Restless - Episode 50

® 18+ SNVL
© Oyinloye Oluwatosin Emmanuel

Just as he opened the door, he saw his daughter already running towards his room in panic.

"It's okay baby," he comforted as he pulled his daughter into a warm embrace. He opened the door and led her in. "Get seated and relax, there's no cause for alarm," he said to her in a reassuring voice before he proceeded again to the table where his laptop was. He watched her sit on the bed first before he also sat on the chair. He switched the sources of footages again to find the current location of the assailants. It was still in the hallway and he could see the huge man breaking the bones of his men.

"Stay in here baby, don't move or leave until I come back for you." Elkim said to his daughter as he picked up the gun again. He walked to her and kissed her on the forehead before walking out of the room. He locked it from outside.

___

Henry slammed the man hanging on his back to the wall again and then dragged him with a hand and toppled him over. He lifted him again and slammed him heavily to the wall, making him drop to the ground on the head, in the process breaking his neck.

The hallway was about fifteen metres long and three metres wide. It lead into six rooms in total, three each at both sides, all being rooms for the security men in the house who were mostly junior FOX agents.

Another man tried to hold him by the shoulder but Henry grabbed both hands and twisted them, he landed a kick on the chest and left the man to fall to the ground. He then quickly raised his gun and fired at another one that had just come out from the last room. He fired a bullet into the man on the floor before him before he proceeded forward quickly.

Henry caught another man who came out of the left room at the center. He grabbed him by the arm which a gun wa held and redirected his aim up, making the bullet run into the ceiling. He hit him in the belly with his elbow and then fired a shot with his own gun into another man coming out from the opposite end. He pulled the man behind him forward again and turned to give him three quick punches. He turned around immediately again to fire another shot at another man coming out from the third room.

He spotted Samantha with the side eye stepping into the hallway from the entrance and at the same time, spotted another man coming out from the last door by the right.

_

"I'm yet to understand what's happening," Agent Elkim asked the computer operator as he entered the control room. He had tried to call the operator but the absence of signals had not permitted it.

"Sir, I don't know where these men are from. I've tried to trace them with the street surveillance cameras but I can't find footages," the computer operator answered him.

"Have you contacted the police or FOX to report?" Agent Elkim asked, staring at the large screen adjacent to the computer the operator was siting behind. He could see the huge uniformed man and the uniformed lady in the hallway.

"No sir, the network is down, I can't contact anybody. It's not even connecting within the house or the compound, " the operator answered him.

"Are you serious?" Elkim widened his eyes in shock, now getting disturbed about the whole thing. He took out a phone from his pocket and checked again, there was still no signal. He realized that these assailants, whoever they were, had something to do with the network signals disappearance. He turned back to the screen again and watched how the assailants, both the male and female combated his men in the hallway and brought them down. From what he could see in the footage, about seven of the FOX men in the house were down already. He had just about fifteen men staying in the building with him while close to thirty of other men lived in the other buildings outside but in the same compound. "Why aren't the other men coming in to help?" Elkim asked and looked at the operator's face.

The operator quickly switched the source of footage being shown, after switching between several sources, he finally stopped at the footage showing the main verandah of the building where a uniformed man and the visitor who the police had been invited to arrest were.

"There are two men outside at the verandah, keeping the men busy with a gun war outside."

"I get it, it was a well planned job." Agent Elkim said, squinting at the screen as he watched Cole and Dave hide behind the walls and pillars of his building, shooting at and dodging shots from his men. He began to wonder what happened and why the real policemen hadn't arrived at his building yet. "

"They're using tranquilizing guns," the computer operator said to the Agent.

"Tranquilizing guns?" Elkim raised his brows again, getting more confused. He squinted for a moment, wondering what the intentions of the men were. He was already thinking that the attack was from the men who had kidnapped Brad and Henson but now that they were using only sedative guns, it brought more questions to his heart. Another thought popped up in his mind and he considered again that the attack could be from the men who kidnapped the FOX agent Tam the day before. But could it then be that the kidnappers of Henson and Brad were different from the kidnappers of Agent Tam? He asked himself.

He was unsure of the answer to his question, but he knew one thing for sure. And that was that he or his daughter were the main targets of the visit.

"Return to the hallway," he said to the computer operator.

The man switched to the footage showing the hallway again and they could now see that the huge uniformed man was no longer there. Only the lady was there and she was in a fist battle with a man.

"Rewind," Elkim ordered

The footage was rewound and they discovered that Henry had proceeded from the hallway five seconds before they switched the footage. Agent Elkim knew where he was most likely headed towards.

"Pause," Elkim commanded and the operator obeyed immediately but was three seconds late in pausing. "Take it three seconds back," Elkim added.

Three seconds back in the footage showed Henry with his right hand lifting a man by the neck and pressing him to the wall in front. Henry's face was slightly raised in that part.

"Zoom," Elkim spoke.

The image was zoomed and Elkim squinted at the face again. Henry's face cap was still partially covering his eyes until when viewed from the side. However, Elkim was unable to recognize who it was due to the beards on the man's face.

"Take it some seconds back," Elkim said and watched while it was taken. "Play."

The footage was played and they watched Henry's lips move briefly, and the other man's lip also move forcefully in response before he was dropped to the ground and shot with the tranquilizing bullet.

"This man fights so well and he looks well trained," Agent Elkim said in a thoughtful tone. "He also seems to know the structure of this house," Elkim added, considering the way Henry had skipped some doors and chosen to come through the hallway which was a farther route to getting to the master bedroom. It appeared like someone who knew the security structure of the house. If the other way - the stairs - which was closer to Elkim's room had been taken, it would have easier to trap the intruder with lasers.

Agent Elkim's mind began to work so fast, trying to detect where the attack could have come from.

"This man's moves are well calculated," Elkim said thoughtfully again. "Take it back to the source streaming from outside."

The computer operator carried out his order quickly. After a minute of Elkim watching how Cole and Dave handled their guns against the men outside the building, Elkim made another comment.

"Both of these men are good one guns, but one of them looks like a trained professional," he said, referring to Dave as the trained one. "But he's still totally different from the man inside," he said with a frown appearing on his face. "Find the huge guy and the girl again."

It took the operator another twenty seconds to locate Henry and Samantha again. They were now in another hallway, fighting with a different set of men, Henry had five men around him while Sam had just one fighting her.

Elkim stared intently for few seconds. These five men in the new hallway were the last five in the house and after getting through them, the next place the assailants would be headed for is towards his room. He watched Henry for an additional twenty seconds. The expression on his face seemed to change every second from realization back to confusion and back again.

"This man fights like one of us," Elkim said after considering it carefully. "I need to see his face again."

The footage was paused and Henry's face was zoomed again. Elkim moved quickly towards the computer operator and took control of the mouse. He scrolled down slowly to see the body of the man and scrolled back up again.

His heart was gripped with fear as a thought came into his mind. There was none other person that fought so swiftly as this other than late Agents Carl and Rex but the structure of the man in the hallway particularly looked like that of Carl, even though there was a little difference in fat.

He zoomed the facial view again. Carl Winston didn't have a beard nor moustache but this man had, Carl was also a bit thicker than this man was, Elkim thought to himself. He rotated the view of the man's face again, the face was a bit darker than Carl Winston's. Could it be someone else or had Carl Winston changed in the past few months he was believed to have died?

"Play the footage," he said as he stepped back quickly, realizing that whoever it was, the mission at his house was definitely a deadly one.

He took out his phone quickly and cursed under his breath on seeing that the only number he could still call was emergency. He however still opened his contact list and clicked on Elvis Kahn's number. He clicked on the text message icon and quickly typed in some words.

"I think Hutton may be right anyway, it seems we've got Carl Winston back alive."

He clicked on end quickly after typing. He watched it fail after the first ten seconds. He decided to use the schedule option and scheduled the message to send two hours after.

He looked up again and saw that Henry had already taken down two of the men without guns.

"Keep trying to reach the FOX for backup," he said as he picked up his gun and rushed towards the door.

He stopped for a second outside the room after closing the door. He took in a breath and cocked his gun before he proceeded, ready to do whatever he could to make sure his daughter was protected.

FOLLOW the Part 2 Of BLOOD LIVES HERE - https://www.nairaland.com/5344987/blood-legacy-action-thriller#up

Before starting this story, you need to read the prequel first - https://www.nairaland.com/5280829/blood-lives-here-action-story


Blood Legacy - Episode 1

© Brian Ngoma

A dark orange ford ranger 2016 was parked outside the Chief's palace in Chisoti village. Opposite it was a white Corolla Altis. The surrounding was deserted despite being eight in the morning. Indistinct voices could be heard from outside the small respected palace but what was more apparent were the voices coming from the Chief's office further away from the main house. Hearing the voices, one could agree that where men talked, it sounded like a fight would start.

"I still stand by my decision," Chief Chovu said looking at the two men sited in front of him. "That land is sacred, i cannot sell it, my people won't let me."

The two men looked at each other. One of them sat upright and broke the silence, "Chief Chovu we respect that you respect the land more than anything. I love that in a man," he paused, "We have been coming here for the last six months and your stance on the issue has been amazing but….."

"What my colleague Ben here is trying to say is that," the other man interrupted them. "We have raised the offer."

"Devi, i got this!" Ben interrupted raising his voice.

Over the last six months, the chief had gotten used to these men quarrelling and arguing every time they came. Ben was the more diplomatic one while Devi preferred getting to the point without hesitation. Chovu looked at them argue while his mind pondered on what Devi had said about raising the offer. The offer currently on the table was K500, 000 for the so called sacred land. He didn't know why these strange men wanted the land so much.

"So chief we are talking about K1 Million," Ben relaxed in the chair proud of himself.

The chief was speechless.

"So what's it going to be Chief?" Devi inquired.

"Give me a minute," Chovu stood up and left the office.

As he slowly walked to the main house, he looked at the Ford ranger which the two men had been using and admired it like everyone else in the village. He got into the house finding his Eldest son and Wife waiting for him in the kitchen. He had five children. Four boys and one girl who had been married off to another chief in the neighbouring village. Two of his sons died. His first born, Junior Chovu was like him in anyway and was a true heir to the throne. The same couldn't be said for the last born, Walutanga.

"What happened?" His wife asked concerned.

Chovu nodded sitting down, "K1 Million."

"Eh!" The wife exclaimed.

"They are willing to pay that much," Junior cut in.

"Imagine," he sighed.

"That land cannot be sold father," Junior continued.

"It's K1 people," his wife added. "Let that sink in for a minute. That money will change our lives, wake up!"

"We are talking about a sacred land that's been there for generations and you just want to give it to strangers who cannot even say why they want it for. That's where the traditional ceremonies are held from, do you want to be known as the Chief who sold the sacred land to strangers?" Junior asked.

"You're right Junior,” The chief agreed with his son. He stood up ignoring his wifes stare. As he was about to get back to the door, it opened and it was Devi. "What are you doing here?" He asked startled.

"We are running out of time," Devi answered seeming impatient. "K2 Million now, take it or leave it, we are waiting for you." With that, he left.

The Chiefs eyes almost popped out. He couldn't catch his breathe. He turned around and he could see his face on his son and wife.

"Sell it," Junior said.

"Yes, let's take the money," his wife added.

"Our land is vast, I'm sure the others will understand," the Chief said thoughtful. "We are on the same page, aren't we?"

"Yes," they both answered.

The Chief breathed in deeply and let out a long breath before turning his back on his wife and son. Immediately he did, he bumped into his youngest son Walutanga.

"Aren't we forgetting one person," Walutanga asked to their dismay.

"Who?"

"Me, don't have i say?"

"Not in this matter Walutanga," the Chief said.

"You know you cannot sell that land," Walutanga coughed.

"Walu go and play," his mother tried to dismiss him.

"No mother, you know my friend and i are building a school on that land," Walu looked at his mother.

"Say what?" The chief asked and went on. "What school?"

"A school me and my friend are building," he responded.

"With whose permission?"

"Mine of course, am i not a prince?"

"And you knew about this?" The Chief looked at his wife.

She stared at the floor.

"I'll deal with you later," The Chief pointed at Walu. "Right now i have pressing issues."

"How about Uncle Mapulanga? Your brother?" Walutanga looked at all of them. "My uncle?"

Silence dawned in the room. The chief's wife and Junior looked at the chief who had become uncomfortable. The last time Mapulanga was mentioned, it was Walu again. Ever since he learned about his uncle, he became curious as to what happened to him. All he knew was that his uncle's name was forbidden to be mentioned not only in the chief's house but the whole village.

"Mention him again and you will regret the day you were born!" the Chief angrily yelled at Walutanga.

"That land is sold Walu," Junior said relaxing himself thinking of what he will do with his share.

"That friend of yours, he's not indigenous to this village, we don't even know where he came from," his mother gave him a quick pat. "And whatever He's building on that land, he should have asked for permission from the Chief."

"He's my teacher and friend," Walu walked to the door. "And I'm not letting you sell it," he ran out of the room.

Walutanga was known as the rebel among Chovu's children. He loved to do what pleased him and that set him apart from all the kids in the village. Thinking about how his friend would react to the News of the land been sold, he ran as fast as he could to the site where he found the workers resting.

"Where is he?" He asked one of the workers.

"There," the worker pointed at an unfinished room with a tented roof. "You know he doesn't like to be disturbed."

Walu ignored the worker and ran to the room. He found him sleeping with a fleece blanket on his upper body. He walked to him and before he could shake him up, he woke up and stared at him.

"Hey Hunter," he avoided his eyes.

*****

Amidst the paperwork was Ludo almost crying in her small office somewhere in Rhodes Park. She checked her watch and it was almost lunch time. She was hungry and was tired with all the work. Being a paralegal to one of the most notable lawyers and associates was not an easy thing. She filed the papers properly and stood up.

"Where to?" A husky voice asked.

She knew he was standing at the door. "I'm going out for lunch boss."

"How many times will we talk about efficiency Ludo?" He walked into the office, bent down and checked the papers on her table. "I thought you said you would be done by lunch time," he continued.

"Mr. Lance," she shakily said. "I tried to…….."

He interrupted her, "You know how busy this firm is, i cannot work with trial and error, how will you be a good lawyer like this? You might as well just leave and become a Vet."

"I'll finish up sir," she gulped.

Ludo had been working for Lance & Associates for almost two years and everyday seemed like going through hell. Her boss was ever rude and tough on her. At one point, she had the courage to ask him why and his response was that, some day she will understand. Till then, she had to put up with him or forget about being a lawyer. She needed his guidance to pass the exam at ZIALE. She had failed twice already.

As soon as he left her office, her phone rang. It was Melanie now bana Zeus. "Hello bana Zeus," she answered.

"You know why I'm calling, right?" Melanie let out a breath.

"Don't tell me he's in trouble again."

"Unfortunately, yes. You know he has no one."

"Me and him have been apart for a year now Melanie, i don't want anything to do with him. He has both his parent's and a sister somewhere, he should let me live my life."

"You and i both know that's not true, he has us."

"I'm tired Melanie, what's he done this time?"

"He's in the hospital."

"Evan!" She angrily yelled. "Okay I'm on my way," she hang up the phone and grabbed her handbag and left the office.

Lance came across one document Ludo didn't fill up as needed. He got up and walked to her office door, opened it and called, "Ludo!"

There was no response but some pieces of papers flying and scattering on the floor.

*******

Two years ago, Inmates at Mwembeshi Prison were wrapping up their day's Activities and everyone was busy moving up and down. Despite everyone being occupied with their works, two people were sited on a bench and not minding whatever was happening around them. These two were regarded as the most dangerous in the prison; No one dared to mess with them lest losing their life. One was an old man while the other one was a young well-built man of about 29 years. The young man moved closer to the old man and whispered, "It's time, I'm ready."

The old man proudly looked at him. "I knew i made a right choice with you."

The young man with his shoulders high smiled, "When do we start?"

"Young man, we started already."

"You never cease to amaze me Mr. Hamuumbu."

"You haven't seen the best of me my boy. Now go out there, find my daughter; she has more guts than my son. I will give you the address, she's back in the country."

"How about the girl and that man?" He paused. "

Mr. Hamuumbu nodded and chuckled, "I'm dying soon. I really need to sort out a lot of things and those people you are worried about aren't nothing to me. If i ever cross paths with them, be rest assured that i will kill them. I'm only worried about the Legacy that i was supposed to live behind. Everything is in a mess but I'm making things straight now.!

"Then let's begin."

To be continued

Read more here - www.youngicee.com/category/blood-legacy

Blood Lives Here - Episode 21 (Finale)

© Brian Ngoma

Ludo walked to a nearby station and texted her father. After a while, a car pulled over and Joe came out.

"Dad," she ran and hugged him.

"It’s alright Ludo, I'm here," Joe led her to the car.

They reached Joe's house which he was renting and he led her to his bedroom and told her to rest.

"How about you?" She asked.

"I'll sleep on the couch don't worry," he answered. "We can shift tomorrow, there is a two-bedroom apartment next door for rent should you decide to stay long."

"I'll be here for a while yea."

"Good I'll make arrangements,” Joe sighed. “Do you want to talk about what happened?”

“No dad,” Ludo answered." Maybe tomorrow. "

“Okay baby Rest now you can tell me about everything tomorrow morning."

Ludo couldn't sleep. She couldn't get over the fact that her mother was behind everything that was happening and for what? Money. She felt betrayed. She slept at five in the morning and was awoken by her father.

"Ludo come and see what's on the NEWS," Joe called her.

"What is it? I'm still sleeping," she complained.

"It’s Kate!"

"What?" Ludo quickly got out of bed and saw Kate on the TV being interviewed.

Ludo recognised the background. It was the Hamuumbu’s house. She sat down and listened to the interview.

The reporter asked, "So how did you know that this man was not sick?"

"I didn't know but that man over there did," Kate answered.

The camera shifted to Hunter in cuffs being led to a police car.

Ludo jumped to her feet.

"How did he know?" The reporter asked.

"I don't know but all I wanted was justice for my husband. These people almost murdered him and now he's in the coma. I'm willing to testify against their crimes and with the help of Hunter, I'm sure we will get justice," Kate said and went on. "This is all, thank you."

"How?" Ludo asked herself.

Early in the morning that day at 4am, Kate woke up to a pat on the back while on her husband bedside. She opened her eyes and found Hunter standing impatiently. She was startled.

"I didn't come to harm you, I need your help," he said.

"With what?" She asked rubbing her eyes. “I thought you were dead.”

“You are not the only one. Let's talk from outside."

They went Outside and Hunter told her what he wanted to do to reveal Mr. Hamuumbu’s secret. To his surprise, Kate accepted. He wasn’t surprised that much because he saw her determination the moment he talked to her back at his house when she followed Kate. It was time to end everything.

"Okay let's meet at the Hamuumbu residence," Hunter left her.

Kate went back inside to her husband. She stared at him and kissed him goodbye. She went home and freshened up wearing a black dress. She got on a bus and went to the house. She got there and was asked for an invitation to the funeral. She told them she was Ethan’s distant cousin.

“If you want you can ask my aunt Elise,” Kate told the guard. “OH she’s in prison.”

The guard had no one to ask, instead he just let her in. As soon as she got to the garden, she saw a camera man and a reporter. She knew that was Hunter's doing but where was he? She asked herself.

Kate searched for Mr. Hamuumbu and found him at the centre surrounded by people all passing their condolences to a man who didn't even say a word. She wondered where his other two children where at. She asked a maid and was told that Erica didn't come home when she left and Evan was upstairs and seemed sick. She knew that was her chance but prayed that Hunter would show up. She walked to Mr. Hamuumbu and stood behind him. As usual, Mr. Hamuumbu played sick.

Kate looked around hoping to see Hunter but couldn't. Since he was the one who came up with the plan, she knew she had to trust him. Kate charged in and grabbed Mr. Hamuumbu’s wheelchair and threw him out of it.

Everyone looked at Kate in shock.

"This man is not sick!" She yelled pointing at Mr. Hamuumbu.

They all looked at Kate like a mad person. One person rushed to Mr. Hamuumbu’s aid and knelt before him checking him.

"He's lying, he's a pretender. He has never been sick," Kate said.

Two bodyguards came to drag Kate out.

"She's mad," One person whispered in the ears of another.

Mr. Hamuumbu was still.

"Hunter where are you?" Kate looked around while the guards came at her.

As soon as they reached, she dodged them and kept shouting that Mr. Hamuumbu was not sick.

The camera man was rolling his camera.

The person tending to Mr. Hamuumbu was dragged from behind finding himself in the flowers. Everyone turned their heads in Mr. Hamuumbu’s direction, Kate too. She smiled seeing Hunter in an all-black suit kneeling down before Mr. Hamuumbu.

"This is your time to come clean," Hunter whispered.

Mr. Hamuumbu didn't move. Hunter removed a knife from his pocket. Everyone watched in awe. Hunter then stabbed Mr. Hamuumbu in the thigh making him scream and insulted Hunter.

Hunter got up and laughed.

Everyone was shocked hearing Mr. Hamuumbu speak.

"You bastard I will kill you," Mr. Hamuumbu shouted. "I told you to stay away. I should have killed you when i had the chance."

"See?" Hunter pointed at Mr. Hamuumbu. "This man killed my daughter and a lot of other people."

Sirens could be heard from outside the wall fence. Hunter constrained Mr. Hamuumbu till the police came. He looked at Kate while a reporter was about to start interviewing her. The police cuffed him and led him to the car. Mr. Hamuumbu was also led to the cars for questioning.

"Is that what happened?" Ludo asked Kate on the phone.

"Yes my dear it is all over now. Sadly, Hunter has been arrested. Mr. Hamuumbu is being questioned and I think Evan will be arrested too," Kate answered sadly.

"Good thing you did with Hunter," Ludo commended Kate. "Mr. Visashi will be proud of you when he wakes up from his coma."

"Hunter told me everything that happened," Kate sighed.

"It was terrible, I'm at my dad’s now."

"You will be fine," Kate said. "I have to go now. I'm going to the police station to make a statement. Can we include you?"

"I'm not ready for that."

"It’s okay dear. If anything, will let you know," Kate hang up the phone.

Ludo felt bad for Evan and Hunter. A few days later, she read in a newspaper that Evan was arrested too. With everyone in prison, she was now safe and her life would get back to normal.

Six months later, Ludo was on a bus coming from University of Zambia. She had gone to check if her name had been shortlisted but unfortunately it hadn't. She felt sad because she had hoped it would be. She sat on the bus feeling low and hoping that Copperbelt University would get her. She knew she couldn't do anything but wait. She saw a man sat next to her but her mind had drifted away from where she was. She smelled the man’s cologne and it felt familiar. Ludo turned her head to face him and it was Evan.

"Hey you!" Evan smiled.

Ludo was speechless.

"I'm out yeah. I made a deal with a district attorney," Evan sighed.

"But I thought you ...." Ludo stammered.

"Mother took all the blame, and As soon I came out, I wanted to see you. I went to your mothers and didn't find you," Evan said.

"Oh I'm no longer living with mom," Ludo said sadly. "I'm still finding it difficult to forget what she put me through. I still haven't forgotten what you also did to me."

"Take your time. I'm here for a long time," Evan smiled.

"But how did you find me?" Ludo asked him.

"Your mother gave me the address to your fathers and he told me you were at UNZA. Since I dint have anything to do, I followed you."

"That's nice."

They both went quiet.

"So."

"So."

They both said at the same time.

"You go first," Evan said.

"What happened to your family?" Ludo asked.

"Mom and dad are in prison as you know," Evan paused. "If it wasn't for Hunter, we wouldn't have known that my father was not sick. Wherever he is, I hope he found peace."

"I'm sure he did," Ludo said. “Did you hear that he broke out of prison?” She asked Evan.

“It was the talk of all prisons. Apparently, he inspired all prisoners that they can escape too.”

“That’s Hunter for you,” Ludo smiled. “He called some two weeks ago telling me to be careful of what I write about.”

“He did?”

“Yes. He denied telling me where he was saying he didn’t trust me. You are the reason,” She looked at Evan with a dumb face.

Evan scratched his head.

“I wouldn’t want to cross paths with that man, he beat me to a pulp Eish,” Evan said thoughtful. “How about Mr. Visashi? Is he out of the coma now?”

Ludo’s face became sad.

“Unfortunately, they had to take him off life support. The doctors said they did everything they could. Kate was devastated. She moved to the Copperbelt.”

“That’s sad,” Evan said.

Ludo asked, "How about Erica?"

"Erica left the country the night father killed Ethan. I still cannot believe that dad killed his first born son. Mother doesn’t want anything to do with him.”

"The company?" Ludo probed further.

"Naveen and his father run it now."

"And you let them?"

"There is nothing I can do and if there was anything I could, I wouldn't. I spent my whole life working for mom and everything I did was to show her that I could do things on my own. Its time I do things my way," Evan smiled.

"Good for you. What did you want to say?"

"I wanted to know your plans for tonight," Evan responded.

"You know I live with my dad now?"

"Yes."

"And ever since all this happened, he had been strict with the people I hang out with. The only friend he allows to come see me is Melanie."

"Melanie?"

"Yes Melanie. She's still around."

Evan bowed his head.

"Don't worry she's over you. She has a boyfriend now and he loves her," Ludo smiled.

"Does that mean you and I?"

"Mr. Man don't get ahead of yourself."

"I thought...."

"You thought what?"

"Six months is a long time, what if I found a man too?"

"That means you didn't," Evan laughed.

Ludo smiled.

"So dinner tonight?"

"You should come and talk to my father if that's not too much for you."

"No its not but he was hesitant in telling me where you are. I had to literally beg and convince him I came in peace."

"That's my father for you."

"I'll come in the evening, you should be prepared."

Ludo smiled and the bus started off. She felt her heart at peace. She didn't expect to see Evan so soon. Him sitting by her side felt like she had waited for him forever but she never told anyone she was going to wait for him. She was glad he was out. Another person she thought about each and every day was the Hideous Hunter. Ludo didn't tell Evan she saw Hunter because she promised never to tell anyone. Last time she saw him some weeks after he had escaped prison, he was no longer hideous. He had shaved clean and told Ludo that he had changed his identity and was now working as a teacher volunteer at a community school in the rural outskirts of the town. Ludo hoped the best for him. Her mother didn't miss her thoughts too. The road to forgiveness was still long but she knew that one day, she would forgive her. She was also working on a book but this time, she changed the genre. She was writing a romantic historical fiction. She sighed and closed her eyes to embrace the happiness she felt within her soul with Evan by her side. She didn’t know what was in store for them but whatever it was, she gladly was ready for it.

Last page flipped, THE END..

Part 2 of BLOOD LIVES HERE is ongoing already, you can read here - www.youngicee.com/category/blood-legacy

Blood Lives Here - Episode 20

© Brian Ngoma

Evan turned his head whilst on the floor and saw Hunter and Ludo. On the far left was Ludo’s mother tied up in a chair.

"What are you doing here?" Evan aggressively stood up.

Hunter stopped him. "I didn't come here for you," He said.

"You killed my brother," Evan said angrily.

"Oh I see you have been told," Hunter looked down on Ludo. "Unfortunate how lies spread."

"It’s not a lie, you are the only person I know capable of doing that, you killed Hilary too," Evan yelled.

"Her doing, not mine," Hunter said.

Evan stepped forward.

"Don't you dare," Hunter furiously looked at him.

Evan clenched his fists.

Hunter noticed and said, "Constrain yourself otherwise you will get killed."

"Hunter what do you want?" Ludo asked.

"Remember our deal?" Hunter asked back.

"Deal?" Evan looked at Ludo.

"Yes Evan," Hunter answered. "Just like Hilary, Ludo played you too."

Evan’s shoulders slumped.

"It's not what you think Evan," Ludo said.

"These women still end up disappointing me," Hunter nodded his head. "They fall for you."

Evan didn't answer but only looked at Ludo. He couldn't believe that she was working with Hunter.

"So you also killed my brother?" Evan stared at Ludo.

Hunter laughed.

"This is getting interesting," he said.

"No!" Ludo yelled. "None of us killed your brother."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Evan asked. "Not too long ago, you told me this man killed my brother."

"I did yes but I lied," Ludo said. "It wasn't us."

Ludo wanted to tell Evan about his father’s secret but she thought he probably knew too.

"Do you think I can believe anything you say at this moment. You conspired with this man to bring my family down and made me fall for you," Evan nodded his head.

Ludo felt weak in her knees.

"We didn't kill your brother," she cried.

"That's nonsense," Evan said getting his phone from the pocket. "You're both going to jail."

Hunter threw Ludo on the floor and maneuvered his way to Evan and grabbed the phone from him. Evan was standing face to face with Hunter. He had never seen him up close. His heart beat could be heard. Seeing Hunter that close scared the hell out of Evan. He had only heard how hideous Hunter was and in that moment, he believed every word he had been told.

"Give me back my phone," Evan gathered his courage.

"Or what?" Hunter growled. "I came for the girl. I didn't even want to hurt her but you showed up."

"I said give me back my phone," Evan said shakily.

"Do you hear how nervous your voice is?" Hunter smiled. "You are not cut out for this. You are a book man."

Evan thought about the chances he had fighting with Hunter. He had zero chances and that made him furious and when he became furious, he made stupid decisions. He decided to take the risk.

Hunter could almost read Evan's mind and he was prepared for whatever move he would make. Out of stupidity, Evan threw a punch which landed on Hunters cheek but didn't have any effect.

"You call that a punch?" Hunter touched his cheek.

Evan's eyes were widely opened with shock. He threw another one which Hunter blocked.

"I don't want to hurt you in front of your girlfriend," Hunter said.

"She's not my girlfriend," Evan said angrily.

Evan tried to kick Hunter but nothing worked.

"This is enough!" Hunter shouted carrying Evan in the air and threw him against the wall.

Ludo screamed.

Evan got up and staggered his way back to Hunter. He threw another weak punch. Hunter grabbed his hand and twisted it.

Evan screamed in pain.

"Stop it you're hurting him!" Ludo shouted.

Looking at Ludo while still holding Evans arm, Hunter kicked Evan on the face.

Ludo screamed even more.

Evan was on the ground. Hunter knelt before him.

"You have made me exhaust all the hatred I have for your family in you," Hunter grabbed Evans head.

He punched his face, "This is for my daughter."

He punched him again, "This is for all the pain your father put me through."

He kept punching him till his face was covered in blood.

Ludo couldn't believe her eyes. There was blood all over the floor. She jumped on Hunters back and ran her nails over Hunter's face. Hunter stood up while shaking her off his back. She stuck on it like glue. Hunter managed and she was in the air and hit her head on the floor. He went back to Evan.

Ludo got up feeling dizzy. She looked at her mother who was crying. While standing up, she noticed the piece of paper Mr. Hamuumbu had given her on the floor. She wanted to ignore it but knelt and picked it up while looking at Hunter standing before Evan. She opened it and it read;

'Ask your mother about the manuscript. She knows everything. She made you write it.'

Ludo looked at her mother dropping the piece of paper. She felt scared and had racing thoughts. She felt even more dizzy and lightheaded. She felt a rising feeling from the stomach to the throat. Her whole body became numb and tingly. She looked at her mother one more time and turned her head in Hunter and Evans direction. Ludo lost awareness and sounds became strange. She could feel a smell like that of a burning rubber. Her vision became blurry. She fell to the floor with her face hitting it so hard that she bit her lower lip and blood oozed out of her mouth.

Her body became rigid then her hands started twitching and then spread to all the body parts. Her whole body was jerking and eyes were repeatedly blinking while moving to one side and looking upward.

Hunter just stood there watching her. He looked at her mother who had cried her lungs out.

"Help her," Evan said breathing heavily.

Hunter didn't know what to do.

"The Lioness has been secluded from its cabs. The den is now weak more especially with the death of a successor. The wounded lion cannot do anything. The other two cabs are weak to do anything," Naveen laughed talking with Mr. Jackson from Bank of Zambia while at Radisson Blu Hotel.

"So is she coming?" Mr. Jackson asked sipping on his whiskey and gulped. "It’s getting late you know."

"She's coming, just wait a moment. I proposed a good deal to her, she has curled," Naveen said confidently. "Even though she was crying the whole time on the phone. It’s such a cruel world; she lost her brother."

Mr. Jackson laughed, "Women. Weak vessels."

"There she is," Naveen stood up.

Erica walked to them and was pointed to a chair. She sat without greeting them and got her bag. She removed some papers from it and handed it over to Naveen. Naveen looked at the papers nodding his head.

"Is that enough?" Erica asked impatiently looking around.

Naveen smiled and handed the papers to Mr. Jackson. Mr. Jackson got a paper from his bag and gave Erica. He later gave her a pen and told her to sign. Erica didn't hesitate.

"Those are all my shares," she paused. "Including Ethan's."

"It was good doing business with you," Naveen extended his hand.

Erica just looked at it and him disgustingly.

"Where is Evan?" Mr. Jackson asked.

"With his girlfriend," Erica stood up.

“That sick girl?” Naveen looked at Erica. “Hunter couldn’t get rid of that girl,” Naveen shook his head.

Mr. Jackson looked at Naveen surprised.

“Anyway, I don’t have time for Hunter and that same girl. They are just low lives in this big game.”

Erica was still staring at Naveen.

"OH," Naveen got his phone. "Done."

Erica checked her phone and off she went.

"Triple E group of companies is ours," Naveen said raising a glass of wine.

"Indeed," Mr. Jackson smiled.

"Here is to victory,” They toasted to their victory.

Jean sat in the car waiting for Erica. She had told him about her brother’s demise and as soon as he got to the house, he found her waiting for him with some bags packed. He didn't ask her anything. She directed him where to drive her and they got to Radisson Blu Hotel. She told him to wait for her in the car and like always, he did as told. She came back. She sat in the car and didn't say a word.

"Everything fine?" He asked.

She looked at him and answered, "Let's leave the country."

Jeans eyes widened. Even though that was what he had always wanted, he wasn't expecting it.

"To where?" He asked.

"Anywhere," she answered.

"I'll go with you anywhere," he leaned over and kissed her. "What about your family?"

"I don't care. Everyone will sort their business. I'm sick and tired of this."

"Alright."

"You came packed right?" She asked him.

"Yea."

"Ok drive to the airport."

Jean started the car and drove into the darkness.

Hunter sprint his way to Ludo. Not knowing what to do, he looked at her mother who gave him a stare as if signalling him that only her knew what to do with her. He walked to her and untied her. She went to where Ludo was and held her in her arms.

Hunter couldn't stay any more, he left the house leaving Evan on the floor struggling to get up. Hunter was determined to make Mr. Hamuumbu pay for his crimes.

After some minutes, Ludo woke up confused. She found herself in her mother’s arms.

"What happened?" She asked.

"You had a seizure," her mother answered.

Ludo got up. She touched her head and felt exhausted. She asked for water from her mother. When her mother went to the kitchen, she saw Evan on the floor. She gathered some strength and crawled to him. Evan looked at her and smiled. She then remembered what happened and got scared.

"Where is Hunter?" She looked around.

"Gone!" Her mother answered.

Upon seeing her mother, Ludo remembered what she had read.

"Mother!" She cried.

"What is it? It’s all over," her mother knelt before her.

"Get away from me," Ludo yelled.

Zamiwe was confused.

"You put me through this. You're the reason all of this is happening."

"What do you mean?"

"The manuscript."

Zamiwe touched her mouth in shock.

"How? Why?" Ludo cried.

Zamiwe looked at Evan and stood up.

"Yes mother, this is brains."

She stepped backwards.

"Mother what did you do to me?" Ludo asked.

Zamiwe knelt down and tears streamed down her face.

"Mother talk please!" Ludo shouted.

"A long time ago a man approached me and told me he had a good story about his family, only that the story was not fiction. I asked him why he wanted his family's lives to be made public and he told me that he was sick and tired of what they had become. He wanted everyone to be exposed."

"That's my father," Evan cut in.

"I never asked questions. I don't even know him. He offered a large sum of money and we were having financial difficulties with your father. I didn’t tell your father and I couldn't deny the money. I wrote the story myself and kept it."

"I don't understand," Ludo said.

"After you had showed interest in writing. An idea struck me, I started taking hypnosis classes from a good friend of mine at the hospital."

"Hypnosis?"

"Yes and that's how I fed you the whole idea but trust me, it wouldn't have worked if your mind was against it. You accepted it, made it your own and wanted it to be written."

"All those nights we sat together. That's what was happening. The soft music and all," Ludo's hand were on her head.

"What a mother!" Evan found his strength and stood up.

"I'm sorry Ludo," Zamiwe cried.

Ludo got up too and helped Evan. They all went outside while Zamiwe followed. Ludo led Evan to his car. After putting him in the car, she called her father.

"Dad where are you?" She asked.

"Please Ludo, I didn't know that all this would happen to you," Zamiwe said.

"It did mother. You just don't how much have suffered in the hands of the man you took money from. You sold your only daughter," Ludo looked at her mother.

Her mother couldn't say a word.

Ludo got in the driver’s seat and drove Evans car. After reaching an intersection, Ludo stopped and looked at Evan who was now breathing fine. She unstrapped her belt and got off the car.

"Drive yourself now!" She left him.

Evan called Ludo but she didn't look back. She walked in the dark road all alone.

To be continued

Read more here - www.youngicee.com/category/blood-lives-here

The Bodyguard - Episode 24

By Tisa Phiri

...Ackim..

"Uncle Will.!" Maya called me as I worked in the garden. I was always working around the house, sitting idle was making me feel bored. I always wanted my mind kept busy. James , Dr Mwaba's hubby told me he would help me get a job in the mine. He was in management so he said it won't be so much of a problem. He even suggested I got some new identification documents to help me start over.

I was still feeling lost but lately I had dreams of being in some kind of military. Dr Mwaba even thought it could be true since the dreams and visions persisted.

"Am here Maya!" I responded when she called for the third time. she came running..

"hey what's up? " I asked her wiping the sweat on my forehead.

She came close and whispered.. "Uncle Will, that neighbour is here again .."

I let a laugh there was a girl from the neighbour who always came over to chat with me. For some reason Maya never liked her. she said she wasn't a good person and that I was to be with the lady she met in town.

"I hate Jane Uncle please chase her " she whispered.

"she's in the front yard looking for you.."

I giggled as I washed my hands.

"come on Maya she's not that bad" l told her holding her as we went to the house.

" besides she's just a friend" i added.

" I didnt say am going to be her boyfriend.."

"Good then" she shrugged holding me,

"otherwise, I want when I meet that coloured girl you should be free to be with her."

I smilled and patted her back, her insistance on pairing me with a stranger was so overwhelming .

I even wondered why she felt so obliged to her bet. she couldn't even say the name of the lady.

All she said when I asked her was.. "well, I will ask her the next time i meet her and I will I can promise you just be patient " she assured me confidently.

"Hey Jane" I called out as i walked to our neighbour. I was surprised she was all dressed up that morning..

"Hey Will" she smiled widely..

" how are you ?"

"Great, was just working in the garden.."

"Well then, i came to pick you up, remember i asked you to escort me to get some things in town today."

"Oh sorry, I forgot" I apologised and I saw Maya peep from the window from the corner of my eye. she made a face at me and I knew she wanted me to refuse.

"Well, prepare yourself then" Jane responded

" will come pick you up later."

I felt bad to get back on my promise so I reluctantly agreed.

Some minutes later I took a bath and changed into my usual dress code, a pair of jeans and a stripped v neck t shirt. Said bye to Maya who frowned with a sad face.

"Am going with you, since today is a weekend" she added grabbing her small bag..

"I can't remain alone with the maid Uncle" she pleaded.

" dad and mom are working and Mwamba is away for some school projects."

I smiled at her, It was hard to say no to her silly face. I asked Jane if it was okay for Maya to tag along and she agreed though Maya whispered in my ears that Jane was pissed..

I let a small laugh and ignored her as we walked to town. It was a few metres from home.

We went round in circles of the small town centre. Jane got all the things she wanted as I patiently beared the burden. shoping with women was really a hard thing to do.

Jane was a teacher at some secondary school, she had recently graduated from the university of Zambia and told me she was teaching at Chingola secondary. she was fairly looking and in all honesty I wasn't looking past our mare friendship. she was easy to talk to and I liked her cheerful personality. besides, she was the only friend I knew in the neighbourhood or maybe I just say everywhere else since i couldnt remember anything about my past life.

I sat down in some internet cafe as the two girls Jane and Maya went to the next shop trying on some clothes.

I sighed in relief as I remained behind after protesting going into the boutique with them.

I watched some people browse on the internet as i chatted with the guy who worked there. He was explaining about the system and their operations as i listened in attentively like i wanted to learn something, it was better than shopping with the girls.

Just then a beautiful coloured girl casually dressed in a flayerd skirt and a sleeveless green top that matched her fine skin walked in. she had this vibe that made me wince, but I stayed calm.

She talked to the guy at the counter and I watched her walk to a computer. she connected her phone to the PC and carried on working as i watched in silence.

After some minutes she stood straight and paid some money and turned to leave, my heart skipped but I didn't have the gut to stand and talk to her. she seemed to be in a hurry.

I followed her like a stalker and watched as she went down to the road across the shops.

My inner voice told me to follow her as she walked behind the small path behind the shoprite warehouse at back door. The area had some trucks packed and a few people walked past the route which went down to the other side of the town.

I saw a shoddy looking guy walk past me and straight away headed towards her. I watched, he held her from behind as she tried to scream he put his hand on her mouth as she struggled to get free.

"What the hell!" I screamed inside and quickly ran to them closing the gap between us.

I charged forward and hit a blow on the guys head and he fall down letting go of the girl. she staggered and stood back as i tried to go after the guy who had quickly stood and ran fast to the other side..

"Are you ok lady ?" I asked concerned .

I saw her open her mouth in shock.

"Ackim? " She asked looking really shocked and surprised..

"What are you doing here?" She asked me.

"What?" I responded

" Ackim?" I asked her.

"Do you know know who i am?" I asked her as she moved closer.

"Who are you?"

I saw her face frown.

"You are asking who I am, are you serious?" she shouted angrily.

I wanted to respond but Jane walked towards us.

"Will, whats happening here?" She asked me holding my hand like showing me off to the stranger.

I saw the lady I rescued look at our hands and her facial expression turned pale.

"Oh I see!" she exclaimed.

"so this is why you decided to disappear and fake your own death ?" she asked angrily and picked her phone.

I watched in shock as she walked away.

"Wait!" I tried to follow her but she rushed to the grey X5 packed at the end of the path.

"Come on Will " Jane held me pulling me back

"let her go"

I pushed her aside..

"don't you see that lady knows who I am?" I snapped furious..

"now I missed a Chance of learning something about myself because of you."

I ran to the road but it was too late. she drove past the round about and I saw her car disppear on the other side of town.

I felt so disappointed as we went back to th boutique with Jane.

"fake my own death..?" I echoed her words.

"what did she mean?" I asked still lost.

Maya noticed I looked upset but I smiled and assured her i was ok.

Later at home Dr Mwaba told me I was supposed to ask the lady about my life. she also felt the person could be someone close to me and explained that from the way I explained her response she could notice the lady could be my wife or maybe girlfriend.

"No i don't think so. am almost certain that girl is rich and I don't think am someone from such back grounds." I told her with a sigh

"no Doc that coloured girl is definately not my class."

She smiled gently..

"It's posible Will, by the way, did you say she's a coloured ?"

"Yes i agreed..why? "

"Well, could it be the same lady Maya talked to the other week? "

"Mmmm I dont know for sure. Maya didn't see her so am not sure shes the same person. I will ask her later and hear if her description matches the one I saw this afternoon." I told her.

Maya jumped with joy when i asked her about the coloured girl.. "yes yes! She's the one uncle" she said excited.

"tall with a lot of long silk hair.., " "yeah" I nodded..

"And very beautiful" she added.

"That too Maya" i answered casually.

She told me it was her and she sat down next to me on the couch.

"Why didnt you call me to introduce you guys..?" She complained..

"well am sory little one everything happened so fast I didn't get the chance to do that."

I told Maya that the lady seemed to know Me and she was even more excited.

" I knew it!" she shouted..

"you guys are meant for each other, it's destiny !" she exclaimed..

I smilled at her and didn't get the rest of the things she was saying.

My mind wondered back to the scene in town earlier. I wondered who the girl was. Wishing painfully I had a chance to talk for some more minutes. Apparently she was the second person who seemed to know i who I was. my efforts to confront the guy I followed in river side had failed.

Some one from there even told me the George guy worked with some gang members who were dangerous.

I wasn't scared though and I had been spying on his house since i came back from the police cells, hoping he would lead me to the truth about myself.

To be continued

Read more here - www.youngicee.com/category/the-bodyguard

The Bodyguard - Episode 23

By Tisa Phiri


Paula....

A week later I drove back home from work. I was over working myself trying so hard to stay sane. I had been trying to contact people and some connections I thought Ackim could have had. I even paid off Kakoma to tell me anything he knew about Ackim but according to him, he had believed Ackim was dead. He even mentioned that if he were alive he would have at least appeared to make him suffer for what he did.

I didn't want to tell him that Ackim went to George's place, so I silently walked away.

"Good evening mam and welcome come back" the house worker greeted me as I walked to the house from the garage.

"Thank you"

" is dad back?" I asked as she took my laptop and hand bag from my hands.

"No mam not yet" she reaponded

"but there's a man in the house who came to see you and have been waiting for over 20 minutes now, he insisted he had to see you."

"Oh I see" i nodded..

"where is he now? "

"In the living room" she responded .

" let me see Him then, just put those in my bedroom and please prepare Me something to eat am so hungry" I instructed.

I walked to the living room and before me was a tall guy with funny small eyes. He looked like a giant Chinese man his mouth turned into a wide smile making it shape like an egg.

"Good evening" I greeted brushing off the thoughts of analysing him.

"Evening mam" he greeted back his voice taking me by surprise. it was deeper than his slim body. One would think someone else spoke behind him.

I sat across on the couch a small coffee table separating us . He had been served water and the glass cup was half empty.

I cleared my throat..

"yes sir " I managed to say..

"how may I be of help?"

"Yeah I came to speak to you, am Chab. Ackim hired me months ago to find his family. I have been trying to contact him but all his lines won't go through. so i remebered he had given me your address and names to come to you in case of anything." he explained..

"so am here to find out if you know where he might be cause I have some news on his family."

"Oh I see" i sighed after listening silently..

"unfortunately I also don't know where he is sir. I have been looking for him, we were involved in some accident and i survived. we are unable to find him since then. Not even so sure whether he's dead or alive" I told him..

He shook his head.. oh sad indeed.. no wonder he hasn't contacted me he added sitting up .

"If Ackim told you to come to me it means he trusts me, you can tell me What you found out. God willing he comes back, i will be able to pass on the message."

"Yeah sure" he smiled handing me a file.

"there are pictures of some people I found at what I think is the family. I located them near Kapiri MPoshi. no wonder looking for them in Ndola didn't yield any results. They moved to some farm in the area a few kilometres to Kapiri all the details of the location are there" he pointed at the file in my hands.

I asked him a few more questions and he explained. he even told me Ackim was yet to pay him a balance of what he charged him. I right away wrote a cheque and gave it to him, thanking him I saw him to the door and he left.

Later in the night i placed the file contents on my bed looking at Photos of a woman who resembled Ackim and another girl of about 16. I wondered if that was all the people at that farm.

A thought crossed my mind. I started thinking that maybe Ackim had found his family and that is were he went. I planned that very night to travel to Kapiri the folowing day.

I didn't know whether I was chasing after the wind like Dad said the time I went to tell him what I was up to or not. I just felt the strong urge to go and seek and find answers I wasn't willing to let go of him yet.

Being a weekend I woke up early and prepared myself..I knew I would get tired driving all the way but the idea of getting a driver wasn't an option. I had to do it alone.

Some hours later, I turned off the main road to a gravel road. I was being guided by the map drawn on some paper. It was a bit dusty. I drove for another 15 minutes when the house from the map appeared in front of me.

it was quite different from the others around that area, built out of burnt bricks,looked like it had 6 or so rooms. The wide area behind showed that the family there cultivated maize. some dry trunks of maize stems were cut down.

I placed my head on the seat top as my heart started pounding fast. I was so nervous. I pushed back my hair and tied it into a rough knot and got out to go to the door.

A tall slim girl I saw on the photos came out and greeted me. I felt glad she could use English. Since I came to Zambia I had never bothered to learn any local language, the only thing I could say fluently was a greeting and I learnt it from Ackim. Anything else was hard to pronounce. I greeted her back and explained my mission.

"Am Paula coming from Solwezi, am a Friend of Ackim and I came to see his family." I told her..

She looked at me and I saw her face frown. she asked me to go in..

"wait here" she indicated pointing at a sofa.

"Let me call my mother."

She come back later with a woman. I presumed Ackim's mother. He looked a lot like her only that she was lighter in complexion and her face was wider.

She looked pale and I could tell she wasn't ok.

I stood to greet her and she responded weakly.

" who are you my child" she asked gently her calmness reminding me of Ackim. she had this tendernes in her voice that would calm you down just like her son's.

I went on explaining myself again and told her I was looking for Ackim.

She was silent for some minutes and started sobbing.

" am sorry my dear, just that it's been over 6 years since I last saw my son and i was meant to believe he's dead . Unfortunately his father also died 7 Months ago. It's so painful and has not been easy for us.

I felt a grip on my throat..

"am so sorry mom, I didn't mean to cause you any more pain, but there is a chance that Ackim is still alive.."

I saw her look up at me expectantly.

I went on explaining about how he was held captive in Congo and all the details that followed later on. I explained the accident too.

"Am almost certain he's alive somewhere and I promise to find him" i told her,

"he's a good person and I know your son would do the same for me."

She smiled,

"you are heaven sent my child. I can see it in your eyes you care so much about my son. I know among my children he was the one with a gentle spirit but the strenght of a soldier too. I miss him and my heart somehow gives me hope of seeing my son again" she said with tears in her eyes.

We talked for more than an hour and she told me about Ackim's child hood and his other siblings, the girl who welcomed me was Ackim's sister, the last born.The others went on to live in various areas.

Her illness was as a result of her kidney condition. Unfortunately she told me she had not been able to find enough money for the proper treatment since her husband died.I promised her to go back and see how I could help.

I left the farm when it as almost evening. I honestly felt relieved it was like i saw Ackim in some way. . "I have to help his mother" I thought to myself as I drove to Nsobe camp. I didn't want to drive in the night so i Decided to lodge there.

I loved the sereninity of the camp. It had this natural envirnment that made one connect with their inner self and was so relaxing.

The cool air touch my skin as i stood near the dams in front of the chalet I booked, the place was quite even though they were a few families around.

I wore a bum short and some flat slippers, a loose body top and felt so relaxed wishing Ackim would just walk from behind me that minute.

As the soft wind blew off my hair covering part of my face, I pushed it back to the side and sat in the bench. That night i planned on starting to look for him in Chingola. I gathered he might be around there since he wasnt in Solwezi and George claimed to have seen him there. I was certain the news of his family would make him so happy.

To be continued

The Bodyguard - Episode 22

By Tisa Phiri


....Paula....

After some minutes of silence I looked at George and his mother they wore this look that gave me goose bumps.

George let a small smile

"well can you now tell me why you wanted to see?" he said his voice at high pitch making me startle a bit as I realised I had been dumbfounded for a while. Thinking of the posibilty of Ackim being alive really shocked me. I didn't know weather to believe George's statement or not.

It didn't make sense for me.

"how possible is it that the man who claimed to love me was alive and still let me believe he was dead." I thought to myself,

Without answering him I stood up. but before I could walk out George's Mother quickly stood up.

"where do you think you are going ?" She asked challengingly..

"Excuse me, I need to go" I said calmly holding my phone I walked out without another word. I could feel my temper rising and I wasn't ready to face them yet all I could think of was Ackim.

George rushed past me and as I opened the car door he stood before me and held his hand on the door.

"Hey you brat , let me warn you, am not going to rest until I get what belongs to me" he snapped in my face

"am older than you and deserve better you and me were born from the same father I too deserve more than the change he has been giving me."

"Look here you jerk" l told him feeling irritated.

" that wealthy you think you deserve isn't yours. I have worked hard to get my father's investments this far and my mother left me a lot of money that is included in the businesses so you might as well forget it."

He let a weaked smile,

" we will see" he said daring me.

"stop blocking my way George and if anything happens to me, i can promise you the law will catch up with you. I know about all your schemes, stay away from me.!" I shouted pushing him away.

I drove out furious, I knew that was bound to happen but what disturbed me the most was the news of Ackim.

"How could he do this to me ? " I thought..

"he's alive and couldn't even make an effort to come to me." I couldn't understand why would he even forget me in such a short period.

Tears formed in my eyes as I drove. i had mourned him and now I have to live knowing he abandoned me.

I was lost in thoughts as I drove to join the main road without noticing a truck coming from the opposite direction.

" pooooh ! Poooooooh !" I heard the truck hooting. With a start I pressed the emergency brakes and my car stopped with tires screeching the truck missed my car with an inch as it swayed slightly.

I looked around in shock as people watched, others holding their heads..

I was so puzzled that I didn't hear the driver of the truck shouting.

Opening the car door I stepped out..

"Hey lady you want to kill us this afternoon? can't you watch were you are going!" he screamed.

"Am sorry " I apologised...

I stood for another minute composing myself my heart was pumping so fast and I felt like it would come out of my chest.

Driving slowly, I parked at some hotel in Chingola town. I couldn't get myself to drive to Solwezi. I called my father to let him know i wasn't going back.

" am seeing a friend" I told him when he called to ask why I wasn't going back.

I booked in a room later. Sitting on the bed, i cried aloud holding the pillow in my face to avoid being heard outside.

"Why won't you see me Ackim?" I cried..

Later on I calm down...

"maybe he wants to fight and protect me behind my back I thought." The thought comforted me and I felt relaxed, though it didn't make much sense I still hoped he didn't just abandon me.

In the evening I walked around the small town and got myself some clothings from some boutique. I needed some clothes to change into the following day.

Crossing over to some restaurant I sat and ate quitely as I browsed through some sites on my phone.

"Excuse me" I heard a voice call to me..

"hey !" I smilled at a girl standing next to me.

"You are so beautiful " she told me with her lovely puppy eyes..

" I want you to be my uncle's girlfriend" she said smilling widely.

"Well thank you sweety" I answered.

"what's your name ? " i asked looking at her..

"Maya" she said with a grinn.

"well how do you know your uncle will like me ? " I asked..

I heard her mother call her before she could answer..

"come on Maya come eat your food and stop troubling that poor lady" she told her.

I looked at their direction it was a family of 4, including Maya .

"It's okey mam" I told the woman.. "she's a cheerful girl l like her." Maya smiled at her mother.

"I know he will like you" she answered my question.

"he's very handsome too" she added looking straight at me.

"Okay let's do this sweety, when we meet again then l will definately become your aunty ." I laughed softly making her smile widely..

"we will meet again you will see she " shrugged with so much enthusiasm and walked back to her table.

I glanced at them and couldn't help admire the small family. It reminded me of my mother.

Thoughts of her almost made me shed tears. she was always there for me she put us all together and I knew if she was alive she could have made me feel at ease on the situations I was going through.

Over the years I had dedicated my life to help dad. He had requested me to help him when mom died. we both were still mourning and I couldn't turn down his request. I felt he needed me close so I put aside my designing shop, hiring someone to help me run it.

Now that years had gone by l was now thinking of starting my life all over again. I felt like I had to live for myself too. I made a mental note to persue my dream and probably go back to Australia when all the drama was over and run my designing business.

I had obtained a first degree in management so I had enough knowledge to help run the business for my father. From the time we came to Zambia i had put my life on hold.

I felt bad a person like George would just think of wasting the things that he had never worked for. To him i was this spoiled girl who was just enjoying my father's wealthy.

The following day, I drove back home. I went straight to the office. I had to get myself busy.

I was flipping through the files, when dad walked in.

"Paula, why didn't you tell me you were going to face George..?" He asked standing in front of my table.

"Well dad, someone needs to do something unlike you am not going to let that fool get away with the crimes he's commited" I told him straight up.

"Am more worried about you my daughter" he sighed sitting in the chair..

"No dad you have a soft spot for him and i will not let him kill us both while I fold my hands. remember he killed Ackim" I added..

Dad shook his head.

"Am sorry to tell you this but I had followed the police reports, there is a chance Ackim is alive "

"What ?" I answered suprised.

Him confirming the news about Ackim puzzled me. I had not told him what George told me.

"Yes my dear," he continued

"The reports show that there were no human remains in the car, but again there's a possibility he died some place away from the accident scene. No wonder the people who picked you to the hospital didn't find him."

"Oh dad ..why didn't you ever tell me? I mourned a man who is still alive."

"I didn't want to give you false hope my Paula. I saw the way you suffered, besides I don't understand why he hasn't come back after all this time. Maybe he is not alive after all" he told me calmly.

"He's alive dad" I whispered.

"He has to be and he's somewhere out there"

"Take it easy my Dear. let's just be patient and see how it goes, otherwise I don't want you confronting your brother. If he's the one behind all this you will end up putting yourself in danger." My father stated worried.

"Don't worry dad, I can take care of myself." I smiled at him before he could walk out.

I stood by the window as dad went out, looked outside and watched some mine vehicle move things from one point to another..

"Be alive my bodyguard" I whispered amid the noise coming from outside.

"Please come back to me."

********

...Ackim.......

I was released from the police custody the following day with the help of Dr Mwaba' s husband.

The fact that the police found the guy I shoot dead and the one that they captured alive both belonged to some gang they had been Hunting for years. All charges where dropped as the case was considered self defence.

I didn't have an identification but thankfully the police in charge was a Friend to James, Dr Mwaba's husband. He let me go after I explained the situation of my memory.

I was taken back home and the family wellcomed me with joy.

"I missed you uncle Will" Maya hugged me.

"gues what? " She told me as she led me to the dinning table.

"Tell me dear am all ears" I smiled. The girl just had a way of making things seem easy. She made everyone smile and had that sense of serenity. The fact that I was always tolerant with her and paid attention to her talks, made her like me very much.

"Tell me Maya" I reminded her as we sat to eat. Dr Mwaba and Mwamba started laughing. I saw James shake his head too.

"What is it guys ? " I asked surprised because everyone was smilling.

"Well Maya, tell him" Mwamba spoke up.

"Excuse me people give me a chance" she chuckled.

"ahaa ! now uncle let me explain,

Remember the other day we went for dinner ?" she started ,

"yeah clearly" I told her..

"how can I forget am just coming from the cells for killing a thief" I answered her..

"Sure..anyway that aside" she smiled.

" l have good news for you, we found this beautiful coloured woman at the restaurant , she's gorgeous."

"Mmmmmmh" I murmured with food in my mouth not really intrested in her story but I had to pretend I was listening.

"I asked her to be your girfriend uncle Will" she added

I was startled..

"what ?" I almost chocking with the food. I had not thought of that and I didn't see it coming. since I came out of the hospital all l could think of was recovering my memory. I didn't even know if I was married or had any relationship with a woman in my past.

Maya went on to praise my supposedly new found girlfriend.

"Promise you will like her uncle." she said with pleading eyes.

"at least meet her and tell me if am lying " she added while everyone broke down laughing.

"You are in for trouble my dear Will." James told me as he poured some water in a glass cup.

I nodded my head.

"true l'm" I responded.

"So now does this beautiful woman know me ?" I asked her jokingly.

"Leave that to me, all you guys need is to meet each other" she said cheerfully.

"I know you will like each other."

"Well then," I told her.

" let's see this wonder woman, maybe you can be the knife girl at our wedding" I teased as we all giggled happily.

To be continued

Episode 49 contd



"Put down the gun young man," Henry said in a gruff voice.

Immediately he finished speaking, one of the men behind Cole noticed his distraction and immediately tried to make use of the opportunity to take the gun but to their utmost surprise and shock, Henry met the man with a kick on his face and the man fell to the ground flat. The other men were yet to understand what was happening when Dave grabbed the PA on the shoulders and gave him a headbutt on the face.

They were still yet to fully grasp what was going on, but immediately launched their defense, attacking the policemen and the man who they were called to arrest.

The PA tried to reply Dave with a punch but Dave bent and grabbed him by the elbow. He punched him hard twice, one in the belly and another in the chest, then he bent him forward and sent a kick to his face with his knee.

Another man had tried to attack Henry immediately but as usual Henry picked him easily and got his backbone broken with his knee within few seconds. Another one tried to take out a gun but Henry met him with a kick in the groin and followed with three other punches.



Immediately Samantha noticed the action had begun at the corridor, she opened the backseat of the car and took out a backpack. She strapped it to her back immediately and quickly brought out the guns from her pockets. She moved from behind the car and faced the other security men who had noticed the fight at the corridor and were coming towards there. She sent in two tranquilizing bullets into the chest of one man and hid again behind the car before she fired another into the belly of another. She turned through the back of the car to the other side and took three other men by surprise, firing a shot each into their bodies. She saw other men coming from other sides of the compound as she turned back and ran towards the corridor.

A bullet from a man down the corridor narrowly missed her as she climbed up and hid behind the handrail, she rose up briefly and fired a quick shot at the man before moving quickly to hide behind the concrete pillar of the rail. Dave came to her rescue as he walked towards the handrail, firing shots at the men down the balcony.

"Get up now," he said quickly to her and she ran from her hiding place towards Henry who was already waiting for her. Dave moved towards her previous hiding position as he kept on firing randomly.

All the men who were on the balcony previously with the men were already down by the time Samantha got close to Henry. She turned the backpack towards Henry and he zipped it open quickly. He took out two small waist pouches and threw to Cole for Cole to hold for Dave and himself. He picked one out for himself and strapped it to his waist before he closed the backpack. Immediately, he and Samantha proceeded towards the main entrance of the house while Cole moved in Dave's direction to join him take care of the men outside the building.



Henry led the way into the house and they met with some men already coming towards the entrance. While Henry grabbed the man by the neck, turned him in and slammed him to the wall, Samantha passed beside him, firing shots with two guns in her hands.


Henry turned with his gun after slamming the first man's head twice on the wall and dropping the unconscious body, he bent down as he fired two quick shots at some men. He rolled and hid behind a long sofa, facing Samantha directly where she also hid behind another long sofa. Before they could communicate anything to themselves, they were sent running as the opponents began to fire multiple shots at the sofa. The bullets did not penetrate through the sofas immediately but as it became repeated, the materials became weak and gave way. However, Henry and Samantha moved away before the bullets could get to them. Samantha rolled behind another sofa and continued moving while Henry found nowhere else to hide except the back of a water dispenser. He quickly dipped his hand into his waist pouch and took out a small ball. The transparent container of water on top was fired and the water splashed all over Henry's body as he opened the lid from the small ball and threw it to the center of the room where the three men were. He quickly dipped his hand in to pick out a treated nose cover.

The ball flew towards the men standing close to the end wall and firing shots, erupting a pink smoke as it landed.

Samantha seeing it, also took out her treated nose cover and put it on. Before she could get out of the hiding spot, Henry had already fired down two of the men, one of them had been able to escape into the hallway behind, coughing heavily.

__

Elkim paused the footage and stared intently at the policemen on the screen. He zoomed it to see the faces of the two policemen one after the other. He observed more carefully when he got to Henry's view as he had watched the footage before and seen how Henry singlehandedly took out three men and also joined the other officer in taking out another. He rotated the view to see the face of the man properly. He saw a bearded man with well kept moustache, but it looked like nobody he had seen before. He remained calm and unperturbed, even though he kept wondering who the uniformed policemen were and was their mission was.

He had changed already into his night gown when he began to hear sounds of gunshots around. It was then he quickly opened up his laptop and plugged in the chords transmitting pictures from the surveillance cameras around the house.

He checked his phone again and there was still no signal. He got up from the chair and walked to the other side of his bed, he picked another phone from the stool there but was disappointed to find that the other phone was also not receiving signals. He could not make any calls. He returned to the table where his laptop was and sat on the chair, he navigated to the dashboard of the surveillance cameras software and selected the option for the livestream. He switched quickly from one footage source to another in search for the current position of the policemen in the house. He soon spotted the huge man and a lady in the first living room. He noticed the coloured gas in the place and also saw the nose covers covering the noses of the uniformed men. He watched as the huge one proceeded to the hallway.

He was now sure that the men were there for something very serious and they probably were targeting getting to him or even killing him. He chuckled at the thought and was amazed at the temerity of the men to come into his house for him. His smile disappeared quickly from his face when he recalled that his daughter was also in the house at that time.

He jumped to his feet quickly and walked to the wardrobe. He took out a Bethanna military camouflage shorts and a different shirt. He quickly changed into them before he took out his three guns from the wardrobe, two revolvers and one long gun. He also took out packs of bullets cartridges and placed them on the table. He loaded the two revolvers quickly and the long gun. He kept the pistols in his pockets and proceeded to the door with his long gun in his hand.

Just as he opened the door, he saw his daughter already running towards his room in panic.

"It's okay baby," he comforted as he pulled his daughter into a warm embrace. He opened the door and led her in. "Get seated and relax, there's no cause for alarm," he said to her in a reassuring voice before he proceeded again to the table where his laptop was. He watched her sit on the bed first before he also sat on the chair. He switched the sources of footages again to find the current location of the assailants. It was still in the hallway and he could see the huge man breaking the bones of his men.

"Stay in here baby, don't move or leave until I come back for you." Elkim said to his daughter as he picked up the gun again. He walked to her and kissed her on the forehead before walking out of the room. He locked it from outside.


Read Episode 50 and more here - www.youngicee.com/category/restless

Restless - Episode 49

® 18+ SNVL
© Oyinloye Oluwatosin Emmanuel

Nexis, Bethanna
19:03PM

"What's happening there?" Agent Elkim asked from the backseat of the car where he was. He was staring out through the car window at the gate of his house where there seemed to be an argument going on with a man and some of his security men at the gate.

"We would find out when we get down," His personal assistant who was sitting at the front seat with the driver of the car answered him.

The vehicle drove in behind another in which four other security staffs sat, all members of the FOX Agency.

Agent Elkim placed a closer look at the man who seemed to be causing trouble at the side of the gate as he drove in. The man also looked in direction of the car but Elkim knew he could not have seen him because of the tinted glasses. He noticed it was a young man and wondered what he was arguing about. He was probably drunk and unaware of himself, Agent Elkim concluded in his mind as the car was driven in.

They got to the parking space and Elkim's personal assistant stepped out of the car to open the door for his boss.

Agent Elkim stepped out of the car and handed his tablet device and other personal effects to the assistant before he proceeded towards the entrance. The personal assistant closed the door and quickly stepped aside to order one of the men from the first car to find out what was going on at the gate. He rushed up to join the Agent immediately after.


Agent Elkim's first daughter was the only one in the living room when he walked in. She had been the only family member present with him in the house for almost a year. He had a family of four, his wife with him and two kids - a male and one female. The male child was the younger one and he lived in another State in the country Bethanna with his mother where he also schooled. The female daughter was already a graduate and was running an online business from her father's house where she lived.

Ten minutes after Elkim got into his room was when the personal assistant stepped in with his device and the other things he had handed to him. Elkim had already taken off his suit jacket and tie, his white shirt was buttoned down only halfway and the sleeves were already unbuttoned. His shoes and socks had also been taken off.

"Sir, the man at the gate has been troubling them ten minutes before we arrived, I was told he insisted he needed to see you." The personal assistant said after dropping the man's devices and other things on the table.

Elkim turned his gaze to him. "What does he need to see me for?"

"He says he knows something about EC23 and you need to hear him out."

"EC23?" Elkim raised his brows.

"Yes, you know anything like that sir?"

"Yes, but that case is long forgotten." Elkim answered thoughtfully. "is he still outside?"

"I was told he's still sitting around, waiting for his message to be delivered to you."

"I'll like to hear from him, bring him into the compound," Elkim said and got up from the bed where he was sitting. He unbuckled his belt and began to pull it out.

"Right away," the personal assistant turned and left.

Agent Elkim quickly changed his clothes and got out of the house eight minutes later. He spotted the young man standing down the large verandah, with three of the security men surrounding him.

"Hello young man, I'm here to see you like you demanded." Agent Elkim said to the visitor. He remained standing on top in the verandah of the building and resting his arms on the handrails.

Cole stared at him silently for a while, acting uncomfortable in the presence of the other security men.

"Excuse us," Agent Elkim said to the men.

They left without hesitation. They had already searched Cole thoroughly before he was allowed in and were very sure he had no harmful substance on him. They were also sure about Agent Elkim being strong enough to deal with him if there was any physical attack.

"I came to see you about EC23," Cole cleared his throat and began. His clothes looked rough, visibly from the handling outside the gate when he tried to force himself in at first. "I know it's been gone for more than five years but I have some substantial evidence that can implicate you."

Agent Elkim raised a brow. He took in a breath and folded his arms across his chest.

"Tell me what you know," he demanded.

"I know that you were present at the club house that night and I have pictures to prove your presence," Cole replied.

"What other proofs do you have?"

"That only," Cole frowned. "Or isn't that enough to land your silly ass in jail."

"Yes, it is." Agent Elkim admitted, looking around to see if anyone was listening. "So what do you want from me? You need to delete those pictures."

"A million Bethanna dollars," Cole stated.

"A million Bethanna dollars?" Agent Elkim frowned.

"Yes."

"Okay... Ermm, but how did you get the pictures?"

"I was at the cartel that night, I took the pictures personally."

"What were you doing at the cartel?"

"Doing drugs of course man."

"So you are a criminal!"

"Yeah, I agree but not a bad one as you." Cole replied boldly. "I'm a man who has nothing to lose but you have so much to lose, if I release the pictures, we'd both go to jail. So we can talk business quickly.

"Can I see the pictures?"

"Yes sure," Cole said as he took out his tablet device from a bag hanging from his shoulder. "I have them with some of my other guys not here with me, if anything happens to this or to me, they'd release their copies."

"I'll give you the money, please give me some minutes." Agent Elkim said after viewing the pictures and stepped back. He called for one of the security men and gave them orders to grant Cole a seat to wait at the corridor. He then proceeded into the house and instructed his personal assistant to invite the police.

He walked back to his room after smiling it off. He concluded that the young man must have gotten drunk or high on drugs. When the said case was still in court, pictures showing him in more implicating positions had been presented and he still got exonerated at the end. So he took Cole as a joker and sought to hand him over to the police.

Cole sat on the chair he was provided for at the corridor. He was also served wine but refused to drink from it. He hoped in his mind that the man would have called for the police just like Henry predicted.

Agent Elkim came out again after ten minutes and reassured him that he was bringing the money and had sent someone to get the money in cash. He went back in and Cole sat there alone for an additional eighteen minutes before Agent Elkim's personal assistant came out with four other men. They stood around Cole.

"Our men are already here with your money," the personal assistant said to Cole, looking in direction of the gate.

Cole also looked in the direction the man was looking but could not see anything from his seat because of the handrails and the flowers. He glanced at the PA's face again and saw a mischievous smile which made him more inquisitive. He rose up and saw a police vehicle driving towards the garage.

"What's happening here?" he feigned a shocked expression as he stared at the PA's face.

He got no response to his question. His eyes followed the police vehicle as it parked and the uniformed men stepped out and climbed onto the corridor.

"Welcome officers, this man has something interesting to tell you." the PA said to the officers as they proceeded towards them.

Cole stood there acting, with a frustrated look on his face like a trapped man. Henry and Dave in their police uniforms and caps and also having light facial disguises like Cole slowly marched towards them. Cole could see Samantha still staying behind outside the car.

Dave had the handcuff in his hand and two guns carefully put in the hooks by the sides of his waist. Henry also had revolvers by his side and a handcuff attached to the belt of his trousers.

"You claimed to have some information about EC23, and you also said you work in the drug cartel. You're under arrest," Dave said as he approached Cole. "Kindly put your hands in the air and turn around."

"I swear, Chief Elkim would pay for this." Cole cursed in an angry tone as he obeyed the instruction of the police officer and turned around.

"Put your hands down and slowly behind you," Dave added. Cole responded slowly and Dave slowly took the handcuffs to his wrists.

All the while, Henry had his eyes hovering about the house, especially the entrance. He had once visited the house some years back when it was newly built. He had worked with agent Elkim on cases during those years and had being invited them for dinner with the man's family.

All of a sudden while the men expected him to be cuffed and taken away, Cole made a quick turn as the police officer's hand touched his. He pulled out a gun from the side of the police officer and pointed it at him.

"Move back or I blow off your brain," Cole warned as he cocked the gun.

Everyone standing around looked so shocked. Henry who was also standing beside Cole quickly pulled out his gun and pointed at Cole.

Cole glanced at Henry but kept his gun pointed at Dave. Henry's eyes communicated a quick message to him as their eyes met briefly. Cole took a quick glance at the other men around him. He knew they were all members of the FOX and that even though they looked surprised, they weren't afraid.

The Bodyguard - Episode 21

By Tisa Phiri


.... Paula...

I looked outside the side window as I drove the car. I had to take on the journey and confront my so-called Brother. It had been months since I last discovered he existed.

My father insisted he would take it up and make sure George, the name he told me this brother was called was stopped. He tried following him up but he was no where to be seen.

I knew my father had somehow a soft spot for him, his intentions were not to really put him in prison. I noticed all he talked about was reprimanding him.

"Dad" I scolded him as he told me that.

"you mean that your son should live freely after what he has done? " I asked furious that he wasn't taking the issue as serious as he should.

"I know Paula" he responded..

" but understand he's my son and the mother will be all alone. She depends on him, besides we are not really sure it was him who planned all this cause he denied it when i asked him."

"Well dad, I see you have grown so fond of this your son and is willing to forgive him, for your own information I believe it was him and I don't care if he is my half brother or not. He's a criminal and will pay for killing the man I loved and making my life a living hell. so I will personally gather evidence and put him in prison!" I shouted leaving his study room before he could utter another word.

I had taken time to organise myself. I needed to be prepared for the worst. So here i am heading to chingola. I had become less scared since Ackim died. I made avenging his death my mission. I still missed him so much and for some reason didn't want to accept he was dead. Everytime a man approached me I remembered his words.

"no man will ever make you feel the way I make you"

He was right, it was like he had put a curse on me and all I did was think of him. Just thoughts of him as I continued driving made me shed tears.

I wiped the tears as I approach the road block at the police check point. I was almost in Chingola.

"Good morning officer?" I greeted the policeman at the check point.

"Morning lady" he smiled at me. "going far ?" he asked leaning on my window..

"not really" I responded irritated he was trying to flirt with me.

"Am seeing a relative in Chingola" I added with a fake smile. He indicated for me to go on.

My heart pumped fast as I drove to river side an address I was given. I was told George and his mother lived there. I didn't know what to expect or how to start explaining myself. I pushed back the urge to drive back.

"I can't be afraid now" I whispered to myself.

" it's now or never." I assured myself as I walked looking for the address.

A boy of about 12 showed me the place I was looking for and I thanked him as I turned to the direction he was pointing at.

A short woman wearing a floral blouse and a black long skirt walked out of the flat at the end. I looked around the place, a three by three well built flat.

Indeed George was ungrateful I thought to myself. My father had built a good investment for him plus other monies given to him but he still wanted everything to himself. I felt a bit of jealousy.

I had been working for my father for over 8 years, but he had never given me a piece of land even though i knew I would inherit some of his wealthy, sometimes I wished I had lived my own life and did my own things especially designing which I loved so much.

I was brought back to my senses when The woman before me extended her hand to greet me.

"come on in." she said with a smile ..

"Thank you mam" I said following her to the house. I made sure I dressed casually. A pair of jeans and a sleevelesss blouse which slightly showed off the black bra I was wearing inside and some cream white pumps.

I sat down on the couch taking in the brown furninture in the room matched with some white and brown curtains hanging on some side windows.

" am sorry mam I have not introduced myself, am Paula." I couldn't get to finish my introduction when she chirped in.

"I know who you are my dear" she nodded

"you are Benson's daughter" she added.

"I have seen you before though not in person. Benson told us about you and have watched some of your presentations on the media for the mine."

"Well then" I sighed not knowing whether to be glad or worried they knew so much about me.

"I came to see your son. I have something important to discuss with him" I added calmly.

"What about?" she asked almost sounding upset..

"you and your father have everything and you have always had what you always wanted but my poor George has lived in poverty. it's not fair that he gets peanuts from him while you enjoy all his money." She bursts out angrily.

I looked at her shocked. I had no idea the woman before me held such bitterness. It was more like she was waiting for me to show up and then pour her heart out.

"Yes," she continued as I listened in quitely .

"He's the first born he was supposed to be working in those positions you a woman is working and not you. look at you" she added raising her hand to point at my body..

"You look like a model from the magazine and driving expensive cars, but my son has to continue working like a slave. He thinks these flats will give him a life he deserves?.."

I couldn't take her words anymore, she was getting to my nerves..

"Look here mam" I spoke up sternly.

" I didn't come here for your sermons. I dont know what your issues with dad are and I don't really care. I just learnt he had a son and honestly that's none of my business."

"Yes!" She stood up screaming like we were quarreling.

"it's your business and I will not rest until my son gets what he wants!"

I could not get myself to answer her back when George walked in.

" wow wow! Guess who decided to grace us with her presence" he shouted clapping his hands scarstically.

"the might Paula! I gues your resurrected boyfriend told you about me huh?" he teased.

I stood straight facing him my temper rising

" you son of the devil! i screamed ignoring his mother. You killed Ackim and you dare make funny of me? you will pay for this you fool!" I scolded him angrly.

He laughed out making me feel like nothing.

"Don't pretend with me You brat, your stupid bodygaurd dared to show his face here a week ago and you think I will buy the story of him being dead? Did he send you here huh? Did he?" He murmered close to my face..

I sat back down my strenght drained.

"what? You mean, he... he came here?" I asked almost in a whisper.

To be continued

Read more here - www.youngicee.com/category/the-bodyguard

dreofGod:
Some people will read this in 20 years time and be like,"so people don dey make sense since Jonathan era?". Boy o boy! See hollywood material! Oyinprince, idobale mo wa o. All Tarasha enemies, #tiyin ta. Season 2 here I come.

Thanks

etzmztagenius:
Nice story SIR OYINPRINCE, finished the whole story in a day
I must try to finish season 2 tomorrow coz the story is MAD
More grease to ur elbow sir

Thanks sir

do4luv14:



hahahahahahahahahah

but bro Restless never complete for your site nah, still dey episode 72,

so bodyguard get part two hmmm

I'm still writing Restless

RawVirgi2019:


we follow n yu stop it half-way like 'Tarasha' abi?
scam.

Lol, what are you talking about?

I think you are the only one who read Tarasha halfway because thousands of people finished reading since January/February

Follow the link and complete the story , you are here complaining. You can't recharge 100 Naira and get 10mb abi. You gan, Scam!

Blood Lives Here - Episode 19

© Brian Ngoma

"What did you just do?" Hunter asked coming out of the flowers. "You killed your son," he walked past Ethan's body.

"Aren't you supposed to be dead Hunter?" Ludo asked with her breath quickening.

"Join us Hunter," Mr. Hamuumbu pointed the gun at him.

"Hunter!" Ludo called him.

Hunter walked to where Ludo was and stood looking at Mr. Hamuumbu with disgust written all over his face. He didn't utter a word to Ludo nor look at her.

"You never give up, do you?" Mr. Hamuumbu looked at Hunter. "I also thought you were dead. Ethan and his mother celebrated your alleged death."

"To kill me, you have to behead me, that’s when you can only be sure." Hunter said angrily.

"But those policemen found your body in the backyard," Ludo said confused.

"That wasn't my body. That was your friends, Mr. Jabulani," Hunter told Ludo avoiding her eye contact.

"Didn't you leave him dead in the car?"

"I went back for the body," Hunter's eyes were on Mr. Hamuumbu. "Enough with the questions, I'll deal with you later. I want to sort out this bastard."

Mr. Hamuumbu clapped.

"Wow, Hunter you're the man. I knew I didn't have to underestimate you. You know I got tired watching everyone messing up."

"Was that the reason you killed him?" Ludo pointed at Ethan's body.

Mr. Hamuumbu ignored Ludo.

"So Hunter, here I am. You have been wanting me all these years. What are you going to do about it?"

Hunter sallied forth.

"Wait, wait, wait," Mr. Hamuumbu yelled. "Not so fast."

"Don't test me, old man!" Hunter growled.

"You are all in my den, I make the rules," Mr. Hamuumbu said looking around. "Ludo this is where you make probably the most important decision of your life."

Ludo shook.

Hunter looked at Ludo.

"What?" She asked nervously.

"This is how it’s going to be. This man here," Mr. Hamuumbu pointed at Hunter. "He broke into my house to rob us. He couldn't manage and in the process, he killed my son."

Hunter took in a sharp breath.

"That's not what happened sir," Ludo said. "You killed your son. You shot him in front of my eyes."

"I know that," Mr. Hamuumbu laughed. "Who will believe you though?" Mr. Hamuumbu winked. "I don't talk nor walk. How could I have killed him?"

"You bastard!" Hunter muttered.

"Hunter broke into the house and killed Ethan, that's final," Mr. Hamuumbu was still pointing the gun at Hunter.

"No sir."

"Your choice, either you get to find out how the manuscript is accurately written or ...."

"Wait...... What?" Ludo jerked.

"You heard me dear," Mr. Hamuumbu said. "I know the secret behind the manuscript, in fact I'm the mastermind behind it."

"How is that even possible?"

"So decide, Manuscript or Hunter?"

Ludo was stuck. All the past weeks, she had tried and almost gave up in finding out the truth behind the manuscript. She looked at Hunter who was furious his eyes couldn't even be seen. The beard was messed up. He looked like he had been through hell and back.

"And Ludo, you're on our side now, isn't it?" Mr. Hamuumbu asked.

"What do you mean on your side?" Hunter asked.

"She's sleeping with Evan."

Hunter faced Ludo and almost grabbed her when she ran to Mr. Hamuumbu and hid behind him.

"I can explain Hunter, please......" She cried edging closer to Mr. Hamuumbu.

"You betrayed me," Hunter said.

"No, it just happened and I thought you were dead."

"Hear yourself speaking, that's the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Ethan almost killed you. Evan and Erica tried to kill you several times and now you're sharing beds with them, you disgust me young girl," Hunter shouted.

Ludo said nothing but cried.

"Hunter you may leave now; I'm sparing your life. It’s not mine to take but trust me, Evan will Hunt you down. You killed his brother. Now leave!" Mr. Hamuumbu yelled.

Hunter looked at Mr. Hamuumbu as he stepped backwards. Ludo hid her face behind Mr. Hamuumbu.

"And One more thing before you go," Mr. Hamuumbu stopped Hunter.

Hunter stopped.

"What happened that day wasn't my fault," Mr. Hamuumbu said.

Hunter felt his heart ache.

"It just so happened me and your daughter got sick at the same time and you know, I had to be operated on first, money talks."

"She was just a child. She needed the operation more than you did," Hunter felt a lump in his throat.

"Its money my friend. Yeah she was supposed to be operated on but I needed that doctor to operate on me. Didn't you even kill that doctor?" Mr. Hamuumbu nodded. “You and killing people. Respect your child’s memory by just disappearing. That's the reason I'm sparing your life. Would it be nice to kill your daughter and you? I wouldn't live with myself."

Hunter didn't answer but the muscles in his face tightened. With that, he disappeared as quickly as he appeared.

"Now Ludo," Mr. Hamuumbu turned to face Ludo. "Get my wheelchair."

Ludo did as told. Mr. Hamuumbu sat on it.

"Now scream and I hope your acting skills are great. We are about to have a show," he smiled.

He sat on the wheelchair and placed the gun in his jacket.

Ludo hesitated.

"Do you want to know about the manuscript?"

Ludo nodded.

"Now shout!" He commanded her. "Don't worry about hunter, he's long gone."

Ludo screamed her lungs out till the security guards came rushing to them. They found her on the ground by Ethan's body while Mr. Hamuumbu was sited still on the wheelchair dropping tears. Ludo was crying too. The security guard couldn't believe it was Ethan who was killed. If anything, he was supposed to be the last child standing because he was the fiercest one. One of them called the hospital and the police.

Ludo wheeled Mr. Hamuumbu back into the house and sat next to him in the living room. Two policemen came and asked to talk to her. They led her outside. After observing her and making her comfortable, they asked her, "what happened? You were with the old man."

Ludo thought about Hunter and Mr. Hamuumbu’s words.

"Someone broke into the house and shot Ethan," She answered.

“Wasn’t he shot from outside?” The policeman asked.

Ludo tapped her feet.

The two police man looked at her suspiciously.

“After breaking in, I think on his way out; That’s when he met Ethan and shot him.”

"Can you describe him?" The officer asked.

"Tall, dark and he has a beard. His eyes are also very dark."

She knew she couldn't say she knew him because the moment she said that, she would be implicated.

"Is that all?" The officer probed.

"Yes, that's all I can remember. It happened so fast."

Ludo went back to the living room where Mr. Hamuumbu was. Before she entered the room, she watched him on the wheelchair. Looking at him, she understood how he had played everyone into thinking he was really sick.

"Cut the crap, we are just the two of us," Ludo said entering. "Tell me, what do you know about the manuscript?"

Mr. Hamuumbu didn't move a muscle.

"Come on old man," Ludo knelt before the wheelchair. "Speak up!" She yelled.

"What are you doing?" Erica asked standing at the door.

Ludo stood up feeling guilty.

"Step aside from him," Erica told Ludo.

Ludo stepped aside.

Erica walked to her father and checked him.

"What were you doing to him?" She asked again. "Leave now!"

Ludo didn't say a word but left the room. She got outside and found Evan talking to the police. Evan didn’t see her walk past him. She didn't want to bother him. She walked to the gate and hoped she would find a cab to take her home. The nearer she got to the gate, the more she got afraid. Thinking about what she did to Hunter made her sick in the stomach. What if he was outside in the darkness waiting for her? She asked herself.

She found the security guard at the gate who just waved at her. The gate was opened for her. She got outside and felt the cold of the night seemingly telling her to go back inside. She walked further getting deeper into the darkness. Whilst walking, she saw someone standing at a pole in front of her. She couldn't see the person clearly but wondered what they were doing at that time of the night. Anyone could have asked her the same question. As she approached the stranger, she heard her name being called behind her. She turned around and it was Evan running towards her.

"Where are you going?" He asked when he got to where she was.

"I'm going home," she answered. "I don't live here."

"You cannot go like this, let me take you," Evan said holding her hand and leading her back to the house.

Ludo didn't say anything but followed. For a man who had just lost his brother, Evan behaved normally like nothing had happened. They got to the house and found Erica on the phone crying. As soon as she saw them, she turned her face away and pushed the door. Evan told Ludo to wait for him in the living room while he got something from his bedroom.

Ludo found Mr. Hamuumbu in the same position she had left him. She walked to him and stared at him. She felt like she could strangle him. She wanted to walk away when she saw a white paper in his left hand. She looked around and got the paper from his hand. She believed it was for her or at least a clue to how the manuscript came to be. She stepped backwards and wanted to flip it open.

“Do it from home,” Mr. Hamuumbu whispered. “Keep your mouth shut otherwise I will have you killed.”

Ludo looked around hoping someone had heard Mr. Hamuumbu speak but there was no one but her and him. Mr. Hamuumbu was clever. Ludo punched the air in frustration.

"Let's go," Evan said.

Ludo quickly walked to Evan and they went to the car. Evan was quiet all the way to Ludo's place. He didn't say anything or look at Ludo. Ludo could tell he was deep in thoughts and saying anything could have disturbed or angered him. She decided to also remain quiet all the way.

"Here you are," Evan said after parking the car.

Ludo unstrapped her seatbelt and opened the door.

"Did you see the man who killed my brother?" Evan asked sighing heavily.

Ludo was caught unaware by the question.

"Did you?"

"Yes."

"Can you describe him?"

"Tall, dark with a beard and dark eyes."

"Hunter!" Evan hit his head on the wheel.

"You will hurt yourself," Ludo said.

"Goodnight Ludo, I'll call you."

Ludo left Evan in the car. He watched her open the gate and entered. He didn't want to leave right away. He stayed a while outside Ludo's house. He started the engine and put the car in reverse. While trying to check the back, he saw Ludo's phone on the seat.

"Shit," he stopped the car.

He got it. Initially, his plan was to stay away from Ludo till he had sorted all the problems he had with his family so he had to give her back the phone. He got out of the car and locked it, went to the gate. Luckily, Ludo didn't lock it. Evan walked to the front door and noticed it was open. He knocked on the door and Ludo opened it.

"What are you doing here?" She asked startled.

"You forgot your phone," he handed it over to her.

She grabbed it without saying a word and pushed the door. Evan pushed it back.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

Ludo bowed her head down, "Nothing."

Evan observed her and noticed she was sweating and shaking. From there, he inferred something was not right.

"Is everything alright?" He whispered.

Ludo was pulled back inside forcefully and the door slammed on Evan's face. Evan pushed it harder feeling it been pushed with so much force on the other side. He didn't stop till the person on the other side left it and with all the power he was pushing it, Evan found himself in the house with his face on the floor.

"Damn!" He cussed.

"So much for an entrance!" Hunter said holding Ludo.


To be continued

Read more here - www.youngicee.com/category/blood-lives-here

Blood Lives Here - Episode 18

© Brian Ngoma

A week and some days passed since Ludo had communicated with Hunter. She had left him several voicemails but he didn't call her back. She wanted to let him know about the progress she was making. She had become closer with Evan and he had started opening up to her about family matters. The only worry she had was Erica and Ethan. Erica made it known that she was not a fan of her and Ethan was mysterious as usual. Elise on the other hand had gotten busy taking care of the company and was hardly seen. Ludo even started taking care of Mr. Hamuumbu whenever she went to the house. On most occasions, with Elise busy schedule, Mr. Hamuumbu was left alone. Elise didn't like the idea of hiring anyone to take care of him, she preferred to do it alone but didn't mind Ludo taking care of him.

"Why are you smiling by yourself?" Zamiwe asked Ludo while they were watching a movie.

"Smiling?" Ludo asked.

"Yes. You seem happy the past days, what is it?"

"Hmmm, it's nothing mom."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. Can't I smile knowing I'm with you?"

"That's another kind of a smile," Zamiwe said.

"Whatever mom!" Ludo smiled.

"That smile," Zamiwe pointed at Ludo.

"Eish mom, leave me alone," Ludo chuckled.

"Who is he?"

"Who?"

"You have reminded me of the days I was falling in love with your father. I couldn't hide the smile on my face," Zamiwe said thoughtfully.

"That's sad."

"Get out, I was happy. I wonder where your father is," she sighed.

Ludo could feel her mother’s sadness.

"When was the last time you visited Mrs. V. at the hospital?" Ludo asked changing topics.

"The day before yesterday, why?" Zamiwe asked.

"You should visit her. She enjoys your company and I have seen it take your mind off some things."

"You're right. I'll visit her tomorrow."

Ludo and her mother continued watching the movie in silence. Ludo's phone rang and it was Kate. She excused herself and went to her bedroom to answer the call.

"Hi Mrs. V, how are you?" Ludo greeted her.

"I'm fine. Any news from your friend Hunter?" Kate asked concerned.

"Nothing till now ai."

"Maybe he thought of us as a baggage difficult to carry and decided to exclude us."

"Hunter cannot do that," Ludo said.

"But where is he?" Kate asked and went on. "I did what he told me to do and you're also making progress. It's time we do something I'm growing impatient."

"What can we do you and I Mrs. V?" Ludo asked. "Let's wait on him."

"I'm doing something Ludo. We cannot wait for him forever."

"Don't do anything Mrs. V. I'll go check on him tomorrow."

"You better. Call me," Kate cut the call.

Ludo could hear Kate's impatience in her voice. Unlike her, she was not in a hurry. Something had changed over the past days. She no longer felt like she needed everything to be done with. She threw herself on the bed and smiled looking at the ceiling. She grabbed her phone and hesitated.

"No, he will think I'm stupid," she threw it away. "What's happening to me?" She laughed.

The phone rang.

It was Evan.

Her smile widened.

"Hello Evan!" She said composing herself.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm reading," she lied. "What's up?"

"Can I disturb you for a second?"

"What is it?" She asked.

"I'm parked outside your house."

"Evan it's late. Mom wouldn't allow me to come outside."

"Please."

Ludo felt her heart sink.

"Five seconds."

"That's enough for me."

Ludo left her bedroom and found her mother had dosed off on the couch. She opened the door and got the keys to the gate and went to meet Evan. She found him standing by his car standing with a tall erect posture. Ludo walked to him trying to hide her smile.

"Hey you!" She said.

"Hi Ludo." Evan smiled at her.

"What is it? I have to go back inside. Mom is waiting for me."

Evan opened his car door and bowed getting something. He got some flowers and a box of chocolate and gave it Ludo.

"Here you are," He smiled handing them over to her.

Ludo hesitated.

"What do you want Evan?" Ludo asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know but I don't like this."

"You're playing with me. All the visits and the nonstop phone calls and texts, what's your end game?" Ludo stared at Evan.

"There's no end game Ludo," Evan put the things away and sallied forth.

Ludo felt her knees weaken.

He grabbed her hands and looked her direct in the eyes.

"I don't know how to explain this but I'm falling for you," Evan said.

"What does that even mean?" Ludo droop off her head.

"It means I have feelings for you Ludo."

"No No No," she shrugged stepping backwards. "what about Melanie?"

"Melanie and I are no more, “Evan answered.

Ludo kept quiet. She had never had feelings for anyone and no one had ever told her they had feelings for her. Everything was new to her.

"Give me a chance Ludo," Evan broke the silence.

"What chance?"

"To be your man."

"Hell No. I can't."

"Why?" Evan asked.

"I know what kind of man you are Evan. I cannot let that happen. I'm going back inside. Goodnight," Ludo turned around and started walking to the gate.

Evan ran to her and stopped her.

"Tell me you don't have feelings for me and I will never bother you again," He told her.

Ludo was confused. She didn't know what she was feeling nor how to explain it.

She put her hands on her hips staring at Evan.

Evan pulled her closer which she didn't expect. Everything happened in a split second when she found her lips locked with Evan's. She felt cold and her knees weakened. She found herself wrapping her hands around his neck. She couldn't explain the feeling. It was as if reality had ceased and was no more.

Evan slowly parted lips with her and stared at her. Her eyes had become dilated and they looked like that of cat.

"Tell me," he said.

"Tell you what," she let go of him and folded her hands.

"That you don't have feelings for me."

"It’s late Bye Evan," she ran to the gate and entered.

She sat on her bed and couldn't stop thinking about her first kiss.

"What was that?" She thought out loudly. "Hunter will kill me if he finds out this ever happened."

She kept thinking about the kiss and fell asleep. Her alarm woke her up the following day. She checked her phone and found Kates text saying she shouldn't forget visiting Hunter. She got out of bed and prepared herself and went to Hunters place. She found the gate was widely opened. From the distance, she saw two men standing and talking to each other. She could tell they were policemen because one had a police radio with him and the other had a badge and a gun on his hip. She decided to ask what had happened. She walked to them.

"Hey young lady, this is a crime scene, walk away," The officer told her.

"What happened here?" She asked.

"What's your business?"

"I know the person who lives here."

"How?"

"I used to bring him Chikanda (African polony). He is my customer," Ludo lied.

"Oh that's sad. He's body was found all burnt up a week ago."

Ludo's stomach turned.

"What did you just say?"

"Yes, some neighbours reported a fire and when the fire fighters came, it was too late. They only found the body."

Ludo couldn't believe what she was told.

"No No No that's not him. Hunter cannot die, not now."

"I'm sorry young lady but he's dead. You should be listening to the news more often."

"Did you check the body? How sure are you it was him?"

"Are you questioning our job?"

"No sorry," Ludo waved her hands.

"Ok now go away unless you have something to tell us that can help in the case."

Ludo walked away feeling despaired. She texted Kate and told her about what had happened to Hunter. Kate didn't reply. Ludo walked to the bus station blaming herself for everything.

Evan called her. She looked at her phone and hated herself more. While she was busy romancing with Evan, Hunter had been killed. She loathed what she had become.

"What?" She answered the phone.

"Hey, what's the problem? You sound cold," Evan said.

"State your business."

"Can I see you?"

"Why?"

Evan became quiet.

"I want to talk in person. Where are you?"

"Going to town."

"Let me find you at Society park." Evan said.

Ludo got on a bus to town. She had not realised that she was crying when a woman who sat next to her handed her a tissue.

"What do I do now?," she whispered wiping tears.

Elise and Erica were both at the house reviewing some papers they had received from their accountant. Elise was not happy at all. She had expected The income to rise but the company was making losses.

"I told you. You don't want to listen to me. Let's get rid of her," Erica said.

"This has nothing to with Ludo," Elise said.

"Everything is her fault. Ever since she came into our lives, a lot has changed. To make matters worse, she even tends to dad."

"Because no one wants to take care of him, just be grateful."

"Get rid of her."

"She will lead us to whoever is sending her. Ethan took care of one already. I have plans, don't underestimate me."

"Who did you take care of?" Erica asked her jaw dropping. "And what happened to your driver mom?"

"We found the car but he was no where near it. I assume he got tired of working for me and decided to run away."

Erica laughed and asked, "Wasn't Mr. Jabulani the highest paid driver here?"

Elise didn't answer her.

They continued reviewing the documents when they were disturbed by the maid telling them that there were some people outside looking for Elise.

"Who are they?" She asked.

"I think they are policemen." The maid answered.

Elise and Erica looked at each other. They both stood up and went outside. They found four policemen with guns in their hands waiting for them.

"Which one of you is Elise?" One officer asked.

"Me," Elise answered.

"You are under arrest for the murder of Bertha Banda. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say shall be held against you in the courts of law," the officer said as he cuffed her.

"Mom," Erica said looking at Elise taken away.

"Call Evan and my lawyer," Elise shouted.

Erica didn't know what to do. She had no clue of what had happened but she knew who Bertha was. She had heard a lot about her when she was a child and when she read Ludo's manuscript, her death was vividly described. Erica called Evan and told her about the arrest.

"Who was that?" Ludo asked Evan as she was with him in his car.

"Erica," Evan paused. "Mom has been arrested."

"Why?"

Evan only looked at her and drove to the house. Evan knew that Erica wouldn't be happy to see Ludo. He told her to go to the garden.

"What's up with you and her?" Erica asked.

"Nothing. Have you called the lawyer?" Evan asked.

"Yes I have. He's on his way to the station. We should go too."

"Alright let me change," Evan rushed upstairs.

He got back and found Erica waiting for him. They left the house. Evan texted Ludo that he was coming back soon and that she should wait for him. They got to the police station and found the lawyer waiting.

"Why aren't you with our mother?" Evan asked.

"She's talking with Ethan." The lawyer answered.

"Ethan?" Evan asked opening the door.

"Do it!" Elise said to Ethan.

"Do what?" Evan asked.

Ethan looked at Evan and walked out of the room leaving them.

"Evan sit down," Elise ordered him.

Evan sat down while the lawyer and Erica entered the room and sat as well.

"Mom what was Ethan doing here?" Erica asked.

"The same thing you are doing here. Let's get down to business," Elise said looking at the lawyer. "I'm been charged with Murder."

It was nightfall and Ludo was still in the garden. She was admiring it. It was taken care of pretty nicely. She got tired and bored. The garden made her feel somewhat at easy. It made her thoughts run away from what she had been told about Hunter. While sitting, she felt something move and stood up. She saw Mr. Hamuumbu sited on his wheelchair. All this time, she hadn't seen him. She walked to him and felt sorry for him. It was obvious they had forgotten he was in the garden with all the fuss.

"Oh poor man.... yet so rich," she said looking at the still Mr. Hamuumbu. "Let me take you inside."

As she started wheeling him, she heard the flowers screeching behind her. She turned but couldn't see anything. She got afraid and decided to leave the garden as fast as possible. She wheeled Mr. Hamuumbu and bumped into Ethan.

"Ethan!" She yelled.

"I'm brawler you have forgotten," he walked round the wheelchair.

"I was just taking Mr. Hamuumbu inside," Ludo said nervously.

"You have caused this family so much havoc Girl," Ethan looked at Ludo. "Now mom is apprehended."

Ludo trembled.

She heard the flowers screech again. Perhaps, it was a dog, she thought to herself thinking about what was to happen to her with Ethan standing in front of her.

"You have anything to say before I kill you?" Ethan was standing chest to chest with Ludo.

"Please," Ludo said.

"I have no time for this," Ethan grabbed her by the neck and strangled her in the process pushing Mr. Hamuumbu's wheelchair.

Mr. Hamuumbu fell on the ground and off the wheelchair.

Ludo fought for her life. She tried to scream and shout but the garden was far away from the house.

"Help please," she cried.

In that moment, she thought about how stupid she was. She had realised that she had put herself in arms way and the only person who could have protected her was no more.

While resisting, she looked at where Mr. Hamuumbu had fallen, he wasn't there.

"I'm sick and tired of this," Mr. Hamuumbu said behind Ludo and Ethan.

Ethan let go of Ludo to look at His father who had just spoke. He turned around and found him stretching himself holding a Maxim 9, handgun silencer combo.

"Father!" Ethan exclaimed.

"What the hell?" Ludo said holding her neck.

"What is happening?" Ethan asked shocked.

Mr. Hamuumbu walked to Ethan and said, "I have never been sick son," he hugged the confused Ethan.

Ludo watched in shock.

Ethan was equally shocked.

Ludo heard a silent gunshot and screamed. She looked at Ethan and his father and saw Ethan falling to his knees.

"I'm sorry son," Mr. Hamuumbu said looking at Ethan in the eyes.

Ludo witnessed a father killing his son.

After laying him on the ground, Mr. Hamuumbu got up and walked to Ludo and stood in front of her.

"Aren't you going to say thank you?" He asked her.

"You killed your son," Ludo said.

"I grew tired of his shit," Mr. Hamuumbu said.

Ludo was shaking.

The flowers screeched even more. Mr. Hamuumbu and Ludo turned their heads in the direction of the noise.

Ludo jumped to her feet in shock.

"Old friend," Mr. Hamuumbu said blowing the tip of his handgun.


To be continued

Blood Lives Here - Episode 17

© Brian Ngoma

After Kate had escaped from Triple E group of companies successfully. She went to the hospital and found Zamiwe tending to her husband. Looking at Kent laying unconsciously on the hospital bed made her angry. She wanted to do something about what happened to him but thinking about the power and influence of the people she suspected, she couldn't do anything on her own.

"Hello Kate, we were worried about you," Zamiwe said and went on. "Ludo came to your house twice and she didn't find you. Is everything fine?"

"Everything is fine thanks. I had to go to school to get a leave," Kate answered. "I have seen that I can't manage working while my husband is here. I have to be here too."

Zamiwe was quiet. She felt for Kate. She even pitied her. She thought she had bigger problems with her husband leaving her but Kate had even bigger problems than her. Not knowing when her husband would wake up from the coma was worse than not knowing when Joe would return.

"Where is Ludo?" Kate asked.

"She went to your house. She's supposed to be back. I talked to her, she told me she's on her way," Zamiwe responded.

"Where could she be now?" Kate asked.

"Ludo can be anywhere," Zamiwe laughed.

"I have to go," Kate stood up.

Zamiwe was surprised.

"Where? You just got here."

"I know but you can go. I'll be back later. Thanks for everything Zamiwe," Kate said closing the door.

Zamiwe didn't know what to make of what had just happened.

Kate walked outside to the taxi she had come with. She got in it and told the driver to drive.

"To where madam?"

"Town," Kate answered.

As the car was moving, Kate couldn't stop thinking about what she had heard earlier that day from Elise and Erica. Knowing everything that had happened the past days concerning the manuscript, she had a feeling that Ludo was in too deep with these people. It explained everything that was happening to Ludo especially that day she went missing and appeared with Melanie.

"Stop!" She yelled at the taxi driver.

"I cannot stop here madam. I'm in the middle of traffic."

"Let me get out. Park where I could see you. I have seen someone I know," she got out of the car.

Kate had seen Melanie walking sadly and looked miserable. She trailed her. After following her for about ten minutes, Melanie stopped. Kate observed her from a distance. She could tell that Melanie was looking at someone and didn't want to be seen. Kate wanted to see who or what Melanie was looking at. At first, all she saw were strangers eating and talking in a restaurant. Could she be hungry? Kate asked herself because she couldn't put together why Melanie was looking at people eating. She wanted to walk to Melanie when she saw Ludo and a well-dressed gentleman walking out of the eatery talking and laughing. Kate kept her distance. She then saw Melanie walk to them in the parking square. Despite not hearing what they were talking about, Kate could tell that Melanie was upset. She saw Ludo leaving the gentleman and Melanie. She was curious who that gentleman was but her focus was Ludo. She followed Ludo and saw her get into the cab. She got her phone and called the driver who had brought her.

"Where are you?" She asked him.

"Behind you."

Kate turned around and went to the car.

"Let's go. Hurry!"

"Wait. Why do you do everything in a hurry?"

"Don't question me."

"Your life seems like a movie."

"Follow that car."

The driver laughed as she stepped on the accelerator.

Kate and the driver watched Ludo from the car as she opened Hunter's gate and entered.

"Wait here!" Kate told the driver.

"My money madam. You might not come out," he joked.

Kate got a K200 from her purse and handed it over to him. "Here you are."

Kate walked to the gate while looking over her shoulder. She reached the gate and found it open. She entered and saw Ludo entering the house. She slowly walked to the door praying and hoping that there were no dogs in the compound. As she reached the door, she heard Ludo's voice from the inside with another husky voice of a man. She went to the door and pressed her ear on it to listen to the conversation. The door was opened. Kate stepped backwards and leaned against the wall. She saw Ludo at the door. Ludo didn't see her because she just stood and was talking with the man inside. After some seconds, Ludo left the door only pushing it slightly leaving it open. Kate saw an opportunity to enter. She didn't even think of what might happen.

"Ludo I asked you a question, who is this man?" Kate asked as she stood at the door.

Ludo didn't know what to say but shook. She looked at Hunter.

Hunter's eyes were fixed on the shaky Ludo. Ludo could see through His eyes that he was furious. She didn't know how to explain the fact that she had been followed by Mrs. V.

"Who is this woman?" Hunter asked Ludo. "What is she doing in my house?"

"I can explain," Ludo replied. "Mrs. V what are you doing here?" She looked at Kate.

"You should be telling me what the hell you are doing here with this man not the other way round," Kate said. "Does your mother even know you're here."

"Woman shut up!" Hunter yelled as he walked towards Kate.

Ludo stood in his way.

"She's a friend please," Ludo begged.

Kate stepped backwards.

"I don't like her," Hunter said. "She's trespassing."

"Ludo," Kate called.

"What Mrs. V?"

"Who is this man?" Kate asked scared.

"I'll explain later Mrs. V." Ludo turned her attention to Hunter. "Can I talk to her in private?" She asked Hunter. "Please."

Hunter looked at Kate suspiciously and slammed his eyes shut leaving them.

"Mrs. V, what the hell?" Ludo asked as they were left alone.

"Explain to me what you're doing here. And that man Ludo, he's scary, did you see his eyes?" Kate asked looking at the room Hunter had entered.

"I'm used to those eyes," Ludo joked. "What are you doing here?"

"I followed you."

"Why?"

Kate was quiet.

"Why Mrs. V?"

Kate gulped and answered, "I don't know but I think you might be involved with the people who tried to kill my husband."

Ludo's eyes widely opened.

"I'm not saying you are working with them," Kate clarified.

"Then what are you saying?" Ludo asked.

"The Hamuumbu's?"

Ludo knew that Kate knew everything and it was time to come clean.

"What do you know about the Hamuumbu’s?" Ludo asked.

Kate told Ludo everything she knew about the Hamuumbu’s. She also told her about the manuscript and her involvement with them. Ludo was surprised. All along she thought, she had played everyone but here was Kate, who knew everything or at least suspected everything from the word go.

"It’s true," Ludo sighed. "I was scared to tell anyone about it because I might have put them in danger."

"You could have talked to me."

Ludo looked at Kate.

"Oh I understand. You were scared. So what now? What's the deal with that man?" Kate asked.

"That man there, is the key for us to get out of this mess alive."

Kate was silenced.

"Hunter!" Ludo called him.

Hunter came out of the room with the same expression he left with. He looked at the two ladies and could tell they had something to tell him.

Ludo stood up and walked to him, "This is Kate. She knows everything that is happening."

"So?"

"I say we work together with her."

"Hell No," Hunter refused. "As it is, you're handful I cannot add another person. That is risking everything have worked so hard for."

"She can be trusted, trust me Hunter."

"I said NO. If you want, you all can leave. I don't care," Hunter walked to the door and opened it.

"My husband was almost murdered by the Hamuumbu’s," Kate looked at Hunter.

"That's not my business."

"Please Hunter," Ludo begged.

"I want them to pay for what they did to my husband," Kate said with conviction in her voice.

Hunter was reminded of Hilary. He heard Hilary in Kate's voice. The courage and determination. He knew he had found another Hilary. He closed the door and told them to sit down.

"So here is the thing, the last time I worked with someone. She betrayed me."

"Is it the girl I saw in your car who was tied?" Ludo asked.

Hunter didn't answer.

"We won't do that to you," Kate said.

"You better not because trust me, I'll kill both of you."

Ludo's heart pounded.

"Ludo has access to the house. She's the only one here who can enter and leave the house with no hustle. She will continue doing what she does," Hunter said and looked at Kate, " You madam, If you want to be helpful, i want you to find out something for me."

"Anything," Kate said.

"Find out the schedule the old man leaves the house."

"Leave the house?" Kate asked. "Isn't he bedridden?"

"So that means he doesn't leave the house?" Hunter stared at Kate.

Kate bowed her head down.

"I have a question," Ludo said.

"What?" Hunter asked.

"The reason I'm here is because I'm in too deep with these people. You told me they wouldn't let me just be and I listened. That is why I'm working with you. Mrs. V here wants justice for her husband. That brings me to my question, what's your deal with the Hamuumbu's?" Ludo asked.

Hunter hesitated.

"If you don't want you cannot answer," Ludo said.

"Who is the girl in the photo?" Kate asked.

Hunter stood up and walked to the door, "Leave, I'll communicate with you. Do your jobs efficiently."

Ludo and Kate walked past Hunter. He slammed the door on them.

"What's his problem?" Kate asked as they walked to the gate.

"I don't know too," Ludo answered. "What did you come with?"

" A cab," Kate responded. "It’s parked there."

The two ladies walked to the cab. Before they could enter, Kate asked Ludo, "How is your manuscript accurately written about the Hamuumbu's?"

"Wish I could answer that Mrs. V," Ludo sighed. "I don't really know."

"That's strange," Kate said.

"It definitely is. I just want this to be over so that I could return to my old life,"

"How about that man at the restaurant?" Kate asked further.

"That is Evan. He's Brains in the manuscript and in real life," Ludo smiled.

"You heard what your hideous friend said. If you betray him, he kills you."

"I'm not going to betray him." Ludo said opening the back door.

"So you followed your daughter madam," the cab driver asked.

"Too nosey, just drive," Kate told him.

He drove out of the streets.

From the distance in between two trees watching the car leaving was Ethan with a cigarette in his right hand while holding a knife in his left. He had followed Kate from Triple E group of companies to the hospital, town till Hunters house.

Hunter paced about in his room. Ludo and Kate irritated him. He never liked working with people who asked too many questions. He wanted to go to the kitchen when he heard a knock on the door.

"What now?" He growled. "Ludo, it's late!" He yelled as he opened the door.

It wasn't Ludo he met eyes with.

"Hi Hunter," Ethan said punching Hunter on the face unexpectedly.

Hunter fell on the floor.

"Brawler," Hunter said getting up.

Ethan walked in and closed the door behind him and took off his jacket.

"I knew you had something to do with that girl. Don't you get tired being betrayed?" Ethan asked him. "Whatever issue you have with the old man, it's getting irritating now."

Hunter didn't answer.

"I wondered where you had been hiding. You hid pretty well, in plain sight. This is nice," Ethan said looking around. "I had people watch over this house. They got tired because there was no trace of you."

"Enough talk," Hunter charged towards Ethan throwing his forearms like a wrestler.

Ethan was caught off-guard and was thrown against the door banging his back on it. He watched the muscular Hunter running to him as he quickly stood up. Hunter threw a punch and Ethan guarded. Ethan threw one too and landed on Hunter's cheek knocking out a tooth. Hunter grew more furious and picked up the table and hit Ethan on the face knocking him cold out. Hunter dragged Ethan to his backyard to the carnage and threw him in.

"Think you can come to my house and beat me up," Hunter said.

Ethan gained conscious.

Hunter punched Ethan repeatedly till he was bleeding. He drew closer to him and whispered in his ear, "I'm killing your whole family."

"Not on my watch," Ethan said.

Hunter didn't notice that Ethan had a knife in his hand. In seconds, Ethan stabbed Hunter in the stomach at the same time punching him. Ethan slowly stood up and kicked Hunter again and again. He looked around the carnage and saw a bottle of diesel. He spilled it all over the place while Hunter was laying unconsciously on the floor. He got his match box and walked to the door. He lit the match and threw it on the floor. He walked out while the carnage started burning and locked it.

"Damn," Ethan cussed as he wiped blood on his face.


To be continued

BerryAnny:
I'm through with the story and all I can say is wow. May your ocean of knowledge never runs dry. I love how you finish it,you're such a genius. I will be looking forward to another work from you. Please mention me anytime you start a new story.

Thanks sir!

I hope you're following my ongoing story "RESTLESS"

Rexdraxler1:
I must appreciate ur work brother,i've been following up this story frm season1 since december and i have jst been able to catch up today,u are a genius bro i love ur story and i rrly can't wait to see d end,i want to knw wat happens after to my sweet tarasha,am wedding her already,pls do come 4 update

Hello! Hope you've completed the story already

Restless - Episode 48

® 18+ SNVL
© Oyinloye Oluwatosin Emmanuel

Henry closed his eyes and let out a deep breath after getting into driver's side of the car. He wished he could have done it another way, but after the several previous occasions of pleading with Sheila not to get herself involved in his mission, or even doing anything that would connect them together, Sheila had continued to involve herself and it seemed that the only way he could get to her to back out was make her feel hurt.

He knew that her being hurt could destroy the friendship between them which he valued so much and it could even make her hate him totally, but he still thought it was better for her to hate him completely than to risk her life.

He inserted the key into the keyhole and turned it to put on the car, the engine roared to life. He then pulled on his seatbelt before driving into the roadway.

__

Sheila got back into the hotel room feeling so bitter and mad with herself for squeezing out time for the fruitless journey to Bexford. Henry had not only been so ungrateful, he had also demonstrated that her presence in Bexford was displeasing to him

___

Two hours later

"Hey Cole!" Henry hailed as he walked into the control room of the house. He had a small traveling box with him.

"Welcome boss," Cole who was sitting alone in the room in front of the master system turned briefly to greet.

"Where's Dave and Samantha?" Henry asked.

"Dave's gone to take his bath and Samantha is in the lab, she should be here at anytime."

"Has Dave gotten the Sonata sprayed already?" Henry asked. He dropped the box on a table at the centre of room and opened it.

"Yeah, he sprayed the vehicle at the backyard." Cole answered.

"Great," Henry responded as he proceeded towards Cole. "How far have you gone with hacking the network systems?"

"Almost done with the communication networks, yet to get to the road signal networks."

Henry pulled out a chair from beside Dave and sat in front of another computer. "Share the road network software to this computer," he said to Cole.

"In a minute boss," Cole replied him.

Henry turned on the computer set and began to search out some things on his phone while he waited for it to boot completely.

"Shared boss," Cole said even before the computer booted completely.

"Hey Boss!" Samantha greeted as she walked into the control room, carrying a thick leather box with her. "I've got all the mixtures ready," she added immediately Henry turned back.

She was dressed already in a blue top and a smart black trouser. A shiny leather belt passed through the belt hole could be seen around her belly.

"How many filled tranquilizing pins do we have in there?" Henry turned to ask her.

"Two dozens already," she replied. She stopped at the center of the room and dropped the box on the table there beside the traveling box placed there by Henry.

"That means you still have enough volumes of tranquilizers?"

"Yes, I mixed a total of two hundred cube centimetres." She answered.

"There are some empty bullet cases in the outer pocket of the traveling box, take them out and fill them with tranquilizing liquids." Henry said to her. He waited and watched her open the right place in the bag before he turned back to the system.

Soon, Samantha took out the bag of bullet cases from the box and walked back out of the control room.

Henry and Cole continued to work silently after Samantha walked out, it was twelve minutes after when Cole broke the silence.

"I'm done boss, the communication network loophole has been created, we only need to turn it on when we are ready."

"Good one Cole," Henry replied without looking at him. There was silence for another one minute before Henry spoke again, facing him this time. "Check if Tam is awake, gag him, blindfold him and leave him in a car at the roundabout if he is. He would find his way home from there."

"Alright boss," Cole said and quickly saved a file on the system before he got up. He proceeded out of the control room after picking a key which was on the table at the center of the room.

Twenty minutes after Cole left, Dave walked into the control room.

"Boss, the Sonata is ready, sprayed already and dry enough." Dave said as he proceeded towards Henry.

"Okay," Henry took a look at him and saw that Dave had not just gotten the Sonata dressed for the job, he himself was also ready and dressed for the job. "So, get enough guns ready for the five of us, we'd be needing more of revolvers and each of us would need accurate pistols for tranquilizing bullets.'

"Right away boss, I'll be in the store room to arrange them.

Samantha was the first to return to the control room and she did after another twenty minutes, with packs of the already filled tranquilizing bullets. Five minutes after, Dave walked in and reported that he had the guns ready. Cole came in after another ten minutes with the car keys.

The other two sat behind the table at the centre of the control room while Cole proceeded forward to join Henry.

"You're almost done with this boss," Cole commented, staring at the screen.

"Yeah, in two minutes, the process will be over." Henry replied without looking back.

"But if we turn on the two processes, we'd be shutting down activities of the whole area." Cole said, in more of a questioning tone.

"Yeah, we're shutting it down truly" Henry replied him. "I'll explain the reasons when I'm done."

Henry and Cole were still busy with together when Jenny joined them in the room. She was also dressed ready for the job.

Ten minutes after, Henry got up from the seat after copying his work and Cole's from the master system into a flash drive. They walked back together to the center where the two others were waiting. Henry stopped at the opposite side of the men while Cole turned to join the rest at the other side.

"Hey guys, this is ten minutes to three o'clock. We have an hour before we leave this place." Henry began to talk. He took a brief pause to look at each person's face before he continued again, he opened the traveling box on the table and took out some neatly folded set of Bethanna Police Uniforms and caps. "We have a delicate task at hand today and everybody has to be extra ready."

He paused again and proceeded forward to with the uniforms on his hands, it was a total of three. He checked the label on the collar of the first cloth and placed it on the table. He checked the second and walked up to Samantha to hand it over to her.

"This is for me," he said as he walked back with the last one to his previous position opposite them. "That uniform is for either of you," he added, pointing to the uniform he placed at the other side of the table and referring to Cole and Dave.

He picked up a remote control device from the table and turned partially to face the screen at the top back wall of the room. He tapped the power button on the remote control and waited for the screen to come on which happened after five seconds. He then clicked on the play button on the remote control.

A video showing an aerial view of a particular street displayed on the screen. It first appeared blurred but became clearer gradually after few seconds. Henry began to explain the video as it played.

"Agent Elkim stays in Nexis, close to the outskirts of Bexford, it's a beautiful town as you can see." he began. "It has two major routes, one leading into the inner parts of Bexford and the other leading into Kala."

Henry paused again to allow them watch the video show the two major routes. He continued speaking ninety seconds after.

"It has other minor routes leading to other towns like Ostio, Nevi and even shortcuts into Bexford and Kala. But for this task, we would focus on the two major routes, the one leading into and out of the town." Henry stopped and clicked on the forward button on the remote control. He paused it at the exact point he wanted and played again. "Now this is Agent Elkim's house, it's big as expected but not as large as half of Brad's estate. However, it is tightly secure and would be more difficult to penetrate. As a top agent and an important member of the Board of the FOX, Agent Elkim has a huge number of junior FOX agents around him and a number securing his home."

Henry paused the video again. "The aerial view does not show the position of his security systems, neither does any map or survey material available shows it. His facility has two entrances which also serves as exits, one is major while the other is for emergency."

He rewound the video. "Let's have another view of the routes again."

After another ten minutes of watching and explaining the routes, Henry began to explain their strategy.

"Since we can't get penetrate easily, it will be difficult and highly suspicious to get in as a group. However, one of us can get in. I know Agent Elkim to be a man who allows people express themselves always. With him, freedom of speech is allowed." Henry paused briefly and chuckled. "But freedom after speech is not guaranteed."

He stopped and turned to the other side of the table again. "One of you would help us get in as one man," he said, looking at Cole and Dave's faces while these uniforms and the newly sprayed Hyundai Sonata would allow us get in as a group."

"How do I get in as one man?" Cole asked before Henry could proceed. Dave glanced quickly at his face.

Henry let out a brief smile and turned to pick the uniform from the table, he handed it over to Dave. "You put on this, Cole would help us in." he said and turned to the other side. Cole's question which expressed his wish had automatically helped Henry make the decision. "I'll tell you the pattern to go but I'll explain the job of the rest of the team first."

He paused, closed the traveling box and zipped it up.

"We'd go in pairs, I and Jenny, Dave and Sam. Jenny would be without the uniforms and would help us turn off the Network communication and transportation lines when it's time. Dave and Sam would go in the Sonata after dressing in uniforms," he paused for a second and began to look at Dave and Sam's face as he talked on. "You'd be along the route leading from Kala into Nexis but at a point close to the house, while I and Jenny would be at the major route leading from Bexford. The police would be called for from Agent Elkim's house and they would most likely come from Bexford which is closer, I and Jenny would ambush and stop them. Then I'll meet and join you in the Sonata before we proceed together as policemen into the man's house. Jenny would turn off the communication and road signal networks after we get into the man's house, the first will ensure connections through phone calls, the internet and other resources stops working while the other would ensure there is heavy traffic on the major routes, that way, no backups from the FOX would be able to reach Agent Elkim's house until we finish our task."

"This looks complicated," Dave commented with a frown. "How would we communicate to each other if the lines are off?"

"Yeah, it is really complicated, but the complication should be to our advantage. There would be no communication between us and that's why we need to understand the process here. The whole operation should last two hours only, no addition of minutes and no subtraction. The two hours would only start reading when we get into the place, Jenny would turn off the road signals and communication networks when we get in and turn them back off immediately after two hours."

"How do we get out of the place if the roads are blocked?" Samantha asked.

"The major routes would be jammed, only some of the minor routes would be jammed too." Henry answered and took a brief pause. He picked the remote control and forwarded the video to a particular point showing another route. "We would leave the place through this route, it leads through Nevi. It's a very bad road and lacks the use of traffic signals. it's untarred and full of potholes and would not be considered by most road users. That's why I would be riding with Jenny in our strongest vehicle available, all of us would be leaving the place in that vehicle."

"With Agent Elkim in the boot of the vehicle?" Cole questioned.

"No," Henry replied, shaking his head with a sad smile. "Agent Elkim is a strong and resilient fighter, it would be a difficult job to abduct him, it would be less difficult to kill him instead. We don't need him, we only need access to him, his secret room and some of his devices. From that, we'd get every of the information required to continue our main mission."


To be continued.

Read more here - www.youngicee.com/category/restless

The Bodyguard - Episode 20

By Tisa Phiri

Ackim...

We were driving for some minutes around the area called River side, they were a lot of newly built houses and flats.

"Guys stay here, I will walk around from here" I told Mwamba and Maya. I had noted the address in my head so I checked the plot numbers as I walked between some houses.

My heart raced as I saw the house I was looking for, it was a three by three flat, well built and In a wall fence. I looked around trying to asmilate if at all i had been to that place..

"could it be my home?" I thought to myself as I waited for a slim lady who I found washing some clothes outside. I had asked her about anyone I could talk to and she told me she was new and asked me to wait as she went to call the land owner.

An elderly woman came out of the first flat. Greeting her , I introduced myself as Will. The look on her face told me she had no idea who i was.

"Sorry to disturb you mam, I was looking for someone from this place I told her, not sure who but I had this address in my clothes. I lost my memory a couple of months ago. I was hoping someone here knew who I am" I explained..

"Oh sorry my son" she said calmly.

"I have no idea who you are but maybe my son does " she added.. "he's the owner of these flats but he's out for a few days, try coming by in two days time he should be back. otherwise, the tenants here are all new. like less than two months it can't be that you are known here" she explained.

She gave me her line that I could

call in case of anything. I thanked her for being helpful and walked out to join Mwamba and the sister.

A week later... I decided to visit the house again. I went after 18 and as I walked in the gate I saw a man almost my age but an inch shorter. He looked at me and to my surprise started running out. I walked quickly towards him but he increased speed as he got out of the gate.

Something told me to follow him, it seemed I had found somebody who knew who I was. He ran faster past the other houses and I chased him of course not to scare him but to try find out why he ran. something wasn't in place I thought as I ran towards him.

I was faster than him so he panicked and I saw him make a turn to an unfinished building. I pretended I didn't see him and let him enter to hide.

Slowly I hid behind the block as I waited patiently for him to come out. 5 minutes passed and I saw him peep in both directions. I quickly stepped out and grabbed him by the shirt, he tried to escape but I held him tight, pulled him back in the building and to my surprise I felt rage he was trying to escape.

some inner instict warned me something was up with him.

He shivered as I sat him down pushing him in the corner, eyed at me sternly..

"so you are still alive you bastard !" he cursed.

" leave me alone already I have nothing to do with you."

"Well Mr man, it seems you know more than you are actually telling me" I sighed looking at him. He almost stood to ran and with lots of force I pushed him hard back to the wall making him moan with pain as he held the spot his head hit to the wall.

"Start talking or I will hurt you right now." He bow down his head in silence and I squat before him , held his head up with my hand making him face me. For some reason the guy was scared of me, which gave me more reason to want to probe him further and get some information out of him..

"Speak now you idiot!" I snapped.

I felt like I had done that before, but couldn't remember where or who I was interrogating.

"You are just a good for nothing bodyguard who is after that spoiled step sister of mine!" he shouted..

"Sister?" I asked shocked.

He raised his eyes in surprise. It was like he was surprised I showed ignorance of the sister he had mentioned.

"Look man" he added..

" I don't know how you figured it out but like I told you last time this is none of your business. Just leave me alone already. I told you I was having funny in Solwezi last time and that's it. I didn't have anything to do with the person you were looking for." He mumbled.

His diversion of the story confused me even more but before I could ask further he grabed the opportunity and ran past me. I tried to go after him but a car stopped in front of him, some other guys called his name.

"Hurry George jump in!"

The guy jumped into the car and as I got closer, it started off leaving dust in my face. I kicked the ground in rage. I felt so pissed I hit my palm with the other hand.

By the time I got back to the car I borrowed from where I was being kept, they were long gone.

As I drove back home I felt a strong head ach. I packed besides the road as the sharp pain ran through my head. I closed my eyes and held my head as flash images of me killing and burning some houses came to my mind. The flashes repeated ending with a flash of me being chased in the bush.

I stayed in that spot for half an hour and after feeling better I drove back to my now new home.

"Am afraid Dr" I told the doctor Mwamba.

" The way I felt around that man was something else and the flashes in my memory. Maybe am not a good person in real life, maybe am dangerous and a killer" I told her honestly.

she wrote down something as I explained it.

"Well, It could be that those are some flashes from your memory but can just be some imaginations as a result of your inner fears we cannot be sure of one thing" she told me..

"Not to worry though am here to help you through all this" she comforted..

"How I wish that guy said something more to give us a hint about you." She drowned sadly.

"Yeah" I agreed sitting up the chair I was sitting on

" he knows who I am and I could tell he hates me. He said something about his step sister, then he mentioned Solwezi but am confused. I can't connect the dots. I feel powerless right now, it's like I fall from no where my memory is so blank."

"It's ok Will, let's take one day at a time. remmber you can't allow yourself to stress your brain, try to stay calm, besides, I don't think you are a bad person Will" she added..

"maybe you just went through a rough patch in life but you are not a bad person."

I smiled as she walked out.

"Thank you, you and your family are trully good to me and I appreciate it. I don't know how I will ever repay you for your kindness."

Before she left I stopped her

" sorry Dr, but do you know anything about the person who brought me to the hospital?" I asked her..

"not really but tomorrow i can get you their details from the hospital records."

"I would appreciate mam, maybe he can tell me more about the accident. I would want to know if someone else was with me that time and if they survived the accident and maybe what really happened"

"Sure" she nodded leaving....

Maya came with a home work

book for maths the following day "help me solve these questions Uncle Will" she said handing me the book. To my own surprise I looked at the questions and knew exactly what to do. I ran her through and explained some equations. her mother watched from the other room and she came close.

"Wow, it seems you are good with numbers'" she commended.

" I gues so'" I smiled back..

Later that evening the family had left to go for some family dinner. I decided to remain home instead.

They had been gone for hours it was almost 23 hours. Then I heard some foot steps outside. I peeped through the window and saw two guys holding guns, they were slowly walking to the back door.

Quitely I bend down to the ground and crawled in their direction. using the kitchen window which didn't have burglar bars I climbed out. I saw the guy break loose the back door and then entered the house.

"What the hell!" I screamed inside my head.

"I have to act first they are probably thieves" I thought to myself..

I watched the first guy go in and before the second one followed him I ran to him and knocked him off with my hands by twisting his neck, he fall back down and as the other guy turned to my direction i pulled the gun from the hands of the one I had put out, shooting it right through his head. He fall down dead instantly.

Just then the Family drove in and they all came running to the house after the gun shot.

Maya screamed as she saw the dead body on the floor. I was not even shaken, it was like i was an expert on killing and a gun didnt scare me, I knew how to hold and aim perfectly.

They called the police after I explained what happened.

I was taken to the cells that same night. Doctor's husband explained that it was standard procedure since I just killed someone. They all assured me that all will be well.

Maya and Mwamba waved at me as i was driven to the police. The girl was still crying and I felt sad. I had come to love the kids so much they made me feel like I was really their uncle.

To be continued

Read more here - www.youngicee.com/category/the-bodyguard

Stalked By A Mafia - Episode 19

A story by Tisa Phiri

Jo lifted Scar on his shoulders rushed through the back running to the bush. The police had come and most guys scattered around the whole place some still shooting about.

He had no time to check on other guys, his mission was to get his friend and boss out of that place.

4 other guys came his way.. "someone get to the car and start the engine now! " he shouted as he drew near to the place the vehicles were packed.

"Scar has been hit. I can still feel his heart beat but he's not doing so good" he informed them.

As soon as he lay him in the back seat he put some pressure in his chest wound.

"wait for others" Jo told the other guys

" and be careful. "

The driver drove at full speed as they went through the dark. Jo's forehead had drops of sweat, one would think it was hot but the air was cold.

********

Sila calm down when she had cried and prayed enough. she looked around the house. It felt so empty without Scar around. Her phone vibrated and she answered immediately without looking at the Id, hoping it was Scar.

"Helo sister in-law" she heard her sister's husband greet her in high spirits.

"Hello" Sila answered rather disappointed.

" I heard what happened to your house, am just curious. how on earth did you get involved with mafia's ." He asked.

"what?" Sila thought to herself. she wondered how her in-law had known about Mafia's. They didn't mention anything of such sought on the news.

"What do you mean..?" She managed to say at last.

"well Sila my dear I was born way before you and I can tell you are not behaving right. Now listen to me. I know you are hiding at that thug's house and I wanted to tell you that if he will live after tonight I will personally hunt him down like a dog he is and I don't care whether you are sleeping with him or not I will finish him."

Sila was shocked.

"So my brother inlaw is the man Scar had told me was after his life? " She thought to herself after he hang up.

"My God" she held her face,

"this is so bad." She had some idea her inlaw was not a good man. Infact, he obtained most of his wealth involved in dirty politics and corrupt businesses. she shook her head as she sat on the couch after checking on her son who was deep in sleep.

It was 02 am and she had not heard anything from Scar.

She remembered him saying bye to her before heading out. He looked at her and kissed her gently.

" take care " he had said.

" I promise if I make it out alive, I will live to make you happy. I love you" he whispered to her. He then asked her a question she didn't answer.

"Sila" he called her, as she looked up at him he asked,

" do you love me?"

She looked at him and just said, "make sure you come back here " without answering his question.

Sila sighed.

"I wish i told him what I feel" she thought to herself..she got up from the couch with a start when the door to the sitting room opened widely Jo and two other guys rushed in holding Scar who was motionless blood stains all over his clothes. Sila stood up, her hands to her mouth

"oh my God! what happened to him ?" she asked crying.

"He got shot" Jo told her,

"And he's not doing good at all."

She followed them as they took him to some room and lay his body on the bed.

"he needs a Doctor" Sila said her hands shaking as she touched his shirt blood in her hands,

"my God" she cried

"save his life"

"The doctor is on his way" Jo explained.

"we cannot risk going to the hospital or he will end up in prison."

Sila nodded...

"well get me some items I need to stabilise his bleeding and prepare him before the doctor arrives." she told him panicking..

she struggled tearing his shirt off as she gasped, the bullet had missed his heart. It really had gone deeper and he was bleeding badily.

Luckily, the doctor Jo mentioned walked in a few minutes later and went to him.

"she's a nurse" Jo told him as he checked Scar..

"Good, help me with the tools in that bag" he indicated to Sila.

she did all the doctor asked and after an hour they managed to pull out the bullets both in his chest and leg.

He needs blood as soon as possible the Doctor announced..

"he's lost lots of blood, without blood we will lose him"

Jo stepped forward without hesitation

"get from me."

" well it's not that direct, we need a match with his blood type" the Doctor frowned.

Sila spoke looking up at him,

"get mine doctor, I have group 0 it will match any other group." She stood

"Are you sure?" the Doctor asked her.

"please Doctor just save his life already. We cannot waste any time"

The doctor went back to his vehicle and brought in some more machines and equipments. Thankfully Scar had met him up the previous day and hired him.

" I want you to be available and prepare for emergencies tomorrow" he had told him.

" I want all my men's lives taken care of in case they do get hurt." After cautioning him and offering him a lot of money the doctor had agreed. He gave Scar his number which he in turn gave to Jo and two other guys.

" If any of us walks out unharmed or alive," he told them,

"call the doctor to help those who might be in need of him."

*****

After setting everything the doctor drew some blood from Sila and put a drip on Scar, who was still motionless.

Sila felt a bit dizzy, the effect of drawing two drips of blood from her.

she drunk some milk and took the vitamins from the doctor taking a few minutes of rest.

Afterwards, she slowly walked to Scar who's wounds had now stopped bleeding and clean sheets were placed under him. His head placed on a pillow. She sat besides him and held his hand.

The Doctor and Jo left the room.

"we will be next room" they said as they left.

She touched his face marking the scar between his eyes with her fingers.

" you have to live Aaron" she said aloud

" please your son and I needs you alive. togther we can live through these dark times." she shed a tear.

"I know you have been through a lot but please you need to fight harder than before, be the superman that my Son thinks you are."

she kissed his lips as tears rolled down her face.

"I am so scared Aaron, you need to come back, you promised to make me happy remember ? I didnt answer your question earlier. yes I.... I love you! " She sniffed.

" I love you with the same passion I hated you when you raped me. please say something. I love you Aaron." She shouted louder.

He moved his head slightly, turning painfully he let a weak smile.

" Now that I can die for" he whispered.

Sila smilled tearly

" you are alive!" she laughed happily.

"oh thank you Lord" she looked up.

"well I couldn't cross over with all that crying" he teased weakly trying to touch her face and wipe her tears.

"Don't move" she told him.

"let me call the doctor."

The doctor came in and checked him.

" well young man" he said,

"you have a hundred lives," he chuckled.

" the bullets almost led you to the other side. Thank this woman who just saved your life. Without her blood we could be saying something else now."

"Thank you Doctor" he whispered as he rubbed Sila' s hand.

"I owe you my woman, and I will live the rest of my life to make you happy. Thank you" he smiled slightly at her.

"yes you have to !" She smilled with tears in her eyes,

"you owe me big time." She teased sighing with relief.

To be continued

Read more here - www.youngicee.com/category/stalked-by-a-mafia

RawVirgi2019:
is d remaining part of d story not coming here again?

Later but you can visit the link and complete it - www.youngicee.com/category/tarasha-season-2

The Bodyguard - Episode 19

By Tisa Phiri


I looked around me, some machines connected to me. I felt my whole body numb as I tried to move.

" what's happening to me?" my inner voice asked.

I was still struggling when I head a feminine voice.

"stay stiil sir" she calmly whispered. I turned to look at her..

"who are you and where am I?" I asked still wondering what was going on.

"Am Doctor Mwamba, you are in a hospital" she answered with a smile.

"glad to have you back Mr.." she added..

"you have been out for a while."

"What do you mean I have been out?" I questions further.

She sighed moving close to where I was

"well Sir , someone brought you in 2 months ago. You were barely alive, your body had burns and wounds. You were involved in a road accident a few meters away from Chingola town. I have been working on you ever since" she explained

"no one ever came to claim you nor visit you, we have no idea who you are or any your family members."

Her statement clicked, I didn't know who I was either. I infact didn't even rememeber the accident she was talking about.

"Sir" she called me out when I was

still wondering.

" can you tell me your name?" she asked.

"What?" I responded looking sharply at her. I tried to think but nothing, the only thing I could remember was the things I saw some minutes before I started talking to her.

"I don't know Doctor" I told her honestly.

" it's okey " she comforted.

" try to remember anything about yourself then." she said holding a file in her hand..

I looked up the ceiling trying so had to remember but it was blank. it was like I never existed before.

"am sorry Doctor, I don't remeber a thing my memory is blank." I told her after my effort to retrieve a thing from my memory failed.

She sighed..

"it's okey. don't push it. it's normal for people with cases like yours. God willing you will recover your memory soon. Meantime, let's get you checked and see how much damage the accident has caused to your brain and body"

After a series of tests I was told I had amnesia, that it was quite serious and would probably take time to recover my memory. I felt defeated, I felt like I had an obligation to someone, my inner self told me I had to protect and defend someone who's life was in danger but I couldn't remember who it was or where that person was.

2 weeks later... I felt better, with the strong medications to rub on my skin burns I got my skin smooth again and Doctor Mwaba offered me a place at her home. she told me her husband agreed they would help me. I had no option at the time so I agreed.

We drove to her home on 7 th street nchanga area. The family was so welcoming. Dr Mwaba had two kids, a 15 year old son and a girl aged 13. Her husband, a dark skinned short man spoke calmly and welcomed me to their home.

"We heard what happened to you and we are really sorry, just stay calm and feel free here. am sure you will be okey soon and will get back to your family.. " he assured me.

"Thank you" i told him honestly.

I was led to the dinning table at dinner that evening. My heart felt at peace but the strange feeling of wanting to know who i was was still so strong.

I was stattled as Dr Mwaba's daughter Maya called me..

"hey uncle! So what do I call you since you don't know your name ?" she asked as we all laughed..

"Well, what do you think?" I asked her smiling.

"Mmm let's see" she said closing her eyes.

"I think I will call you uncle Will!" she shouted..

I let a laugh,

"why Will?" I asked her.

"Well, because I love Will Smith and you have a body like his" she shrugged as we all laughed loudly

"Will, it is Maya" I told her and she smiled proudly.

A week passed and I still couldn't remember a thing. I had slept one day and I dreamed of being in some kind of jungle running dressed in a camouflaged combat. I told Dr Mwaba and she explained that maybe I was in some kind of army before. she insisted I took it slow..

"maybe the dreams will lead us some where." Whe affirmed.

She handed me a small paper.

" We found this in your damaged trousers the time someone brought you to the hospital I don't know if it can help."

I unfolded the paper with hope. An address was written down for some plot within chingola.

"I have no idea what this address is or who stays there" I told her shaking my head.

"But I can go their this afternoon if you can help me find the place."

"That's a good idea" she agreed with me.

"my son will show you the area, let's just hope something comes up from that" she added as she left the room I was given..

I changed into some black sneakers, a grey t-shirt and a black cargo pant. I looked at myself and remembered Maya teasing me that i looked like Will Smith and they all had been using the name. I had watched a few movies with her and I liked the action of the guy. I was even getting used to call myself Will too.

I smiled and wished I really knew who I trully was. I looked at the small pieace of paper again and left to join Mwamba, Dr Mwaba's son outside.

"let's go uncle, I will drive" he shouted the moment I stepped out.

"am coming too!" the smiling Maya called from behind joining us.

"I want to help you too" she looked at me when the brother told her to stay back.

"It's okay angel, Let's go." I shrugged casually. Mwamba frowned furious

"come on guys lets just go already" I told them as i sat in the passenger seat.

To be continued

Read more here - www.youngicee.com/category/the-bodyguard

Stalked By A Mafia - Episode 18

A story by Tisa Phiri

She wore her white uniform, walking down the beach with her bare feet. she was smilling looking at the water flowing softly.

"life is like a tide, it flows in the direction of the wind. sometimes we just find ourselves in circumstances we never hoped for , but the beauty of it is that we can chose to rise again when the wind blows harder on us. Just like the tides, they fade and rise again continually."

He held her from behind,

" you are right my woman." he spoke in her neck,

"life is indeed a tide" he smiled.

She turned to look at him and there was blood all over her uniform. he heard gun shots,

"dammit!, they shot her" he screamed.

" No ! no Sila ! Please wake up please" he cried shaking her as she lay lifeless in his arms. someone held his shoulders from behind.

"she's gone man we have to let her go."

" Noooooooooo!" He screamed loudly.

"Aaron ! Aaron!" Sila shook him from his sleep.

He woke up with a start.

"Sila!" he jumped from the bed panting heavily.

"It's ok," Sila looked at him

"You were dreaming."

His face was covered with fear. He had never felt so afraid in his entire life.

"Are you okey?" He asked her checking the window as he looked outside everything was quite..

"Am fine" Sila nodded,

"come back to sleep" she added putting her head down.

" I will join you later. " he sighed getting his robe. .

He went to the bar and poured some brandy in a glass with ice. He got two of his favourite cigarrate and the ash tray with a lighter on top, heading outside. he sat on a step after the door, lit his ciggarrate and pulled in the smoke. He relaxed feeling it's warm effect as the smoke entered him.

Staring in the sky, it was a bit dark, the air was cold but he didn't mind the coldness the floor tiles was giving his bare feet. He drunk his wine in a gulp, closing his eyes as he felt the scorch from the wine in his gullet.

Scar went deep in thoughts. he was a strong man and all but the feeling he had especially after the dream was giving him a bad vibe. He had always known a day like this would come, only he didn't anticipate hurting others in the process.

He had millions in his bank account and some other money in the hidden safe in his room but at that particular moment it was all useless.

He smilled at the thought of the woman inside, she truly was an amazing person. she had given him all her passion. He would normally expect hatred and strife from her but instead she made him happy in the last two days they had been together.

" I can die a happy man" he said loudly,

"provided she and my son are safe" he looked at butt of the cigarette in his hand, it was almost burning his finger, he put it off and lit the second one and went on smoking it slowly.

"If you came out here to fill your lungs with that Poisson, then you were better off having night mares " she said from the door way.

he turned to look at her. she had on one of his robes and put his socks on her feet. He smilled at her..

"I thought you are sleeping." He responded.

"well I can't just be comfortable in someone's nice bed when the owner is frezzing out here" she teased..

"Am keeping warm" he said showing her the cigarrate..

"see.. "

Shaking her head, she went and sat on the step were Scar had put his feet, putting her back between his legs, she held her kneels as the robe covered her feet.

He held her from behind as she leaned her head on his chest and they both stayed quite for minutes.

"It is good sometimes to just be there for someone, one needed not to say a word. Just their presence made all the difference."

Scar thought as he held her, her being there was all he wanted.

She thought.

"wow, Sila you are truly crazy. how can you fall for this guy."

She knew her life would never be the same but how could she deny what the heart wanted, call it destiny or pure coincidence she felt for Scar what she had never felt for another man . She smilled as the thoughts of making love to him came to her mind.

He was so gentle, he touched her like she was so delicate she would break. she recalled him holding her as he sat on the bed his back on the wall. He had slowly pulled her closer to him without breaking off from the kiss. she felt his hardness as he drew her closer. He paused for a while and gave her a smile.

"this" he had said.

"I would die for"

With all tendernes he had made love to her and she had been lost in his arms for what seemed like forever.

She smilled again her body relaxing as she frowned coming to the present.

"what are you thinking about ?" Scar who as still as quite whispered to her.

" everything." She said with a chuckle.

"Aaron I want you alive" she said after some silence again.

"Okay?" He said more like a question .

"yeah I don't know what else to say I just need you alive. I don't care if you are a murderer or a thief. I want you to live on." She shrugged.

He turned her to look at him,

"well I don't believe in God as much as you do. but if luck be on my side just maybe I might live " he smiled.

"I believe in God Aaron and I know my God loves you. he will give you a second Chance at life." She rubbed her hands on his.

he sighed.

"if you say so."

"yeah, i believe he will" she nodded.

*****

Hours later Scar and his men a crew of about 30 guys gathered as they planned their final moves. Scar inspected everyone before they jumped in the two trucks and Scar, Jo and 3 other guys got in his BMW.

Chile had his hide out somewhere between kabwe and kapiri town. Luck for Scar there was someone from Chile's circle leaking him the information..

Chile's plan was to capture Scar alive and hand him over to the Lusaka business man who wanted to witness him die..

In the silent night they crawled to the spot like soldiers fighting in the US army. Scar leading one group and Jo the second group of 15..

With succession, they put out the men on guard. One of them tried fighting back causing some noise which led Chile and his other guys lash out and fire gun shots in all directions.

The darkness did Scar and his group a favour, they managed to push forward attacking their enemy with full force.

Scar wanted Chile so he charged foward and followed him as he saw him head inside the building. It was difficult to pull forward with bullets flying everywhere. He finally manged to push through after one of his guys covered his back.

He turned into a room with little lighting and was caught with a sharp pain in his leg as he looked around.

"uuhhh!" He screamed in pain holding his leg as he fell down to the floor. The hysterically laughing Chile emmerged from the place he was hiding.

"well, well." he clapped his hands.

"the might Scar has fallen. who could have known." He teased kicking him hard in the back as Scar rolled and screamed out in pain.

"I will kill you idiot!" scar snapped.

"You are a coward! instead of fighting like a man you run to use a gun whilst hiding."

Chile smiled widely..

" it doesn't matter how I take you down you stupid boy. I trained you and I will be the one to finish you !" he shouted.

Scar used his other leg and kicked Chile in the stomach as he tried to get close to him. Chile staggered back. Scar tried to move to get to him but the wound on his leg was so painful, he lay back down.

"This is for stealing people's things" Chile kicked him hard

"and this is for betraying me" he kicked him again.

Scar crawled trying to reach his gun which Chile had pushed away and Chile quickly stepped on his wounded leg causing him to scream in pain.

"I see your balls are empty my boy from f**king that bi*ch! " Chile shouted..

"I warned you Scar, women destroy people like you and me. see now how much of a piece of shit you turned out to be because of her. Not to worry though" Chile added

" I will make sure I dig her grave next to yours and put a poster.

"love kills the mighty" hahahahahah!" he laughed out aloud.

Scar with all that remained in him pulled out a flicker knife from his shoe and before Chile would stop laughing he landed it with force on his foot pricking through his sandals direct into his skin.

As Chile staggered back screaming, Scar pulled himself and got to his gun. He raised it and shot Chile in his stomach.

Before he could fall, Chile also pulled his gun and shot scar in his side chest.

Scar shot the second bullet and it landed direct in Chile's forehead, he fell with a thag.

Letting go of his gun, Scar head sirens outside, it seemed someone had alerted the police. His eyes were half closing when he saw Jo run to him.

"Scar !" He called him.

"stay with me man. Am going to get you out of here."

**********

At home Sila paced around her room praying and crying.

" God please let him live, give him a second chance. You can Change him Lord like you changed Saul." she knelt down and prayed her face wet with tears. she felt a deep sadines and cloud cover her.

It was like someone just put a blanket on top of her and she was under the dark. she shed more tears as the heaviness increased making her pray the more.

"I love him." She said aloud.

"really love him Lord and we him alive."

To be continued

Read more here - www.youngicee.com/category/stalked-by-a-mafia

Restless - Episode 47

® 18+ SNVL
© Oyinloye Oluwatosin Emmanuel

A smile appeared on Sheila's face unconsciously as she heard Henry's voice from the other end of the call. She let out a breath before speaking again.

"How are you doing Henry?" Sheila asked as she got into the bed and sat resting her back against the headboard.

"I'm fine, how about you?" Henry asked back.

"I'm doing well," Sheila replied.

"Sheila, I'm very sorry for not calling you as often as I promised." Henry apologized to her.

"No no Henry, we communicate almost everyday. It's okay, I know how busy you are." Sheila replied.

"Thanks Sheila, so how is your project coming through?"

"Great Henry, I don't need to ask about yours again. I follow the news and I know what's your work when I hear it."

Henry chuckled. "We'd get to talk about it properly soon."

"Well, I have something urgent to see you for." Sheila stated.

"Oh! What's that?"

"We need to meet and talk about it," Sheila replied him. "Can we see tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow, how? It's too late to book for a flight right now, and even if I could, I already have things scheduled for tomorrow."

"We can make out time to meet tomorrow, just an hour and we'd be done."

"What are you talking about Sheila?"

"I'm in Bexford," Sheila stated.

"What?" Henry expressed his surprise. "You didn't tell me you were going to be here."

"I didn't, that's because we didn't talk yesterday," Sheila replied.

"Oh! I'm sorry I couldn't reply your missed call, I don't go about with my personal phone."

"I know and understand perfectly well Henry," Sheila replied.

"But what are you doing in Bexford?"

"I'm here to see you."

"Here to see me?" Henry's utmost shock was expressed in his voice. "But you know you shouldn't be here."

Sheila was silent.

"But why didn't you tell me you were planning to be in Bexford?"

"I didn't because I know you would disagree with me and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you I was coming to see you."

"You know this is not safe Sheila, I promised I was going to come to El Deols at the right time."

"Henry, I have something very important to show you, how do we meet tomorrow?"

Henry's huge sigh could be heard over the phone. "Where are you?" Henry asked. "And I hope no one else knows you are here to see me."

"No one knows Henry, I'll be having a business meeting by one o'clock tomorrow. I'm in Rither Hotel," Sheila answered him.

"Okay, I'll call or send you a text anytime tomorrow and tell you where to meet me." Henry said to her.

"Alright Henry, I'd be expecting your call."

____

07:45AM

Tam had been left alone in the room all night and could barely sleep in the chair he was tied to. He couldn't remember how he got to the place but he remembered having entered into the surveillance control room of the hotel and being pointed a gun by the woman. All he felt after that was a slight sting on his neck. He knew it was the medicine used to sedate him.

He could tell it was morning by the little ray of light which was allowed to pass through the window curtains. He had been awake for more than an hour before he began to hear other sounds outside the room. He soon began to hear footsteps approaching slowly to the door, he heard the sound of the knob turning and he drew in a breath in anticipation of whatever was coming for him.

The door soon opened and he could see people walking in and coming in his direction. The lack of lights in the room made it impossible for him to see their faces in the darkness. Two people were already coming in his direction when a third man walked in and tapped the switches of the bulb. The bulbs turned on and the room was brightened. Tam could now see the faces of the men who were now standing in front of him.

At the first look, the two faces in front of him seemed unfamiliar to him but as he turned his gaze to the face of the man now coming to join the other two, something struck his mind and he looked again at the face of the man standing by the left.

He felt struck by extreme fear as he looked at the man's face again. He couldn't tell if it was the hugeness of the man's body or something else about him that sent the panic through his body.

"Take the ropes off his hands," Henry ordered in a calm voice to Dave who was standing beside him.

Dave stepped forward and quickly began to untie him.

"I'm sorry Tam, I know you don't deserve to be treated this way. You were only carrying out your job." Henry said while Dave continued to untie him.

Tam stared for a little while longer before he realized who was standing before him. His mouth opened wide in shock and his eyes in disbelief.

"Agent Tam, we've only worked together once and for a short period of barely twenty hours. I knew we would meet and work again, but never thought it would be under this condition."

Henry paused for a little while as Dave turned to Tam's front to take off the remaining part of the ropes.

Tam kept his eyes on Henry's face, his lips were shaking and his hands trembling even after being freed from the shackles. It was difficult to believe the sight before him. He had always heard stories of reincarnation which he considered as only myths but he never heard of people being able to come back in the same body after being dead.

"You are dead Agent Carl, this can't be true." Tam said with trembling lips and he cleaned his eyes with his palms.

Henry chuckled and took a step closer to Tam. He stretched out his hand to offer Tam a handshake.

"Shake me Tam, I'm flesh and blood, not a ghost." Henry said temptingly with a light smile.

Tam stared at his face for a while before he stretched out his hand to take the handshake. He shivered as his hand met with Henry's hands and almost let go out of fear but Henry held him tight and refused to let go off his palm.

"Tam, you're a senior Agent, even ghost shouldn't scare you this much." Henry said in a lighter mode.

A brief smile appeared on Tam's face but it disappeared so quickly and was replaced by a confused look. He kept staring at Henry's face and wondered how it was possible for the Agent to remain alive. He remembered having attended the last honours organized by the FOX for Agents Carl and Rex, it was just so impossible for the same Agents to be alive.

"How come you are alive? We watched you being shot thrice and let into the Bexford sea." Tam asked.

"Yeah, I have the scars." Henry answered, pointing to his belly with the other palm. He let go off Tam's hand and took a step back. "But I'm here alive," he added with a brief smile. "Rex did not escape death but I'm here to make sure those who killed us face justice."

"The FOX got every of those men who attacked you that night," Tam said.

"That's a lie Tam, that is what Paul Edwards and other executives have made the world believe." Henry said to him. "None of those men were killed, a lot of them are living and fully well."

Tam squinted at Henry's face in confusion. "I don't understand you."

Henry chuckled. "Just accept this as true, or haven't you thought about how Paul's grandson escaped the death at the hostel?"

Tam made his gaze narrower at Henry. "I never knew Paul's grandson was alive until yesterday and he called it a classified information whose explanation he was going to make later."

"The explanation is obvious, Paul knew about the explosion before the day, he took his grandson out of the place and feigned his death to draw sympathy." Henry said to him.

Tam still stared at Henry in disbelief of all he was hearing. It was hard to believe that Paul Edwards could ever compromise and also here was one of the world greatest Agents, having come back from the dead, accusing Paul of being evil.

He closed his eyes as he let out a chuckle and shook his head. "This cannot be real," he said, continuously shaking his head. "All this cannot be real."

"This is real Tam, Paul Edwards is a criminal behind the mask of the FOX and that's why most of his activities are done secretly."

Tam opened his eyes and let out a sigh, it was still difficult to believe.

"So, what are we going to do now?"

"I want you to help me, help me solve the mystery of the Red Wolves with which we would also have to solve the mystery of Paul Edwards."

"How do I come in?"

"What you need to do first is give us the names of other FOX executives who are also like Paul Edwards. We can't get to Paul easily but we can get to the other Agents easier."

"But I don't have that information," Tam frowned.

"You do Tam, all you need to do is tell us other executives who are aware that Austin Edwards is still alive, you are also going to help us get to them."

Tam closed his eyes briefly in thoughts and opened them again. "I only know of Agent Elkim and Agent Samuel."

"So, can you help us get to them easily?"

Tam sighed. It was a difficult request. He wasn't sure of Agent Carl's allegation against them yet and he couldn't just act without confirming the accusations.

"I don't know, I do ..."

"Oh! Sorry, you've been like this since yesterday. I think what you've got to do now is freshen up and have some food." Henry said with a voice showing his concern. He turned around to look at Cole. "Please lead him to the living room to have his breakfast," Henry said to Cole.

He turned back again to Tam and lend him a hand to help him up. Tam took his hand and Henry helped pull him to his feet.

Henry smiled as he let go of his hand and stepped away for him to follow Cole. Henry stayed behind with Dave and watched while Cole led Tam away.

Dave turned to Henry after they were out of sight.

"Boss, can we really trust this man enough to work with him?" he asked, with raised eyebrows and a confused look.

Henry smiled at him. "Good question Dave but I'll leave the answer till later, for now we've got two Agents in our options, Elkim and Samuel. Elkim is more difficult to get to but we have to go after him as I believe he would have better information than Samuel."

They got into the living room and met Tam at the dining table with Jenny already serving him breakfast. Henry signalled to Dave, Cole and Samantha and they followed him from the living room into the control room of the building.

"Hey! Listen up guys," Henry began but took a brief pause to check his time. "We're going after Samuel Alfred today, he's a difficult man and we might not be able to get or abduct him alive but we can get him and take things from him which would lead us to finding deeper details."

He watched the faces of the three who were listening to him intently.

"I'll give you some time to make research on Samuel Alfred while I go out to make some preparation. I'll be communicating to you while I'm out, but you should be prepared to move once I return back here. Okay?"

"Alright boss," the three replied in unison.

Henry nodded once and smiled briefly. He was about to turn when Cole asked him a question.

"What are we going to do with that Agent at the dining table?"

Henry moved his gaze to Samantha. "Did you put the mixture in his food?"

"Yes, it was added to his food and water."

Henry turned his gaze back to Cole. "Agent Tam would fall sick in thirty minutes thereabout and would lose his memory after a deep sleep."

__

"Hey Sheila, meet me at the Rither Hotel Restaurant by nine o'clock." Henry said into his phone as he walked into his room to have a change of clothes.

__

08:55AM

Sheila walked straight to an empty table as she stepped into the restaurant. She checked her wristwatch before settling into the seat. It was only five minutes to the time Henry told her.

She took a moment to look around the place. It was as clean and orderly as expected. A waiter soon walked to her to request for her order but she kindly told the waiter that someone was coming to join her.

Her phone rang at five minutes to nine and she checked to see Henry as the caller.

"Hello," she said into the mouthpiece, hoping he was not calling to tell her he couldn't make it.

"Hi Sheila, I'll be there soon, but please do not be surprised when you see me." Henry said in low tones.

"Ermm..." Sheila thought of asking questions but changed her mind. "It's okay."

Soon, it was nine o'clock and she fixed her eyes at the entrance expecting to see Henry walk in. Her eyes were still fixed there when she noticed someone walking towards her from the left. The man had been sitting alone at another table in the restaurant. She glanced at him briefly and looked back towards the entrance. She turned her face suddenly back to him when she realized it was Henry walking to her.

She was surprised and wanted to get up to her feet but she remembered the call and managed to keep herself calm.

"Hi," Henry greeted as he took the seat in front of her. He was putting on a sky blue collared shirt on blue jeans and a black face cap covering his head.

"Hey Henry, so you've been here all the while?"

"Yeah, been waiting for you." He replied. "I want it to look like we're just meeting here."

Sheila stretched her hands forth on the table to reach out to him.

"It's really nice to see you Henry," she said with smiles.

"It's nice to see you too," Henry replied, smiling very briefly. He looked at her hands and knew she wanted to hold his hands but refused to join his with hers. "Sorry Sheila, we can't hold hands here, it's public."

Sheila paused a breath and looked around briefly, she felt a bit disappointed and slowly withdrew her hands.

"So, Sheila, why are you here to see me?" Henry asked.

She frowned at him, he was sounding so unwelcoming.

"Henry, aren't you happy to see me?" She asked with raised eyebrows.

"I am but I just need to know why you're here."

Sheila took in a breath. She was already feeling hurt by his attitude.

She closed her eyes for a second and opened it again. "I need to show you something but I would have loved to meet you somewhere private so you can view it on my laptop, but I also have it on my phone."

"Can I have a look?" Henry asked.

She took out her phone from the bag and unlocked it before handing it over.

"Open the Farse Application, you might find something interesting there."

Henry collected the phone and followed her instructions. It took him about three minutes before he spoke again.

"This is good Sheila but you shouldn't have come to look for me here."

Sheila's jaw dropped in surprise, taken aback by how ungrateful Henry was.

"Yeah Sheila, I see no reason for you to come here and I think you should round up with other things you're here for and go back to El Deols as soon as possible."

Tears formed in Sheila's eyes. Henry had never spoken to her that way. She felt more than heartbreak, she felt her heart totally shredded to pieces.

To be continued


Read more here - www.youngicee.com/category/restless

Blood Lives Here - Episode 16

© Brian Ngoma

Hunter knew all too well that every decision comes with its consequences. He made a deal with the Patel's to get rid of Ludo but he didn't hold his end of the bargain. Despite this, Hunter was no man to be intimidated by the Patel's. As a matter of fact, they were out of the picture for him because he had finally got what he sought; The manuscript. As soon as he got home, he printed the whole thing out and went into his carnage backyard and treated himself to some reading. He never remembered when he had read like that but he was determined to finish the whole thing.

Dawn came. Hunter was done. His eyes were even more darker than ever. He threw the manuscript on the floor disappointedly. What he was looking for, he didn't find. One thing peculiar about the manuscript was that it talked more about everyone but the only person Hunter was after; Nalishuwa Hamuumbu. He got up and felt his legs, back and neck ache like he had run a marathon. He felt dizzy and sat back in his chair. He looked at the manuscript again and nodded his head. He thought about the amount of time he had wasted reading it.

"It wasn't all that bad," he sighed. "What did I expect? It’s just a book," he touched his head.

He gathered some strength and stood up. He went to the main house and cleaned up. He had even forgotten about his phone which he left in the living room the previous night. He got it and found several missed calls from Naveen. He cleared the notifications panel and threw the phone on the couch. No sooner had it hit the cushion, than it rang. He picked it up again and answered.

"Hello friend," Naveen said chewing something.

"Yes Naveen," Hunter put the phone on speaker.

"Did you do it?"

Hunter was silent.

"Did you?"

"Yes I did it," Hunter lied.

"I knew I could trust you. I'll send the manuscript over. You have done me a great favour man, it's a win win kind of thing. I'll get what I want and you'll also get justice for whatever it is you are seeking."

Hunter chuckled.

"Bye then old friend. Keep in touch."

Whatever the Patel's were planning, it was big. Hunter could tell from Naveen's voice and it seemed like Ludo's elimination was the first step. He thought about what great danger Ludo was in and she was also a very important accessory to his plan. Not finding what he needed to find in the manuscript, he needed her more than ever because she was the only one he knew close enough to the Hamuumbu's.

Ludo woke up to her parent's voices which seemed like they were arguing. It had been a while since they argued. For some days it had felt like things were back to normal but judging from the angry voices, everything was still the same. She got out of bed and went to take a shower hoping the argument would end but with each minute, it escalated. Ludo decided to intervene. She went to their bedroom door and knocked.

"What is it?" Joe yelled and went on. "Who is there?"

Ludo didn't know what to say but just stood still at the door. She sat on the door for some minutes while her parents were still at it. She heard the door knob turn and stood up. Her father had opened it and was standing there with a suitcase.

"Dad what is it?" Ludo asked feeling her heart pound.

Joe bowed his head.

"Where are you going?" Ludo inquired.

"Business as usual Ludo. I'll be back soon."

"This doesn't seem like a business trip dad."

"It is," Joe kissed Ludo on the forehead and left.

Ludo entered the bedroom and found Zamiwe on the bed wiping tears. She walked to the bed and sat beside her.

"What is it mum?" Ludo asked.

"It's nothing Sweetie," Zamiwe replied. "How did you sleep?" Zamiwe asked changing the topic.

"I slept just fine till you guys woke me up. What was that all about?"

"Don't worry about it it's nothing."

"Did dad just move out?" Ludo asked her mother hoping for a no.

"Yes," Zamiwe broke down.

Ludo moved closer to her mother and consoled her. She wasn't surprised. She knew this day would come because her parents were only good at arguing. It was like arguing was the only thing that kept them together.

"He's coming back, isn't he?" Zamiwe asked Ludo. "He can leave me but he cannot leave you."

"He always comes back, he will," Ludo answered.

She left her mother in the bedroom and went to prepare breakfast for the both of them. Nancy had not reported and Ludo wondered what had happened because Nancy never missed a single day at work. She had breakfast with her mother in bed. The two talked, joked and caught up. Ludo only wished she could tell her what was happening.

"Let's visit Mrs. V," Zamiwe said. "I'm not going to work today and you obviously have nothing to do."

Ludo nodded.

"By the way, did Mr. V get back to you about your manuscript?"

"No he didn't. These things take time mom."

"Okay, go in your room and prepare."

Ludo and her mother went to the hospital but didn't find Kate. They talked to the doctor and were told Mr. V's condition had not changed but he was still stable.

"You said you visited Kate yesterday, did you find her home?" Zamiwe asked after the doctor had left.

"No I didn't. I knocked on her door but she didn't come out. I could tell that she was inside. I think she just needed time alone."

"Perhaps but I'm worried about her. Go and check on her again. I'll remain here."

"Mum with this heat?" Ludo complained.

"Just go."

Ludo went to Kate's house. This time, she found the yard had been cleaned thoroughly. She felt relieved and knew that Kate was fine. She walked to the door and knocked but there was no response like the previous day. She checked the key hole and saw that there were no keys and the door was locked. She called her mother and asked if Kate had reached the hospital but her mother confirmed that she hadn't.

"Maybe she has gone to school," Ludo told her mother over the phone.

"Maybe. Come back here we stay for a while and go back home."

"Alright mum. On my way."

"Don't take took long, i don't like hospitals."

"I won't."

Sited at the reception of Triple E group of companies headquarters was Kate with her shades on reading a magazine about the company. Looking at how busy people were, Kate could tell that this was definitely a company not to mess with. From the magazine, Triple E group of companies had their hands in almost every business; Real Estates, Hotel and Lodge Management, Transportation, Clothing, Motors and Electronics just to mention a few. She was regretting ever going there because she knew she stood no chance at all with these people. She stood up and headed for the door. As she was about to reach the exit, she saw Elise and Erica walking towards her, she quickly turned around avoiding their eyes. She recognized them because she had done her research. In the little time she got some information from O'Brien, she knew everything about the family that was public and nothing pointed crime to them. They were protected and that was dangerous, Kate thought to herself.

She stood still as Erica and Elise passed her and stood some meters away from her. She wanted to walk away but Erica mentioned Ludo's name in their conversation which caught Kate's attention.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on Ludo," Elise warned Erica. "What you did was enough."

"I wonder why you're even protecting her. You even know what damage she's bringing to us," Erica said. "If we are not careful, our enemies will attack when we least expect it and don't you forget that Naveen is in the country."

"Enough, I'm aware of all that. Ethan will take care of Naveen."

"Mom!" Erica touched her mouth.

"Don't worry, he won't be killed but will be dealt with accordingly if he tries to mess with us."

Erica got worried knowing what her elder brother was capable of.

"You still have feelings for Naveen??"

"I love Jean."

"Are you sure? Isn't Jean someone who just makes you forget about the world you are in?"

Erica didn't answer.

"I need to work. Go work as well," Elise told Erica.

"Whatever," Erica left Elise standing.

Elise noticed that someone was staring at them and eavesdropping to their conversation.

"Excuse me!" Elise shouted looking at Kate.

Kate dropped the magazine in fear. She quickly walked to the exit door and got out without looking back.

"Security!" Elise shouted.

Kate ran as fast as possible. The heels she wore fell of. She felt like someone was following her. As soon as she got outside the fence, she stopped a taxi and got on it and told the driver to step on it. Immediately the taxi started moving, a man came out of Triple E premises running and looked around. He then went back inside.

"So Ludo is also caught up with them. They found her. Poor girl," Kate thought out loudly panting heavily.

"Pardon," The cab driver said.

"Oh sorry, I'm just thinking out loud," she checked if there was a car following them.

"You keep checking behind. No one is following us. That man went back inside. What did you do? Am i helping a thief?" The driver laughed.

"No," Kate laughed too concealing her nerves. "I went to check on my husband. I suspected he was cheating on me."

"Ohh that's a relief because from what i hear, the owners of that company are not people to mess with me. Anyway you are safe no one is following us and i hope your husband is not cheating on you."

Kate exhaled and smiled. Ludo was her next mission. She needed to find out what was happening with her and she was determined to find out that same evening.

Ludo reached town and was passing through some boutiques and thought about Melanie. She hadn't heard from her for days now. It was true she didn't like her but she missed her annoying ass. Walking slowly, she felt someone following her. She turned around but couldn't see anyone she knew. She started walking again this time, faster. She felt a hand on her hand.

"Easy," Evan stopped her.

Ludo turned around and was surprised.

"Are you following me?" She asked him.

"No NO No," he answered defensively. "I was in that boutique and saw you. I came for my suits."

"Oh that's good. Bye then!"

"Wait," he held her hand again.

"Stop it with that!" She pointed at him.

"I'm sorry. Grab a coffee with me," he told her.

"I don't like coffee and I'm busy," she said.

"Ice cream then."

"I said I'm busy and aren't you supposed to be at work killing people or something?"

A few passers-by’s looked at the two in shock but they just thought it was sarcasm at play.

"Today is my cheat day and I feel like I didn't say thank you enough for what you did for me that night and this coincidence hmmm," Evan smiled and went on. "Please let's have ice cream, please," he begged her.

Ludo looked at her watch and said, "NO."

Evan's face turned sad.

"Sorry but I have to go," Ludo started off.

As she walked in the streets she saw a tall dark man wearing an all-black suit and thought of Hunter. Hunters words then lingered in her head;

TO BETRAY, YOU HAVE TO BELONG

She quickly turned around and ran back to Evan. She found him about to enter the boutique.

"Hey you," she called him.

Evan turned around and smiled at Ludo.

"Change of heart?" He asked.

"Not really, I have just realised that I have free thirty minutes before i get to where I'm going."

Evan laughed and told her to wait for him at the counter as he got his suits. They went to the nearest eatery and ordered some ice cream. What was supposed to be a thirty-minute friendly date, turned to hours. Ludo looked at Evan and thought to herself why he was referred to as Brains, he was really intelligent. The way he talked and argued. He wasn't that bad after all, she told herself.

"Snap out of it," she said out loudly.

"Excuse me," Evan said.

"It's nothing, I have to get going now," Ludo stood up. "Thank you for the ice cream," she smiled at him.

"Let me take you home," he also stood up.

"No I'm fine. As a matter of fact, I'm not going home I'm going to the hos......" She stopped realising she wanted to tell an enemy about Mr. V.

"Where are you going?" Evan asked. "I can take you there."

Ludo refused for Evan to drive her. They left the eatery together and Evan kept insisting to drive her.

"No. Bye Evan," she turned around and bumped into Melanie.

"So this is what you have been doing to me Ludo?" A teary Melanie asked. "I thought you were my friend.

"Melanie!" Ludo blared. "Where did you come from? This is not what it looks like," Ludo said.

"I saw how you guys were talking to each other. I was watching you."

"Where you following us?" Evan touched Melanie's shoulder.

"I'm not talking to you Evan," Melanie removed Evan's hand from her shoulder.

"We just bumped into each other and we were talking about you, isn't that right Evan?" Ludo looked at Evan.

Evan cringed.

"You see?" Ludo told Melanie.

"Is that true Evan?" Melanie turned around.

Evan didn't answer but looked at Ludo expressionless.

"Don't play with Ludo. Her boyfriend will kill you, he's fierce."

"Boyfriend?" Ludo asked.

"Yes that bearded guy," Melanie answered. "Isn't that your boyfriend? You forgot you told me that."

Evan's face read shocked.

"Bearded guy?" Evan asked.

Ludo didn't answer.

"Yes," Melanie answered. "He's fiercely handsome and you wouldn't stand a chance against him," she frowned.

"I'm leaving now," Ludo left feeling her heart out of place.

What if Evan had remembered what happened that night? She reached for her phone and went into her address book and found Hunter's address. She got into the taxi and went to his place. She got to Hunter's place around 6pm. She found the gate unlocked. She entered and forgot to push it back. She reached the main door and knocked. There was total darkness but she wasn't afraid. A curtain flipped. Some seconds later, the door opened. Ludo entered and found herself in the living room.

"What do you want?" Hunter asked in the dark.

"We might have a problem," Ludo answered looking for a light switch.

"Just find a seat young girl," Hunter growled.

"I can't see."

"That's the all the purpose."

"I'm leaving if you are not switching on the lights," Ludo said.

"Are you telling me you came all the way here to go back because there are no lights?"

"Yes," Ludo headed for the door and opened it.

"Wait. Come back here, sit down," Hunter switched on the lights.

Ludo left the door and went to sit down.

"What is it?" Hunter asked her looking away.

"I said we might have a problem," Ludo answered.

"Ludo what is happening here?" Kate asked standing at the door. "Who is this man?" She pointed at Hunter.

Hunter quickly got up startled and angrily looked at Ludo, then Kate and then back at Ludo. His eyes burned with Betrayal as he clenched his fists and his eyes turned dark as night.


To be continued

Read more here - www.youngicee.com/category/blood-lives-here

Blood Lives Here - Episode 15

© Brian Ngoma

(Unedited)

Kate was by her husband’s bedside. She had cried enough and was feeling weak. She was glad he was still alive but not knowing when he would wake up broke her heart. She didn't have much sleep and didn't eat anything. Zamiwe came in the room and told her that there was a policeman looking for her. She declined saying she couldn't talk to him at the moment.

"I told you everything. Just tell him what I said. There is nothing more," Kate said exhausted.

"Are you sure?" Zamiwe asked.

"Yes."

"Ok."

"Thanks Zamiwe."

Kate knew Kent’s attack was no ordinary attack. Ever since he got Ludo's manuscript, things had changed in their lives. Even though Kent didn't tell her much, she noticed how nervous he would be. She was determined to get to the bottom of whatever was happening, but how? Was her big question.

She paced around the room while looking at the unconscious Kent and tried to complete a puzzle in her head. She remembered the phone call he made and was very scared.

"He said he had met Brains from Ludo's book," she thought out loudly. "After that, Ludo went missing and came back with Melanie."

She had long suspected Melanie. She only needed to confirm her doubts about Melanie. She walked to Kent’s bed and knelt.

"I know you said I shouldn't pursue this; That these people are dangerous but look what they have done to you. I just can't sit and do nothing. I have to find out who they are," she wiped a tear.

She got up and went to the doctor’s office and told him she had to go home and freshen up and get Kent’s clothes in case he woke up.

"Take your time, he's in safe hands. If anything, we'll call you," the doctor said.

She went to the waiting room and found Zamiwe sited alone.

"Where is Joe?" She asked her.

"He had to go," Zamiwe answered. "You know these businesses."

"Let's go, I'm sure you are tired," Kate told Zamiwe.

Zamiwe was surprised. Looking at Kate, one could tell that something was going on with her.

"Someone has to remain here," Zamiwe said.

"Don't worry. With the money Kent’s company is paying this hospital, they will take care of him."

Zamiwe and Kent left the hospital together but went separate ways when they got in town. Kate didn't go home. She went to Kent’s company. She walked into Kent’s office without even saying a word to the secretary. She checked the drawers and the table for anything that could be of any help in identifying the so called notorious family but didn't find anything.

"Can I help you madam?" Kent’s secretary asked standing at the door.

"I don't think so," Kate answered tired.

"It's really sad, what happened to your husband."

"The world is cruel,' Kate sighed and went on. "There is a man who came here sometime back. I'm sure you hadn't seen him before and so didn't my husband. He called himself Brains."

Kent’s secretary thought for a while.

"Hmm I don't remember."

"He didn't have an appointment with my husband."

"A lot of people come here with no appointments madam."

Kate reached her end. She had nothing to confirm her suspicions but Melanie. Even her suspicions on Melanie were not as solid and she didn't know how it could link to her husband’s attack. She sank in the chair and sighed in defeat.

"There is a man who came here not too long ago though," the secretary said.

"Go on," Kate said interested.

"He seemed sophisticated. Intelligent. Confident."

"Don't you have anything on him?"

"No. Not really. He didn't have an appointment but I think he wanted a manuscript."

Kate got up from the chair.

"Say what?"

The secretary got scared with Kates reaction.

"Yes. He wanted a manuscript but I don't know which one. I think he might have given it to Mr. Visashi and probably got upset because it wasn't being reviewed."

"That's him," Kate murmured.

"Pardon me."

"No its fine."

The secretary wanted to leave the office and Kate stopped her.

"A girl brought in a manuscript sometime before this 'sophisticated man' came."

"In the past month, we've only had one girl who brought a manuscript here."

"Ludo," Kate said.

"Yes that girl. Your husband said she was sick and her work was trash."

"Yea she is. Apart from my husband and obviously you, who else had access to that manuscript?" Kate asked with searching eyes.

The secretary got nervous. Kate observed and knew that someone had gotten their hands on the copy of it.

"My husband is in the hospital because of that manuscript," Kate said sympathetically.

"It's only him madam," The secretary said unconvincingly.

Kate was reminded of her pupils when they were not telling the truth. They would be biting their nails and fidgeting. That was exactly what the secretary was doing.

"Isn't my husband your friend?" Kate asked.

The secretary nodded.

"Help me help him," Kate asked.

"I can lose my job madam."

"I'll make sure you won't I promise," Kate walked to the secretary.

"It’s his friend Mr. O'Brien who got the other copy."

"O'Brien?"

"Yes madam."

"Okay thank you for your help. I'm leaving now."

"I wish your husband a quick recovery."

"Thank you," Kate left the office.

She went home and got Kent’s phone and searched for O'Brien's number. She just couldn't get why O'Brien would need the copy of the manuscript. She dialled his number and it rang. Immediately after answering, O'Brien sympathized with Kate and told her that he was going to be at the hospital after work. She let him talk and asked him a question he didn't expect.

"What is the name of the family claiming Ludo's book is about them?"

O'Brien was shocked.

"Sister in law, I don't know anything about that."

"O'Brien, Kent is your best friend and I know you got the manuscript from his secretary. He's in the hospital because of what you did. The only thing you can do for him now is tell me the name of the family."

O'Brien didn't think about all that. He was in shock and to think that he almost got his friend killed because of money was devastating.

"Name of the family please?"

"The Hamuumbu's," O'Brien answered ashamed.

"Which Hamuumbu's?"

"The Hamuumbu's who own Triple E group of companies. Nalishuwa Hamuumbu is the one who started the company."

Kate had no clue which family O'Brien was talking about. She knew she had to do some research.

"Okay but I know they got the manuscript from Kent. So who did you give the other one to?"

"I don't know the person. I'm sorry. Are you going to the police?"

"No. Not yet. I have to know these people. Thank you O'Brien but think about what you did to your friend," she hang up her cell.

She went in Kent's small library and turned on the computer. She sighed before opening a search engine. She knew she had to start from scratch because she had no idea what kind of people she was dealing with.

Zamiwe got home and found Ludo in the kitchen with Nancy talking and laughing.

"You didn't call us when you got home, I was worriedly sick."

"Mom I'm here," Ludo said. "Safe and sound."

Nancy excused herself and went outside to wash some clothes.

"Your father and I are worried about your recent behaviour."

"I'm fine mom."

"Have you been taking your meds?"

"How can I forget?"

"Good."

"How's Mrs. V?"

"She seems fine but I know she's not. She was acting strange today. I don't know."

"How strange?"

"I don't know. She's probably just in shock," Zamiwe stood by the kitchen sink. "Although I can't stop thinking about what she meant when she said she knows who did that to her husband."

"You also heard that?" Ludo asked.

"Of course I did. I was an inch away from her."

Ludo had forgotten about those words.

"You should have your hand checked out," Zamiwe said looking at Ludo's hand.

"It's fine," Ludo said.

Nancy came back in the house and stood like a pole not knowing how to say what she wanted to say.

"What is it?" Zamiwe asked.

Nancy looked at Ludo.

"There is a man outside looking for Ludo."

Ludo and her mother quickly peeped through the kitchen window and saw him.

"Isn't that your friend’s boyfriend?" Zamiwe looked at Ludo.

"Yes that's Evan," she answered.

"What is he doing here?"

"I'm sure he's having problems with Melanie."

"But couldn't he have called?"

"I don't know mom. Let me find out what he wants," Ludo left the kitchen.

As she walked to Evan, he watched her with a straight face. She didn't know what he wanted from her because she didn't want anything to do with his family.

"What do you want here Evan?" She asked him. "Have you come to kill me?"

Evan didn't answer her.

"You have now turned mute. What does your mother want now?"

"I'm not here for my mother," Evan responded.

"That's strange. What is it?"

"Can we talk in my car?"

"We can talk from here Evan," Ludo replied.

"If that's what you want. I came to say thank you for what you did last night. Any person, especially a girl could have left me. I could have been robbed or probably killed," Evan said.

Ludo was quiet.

"No one has done something like that for me. That's why I came here to say thank you."

"Whatever," Ludo said. "You can leave now and tell your family to leave me alone with my family. You people got what you wanted from me. Please leave me alone. I will never tell a soul about you people."

"I also apologise for what Erica did to you this morning," Evan added.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

"Okay I have heard your apology and whatever that other thing was. You may leave now. I hope to never see you again Evan," Ludo walked away from Evan.

At the door, she bumped into Nancy who apparently was eavesdropping.

"Why were you treating him like that?" Nancy asked.

"You feel sorry for him?" Ludo asked.

"Yes, he seems nice."

"You just don't know what you're talking about. That man is evil."

"Evil?"

"Never mind," Ludo joined her mother in the kitchen.

"What did he want?"

"He wants me to talk to Melanie for him," Ludo answered.

"Is that so? He could have called."

"He called but I didn't see his calls. Go freshen up mom you stink," Ludo laughed.

"Get out of here," Zamiwe said leaving the kitchen.

"And mom, I'm going to see Mrs. V."

"Don't you ever get tired of moving around?"

"Mom I'll be back early."

Naveen sat right across his father. Unlike many children who were free with their parents, Naveen was never free with his father. With the recent mess he made, he was determined to make it right and he was doing good since his return.

"I talked to him. He's in," Naveen said.

"Are you sure?" His father asked.

"Yes very sure."

"And the girl?"

"He will kill her."

"He better, she's a distraction."

Ludo reached Kate's house and knocked. Kate didn't open the door despite evidence that she was inside. Ludo knocked even more to no avail. She sat on the veranda and waited a little bit more. She had carried her laptop with her. She played with it for a while and saw it was getting late. She felt bad for Mrs. V. She knew everything was her fault and could only hope for a day to tell her that she was sorry. Ludo left and headed back home with a heavy heart.

Hunter sat outside Ludo's house in his car thinking about Naveen’s proposal. He really wanted the manuscript and being offered like that was an opportunity. An opportunity that came with shading blood. He thought back to the day he met Ludo and how she had a seizure on him and how scared she was. Killing Hilary was easy but there was something about Ludo. Hunter knew she didn't belong in his world like Hilary did. How she got herself into it, he didn't know but only knew about the manuscript.

"Just one soul," he thought looking at his sharpened knife.

He saw a car enter Ludo's compound. It was the same car he had followed to the hospital. He knew it was Ludo's father. He was tired of waiting and wanted to leave when he saw Ludo walking alone with a backpack. His heart skipped. He grabbed the knife and got out of his car. He looked around and didn't see anyone in sight. Ludo saw him coming to her and identified him.

"Hunter!" She yelled. "Just the man I was looking for."

Hunter stopped and looked around.

"Is this a trap?" He asked himself.

"I have something for you," she reached where he was standing.

Hunter hid the knife.

"Can we go to your car? Is it that one parked there?" Ludo walked to the car leaving Hunter surprised to what was happening.

Hunter discerned that Ludo was no longer scared of him. It was obvious she had known he was on her side. He walked behind her. He saw her open the door and entered his car.

"So what do you have?" He asked.

"I have the manuscript."

"I thought you gave away the last copy."

"It's here," she pointed at the backpack.

"Let me see."

Ludo removed the laptop from the backpack and gave it to Hunter."

Hunter confirmed the manuscript.

"I don't want anything to do with this family. Whatever beef you have with them, I hope you sort it out."

Hunter looked at Ludo still surprised. She seemed different.

"Why?"

"I'm sick and tired of them, especially that LovePeddler of a woman Jezebel."

"There is more," Hunter said. "Obviously."

"Yes they hurt my friend. He's now in a coma. I hope you deal with them accordingly. Don't you have a flash drive; I need to go. My parents are waiting for me."

Hunter transferred the document into his flash drive.

Ludo put back the laptop in the bag and opened the door.

"Wait," Hunter stopped her.

"What?"

"I still need your help."

"I thought I have done that."

"You know these people. You can get into their house and trust me, they won't let you off the hook just like that. You know too much."

"I don't want anything to do with them."

"That's not your decision to make. It’s either they will let you out alive or dead."

Fear creeped in.

"They can't. I told them off this morning."

"I know them trust me. I can protect you and your family."

Ludo thought about her mother and father. She agreed with Hunters words that she was in too deep to be let go. It wasn't her decision to get out but it was Elise's. One person was already hurt and more could be hurt if nothing would be done.

"What do you propose?" Ludo looked at Hunter.

"Are you in?" He asked.

"Tell me."

"It's late you have to go but think about this words," Hunter handed her a piece of paper.

Ludo looked at the paper and said, "This is an address."

"Not those words."

"Which words Mr. Bearded man?" Ludo asked.

"To betray, you have to belong," Hunter said.

To be continued

Blood Lives Here - Episode 14

© Brian Ngoma

(Unedited)

"How long will he be in the coma?" Kate asked the doctor.

"It depends on his progress and the nature of the injury. In your husband’s case, there is a swelling in his brain. If the swelling recedes, we will try to lighten up the coma to see if he can come back and see what his level of function is," the doctor responded.

"But according to your experience doc, how long can this take?"

"It can be a day, a week or months. Let's just have faith."

Kate despaired.

"Don't worry too much. We are doing our best," the doctor excused himself.

Kate went to where Ludo and her parents had sat. She told them everything the doctor had told her. Joe was optimistic that Kent would wake up in no time. Ludo was quiet lost in her thoughts.

"Young lady escort me outside," Zamiwe told Ludo after carefully observing her.

"Me?" Ludo looked at her mother.

"Of course, let's go."

Ludo and her mother walked outside. It was still night and only a few people could be spotted. They went to sit on a bench.

"What's happening with you?" Zamiwe asked.

"Nothing mum," Ludo answered.

"Don't play with me. I have noticed that lately you have become so mysterious its scaring me."

"You are just paranoid mom," Ludo chuckled.

Zamiwe looked at Ludo suspiciously.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Mom!" Ludo yelled.

"I'm just asking. With that friend of yours, you can be influenced."

"You hate Melanie that much?"

Zamiwe nodded.

"Don't worry I don't have a boyfriend."

"Then what was the fuss all about?"

"What?"

"The way you came into the house running?"

"Oh that!"

"Yeah."

"I was running from a dog," she laughed. "It came out from nowhere. Someone must have left the gate open for it to have entered."

"Zamiwe!" Joe called her.

"Let's go back inside," Zamiwe told Ludo.

"I'll join you," Ludo remained.

She watched her mother walk to her father as she contemplated on how they would react if they find out what was happening. Had it not been for Mr. Visashi been in the hospital, she would have told them but she couldn't. She checked her hand which was in bad shape. The pain reminded her of Evan and wondered what had happened to him bowing her head.

"Don't scream," Hunter said standing in front of Ludo.

Ludo looked up and held her mouth.

"I'm not here to harm you but talk," he sat down beside her.

Ludo shifted nervously on the bench.

"How did you know where to find me?" Ludo asked looking around.

"I followed you."

"What did you do to Evan?"

"Nothing yet. I need your help."

"Me?"

"Yes young girl."

Hunter looked around and saw two security guards looking at them while smoking. He didn't feel comfortable talking with Ludo on the bench.

"Let's go to the car," he suggested.

"Hell No, I'm not going anywhere with you," Ludo refused.

Hunter didn't know what to do but sit and talk from the bench.

"Okay so I have his car parked outside with him in it. I can't do anything to him yet. I need him alive and back at his place."

"He's still alive?" Ludo asked.

"Yes. That's where you come in now."

Ludo was confused.

"You need to take him back. I have given him something that will make him wake up in the morning and when he does, he needs to find you by his side."

"Wait ... Wait .... Wait... Why am I even listening to you right now? I don't even know you. I don't know what you want from me. You killed a man in front of my eyes. What makes you think I can help you?"

"You have something I want and you need my protection from this people."

"I can protect myself."

"You couldn't when I came to your aid. Whatever he was about to do to you, he could have done it if it wasn't for me."

Ludo got quiet.

"You see? You need me."

"I have given them the last copy of the manuscript I had," Ludo said. "What's your deal with the Hamuumbu's?"

"None of your business."

"How am I supposed to help you if you don't tell me?"

"You need to take him home otherwise it will be on you if he doesn't return. You left with him and if anything happens to him, they will come at you with everything they have."

Ludo felt a chill down her spine.

"Here are the keys. Take him home," Hunter threw the car keys in Ludo's hands.

Hunter started walking away from Ludo.

"Hey wait...!" She stopped him.

He stood without looking back.

"What should call you?"

"Hunter."

Ludo went back to her parents and told them she had to leave.

"There is a cab outside waiting for me," she said.

"You cannot go alone, it’s still dark and dangerous," Joe said.

"I can take care of myself dad," Ludo smiled.

"Let's go together," Zamiwe said.

"No mom. You stay. Mrs. V needs you."

"Joe take her," Zamiwe added.

"No I will go on my own you will find me home. I'm tired I need to sleep. I'll call you once I get home."

Ludo said goodbye to Kate and went to Evans car. Like Hunter had said, Evan was knocked out cold busy snoring. Ludo drove the car to Evans house and parked it outside. She didn't want to alarm anyone. She just closed the doors and windows of the car and closed her eyes waiting for sun rise.

Hunter was confused with what Ludo told him about giving the Hamuumbu's the last copy of the manuscript. For a moment, he felt the way he felt when Hilary stabbed him in the back. He was close but she had to fall in love with Evan and jeopardised the plan. Having Evan in his grip was everything he ever needed but he couldn't kill him yet. He was aware that, that would have put Ludo in arms way.

"My business is with the old man and since what I thought I could use is no more, its high time I make my move," Hunter thought to himself as he drove his car into his compound.

Parking the car, he noticed something was not right. The living room light was on and he always left it off. Who could have entered his house fearlessly? He wondered. He walked to the door and found it unlocked. Whoever it was, had the guts to enter the devils den. Hunter got in and found Naveen sited on the sofa.

"I have been waiting for you for two hours now," Naveen said getting up.

"What are you doing here?" Hunter asked.

"Don't you greet old friends Hunter?" Naveen answered. "I know the last job we did together was a mess and I take responsibility. That's the reason I had to leave the country. Things had to cool down. Where is Hilary by the way?"

"She's dead."

Naveen’s eyes widened.

"What?"

"Yea. I killed her. That's what I do to people who betray me."

"I never betrayed you man. Things just took a twist of turn and I couldn't handle being on the spotlight."

"We had a deal Naveen."

"Yea I know Hunter."

"A simple deal. We were both using Hilary for our good. I needed to get to the old man and you wanted to find out their business loopholes. As simple as that but when things went south, you couldn't hesitate to run."

"Don't make it sound like that man," Naveen said sweating.

Hunter's face was like that of a hungry lion.

"Let's finish it now. As it is now, I have secured two important people from Triple E group of companies. Mr. Jackson from Bank of Zambia and Mpundu from Mpundu Estates. I have made them weak and they are probably fighting and confused about it. It’s the right time to attack."

"Why should I trust you now?" Hunter asked.

"Because I have all the necessary weapons to take them down."

"I don't want to take anyone down I just want a faceoff with the old man."

"You will never get to the old man. What's your obsession with him anyway?"

Hunter looked at the photo of a girl on the table.

"This time we are doing things my way," Hunter looked at Naveen.

"Well there is one thing."

"What is it?"

"I know you have been looking for a manuscript."

Hunters eyes glowed.

"Yes," he said.

"I have it."

"What?"

"Yes and I can give it to you."

"That doesn't sound like all."

"Yes. I will give you on one condition."

"What is that?"

"You have to kill the girl who wrote it."

"Ludo?" Hunter asked surprised.

"Yes."

Evan opened his eyes to the sun rays while stretching himself and yawning. He felt his neck hurt and whined. He looked at where he was; The backseat of his car. He sat upright and saw that his car was parked outside his house. Surprised, he checked for his phone in the pocket and found it. He couldn't remember what happened. All he remembered was taking Ludo to her place. His memory was blurred.

"Morning," Ludo said from the front seat.

Evan was startled.

"What are you doing here?" Evan asked.

"I was waiting for you to wake up," Ludo answered.

"How did I get here?"

"I brought you home."

Evan was surprised. He tried to remember anything from the previous night but his memory failed him.

"You were too drunk to drive I had to drive you back here," Ludo said. "Let's get inside I have to get what's left of my laptop," Ludo started the car.

Evan was in shock and embarrassed of himself. Nothing like that had ever happened to him.

Ludo drove into the yard where they found Elise and Erica about to leave the house.

"Why is she driving your car?" Erica asked Evan.

"I brought him back. He was very drank last night," Ludo answered looking at Elise.

"Is that true?" Elise asked Evan.

Evan didn't answer.

"Mom she doesn't have to be here," Erica said.

"I come in peace Jezebel," Ludo rolled her eyes.

It was like Erica's opportunity to get her hands on Ludo was presented. She jumped on Ludo and grabbed her by the hair like a mantis and threw her on the ground. Evan quickly grabbed Erica and separated her from Ludo.

"I have had enough of this," Ludo yelled getting on her feet. "I came for my laptop but I'm leaving now. If you want stop me or kill me," Ludo left the compound while Elise, Erica and Evan watched her.

Also watching her was Ethan from the window. He watched the whole scene with Erica and nodded his head.

"Girl got some guts," He turned around and faced his father on the wheelchair.

Ludo reached home and went directly to her bedroom. She reached for the drawers and got the first laptop she had before the one her father bought her. She turned it on and went in documents. She found the other copy of her manuscript she had backed up. She was fed up with how she was being treated.

"If they wanted to kill me, they would have killed me by now. Mr. Bearded man, where can I find you?" She said thoughtful.

To be continued

Read more here - www.youngicee.com/category/blood-lives-here

Blood Lives Here - Episode 13

© Brian Ngoma

Kate prepared Kent's favorite meal. Last time she talked to him, he was happy at the prospects of finding a great writer. She ensured she had everything ready. After being satisfied with what she had done, she took a bath and wore her beloved dress which she knew Kent loved. She went back in the kitchen and checked on the food warmers as if someone had entered to steal the food. She sat on the dining chair while busy looking at her phone. She had texted him earlier on and he said he was in the neighbourhood but it had been thirty minutes. Knowing Kent, he had a tendency of talking to people especially when he reached the neighbourhood. She didn't want to call him. She told herself to be patient. They had the whole night together.

With all the work Kate had done, she was very tired. She got her sweater and rested her head on the dining table and fell asleep. An hour later, she woke up to no sign of Kent in the house.

"Kent!" She called his name thinking he was in the house.

She tried calling him but his phone had gone off. Kate became worried. She got up and checked the bedroom but Kent was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is this man oh?" She asked loudly fidgeting.

She decided to peep through the window to check if his car was outside. To her delight, Kent's car was parked outside. She felt relieved and headed for the door.

"So why is your phone off?" She asked walking to Kent's car.

She could see him from a distance. As she drew closer to the driver seat door, she saw his head resting on the driving wheel.

"Kent!" She ran and opened the door.

She lifted his head and was met with terror. Blood was all over Kent’s face. Kate felt her legs go numb. She failed to even scream for help.

"Baby talk to me," she cried holding his head carefully.

She shook him but he wasn't moving.

"Don't do this to me Kent please," she cried.

She got out of the car and went back in the house to get her phone. Phone in her hands, she forgot why she needed it. Confusion was a cloud above Kate's head. She ran back to the car. She carefully moved him to the backseat while tears kept streaming down her cheeks. She removed her sweater to support his head as a pillow. Luckily, she found the keys in the backseat. She went back to the driver's seat and started the car.

"You'll be fine baby, don't worry," She said driving out of the yard.

Ludo felt like she could choke on her fast beating heart. It was like the tiny confinements of her chest couldn't contain the heart. Her head bowed down, she could feel the eyes on her with the thirsty for blood. All was needed was an order to kill. She looked at her phone on the sofa she had sat on but she knew the moment she reached for it, that might as well be the death of her. There was nowhere to run to.

"Two deals have gone sour today because of your manuscript Ludo!" Elise broke the deadly silence. "Do you expect me to believe what you said?"

Ludo didn't answer.

"I don't know why you all think this girl is innocent," Erica added. "She's a weapon to our enemies. Look what she's costing us."

"Today she will tell us who she's working for. Failure to that, I'm having her parents killed in front of her eyes," Elise said angrily.

"She will just have another seizure," Evan said. "Look at her, I think it’s even on its way," he chuckled.

Ludo looked at Evan with hate in her eyes.

"What? You want to beat me?" Evan angrily asked her.

"Screw you!" She yelled at him.

"Screw this, I'm killing her," Evan quickly walked to Ludo and grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up.

"Leave me you bastard!" she shouted kicking and punching him.

Evan threw her on the floor hurting her hand.

"You will hurt her," Elise looked at Evan.

"That's what we are supposed to be doing right now. Do you know how embarrassing it was seeing Naveen beating me at a deal I worked my ass off for?!" Evan shouted at his mother. "All because of a damn manuscript written by this epileptic weirdo who claims to know nothing about."

"Don't forget who you're talking to Evan," Elise warned him.

"She embarrassed us mother," Erica joined. "Apparently, her manuscript says I have STI's 50 women combined. Who writes something like that?"

"She did," Ethan said standing at the door.

They all went mute as they watched him walk in.

"Aren't you ashamed of beating a woman?" He looked at Evan. "You failed to finalize a simple deal and here you are getting angry at a girl Evan."

"She ruined the deal for me," Evan said.

"You should be ashamed twin brother," Ethan said wiping his hands with a cloth.

All four could see the blood stains in his hands.

"And you Jezebel, did she lie talking about those STI's? Huh?" He gazed at Erica. "I thought you were all better than this. Instead of fighting the greater enemy, you are all busy playing games."

"Where have you been?" Elise asked him.

"I went to take care of their mess," Ethan answered. "Lately, it seems like it has become my work to take care of their businesses. Let's talk in private," he looked at his mother as he walked to the stairs.

"Don't move," Elise told the three.

After a good twenty minutes that seemed like forever, Elise came back alone.

"Where is Ethan?" Erica asked.

Elise ignored Erica's question.

"Take her home," Elise told Evan.

"What?" Erica and Evan asked surprised.

"You heard me," Elise left without looking at Ludo. "Erica follow me."

Erica followed her mother expressionless. She didn't know what to make of what had just happened.

"What's wrong with this family?" A drank Evan hit his head. "After everything you've heard? I take you home? This is crazy. I don't believe this."

Ludo just looked at him while she sat on the floor nursing her hand.

"Stand up!" He yelled at her.

Ludo quickly got to her feet.

Evan got his car keys and started walking to the door. Ludo trailed behind. They got to his car while he said nothing. He waited for her to get inside the car and started off.

If anything, this was Ludo's ghastly night ever. It wasn't over yet and she had convinced herself that as soon as she got home, she was telling her parents everything that was going on. That was if she would make it home.

"What did our family do to you? How much are the Patel’s paying you?" Evan asked with his eyes fixed on the road.

Ludo shifted uneasily.

"We can triple what they are paying you. What do you have to gain in all of this?"

"No one is paying me to do anything. You people are just crazy," Ludo said moving to the door.

"If it was that friend of yours Melanie, I would have understood and maybe give her a benefit of a doubt. That one is a thirsty LovePeddler but you? You don't seem like those kind of people."

"Leave Melanie out of this Evan."

"So you are now defending her? Do you know that the reason I hang out with her is you. Once we figure out your deal, both of you are done for. I just don't know what Ethan told mother to let you go. If it were up to me, you could be dead by now," Evan said driving into Ludo's street.

Ludo was ready to jump out of the car and run for her life.

"I see what you want to do. Don't even dare you will get yourself killed," Evan said looking for where to park. He drove slowly into the street avoiding alarming people. There was no one in sight.

Ludo looked around. She calculated the amount of time it could take her to run to the gate. If she could run faster, he wouldn't catch her and being that he was drank, she knew he couldn't catch her. Evan found a good parking spot and had concentrated his mind to it when he just saw the door open and Ludo was out of the car.

"Damn!" He shouted. "I don't even want to kill you. What's wrong with you?"

Ludo was on the ground. She quickly got up as fast as she fell and took off. She ran as fast as she could. All she prayed for was to reach the house and tell her parents everything regardless of the repercussions. She didn't even look back; her eyes were on the gate. She reached for it and opened it when she was grabbed by the hair and pulled back outside.

"You are making me angry girl," Evan dragged her.

"Help!" She screamed.

"Shut up. I didn't want to do anything to you but I need to teach you one lesson," Evan said furiously.

Ludo cried.

Evan dragged her back to the car.

"Please I won't say anything I swear don't do anything to me," she begged.

"Stay here," he let go of her and went to his car.

He got a knife from the car and walked to her while she begged him not to harm her. Ludo blinked her eyes repeatedly and saw a huge figure behind Evan standing fiercely. She opened her eyes widely in terror.

"What is it?" Evan turned around.

"The bearded man?" Ludo felt her heart pound even faster.

Evan was firmly gripped by his neck that he couldn't clearly see who it was, who had got hold him.

"Easy, Easy," Hunter said as he tightly squeezed Evan's neck with his firm arms.

"You're killing him," Ludo screamed.

"Young girl shut up," Hunter looked at Ludo angrily.

Evan fought back but his effort was in vain. He slowly lost conscious and fainted.

Seeing what had just happened, Ludo took off running again. This time, she made it to the gate and entered the house. She met her parents in the living preparing to leave the house as she panted heavily.

"What's wrong with you?" Zamiwe asked putting her phone in the handbag.

"Mom," Ludo hugged her.

"What is it?" Joe asked too. "Is there anyone chasing you?" He went to check outside.

Ludo's breathing interfered with her speaking. She couldn't get any word out clearly.

"Water!" She said. "I need water."

"Nancy!" Zamiwe shouted.

Nancy came in the living room with a glass of water and handed it over to her.

Ludo drunk the water rapidly.

"What is it?" Joe asked entering the house.

"Speak up we are going to the hospital," Zamiwe said impatiently.

"Hospital?" Ludo asked.

"Yes. Mr. Visashi was attacked this evening."

"Oh my God," Ludo dropped the glass of water on the floor. "Let's go," she stood up.

"Wait. What happened to you first?" Zamiwe held her hand.

"It can wait. Let's go to the hospital," Ludo ran to her father’s car and got in.

Zamiwe and Joe were astounded by Ludo's behaviour. They all followed her and found her in the backseat.

"Is everything fine with you?" Zamiwe asked.

Ludo didn't answer.

Joe started the car and left the compound.

Ludo checked through the window to see if Evan's car was still parked but it had vanished. She remembered what happened to Mr. Jabulani. Could the same fate have met Evan? She asked herself. That was not important at the moment. She was worried about Mr. Visashi. She had connected the dots. Seeing Ethan wiping his hands and talking about the mess he was taking care of. All the drama with Evan and Erica being upset with Ludo's manuscript. It all brought her back to Mr. Visashi; The second person from his wife Kate other than her parents to have approved the manuscript.

They reached the hospital and went to the waiting room where they found Kate weeping on her own. Zamiwe ran to her to comfort her.

"I didn't have anyone to call. Sorry to have bothered you," Kate told Zamiwe.

"It's fine dear. What are friends for?" Zamiwe comforted Kate.

Joe went to check on what was happening while Ludo stood like a statue feeling like her world was crashing down. She slowly walked to where Zamiwe and Kate had sat and sat beside them.

"What happened to your hand?" Zamiwe asked Ludo.

"Nothing!" Ludo answered.

Zamiwe looked at Ludo dubiously.

"What happened to Mr. Visashi?" Ludo looked at Kate.

"I found him badly beaten in his car," Kate sobbed.

They were all silent.

Joe came back with the doctor.

They all stood up.

"How is he doctor?" Kate asked.

"I have good and bad news," the doctor sighed.

"What is it?" Zamiwe asked.

"Good news is that he is still alive. Bad news is that we have medically induced a coma on him."

Kate knelt down and wailed.

Ludo knelt too and held Kate as she cried too.

"I know who did this," Kate said with anger in her voice.


To be continued

Blood Lives Here - Episode 12

© Brian Ngoma

Suit and Tie; Nobody wore it better than Evan. Whenever he had a meeting, he ensured he wore his best suits. He stood in front of the mirror and sighed heavily. The meeting with Mr. Jackson from Bank of Zambia was a very important one. He knew his mother had put a lot of faith in him. He smiled and said, "I'm called Brains for a reason."

He left the house and drove to Bank of Zambia. As soon as he reached, he called Mr. Jackson.

"Hello sir," he said.

"Evan," Mr. Jackson responded.

"I have arrived. Driving in right now."

"Don't."

Evan got surprised.

"Why?"

"We are meeting from Cairo apartments. We'll be having a brunch meeting. Meet us here at 11am."

"We?"

"Yes Evan. You'll find us. Don't be late," Mr. Jackson cut the call.

Evan wondered who the third person was. Initially, the meeting was between him and Mr. Jackson. He reached Cairo apartments at exactly 11am. As expected, he found Mr. Jackson waiting for him in the lobby.

"So i was surprised when you said 'we'... I thought this meeting was between the two of us," Evan said nervously sipping on his tea.

Mr. Jackson didn't say a thing but look at his tablet. There was something about Mr. Jackson. He was mysterious. Among all the people Evan dealt with, Mr. Jackson made him nervous and uneasy. Everybody in the business circle knew that he wasn't an easy man. He was a serious man.

"Let's finish our tea," Mr. Jackson put the tablet on the table and looked around.

"Ok," Evan chuckled.

Evan texted his mother telling her that there was something wrong with the deal. For a moment, he thought it was a set up but then again, that would also put Mr. Jackson in trouble. Elise didn't respond and Evan regretted texting her. That showed how he relied on his mother. He cringed thinking about how weak that showed him.

"So our man is here," Mr. Jackson exhaled standing up.

"Where?" Evan asked.

Mr. Jackson extended his hand.

Evan turned his head.

"Mr. Jackson!" Naveen exclaimed.

Evan felt his stomach turn.

"Mr. Patel," Mr. Jackson said. "There is a seat."

Evan looked at the two confused.

"Evan," Naveen looked at Evan.

"Naveen," Evan said. "I didn't know you were back in the country."

"Iam back," Naveen smiled wickedly.

"Let's get down to business," Mr. Jackson interrupted the reunion. "So here is the deal. As you both know, i cannot deal with both of your companies but i have assessed and evaluated them and i have come to a conclusion."

"Wait Mr. Jackson," Evan stopped him.

Mr. Jackson looked at Evan irritated, "Let me finish Mr. Hamuumbu. We don't have time."

"Go ahead," Evan gulped.

"Thank you. As i was saying; I have done my homework and truthfully saying," he looked at Evan. "I wanted to deal with Triple E group of companies."

Evan didn't like the sound of that. He began sweating.

"With all the drama surrounding your family company, i have opted for the Patels," Mr. Jackson said.

Naveen smiled.

"Drama?" Evan asked adjusting his tie.

"Yes Evan. There is so much going on in your family which can put all of us in problems right now; too much spotlight. That's the reason i don't want to take the risk."

"I don't understand," Evan said.

"The manuscript Evan," Naveen added. "Cut the crap. Acting like you don't know a thing."

"How do you ...." Evan stopped.

"Everybody knows about it," Mr. Jackson said. "Now if you can excuse us Mr. Hamuumbu."

Evan didn't need to be told that he was dismissed. He got up feeling weary. As soon as he stood, he felt dizzy and leaned against the chair.

"Are you alright Mr. Hamuumbu?" Mr. Jackson asked.

Evan didn't answer. He walked straight to his car. He looked at his phone and found several missed calls from his mother. He switched off his phone and drove out of the hotel.

Erica was waiting patiently for Mr. Mpundu at Palmwood Lodge. She had talked to him in the morning and he booked a room and told her to wait for him while he dropped his wife at work. She knew how important persuading Mr. Mpundu was. She couldn't fail especially that Naveen was in the country. She knew that from that moment on, everything she did would be scrutinized.

She heard a knock on the door. She knew it was Mr. Mpundu but why knock? She wondered. She walked to the door and opened it. She couldn't believe who was at the door and what he was doing there.

"Jean!" She shouted. "What are you doing here?" She looked in the hallway before pulling him inside. "Are you now following me?"

"You can't continue doing this Erica," Jean said. "You know i love you but this is prostitution at it's highest level."

"You have to leave please," she begged him.

"We are leaving together."

"Hell No!"

"Why do you keep doing this Erica?"

"I thought we agreed about this. This is my family business. I do what i can to sustain it."

"Why do you do the dirty stuff?"

"Everybody does the dirty stuff. Evan does the dirty stuff in suits as a disguise. Ethan, you don't have to talk about it."

"Run away with me."

"And go where?" She rolled her eyes. "As soon as i disappear, my accounts will be frozen and we both know I'm the only one with money here," Erica said forcing back tears. "Leave Jean," she pushed him towards the door.

Jean didn't say anything. He left her in the room with a sad face. She cried thinking about how she treated him. Why didn't he leave her? She wondered.

She composed herself and applied makeup.

The door opened and it was Mr. Mpundu. He walked in with a straight face with his eyes searching everywhere. He put his briefcase on the table by the door.

"Hi Mr. Mpundu," Erica got up and walked to him.

Mr. Mpundu looked at Erica suspiciously.

"What is it?" She asked him.

"We cannot go ahead with this."

"What?"

"I came to tell you in your face."

"You are probably tired," Erica tried to remove his jacket.

"Don't touch me," he pushed her. "And why should i be tired, it's only midmorning?"

"What's going on?" She asked.

"So they call you Jezebel?" He looked at her disgusted.

Erica didn't say a word.

"So according to the book, you've had several sexually transmitted diseases fifty women combined," Mr. Mpundu shook his head. "How do you leave with yourself? You're worse than the original Jezebel."

Erica's eyes fumed with anger.

"Tell your mother that i will get my goods from somewhere else. I still have respect for the old man. You are ruining what he started," Mr. Mpundu stormed out of the room leaving Erica laying on the bed confused and disoriented.

"Monday's are boring," Ludo said watching Nancy washing the plates. "I can help you though."

"For the 100th time, I'm paid to do this. Just sit and tell me stories," Nancy said.

"I don't have anything to tell you Nancy," Ludo whined and went on. "As a matter of fact, it's you whose supposed to tell me ghetto juices," Ludo said.

"Nothing interesting happened last weekend," Nancy shrugged. "Just some random girl who was caught cheating."

"That's unfortunate. I'm bored," Ludo complained.

"Go and sleep Ludo. Boredom is contagious," Nancy laughed.

"Get out," Ludo laughed looking at her phone.

"What is it?" Nancy asked.

"Look at this," Ludo showed Nancy what she was looking at. "Imagine this man posted a picture of himself and his daughter and captioned it 'The fruit of my womb'."

They both laughed hysterically.

"I didn't know men have wombs too," Nancy blurted out.

"Crazy world it is," Ludo put the phone away. "Stupidity reigns supreme these days."

Ludo was trying to make conversation with Nancy to forget what happened over the weekend. She couldn't stop thinking about Mr. Jabulani and Hunter. She couldn't figure out his deal yet but he was interested in her manuscript. That's the only thing she knew about him.

"What are you thinking about?" Nancy asked her.

"Nothing. Just some stuff," she answered.

"Your mother told me that your friend spent the night here on Saturday."

"Yes she did."

"You two are close eh?"

"You're jealous?"

"No? Why?" Nancy asked defensively. "Your mother doesn't like her. Don't tell her i told you that."

"Don't worry i know that. Who likes Melanie anyway?" Ludo frowned.

"Isn't your phone ringing?," Nancy asked Ludo.

She had put her phone on vibration.

"Ohh," she reached for it and answered. "Hello."

"Ludo," Elise said on the other side.

"Hi Elise."

"Are you busy?"

"Yes," Ludo hesitated.

"Seems like you are not. Come out I'm parked outside your house."

"What?"

Elise cut the line.

"Who was that?" Nancy asked.

Ludo had her hand on her mouth.

"Is everything okay Ludo?" Nancy asked concerned.

Ludo snapped out of it, "Everything is fine," she left the kitchen.

She went in her bedroom and changed. She got the laptop from her bed and went outside. She found Elise's car parked outside as told. She went and found Elise on the driver's seat.

"Enter," Elise instructed her.

Ludo entered the car and found Mr. Nalishuwa Hamuumbu in the backseat with his eyes only moving while his body was still.

"Hi Mr. Hamuumbu," Ludo waved at him. "Driving yourself?" She asked Elise.

"My driver is nowhere to be found and I don't trust nobody to drive me."

Ludo's heart skipped a beat.

"I don't know where he is," Elise said worriedly.

"He will be back. Perhaps he's taking a break."

"No employee of mine go on a break without telling me. Something is wrong," Elise said thoughtful.

Ludo kept quiet.

"I can see you have my things."

"Yes. Everything is in here," Ludo looked at the laptop.

"Well good," Elise started the car.

Ludo got nervous and asked, "Aren't i remaining?"

"From the look of things, you are doing nothing at home and obviously bored. Let's take my husband to the hospital," Elise looked at ludo. "Okay with that?"

Ludo nodded.

Elise drove to the hospital. Ludo observed how Elise held her husband. It was obvious she loved him. Ludo just couldn't put together why these people were bad. She had spent the previous day reading her work all over again. If what they say was true concerning the manuscript about being about them; they were bad people and Ludo wanted nothing to do with them. As soon as she got her laptop back, she had planned ghosting on them. She didn't care about their threats because they would have what they wanted from her.

Ludo sat in the waiting room while she played with her phone. She looked at the watch on the the wall and it was 17:43. She knew she had to go home. She stood up and checked any sign of Elise and her husband.

"Looking for me?" Elise asked from Ludo's back Wheeling her husband. "We can leave now."

Ludo felt relieved.

They went to Elise's car. Before Elise could start her car, her phone rang. Ludo watched Elise talk on the phone. Elise's face gradually went from smiley to horrifying. Ludo knew something was wrong. Elise didn't say anything and started the car. She drove in silence to her house. Ludo didn't dare ask anything. They got to the house and found Evan and Erica waiting for them.

Erica and Evan didn't seem friendly at all. They looked at Ludo as if they wanted to rip her throat out.

"Do i need to be here?" Ludo asked scared. "I can come for the laptop tomorrow. And it's late, my mother has already texted me several times," she smiled nervously.

"Sit down!" Erica yelled at Ludo. "This dumb stupid girl had the audacity to write about me and my private life," she fidgeted.

Evan was drinking Whiskey from the bottle and looked untidy.

"What Happened?" Elise asked looking at the both of them.

"She happened," Evan pointed at Ludo. "Can we just kill her already?", He threw the bottle and smashed it on the wall.

Ludo got even more scared.

"Be clear!" Elise shouted.

"Let's talk in your office mom," Erica said. "After this, i doubt if you'll ever want to see this girl again."

They all stood up and went to Elise's office and locked the door behind them. Ludo was shaking. She had never seen Evan and Erica that angry before. She thought about running but she knew she couldn't make it to the gate. She thought about Calling her parents but she couldn't, lest she involves them and put them in danger. She opted to wait.

Elise came out first. Ludo could tell that she was furious. She walked to Ludo and grabbed the laptop from her hands and smashed it on the floor. Ludo watched in terror.

"Where is Ethan?" Elise shouted.

"I don't know," Evan and Erica answered at the same time.

Kent got out of his car feeling good about how productive his day had been. Finally, he had found a good writer with a good read. He was happy and thought about the prospects. He had texted his wife about the good news. As he walked to the door, he whistled his favorite song. He got to the door and just as he was about to hold the handle, he heard a movement behind him. He quickly turned around and there was no one.

"Anyone here!" He asked stepping away from the door.

He could not hear anything but the sounds of the night. He turned around to face the door and bumped into Ethan.

Kent stepped back scared.

"Who are you?"

Ethan didn't answer.

"What do you want? I have some money in my wallet," Kent got his wallet from the pocket. "Here, take everything in it."

Kent wanted to scream but Ethan tactically grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him, closing his mouth with his big palm. Kent tried to shake himself off but couldn't. Ethan drugged him to his car while he kept resisting. As soon as they got to the car, Ethan got the car keys from Kent's pocket and opened the doors. He pushed him inside and got in closing the doors.

"Help!" Kent screamed.

Ethan looked around the tiny space of the car and thought it perfect for a beating. He moved himself to Kent and clenched his fist. He punched him in the face deeming him unconscious with the first punch. He grabbed his head and banged it against the wheel repeatedly until blood oozed out of Kent's nose, ears and eyes. Ethan looked at the unconscious Kent and spat on him. He got out of the car, dusted himself and left the scene.


To be continued