₦airaland Forum

renybenks:
yeah right! you'll tell us at d end of d story wen we already found out ourselves.

Lol..I've already said it, the devil is Dé john

Castleberry:
Op this is the first story I'm following here. I must commend your good work. I'm glued

That's pleasant to the ears eyes...thanks dear..more evositcs coming up

vakjay08:
My literature genius nice update 4rm u again. Well i must say dat i luv d dynamism of ur ability 2 cönceal facts nd make ur audience beg 4 more. I have watched oct. 1 nd i must say dat d only similar thing is d rape issue. Kudos bro

Tnx bro..I appreciate u..wld u believe me if I told u I haven't even watched that Oct 1? Always tot it was about independence..I'm
on the lookout for it now tho

Wanderlustafrik God bless you for this, this is a really nice initiative.. Congrats to lilyjoe.
I actually wrote mine using the traditional method but went 5 words* 50 lines instead of 4 words per line. I read many dope stories tho kudos to every writer

My love for you knows no bound
You knocked me out in the first round
It goes beyond the physical
You're my soul mate
Please forgive me for my actions
I didn't mean those words
I am ready to wait for you
Till you're ready
Because I love
I don't love you because I need you
I need you because I love you
I want to be with you and not just your body.
Please forgive me. I'd like to see you tonight if you truly forgive me..around 11pm at our normal spot?
your love
-p.o-

"P.o...what does that stand for?" Amara asked as she finished reading the letter out.
The girls had no idea. They all sat on Ezinne's bed apart from Amara who paced round the room as she read the letter.

"Wait..it seems they had a quarrel...he obviously wanted sex but she must have refused, I recall Ozioma was bent on preserving her virginity" Ezinne said.
Amara nodded. She could remember Ozioma had been very vocal about it.

"Oluchi...is your surname not Okon?" Mama asked with a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Yes it is..what's your point?" Oluchi replied rather harshly.

"P.o....Paul Okon"

"You must be mad!" Oluchi jumped up. "How dare you!"
"Relax..don't eat me biko, its just a suggestion"
"What kind of suggestion is that?" Oluchi was obviously upset. It was a good thing she couldn't breathe fire if not beauty for ashes would have been the case.

"Wait..wait...wait first" Amara intervened "Oluchi you can simply check the writing if its similar to Paul's own"
"Its not the same" she said without looking at the paper and folded her arms.
"Wait..I don't understand...are you saying Paul is the killer?" Ezinne asked as she stared incredulously from the bed.
"No...of course not" Amara said hurriedly when she noticed Oluchi's expression had darkened.
"We already know who the killer is..have you forgotten its Okwudili...we're only curious about who was dating our friend back then"
"Exactly...I don't know why Oluchi is getting upset...besides that your brother seems like a player" mama said jokingly in an effort to lighten the mood.
"It can't be possible..my brother has been in Lagos for the past 3 years...he wasn't around when Ozioma was having a relationship" but even as she said this she looked at Amara and her friends expression said it all: how could they be so sure...he could have as well been close by all along answering to 'Emeka'.

"Fine...I'd check..I know His writing very well anyway!" Oluchi rolled her eyes and collected the paper. Her eyes scanned the words for some seconds as she seemed to scrutinize the writing.
Finally she handed the paper back to Amara "no...its not his handwriting...Paul's writing is more block letters but this is slanted"
"Okay...you see no problem" Amara said as she collected the letter. She wondered how far one was willing to go to protect the sibling. She knew she was willing to go the extra mile to protect her sister (Joy) and she knew Oluchi loved her elder brother.
She didn't believe her...not until she confirmed for herself that the writing was different.

°•°•°•°•
"Stevenson..." Osi called out as he approached the house.
The European lived in a small but handsome self contain apartment. Dé Nwachukwu had given him the address along with the extra information that the house had been provided for him from the village purse. The European was deeply loved and respected by the people of Amaife.

Osi could see him on the verandah hunched over a notepad as he scribbled furiously. He had on a pair of reading glasses and as he looked up he looked different.
"Ah..pastor, what a pleasant surprise" he leaned back and smiled as Osi proceeded to climb the short steps.
"Sorry to barge in like this..hope I'm not disturbing your work?"
"No...not at all" he replied but he looked up in a 'what can I do you for' gesture.

Osi stammered..he didn't really know how to go about this...he had left the house this morning full of rage and the disturbing image of the dead woman playing behind his eyes. He knew he had to play hardball now..he had to ask questions...ask the right questions and the European was the first name to come to mind. But now here he was watching that polite smile and he didn't know how to go about it.

"I find this your work fascinating...I have this respect for writers...especially academic writers..I used to suck at writing..letter writing was always an F for me" he smiled sheepishly as he tried to get the conversation going.
"Ah...well believe me its not your passion..if it were your passion. You'd be good at it...you'd get better at it"
"Hmm...but I mean yours is quite unique...writing about African culture.."
"Well its my field.." He sighed impatiently "I'm sorry but you kind of caught me at a bad time...I'm fully immersed in comparing a particular 16th century Ireland festival with the masquerade festival they had two months ago...strangely there are as many similarities as differences"

"Ok...lest I forget.. Where were you last night?"
"I beg your pardon?" Stevenson sat up, just slightly but Osi noticed.
"I mean last night...I wanted to talk to you about tomorrow's service but I didn't see any sign of you"
"Really...what time was this?" Steve asked with a frown
Osi flashed back to the body...he tried to estimate the likely time of death...if rigamortis had already set in by morning then the death had to have occured by midnight.
"Errm...well it was quite late.. I think just before 12 midnight"
"Woa...midnight...I was tucked in..far away in dreamland by then" he smiled as he said this but Osi thought his voice had an edge.
He waved it off as paranoia as he joined Stevenson in his exaggerated laughter.
"I should have been asleep too but too many thoughts about the crusade..."
"I understand...please I'd appreciate if you come back or better still I'd come see you when I'm done...I need to finish up this chapter today"
"Okay no problem..forgive me for disturbing"

Osi took his leave thinking of what he had just learnt. So Stevenson had been at home during the time of the murder. He had also been alone meaning there was no one to vouch for him. That alibi was poor.. Very poor.

°•°•°•
When the girls left Ezinne locked her door. Amara had emphasised that she lock the door and windows and that she not go anywhere alone. She was getting scared already. Her parents were not in, her father only came home on weekends as he worked with a transport company and her mother was in the market. She would need to go and join her mother and help her close very soon like she did every evening.
She suddenly wished she had walked with her friends and from there taken the path to the market. Amara had not only made her security conscious but had managed to scare her as well. She didn't want to be alone right now.

°•°•°•
"Joy if you don't mind I'd like us to stop by pastor Bartholomew's house"
Her sister laughed "If I don't mind? If I mind would it even matter..you want to see your boyfriend I can not come in between"
"I don't appreciate your snide remarks...I have something I want to show Osi that's all"
"Osi...oh you're already on first name basis...you see my point exactly" her sister smiled mischievously and Amara gave up but she coulsn't stop the corners of her mouth from turning upward.

The fat pastor opened the door. He smiled when he saw Amara. "Heey..you again...eeeerm...don't tell me..." He snapped his fingers "Amaka!"
"No...Amara" she corrected with a smile.
"Please..come in..come in...its a pleasure to have you here..this must be your sister...the resemblance is uncanny"

They entered the parlour. It was the first time any of them were entering the house and they looked around.
"Is pastor Osi in?" She asked
"Not yet..but I'm expecting him any minute now" as he spoke they heard the door open. "That should be him"

But it was Bukky. She entered the parlour with a nylon bag of vegetables she had bought from the market.
"Hello pretty ladies..you came to hear the word that's nice"
"Actually they came to see Osi" Ovie explained and Amara thought she felt the woman frown. Just slightly.
She tugged her sister's hand "maybe we would come back...I just wanted to show him something"
It seemed Joy was in one of her mischievous moods. She didn't budge "no na...sheybe he'll soon be back...let's use this opportunity and listen to the word..after all I have missed all the Virgil service so far"
Ovie smiled bringing out a gigantic bible from the TV stand. "Say no more dear...say no more"

°•°•°°•°•
"Well...what do you think?" Amara asked Osi as they walked the path home and he reread the letter again. He had arrived just as Joy had agreed they leave which was about 30 minutes into Ovie's preaching.

"This writing....I think I've seen it somewhere..." Osi said as he looked at the words for the umpteenth time.
"Where did you see it..are you sure?"
"Hmmm..." He frowned and closed his eyes.
He thought back and remembered earlier in the day when he had paid Stevenson a visit. The man had been writing something down and although the pad had been upside down and Osi had only glanced at it, he could almost swear the curvature was the same.

Benteazaa:
9ja police. U are just suspecting everybody

mean while dis suspense finally made me to comment. its just like watching a movie in 10D
been visualizing the characters and de scenes
#mybeststoryonniraland

Lmao don't mind iamloyalty very soon now she'll start suspecting Ovie. 10D...lol tnx bro

Bleeze2:
Hungry for update

Lol...bleeze bro u Neva sleep

shurley22:
Souloho19........
What can I say....
This story is really captivating.
And I think the killer is Paul or maybe Stevenson. It's got to be one of them.
Nice piece.....I'm loving every bit of this story including the suspense.

Gracias Mon Ami...shurely the devil has to be one of the two

tillaman:
Lol, urine expulsion Abi, skip d rancho part haba, someone cannot pee Again lmao, I wish you the best man, and if you ever need me help as per the publishing thing you can mail me, I got niqqaz that knows niqqaz, bless u bro

No problem tnx fam jah bless

AlamienDagash:
wow!
just finished reading this amazing piece of writing
souloho19 you're a unidentified atomic bomb blasting people with enchanted story
princ007 hope you've read this

The running vampire himself..welcome boss

OGMEEKZY07:
i an beginning to tink lyk a baby bcus of dis suspense y don't u jst gt on wit d whole tin

Lolz sorry about dat o bros

Judging by Dé John's horrified reaction, Osi had an idea of the kind of eyesore that awaited him inside the house. A part of him was reluctant to look at the violated body of the woman he had set eyes on just the day before.
But a man's got to do what a man's got to do. He knew she had been killed for a reason and he could bet she knew whoever the killer was. It was up to him to search and observe and pray he would find answers.

He could hear voices coming from the parlour. Pa Kenneth was talking in a calm voice. He was speaking in his native dialect which Osi didn't understand but he guessed the elder was trying to calm down the woman who had to be Gladys judging by the muffled sobs coming from the parlour.

He avoided them and went straight to the room. He stopped at the door and scanned the room, purposely averting his eyes from the bed as he studied the room.

The first thing he noticed was that the room was a mess. Clothes were strewn about, the table was upside down and the little wooden drawer in the corner had been emptied and dumped on the floor.
He moved around gently, subconsciously edging away from the bed. He was not ready for that...not yet.

He decided the killer had turned the place inside out, he must have been searching for something. Or maybe he had instructed the woman to find whatever it was..after he had subdued her of course.
No...the set up of the room and the rate of the mess brought to mind the actions of a mad man. The killer had been searching for something..searching frantically for something important.

He looked around for 5 minutes but didn't see anything of interest. Maybe the killer had been looking for something that ties him to Ozioma...maybe a gift, who knows maybe the clothes he had given her..or maybe a letter...a love letter with his identity...that sounded more like it!

Finally he felt the guilt wash over him as he studied the dead woman. She had been killed in such a gruesome way and it was his fault. It was all his fault.

He could see the pestle on one side of the bed and thankfully someone had covered her lower half with the bed sheet. Still he had an idea of what lay underneath as the whole region was stained red and it wasn't zobo.

He felt his guilt turning to anger. Whoever this person was he; Osi Azikiwe would not rest, would not sleep and he would not leave Amaife until the killer was exposed.
He made the solemn promise to the corpse before him.

°•°•°•
"I saw him! I saw Okudili..I saw the killer...he's hiding along the stream path!!!" Ezinne ran round the market square, screaming at the top of her lungs. She held an empty pot in her hands and she thrust it up to emphasize her point.
"I was going to fetch water but I saw him hiding in the bush drinking..I thought he would pursue me!"
"Where did you see him?" Someone asked from the growing crowd.
"Along the stream path...near the palm trees!"
"What are we waiting for..let's nab the bastard!" Benedict shouted and was rewarded with a high spirited roar. They began marching towards the stream but they soon broke into a frantic race. None of them had any weapon apart from Benedict who had been on butchering duty and thus held a dangerous machete.
It didn't matter though, the sheer volume of the mob and their anger was enough weapon.

°•°•°•
The house had two rooms and a parlour which suprised Osi because from outside it looked like it was just a room.
The second room was smaller however and when he stepped in he knew it must have belonged to Ozioma.

This room had also been searched. It was even messier than the first. Her clothes had been dumped from the closet and the other furniture in the room: a small reading table had been pushed on its side.
Osi felt the killer hadn't found what he was looking for but he himself had no idea what 'it' was. Still he began to poke around praying for some kind of clue that would serve as an insight into the kind of life Ozioma had lived.

"Pastor...young pastor are you there?" Dé Nwachukwu called from outside.
"I'm in the second room..I'd be out soon" he replied as his eyes scanned a bunch of papers that must have fallen off the table.
He heard footsteps and turned just as Dé Nwachukwu entered. "I think you were wrong..its Okudili that committed this crime"
"Why do you say so?" Osi stopped and observed the old man.
"Because he was spotted in the village..our youths are combing every corner for him as we speak"
"Hmmm...who saw him?"
"One of our daughters going to fetch water...in fact it looks like he was ahead laying ambush for her but she spotted him first and ran away"
"Hmmm...so he's been in this village, but that doesn't mean he-"
"Look son, I like you that's why I'll tell you this...whatever theory you have its best you keep it to yourself, we're not buying it and frankly it would only put everyone in a state of panic"
"but it would be better they know the killer might still be out there so they can be security conscious and aware of the danger"
"The keyword is 'might' You yourself are not sure...is there a high possibility that Okudili is the killer?"
Osi nodded
"Then that's good enough" Dé Nwachukwu said dismissively

°•°•°•°•
"Ezinne calm down..calm down...I'm sure our youths have caught him by now, they are probably beating him to a pulp right now"
"Or forcing his rotten eggs down his throat" Oluchi added with so much venom that Amara winced.
"I just saw him..hiding there...he must have been waiting for me, I didn't even know..if not that I heard him burp..."
"You heard him belch" Amara said with a frown "he was drinking then?"
"Yes...as usual"
"And I heard he killed Ozioma's mother last night."Oluchi whispered.
"I heard she was raped with fire wood" mama added her voice almost breaking down as she forced the words out of her mouth.
"So he plans to go for the mothers now? Okudili is very sick..I so much hate that beast, death is too lenient for him!" Amara's voice hardened.

The truth was mama Ozioma was a very cheerful woman, always one to smile and talk to you when you bought something from her shop. The death of her daughter had taken some of the life out of her eyes and dimmed her spirit and now she was dead! She didn't deserve this.

"I heard pa Chisom got himself a gun..in case he comes for his wife" Ezinne commented.
"I trust pa Chisom.." Oluchi said standing up "I want to get water..who else is thirsty?"
"I'd like some..stupid Okudili didn't let me fetch my water again" Ezinne said

(Chisom was the third girl to be killed the one who had been found in the stream.)

The girls had gathered in Oluchi's house this time around. Joy had gone to a friend's house just a stone throw from here and that had beeb the main reason Amara had insisted to Ezinne they visit Oluchi. They had met mama on the way coming to the house and so they converged in Oluchi's cramped compound.


There was no sign of Paul. Speaking of Paul, Amara leaned in so Oluchi wouldn't hear as she went inside the house.
"Do you know Paul has been in the neighbouring village for like two months now?"
"Are you serious...I thought it was Lagos"
"Me too..apparently he used to visit Chinaza's maternal home and one of her cousins recognized him during the burial"
"Poor Chinaza...we've lost a lot of girls to this beast" Ezinne said shaking her head.

"I just knew it had to be Okudili! deep down everybody hated him, no girl ever gave him the chance and he loves women..that would have angered him a lot" mama said

"You just reminded me of something...the tall pastor asked me and I've been thinking since"
"What is it?"
"Ezinne...you were the closest to Ozioma, if anyone can remember it would be you...can you recall her dating anybody few months back?"
"Hmmmm" Ezinne narrowed her eyes and frowned as she thought back.
"Not really...okay there was this man that used to give her clothes one time like that...you should remember now!"
"Yes I do..but I can't remember who the person was..can you?"

Ezinne thought hard but she was already shaking her head "no...she never told us..I can't count how many times I badgered her but she was tight lipped about his identity...I thought she really loved him then"
"Hmmm..."
"Why are you asking that all of a sudden? What did the pastor say?"
"He believes she dated the killer"
"No...I can assure you that Ozioma didn't date Okudili"
"How can you be so sure..Ozioma was a secretive person" mama added
"I'm sure because I have a letter...she gave me a love letter he wrote to her. she was scared her mother would see it and wanted me to keep it safe, Believe me Okudili can not pen what was written there"

"Paul!" Oluchi shouted her brother's name suddenly from the house.

Amara was too excited to notice "the letter...you have it?"
"Yes"
"Was it typed or handwritten"
"Typed ke? It was handwritten"
"Then we can check the handwriting.."
"I'm not sire Okudili knows how to write sef so what would we be crosschecking?" Ezinne asked with a slight frown.

"Unless you think Okudili is not the killer!" Mama gasped as her eyes went wide.
"Of course not...I'm just curious..I'd like to find this clue..honour my friend's memory and discover who it was that she loved so much and Left her heartbroken"
"How are you sure they broke up?"
"Remember for like two days before her death she was a wreck, very sad and didn't come out but locked herself inddors and cried....I know because I stopped by once. It was very sad"

Oluchi appeared with a glass of water which she handed to Ezinne. She walked briskly and opened the main gate and looked both ways before locking it. When she returned she was out of breath.
"What's wrong?" Mama asked her
"Sometimes this my brother dey fall hand" she complained shaking her head dismally.
"What did he do...I've forgiven him so don't worry" Amara assured her.
"No not even that...from the kitchen I noticed movement and saw this reflection of someone standing outside close to the gate. The way he was standing like he was eavesdropping on what you people were saying"
"Did you see who it was?"
"Not really..it happened fast, when I called out Paul? the person took off immediately which was strange"
"How long was the person standing there?" Ezinne asked
"I can't really say...but its probably nothing...I'm sure Paul was feeling bad about that incident and thought we were talking about it" Oluchi offered apologetically. Recently she wasn't as proud of her brother like she used to be.

"Is it possible for someone to hear us from outside?" Amara asked her brows drawn together in a serious expression.
"Honestly...I think so especially with the direction the wind has been blowing"

"Ezinne..we need to see that letter now and I think you should be very very careful" Amara told her in a no nonsense voice.
"Now you're scaring me" Ezinne sounded worried
"Me too" Oluchi said
"Me three" mama added

And now the update....*rubbing hands*

Raintaker pinkfeet iamloyalty ladysunshine94 Frankenstein you guys are d bomb..jah bless

Jazmiynne:
This particular writer has not been guilty of such delays on this story at all. I think he has been quite consistent with the timing of his updates

I sight you jasmiynne tnx for having my back.
May ur Aladdin fall on you

jupitre:
I think it's time i commended your good story...nice one souloho19

Tnx for commenting bro Jah bless

succyblinks:
Op I understand how hard it is to write, being a writer myself. But I think that u should have at least half of the story before indulging viewers. This very thing has made lose interest in the whole literature sections cos they keep delaying and the urge for the stories disappear and am sure it happens to others too

So please op, next time have at least half of the story first before posting, I know it's hard to write even for money talk less of writing for pleasure, great story u have here and I really don't want to lose interest

My 2cents

*Takes two cents.. Puts it under hat*
Thanks for your observation I understand no worries any delay if would not be intentional most times the story flows when it has started so penning half initially may not work out. Please keep ur interest full it would be worth it

cyber5:
Souloho19 Baddest


Funnily enough there's this osi at my church. He is also tall and has long legs.

Lemme goan finish reading

Lol hope he's not a pastor too o..lemme just hide behind disclaimer
Nice to have you here bro

tillaman:
Mehn, if you don't publish this story, I will pee at your door step every day until you do so,.you are really a good writer , we need more people like you, you just earned a big fan here, I will keep following!!! Way to go bruh, right now I think the devil should be either one of the elders or the white man, I am outta clue

Lol d pee part really cracked me up..I'd pull a 'rancho' on you o..remember 3 idiots
But no worries hopefully I hope to.see this story in paperback someday. Jah bless bro, I'm a fan of a fan

PoliticalThuG:
Hmm Who Could The Devil Be?

One thing for sure the devil is a sleek 'thug' lol
I appreciate bruv..tnx

Bleeze2:
You re such a great writer bro
Keep it up

Samexdx:
You're too good bro... Your source of inspiration will never run dry!

Amen brothers God bless you

SleekHoyeen:
Omo! I'm scared... You're doing pretty great, Mr Souloho19; keep it up. I eagerly await the next update.

Lol..don't be too scared yet, save some forlater bbecause it would be needed I assure you (wicked laff)
Gracias sleeky I appreciate you reading and commenting

Sexyolori:
@Souloho19, you are giving me just what I like. Crime novels with deep suspense just the way Agatha Christie pens it. The killer is right under our nose but we can't smell him,Lol. I think Steven is the killer tho. The way the victims are comfortable and don't scream @ all shows that its someone they are quite familiar with and who they don't feel can harm them.
Nice one dear, Write On!

Tankiu..I've never heard of Agatha Christie
but iI'd be sure to check her out. tnx for ur comment

Chapter 7

"Joy..what do you think of Paul?"
"Which Paul, Oluchi's brother?"
"Yes"
Joy shrugged "I used to think he was cool until yesterday...what got into him?"
"I don't even know..he really scared me"
"Have you told daddy?"
"Eh...please no o...you know how Dé Nwachukwu is" Oluchi replied her sister. Her father didn't joke with his daughters. Telling him was our of the question.

Both girls continued their dinner in silence. There were so many things to think about.

°•°•
Osi walked back home with Bartholomew and Gregory. They had left Pa Kenneth's compound not long ago after deliberating about the crusade. The elders had requested they cancel the Virgil service tonight in honour of the fallen dibia and in order to avoid angering the gods further. Osi personally thought it was a load of hogwash but he could only hold hos peace.

"Pastor what can you tell me about Steve..." He asked the pastor as they drew closer.
"Stevenson? The European?" Pastor Bartholomew sounded surprised.
"Yes"
"Why...what's wrong"
"I'm merely curious about him..to just leave your country..in this case your continent and take another strange land as your home...it baffles me"
"Hmmm..." The pastor's expression said he new the real reason Osi was 'curious'
"Well what can I say..he claims to be in love with African culture, specifically Nigerian Culture and more specifically Amaife..from our previous discussion coming down here wasn't really difficult as he doesn't have any wife or any family back in Ukraine.
"Hmmm...what do you think about his work..his research and all?"
"Well...he brought a portion he had written about the spiritual lives of the people, he said he needed my input. He's a good writer and I have a feeling whatever book he writes about his experience would be a best seller...over there of course"

They had gotten to the entrance of the house already and they stopped.
"So...I'd advice you to rest, tomorrow we'll just kick of in the morning, let's forget about the Virgil tonight."
"No problem...I don't even know where you stay, I know you gave up your house for us." Osi asked his new friend as they shook hands.
"Oh..that's no problem..I have so many places to rest my head. But I'm living with my younger brother right now..I believe you met him the day you arrived"
"Yes..I can recall something like that"
"Okay have a good night"
"You too..take care Mr Greg"

°•°•°•
The deacon was gone and it felt good to have more than enough bed space. Osi stretched his long body to the fullest as he stared blankly at the ceiling.
So many things were on his mind.
1. They had only three days remaining for the crusade.
2. He didn't feel they had really connected with the villagers and brought them closer to God.
3. The case of the serial rapist/ killer was beginning to give him sleepless nights. He tried to decipher what he had found out so far:

1. The killer had started his rampage a month ago.
2. His first kill had been his stressor, something had snapped him to kill and unleashed the beast in him.
3. He had been romantically involved with Ozioma and she had been the first victim.
4. What had made him to rape and kill her so horribly?
5. He had enjoyed the act and had began to hunt unsuspecting girls.
6. Was he selecting girls by random or he had a list or a specific target.
He frowned as he envisioned Amara's facr suddenly. He shook his head trying to clear his thoughts and her image from his mind.
7. The killer had access and probably wore second hand clothes and had given Ozioma okrika clothes as a present sometime back.
8. He was leaving behind pieces of material, at first as a blindfold but now Osi felt it was some kind of signature. He decided this was the ultimate clue. The one he needed to solve, the one that would bring clarity.
He still felt he could learn one or two from mama Ozioma. She had been interrupted the last time she wanted to speak to him. He made up his mind to pay her a visit tomorrow.

°•°•°•°•

The devil had struck again. But this time he had killed out of necessity, although he had enjoyed himself in the process. He couldn't let her continue living when this stupid pastor was still around and asking questions. No! All it would take is the right question and mama Ozioma would remember something. He couldn't allow that happen.
As he sneaked out of her compound He made up his mind and promised himself: The next person he would kill must be Amara. It was time to have her and when he had spent all the lust and extinguished all the cravings he had for her he would kill her, Oh yes..that was the one. He was looking forward to it


°•°•°•
Dé John arrived at his friend's compound very early in the morning. He banged the gate till a sleepy eyed Amara opened up for him.
"Don't tell me you're still sleeping?" He entered the compound.
"Dé good morning" she tried to stifle a yawn but failed.
The girl was beautiful. Even straight from bed in the morning. That was true beauty. He thought idly to himself while she hurried to call her father.

"Dé John... I knew it would be you" Dé Nwachukwu commented as he chewed onthe stick and shook hands with his friend.

"My brother...anyone that looks up and sees a vulture flying and circling about must surely look down to find the cause"

Dé Nwachukwu frowned. Whenever his friend spoke like this then something was wrong. Very wrong.
"Have you heard from the search party...any sign of the bloody Okudili?"
"Hmmm..." Dé John shook his head sadly "I'm beginning to think that someone is harbouring him in our own village. Under our very nose!"
"Haba! Why do you think that...who could do such a thing?"
"Okudili struck again yesterday"
Dé Nwachukwu's mouth hung opened in shock.
"My God...."
"Its becoming something else I tell you"
"Wait.. Who did he kill"
"It seems he is now revisiting the mothers of his previous victims"
"Dé john be direct and don't give me a heart attack!" Dé Nwachukwu scolded as his pulse and his voice rose.
"Mama Ozioma was killed last night..he entered her compound and strangled her to death."
"How are you sure its Okudili?"
"Because the other half of the shirt we found was tied round her neck"
"Was she...was she...?" Dé Nwachukwu didn't need to complete his question.
"Honestly I have no idea..she was naked from the waist down when I got there. She was supposed to host the market women tomorrow but because she's been mourning it was shifted to someone else. Mama Gladys only went to her place this morning to collect the remaining contribution money and she found the body"
"Where's Gladys now?"
"She's in my house..we can't afford to let this news spread like the last or else it would send everyone into panic"
Dé Nwachukwu was already on his feet. "But why...why has Okudili brought this kind of curse upon us...eeerrrm Amara! I'm going out come and lock the gate"

°•°•°•°•
That morning Osi had woken up as early as 5. Actually he hadn't really slept. So many things on his mind and he couldn't sleep.

He engaged himself in praying in tongues that morning as he had his shower and made a jug of coffee. He strolled round the house just praying and singing and walked round the compound.
He did this for an hour and felt energized just like he had intended.
Bukky was the next to wake. She always woke up early because she was tasked with preparing breakfast and making preparations down for lunch. Osi deeply appreciated her efforts and the rumble in his stomach made him very happy to see her suddenly.

"Top of the morning to you...how was your night?" He asked her cheerfully.
She frowned in reply as she studied him with an intense gaze. "Osi let's leave this village...my spirit is not at rest here..I have a bad feeling"
"Woa!" He got up and placed his hands on her shoulder. "Where did that come from..everything is fine..that's just the enemy trying to scare us away because he's scared...scared that we're winning this village for Christ and he's losing his grip"
But she didn't look convinced she frowned deeper. "Osi I had a dream..a very bad dream...please let's just leave we're already divided"
"Divided? The deacon was never one of us in the first place and Samuel is returning today...wait what did you dream about?"
"Osi I dreamt...I dreamt you died"

°•°•°•
"It seems the dead has a way of attracting you" Dé Nwachukwu commented watching him with a suspicious look.
"I beg your pardon?" Osi didn't understand the question or the look either.
"Or you came to pray for her soul then?" Dé Nwachukwu asked. He had been tasked to stand outside because no matter how you tried to curtail it, news still spread. Especially news of this kind. They couldn't afford any villager to come by for confirmation and stumble on the dead body.

Pa Kenneth and Dé john were talking to Gladys the hysterical woman who had discovered the dead body.

"I'm sorry sir..am I missing something?" Osi asked the elder. He was getting confused.
"You don't know then...why are you here?"
"I just have a couple of questions for Mama Ozioma concerning her daughter."
"Too bad she can't answer your questions..she was killed last night"
"What!" Osi was shocked.
"By who...who did it?"
"The very same man that is wanted for the others...Okudili"
"Jesus...!"
"....was nowhere to be found when he was needed last night" Dé Nwachukwu said skeptically.

The door was slightly ajar and Osi studied the frame, running his fingers along the edge and studying the catch closely.
"What are you checking for?" Dé Nwachukwu asked him.
"For sign of forced entry...don't you think she would have raised the alarm and shouted for help if she found out that the person wanted for her daughter's murder was at the door?"
"Hmmm" Dé john looked around thoughtfully "she didn't scream..her neighbours aren't far they would have heard her otherwise"
"Exactly! Which means she probably new whoever killed her or atleast trusted him to an extent"
"So what are you saying...Okudili is not responsible?"
"I could be wrong...I hope I'm wrong but I don't think he's behind this one"
"Oh my God" Dé Nwachukwu rubbed his jaw tiredly "no one should hear this"

°•°•°•
Dé john came outside looking like a white bedspread. His face was pale as if he had just seen something traumatic.
He didn't notice Osi at first but hurried to the side and threw up.
"Take it easy friend...take it easy...what happened?" Dé Nwachukwu asked him softly as he patted his back.
"Okudili is a bastard and a devil...it shall not be well with him"
"What's wrong..where's Pa Kenneth?"
"He's still inside...its horrible..I never noticed it before, she was raped"
"My God!" Osi put his hands on his head.

"You mean in her elderly age she was raped like the others?" Dé Nwachukwu asked.
"No...this is worse...he used a piece of wood...her pestle...imagine...pestle..what she used in pounding yam"
"My God!" Osi's legs turned to rubber and he felt like fainting. He didn't want to believe he was somehow responsible for her death.

"I'd like to see the scene..he may have made a mistake" he said slowly.
"Do so at your own risk." Dé john replied him "and send for pa Kenneth, we need to plan our next move and we need to act!"

For everyone I can't quote lest my battery die before I update..Jah bless you all, the progress of the story so far is as a result of your interest and motivation.

cruzyteejay:
Wow....good u are,killer suspense u've got......xo who is this devil?

The devil stays under the big tree located at the village market.

The devil lust over the village girls,and trail the unlucky ones to their death

the devil is a son of the soil

but the devil is not friendly,unlike in the case of chinaza

last but not the least,
the devil wears OKRIKA

i guess the devil is O K,i might be wrong though,its all up to you to decide @souloho .....if u like say its amara or even gregory,besides how do you expect us to pick out the devil when u presented almost 4 devils to us?

Lolzzz thank you I like this ur analysis

Rhayne:
Souloho...words cannot begin to describe this story. I just bless God for your writing skills. Ahn ahn! See story nau!

Thanks a lot rhayne your comment is Riki inspiring

tomzz:
wow such a great piece by a great writer. the suspence is fantabulous. now to the story i suspect three people to be the killer okudili, paul and steven one of the last two used okudili's cloth to frame him in the death of the dibia. i even suspect okudili to be dead just thinking sha
#wo

Lol tnx bruv me I've been suspecting that man called Dé john

FreshestManny:
Beautiful story u got going @Souloho19 I must say I'm impressed. I actually felt like I was there physically observing the whole situation. Really looking forward to the next update.

P.S: pls mention me when u next update so I can continue reading.

Tnx bro it means a lot..about the next update its dropping now gracias