CHAPTER 14

Ejiro broke down crying when she saw her siblings. They sat by her bed side and consoled her. it felt so good seeing familiar faces, aside her husband’s. Long story short, she doesn’t recognize him anymore. It was as if she was now living with a perfect stranger.

“Where is your husband?” Eru looked about the room.

“He is with the Gynecologist,” she met her brother’s angry stare.

He got to his feet and strode out of the room.

Ejiro closed her eyes, but each time she tried to stop crying, her blood-stained cloth flashed through her mind’s eye, reminding her of what she lost.
Rukevwe reached out for her sister’s hand, “It is going to be all right. God is not asleep. He will surely give you another child.”

She nodded and dabbed her wet face with a handkerchief. Her husband had been apologetic since they got to the hospital. He was equally devastated about the loss of the pregnancy. He made her promise not to tell anyone what transpired between them. He didn’t want to be held responsible for the death of his unborn child.

She looked up at the white ceiling and breathed out loudly. If only she had known how angry he could get, maybe she would have been cautious before saying “I do.” Maybe she would have broken up with him. If only wishes were horses.

Eru walked down the hallway, not too sure of where he was going. He started to wave the second he sighted Chukwemeka stepping out of a room or was it an office? His brother in-law saw him and waved back.

“When did you get here?” he approached the younger man.

“A few minutes ago,” Eru looked him up and down.

“How was the introduction?” Chukwuemeka feigned a smile.

He placed both hands on his hips. “What happened to my sister?”

His hazel eyes darted sideways. “Erm…erm…it was an accident.”

Eru’s annoyance multiplied. “For God’s sake, where were you? Don’t you know that women in her condition need extra care? You need to watch them all the time.”

“I know, I know,” he shifted on both feet. He didn’t appreciate being scolded by someone younger than he was.

Eru eyed him. “I am highly disappointed. What if there had been complications? Ehn?”

He sighed heavily and dropped his gaze. There was no use defending himself. He was responsible for everything that happened.

The younger man turned away. “What will my parents say? Kia! Losing their first grandchild, just like that,” he turned back to his in-law. “This is pathetic.”

“Truly, it is. You don’t know what is going through my head now. I…I always told her to be careful.”

“This is not about telling her!” his voice rose a bit. “It is your duty to protect her, always.”

He nodded and mumbled under his breath. His irritation was growing.

“I need to call my dad,” Eru walked past him.

Chukwuemeka made a long hiss. If roles were reversed, he would have put his brother-in-law in his place. He hissed again and headed to his wife’s private room.

“Brother Chuks…” she smiled the second she saw him. It had been a long while since she set her eyes on him.

He tried to smile back at her, but it barely reflected in his anger-laced eyes. “How now, Rukky?”

“I’m good,” she noticed his lack of enthusiasm.

He stood at the foot of the bed and met his wife’s sad stare. “I am sorry,” he mouthed.

She eyed him and turned her head. A million ‘I am sorrys’ wasn’t going to bring back her baby. Her very first child for that matter.

“Dad and mum are on their way,” Eru came in and stood by the doorway.

Ejiro sighed with relief. She hoped that her parents would be able to talk some sense into her husband’s thick skull. She wished she could tell them that it was her husband’s violence that resulted into the loss of the pregnancy, but she had already promised him that she wouldn’t. She wished there was other ways she could punish him, so that he would learn his lesson. She met her younger sister’s stare and tried to smile.

Rukevwe smiled back at her, then suddenly, she remembered the vision she had three days ago. She saw Ejiro in her own pool of blood, crying. Her eyes widened in shock.

Ejiro noticed her sister’s expression. “What?”

Rukevwe folded her arms across her chest and just stared at her.

She eyed her. She had a feeling that her sister wasn’t telling her something. “What now?”

Rukevwe leaned closer to the bed. “Three days ago, I asked you if you were okay,” she whispered, so that Chukwuemeka and Eru wouldn’t be able to hear what she was saying.

“Oh… that,” she turned on her side, but the pains that attacked her organs made her cry out. “I am going to need a lot of painkillers.”

“Sorry darling,” Chukwuemeka held the edge of the bed. He concluded that his wife would need a lot of assistance when they returned home, till she was back on her feet.

“Don’t worry, dad will soon be here,” Eru leaned against the wall and started to browse on his phone.

Rukevwe drew close to her sister. “I saw you in your own pool of blood.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

The younger girl rolled her eyes. “You ignored me, remember?”

“You should have told me,” Ejiro eyed her. “What kind of a sister are you?”

She started to feel frustrated. “I tried to.”

“Abeg, you no try,” Ejiro hissed.

“You didn’t even pick my calls for two days straight.”

She sighed heavily. She wished she had picked the girl’s call. Maybe, just maybe she would have avoided her husband when he started throwing things at her.

Chukwuemeka eyed them. He was eager to know what they were talking about. He hoped his wife would keep the promise she made to him.

“What’s all the whispering about?”

Ejiro and Rukevwe glanced at Eru. “Nothing,” they both chorused.

He eyed them, “Like seriously?”

Ejiro laid back and adjusted her pillow. “You should have told me,” she eyed her sister and hissed again.

Rukevwe wanted to respond, but the sight of their parents made her keep mum. Oghenekaro and Itoro came into the room, looking tired and worried.

“Eeh! See my pikin,” Itoro rushed to the bed-side and sat down. “How are you feeling now? How did it happen? Did you fall? What where you doing? Where was your husband when it happened?” she shot an angry look at Chukwuemeka.

Oghenekaro stood beside his daughter’s husband, “Chukwuemeka, are you sure you are capable of taking care of my daughter?”

“Ye-yes sir,” he glanced at the older man, who kept staring at his daughter.

“I don’t think so.”

“I… I am trying sir.”

“That is not good enough, what is the meaning of this?” he glared at the younger man. “You allowed your first child to die just like that!”

Chukwuemeka swallowed spittle, “It… it was an accident.” He caught a glimpse of his wife. She was looking straight at him. He hoped she wouldn’t say a word.

“What accident?!” Itoro eyed him.

“This is the height of carelessness,” Oghenekaro placed both hands on his hips.

“I am sorry sir,” he stared at his feet.

“Your sorry doesn’t cut it. This is unacceptable,” Oghenekaro sized up the younger man up and down.

“We will be more careful sir.”

His father-in-law hissed and folded his arms across his chest. He was highly disappointed.

Ejiro watched her father and her husband. She felt a bit relieved. She hoped some sense was knocked into his head. His nasty behavior and sudden irritation at the slightest provocation was unacceptable. They were barely four months into the marriage. It had been different while they were dating. Was he pretending back then? Did he change? Or did he deceive her with his smooth talks and generousity?

“Ah! Chukwuemeka, you have not done me well at all. Look at my daughter,” she stared at him with wet eyes.

“I am sorry, ma,” he avoided meeting her sad gaze. He wished the ground would open and swallow him. He felt defenseless against his wife’s family.

“Ah! God! My grandchild. He or she is gone, just like that!”

“It is okay, mum. God will give them another child,” Eru moved closer to her.

Rukevwe’s eyes remained on her sister’s face. She had a feeling that Ejiro was hiding something. She wished she would open up to her. She wished she would talk to her. She glanced at her brother-in-law. He seemed a bit uptight. It was almost as if he didn’t want to be in the hospital. She looked back at her sister. Were they hiding something? What was going on between them? She decided to keep praying for them. She believed that there was nothing God could not do.

****

Rukevwe sat in the sitting room with her parents, enjoying a meal of start and banga soup. She had just completed her second semester examinations. The thought of starting her second year in the new session made her feel very happy. Soon, she would also be a graduate, like the rest of her siblings and friends.

“Dis soup mak sense die,” her father licked his fingers.

She beamed with satisfaction and caught a glimpse of her mother’s jealous stare.

“But, it is not as sweet as your mother’s own,” he added and swallowed another lump of starch.

Rukevwe rolled her eyes. She assumed he was trying to pacify his wife.

“Before nko,” Itoro started to laugh.

“Na una sabi,” she hissed and continued to eat her food.

Oghenekaro and his wife exchanged glances, then they burst out laughing.

“I was the one that prepared the food you ate at Eru and Ese’s wedding reception.”

Her parents stared at her in surprise.

“Everyone at the high table were impressed with the caterer, but, na me be di caterer.”

“Oh-oh-oh, that means, you were the one that also cooked for the high table guests at Ochuko and Tega’s reception?” her mother licked her fingers.

Rukevwe winked at her.

Oghenekaro began to shake his head. “Thank God it is not only dreams you sabi dream, you can also cook too.”

Itoro couldn’t help but laugh. She held her tummy and laughed till it began to hurt. “Oghenekaro has killed me ooooo, eeeeh!”

Rukevwe eyed her father.

“Is it not true? Josephine the dreamer,” he grinned at her and continued to eat.

“Rukevwe the dreamer, hahahaha,” Itoro patted her on the shoulder.

She hissed and moved away from the chair she shared with her mother.

“When are you bringing your own suitor? All your siblings are now legally married.”

She met her mother’s gaze. “What suitor?”

Itoro turned to her husband. He shrugged and continued to eat.

“I am not thinking of marriage until I am a graduate.”

Her mother made a long hiss. “That’s too far. Don’t you have married classmates or course mates?”

Rukevwe shrugged. “Everybody should bear their father’s name.”

Oghenekaro began to lick his plate of soup. “It will be nice if you bring someone home, even if you are not getting married yet.”

“Exactly my point,” Itoro added quickly.

She looked from one parent to the other. “If dem send you two, please tell them that I am not at home,” she packed her empty bowls and got up.

“Rukevwe…”

“Mama,” she responded and walked out.

“This girl…”

“Leave her. Na dream she wan dey dream,” he gulped down his glass of juice.

“Winch kain talk bi dat one now?” she eyed her husband.

“Josephine the dreamer, Rukevwe the dreamer, we don born pikin oooo, eeeh,” he leaned against the chair and started to sing.

“Eh bi lik say di banga wey dis girl cook don tan ya head,” she made a long hiss.

Rukevwe dumped her bowls in the kitchen and went to her room. She sat by the window and watched a group of women at the gate of the house. She suspected that they were talking about somebody.

“Gossipers for life,” she hissed and moved to the bed.

She hoped her parents would leave the sitting room soon. She had a couple of television programs she wanted to watch. She placed her pillows behind her and leaned against the wall. She reached out for her smart phone and began to scroll from one web to the other. Soon, she dozed off.

Rukevwe found herself in an empty room. The large space was bright and the source of light was invincible. She looked around, then began to hear footsteps. Someone was running and breathing heavily. Who was it? Her eyes darted left, then right, till it settled on a lady who had similar features with her sister!

“Ejiro!” she called out to the lady.

The lady kept running. It seemed like she didn’t hear her. Why was she running? What was wrong. Her heart missed a beat when she saw the bruises all over her. She was bleeding too!

“Ejiro!” she called out to her again.

The lady started to shout. Rukevwe turned around and saw Chukwuemeka. He was holding a pestle. The lady kept shouting. She slipped and fell on her buttocks. Chukwuemeka came after her and hit her on the head with a pestle.

“Ejiro!” Rukevwe screamed and placed her hands on her head.

Chukwuemeka kept hitting the lady, until her brains were all over the ground.

“Ejiro!!!” Rukevwe woke up screaming.

Her heart was racing wildly and she felt drenched in her own sweat.

“Jesus, Jesus, please,” she sat up quickly and looked around the dark room. Where was her phone?

She pushed her weight off the bed and staggered to the light switch. Once the room was illuminated, she searched for her phone and found it under the bed. She sat on the tiled floor and dialed her sister’s number. The phone line rang and rang and rang. No response.

Fear gripped her. She hoped Ejiro was all right. The dream she had was a very bad one. What was God trying to tell her? Was Chukwuemeka trying to kill his wife? Was he responsible for the death of his unborn child? What kind of a man did her sister marry?

Several thoughts crossed her mind. Should she wake her parents? She didn’t want to alarm them. Who should she call? Her brothers were on their honeymoon. She didn’t want to disturb them either. She tried calling Ejiro’s phone line again. But it rang out.

“Jesus have mercy. Please save my sister,” she lay on her tummy and began to pray.

Thanks for this update OP.. That Ckukwuemeka is a beast, imagine what that fool has done to himself.. Ejiro better brace up, a strong wind is blowing around her marriage oo...
its been a while OP, hope everything issokay..

Me, I don't have your time now o. *troublemaker*

openmine:

PrudySara:
Me, I don't have your time now o. *troublemaker*

My fellow troublemaker I dey hail ohh

I pray nothing happens to Ejiro
Thanks for the update ma’am

Nice one op

This is getting really bad, Chukwuemeka is truly a chameleon. I pray nothing happens to Ejiro. Thanks for the update ma'am

YoungBruzzy:
Thanks for this update OP.. That Ckukwuemeka is a beast, imagine what that fool has done to himself.. Ejiro better brace up, a strong wind is blowing around her marriage oo...
its been a while OP, hope everything issokay..

**hugs*

Am good jare. Just phone issues. Planning to get a new one

Ann2012:
I pray nothing happens to Ejiro Thanks for the update ma’am

**winks*

Kaycee9242:
Nice one op

**thumbs up*

Adeola25:
This is getting really bad, Chukwuemeka is truly a chameleon. I pray nothing happens to Ejiro. Thanks for the update ma'am

You're welcome

Hello everyone. Hope your week has been good.
Updates resume this week **winks*

CHAPTER 15


Rukevwe woke up the next morning and found herself on the cold tiled floor. She must have slept off while praying for her sister the other night. She sat up and looked around for her phone. She found it under the bed. She re-dialed her sister’s number and waited as it rang.

“God please let her pick the call, please God,” she bit at her bottom lip.

“Hello.”

She recognized Chukwuemeka’s voice. “Hello, please, can I speak with Ejiro?”

“Who am I speaking with?”

She groaned inwardly. She believed he must have seen the Caller ID. Why was he asking for who he was speaking with? “It’s me, Rukevwe.”

“Oh, Rukky, hi.”

“Hi, good morning.”

“Morning. How is Mumsie and your dad?”

“They are fine. Can I speak with Ejiro?”

“Oh, yes, erm… she is in the toilet.”

“Oh, okay. Please tell her I called.”

“Sure.”

“I will call her back later.”
“No wahala.”

She ended the call and leaned against the bed. The dream she had flashed through her mind’s eye. Her heart beat quickened again. Her phone began to ring. When she checked the Caller’s ID, it was Senami. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

“Hello stranger.”

“Rukevwe, na me bi stranger, ba?”

She started to laugh.

“No wahala. Your cane dey hia with me.”

“How dey go, dey go?”

“We thank God for everything. I have been trying to reach Ejiro since last night, but she didn’t pick my call.”

“Oh…” she realized that she wasn’t the only one who had been trying to reach her sister.

“I tried again this morning, but I husband answered the call.”

“Oh…”

“I am at the airport right now, in case I am unable to speak with her before my flight, please tell her that I have travelled out of the country to stay with her uncle in the UK.”

“Wow! Congratulations sis,” she bit at one of her fingernails.

“Thanks, jare. No be God?”

“I will let her know. But, try to call her again. She will surely want to hear from you.”

“Fine by me.”

“Don’t forget us o.”

She heard her laughing. “How can I?”

“Safe journey.”

“Thanks, dear, talk you to some other time.”

The call ended. Rukevwe was indeed happy for Senami. She began to imagine herself in the girl’s shoes. Unexpectedly, her phone began to ring again. She assumed that it was her sister, but when she saw the Caller ID, she paled. It was Gbemisola.

“Hello…”

“Rukky, hi.”

“Hi, Gbemi. It’s being a while,” she tried to remember the last time she spoke to or saw her friend.

“Yeah, my apologies. I will make it up to you. I will like to inform you that I will be getting married in two weeks.”

“Wow! Wow! Wow!”

She heard her laughing.

“I am so, so happy for you girlfriend.”

“Thanks, my darling. God is good.”

“I can tell. I like this your sharp-sharp wedding.”

“I believe this is God’s time for me.”

“True that,” she began to play with a strand of her hair.

“I hope to see you and your sister.”

“We will be there. We cannot miss your wedding for anything.”

“That reminds me, I tried calling her last night, but she didn’t pick my call.”

“Oh…” Rukewve sighed heavily. “Don’t worry, I will intimate her.”

“Thanks love. Talk to you later.”

“Yeah, later,” thoughts of her sister occupied her mind again. She re-dialed Ejiro’s number and waited. It rang and rang and rang.

“Hello…”

She frowned when she heard Chukwuemeka’s voice. “Hi, I want to speak with Ejiro.”

“Erm… she is still in the toilet.”

“Haba!” she began to suspect that something was amiss.

“I think she is purging.”

Rukevwe rolled her eyes. She wasn’t satisfied with his response. “I will call back.”

“You don’t have to. Once she has cleaned herself up, she will call you.”

“O-okay,” she raised an eyebrow.

Why didn’t he want her to call back? What was going on in her sister’s home? She got to her feet and ran out of the room. She hurried down the hallway and burst into her parents’ room. She found them seated on their bed talking.

“Good morning dad, morning mum,” she settled at the foot of the bed.

“Morning, I don’t know why you don’t knock,” her mum let out a loud yawn.

“Sorry mum.”

“How was your night?”

She met her father’s stare and looked away. “It was…”

“Ehn hen… that reminds me. You will assist me in the Chemist shop today. My sales boy is not around.”

She moved closer to his side. “Okay daddy, but, you will pay me.”

Her mother started to laugh. “All these children of nowadays.”

Oghenekaro eyed his youngest child. “Can you imagine?”

Rukevwe winked at him, “The bible says that ‘He that does not work, will not eat.”

“No problem,” he adjusted the pillow behind him. “Then you must also be ready to pay me for taking care of you all these years.”

“Ah-ahn, daddy.”

He grinned from ear to ear, “Tit for tat.”

She hissed and folded her arms across her chest.

He threw a pillow at her, “Go and take your bath and get ready.”

“Ah-han… it is too early,” her gaze drifted to the wall clock.

He followed her gaze, “It is past seven already.”

“Does your sales boy come this early?” she eyed him.

“Why the JAMB question?” he threw another pillow at her.

“Daddy be calming down. I will be there with you in your shop today,” she drew the pillows to her side.

“You better be,” he collected his wife’s pillow.

The dream she had flashed through her mind’s eye. “Have you tried calling Ejiro lately?”

“I spoke with her two, three days ago,” her mother looked back at her.

She turned away and began to bite her fingernails. “I think you should try again.”

“Why?” Itoro collected her pillow back from her husband.

“What is the problem?” His concerned gaze remained on her face. He could sense that something was up.

She lifted her head and met her father’s stare. “I think… I don’t know, but she is not picking her calls.”

Itoro turned to look at her husband, then back at her daughter, “Ehn… maybe she is busy,” she scratched a spot on her elbow.

Rukevwe gave a shake of head. “I doubt that. Her husband picked her calls this morning.”

Oghenekaro’s firm stare remained on the girl’s averted face, “What did he say?”

“It is either she is in the bathroom or in the toilet.”

Her parents shared a worried glance.

Oghenekaro reached out for his phone and dialed Ejiro’s number. It rang and rang and rang. “She is not picking the call,” he looked at Rukevwe.

“Ah-han…” Itoro’s brows came together in a frown.

She got down from the bed. “Let’s go and see her.”

Her parents gawked at her. They watched the way several emotions were depicted on her face, from worry to fear and back to worry.

“Why should we go all the way?” Itoro tried not to think of the nasty images running past her mind. She was sure that her eldest daughter was fine.

“Rukevwe, what are you not telling us?” he narrowed his gaze.

She bit at her lower lip.

“Rukevwe, what is it?!” Itoro’s heart began to beat hard against her chest.

“I… I dreamt that… that she was running, and someone was chasing her and she was bleeding…”

“Ah!” Itoro placed her hands on her head.

Oghenekaro swallowed hard. He wasn’t a fan of his daughter’s nightmares. But, the fact that they always manifest, made chills to run down his spine.

“Then, I saw her husband. He came after her and hit her head with a pestle.”

“God forbid!” Her mother held her chest with both hands.

“And… and, I think she… she died,” Rukewve whispered.

Silence filled the room.

Her father jumped down from the bed. “Both of you get dressed. We are going to Surulere,” Gone were the days when he used to doubt his daughter’s dreams and visions, especially when it came to life and death issues.

“Oya, oya, Rukevwe, hurry up,” her mother climbed down from the bed.

She sighed with relief and dashed out of the room. She hoped her sister was all right. She didn’t like the dream she had one bit.


****


The knocks on the door brought him out of the bedroom. He walked over to the window closest to the front door and peeped. Chukwuemeka groaned when he saw his in-laws. He dropped the curtains and walked to the door.

“Good morning sir, good morning ma,” he unlocked the door.

“Morning,” Oghenekaro regarded him. The younger man was still in his pajamas.

“Morning,” Itoro tried to look past the door. She was eager to see her child.

“Rukky, how now?” his gaze drifted to his wife’s younger sister.

“Fine, morning,” she faked a smile.

He stepped back and allowed them into the sitting-room. They walked in and sat on the leather chairs.

“Where is your wife? Is she still sleeping?” Oghenekaro drilled the younger man with a hard stare.

“Erm… no… she… she left this morning,” he sat down and got up, “She… she had… erm… an emergency.”

They all stared at him in disbelief.

“What sort of emergency?” His father in-law asked.

He avoided the older man’s gaze. “Well, a friend of hers called last night. She decided to leave early this morning. She should have gotten to Ikorodu by now,” Chukwuemeka glanced at the wall clock.

“Ikorodu?” His mother in-law frowned.

“I see,” Oghenekaro leaned against the chair.

“Which of her friends?”

He met Rukevwe’s unconvinced gaze. “I… I don’t know. I don’t know all her friends.”

She eyed him. Everything he was saying didn’t add up. She could tell that he was lying and probably hiding something.

“But why isn’t she picking her calls?” Itoro was still worried.

He shrugged, “I don’t know ma. I have tried calling her myself.”

“Okay,” Oghenekaro got up. He was relieved that nothing bad had happened to his daughter, “Please tell her we came to pay her a surprise visit.”

“Okay sir,” he smiled, relieved that they were leaving.

Itoro got up reluctantly. She wished her daughter was home. She wanted to see her before they left. “Please tell her to call.”

“I will ma,” Chukwuemeka breathed out loudly.

Oghenekaro headed for the door.

Rukevwe folded her arms and eyed her sister’s husband. She didn’t believe a word he said. Her mother pinched her on the shoulder and signaled to her. She got up sluggishly and followed her parents out of the house.

“Please take this for the taxi fare. I would have dropped you off, but, I am heading to my business place in the next few minutes,” Chukwuemeka brought out wads of naira notes from his pocket gave it to Oghenekaro.

Her father counted the money with his eyes. He was sure that it was about twenty thousand naira. “Thank you,” he placed his hand around his wife and they walked towards the gate.

“You are welcome sir,” Chukwuemeka returned to his apartment.

Rukevwe fell into steps with her parents, “He is lying.”

“Maybe they had a quarrel or something, and she left home to unwind with her friends, do you expect him to share the details?” her mother unveiled her thoughts.

Rukevwe wasn’t sure if they had a quarrel or not, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that her sister was in the house.

“Or maybe he was simply telling the truth,” he hailed a cab the moment they were out of his daughter’s compound.

The driver stopped by the road side. Itoro and the man haggled over the price till they reached an agreement.

“I tried to warn Ejiro about the miscarriage, but, she avoided me,” Rukevwe got into the backseat of the vehicle with her parents.

“What?!” Itoro placed her hands on her head.

Oghenekaro glared at her, “Why didn’t you say something?”

She murmured to herself and looked out of the window.

“You should have told us. What kind of wahala is this now?” Itoro hissed as her heart beat accelerated.

“I will try to call her again by noon, if she doesn’t pick her calls, we will take it from there. I will get to the root of whatever is going on, today,” Oghenekaro eyed Rukevwe. He wished the girl would stop keeping vital information to herself.

The girl remained quiet.

****


Ochuko walked into his brother’s office. He took a seat by the large desk and leaned against it. “Rukevwe called me. She said no one has been able to get through to Ejiro since last night.”

Eru nodded. “Yes, yes,” his gaze was fixed on the monitor, “Dad called me too. Ejiro is a big girl. She can take care of herself,” he scanned through the files on his table, then stared at the computer screen again.

“Rukevwe said she had a dream last night.”

His dark eyes flew to his brother’s worried ones.

“She believe that Chukwuemeka is trying to kill his wife.”

Eru frowned, “That is absurd!”

“Exactly,” Ochuko breathed out loudly. “But, you and I know how these dreams of hers find their way into reality.”

He looked away and drummed his fingers on the wooden table.

“I tried calling Ejiro several times today, but the line just rings out.”

Eru nodded his head and glanced back at him. “I tried too.”

Ochuko’s heart missed a beat. “Should we go to Surulere, or go to our parent’s place first?”

Eru pondered for a while. He clasped his fingers and closed his eyes.

Ochuko raised an eyebrow, “Bros…”

“Let me think, let me think,” Eru’s eyes remained shut.

Ochuko kept quiet and watched his brother. His attitude wasn’t helping matters at all.

CHAPTER 16

Oghenekaro and his sons sat outside the chemists’ shop. They tried calling Ejiro several times, but her line was unreachable. They became worried because they didn’t really know the situation of things.

“It’s been like this since morning,” he complained.

“Chukwuemeka is not smart at all. How can your wife leave the house and you claim that you don’t know her whereabouts?” Eru hissed. “My wife cannot try that. I know where she is two-four-seven.”

“I am beginning to suspect the guy,” Ochuko made a scowl.

Itoro came out of her shop with Rukevwe. They walked towards the Chemist shop.

“I have just spoken with Chukwuemeka.”

They looked up and turned in her direction.

“What did he say?” Oghenekaro raised an eyebrow.

“He said his wife has not returned,” Itoro re-tied her scarf.

“That is stupid nonsense,” Ochuko flared up. He believed that there was something his brother-in-law wasn’t telling them.

Eru glanced at his wristwatch. It is seven-thirty. “What area in Ikorodu did she go to?”

Ochuko hissed, “He claims that he doesn’t know.”

“That is nonsense! The guy is out of his mind,” Eru got to his feet. He looked at his watch again. It would take them about twenty minutes or more to get to his sister’s place.

Rukevwe folded her arms and stood beside her mother. She was already tired of the whole situation. Unexpectedly, her vision became blurry and an event flashed through her mind’s eye. She found herself in a room. Ejiro was lying on the floor, crawling as if she lacked strength. Every movement she made, made her to grit her teeth in pain. Her clothes were stained with blood, her face was swollen, and she was crying and finding it hard to breath. Her husband came into the room, holding a pestle in his hands. He ran to where she was and hit her on the head with the pestle. Ejiro collapsed and knew no more.

The vision faded! Rukewve screamed and grabbed her mother by the hand.

The noise startled Itoro. “What is it?!”

Eru looked in her direction. He suspected that she must have had a vision. “Rukewve what did you see?”

The girl started to cry. “Mummy…”

“Speak up for heaven’s sake!” Oghenekaro became impatient. The nagging fear he had been feeling all day resurfaced.

“Mummy,” she held her mother’s hand.
Itoro swallowed hard, “Yes, my darling. What did you see?” the woman braced herself for the bad news.

“We need to go to Surulere,” Rukewve stomped her feet on the dusty ground.

Itoro directed her gaze at her husband. He sighed heavily.

“Mummy…”

She turned back to the girl, “Yes, yes, I heard you.”

Tear drops rolled down her dark face. “Ejiro doesn’t have enough time.”

“Ewo! Chimo! Jehovah help us!” Itoro began to wail.

Ochuko got up immediately. “Let us not waste any more time,” he started to walk towards the road.

“Rukevwe, stay with mum and dad,” Eru hurried after his younger brother.

“You people should make sure that Chukwuemeka produce my daughter today!” Oghenekaro called after them.

“Don’t worry, we’ve got this,” Ochuko stopped a bike driving past the shop.
Rukewve ran after her brothers.

“Where are you going?!” Itoro screamed at her.

“I don’t trust Chukwuemeka,” Rukewve jumped on the bike and gave the driver directions to her sister’s place.

Ochuko joined her and glanced back at his brother.

“Go ahead, I will stop another bike,” Eru slipped in his hands into his pockets. He intended to call his wife and intimate her that he would be home later than usual.

“You people should be careful,” Itoro watched the bike carrying Rukevwe and Ochuko. The driver’s speed was too fast for her liking.

“Don’t worry yourself. Just start to pray that nothing bad should happen to Ejiro,” Eru waved at her and headed down the street.

Oghenekaro pulled his wife to the bench. She sat down and placed her face in her palms. She started to pray for God’s mercy.

****

Ejiro crawled out of the bedroom in a blood-stained sleeveless white satin night gown. Her elbows and knees were badly bruised, her face was swollen and blood was dripping from a nasty gash on her forehead. Her breathing was slow and laboured, as she gasped for breath.

Chukwuemeka came up behind her, carrying a pestle. He lifted it above his head and positioned the heavy wood, ready to strike. The bangs on the door stopped him. A scowl appeared on his face. He wasn’t expecting anyone. He hoped whoever it was would leave. But, the bangs became louder, faster and incessant. He jumped over his wife’s wounded body and walked briskly to the window closest to the door.

He peeped and saw his in-laws standing by the doorway. Fear gripped him. He turned around and looked at his surroundings. The sitting-room was in disarray. He dropped the pestle and tried to put the room in order, as fast as he could. He looked around again and saw a few blood stains on the white and blue tiles. He picked up the pestle, ran to the kitchen and returned with a wet mop.

He cleaned the stains and glanced at his wife, then back at the door. The bangs grew louder. He knew he needed to act very fast. He walked up to her, grabbed her by the legs and pulled her out of the sitting-room. He returned several minutes later and mopped the new stains on the tiled floor.

Chukwuemeka wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead with his tee-shirt, then he saw that it was also stained with blood. He pulled it off and hurried into the master bedroom. He put on another shirt, came out of the room and ran to the front door.

His in-laws pushed their way into the flat the second he opened it. Their action left him short of words.

“Ejiro! Ejiro! Ejiro!” Rukevwe called out and looked around for her. She noticed that the center table wasn’t in its rightful place. Her concerned gaze flew to her sister’s husband.

He returned her stare. His look seemed to say, ‘What are you looking for?’

” Why did it take you so long to open the door?” Eru glared at him.

Chukwuemeka thought of what to say, “I was… erm…”

“Where is Ejiro?” Ochuko poked him on the shoulder.

His brows came together in a frown. He stepped away from the younger man. “What is it? Why are you all here?” He looked from one to the other, feeling ambushed by their presence.

“Ejiro!” Rukewve took some steps towards the bedroom, but Chukwuemeka blocked her.

She met his angry look. “Where is my sister?”

He eyed her.

“Where is your wife?” Eru demanded. He noticed that the chairs in the room looked awkward.

He shrugged. “I told your parents that she left the house this morning. She is probably in Ikorodu with her friends! Why are you people bothering me?”

“Liar!” Rukevwe snarled. “My sister in this house. Bring her out, now!”

He narrowed his gaze and looked at her as if he was seeing her for the first time.
She glared back at him.

“Why is her phone line not going through?” Ochuko tapped him on the shoulder.

Chukwuemeka moved away from the younger man. The way the guy jabbing him made his blood to boil. He was on the verge of turning on him and giving him the beating he would never forget. “I don’t know. I don’t know, okay?!”

“It is not okay,” Eru eyed him. “I am beginning to regret the day we allowed you to marry her. This is the height of incompetence.”

He breathed in and out. “This is unnecessary. I believe she will come home soon.”

“When? Ehn? Useless man,” Ochuko spat on the floor.

“Fine! Fine…” he started to pace the room, “You think she is here? Fine, go on, search the house,” he moved over to a chair and sat down.

Rukevwe dashed into the bedroom. Ochuko hurried into the kitchen, while Eru searched the guest-rooms. They all returned to the sitting room after about twenty minutes.

“So, where is she?” He got up and confronted them, “I told you she isn’t here, but, no, you won’t even listen to me,” his hazel eyes twinkled with victory. “She is not here.”

“Liar!”

Chukwuemeka eyed the young girl, “Go home.”

Rukevwe pounced on him and held him by the collar. “Produce my sister, or else, you will meet your maker tonight!”

“Let me go,” he began to cough. The more he tried to free himself, the tighter her grip got.

“Wait, wait, don’t kill him yet. Let us find Ejiro first, then we will give his head to the birds,” Ochuko pulled her away.

Chukwuemeka fell on his knees and coughed for a long while.

“Let me go. He knows where she is,” tears gathered in her eyes, but she couldn’t fight her brother off.

“Where is Ejiro?” Eru faced him.

He raised his head and held his throat. “I don’t know,” he coughed, “I… I want,” he coughed again, “All of you…” he coughed again and again, “All of you, leave my house,” he coughed and coughed.

“You are out of your mind! I am not going anywhere without Ejiro,” she tried to free herself from his grip, but Ochuko held her bound.

He met Rukewve’s gaze and his heart missed a beat. “Please, please leave… I don’t know where she is.”

Eru placed his hands on his hips. He was tired and confused.

“Let me go, let me strangle him,” she pleaded with her brother.

“Wait, let’s find Ejiro first,” Ochuko refused to let her go.

She cleaned her wet face with the back of her hands. Suddenly, her vision became blurry. She found herself in a very dark space. When she turned around, she saw the shadow of her sister. She was bleeding and gasping for breath. She blinked several times and the image cleared. She pushed her brother away and leapt at Chukwuemeka again.

“Hey! Hey! Rukewve,” Ochuko called out to her, but this time around, he didn’t stop her.

“Where is she, you murderer!” she held Chukwuemeka by the collar.

Their gazes locked.

“Witch…” he whispered and started to cough.

“Where did you hide her?! Where is she?” she tightened her grip around his throat.

Ochuko and Eru grabbed her and pulled her away.

“Let me go!’ she tried to fight them off.

“Rukewve be calming down. You will have all the time you need to kill him. Let him tell us where Ejiro is first,” Ochuko held her by the waist.

Chukwuemeka staggered to his feet. His fear-filled eyes remained on Rukewve’s angry face. “I want you all to get out,” he wobbled to the door and flung it open.

The sight of the opened bedroom door caught her attention. She lifted her eyes towards the white ceiling and saw red patches. It dawned on her that the space in the roof was dark. Was that the place she saw in her vision? Was that where her sister was? She started to scream.

The noise made him to jump in fear. “What?!” Ochuko eyed her.

“What is it?” Panic gripped Eru when he saw the anguish in her eyes. He suspected that she had seen something again.

Rukewve couldn’t speak. She kept pointing at the master bedroom. They followed her gaze and saw nothing.

“What did you see?” Eru shook her by the shoulder.

She met his gaze and started to cry. “The ceiling, she is up there on the roof.”
Her brothers looked up at the ceiling in the room and saw the red patches on the white ceiling.

“Jesus!” Ochuko grabbed his brother on the arm. He couldn’t tell what was on the roof, but the thought that his sister was up there made him terrified.

Eru ran into the room, followed by his brother. He dragged the chair by the dressing mirror to the spot under the patch. “Hold the chair,” he instructed his younger brother.

“Okay, go,” Ochuko held unto the chair with all the strength he could muster.

Eru climbed the wooden chair. He staggered a bit, but soon, he steadied himself and punched holes into the spot that had the red patches. Pieces of the ceiling fell off. He stretched his neck and took a look. All he could see was darkness. He strained his eyes, till it settled on something that looked like a sack.

His heart beat accelerated. “Ochuko hold the chair!”

“I am holding it!” he yelled back.

Eru reached out for the sack and pulled. It was quiet heavy. He pulled again and again, until he was able to drag it through the hole he made in the ceiling. Underestimating the weight, he toppled and crashed into the chair, along with Ochuko.

Rukevwe ran into the room. She found her brothers on the floor, with a broken chair and a rice sack. She froze where she stood. “She is in there…”

Eru got on his knees, thankful that he wasn’t badly injured. He untied the sack and saw the bloodstained body of his sister. “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!”

His brother’s heart-wrenching scream filled his ears. Ochuko got up and looked into the sack. He staggered away, consumed by terror. He turned towards the doorway and saw Rukewve.

She met his dread-filled eyes and looked back at the opened sack. She couldn’t tell whether Ejiro was still alive or dead.

this is horror film o. Ebuka why?

Come to think of it sef, why is Chukwuemeka doing this?? Why does he wants Ejiro dead?? Thank God Rukevwe went with her brothers...
Thanks for the update SheWrites!

I’m speechless. Wicked world

God!!!! Chukwuemeka is the devil himself
I hope he rots in jail

Hmmm, this is more than serious I hope Ejiro isnt dead. Thanks for the update ma'am

Na SARS rukewe suppose land there with.

i shall not marry my enemy in the mighty name of JESUS

What is actually wrong with that Chukwuemeka, normal human can't be behaving this way. Thanks for d update Shewrites

Wow!!!!! These last chapters are heartbreaking. I hope Ejiro survives.

Please continue the story.

PrudySara:
Come to think of it sef, why is Chukwuemeka doing this??
Why does he wants Ejiro dead??
Thank God Rukevwe went with her brothers...

Thanks for the update SheWrites!

*winks*

Adeola25:
Hmmm, this is more than serious I hope Ejiro isnt dead. Thanks for the update ma'am

You're welcome

What could be the reason behind Chukwuemeka’s deadly act on Ejiro
This is sheer wickedness

Thanks for the update ma’am

I don't know if you can still posts today dha

damis28crown:
i shall not marry my enemy in the mighty name of JESUS

Amen oooo oooo!

Omeifa:
I don't know if you can still posts today dha

Oliver Twist **tongue-out* :-)

Ann2012:
What could be the reason behind Chukwuemeka’s deadly act on Ejiro
This is sheer wickedness

Thanks for the update ma’am

**winks*

I am back. Nice one ma'am. Thanks for the update