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Getting more interesting

and it seems to me like you're a good singer. Yes?

arck1: Princesa, you don't inform me again not fair

so sorry, it skipped my mind.

@deiok, missterious, missmossy, adesomething, underage, you're all invited again.

Mykhel10: Queen. Xter
Flakkydagirl
Prettyspicey.

writer of the month nominations starts on 1st of August. Thank you

its not yet time for

timpaker: Finally!!! Now, how do I fast-forward to the chapter I last read? Please keep the update coming....

lol...the remote is with me, so patience.

zyzxx: u make me apy tonight thanks so much

you're welcome. but just exercise patience cos i dont think i will update to where you stopped. the train had started not the less and i will finish this story. thanks

@toykathy
thank you for loving the story, you are a wonderful reader. but like i told zzyxx, you will have to hold on.

@ losprince
why the face na?

Kamal's phone rang just then, disrupting any further banter from Mark. They were already irritating him with their ridiculous banter anyways, he thought as he lazily picked up the phone. Soon his brows arched in surprise as he saw whom the caller was. His change in expression piqued Aisha's interest and she sat up abruptly, watching him like he was some exquisite pottery on a show glass. Everything about Kamal had always fascinated her since she had laid eyes on him.

'what is it?' Kamal asked plainly soon as he picked the call, his voice masking the emotions that had played on his face seconds ago.

Aisha watched him receive the call, watched as his face that had been set in a stern, moody cast throughout the day ease into surprise...then unbelief...then elation and then back to the masked cool and nonchalant exterior that characterized his handsome face. She wondered who or what the caller had said to make him so.

'Are you absolutely sure about this?' she heard him ask.

'okay' he said and ended the call.

The atmosphere in the car turned quiet again, Kamal said nothing about the call he just received, his face gave nothing away either and no one dared ask him. Aisha was inwardly burning with curiosity, and a sudden feeling of foreboding fell on her, but she kept mute.

Mark on the other hand couldn’t care less. He felt it wasn't his business to pry especially since Kamal wasn't one to be pressurized into doing anything. The guy was a world on his own, hardly did he talk or associate with the others -something borne out of character than pride, and the only person that could get through to him was his father. He'd heard rumours about some sort of past between them. And sincerely, he didn't care one bit what they did with their lives, he was only in for the money he could get. Aisha was simply dumb worrying over him or trying to...

'Mark, who were those appointed by my dad to handle Angie's case?' Kamal asked all of a sudden, cutting into his thoughts.

'err...err...I think Thunder, Scorpion and James. Why?' he replied.

'Thunder was part of the operation?'

'yeah…headed it. Why? Any trouble?'

Kamal didn't answer; instead he glanced briefly at Aisha who was trying hard to look detached and nonchalant, then surprisingly, a smile, though very brief, crept up his face. It was that smile Aisha knew she would recognize anywhere, the smile she thought made him look more happier and friendlier, a smile that was genuine and was as rare as rain in the desert, a smile that had always melted her insides whenever she saw one, the 'kill me softly' smile she'd often described to her friends whenever she spoke about him to them. It was that smile alright, but she wouldn’t have been this bothered since the other person that could make him do so was dead. Or was she?

This time also, her insides melted alright, but not in the giddy, floating kind of way. It burned with pure anger, jealousy and spite for the girl whom she knew could make him let down his 'smooth and in-control' guard to smile deeply so, her heart sank deeper as she contemplated the possibility of that girl still being alive, lending credence to her recent feeling of foreboding. Slowly, she turned facing the window, trying to hide the emotions of dread and confusion that were threatening to engulf her and make a mess of the cool, confident and in-control image she had built over the years. The last thing she also wanted was to let Kamal know how she truly felt towards his little singing b.itch for she didn't want to lose the luxury of his priceless friendship.

So caught up with grief and ruminating was she that she didn't notice that the Jeep had stopped and Kamal was now reversing the car around.

'Kamal what is it, where are we going?' she asked a little alarmed when she finally did.

Kamal didn't answer. His eyes stayed focused on the road as he tried to avert oncoming cars.

'Mark?' she called, peering back at him for answer.

He gave her a casual shrug in response. He too was curious but not impatient, plus he didn't really care what the dude did, he had always acted like one being chased by some unknown demons, blowing hot one moment and cold the other, the best he could do if worst came to worst was to alight and find his way home. He was in for the money and couldn’t care what they all did with their lives.

'Smooth, I asked where we are going?' she tried again, turning back at him.

After a protracted silence, he simply replied: 'To see for ourselves'. And then he sped off.

*********
Kamal's mind rolled over the scenario that had played out at the Okoro's villa as he drove into his two-bedroom bungalow flat situated in a secluded and quiet street along the Apapa expressway. Even though her obstinate and un-cooperative father had refused them getting anywhere near the main house, he was sure that something was amidst and his insider couldn't have mis-informed him.

The poor guy was scared stiff of his threats to have done otherwise and play pranks on him, because even though he wasn't big on murder, he wouldn't blink a second while he shot a hole through his pathetic heart if that had been a trap set up for him. That definitely meant Angie was alive, unbelievable but very plausible.

The situation had however left him more confused than happy. How could she still be alive, especially since Thunder spearheaded her case. The infamous Thunder, known to be one of his father's ruthless men, couldn't have done a messy job as to let an unarmed 25years old girl have a second chance on life. There was definitely a catch somewhere. But still, whichever case it was, he was glad that his feisty, high-spirited and cocky Angela - scratch that - Angie was back.

For she had made it plainly clear to him that she never ever liked to be called Angela. Remembering now how she had seriously set her face to explain how Angela sounded so dumb and non reflective of her aspiring superstar image, made a smile spread across his face. Her total obsession with music and stardom had always intrigued him, gave him something else more pleasant to think about. She was indeed the best thing that had happened to him since his return to Nigera.

And so, with his feelings still ambivalent and his thoughts unsettled, he rode his Prado Jeep to a halt and headed straight for his wine rack soon as he entered his parlour. And as he relished the burning feel of the alcohol calming his fray nerves, he went to recline on one of the couch. But now, relaxed and ruminating over the issue again, he discovered a problem.

What if his father became aware of her reappearance? She would be dead and for real this time around!

Considering that possibility, made him shoot up on his feet. His fist tightened when he realized that he would have himself to blame if Alhaji knew of her reappearance. For one, he hadn't been discreet about the call he'd received on the road, neither had he acted wisely when he reversed and drove straight to her house to 'see for himself', especially when Aisha, who was trying hard to make an impression on his father that she was loyal and able to handle the affairs as well as the males, lurked around.

She had watched from a distance as Mark tried to trade territorial supremacy with Chief Okoro's guards. It had taken his timely intervention to calm the face-off from escalating and turning into an unnecessary shoot out. Something Mark was well capable of. And now he was worried that they could squeal to his father, if not Mark, then definitely Aisha. Matters weren't even better as he had dropped them to go relay their findings on the Senator to his dad while he'd drove straight down here, needing to clear his head.

How much more silly can I get? Kamal wondered furiously as he paced round the middle of his marble-tiled living room.

Some Minutes later his phone rang. Picking the shrieking piece, his worst fear was confirmed. It was Alhaji calling.

'I hear your girlfriend is back?' Alhaji said immediately Kamal picked up. He wasn't one for idle chatter, had always considered himself an important and busy person and believed in tackling situations head on, giving no room for hesitation.

'And I don't know what you mean' Kamal replied, His voice betraying no emotion.

'Now Kamal, you should know I don't play games, that girl was supposed to be dead.' he reiterated.

'I don't see how that is any of my business since I wasn't part of the operation or was consulted before it was executed.' Kamal replied flatly.

'walai Kamal! I hope you have not infiltrated my men with your stupi.d Arabian mentality? Or by Allah, you're not working with my opponent against me, because I swear, insha Allah, I shall surely send you to meet your usel.ess mother if you dare me!' Alhaji spat, his intonation taking on the typical Hausa colouration. Something that became pronounced whenever he was seriously angry, like right now.

Kamal's blood heated with the mentioning of his mother. The fact that his father would never allow her tortured soul rest in peace, made him wish at times like this that things had not gone wrong, and he had shot him instead of her. How he hated his father and wished for any means he could get to bring him and his dynasty down. But the problem was, his father was simply untouchable. Highly connected to the country's powerful political personalities, with contacts in places that mattered, and the very useful services in carrying out their political dirty works he rendered, he was way above the law.

And there's not forgetting to mention his unreasonable paranoia - the reason for his mother's death and the reason he presently wanted a harmless 25 years old aspiring superstar dead - he was no match for his personal vendetta, not in a wide berth.

'Are you still listening to me?' Alhaji shouted angrily bringing Kamal back from his mind travel. 'Even though Thunder will definitely pay for this stu.pid mistake of his, you should also know that I will definitely finish what I started Insha Allah!' He completed and cut the call.

Kamal stared blankly at his phone, if he had felt threatened by his father's words, his face didn't show. With a sigh, he sank back into the couch and drained the last of his drink. So much for acting on impulse, he thought. His uncharacteristic excitement had endangered Angie's life, and though he was reluctant to admit it, he knew she was as good as dead. His father never made empty threats.


Yet the unanswered question remained what had gone wrong? If Alhaji was as surprised by her arrival as he was, then who was playing the games here? And since things had taken an un-redeemable down turn, there was little he could do to save her life, for he hadn't been able to do so before. Even though she was the best thing to have ever happened to him in a long while, he was no hero; plus it was her stubbornness had gotten her here in the first place. What was so hard in her calling before she came visiting?
*********

end of chapter 1

*********
'So chief, I've run the checks, her vitals are stable and the bandage on her forehead is clean' Doctor Eze, the Okoro’s long family doctor said as he walked down the spiral steps that led directly into the parlor.

He was a dark skinned man in his mid fifties and had a copious streak of gray hair on a friendly face. He was wearing a white shirt tucked into a black trouser, a stethoscope hung loosely on his neck.

'Thank God for that' Chief Okoro said and stood up from where he had since sat sipping wine to calm his nerves. He dropped the glass cup on a side table and started walking towards the Doctor.

Oluchi, the youngest daughter was sitting pensively on one of the couch, her eyes fixed vaguely at the flat screen television hanging a distance away, but they shifted now to where her dad and the doctor stood discussing.

Gabriel on the other hand, was lying relaxed on another couch, a white ear-piece dangling from his ears while his hands worked away on his Ipad. He seemed not to have noticed the arrival of the doctor.

'…but I still think she needs to be in the hospital for proper check up' the doctor continued.

'no, no doctor, it’s far too risky like I said. Until we know what these boys are up to, we can't expose her yet' Chief replied in his slightly Igbo accent, shaking his head for emphasis.

'well, if you say so, I have no other option than to agree. Especially since it looks like she was well cared for wherever she's coming from' the doctor replied, too tired to continue arguing with his headstrong friend.

'so, is she awake already?' Chief asked.

'not at all, she appears to have been heavily sedated too, but she's breathing normal...and please she shouldn't be disturbed, at least for now'

The chief scoffed. 'Tell that to her mother' he said. Ever since Angela was carried to her room upstairs, her mother had not left her side, not even when the doctor arrived and asked everyone out, she had still remained adamant.

'oh, just let her be' the doctor replied tiredly. 'she misses her daughter, we can understand' he continued and started for the exit with chief following behind.

'will you inform the police about her return?' he asked soon as they got to the door.

'Nba nu, I prefer we keep this in the family till we are sure of what's happening here. It’s not like they've not been able to achieve anything since, ndi ara ka han bu (they are mad people)' Chief finished angrily.

'It’s okay. Take it easy Badmus' the Doctor said and patted his friend his shoulder. 'I guess we should just be glad that she has miraculously returned...I will make out time to come see her tomorrow, you should all just rest.' he completed and pushed open the door.

'Thank you Eze' Chief Okoro said, truly grateful that his friend could make it down to the estate though the late hour and his very tight schedule. Not forgetting his discretion.

'Anytime friend' the doctor said and started walking down to his car parked a little distance from the 'Main House'.

'should I call one of my guards to escort you?' Chief called out.

'Don't worry Chief, I'll be fine' the Doctor called back.

'Okay' chief said quietly and turned back into the parlor where he almost collided with Oluchi, her face wet from tears.

'ogini kwa?' (What is it) he asked, stretching his arms towards her.

'will sister Ada be okay' she cried, running into his waiting arm.

'Is that why you're crying enh? If you were the one lying there now, will she cry for you? I’m sure Angela will never do so. Biko ficha anya gi, that girl is not worth your tears. (please clean your eyes)' her father scolded gently.

'but she's not fine, there's the bandage on her head and...and...she has not opened her eyes since, I don't want her to die' she cried on.

'Oluchi! Meshe onu gi! she won’t die. The doctor says she is fine, so she is. Ndo, e be zi na (stop crying)' her father soothed, very touched at the sincerity of his last child. This was the very reason why he loved her so. Her innocence and affection were genuine, way better than the one lying upstairs now or his other children for that matter. She had the respect and honesty which her elder sister had lost years ago, it was at times like this that he wished she was his first and only daughter.

Knowing Angela very well for her tactics, he had half expected the kidnap to be a ploy to extort money from him, but with this new development of her sudden arrival, he was curious to know what she and her cohorts were up to, and very ready to play their games to the very last. He had no reason not to believe that it was Angela coming up with a ploy to get back at him for asking his guard to hit her some weeks ago, it was therefore necessary to keep the police and the public at bay and settle it the family way when she recovered. This time around, he wouldn’t tamper mercy even if her mother begged with her life. The more he withheld the more rotten and out of control she became. But though their differences, he couldn't deny that a part of him was happy that she had returned quite unharmed, she was his daughter after all.

'ngwa, since your mother will never leave Angela's side today, go and see what Albert is up to in the kitchen' he whispered to Oluchi.

'okay daddy' Oluchi sniffed, slowly tearing herself from her father’s reassuring embrace. Her big sister was alive and back, she thought, maybe they could finally get to be friends. She concluded as she walked towards the kitchen.

Chief Okoro smiled proudly as he watched his favourite child go, then made to go continue with his drinking when he noticed that his younger son, Gabriel had not moved from his previous position, instead he was smiling animatedly as he typed away on his phone, oblivious to his environment and acting as if nothing unusual had happened in their lives today.

The smile left chief Okoro's face as he marched angrily towards him. Gabriel noticing that his father was directed his way, quickly jumped to his feet, drew down the ear piece and stashed it away with his phone at his back, very aware of what his father could do to it.

'Where did you say your Ikechukwu went to?' chief started angrily.

'I've not seen him since this morning' he replied a bit defiantly.

'then what are you smiling about?'

'sir?'

'I asked why you're smiling like a monkey. Anuofia! Doesn't the condition of your sister shake you at all? Oh, I’m not surprised; you're all alike, all of you! Caring only for yourselves, but just know that everything you do will surely hit back at you. Angela, your foo.lish sister thought she was troubling me, making me shout every day, but you see...' he continued angrily.

Gabriel had however since drowned out his father's ramblings. As far as he was concerned, nothing had happened nor changed. He and Angela hadn't been the best of siblings, not then, not now. If anything, he was glad that she was safely back, because that meant by Monday, he would definitely be heading back to school, enough family drama for one week, he mused. The only wished now was that his father would shut it already, although he dared not utter it.

'...so, you can go back to your school and follow those riff rats, your own will be worst, very worst I tell you! But don't expect me to leave my business like I did in Angela's case, I will not dare it, you hear!' Chief Okoro completed, his forehead creased in anger.

'Sorry' Gabriel replied plainly and started walking out, headed for his room. Enough overbearing father for one day too.

'sorry for yourself'. His father returned angrily, not in the least pacified. As far as he was concerned, all his children, except Oluchi, were out to kill him before his time, and the last thing he would do was to let them succeed. “stupi.d boy” he muttered as he made for his seat to continue with his drink.

*********
'Mark...Who do you think Alhaji would pick for the final showdown?' Aisha, a fair complexioned, pretty lady, in her mid twenties asked from where she sat cross-legged in the front seat of the speeding Jeep.

The atmosphere in the car had been quiet ever since the journey began making her feel very uncomfortable hence the need to start a conversation with Mark, the back seat occupant, even though she would have preferred conversing with the driving guy instead, but since he wasn't a guy for simple talk, Mark would do. They were actually returning from a hotel where they had gone to make enquiries on a Senator whose activities they had been trailing for a while, and as one used to a continued life of action and fun, she felt like choking with the unbearable silence in the speeding jeep.

'The regulars...obviously' A Masculine voice replied seconds later from the backseat.

'I hope I make the list.' she said, thankful that Mark wasn't his usual mischievous self. “since the 'you-know-who' saga started” she continued, “… everything and everyone has been such a moody kill-joy...' she rolled her eyes now and cast a quick glance at the driving guy, 'thankfully, its blowing over, our lives are back on track - without an annoying little bi.tch around - that is - and now, I simply want some action back in my life' she concluded a bit excitedly.

'never a dull moment huh?' Mark stressed lazily.

'I live for the fun baby' she replied in a sultry voice.

'Then I should also introduce you to my world of fun?' he teased, feeling like indulging her a little.

'oh please, I think I'll pass. I know where the real men are, and you Mark, don't cut the list'

'hmm...Maybe Smooth can help us decide who the real men here are' Mark said, directing at the driving guy in a bid to lure him into the banter. The guy was just too reserved and stiff, he thought.

In response, the guy called Smooth briefly turned to Aisha and forced a fake smile, then returned his attention back to the road. The smile only a passing shadow and his face expressionless, distanced and wandering.

He's a 6ft guy, in his early thirties, spotting a clean shaven head adorned by a nicely trimmed goatee. His handsome and innocent face coupled with his calm, controlled and reserved demeanour earned him the alias 'Smooth', otherwise his real name was Kamal.

'I take that to mean that I’m the real deal then' Mark continued undeterred. He hadn't expected much anyways.

'don't flatter yourself. He's just been a spoil sport 'cause his pretty little girlfriend left him' Aisha said more out of spite than a need to make a comeback at Mark.

'maybe you can...'

Chapter 1.
The driver of the blue Mercedes Benz looked through the rear view mirror at the sleeping lady propped against the shoulder of his friend, but he couldn't tell if his friend was also sleeping due to the dark shades he wore. However, the knowledge that his friends could fall asleep in the midst of this precarious situation angered him. He sighed and thanked his stars that atleast the girl was presently calm after throwing a subconscious fit halfway through the journey. Again, his gaze travelled to his front seat companion, the one who put everyone in this mess due to his strange obsession for this unknown lady that suddenly just appeared.

He too was dozing off.

He sighed again in anger as he looked through his window at the identical buildings of King George Estate he just drove into, his uncertainties were returning. He shouldn't be doing this, he thought, shouldn't be putting his life at risk. What if someone caught them while they were dropping her off, what could they possibly put up as reason for being in custody of a missing girl? They were lucky enough that there wasn't the characteristic traffic jam at the Lagos/Ibadan expressway, and so had no meddling individual or police to deal with. Not that the set up in the car looked suspicious, but then, one still had to be extra careful and expect anything. And that his friends could sleep through the situation angered and made him more nervous. So, with a little more pressure than required, he tapped the sleeping friend at the front seat.

'bobo yi, kilode?(what is wrong with you this guy) How can you sleep in the middle of this situation?' he spat out angrily.

The tap startled his friend and made him almost jump out of his skin in fright, immediately which, he checked the back seat for the girl. He saw her there and then relaxed and wiped his face with his right hand.

'kilonshe! (what’s happening!)Did you have to do that?' he asked feeling indignant for rudely been awakened when there was no visible threat.

“a ti de be ni? (are we not there yet?)” the other asked undettered “…Incase you don't know, this is the estate you said she lives in. How am i supposed to know her exact house when they all look the same? For all we know, I could have driven past it by now, while you and...' he lashed on.

Hearing of the said estate had made the driver’s front seat companion peer through the window, his mind trying to recollect her exact address and at the same time drowning out the tirades of his friend but that didn't mean Yemi was pacified as he continued undeterred:

'...Iwo ati Tunde sun tabi pe kosi nko to shele ni (you and Tunde were sleeping like there is nothing happening). If I had known, I wouldn't have agreed to this at all. Obviously no one else here cares that this mission is a dangerous one. Who exactly did you say this Lady is? Tunde! Tunde!...' he called out angrily to the friend at the back seat, '...dide jo! (wake up), do you think you're in your private limousine? Infact you will be driving this car on our way back, so you will know how it feels, maybe you think i don't know how to sleep too, or that...'

'bobo yi dake jo! kini gbo gbo ariwo fun na?' (shut up! What is all the noise for). The one who had been locating the house cut in angrily at his friend's rambling.

And that did the trick in calming him down the nervous friend.

'Slow down the car, her house is just a few blocks away' he said to him then turned his attention to the back seat. 'how is she?' he asked the one called Tunde.

'she's still sleeping' he replied.

'good' he said. Then turned back to his driving friend, who he noticed was still visibly shaken from fright and his earlier outburst. He sighed. Yemi had never been an adventurous or daring one, always pulling back at the end, It was a wonder he had agreed to drive them here. Sighing again, he turned his attention back to road, they were now driving close to a Brown gate with 'The Okoro's Villa'bodly inscriped on it. It seemed like a pattern in this estate –to inscripe the names of the owners of the house on their gates – and tend to distinguish the rather look-alike houses from each other. That was definitely her house, he thought as he faced his friends.

'That is their house' he pointed. 'You all remember the plan right?' he asked.

They both nodded.

'good' he said and started the climb to the back of the car while Yemi drove past the said house, reversed the car a few blocks away, then drove back and stopped at the other side of the road to the Brown gate.

The two friends at the back scanned the estate for any sign of life. It was empty left for two people discussing way down the brick-tiled road. The beauty of estates, Tunde thought. Then the friend who had helped locate her house nodded his head as a sign for the others to act. Then immediately both their doors flew open and soon they were carrying the girl out of the car and crossing over to the Brown gate where they gently lay her down.

Tunde banged hard at the gate before they both hurried back to the car and Yemi zoomed off out of the estate, out of Lagos Island, towards the road that would connect them to the Lagos/Ibadan expressway and out of Lagos entirely. Yemi would later rest easy and smile, all his fear and nervousness dissipated. The fact that he had ended up driving the car back even though his earlier threats, forgotten. While Tunde would go back to his slumber party without a care and the third friend would pray for the girl, his celebrity crush to recover soon, so he could see her again and hear her sing.

*********
Inside the compound of the Brown gate, the loud bang had brought the Security detail of The Okoro's villa trotting out of the small apartment that served as his home and office towards the gate. He was a tall, dark and slightly built man around his early or mid thirties. He was wearing a blue uniformed trouser and shirt that represented the security outfit he works for. This gave him an aura of importance than was probably necessary and instilled a certain sense of fear in visitors. But on a personal level, the feeling as well as the apperance was a ruse, because Emeka was more cowardly than brave - the reason why his heart thumped even as he walked towards the gate, fearful and cautions. His fear wasn’t unconnected to the recent kidnap that had rocked the household.

And so, he hesitated when his hands hit the lock, peered through the small opening on the gate but found no one. His heartbeat doubled in fright that moment as he battled whether to open the gate or not. It was over a week since the first daughter of the house had been kidnapped and he had been given strict warnings to be cautious of people he opened the gate for especially as the kidnappers hadn't stated a ransom or made any demands yet, one was not sure who their next target was.

He checked his watch; it was some minutes past 5pm which meant that the general Estate gate was still open. After battling with the idea of ignoring or answering the caller, he finally gave in to curiosity, and quietly unlocked the gate to peer out. What he saw sent him running back inside and shutting the gate immediately. And once in, he leaned against the gate, breathing heavily until few minutes later, his mind settled to process the image he had just seen. Then he shot out again and cautiously approached the unconscious body lying on the floor.

'Angel!' he screamed on recognition, rushed back into the compound and started running towards the 'Main House' - a one storey building situated a great distance from the exit gate.

The Okoro's villa is one of the biggest mansions in King George Estate. It Spans across thousands of square meters and houses three other mini buildings apart from the 'Main house'. One of the mini buildings housed the personal body guards of Chief Badmus Okoro, another, a three bedroom flat, served as home to the first son of the family and then the two-room Boys quarter served as Emeka's home and office. These are also in addition to a family garden, set-up in the Left wing of the compound, and the fleets of cars that adorned the right.

Simply put, their home was large, beautiful and spacious.

The reason why it looked fool.ish for the security guard to think that running to the main house was the best option to quickly alert the Okoro's of the sudden return of their missing daughter, instead of using the intercom in his room that linked to all the buildings in the compound. Halfway to the main house, the foo.lishness of his race dawned on Emeka as he quickly reversed his step and bolted back to his station to use the intercom.

'hello hello...' he said while still trying to catch his breath as soon as someone picked up.

'Oga Emy what is it? Calm down' came a feminine voice from the other end.

'Oluchi? Yes...oh...Angel...Angel is here!' he rasped.

'Who is Angel, what are you saying?' came the puzzled reply.

'I say I just see Madam Angela outside the gate now now! Tell Oga and Madam to come quick quick...' he went on.

'Sister Ada is here?' The female at the other end asked doubtfully.

'yes...come now now. Tell oga...'

She wasn't listening again, but was screaming for her parents, and so he dropped the phone and hurried back outside to see if she was still there. She was, laying the way he’d left her. But he refused to go near her, instead searched the now empty road for anything unusual, probably seeking to find the culprits still lurking around, but saw no one.

He was soon joined by a younger female, average heighted, dark and in her teens, supposedly the one who had picked his call earlier.

She shot straight for the body, knelt by it slowly but also refused to make any contact. She looked at the guard as if to ascertain if it was safe to touch her. The guard only shrugged and looked through the gate as the others approached. A male, older than the kneeling girl, but of the same complexion and probably in his early twenties arrived first.

'is she alive?' he asked as he walked towards his sisters.

'I don't know' the kneeling girl replied in a shaky voice.

'then move away, what are you just doing there' he scolded, knelt down, and made to place his ear on her chest in a bid to hear her heartbeat.

'Gini k'unu ne me?' (what are you people doing?) A voice thundered suddenly cutting off his doctor act in midair. The duo turned to see that it was their father and immediately stood up and moved away.

'why is she still there enh? I thought you people would have carried her in by now' he continued sternly.

'nwa mo! Eh nwa mo, Chukwu dalu...eh...' cried a woman who just arrived. She was of a fairer skin like the subconscious girl lying on the floor. Her lace wrapper was on the verge of falling off from her waist but she didn’t seem to care as she went straight to the body and flung herself on it, raising it up to lean against her bosom, while she felt the temple and rocked her daughter still crying.

'my daughter is back, look at the bandage on her head, who knows what they did to her, wicked people, God will surely punish them!...eh...nwa mo...thank you father' she cried and swore.

'I can't understand all of you at all! Does this open space look safe to you? Bia woman, get yourself away from her, let her be carried inside' The father thundered, his face creased in anger.

'No oh no oh, no one can take her away from me again, not this time around' she replied defiantly still rocking her daughter.

'for Christ sake! The kidnappers might still be lurking around, do you want them to come and carry her again' he shouted again.

The word 'kidnappers' seemed to make an impact on them all this time around as they all became alert, each scanning the environment cautiously for any furtive movement.

'oh oh oh…chowa nu ha, keep looking for them. It’s very obvious I’m wasting my time here. Emeka shut my gate now I’m going back inside' the father added sternly as he started for the house.

'Please chief don't leave us here, okay come…come and carry her inside...' the mother cried but still made to move to stand.

'Emeka go and help Gabriel carry her inside' Chief retreated and ordered.

'yes sir' he said and walked towards where she lay.

'please be careful' Mrs Okoro said as she reluctantly let go of her still not conscious body.

And together with Gabriel, they pried the girl away from her mother and gently carried her in while the others followed closely behind. The little drama that had just played out minutes ago barely causing a scene or drawing the attention of the estate neighbours.

tags: zzyxx, kingphilip, queenxtar, I'm re-posting.Thanks

Prologue...

Tade stirred the content of his glass cup lightly before swallowing it in one gulp, his body hardly registering the burning feel of the alcohol that just passed through his system. The reason hadn't been that he had gotten accustomed to the harsh taste of the cheapest spirit in 'The Sunset Place' he could afford, quite the contrary, his whole being stared fixedly across three tables from his, unto a slightly raised podium where a fair complexioned young lady, dressed in a long, fitted, low neckline, silver gown that sparkle like the ballroom lights, stood before a standing Microphone, singing like her world depended on it.

She was pouring her soul into the song, using every body rhythm, movement and facial gestures that expressed the sad note of her song.

She was rendering the 'Bibanke' piece by Asa.

Almost every eyes in the 'DiscoArena' of 'The Sunset Place' were fixed on her. Tade's were no different, his were trance-like, hypnotized by the charm of her powerful soprano voice and mesmerized by her beauty.

She was infact his infatuation.

The very reason why he came all the way from a remote village situated around the Lagos/ibadan expressway every weekend just to see and hear her sing.

Strong was his obsession that he knew almost everything about her - where she lived in Ikeja, the places her band performed, when she would lead the night's performance, that was almost everytime, the genre of music she was likely to sing, her temperament, how she related to her admirers and 'fans' - albeit very unruly, but he didn't care.

Because the more she pushed everyone away, it seems the more they got attracted to her, and he was no different.

He also knew that they sang every weekend at this exotic club located in Victoria Island, Lagos. And for which reason, he had never failed to stay the weekends at his cousin's who lived in Egbeda. A pattern that had continued undisrupted since last year after he had set his sights on her.

He had tried talking to her once when she had passed by his table, but had gone dumb struck by the proximity of his idol. It had seemed too real to be true. Not that she had noticed or given him as much as a glance anyway, she had always just walked by, exuding that haughty and arrogant aura that had become like her second skin.She never gave anyone in the club her time or entertained the audience who wanted to be more acquainted with her. After her performance, she literally disappeared and the highlife band took over. He had often heard people complain about this character of hers, but he couldn't care less, in his sight, she could do no wrong.

His attention returned to the subject of his mind travel. She was now singing with renewed fervor, her eyes glazed as if in tears...

''...Oh, when I'm crying, when I'm dying
Just leave me alone
I can cry a river or a waterfall
Just leave me alone, leave me alone
Moti f'oro mi f'oluwa o''

She sang even as the back up singers rendered the accompanying chorus to the song, and soon it ended.

The atmosphere in 'The DiscoArena' stilled like ice seconds after the sonorous singer ended her piece until an applause from a table at the back broke the ice and soon others joined in.

'wonderful... simply wonderful' Tade said under his breath, his hands still jamming in frenzied applaud. This was the reason why he loved his star crush, he thought excitedly.

'Thank you, thank you' said the singer in a velvety voice as she curtised.

Later, she and her crew were walking off the stage towards the door that presumely led backstage, her sober demeanour replaced by a cocky and haughty one as she walked gracefully out.

The applause had subsided now, and some of the diners were rising and making their way out, moving on to whatever fun the night still had in store for them.

Tade rose slowly on his feet, glanced at his watch, it was an hour before midnight.

Good, he thought. Thank God this was Lagos and he could easily make his way to Egbeda and in the morning, journey back to his home at the outskirt of Lagos. Another satisfying week had gone, seeing that his singing queen was still as he'd left her was worth all the trouble. The week ahead could only get better, he concluded and smiled before walking out.

Ohibenemma: Princesa, thou art sighted!

wasn't planning on running though

Still here, keep it coming

Nice poem Jay

Did it

Can i perform that Sunday magic?

Nominations have kicked off for regular updater of the month and runs for this week only

I'm in. Thanks for the invite