Lilly4endu:
Present Sir!! Longest time Oga mi. Hope you guys are keeping safe? My regards to your family.

Liiiiiiiiilly4endu, my person. Yeah, longest time. We are keeping safe. Regards to your family too and stay safe.

JamesKudooski:


Geeeeeenius43, yes ooo. It's been a while. Hope you are doing great? I've really missed you guys.

Yes I have. We have missed you too. Loved your last story, got the time to read from Okadabooks during the forced holiday.

genius43:


Yes I have. We have missed you too. Loved your last story, got the time to read from Okadabooks during the forced holiday.

Thank you, bro.

I know you will enjoy this one too.

Waiting patiently, but serve it while is still hot oooh

JamesKudooski:


EkopSparoAyara, awon eyan Souloho! Sorry nobody informed you. You are welcome sha.

Thanks man..

what does awon eyan mean??

Won't miss this!

Yay!!!

The Boss is back oo

Baba how you dey na

Trust you're doing okay?

EkopSparoAyara:


Thanks man..

what does awon eyan mean??

Awon eyan means the personal person of...

kochila:
Won't miss this!

Please don't miss the last bus.

jesvic91:
Yay!!!

The Boss is back oo

Baba how you dey na

Trust you're doing okay?

Jeeeeesvic91, I see you. Yes, I'm back ooo.

I dey fine ooo.

Greetings.

Lilly4endu:
Waiting patiently, but serve it while is still hot oooh

Don't worry. It will never get cold.

JamesKudooski:

Awon eyan means the personal person of...

Lol.. Okay bro.

Hahutaka my good people,

It's been a long, long while. Hope you are all staying safe? Believe me, I've really missed you guys.

I'm sure most of you will be wondering what Hahutaka means. But don't worry, you will get to know the meaning when you read The Last Bus. I actually created a language for a part of the story.

The Last Bus is a novella so it won't take long before it ends. That being said, I can assure you that you will enjoy every bit of it. It is a fast-paced, action-packed novella that will keep you on the edge of your seats.

Some of you may also be asking, “hope you will finish this story ooo? Hope you won't get to the interesting part and tell you to go and get it on Okadabooks?”

Haba!

Well, let me assure you that I WILL FINISH the story here on Nairaland!

However, the book will be available on BAMBOOKS. That means that if you already have a Bambooks account you can read the book FREE even before I finish posting updates here. It will also be available on Okadabooks, Litereso, and other platforms. So, if you cannot wait for my updates, you have several options to read the story in full.

So relax, put on your trainers and get ready to catch THE LAST BUS!

Updates starting this weekend!

Please continue to stay safe.

With love,
Qudus.

Remember, don't miss the last bus to Story Land!

Oya oh... Mr. James abeg i salute you. Anyway, just making myself obvious.

Gbefuuuuuuuuuu


Who wan drive ooooooo

I am still anticipating..
It's a good thing that you have eliminated the possibility of being a victim of “one chance” while trying to catch The Last Bus..

Bambooks, here I come

KaideeGee:
Oya oh...
Mr. James abeg i salute you. Anyway, just making myself obvious.

I see you, KaideeGee. Welcome to my world.

skubido:
Gbefuuuuuuuuuu


Who wan drive ooooooo

Ann2012:
Bambooks, here I come

EkopSparoAyara:
I am still anticipating..
It's a good thing that you have eliminated the possibility of being a victim of “one chance” while trying to catch The Last Bus..

woooow!!!! I love your play of words. You head is there, bro.

JamesKudooski:


woooow!!!! I love your play of words. You head is there, bro.

Lol.. We're still learning oh..

EkopSparoAyara:


Lol.. We're still learning oh..

Your head is there, bro.

Hello Fam,

Trust you guys enjoyed your weekend and hope the holiday is also going on fine? Above all, hope you are all staying safe?

Well, I did promise that Updates of The Last Bus would start last weekend. I'm so sorry I couldn't meet up as promised. There were a few glitches here and there.

But don't worry. The updates are already LOADING!!!

Let me also inform you that the complete book is already up and running on:

Okadabooks
Litireso
Book2read
Smashwords

In the next few days, it will also be up on BAMBOOKS and over ten international bookstores and libraries.

I will always keep you updated as it goes live on these stores.

But for now ...

Just grab your seat and a cup of coffee and get ready for the action, intrigue, and humour as The Last Bus prepares to take off!

Enjoy.

Qudus.


Àdùkẹ́!
...My Story, My World.

Like my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/adukestories/

bluntboy, rayvelez, jerrybakermillz, nextlevel10, phoenixchap, pascalbenz, bejeria101, Sarang, TRACYPETER755, Bolaji299, joromi36, emeraldlife, Queenflourish, YINKS89, Faspen, alphacyborg, abubakarbabang7, OlufemiWhit, GoldenVivi, TheAngry1, Kelvin30286063, sooperrescue, genius43, skubido, Folashadee, oloyedprince1, YoungBruzzy, tonexyx, Marvelous352, rukidanty, Joislim, ADUKKY, Arom21, Peppergroove, becca2017, cortix, kingin55, aprilwise, Eronsammy, HORLADSTAR, IAmXcessiz, Alliswelleumas, jeweltab, PreshyG, Ruibii, OlufemiWhit, devilmaycry1, Ann2012, chinonyinye, Felixdgreat, Phyllis195, Philgo, Jasmine4, AvatarMode, portablefola, Godwindanielboy, rosalieene, Mufahsa, ProfClassic, Kormforth, Gucciqueen38, DemiKOL, kingphilip, kensteven16, josepphh, Hollavick, babajeje123, ayox1, cyndy1000, herosakin777, stizzy, Joislim, Missmossy, officialbazor, Ayomideen, kingin55, IAmAmbrose, Xeynab, queenitee, Xedy, mattobi, tjquib, imranMotunrayo, moseph, asagbaesiri, mcjesuspikin, odunmba, Mourin, Rophie, Forkim, nekkygracie, Joylove0267, devilmaycry1, harjibolar10, Uniquechild, Printriteng, jesvic91, odurombi, izaray, Kendrick80, pweetymhi, Hantonia, franklin000, debbycreamy, Mustybad, toyhin123, Pacifus058, Mtbail, excelmerry, Favouritetega, Solomonakindoyin, ifiokjohn, Kelvin4luck, Juniorangel, chigozie69, bigkuba, NaijaTushboy(m), yungnot(m), frankiemorasky7, zephaniah11, Otarkpa, LightQueen(f), Slimynonny, Stevenbright(m), juninhouj, Kaycee9242, PrudySara, Ochyglowsglows, damselposh, bossy512, Lilly4endu, Asco9ty5, Temmuizza, bizza45, Seanixking, Ndahimo, danielck22, mhiznickydayne, Jane1234f, Hadampson, Nifeesimi, Horyeh, Dammygold1990, oluwaemmanuel, divinelypruned, hotswagg12, Lizzyypam, Bodaolawrites, horlahprayer, summerflame, meritadavize1, immortalvoices, dapenholder01, missypurple1, purity247, CuteNerdyDude, Highbeepeeh, Tbrak, oluwatymylehyn, Succana, Chicent, babajeje123, delease, Tony 142, waywardpikin, kochila, EkopSparoAyara, KaideeGee

Ensnarled


I dropped to the ground and started crawling as fast as I could. Sweats covered my whole body and my clothes gummed to my body as if they were another layer of my skin. The other passengers scampered in all directions. Bullets flew all about. The smell of gunpowder permeated the air, and smoke blurred my vision. Discordant screams of panic were all over the place as well as the muffled sound of metal sinking into flesh.

* * *

Published by

Qudus Oko-Osi

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2020 by Qudus Oko-Osi

The right of Qudus Oko-Osi to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the copyright laws.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the Publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles or reviews. For information email: okoosiqudus@gmail.com.

Other Titles by Qudus Oko-Osi:

Prisoner of Love
Jewel from the Ghetto
Jewel from the Ghetto 2: The Return of Shakirah


* * *


Dedication

To my ever loving dad, Mr Azeez Ayinla Oko-Osi

Chapter One
Ọmọ Akin—Son of the Brave
(Episode 1)

Each time I remember this story, my heart stops, the hairs on my nape stand on end, and my body freezes. It feels like I'm staring at a ghost.

Truth is: I saw more than a ghost!

My name is Akin—tall, dark-skinned, and well-built. I won't say I am handsome, but I'm not the ugliest dude in the neighbourhood either. And as my name suggests, I am from a long line of warriors. We are strong, brave, and ruthless if need be. My friends call me Ẹ́rùób'ojo—The Fearless. And really, I was.

Or so I thought.

My grandfather once told me a proverb. He said it in Yoruba, T'ọmọde ba de bi ẹ́rù, ẹ́rù a ba. When a child encounters fear, he will tremble. I never understood him until I spent three nights and three days in the claws of death!

Now sit down and let me tell you my story.

That fateful had started well. The day was bright, and the atmosphere had a feel of serenity about it. But I should have known it wouldn't remain so the moment I picked up a fight with a bus conductor. One might wonder: what responsible man would start his day with a fight? Don't blame me. I just needed to teach that lousy tout of a conductor a lesson.

It was 9 o'clock that Wednesday morning, and I had to run a quick errand. I was on a bus en route Ikeja, sitting behind a lady. She was so skinny I thought she might break into two if the reckless driver ran into many potholes. I didn't know how it happened, but somehow she turned around, and our eyes met. Her fragrance might have had a part to play. She smiled at me, and it was at that time I saw how tesko-ish she was. You know what I mean—that nerdy look?

Two of her incisors were larger than the other teeth, and her afro hair painted the perfect picture of a nerd. Her big round glasses didn't help either. Surprisingly, there was this striking attractiveness about her that I found hard to explain. And that smile? Oh, it was entrancing!

But if only this tesko knew that the chap she was smiling at was one jobless graduate that had been roaming the streets for four years in search of a job, she would have thought twice before wasting such an adorable smile on me. I prayed she didn't see my shoes.

I was still trying to reconcile her appearance and her beauty in my head when a deep voice distracted me—it was the conductor’s.

“Guinness!!!” A strong stench of stale alcohol filled the bus as he called the next bus stop.

“Owa!!!” coincidentally, Tesko and I answered in one voice. “Hundred Naira change o,” I quickly added.

“Hundred Naira for me too,” she added.

“I no tell una make una enter with una change? Una go marry una sef today.” He unleashed another odoriferous dose and added all sorts of insulting street slangs I couldn't wrap my head around.

I said nothing. I only gave him that daring look. You know, that if-dey-born-you-well kind of look. We soon arrived at the bus stop, and Tesko and I alighted. We asked for our change, and he handed me a dirty, tattered two hundred Naira note and said, “Gif Lepa Shandi hundred Naira,” referring to tesko.

Tesko was the first to protest, “How you go join us together? Shey we tell you say we dey go the same place ni?”

I looked at the note in my hand. God! I wondered if the money had come out of the cemetery. Even a beggar would have rejected that kind of money with a good dose of carefully-chosen insults. It looked like a Corona Virus infested money.

“Oga mi, gbera!” He told the driver to step on the throttle, and he made to jump into the bus.

“Gbera bawo?” I grabbed his trousers and yanked him off the bus. What nonsense! It was bad enough that he joined us together in unsolicited holy matrimony. And now he gave us such accursed money? Insult upon injury. Never would that happen!

On landing on the ground, he shoved me so hard that I almost lost my footings. That little victory must have inflated his ego. That was when the drama started. He bounced from spot to spot in an elaborate gesture. He threatened. He ranted. A stream of street jargons flowed from his charred lips like honey. I must confess, the miscreant had got rhymes. However, the driver, tired of his conductor's display, blared his horn and urged him to change the tattered money so that they could move on, but he refused, insisting that he had to deal with me. Too much monkey tail and paraga were flowing in his blood, no doubt.

Before anybody could say JACK ROBINSON, the fight had begun, but it ended as quickly as it began. A few parries, a jab here and there, and some uppercuts to spice things up, and the tout was already lying on the floor with a swollen face. Blood flowed freely from his battered mouth. He kept shouting, “water, water, water!” and was breathing like it was time to visit his ancestors. The driver and a few good-hearted passengers rushed down and began to fan him. A Good Samaritan even sprinkled the pure water (that's what we call sachet water in this part of the world) she had bought to drink on him.

I signalled Tesko, and we walked away from the pandemonium, leaving them to take care of their mess. Nobody dared stop me, but how I should have known that the incident was a harbinger of the horrors ahead.


To be continued ... Watch Out for the Next Episode!

NB: The book is NOW AVAILABLE on online stores. For those who don't want to wait for each episode to be released, get the book here:

1. OKADABOOKS: https://okadabooks.com/book/about/the_last_bus/33597

2. LITIRESO: https://litireso.com/library/B-530ykalgylh2

3. SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1024020

4. BAMBOOKS: Coming soon.



Àdùkẹ́!
...My Story, My World.

Like my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/adukestories/

JamesKudooski:
Chapter One
Ọmọ Akin—Son of the Brave
(Episode 1)



To be continued ... Watch Out for the Next Episode!

NB: The book is NOW AVAILABLE on online stores. For those who don't want to wait for each episode to be released, get the book here:

1. OKADABOOKS: https://okadabooks.com/book/about/the_last_bus/33597

2. LITIRESO: https://litireso.com/library/B-530ykalgylh2

3. SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1024020



Àdùkẹ́!
...My Story, My World.

Like my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/adukestories/

Purchased straight up.

Chapter One
Ọmọ Akin—Son of the Brave
(Episode 2)

At about 7 p.m, I was in the midst of my friends when the blaring sound of my phone startled everyone. That was why I hated chinko phones. The vibration almost caused me a cardiac arrest. I completely forgot I had the phone in my breast pocket all this while—a mistake I had vowed never to make again. I'd be fortunate if this phone did not kill me someday. But what was I to do when I could not afford a more befitting phone?

I moved away from the wisecracks of my friends to answer the call. It was Segun, my bosom friend. Segun almost burst my eardrum the moment I picked the call. He was mad at me. He had been trying to reach me in the last two days but couldn't even after trying different avenues. Nonetheless, he sounded relieved but frustrated at the same time.

“Didn't you get the email?”

“What email?” I was confused.

“The invite for an aptitude test. The Human Resources Department sent it three days ago.”

My head almost flew off. I had not checked my mails in four days, and my quarter-to-die chinko phone had been with Lasisi, the phone repairer in the past four days. I didn't know whether to scream for joy or start running like a mad man across the street. This was the news I had waited for over a year now. However, I soon understood the reason for the frustration in Segun’s voice when he told me the date of the test—it was the following morning by 8 a.m in Port Harcourt!

The earth stood still. There was a big problem, but it wasn't about money this time. Segun already took care of that. The problem was how to get to Port Harcourt before 8 a.m the next morning. Going by flight was not an option. The Federal Government had announced that the domestic wing of the Port Harcourt airport would be closed the following day to carry out some urgent repairs at the airport. That left me with only one option—the night bus—my worse nightmare.

Bravery aside, I loathed night journeys. I had heard too many stories about the mishaps of night travels that did not sit well with me. However, this time around, I had no choice. I couldn't miss this opportunity for anything in the world. I knew how hard Segun pushed in the last one-and-a-half years for me to get this opportunity.

Segun was once my partner in joblessness. We attended the same school and roamed the streets together for years. I remembered that his red pair of shoes. God! I pitied those shoes. They would scamper at first sight of Segun if they had a mind of their own. They resembled a fisherman's canoe with their tips pointing heavenwards as if crying to God for salvation. All of a sudden, Segun got an invite for an aptitude test in an oil firm in Port Harcourt, and his life changed. Since then, he had been pushing for me to join him in the same company, and now that the opportunity finally came, see where I found myself. I wiped the beads of sweat forming on my forehead in their numbers with a crooked finger.

God! How could I have put myself in this position? All this wouldn't have happened if that big-headed Lasisi had not caused more damage to my phone than the problem I asked him to fix. How could I have expected anything better from Lasisi? Was it not the same Lasisi whom his master sent away for not grasping anything during his apprenticeship? Imagine! As big as his head was. What a waste of asset! But what could I have done if it was only Lasisi I could afford?

I looked at my watch and realised that the race against time had begun. I needed to act fast lest I missed the last bus to Port Harcourt.



To be continued ... Watch Out for the Next Episode!

NB: The book is NOW AVAILABLE on online stores. For those who don't want to wait for each episode to be released, get the book here:

1. OKADABOOKS: https://okadabooks.com/book/about/the_last_bus/33597

2. LITIRESO: https://litireso.com/library/B-530ykalgylh2

3. SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1024020

4. BAMBOOKS: Coming soon.



Àdùkẹ́!
...My Story, My World.

Like my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/adukestories/

genius43:


Purchased straight up.

Wooooooow!!!! Thanks, bro.

I can assure you that you will enjoy every page of it.

Enjoy.