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The holiday continued slowly, boring most people off as they began to lose the joy of being at home and was itching to return to school. Life for Tade was normal, his parents were still more at work than at home, Salisu still kept his ' Under-G' runs with Shukurat, the gateman kept his busy-body role, e.t.c . The only difference was that there were lesser girls for Tade to sleep with, probably because his class of girls had risen.

The new semester started without much ceremony, the fresh students were already turning stale and the buzz was now reduced, with people now anticipating the results of the previous exams.

Tade was walking around Amphitheatre when Kolade ran towards him, telling him about a released examination result. Tade sprinted quickly towards the department, hoping to get there before angry students tear off the results.

The department was in a bit of chaos as all the results were been released sequentially, giving some students the jitters. Tade could see some of the female students in tears, clearly distraught about the results of the examinations. Many a Part One student were now calculating their G.P, while a lot of stalites just walked out of the area like it was not their business they monitored.

Tade had a good result himself, not that he doubted otherwise. Personally the previous semester was good for him, apart from Dumuje's story with Ortega. He then remembered Dumuje's threat and the course that he offered and rushed to the department, checking his matriculation number and name.

He got to Dumuje's result and realised that he failed.

AM here.


cool beginning but this part is confusing

He was 19 years of age, but could be mistaken for a boy of 16 due to his boyish looks. His face had become aged looking due to work,stress and sweat,

I don't think an aging face could now look younger. Anyway its your prerogative.

Nice work and come and update...
Crazy Scientist.

Shukurat, about four feet tall with well made bosoms and fattened as5, walked into the house. Salisu looked immediately towards her direction and moved swiftly to her, leading her away from the gateman and towards his lodge.

"Salisu, e fi mi le! O de oh!"( Salisu leave me alone! You have come oh!) She shouted, alerting Tade to her presence.

Salisu! Bring her here! Salisu looked at her angrily, before dragging her toward the main house.

Salisu da kun, e ro ra!( Salisu please, take it easy).

Can't you speak english? Na so you go dey embarrass me in front of people.

She smiled at him, batting an eyelid towards him as she brought down her goods. Tade came out and looked at her.

An idea came through his mind.

Come inside. He told her, shocking Salisu. Shukurat entered inside with the grace of a beauty queen, even though she was a mere groundnut seller. Tade watched her enter, wondering where she learned how to walk like that. He then turned and batted an eyelid to Salisu before entering in.

Salisu started to sweat, wondering what his boss kid was thinking. Did he want to sleep with her? She does not look like the kind of girl he will think about. Yet her 'assets' were that good to rid a man of his good senses. He tiptoed to the window facing the sitting room.

He watched as Tade was asking her question after question, bringing about her academics, her family, work, anything and everything. Salisu was initially relieved that he was after her but then started becoming apprehensive as time ticked away. He wanted to deal with her 'personally' and here is 'this boy' holding him up.

Salisu! Salisu! Oga don come! The gateman shouted, getting his attention. Tade then came out with Shukurat, much to Salisu's dismay. He knows that his boss will be busy and will need him, therefore pushing Shukurat off the way. He quickly went into the his lodge in order to 'take care' of his urges. Tade, meanwhile brought about #200 naira groundnut before sending her away.

No wonder we are not many! This thread MUST NOT DIE!

Clara suddenly came out, asking him to start the car immediately. Her presence was now becoming another distraction to him, as he soaked up her beauty. Despite the facts that she has two grown up kids and she was clocking fifty, Salisu could still try and woo her. Of course, the consequences of either success or failure was too much for him to handle. After all, this was a boss who had entrusted him with some much, even as much as his wife who he had not touched for a long time. Salisu was not in the know about how their relationship had gone, but he knew that sex was lacking, not because their hormones had paused; it was more because of the unseen lack of affection they had for each other.

Seeing her reminded him that he was a fully grown man and that he had to 'fire' his frustrations at a woman, both of them been n.aked of course. He loved rough sex and Shukurat, the groundnut seller will soon show up. She was the main recipient of his sexual urges, even though she always protests before the act.

"Salisu! What are you doing?" He just realised that he had been standing since like forever, leading to Clara being in an angry mood. He quickly apologised to her and started the car, driving her quickly towards her workplace.

Fifteen minutes later he came back, driving like a mad man. He had taken shortcuts on the road at dazzling speeds that Clara was beginning to suspect that something ulterior was on his mind. In fact if that was the first time he drove her, she would have been afraid that she was about to be kidnapped. He was not bothered anyway, his attention was only on the mounting 'attention' he was having and a soft, soothing fresh a.ss he had to plunder.

As he was about to enter the room, Tade called him.

"If that groundnut seller comes, call her for me." Salisu nodded his head. Tade looked at him half-suspiciously. "Why are you shaking like a cold dog in harmattan? Ki lo she yin?" ( What is wrong with you?). Salisu realised that he was getting agitated, quickly calmed himself down.

"Nothing sir." He answered, almost choking himself.

"Okay. If you have an health problems tell dad, he can sort you out. "

"Okay sir." Tade entered back into the house,leaving Salisu to walk back to his lodge

"If its because of that girl, then just be careful. If she breaks a bone, its none of our business." Tade spoke from the window. Salisu looked back and felt like swearing for him. If not situation, will he be speaking to him like that?

"Mstcheww!" He hissed at him as someone knocked on the door.

Salisu looked at his watch for then umpteenth time. Oga's wife was still dressing up, quite the annoying situation. He wondered why women in general can't be exact; its either they want you to be five minutes early or like today,twenty minutes late. He had to bear the insults, which to be fair to her has reduced recently when he comes late, or he has to waste his time when he is early.

Not that he had any choice. In fact, considering the rate of unemployment in this country, he is indeed blessed to have this job. A job pay of 120,000 naira per month, free food and accomodation (which is a boys quarters, not the 'hut' used by the gateman), electricity and water bills paid, he was really blessed. He could not remember the last time he really had to 'hustle' for a puny wrap of fufu or amala, the food has been sumptuous and never too little, courtesy of his boss wife. He knew, despite his lack of education that many a graduate will jump at the job he has, therefore he protected it with all he had. His boss had often told him that he was still around because he was part of the family, even though the first son Andrew, who has died was older than him.

Which brought him to his current thoughts. He had initially planned to save enough money to go to school, maybe even up to Diploma level or something from the tertiary institution; so as to secure a 'better' job, that was if there was anything called a better job at the moment. He wanted his children to have the kind of life he saw his boss kids enjoy, even if it was a shade of it.

Then Andrew entered the university and changed. Changed so badly that it disrupted what was a blissful marriage and made a nightmare, with parents having frightful fears for their kid, while Andrew carried on with his stubbornness.

At the end, Andrew was killed in what was an attack by the cultists he was trying to defeat. It broke his parents heart and with it, the marriage. Seeing all of this stunted Salisu's faith in education, and so he stopped bothering about it until now.

Malik patted Tade on his head. "Rest well and recover your strength. Remember that next week is lecture free week." He walked away, smiling at the weakened student.

Lecture free week and exams breezed by for OAU campus, as nothing of note happened save for the few issues of examination malpractice in some courses. Tade himself had obviously recovered and was busying himself with his papers.

It was after one of such papers that Shodipo nosed his way to Tade's front.

"How far?" He attempted a handshake on Tade with that fake smile beaming brightly like the sun. Tade did not buy into it, however and refuse to shake hands with him.

"What's wrong with you, bro? You do as if you no know me." Shodipo said in a mock rastafarian style.

"What do you want?" Tade asked him, obviously uncomfortable with the appearance of the latter.

"I see I am not welcome. Keep your greetings man, keep your greetings." Shodipo said as he ran after Dumuje,which was a relief for Tade.

On getting to his hostel, he called Salisu to come the next day to take him home. He decide that a change of atmosphere will do and fortunately for him, that was his last paper. He gave out some of his foodstuffs to Malik and Andrew, who were staying behind because of their project, while he kept the provisions in his locker. The next day, Salisu came by and they left for home.

He immediately went out of the crowd and puked, the image of the remains of Ortega turning him over.

"Are you okay, sir?" A few students asked, two according to his estimate of the number of voices he heard, even though it was one man he saw when he recovered from the irritation and rose his head up.

"Am fine. Just a bit nauseous." Tade said to the man, looking a bit weary.

"Are you sure that you don't need a hand? I could help you to a resting position if you wanted." The man insisted.

Tade looked around and saw people gather round. He decided to leave before he became a spectacle.

"Am okay, sir. Thank you very much." As he turned to leave the man, he fell down and fainted.


When he came to, he found himself on the hospital bed in the Health Center. Made and the man were staring at him, alongside a lady in white overall, which he later deciphered as a ward coat. He could hear Made asking about his well-being and the lady talking of dehydration. Did he faint or what happened he thought, his mouth conveying his exact thoughts.

"He is awake. I have to observe him for some time. Cynthia, please come and place another drip on him. Can you please wait outside?" She ushered Made and the man out of the place, with a pretty young nurse coming to his ward. Tade laid down again and rested.

The next day being Saturday there was no class so Made was able to bring Shittu and Malik to the ward. Shittu almost caused trouble for the nurses, who did not want overcrowding but the matured way in which Malik handled the situation doused the tension. Tade then told them what happened.

"Ehen? So na so your class captain die be that?" Made asked, looking shocked.

"Na so o! The funny part of it was that it was inside campus, if na town na another issue."

"Its not the first time dem go kill person for campus, only that e no dey plenty. Malik informed the group. Usually, such stuffs happen in town."

"Who kill am?" Shittu asked.

"How I go know? Shey I dey there when him pafuka?"

"But e possible say you....."

"Him no no!" Malik and Made shouted in unison, disturbing other patients.

"Abeg I wan rest, maybe when I recover I go tell you wetin I know." Tade told the rest, which led to Made to drag Shittu away. However he beckoned on Malik to wait.

"The person was on a speed bike." He whispered to Malik.

Malik then paused for a minute like he was thinking.

"It must be Dumuje then." He told Tade.

Tade was busy making copies of his lecturer's handout when a student called out to him.

"Ortega is back! He is at SUB!" The student told him as Tade diverted his attention to him.

"When did you see him?"

"I did not see him, Shodipo told me to tell you. He sent me just now." At the mention of Shodipo's name, Tade's stomach churned. He was beginning to dislike the guy. However, he was eager to see Ortega, so he quickly collected the ready-made copies of the handout and headed straight to the place.

As he got to motion ground, he heard the shot.

"What is that?" He asked the unknown student, who looked incredulously at him.

"Its a gun shot, probably those hunters who go after bats." He turned back towards the road only to see students running around. Tade also noticed the pandemonium and ran towards the scene, fearing for the worst.

He came upon a crowd of student, murmuring silently and some of them looking sorrowfully at the ground, probably at something.

He charged into the crowd and made his way to the front, only to see the scattered brain of Ortega jutting out of his skull.

Okay.

Number is 08101268974. Bbm pin is 30c070c9.

Over to you diamondwriter.

Next week went by, with Tade working as the substantive class captain. Ortega's absence was becoming more evident and worrying, much so as other students and some lecturers started questioning Tade over his disappearance. It was becoming a terribly nauseous hangover of a dream for him, only that in this case it was real. This was no dream.

The last week of lecture came up and everyone temporarily forgot about Ortega, rather focusing on photocopying notes, finishing assignments and rounding up lectures. Some of the lazier students started to show up in class, in a late effort to have some attendance. Tade himself was so worked up that he forgot about Ortega.

Until Ortega showed up on Wednesday, looking ragged and mentally unbalanced. It was the cry of a female student around White Wall that aroused the attention of everyone to Ortega's re-emergence. The Student Union officers were called and he was been watched by students, who out of sympathy or curiosity looked at who was once an OAU Law student.

As he moved towards the main road leading to the academic section of the university, not up to twenty minutes after his discovery, a fast moving bike drove towards him. The bike was definitely not the commercial type, as its design was more like that of a speed bike. As it drove towards the SUB bus stop, students moved back in a bid not to get hit, giving the occupants of the bike space to see Ortega.

That was a fatal mistake as the bikemen, who wore shaded helmets and other protective clothing, shot Ortega on the head, once they got through, shattering his skull and forcing brain tissue out of his head with a shot gun, before speeding off to the Main gate of the campus, leaving students flying to different directions for safety.

Ortega was dead,and Tade never got to see him.

CrazyScientist:
*claps* a whole kingphilip is here !

Now this story is getting hotter, but why should Andrew die

Which Andrew? The one in Tade's room has no possibility to die , at least for now


Flakkydagirl and Tholuwani, thanks for dropping by.

Well done boss!

dewalt:
@Rapmike, I guess the group u joined on whatsapp then was for everybody but don't forget that this one is purely for pple of like minds 'upcoming writers'. Also not everybody here uses BB but I believe whatsapp is comon

Noted. But both mediums could be used just in case.

Diamondwriter, must I mail you my number or I can type it here?

Chapter Four




Back in the room, he met only Malik and Andrew, working on their final year projects.

"Malik, how far?"

"I dey oh. This one you come early, wetin happen?"

"Na test jare, we do one small test and essay."

"Oga o! This your department and essay eh?"

"Na so."

"So, you no fit greet me." Andrew spoke from his corner.

"Andrew, how far? Abeg no vex I no see you." Tade replied.

"Okay oh!" Andrew said, sounding like an overused mop.

"No vex na." Tade came and tickled Andrew, creating a little playful fight between the duo. Andrew was trying to tickle Tade back, since they were both prone to it, but Tade had the upper hand.

"Oya, Oya, I don give up. Abeg make I do my work." Andrew gleefully said, prompting Tade to release him. In the process the picture fell down and Andrew spotted it.

"Whose picture is that?" He picked it up.

"Na one picture that Shodipo guy give me." Tade told him. "I wan show Malik before."

"Where did he get this? This is a symbol for the Unseen Demons!" Andrew pointed at the exposed hand.

"You know that symbol?" Tade asked. Malik, who had listened to their conversation, then joined.

"The Unseen Demons is supposedly a new cult group in this school, because apart from the Vikings, Aye-Axemen and the dreaded Eiye group, the other well known cults are the Red Axes, Quick Scorpions and the Ravens, who have now joined forces with the Eiye group."

"However, Andrew jumped in. The Unseen Demons are popular in diabolical Europe, where they hold secret meetings and obtain powers that are not of this world. They are thought to be affiliated with the Free Masons, and you know what that is."

"Who is on that picture?" Malik asked.

"That's Ortega, My class representative." Tade answered. "Shodipo brought it in the hope that I will give some information about Ortega, but sincerely I know close to nothing about him. I could not have imagined that I will be seeing this again."

"Again? You have seen this before?" Andrew inquired. Tade briefed them on the party and what he saw.

"I have a feeling that Ortega was in that group and they fought with another cult group, probably as a retaliation for something that happened. Now, I believe that the Unseen Demons lost the fight and their members went to hiding, which explains all of Ortega's behavior."

Andrew held Tade's shoulder. "Be careful, Tade. I will advise that you burn this picture before it falls to the wrong hands. Anyone that sees this will think you are a cultist or you know about Ortega's whereabouts; you don't want to be in that situation I can assure you."

Tade brought out a pen and paper to write down Shodipo's number. After he was done, he walked outside with a box of match sticks and burned the picture.

"Am done." He said to no one in particular. Andrew beckoned to him.

"For your safety, don't tell anyone about this. Not even the other guys. Act like nothing happens and if Shodipo bothers you, threaten to report him to the authorities; he will shut up. For your safety, say nothing." Andrew advised.

Happy New Year, Festwiz, where are you?

Hope no spirit has seized you.

Whatsapp won't be possible for me. I remember a group like that last year that I entered, anytime I wanted to use whatsapp, the whole phone hung for like five minutes and I could not even contribute a post because people were just throwing posts up and down. Had to leave the group after deleting whatsapp three times.


Am on bbm tho, I prefer that.

Eyah, that hurt sha.

Well done, but maybe you can use more paragraphs. The story looks clumped up most of the time.

"Excuse me, can you stop spreading rumours? You are doing nothing but destroying people's reputation."

"Really? Does Ortega have a reputation?"

Tade placed his hands on Shodipo's
shoulders, which made the other guy feel short even though he was a few millimeters shorter than Tade.

"Ortega may not have a reputation or a good image, but spreading lies about him just to gain some popularity is wrong. Do you know that you can be sued for that?"

"Yes, that's if I am saying a lie. But these pictures don't lie." He showed some pictures to Tade.

The pictures, taken in broad daylight were implicating to be lenient. Ortega was on every picture, wearing a shirt with skulls on it and holding different weapons, his face looking violent. He was on a sleeveless shirt, an oddity considering that Tade had never seen him in such and he had a symbol on his hand that shocked Tade to the marrow.

The symbol of a cross smashing a skull, with a snake hugging the two objects.

While the symbol was very strange ordinarily, Tade had seen it before. In fact he had seen it recently. It was on the arm of one of the dead 'robbers' around Fine Touch Hostel. With what Shade told him about the place, Ortega's behavior became clear.

Shodipo noticed the shock on Tade's face. "You mean that you did not know? Like really, what sort of representative are you? I mean, you suppose to assist him in......"

"Class duties, not his personal life." Tade retorted, angry that Shodipo was linking his responsibilities as a class rep to Ortega's personal life. Was he trying to rope him into the mess Ortega was in?

"Am sorry, really sorry." Shodipo said after noticing how angry Tade looked." I just thought you guys were a bit closer. At least you were in the same class."

"I take it that you know nothing about this then? If you hear anything, call this number." He scribbled a number on the back of one of the photos. Luckily for Tade, it had the symbol on it. He gave it to Tade. "Sorry again for the way I came at you." He quickly walked away.

Tade took the picture and looked critically at it. He needed to see Malik

LarrySun:
Well, I feel honoured to be considered a 'Grade A' writer. Writers like Soyinka, Adichie and Clarke, I'm sure, would be laughing their posteriors out at hearing me being considered a 'Grade A' writer. Even Shakespeare's dust would guffaw.

But the truth is, I am still a learner, the lowlest learner, actually. Some of us are just more popular than others. Sometimes, popularity does not breed ingenuity. I've seen some writers here, albeit unpopular, who surpass me in various ways.

Here in the world of fictitious narratives, we are just living behind the curtain, there is a massive window we take no notice of behind that curtain, and after the window is a vast world beyond the castle.

I learn something from each writer here, no matter how jejune or hackneyed the writings may be. I believe everybody has a story to tell, and what is worth writing is worth reading. A 'Grade Z' writer can become a 'Grade A' in no time. Rapmike is one writer whose thoughts can be considered 'Grade A'; he has grown to allude against puerile plottings and characterizations. And he's never reserved at speaking his mind. He is a critical thinker. A writer to watch out for this year.

The innovation is a very nice one; but it would be better to consider the unpopular writers, bring them together, share ideas, build each other, build the forum...build the country.

Peace.

Larrysun, stop whinning me. Lolz

Am honored if my thoughts are Grade A, seriously am honored, especially from you.

Diamondwriter, I feel that we should create one bbm group and one whatsapp group. And we can find a way of making everyone involved without anyone feeling frozen out.

LarrySun:
All writers are equal.

But some are more equal than others .

While I accept the fact that we are all writers, I feel that if we include all writers, the group may turn to a 'fan club' where most people will be focusing on the likes of you and other Grade A writers. It may become discouraging for anyone who does not fancy that and he/ she may leave the group.

A group just for the non too popular writers will be cool, tho I feel some of the Grade A writers should be involved somehow.

CrazyScientist:
I love this! Next update please!

But rapmike, are you sure you are not a...

Am not oh! Na just imagination.

chistar01:
I'm curious, define "Grade A" writer.

Grade A writers include those like princesa, PrettySpicey, Larrysun etc.

Am in @ the op. Am definitely not a Grade A writer here.

By Monday, he had recovered sufficiently to be mentally fit. He had not told anyone about what happened, they were not his diary you know.

With classes on, he noticed that Ortega was not behaving in the usual aggressive name. He was more timid than ever, pushing all the responsibility to Tade. Tade was now handling the class alone, calling lecturers, photocopying lecture notes, getting handouts ready, etc. Ortega was almost looking redundant and it did not take long before other students started asking questions on what was happening, pouring a deluge of questions on him.

"Wetin do class rep?"

"Him no well?"

"Why Ortega no dey do anything?"

"Na wa o, Ortega no fight today, na you cause am?"

"Wetin you do Ortega?"

The questions were endless and at times annoying. All this while Ortega was quiet, wearing hooded clothes and making all efforts to mask his presence among students.

On Thursday, after another barrage of questions, Tade was about meeting a lecturer when he saw a paper bill with Ortega's face on it. It read:

Obituary

With the deepest sense of regret, we thereby announce the death of a son and brother, Ortega Aneke, who died after a brief illness. Burial arrangements to follow shortly.

Courtesy: blank

Tade did not understand the bill, for Ortega was alive and well, even attending all the classes today as he had seen him. He walked into the class and dragged Ortega quietly away, in order to avoid attention and to show him the new discovery.

Ortega eyes dilated immediately he saw the bill, almost falling to the floor, Tade holding him tightly. His hands were shaking out of shock or whatever it was.

"Ortega, I don't know what you have done but you need to get your acts together. You need to settle whatever is happening. You must deal with your problems quickly."

Ortega thanked him promptly and left. Tade went ahead to see the lecturer, other students discovering the bill and gossiping around.

That was the last time Tade saw Ortega alive.

Ortega failed to show on Friday, despite having a test that day. Tade, meanwhile enjoyed the test and was having a great day when Shodipo accosted him.

Shodipo was a reporter for Megaphone, a campus news agency. He was known, even by rookie reporter levels to be quite sneaky, always sniffing around for information. His work was the reason that the agency created the crime section, as he specializes in reporting crime stories around the school. Tade really did not want to see him.

"Hi Tade." Shodipo spoke, giving a fake smile.

"Good afternoon. How can I help you?"

"Take it easy na, stop squeezing your face." Shodipo smiled heartily, baring out his white teeth and holding his stomach. "You need to see the way you are." Tade, however did not care.

"I have some information I need to verify from you?"

"What information?"

"Do you know what was Ortega's last job as a cult member?"