I want to thank everyone who's read this installment. I also want to thank specially everyone who dropped a comment. I'm currently working on another story in this anthology series. Because I want to do a quick post (all ten episodes very fast), I'm taking my time to draft the plot well for your enjoyment. Thank you.

Cheers!

wenzi:
MENH TALIUS U ARE FUCKING GOOD.... PLS I NEED UR CONTACT.. I WOULD LIKE TO PRODUCE IT AS A FILM..... SO UR CONTACT PLS!!!!... HERE IS MINE 08181357579.. MY NAME IS ECHEM WENZI (DIRECTOR).. CALL ME WHENEVER U SEE THIS... I ADMIRE UR GIFT.. MUCH LOVE

Why the tears?

laikas:

I'm female

Apologies. If its any consolation, work has started for Book 3, it will be ready soon.

Present sake! Let's get this train moving.

laikas:

plz sir, these one u're saying does not concern me o, my own is that u shld come fast and finish anytin concerning cracked source, or else.....

OK Sir!

laikas:
my talius, how cloz is the future

In the foreseeable future.

bibijay123:



This story was my escape every evening wen stuck in traffic. Thank u so much! you are wonderful. I enjoyed it so much.

Happy I was of help.

laikas:

didnt know u've completed cracked source. i'm on it. nice story, knew dat andrew guy was trouble.

Haha!... Yes, he is, complicated.

Fidelismaria:
talius my man

interesting piece

hope dis will surpass cracked sources


tanx for d mention

more updates pls

Thanks for reading my man. This is a short story, and that's all for now. Hopefully, sometime in the future a sequel to In between worlds will come. But for now, look forward to another story in the Trapped anthology series.

laikas:

thanks man, nice story.

Thank you. I appreciate.



quote author=yorhmienerd post=49371839]Good job[/quote]

Thank you. I appreciate.

Loisemm:
Nice one...
Short and sweet.
Na now u dey call us. Since Aug way u drop story

No vex. If you observe the dates properly, you'll see I uploaded everything within 5 days. I'm happy you enjoyed it.

yorhmienerd:
Is it going to have a part 3, cos I don't seem to understand it. Nice job sir.

Yes my brother. There's going to be a Book 3, sometime in the future.

My people,

Soteriahascome, princeOFprince, kongru, qhdr, Fidelismaria, missmossy, cutechicluv, Nmaglit, rmfunky, maximanuel, ped007, lordseb, vlip42, maggdon, humbleamanda, laikas, smartec, donhils, superman10, Fijumokesayo, kikayboss, lacasera14, loisemm, Lolaabokoku, ucheclub, silensa, davespog2, jubizy, faksy, nigelcoop, baxxx, ghostwriter, cutediva87, Venusbetty, maggielovely, slimzy2k16, bibijay123, heskeyw, Shakyroh320, Essyprity, yorhmienerd, BB4u, Maximanuel, Kerr9,


have you read this?

Done. More grace bro!

And that's a wrap on Book 2. Thank you for the journey so far.

E16


The loud siren from the many police cars packed round Lewis Chamber attracted the attention of everyone within the firm and its premises. The men of the police force came prepared to arrest Imelda's implicated murderer, who worked at the firm.

The police went in armed, and within five minutes came out with the suspect already handcuffed. The Commissioner of Police had addressed the press before his men came out; he said they received a tip from someone who they choose to keep anonymous for security reasons. He said their informant had given them detailed info that implicated the suspect they had come to take into custody.

Andrew walked down the stairs of the firm's main entrance. His eyes caught his mother's as she was escorted in cuffs into the armoured police vehicle. He cut her an eye, and smirked.

"Mr. Andrew, how do you intend to move on after what has just happened,” A young reporter asked him. He thought her beautiful, but quite skinny; not exactly his kind. He managed to answer her question by reminding her he was The CEO to the many staffs under his wisdom and care, and he had a responsibility to the country at large.

“Until the moment I step down as CEO, my full allegiance is with Lewis Chambers." He pointed at the large emblem of the law-firm that stood at the center of the stairs where they were all gathered.


***

"What is the current state of things?" Andrew threw the question to no one in particular, he buried his head into the paperwork he had been on for the past fifteen minutes. Patrick moved to silence the growing murmurs in the conference room; Andrew unusually didn't seem to care today about the rowdiness of his meeting with the Executive's today, or even about the few empty seats in the hall.

"Officers from The Psychiatrists Association of Nigeria are here," Patrick announced.

Andrew wondered what they were doing there, and was told it was the Federal Government's concern about the incessant and very much connected deaths in the firm over the past few months; all staffs were expected to be psychically analyzed. Andrew didn't seem to have a problem with the update, and even termed it a welcomed development. The murnurs continued; people could tell something was up.

Mark and Anna walked into the room; through the piercing eyes of confused Executives they passed round to get a seat close to Andrew. The murmurings continued.

"I asked them to join us," Andrew announced without a care for their feelings. He understood old men and women always nagged for the wrong reasons. Akin watched in silence from the corner of the seat he sat on, just the same way he'd been doing since he entered. His gaze ran from Andrew to Mark to Anna, and back again, in that order.

As the couple walked round to take their seat. Andrew observed Anna's pregnancy still wasn't showing. He wondered when her bump would start announving itself; although it wasn't his business, he cared; but his concerns would have to wait till after the important announcement he had to make.

Mark and Anna were to become co-CEOs of the firm with immediate effect, if they'd just sign their own part of the document legalizing it. It was Andrew's early wedding present to the both of them.

The decision to hand over power this way didn't go down well with most members of the board, who felt they should have at least been given a chance to vote on his choice of successor(s), or better still select someone from amongst them, who was already a Director of the firm. Andrew watched them rant in silence.

After a while of venting, Akin stood up and spoke, he was of the opinion that young bloods such as these if given the chance would do wonders for the firm far more than any of them old folks could ever do - He gave his support for Andrew's decision, not because it was his son and lover, but because he believed they would do a good job raising Lewis chambers to greater heights. His speech was immediately supported by Patrick, and the final verdict was given by Andrew again; he was still CEO and the laws of the firm gave him the final say in every situation, and hr had spoken. Akin used the opportunity while still standing to show his resolve to want to mend fences with Andrew as a stepping stone to earning the forgiveness of every other person he had hurt one way or the other in his quest for power. Andrew agreed to this, and they both walked outside together to talk.

***

"The sensors are off. Move fast!" Patricia's voice sounded through the gear into his ear. He walked fast accordingly and met up with the elevator.

"Go now!" She gave another command. He moved faster, and appeared through the corridor to the conference room were the signing of the power handover document was in effect, and caught the eye of Akin who was looking off Andrew's shoulder in his direction.

"That's Dimeji right?" Akin asked his son. "Looks like him,” Andrew replied. Both men wondered why he walked funny, they started to walk towards him, slowly.

"Look up!" Patricia's instruction came as a warning to his ear this time. He obeyed, and saw both men fast approaching him. He quickly ran into the conference room. Andrew picked up the pace to chase him. He rushed after him, and stretched his hand to hold the entrance door before it closed. A blast emanated from the inside that removed the door from its place, and carried with it Andrew. Akin who had almost caught up was thrown off balance by the magnitude of the blast. They were both unconscious.

And Bibijay123 keeps doing herself proud. Ride on girl!

Beautiful read. Nice work mate.

MissingBudget:


You are right. Which is why, having made the shortlist before, I'd rather submit to an online literary magazine and know that I got published because my work was worth it.

Nice.

Bb4u:
weldone Talius, its getting more interesting

yorhmienerd:
Wow! Talius I love this, You are good!

Bb4u:
weldone Talius, its getting more interesting

maximanuel:
Correct story,following closely.

kerr9:
nice

Thank you very much. I appreciate your comment(s).

One episode to go for this current book. How has the journey been so far?

You're good. Keep up the good job.

E15


Andrew sat on the marbled floor of the rest room, the sound of the overflowing water from the wash basin sounded soothing to him, until the flowing spill started to encroach his position. He revisited the memory of the painful revelation of the past hour. He wondered if Agnes was truly dead as Marcus claimed, he wished Marcus show today was just a show. He understood the man was in pain and thus promised himself not to press charges. He couldn't help but remember her very recent fear for her life, it was as though she could see her death coming and he stupidly kept assuring her safety when he knew he couldn't do much. Was it coincidence that his mother threatened her and she ended up dead? He needed to see a body else he wouldn't know what to do or be able to live with himself. This was far harder than anything he's been made to suffer through in all his life, he's always been suffering.

The steadily flowing water finally reached his legs, it touched one foot of his Italian foot wear causing it to sparkle at the point of contact. He quickly arose and washed his face, the world needed to see a strong CEO ready for anything.

"Sorry." The restroom's exit hit someone on the other side as he sent the door flying, and he immediately apologized to his victim. He recognized it was Patricia the moment he was able to see her face. He called her name and she returned the favour immediately.

He pulled her in, and shut the door behind them. He pulled her up to him and comfortably carried her to the finely crafted table top after the array of wash hand basins, he placed her on it and rested her back against the silver mirror behind her and lifted her legs, she ravaged his belt buckle like a little girl desperate for a particular flavour of fruit juice, and he wasted no time in diving in - This was the only way he knew to feel good.

After about twenty minutes of a go without skin protection, he was done even though she was just getting started, he tossed her aside like the piece of trash he felt within - He felt empty. Patricia wondered out loud why he was acting strange and weirder that usual. He told her Agnes had died last night. That was all the explanation she needed. She placed her hand around his shoulders from the back, and gently rested her fore head at the back of his head, she only wanted to offer comfort but Andrew wanted no pity.

"I have to go see her body," He announced and broke her moment, he was already adjusted and headed for the exit. "See you around Patricia,” he said goodbye. His tone contained his appreciation for the time they had just spent together, Patricia thought he was more screwed up than he was letting on - "Andrew never implies a thank you after sex,” her memory served to remind her.


***

Andrew's attention was drawn to her desk, he couldn't pass because he suddenly realized that heading to the mortuary to confirm her death took away every hope he had that this was just a hoax and cheap ploy by Marcus to extort him and the firm off some money or some unknown plan that he prayed it was all about. His attention shifted focus to his office door, ajar, it served to remind him more about Agnes's absence from her duty. It didn't help his grieve. He stormed into the office and saw Mother seated there.

"You killed her,” he shouted at Mother. He gave a powerful three word as a welcome greeting.

Mother showed a little consideration for his pain, it was so unlike her and it made him suspect her even more, what Patricia told him that morning weighed heavily on his mind. Mother walked up to his position and calmly pulled him by the hand to have a seat, he didn't resist. Andrew thought of what exactly he could do, this woman was screwing up his life really bad and he didn't know how to fight back,

"Bleep this illness,” He quietly cursed his agoraphobic condition: It made him a weakling where his mother was concerned. He thought about how different life over the months since mother returned would have been without that condition, things that used to matter before had ceased to matter now because he had Cruella in his life again - The witch all witches.

"I didn't kill Agnes," Mother said in her defense. She reminded him her threat was almost as recent as when they found out she was already dead. She made it up to force him to comply with her plan to frame Akin at that instant. She asked him how he thought her killing Agnes would further their plan, getting rid of Akin was still her top most priority.

Andrew gave a reserved hiss - How he wished she knew he called her a witch in his head - Mother attention was divided by an emerging call and he had the opportunity to express a little emotion. She brought up the issue that made them fall out hours ago before Marcus's arrival - Akin's permanent incarceration. Andrew wondered how much human blood the witch had drunk in her entire life time, his grief meant nothing to her that she brought up the same talk about destroying her enemy again.

"No!" He maintained his stance. She didn't take it well, and burst out most of her suppressed anger for the moment, Andrew wasn't moved - The saying that anger had a way to strengthen a man's heart proved true in this case.

"You don't know all he has done," Mother tried to make him see reason but he maintained his stance, he kept screaming, "Enough of the scheming. I'm tired."

"He's is you father!" Mother angrily announced.

The dropped bomb shell seemed to make him slow down, he relegated his voice to let hers shine. Mother narrated how he got her pregnant because the man who Andrew knew as his father never had time to stay home, and beat her all the time whenever he was around. According to her all Akin's love disappeared the moment she took in because his wife was also pregnant at that time and the wife suddenly became more important. She clearly remembered how she pleaded for him to marry her and leave her husband, but he refused and even denied her unborn child, he denied Andrew. She paused to thank God for the death of Akin's wife unborn child, the woman couldn't give birth until the next seven years.

She continued the recount of her ordeals, she had to kill the drunk Akin knew as his father years later when he began to question and trouble her over rumoured infidelity charges from village gossips, he would beat her mercilessly without reason whenever he came back drunk because she was the usual topic of discussion at the village square where he drank. She had to drug him, tie him up and torture him with fire until it went wrong and his entire body caught fire. She had to set their home on fire to cover her tracks. The fire was so intense that his body was charred completely.

"I know,” Andrew stood up to say. Mother's countenance grew, "Good," she announced, he was finally seeing the sense in her entire vendetta against Akin.

Andrew rephrased his subject in case she didn't get his message the first time, “I know he's my father,” He maintained his hard face and blank stare. He had known for a while now Akin fathered him, he had a private investigator trail Mother for weeks and knew about her various long distance secret meetings with Akin, where they argued away from familiar eyes discussing who knew what. He had the P.I trace their history and he found someone who knew someone that knew something. He really hated her at that moment.


***

"How's it coming?"

Akin spoke into his phone in a low tone, he still remembered his manners and that the walls all had ears. He wasn't really feeling the call, the person on the other side had more bad news than good news especially with properly taking care of the loose end that was a thorn in his flesh.


***

Mark still sat uncomfortably in his car as he had done for the past thirty minutes, with the black sweat shirt and pant he wore coupled with a dark hand glove it was a surprise why his Air conditioning system hadn't overheated. In as much as he would have loved to come out and take a stroll, it seemed inappropriate especially as he awaited a sign.

'Flash! Flash!' The simultaneous trickle of an overhead car light seemed to announce it was time. He crossed the road to the black Benz packed by the fence that stretched a little distance. the passenger's seat glass rolled down and Andrew appeared on the other side,

"Are we good?" Andrew asked. "I think,” Mark sounded tensed.

Both men scaled the mini fence and started towards the bungalow building, it was just like the one in Andrew's dream when he was in the police custody. Mark flashed the dim light while Andrew jacked the police seal on the door. They opened the front door that immediately revealed the living room. Both men put on their masks, and walked in cautiously. Andrew searched around the familiar places he knew hidden cameras were placed. Memories of the cameras and all the kinky acts they let he and Imelda carry out in this house, they brought guilty pleasures to his body. He was taking too long, and a terribly shaken Mark kept on bugging him about leaving, the police could come anytime soon and he wasn’t ready to go back to jail; they were here to look around for evidence not search for hidden cameras that Andrew used in making sex tapes in the living room.

"Finally," Andrew announced, he had finally located the tape he was searching for, the one in the right camera.

"Are you kidding me?" Mark sighed in frustration on thinking Andrew lured him to a crime scene just to fetch his sex tape. Andrew ignored him, he was free to leave if he wished, he wasn't leaving here without watching the tape: He needed to see the face of the killer.

Nice one!

E14


Patricia held Andrew firmly by his wrist, her many attempts to sway him for the past ten minutes to see reason pass the recent resentment he held for her had all failed, he was acting like a spoiled school child missing his mother. "You have to listen to me,” she pleaded again, but the sharp threat in his eyes that accompanied the words, “Let go!" made her let go

Andrew's heard was spinning: He wondered what Patricia was thinking when she brought this crazy idea to him. How would she think he'd agree to use the K-option on his own mother? How could she insinuate that his mother was the one who framed him for Imelda's murder? It was practically impossible for Mother to do so because he was sire she loved him, even if it was in a twisted way. "Not happening,” He maintained his stance.

Patricia noticed the building sweat through his crisp white shirt. He never sweated that much, never. This wasn't the Andrew she had come to know over the many years they've worked together. How could he suddenly forget his hate for his mother? How could he even claim that she loved him?

"Get out!" Andrew's voice boomed loud to cut her, he was angry and his face clearly showed it. He turned a deaf ear to her plea, he maintained his resolve to place her on suspension especially for suggestion that he end his own mother before she ended him. According to her, Mother was killing off his competitions, his loved ones, and he didn't even realize it. Probably till she killed Anna too.


***

Patrick took note of how different The Bar looked without activity during the day, no natter the rebranding it wasn't up to the aura the night life provided. He gently rolled his sleeve to observe his expensive time piece, “1:20PM," He read out loud, "Where are you Huey?" He asked the empty space. He looked around still nothing. He removed the dark shade that contributed to his failing sight, and he received his healing instantly.

"Thought you wouldn't show up," Huey greeted with a smile. Patrick blamed the Lagos traffic. They had scheduled another meeting after their last one. Patrick's eye caught the third party that didn't seem to be drifting away.

"Patrick Jamie, Jamie Patrick," Huey gave a quick introduction as he sensed Patrick's increasing unease at the stranger's presence.


Jamie - He was from Tiffany Jane Law Chamber: a fast rising law chamber with an ever increasing clientele ready to take over the Nigerian law scene. He was here on Huey's recommendation to meet Patrick, the man with the exact kind of skill they needed at the firm.

The job offer came with the exact kind of scenery change Patrick needed: A new town, better pay to treat his family better, a higher rank, and more time off with his wife, but then he couldn't just pack up and leave Andrew - He remembered his promise to stay with Andrew and fight all evils by his side, even though the evils of late seemed numerous and far tactical than what he'd have thought possible, a promise was a promise - Their unusual kind of friendship history made the decision process harder.

"We'll give you a lot of time to think about it," Jamie offered a smile, he couldn't come back to his firm with a negative reply. Huey assured him Patrick would think about it. Patrick sat studied with his thoughts. Jamie felt Patrick had loyalty which was a rare commodity in the market place, it made him want to convert him to their firm as soon as possible.


***

"Empty!" Andrew shouted in frustration at the sight of Mother's empty chair. Her absence caused him to notice the not-so-newly installed grandfather clock - He wondered why they decided to switch to the vintage form of time telling - He ignored the eye catching edifice when Mother came in.

"I got your message," Andrew announced with agitation. Mother asked why she hadn't gotten results. He stunned her when he boldly declared he wasn't going to do it even if she disgraced him before the entire firm now. She lowered her fancy spectacle to view him with her naked eyes. He sulked.

"You say?" She asked again.

Andrew remains quiet, he knew better than to reply. Mother's email instructed him to frame Akin for any crime whatsoever he could come up with so that they could permanently get rid of him and take control of his stocks- But he didn't want to, lately he didn't know what he wanted anymore.

Mother cut the chase, she wasn't one to drag a case for too long and she wasn't going to start now - Just like she threatened Anna then she was threatening Agnes now - If Andrew didn't go ahead with the plan, “Agnes's children will become orphans,” she said. Andrew resisted but it only seemed to fuel her ever increasing dominance over him; even though Ramon taught him to manage his fright and prevent something worse than his agoraphobia to return, he still was no match for the face of Mother's true wrath.

He went on his knees to plead. This was more for framing Akin that for the threat to Agnes's life, “Mother would never hurt Agnes,” so he thought. But she insisted, “Akin must go."

The rising chaos outside the room, made then both pause. Andrew rose up, he led them both outside to the source of the heavy noise.

"You've killed her," The young man's voice rang out again. He saw Andrew and he rushed to give him a huge blow that sent Andrew staggering, before he was barricaded by members of the staff that came to look, they had to protect their boss from getting a sequel to his slap.

"You people finally killed her,” The white of his eye glowed bright red as he spoke in tears, his pain had attracted almost every eyes present in the building. Patrick arrived in time to hear him finally repeat his statement, he asked what happened, “Who died?"

"Agnes."

Everyone started to murmur. Soon, most eyes were on Andrew who tried to find his feet. The moment he recognized the trouble was from Marcus he panicked, but he refused to let his fear get the best of him, up till the moment he received the blow; Agnes was dead and everyone wanted to know what he'd do. His eyes scanned through the entire hall, everyone was waiting for him to speak. He located Mother standing close to her office door, she left him to go inside, she left as she always did.

Everyone's guard was down and Marcus came for him again, It took the intervention of Patrick, some young male staffs, and the sway of the able bodied security men to arrest Marcus and force him away from Andrew, who he had punched more times than necessary. The security officer bundled him in their van to the police station.

"Let's get you cleaned up."

Andrew looked at his unexpected helper for the third time since the last minute he offered his service. He couldn't make up his mind to accept his help or not, so he decided to play along. Mark helped him. Andrew purposely downplayed the two subjects for a conversation with Mark; but Mark persisted, he wanted to set the pace for a new relationship between the both for Anna's sake.

"I haven't had the chance to thank you,” Mark finally said what was truly on his mind. Andrew wondered loud, he wanted to know what the appreciation was for.


Mark's gently rested his back side on the wash basin next to the one Andrew was using to clean himself up. He wanted to speak from his heart without mincing words. He had been trying to do the right thing for the sake of Anna and his unborn child for a while now, and that included settling whatever issue he had with Andrew. "For breaking me out of jail,” He finally replied.

Andrew had forgotten about the favour he granted Anna, he tried to make Mark understand the favour wasn't form him, but her, yet he insisted on showing appreciation. He also wanted Andrew to understand that he and Anna were going to get married soon, if Andrew held a tiny bit of the love he claimed to have for Anna he'd let them be for the sake of their unborn child.

Andrew stared at him, he thought Mark a fool for trying to reason with a man who loves the mother of his unborn child; whether Mark believed it or not, he and Anna were not yet married. But then, Anna choose him for a reason and he would respect that choice as much as he could.

"I owe you a favour,” Mark said to him.

***

Patricia sulked in anger, over what next to do: Asides Andrew she had no life, without him was purposeless. Her frustrations got the best of her and she couldn't successfully unlock her car. In the process of fiddling with the handle, the key broke in it

"Need help?"
Patricia turned, “I think I do!" She sounded shy. A little stare and she recognized her helper as the guy from the storage department, she had seen him twice when she went to fetch an old document for a case she was working with Mr. Dimeji last week.

The young man identified himself as ‘KC.' He claimed to be a mechanic, when he pulled out his toolbox from his car boot, he was parked next to Patricia. Patricia bit her lips from excessive smacking, the guy was hot! by her description, he appealed to her in every way, even the sweat collected at the back of his shirt turned her on. Soon he was done and she thanked him with a hug, he could feel her erect nipple from her blouse without a bra.

KC got the message, she wanted him or she wanted any man at all, it didn't matter to him, he was ever ready to pump. He grabbed her by the neck to himself and kissed her. She pushed him into her back door seat, she was in charge.