with suspicion.

‘Well that is not your business; I know what I want to know’

‘Yes priest’ I said. Maybe it did not sound so obvious that I was mocking him.

‘Now back to what I am saying. You cannot have that spiritual aura except if you were in that former church, however, a day in Salamis church would wipe everything you have in a snap, and the worse in the Holy Communion, it would make you an ignoramus volturis’

I was not surprised at what he said of my archaic church, I knew that although archaic it possessed the real thing.

‘The second is if you are initiated. The initiation of the lords supper is not strong enough to give you such power, so again I ask, what power do you wield’

‘I am just an ordinary man like you’

‘You call me ordinary?’

‘Well, I did not actually call you ordinary; I only equated you with my self. Because I know that if I was the one to pick up that big book from the shelf I would have sent the spirit out, and probably faster, because I am a faster reader. You see what I am saying; your power resides in the books, same books I can get if I am interested in spiritism. You are just like everyman, the only difference is that some men read novels, some read bibles, some others read journals but you read spiritual books. It’s a life of choice. So you see in as much as I do not want to disrespect you, I do not see any tangible power residing in you apart from those in the books’

‘You are pushing me to the wall’ he roared, as if ready to tear my soul apart with magic.

‘No I am not pushing you to the wall; I am only pulling my self from the wall of mirage’

It took him some time to get that.

‘So many people find it difficult to pull out’ I concluded when I was sure he got the first doze.

‘Who pushed you to the wall?’ he asked trying to play along.

‘False philosophies and blindness’

‘And what opened your eyes?’

‘When you read from the book’

He looked straight at me, as if I pinched him. I tuned my face to the front, leaving him to gnash at my stubborn jaw, rightly placed to torment him.

He stood up and smiled.
I used the opportunity of his standing to spy at Solomon’s ghost that sat still. He was fiddling with a Techno Phantom, the way techno android suddenly advanced still puzzles me. However, nothing was more puzzling than seeing a ghost fiddling with a phone, where did he get it from? I know ghosts do not conform to this world.
Although I believe in re-incarnation to some extent, after all the picture of Elijah in the bible and John the Baptist was something like re-incarnation, however, I know that re-incarnation takes a little time.

I was distracted by a sudden serious but short laughter from the priest.
‘Ho ha ha ha ha’
‘You think you can push me to the wall like a kid? Do you know how old I am?
Look whether you think I have powers or not, it doesn’t matter, you will soon know if my power lies only in the books’

‘No I am not saying that..’ I started with a pitiful look as If I wanted to support him- he fell for it-
‘What I mean is that the ones you have in your head are the ones you crammed out from books…’ I knew what I had said was too raw, it was like making sand-wich, I need to now cover it up with bread
‘It’s actually an art, that anybody can learn, I am not saying you do not have power’


Suddenly something in my mind said I should pray and confess my sins to God.
I quickly whispered in my heart to God-
‘Please forgive me all my sins, my lust, my anger, my murder, and everything, please I repent, come and stand beside me. Thank you’
That was all I said. And I felt a kind of deep peace. Now I had the power I had lost from the archaic church.

‘I need to prove something to you, a life time experience that you will never forget’

‘A life time experience? So you mean that I have a life?’

He looked at me- I could read that anger in his face.

Suddenly he burst into some crazy incantations- he called a spirit name that I would not like to mention
He said- ‘…turn his mouth to beak, and let him whisper for a while…’
Then he uttered some more incantations, and blew a mouthful of air on my face with his mouth.
I almost threw-up, because his mouth reeked of garlic.

Suddenly, I heard a chicken’s voice beside me.

Solomon’s mouth had grown out and turned to a beak, he was coughing like a mother hen, calling her children at the sight of a covered grain.

We both turned our face in amazement towards Solomon.
‘Oh no, not him, or spirit of transformation not him. I did not blow the air on his face, I blew it on this boy’s face to teach him a lesson, why have you treated me like this?’

Two things surprised me.
One he had just proved he had power, and he truly does whether he crammed speeches or not.
Two, Solomon a ghost was affected, I did not understand his ghost-ship, and it still bothered me

He turned to me- the priest.
I saw disappointment and frustration written all over his face.

‘Who are you’ He asked, his voice sober and shaky.

I looked into his eyes…
‘I thought I was like you, I never knew I was greater’

The next thing we both saw before the next episode comes, was our eyes-

[quote author=slimfit_1]nice one...we seem to be on d same wavelength.. ASUU or even uncle fg cant make me feel inferior..[/quote]yeah man that is the spirit-
.nffin can stop us-

thanks-