My people, I'm very sorry for the long delay. It has come to my notice that some persons are patiently waiting for updates so as to steal it and use on their medium, this is really disheartening.

I don't abandon my stories, I am going to finish the story and let you know how to get it the complete story, same with subsequent stories.

I'm sorry for any inconveniences the long absence may have caused. The next post you'll get from me is how to get the complete story.

Thank you.

Episode

We just finished tying up the assassins mouth when someone knocked on the door. I I and Fiona shot a surprised look at each other, then she turned to the bathroom and whispered hastily.

"Lets take him in quick!".

The knock came again and I was forced to ask. "Who?"

"The bar". Came a tiny voice.

"One minute!". I shot behind me as I helped Fiona dragging the unconscious man to the bathroom.

We left him beside the bathtub and I hurriedly went to the door trying to keep my breath under control.

"Who?". I asked nervously.

"Bar man". The tiny voice came again.

Fiona appeared standing by the door. She had a gun in her hands as she nodded and slowly moved half way in the bathroom so the person coming wouldn't see her.

I opened the door and found a slim, dark tall teenager in a black waist coat on a white sleeve shirt tuck in black pant standing with a basket of cold beer bottles.

"You ordered for some drinks sir".. The boy said cautiously.

I nodded and took the basket from him. Before he could say another word, I slammed the door behind me.

Fiona was no longer with the gun by the time I returned to the room. She walked up to me as I was trying to empty the bottles from the basket into the refrigerator and took a bottle, opened it with her teeth and dropped her butt on the bed before pouring the content into her mouth.

"Where did you learn to pull stunt like that ?. I finally let out the question eating me up while putting the last bottle in the refrigerator.

She took the bottle off her mouth and wiped her lips with the back of her hand. "My dad. He thought us a lot of martial arts and how to defend our selves while growing up".

I was about shutting the refrigerator when I realized I would use a bottle. I quickly snatched one beer, took an opener from the basket and opened it.

"You really impressed me". I said walking to meet her.

She smiled innocently and took another gulp, dropped the bottle from her mouth and turned to me. "Was told my step sister was an outstanding soldier. She fought different wars and commanded battalions. I wanted to be just like her but I love being a lady ".

"Where is she now?". I asked sitting beside her.

"She died". Fiona said and took another drink.

"At war?".

"Someone shot her in front of her house".

"So sorry".

She scuffed. "Don't be. I should be three or so when she died. I can't even remember what she looked like.

"How come she's that older than you than your are?"

Fiona emptied the bottle of beer and tossed the empty on the floor. "My dad got married to my mum after his first wife died. My big sis was already grown then". Then she looked at her slim leather watch with small golden head. "It's thirty minutes already, he's not here yet".

I heard a noise in the bathroom, we both stood up and ran to check what it was. The man was up, he was trying to break free.

Fiona moved swiftly towards him and landed a loud slap across his face. "Shut the Bleep up!"

The man's eyes beamed with rage, he tried to stand up but the bound held him down. He then remained still looking ominously at Fiona who stood in front of him.

"If you make any more noise I'll kill you". Fiona said between her teeth.

He laughed and shook his head pitifully, then turned to me. I was uncomfortable with the way he stared, so I looked away.

" This is what I'm going to do. I'll get off this chair, kill him and rape you as I strangle you to death". The assassin said maliciously.

" Really?". Fiona asked mockingly. Then she turned to me. "Get me a rope and a bottle!".

I looked shocked." What for?".

"Just get them".

I nodded and dashed into the room. It felt relieving leaving the presence of that man. I quickly scanned through the room and found the pieces of the bedsheets we left on the floor. I snatched up one and tore out a long piece, picked up a bottle then rushed back to the bathroom.

Fiona took them and tied the rope around the assasin's chest to the chair. He struggled to break free but was helplessly glued. Then she broke the bottle behind the chair, moved in front of him, placed her hands on the his chest and pushed him backwards. The man fell on the bottle with his hands under the weight of the chair. He groaned and shook his body in pain. He tried to drop on his side but Fiona climbed on his chest and stood while he cried with a loud muffled sound .

I awkwardly walked to Fiona and whispered." It's okay, you will kill him. let's call the cops".
The look on her face when she turned to me hinted I shouldn't repeat what I said and so I moved backwards and maintained my previous position.

She squatted and met his agonizing face while standing her 80kg weight on his chest. "This is just the tip of the iceberg. I need you to tell me all I need to know". Her tone was calm and sexy.

The man frowned in pain, his eyes were bloodshot and his face sweaty. He seemed like he was losing his mind as he tried to pull up his chest in vain , but could only raise his head.

"Who sent you?" Fiona gentle asked.

He shook his head pumping air rigorously through his nostrils.

"Not ready to talk?"

His eyes widened, sweat oozing out of every pore on his face. A thick line of artery appeared in the middle of his forehead.

A slim snakelike pathway of blood rolled out from under his back, the sight of it got me scared. I went to Fiona and said uneasily. "We are going to kill him. Lets get the cops!"

"My brother is coming. He's going to get him to talk!". She said and turned to the man." You heard that, he's going to tear you up limp by limp slowly until you speak".

I looked at the face of the man , he was now looking like he was about to break into tears. I slowly moved backwards and rested my back on the wall looking at Fiona as she squatted on the man's chest admiring her well manicured finger nails.

A knock startled me and I spun around swiftly. Fiona turned to me and stepped down from the man's chest.

"See who's that". She whispered.

I moved with circumspect to the door and asked. "Who?".

"Gabriel. Open up man".

Fiona moved out of the bathroom and whispered nervously."who is that?"

"A friend of mine". I replied in a whisper.

She turned to the bathroom and then to me. Like she just realized what to do, she immediately dashed to the bathroom and rushed out, shutting the door behind her. Hurriedly slide off her jumpsuit and jumped on the bed in pink thong and transparent bra that held her two bouncing boobs together.

I was still looking at her when Gabriel knocked again. Fiona quickly whispered. "Let him come back some other time , we are busy".

I opened the door. Gabriel forced his way through without waiting for me to invite him in. Then he paused when he saw Fiona without a bra on. I too was shocked seeing her two big boobs staring at us.

She quickly grabbed the bed sheet and covered herself up. "Oh!" She cried in a pretentious display of embarrassment.

"Sorry!". Gabriel said and spun quickly whispering angrily as he hurried out. " why didn't you tell me you got a visitor?"

I was dumbfounded looking at Gabriel as he walked out.

Gabriel pulled me out and shut the door "Bro. You got a chick in this deep shit?"

I couldn't think of a quick lie and he added. "For Bleep sake dude, that ain't what you ought to be thinking about. Why the Bleep did you invite her in dude?"

"Hey! That's non of your fucking business!" I retorted.

He was about to say something when our attention was called to a tall athletic light skin man in a gray t-shirt on a black jean carrying a suitcase . I was cautious the moment I set my eyes on him and I could see that Gabriel was scared to death.

The man was clean shaven with an afro haircut pathed by the side . He stopped in front of us and looked at the number on my door. Then turned to me and was about to say something when the door opened, Fiona was back in her jumpsuit. She smiled at I and Gabriel and invited the man in, that was when I figured he was Fiona's brother.

When Fiona shut the door, George looked suspiciously at me. "party huh?"

I smiled at the ridiculous statement then a crashing sound called our attention.

Gabriel looked frightfully at me. "Hey! what's going on?"

Another louder sound followed. He was beginning to get unsettled. "Lets call the cops". Retrieving his phone from his jean pocket.

"Stop!" I said holding his hand.

"What!" He asked looking surprisingly at me.

"I can explain!" I said and another loud sound followed.

"That's not sex happening in there!" Gabriel's eyes bulging as he pointed nervously at the door.

Then Fiona let out a painful cry. I couldn't contain the curiosity so I rushed in only to find the assassin on top of Fiona's brother with a broken bottle in his hand trying to stab Fiona's brother who was struggling with his hand . Fiona was on the floor on the other side of the bed holding her head.

Gabriel spun like a terrified kid and ran off. Spontaneously, I rushed into the room and sent a hard kick behind the man's head , he dropped on his side and Fiona's brother ceased the leverage, quickly stood up rushing towards his bag.

The man hurried to his feet and made to dash for the door, I jumped on him and we both fell on the floor.

He sent a strong elbow on my jaw and hurried to his feet. I wanted to let him go due to the pain I was feeling, but on a second thought, I discovered I wouldn't get the information needed to stop the attack on my life, so I held his left foot ,he tripped and fell. In that instant I climbed on him, swung a punch on his chest, he quickly grabbed my shirt and pulled my mouth to his forehead, with that impact I let go of him while dealing with the headbutt that sent electrical current through my brain.

A loud gunshot echoed, I turned behind me and saw Fiona's brother with a gun. On the other side, the man was on the floor dragging himself to the door. Fiona's brother had shot him on his left butt cheek.

Five minutes later, the man was in the bathtub bleeding out. Fiona's brother turned on the tap and took out some electronica appliances from his suitcase and plugged it on the socket on the wall.

Fiona laid silently on the bed with an ice on her forehead. I stood by the wall nursing a strong headache thundering in my head while I watching what Fiona's brother was up to.

He took two wires, clapped them to gether, it let out some electric sparks. Then he dipped them in the water, every light in the room went dim as the man shook in electrocution.

He took the wire off after five seconds and the man slide into the water. I flinched in fear thinking he was dead.

"Is he dead?" I asked moving closer.

Fiona's didn't answer, he just deeped his hands and pulled the man out. The man was half unconscious and breathing through his mouth.

"Are you ready to talk now?" Fiona's brother asked.

The man's eyes was half opened, he tried with difficulty to look at Fiona's brother.

" if you can hear me nod your head. Because if you refuse to speak, I'll repeat this several times. Trust me, you won't die. And when I'm done, I'll introduce five more sections to you. Trust me, it gets harder as it progresses". Fiona's brother said calmly.

The man slowly nodded and coughed.

"Good boy!". Fiona's brother said with a nefarious smile. "Now tell me. Why do you want to kill this young man, what has he done?".

Fiona appeared behind me and stood with her back on the door watching her brother.

The man hesitated and Fiona's brother made to dip the wires back in the water, then he shook his head frightfully and said. "No! No! No! I'll talk".

"Speak!" Fiona's brother bellowed.

"He killed... a ... a.... member... and so... he's marked for... death". The man struggled with each word.

"Are you guys some kind of cult?"

The man nodded. "We pay blood for blood. The more of us he kills, the more his mark increases...". Then he looked at me and continued. "After he's dead, everyone he loves follows. We are everywhere, we are anywhere even amongst members of your own family". Then he revealed a menacing smile at me.

I could feel my heart throbbing hard against my chest. Then I saw a flash of a car running into a car I was in. Another flash of a dead black driver and a Chinese man pulling into a car.

I sagged on the wall with my head low. Fiona came to me and asked. "Are you okay?".

I nodded and began staggering towards the bed. Another flash of a dead white seminarian. Then a house burning and gunshots inside the burning house. Flashes of my childhood memories came in bits.

I sagged on the bed with my tummy and face down. Then I saw flashes of a party with naked guests. I saw Gabriel and Gloria. Sex with a strange girl with tattoo on her wrist.

I heard a name, 'John'. Then flashes of me fighting with a man at a park. I saw a bit of the man's face in face hat. Then I saw Daniella; her smile, her angry face, her slim curvy waist and more of her until someone touched me on my shoulder.

" are you okay?" Fiona asked.

"56780000 A S F $ @ P # & Q" I said.

Fiona was stunned. "What's that?".

That was when I realized what I called out. "My password".

She was still looking at me with surprise. "What password?".

I sat up and looked towards the bathroom."I think I remember how it all started".


Happy birthday to Royalguy. long life and prosperity. Enjoy your season of celebration.

topher052:
A DEVELOPED (OVER 6000 WORDS) STORY FOR SALE.

Esther came to John's company as an intern and John was completely lustful of her due to her sexiness ( Latino blood line). He went for a business deal with Esther and his guilt gave Kate a hint that something wasn't right with her husband coupled with his declined sex urge and sudden late nights.
While on the business trip, Mark fought with himself everyday to resist his craving for sex with his intern now turned P.A but Esther ended up seducing him to surrender.
Kate later came up with a means to win back her husband, which she pulled out without taking notice of Esther. In the end she won her husband back and Esther lost out completely.

The story has Four erotic sex scenes with Kate and one mind blowing scene with Esther. Interested persons should chat me up on whatsapp.

I'M SELLING THE COPYRIGHT OF THIS STORY TO WHOSOEVER IS INTERESTED

A DEVELOPED (OVER 6000 WORDS) STORY FOR SALE.

Esther came to John's company as an intern and John was completely lustful of her due to her sexiness ( Latino blood line). He went for a business deal with Esther and his guilt gave Kate a hint that something wasn't right with her husband coupled with his declined sex urge and sudden late nights.
While on the business trip, Mark fought with himself everyday to resist his craving for sex with his intern now turned P.A but Esther ended up seducing him to surrender.
Kate later came up with a means to win back her husband, which she pulled out without taking notice of Esther. In the end she won her husband back and Esther lost out completely.

The story has Four erotic sex scenes with Kate and one mind blowing scene with Esther. Interested persons should chat me up on whatsapp.

The lady turned towards Johnbull. "They're called the ghost. They attempted to kill him once but ended up killing a client's driver". She turned to me. " do you remember our plane crash?"
I began wondering if I had been on a plane crash. Like she sensed the puzzled look and added. "The bush carnivorous men?"
"Oh, where you guys on that crash? I saw it on CNN". Johnbull excitedly asked.
"Yeah, we were. Mike was the hero of the day, he saved everyone". She said.
I couldn't understand why everything she was saying sounded strange. She began narrating the event that took place during the plane crash and painted me as a kind of hero in her story, how I saved her life and killed a bear. Then she began explaining how good I was with my job, the English guy confirming everything she had said.
"Why was I attacked after I finished talking with you?". I asked the only thing bothering me.
"They must have placed a bug on my phone, I don't know. You know, that is very possible these days". She explained.
Then a brief summary of my job history with her company and my relationship with some persons we shared same mutuality was brought to light by the two foreigners, Johnbull took a lengthy note and walked out leaving I alone with them.
"Please Mike, tell them I have nothing to do with your attack. We have a meeting with a very important prospect tomorrow". The Italian lady said.
I shook my head feeling unsettled. "My life was almost called short. We have to get to the bottom of this issue".
"Look here Mike". The English guy angrily said. "We got nothing to do with whatsoever attack you've got entangled in. You need to get your memory in shape buddy, I need to have a beauty sleep and prepare for my adventure tomorrow".
Johnbull walked in and took his seat. "You guys can go".
I turned startlingly at him. "What?".
"But I have to hold your passports. Just incase". Johnbull continued ignoring me.
"I'm so grateful. Thank you so much sir". The Italian lady was overly glad as she immediately stood up.
Johnbull stood up and shook hands with them, then the English guy said to me. "Come on Mike, we've got catching up to do".
I and the two foreigners went to grab a snack and soft drink at the police canteen. While we ate, the lady Daniella said. "I can't believe we just lost one of our best staff".
"That's not a good news". Gabriel said biting into a meatpie.
Daniella looked at me uneasily. "Mike, you have to remember something, anything. We need you, I need you".
Gabriel surprisingly turned to her and then focused on me. "Look, we can help you coz we more family to you than these folks here. You need to come with us, perhaps we could help strike back some of your memories".
"No. I can't. I'm a moving time bomb. Those guys are on me like leech. I can't get you guys in harms way. Twice they attached me yesterday killing a cop and four civilians". I said looking at their keen faces.
"This is serious". George sounded overwhelmed.
"Tell me about all that money in my account". I asked Daniella.
She explained in detail how the company pays some percentage into my account from every income my clients brings to the company, she also threw more lights on what the company was all about and took me through a brief summary.
I finished with my snack silently listening to her and when she was done, she signalled my attention with a finger in the air. "Can we talk outside?".
George turned to her astonishingly and she smiled and nodded at him. I gently stood up and followed her towards the door.
As we were about stepping out, I saw the strange old man I once saw in the forest few yards away at the exit gate of the police station looking at me. I stopped abruptly and wondered how it or he got there. He pointed a finger at me and motioned me over with his slim finger; like one hypnotized, I began walking towards him, past Daniella who seemed startled at my action.
"Hello...Hey!". Daniella called. I could hear her faintly enough not to call full my attention.
In that hypnotism, I was almost run down by car, but it stopped just in time. The driver shot his head from his window screaming at me, but I wasn't listening. I couldn't stop myself, I couldn't even take my eyes off the old ghostly man. I only knew my legs were moving and my full attention was on that slim finger beckoning me over.
I noticed someone stopped in front of me and with hands on my shoulder trying to stop me, I could hear voices but they were faint noises. I pushed the person away from me and continued.
Then I reached where he was and stood in front of the old man.
"Danger is lurking! You are in danger!" His eerie voice said. "You need to follow me!". Then he began walking. I found myself following him. It felt like I was in a dream that I had no control over. We were about stepping out of the gate when he stopped, turned to me and stretched forth his hand for me to hold. I was going to reach for it when someone called my name and slapped me across the face very hard. Like one woken from a deep sleep I jerked backwards and saw Daniella looking at me frightfully. When I turned around, I saw a crowd boring holes on me with their eyes'.
"Mike! What's wrong with you!" Daniella said cautiously, still panting.
I turned behind me and saw inspector Johnbull rushing out of the police station. There were a kind of frenzy in the station as I was the center of attraction.
" You were sleep walking in the day light. What was that?". Daniella asked.
Gabriel soon appeared. "Heard the noises and found it was coming from you guys. What's happening?".
Daniella couldn't explain, she was just looking at me and I was so embarrassed.
Later that day, I dropped by at the hospital to check on Mary, she was still asleep, then I checked into an hotel.
I sat on my bed trying to place a finger on what happened between I and the old man. Was it that I was the only one who saw him? Daniella said I was sleep walking, meaning my eyes were closed. I actually thought I was dreaming.
I tried to reach for my phone, but remembered i left it with the computer guy at the police station but I have the list of important calls I needed make scribbled on a sheet of paper in my pocket. First, I called granny to let her know I was fine, then Fiona. She was really worried and wanted to see me urgently, I had no choice from how she persisted but to tell her where I was. I thought of calling Jude but left his troubles for another day.
Someone knocked on the door. I thought it was very fast of Fiona to have gotten to my room that soon. So I asked. "Who's that".
"Mike, it's Daniella".
"Daniella?". What was she doing here? I curiously went to the door and asked again. "Who?"
"Daniella".
I then slowly opened up. She stood at the door way. For the first time I took a close look at her; she was in blue jean pant that emphatically revealed her voluptuous curves, she had on a red t shirt that showed she had no bra on with her firm breasts pushing her nipples against the shirt. Her face was something to look at; beautiful, charming and sexy even for her age.
"Won't you invite me in?". She asked looking at with a smile on her face. I guess she must have noticed my eyes on her chest.
I then realized I must have been standing there for awhile. With a nervous smile I moved away and she walked in. She moved to the bed and sat on it.
"I wanna know what's going on Mike?" She asked and crossed her legs.
I walked in and sat on a sofa beside the bed. "What do you mean?"
"That shit you pulled at the police station, what does that mean?"
"I saw someone...". A knock startled me and I turned to the door and back to Daniella.
"Are you expecting someone?" She asked.
"Yes".
"Be careful"
I nodded and went to get the door. "Who?" No one answered. I turned to Daniella, she stood up looking at me completely droopy. I turned to the door again and with a shaky voice. "Who?"
There was no response. I then slowly moved backwards. The knock came on the door again and a familiar male voice exploded. "It's George!". And then followed with with a loud laughter.
Daniella's face turned into fury. She walked to the door, opened it in full force. "You jerk! How dare you joke with stuff like that? You bastard!"
George was surprised to see her in my room. His countenance gradually changed, he must have felt insulted with the attitude she spoke to him. In the anger, he retorted. "I didn't know you were here! Mike is my buddy, I can joke with him however I chose!"
"You bastard! How dare you raise your voice at me!"
George suddenly realized his mistake and looked away.
"Now get out of here if you still love your job!". The words came through a cold menacing tone.
George looked at her ominously and then turned to me where I stood looking at how a lady was bullying a man. "Dude, I'll be back". Then he walked away.
She banged the door and turned towards me, was about walking back to the bed when someone knocked again. In that anger, she spun and pushed the door open only to see Fiona standing. After a momentary long silence, she asked."Who are you?".
I quickly intercepted the ladies before the confused and surprised Fiona could reply. "She's a friend". Then I quickly introduced the ladies to clear the tension in the air. "Fiona. Fiona, Daniella. Daniella is my boss overseas and Fiona is a friend".
Daniella immediately effected her bossy demeanor and said. "Nice meeting you". She turned to me. "We will talk later". Then she walked away with her head high.
"She's so stiff". Fiona said as she walked in.
I let out a weary smile walking behind her. She took a seat on the bed scanning through the large executive suite I picked out of impulse.
"Such a nice place you got here". Fiona complemented still looking around.
"Thanks". I said opening the refrigerator hoping to find a drink, but it was empty. In the frustration I threw my hands up. "Why is there no drink in the refrigerator?!".
"Easy, that's how it is around here. Let me help you". Fiona said with a smile and reached for the landline by the bed, dailed a three digit number on a paper beside the phone."Hello, please get me a bottle of beer, Room 210". She turned to me. " do you want any?" I nodded. "Four bottles".
I sat on the sofa and Fiona dropped the receiver, then moved to where I was and sat on the arm rest of the chair. She was on a yellow handles jumpsuit that hugged well on her body. She had no makeup on yet she was as captivating and as charming as something from my sexual fantasy.
"What's going on Mike? I know something is amiss that's why I came". Her comforting voice asked.
I turned to her face and my heart skipped a beat. I wanted to hug and kiss her two bold attractive pink lips but I reminded myself that she was married and quickly I looked away shoving aside the thought. "Got some guys abroad I pissed off, they followed me here and have been wanting me dead".
"These guys; who are they?".
"They call themselves the ghost".
She turned away and heaved silently. Then turned to me almost immediately. "You know what? I'll inform my brother, he's a lieutenant. He knows what to do. Don't worry, we are going to get to the root of this whole thing".
I smiled wondering if she really knew the set of guys she wants to get herself entangled with. Just then a knock came on the door. I hissed and wanted to get it, but she placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Please, I ordered for the drinks". I sat back and watched her walked towards the door with her two soft round buttocks bouncing, my full attention drawn to them. I felt my heart racing fast as I watched them, my rod was beginning to harden, all I wanted to do was to rip off her jumpsuit and penetrate her in a hurry from behind, feeling the softness of those ass cheeks bouncing off my mid region as I bleeped her.
I was still fantasizing when she opened the door and immediately jumped on the person. I abruptly stood up wondering if the ghost men had returned. My suspicion was right when an heavily built dark man with a 9MM in his hand pushed her back against the door and pinned her neck to it, but she clinged to the man's gun in the air as they struggled.
In that instant, i picked up the stool and was rushing to assist her, but before I could reach her, she hit the man with her knee on his penis, swiftly retrieved the gun from his hand simultaneously. As he bent over grabbing on his penis, she hit the back of the man's neck with the butt of the gun sending him to the ground unconscious.
I got to where the big man laid on the floor with the stool in my hand and turned to Fiona dazed, she wasn't looking like someone who could hurt a fly let alone knocking down a man two times my size with a single blow as she stood looking at me.
She quickly rushed to the door and shut it, looked around the room frantically and asked. "Is there anything like a rope here?"
"Rope?" I asked wondering what she needed it for.
She critically roamed about the room in search for something. She found a ribbon in the wardrobe, returned to the man in a haste, tied his hands behind his back. "Help me". She said pulling him up on one side of his arm. I quickly helped her and we dragged him with great difficulty and sat him on a wooden chair.
"We need to tie him up here". Fiona said catching her breath.
I looked around the room and my eyes fell on the bedsheet. I quickly tore it into bits and handed Fiona some sizable pieces, she took it in haste and tied the man's legs and hands to the chair, then took her phone from the table.
"Who are you calling?". I asked.
"My brother". She said and placed the phone on her ear. After pacing blankly for awhile, her eyes came alive. "Hello. Please I need your help. Nothing, I'm fine. Can you come to North West Hotel? Nothing serious, just that I want you to meet a friend of mine. Yes, it's urgent. Please when coming don't forget your sex tool, I want that friend of mine to sing and dance. Thank you. Please don't tell anyone yet, it's between both of us. Thank you, expecting you". Her voice was as calm as if nothing serious happened.

EPISODE
I woke up feeling woozy and completely tired. A pint of blood was being transfused into my artery. I tiredly looked around the empty room and realized I was still in the hospital. I tried to move but was cuffed to the rail of the bed head.
I suddenly remembered Mary and then began trying to break free. The door abruptly flung open and two men in police uniform rushed in.
"Hey! Calm down!" One of them bellowed.
I turned to them viciously and demanded. "Where's Mary? Is she okay?".
They both exchanged a glance and the second said in an ominous. "Stay calm or I make you"!
A nurse appeared behind the officers and when she saw I was up, she disappeared before I could call her attention. I knew it would be a waste of energy trying to act heroic. So I gently laid back trying to absorb the pounding in my head.
The doctor strolled in with the earlier nurse and stopped beside me.
"Rambo. Hope you are okay?" The doctor mockingly asked as he walked in.
I tried to listen to the doctor's thoughts, but heard nothing, not even the two nurse's with him nor the armed cops.
I raised my head a bit and asked trying to sound dangerous so as to be taken seriously. "Where's Mary?".
"The lady he came with?". One of the two nurse's whispered to the puzzled doctor.
"Oh, the pretty one. She's stabilized. She will be up soon". The doctor said and came closer to me; with two fingers he opened one of my eyes, pointed a torch in it. Then he checked the almost empty pint of blood and turned to the officers. "He is okay. You can take him away as soon as he exhausts this bag".
"Okay sir". One of the officers answered.
Few minutes after the doctor had left, I laid with my hands cuffed over my head to the rim of the bed. The door opened and Johnbull walked in. He seemed surprised to see me in that unpleasant state.
"What's going on here? Why is he in cuffs?". Johnbull asked walking towards me.
"He held the people hostage here". One of the officers answered.
"Get that thing off his hands!". Johnbull commanded.
The officers looked at him as though he didn't know what he was saying.
" I said get him off those cuffs!" Johnbull loudly bellowed.
One of the officers grudgingly took the cuffs off my hands and I slowly sat up feeling the strains on my wrist.
"How is Mary?". I asked Johnbull.
"She's fine. Still asleep".
A dark bulky man in a faded grey suit walked in and was entirely stunned seeing me free from the cuffs.
"Who set that criminal free?". The man yelled at the officers.
The officers turned to Johnbull without saying a word. Then the bulky man followed their gaze to Johnbull and his angry face adjusted." What's going on here sir?".
"Follow me, I will explain everything to you". Johnbull said walking out.
The man looked at the two officers, signaled them to watch me before following Johnbull out.
I searched for my phone in my pocket but it wasn't there, then turned to the two men who shot a penetrating stare at me; one was a slim with broad shoulders; dark, bald head, smooth face and a thick flat nose. The other was light skin, average height, slightly chubby with fat cheeks like a baby's, on a low cut hair and few mustache above his upper lip.
" where's my phone?" I repeated. The men ignored me but didn't take their eyes off me."Can I get my phone please?" But they remained the way they were. I then decided to wait for Johnbull to come so I can ask him.
After twenty minutes of dealing with the two dramatic officers, Johnbull came in with the bulky man and the doctor following from behind. The doctor came cautiously towards me with a disapproving look on his face. He checked my eyes again and my heart rate with a stethoscope, then turned to Johnbull and nodded his 'okay', then angrily walked away.
"Get up, lets go". Johnbull said moving out.
"My phone". I requested.
Johnbull turned to the bulky man. "Give him his phone".
After I got my phone, I went to check on Mary in her ward, she was still sleeping. She looked peaceful and beautiful, even with the huge bandage around her chest.
Few minutes later, I was in Johnbull's car driving to the police station. My mind was busy. I couldn't hear anyone's thought anymore. I never thought it would be a matter of concern to me, but not after attempts had been made on my life twice it now felt like I was exposed without it.
Back in Johnbull's office, the computer guy came in and Johnbull turned to him as he stood beside me. "I want you to check how they were able to track him down".
The computer guy turned to me. "Was it after you received the call they first attacked?"
"Yes". I nodded.
"Can I have your phone?".
I handed the phone over to him. He dropped his laptop on the table, took a seat beside me, connected a cord from his laptop to my phone and began punching his fingers on the keypad with his eyes fixed on the screen.
Few minutes later, there was a red blinking indicator on the screen. He went through piles of gibberish arranged in rows and began typing his own gibberish under the one on top. Finally the red light went off and he turned to Johnbull.
"There was a tracker on his phone. As long as the phone was on, they could track him down".
"Was?" Johnbull pointed out.
"Yes sir. I have disabled the tracker".
Johnbull heaved a sigh of relief and sat back.
"Does that mean I'm free?". I asked hoping for a positive feedback.
The guy looked at me and said in a simple tone. "Your number has been Marked. But I have blocked the tracker, not for long though, it activates whenever you take a call".
"Then I have rid of the SIM card". I said, trying to open the phone.
"No!" Johnbull said with his eyes pacing blankly in the air. " We need to track down Daniella, She may know something".
I agreed to what he said and kept back my phone.
I was escorted to my hotel room with Five heavily armed police men standing in front of my door and yet I couldn't sleep. I laid looking at the door in the dark expecting some strange looking guy to walk in any second.
The window beside my bed suddenly shattered in pieces. I jumped away from the bed and saw a mighty foot in the air flying through the window and landed on my face before I could dodge it, I found myself rolling over the bed and landed on the floor. Before I could get back on my feet, a charcoal giant like human being; he should be about eight foot tall picked me up like I was some piece of clothe and threw me against the door, the impact of my back on the door fell it down, a sharp pain ran through my whole body, I turned and looked out for the police men that were to guard me and discovered they were mutilated in a gruesome way; heads ripped, limps detached from bodies, eyes plucked out, stomach opened with intestines shooting out.
I jumped up and began running down the stairs. When I got to the ground floor, everyone was dead. The hotel was covered in blood and human parts. I felt nauseous and turned to a flower pot and emptied my stomach in it.
When I turned to leave, I hit my face on the stomach of a man standing behind me. I slowly looked up and met the ugliest gorilla's face I had ever seen smiling ominously at me. Before I could move a muscle he grabbed me by my neck with a mighty hand and pulled me off the ground with ease to meet his narrow red eyes as I was choking from his grip. Then he took out a big, long sharp knife, swung it over my head and I jumped off my bed with a loud scream. The five police men outside ran into my room, all wore a dangerous look on their faces.
I looked around for the giants holding my neck but the room was perfectly intact. That was when I realized I was only dreaming. Then I turned to the bewildered officers and smiled, feeling embarrassed. "it's Okay. Nightmare".
They left grumbling, muttering distasteful words to themselves.
I felt so embarrassed, in that state, I turned to the window, it was already morning. I slowly went to grab my phone and saw five missed calls from grandma, two from Jude and one from Fiona. I tossed the phone on the bed and collapsed on it with my face down.
Few hours later, I was in Johnbull's office awaiting Daniella's call. Fiona called twice again and Johnbull looked suspiciously at me the third time she called. Then she dropped a message. HEY. HOPE EVERYTHING IS OKAY? IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE I CAN RENDER MORE THAN ENOUGH. CALL ME.
"What's it about?". Johnbull who been sitting silently, looking at me reading the text on my phone asked.
"A friend was just checking on me" I said and looked away.
Grandma called again. I had to borrow Johnbull's phone to call her back. She was very worried about me and Mary. I assured her that were okay. She wanted to come to the station but I convinced her not to.
Just while we were talking, a strange number called, I quickly rounded grandma's call and ran back to Johnbull's office. "Someone's on the line". I said handing the phone to the computer guy who quickly connected it to his laptop with a cord and asked me to pick it up. I heaved heavily and answered the call.
"Hello".
A familiar voice came through. "Mike my brother. How are you! Heard how you ruggedly killed a murderfucker! Rugged you!"
"Jude?" I asked feeling irritated.
"Yes bro. It's I, your rugged brother".
I turned to the two faces looking at me keenly and shook my head. Johnbull impatiently drew a finger across his neck and I knew what he meant.
"Jude, I'm in a middle of something serious. Please, I'll call you back". And I hung up.
The inspector and the computer guy gave me disapproving look and i dropped the phone on the table.
About an hour later, the phone rang again drawing all of our attentions to it. I quickly checked who was calling and found a new number. I turned to the two men staring at me and took the call.
"Hello".
"Hey, Mike". Daniella speaking. "I'm with George, we are at Tictoc hotel, by Anderson square. How far is it from your place?"
The red light came back on the screen and the computer guy quickly began trying to disable it, while Johnbull looked at me attentively.
"Not far. What's your room number?" I asked.
"It's 25"
"I will be there soon". I said looking at Johnbull who nodded his approval.
Then I hung up and said "Tictoc hotel, room 25".
"How is it coming". Johnbull asked the computer boy.
"One minute". He said with his eyes glued to the screen of his laptop. After five minutes, the computer boy looked up and said with a line of pride across his face. "Done!"
"Lets go! Lets go!". Johnbull yelled picking up his gun and rushing out of the office.
I sat with Johnbull at the back of a black Toyota Camry with a bulletproof vest on my chest. I tried to hear what was in Johnbull's mind but couldn't, this made me scared and felt blind.
The four cars drove into the hotel and packed in the parking lot. Johnbull turned to me and said. "You will stay here!"
I was surprised. I thought I was to go in with them."Why?"
"It's dangerous. This officer here will watch over you". Johnbull said pointing at the very light skin man in front seat. The man turned and revealed his cigarette burnt teeth.
Before I could say another word, Johnbull was out of the car and walked into the hotel with two men, while three other men followed twenty steps from behind.
I sat restless looking towards the hotel entrance Johnbull and the others had gone in. The name Daniella kept giving me an odd emotional feeling. My heart skips a beat each time the name is mentioned and how my body reacts hearing her voice. I sat wondering if I knew her too well, if we were lovers, friends or enemies. Why would she want me dead?
As I sat thinking, someone appeared through the entrance, it was an Italian lady cuffed hands backwards, she seem to be arguing with Johnbull who was leading her out with a hand on her arm . Behind her was an young handsome English man, he too was cuffed backwards with an officer leading him out. They took them into a car in front of us and Johnbull returned to the car I was in.
"Do you recognize them?" Johnbull asked as he settled in.
"No, I have never seen those faces before" I said, still trying to place there faces in the missing gap in my head.
Johnbull gave me a puzzled stare. "Not at all?"
I shook my head. He then heaved a defeated sigh and turned forward as our car drove off following the ones in front.
In the police station, I sat at the hall way waiting for inspector Johnbull to call me in. My hands were moist and my limps unsteady. I couldn't tell why I was so nervous, my stomach rumbled and my mouth dried.
The door opened and an officer came out of Johnbull's office. I turned abruptly towards him, he beckoned me over and returned to the office.
I nervously stood up feeling like I was in trouble. With shaky legs I walked towards the door to Johnbull's office, slowly opened it and saw the lady seated beside the handsome English man, the officer stood adjacent between Johnbull who sat across the table and the suspects.
Johnbull turned towards me."Come in Mr. Mike".
The lady and the English man turned to me with disappointments in their faces. She was a pretty one. The hint in her eyes as she was looking at me made me wish I could hear what she was thinking.
" Yeah. This is Mike. Mike, this is Daniella and George". Johnbull pointed as he introduced us. Then he turned to the suspects. "Like I said earlier, Mike has partial memory lost due to an accident recently. You can go ahead and jug his memory".
The lady turned to me with a shocked expression; the guy had a smirk on his face as his eyes pierced through me.
"Mike, do you remember me?". The lady asked still looking at me in same expression.
"This dude's brain is unshufled". The English guy said smiling.
I stood looking at them trying with every ounce of my mental strength to fetch a picture of her or the guy with her.
"Mike, do you remember Grace?" The Italian lady asked, looking at me. I shook my head and she continued. "What about George?".
"Don't force it, he can't remember anything. Just repeat what you told me about the assassins and why he came to Africa". Johnbull said.

EPISODE

After few minutes of waiting in inspector Johnbull's office, the tall, huge dark man in his late thirties, handsome oval face in low cut and clean shaven face with broad shoulders and muscular arms visible through his fitted yellow sleeve stop walked in with a young nerdy looking guy putting on a huge reading glass hanging on his fat face followed from behind.
Johnbull took a seat opposite us and beckoned the nerdy guy in a gray hood sleeve top on black skinny jeans and a black backpack hanging on his back over.
" this is the laptop. Get us in ". Johnbull opened the laptop that has been lying on the table and turned it towards the guy who stood adjacent the table.
The boy began punching the keypads with his four eyes beaming into the screen keenly. Then dropped the backpack on the table, retrieved a squared device from it and plugged it to the laptop's USB outlet, then poured his full attention on the screen.as he began working.
Thirty minutes later, he turned the laptop to the officer and said. " we need internet service to surf through"
Johnbull took a look at the laptop, nodded and punched in the password to his WiFi and turned it back to the boy. The boy took a seat beside Johnbull and both of them focused on the screen.
Few minutes later, Johnbull turned to me and said. " the mail is from a firm abroad. We checked the your profile and discovered you once worked there. Daniella is the new Director of the company "
I was startled and so remained still as I tried to scan through my brain archive just incase I stumble on a hint but hit the rock bottom instead. I turned to Johnbull who patiently waited for an answer. " I can't remember nothing ".
Johnbull turned to the nerdy guy. " can you get into all his social media accounts and profile?".
The boy nodded and began. He soon stumbled on an information, exchanged a glance with Johnbull and pointed on the screen showing something to the inspector. Johnbull nodded and gave the boy his approval.
About twenty-five minutes later, Johnbull looked away from the screen and turned to me. " from the information here, you lived all your life abroad. I'm not surprised though, it reeks all over you ". He grinned enviously and eyed Mary who had not said a word since we arrived the station, then turned to me. " we have to wait for the lady Daniella to arrive and then ask her some few questions".
I nodded and asked. " can i go through my computer?"
" sure! " he said and pushed the laptop towards me.
I went through all of my social media accounts, taking notes of names while reading the messages.
" Queen. Can I see you briefly?" Johnbull asked Mary with a finger in the air.
Mary turned to me seeking my approval. I nodded and she followed Johnbull out with the nerdy guy.
I was busy going through all the messages on my mail and looking at their pictures just to know if any would ring a bell when my phone rang. I took a look at the caller it was Fiona. I turned behind me to ensure Mary wasn't around hearing range.
" hello " I said in a low tone.
" hey, can I pick you up later today? I want us to have lunch in my place".
The offer seem enticing. I looked around uneasily at the office reminding me of the situation at hand. " I'm currently in a shit, I'm sorry. Can we do that some other time?"
There was a momentary silence before her voice came through. " what kind of shit?"
I didn't want to tell her what happened so as not to get her worried.
" well, it's under control". I said.
" hope it's not life threatening?" She asked with a concerned tone.
" well, I...well" I stuttered feeling trapped.
" Mike, is everything okay?" Her voice filled with curiosity.
Before I could answer the door opened and I quickly told her goodbye and hungup. Mary and Johnbull strolled in. I turned towards them as Mary took a seat beside me and Johnbull moved across the table opposite me.
" you won't go back home. Rent a random hotel and check in with a different identity. When she calls, take the call and quickly inform me". Johnbull said.
I nodded and turned to Mary. " lets go".
" one more thing!" Johnbull said.
I stopped on my seat and turned to him.
" you may need an escort. I can assign one of my officers to you, but you will have to pay for the services".
I agreed and stood up while he sat looking at us.
Johnbull: so this is the dude that is distracting Mary from me. Hmmm...I see why she is head-over-heels with him. I hate to admit it, but I wish he died.
I ignored what I heard and said with a smile on my face. " thank you so much sir" extending a handshake.
" anytime". Johnbull said and shook me rigorously.
I checked into an hotel room with Mary and the officer assigned to us took the room opposite ours. I suddenly felt like getting something Into my lungs and I asked Mary.
" do I smoke?"
She looked puzzled and then shook her head. " never seen you smoke. Why ask?".
I waved her aside and called the bar. " I need a bottle of rum, scotch or vodka. Anything hot". then I sagged on the bed reviewing the incident and wondering who Daniella was.
Mary crawled on to the bed and laid on my chest. " don't worry baby, I trust they will apprehend those guys".
I heaved and turned to her. " how did he know where I was?"
" that is the job of the police, I assure you, they will get a solution to it. Don't worry".
Then she kissed me on the cheek and on my lips. I responded, we were wrapped in each other's arms kissing passionately then a knock came on the door. We broke the kiss and I turned towards the door. " that must be the bar man".
" let me get it". Mary said moving out of the bed.
I laid back looking at her slim waist as she walked towards the door. I wondered how I got entangled with such a damsel and we aren't married.
She opened the door and a gunshot followed with Mary's loud scream. I jumped up and turned to the door with horror and saw Mary sagging on the floor.
An Arabian man stood at the door with a gun and fired towards me. I jumped down behind the bed and crawled under.
The man moved quickly towards me, I could only see his black trouser and black shoes carefully walking towards me.
Suddenly the police officer rushed out from the opposite room and there were gunshots on both sides, the officer fell looking blankly at me where I hid under the bed.
I turned away from the dead officer and looked around briskly for a weapon but found nothing. The man was already on the other side of the bed. Then I heard two gunshots that narrowly missed my head and shoulder.
I knew I had to act fast or the next shot would be my life. So I hurriedly crawled towards the man's leg and pulled it with all my strength, he fell on his back. I rushed out and climbed on him, hitting as hard as I could. He aimed for my head, but I was quick to push down his hand and I bent over his nose and clapped my teeth on it with all the strength in my jaw muscle.
He screamed, hitting and trying to push me off him but I angrily clapped my teeth harder instead and trying to drag his nose off aggressively. Then suddenly, I pulled off his complete nose and spat it off. The man held his nose screaming in pain with blood all over him. I quickly grabbed the gun from his hand, moved two steps away from him and shot him twice in the chest.
There I stood looking at a nose-less dying man and spitting on his bloody face his blood in my mouth. Then I remembered Mary, I dropped the gun on the bed and ran to her, she was shivering on the floor in pain. The bullet hit her in the chest at her upper right breast. I turned to the officer, he was already dead.
Immediately, I picked her up and rushed out of the room, rushed through the hallway and down the stairs. Everyone who saw me gave way for me dreadfully.
At the down floor, I remembered I left my car keys in my hotel room. I dropped Mary on a seat at the reception, ignoring the awful stairs from everyone I could even barely see and rushed upstairs, retrieved the key and was about leaving when one thought adviced me to go with a gun. I picked up the assassins gun on the bed and rushed down the stairs.
Two men stood in front of Mary and were asking her some questions. I rushed towards them and pushed them away from her and hurriedly made to carry her up when one of the men held my hand and said.
" I'm the chief security officer here, an officer of the law". Then showed he me the base of a gun shooting out from a buckle hanging around his waist . " you have to explain all these. What's going on upstairs?".
I looked at the gun in a buckle on the man's waist and then at Mary who was shutting down.
" can't you see she's dying? Let's get her help first". I said and made to break from his grip when the man took out a handcuff from behind his waist and made to cuff my hand. I got so angry seeing the cuffs on my face that I didn't know when I gave him a straight punch under his throat, forcefully brought down his head to meet my knee and his nose was the meeting point. He fell on his back clinging to his node. The other man made to reach for his gun, I beat him to it, with a gun pointed to his face I asked him to carry Mary to the car. He picked up Mary, I first picked up the man on the floor's gun and shoved it under my pant, then motioned the other man towards the car. Everyone was looking dreadfully and giving way for us to pass.
The put Mary in the backseat. I took his gun from him before I entered the steering, reversed and zoomed into the road. While I was going, I saw a checkpoint in front, I turned to Mary at the backseat, she was turning pale, the check point i front may delay me longer than she could survive. While I was thinking of what to do, i followed a red BMW in front of me closely. When we got closer to the check point, I thought of telling the officers I was with inspector Johnbull of the state police criminal department but I knew seeing me all covered in blood and a dying girl behind my seat would delay the process.
So I navigated and overtook the BMW in front of me, ran over the wood they used to block the road and almost knocked down an officer who jumped off the road just in time. I saw them trying to shoot from the rear mirror, but I moved in front of a car and took a harp bend losing them.
As I raced through the busy metropolis, swerving through cars and pedestrians, I caught two police vans in pursuit from a distance. I pressed harder on the gas and the car engine cried louder accelerating in full speed.
Then I bent abruptly into an alley with great effort to keep the car in control and raced through it, came out of the other side, turned the steering into another street knocking down tables and swerving through people, then came out and joined the main road. When I looked at the rear mirror again, I couldn't see any of the police cars anymore.
Few minutes later, I located a hospital along the road, then quickly drove in, rushed out and hurriedly carried Mary that was almost passing on into the hospital hall calling for help. Two nurses helped me with a stretcher and took her in. Then one of the nurses returned few minutes later and asked me what happened, I told her she was shot. The nurse then told me an unbelievable, that I should get a police report before they would begin treatment. I thought she was kidding.
" where's the doctor?" I demanded.
" sir. The doctor can't do anything save a police report is presented". She explained.
I looked around and saw a middle aged man in white lab suit strolling out from the direction they took Mary through. I rushed to meet him.
" do something doctor, she's dying". I exclaimed grabbing him by his lab suit.
" sir. My advice for you is to get a police report in time. Look, if we touch that lady, my license will be taken from me. It's not my fault, it's the country's policy". The doctor explained.
I knew I was wasting time trying to debate the issue, so i took out my pistol and pointed it in the doctor's face. The nurses behind the doctor screamed and moved backwards. The two patients seated by the corner slowly stood up looking at me frightfully.
" I swear to god, I'll kill everyone here and you inclusive then kill everyone you ever loved if anything should happen to that girl". I said desperately. Then pointed the doctor towards where Mary was taken to. " Now move it!"
The doctor quietly obeyed and I motioned the nurses to join the him. The two patients; a young boy and a lady were not left out, I motioned them also into an empty office and locked it up.
The doctor and the nurses entered the theater with Mary while I stood in front of the door waiting impatiently.
About thirty minutes later, the door opened, I jumped and saw the doctor coming out from the theater. " we need blood. She's lost too much".
" I'm a general donor. Please take mine". I offered with my two hands stretched towards him.
He nodded and took me into one of the wards and one of the nurses took three pints of blood from me before returning to the room theatre.
I sat feeling very dizzy after few minutes and the gun rested feebly in my hand. Then it crossed my mind to call Johnbull. I quickly dialed his number and told him everything that happened in the hotel and where I was. He promised to be with me in an hour time.
I haven't ended the call when I heard engine of cars driving in. I staggered to window and found two police vans settling in front of the hospital.
I staggered to the entrance door and bolted it. I was feeling very weak and woozy by this time, my lips had gone dry and I was so freaky thirsty.
I looked around the hall not knowing what I was looking for, Then I decided to see what was happening in the theater. So I badged in and found the doctor sitting down on a chair beside Mary and the nurses looking through the window and Mary lying on unattended.
My heart shattered with rage. I eyed them maliciously and rushed towards Mary, but her wound was bandaged. Then I found one pint of blood laid on a table unused. I turned to the doctor who looked at me with fear in his eyes, then to the petrified nurses and back to the pint of blood.
" what's going on here?" I enquired.
The doctor slowly stood up and said. " we are done with her. She's stabilized".
Why didn't you use the third pint of blood?" I demanded.
The doctor said nothing, he only stood looking at me blankly.
I made to attack him with a slap but a wave of dizziness swept through me and I caught my balance in time.
A hard banging on the door turned my attention away from the doctor to the door. I pointed my gun at the him and slowly moved out. By this time, I was confused and sick.
The door was already given way when I got to it, I tried to hold it and the door flung open knocking me out.

I have not been able to pen something down due to my tight schedule. By the Grace of God I will cook a pot of hot story and serve as e dey hot tomorrow. Make una no vex for the delay.

BankyGee:

Amen!

Flying colors is calling you bro. Make sure you answer speedily. Anyways, it ain't going nowhere without you. All the best bro.

Lol . I know no say I get warriors oh. Thanks guys, I really feel like I have better people for my side. Once more thanks guys.

Whosoever want to say what he or she wishes to say should go ahead and say it , there is always room for freedom of speech. Words can't change nada, except it is with good intentions.

softdude47:
Guys I don pass JAMB o
I get 240

Oh boy! See smashing! Congrats bro. More success and favour.

EPISODE
I was still trying to figure figure out the password to my laptop when when a knock came on the door.
" who's that?" I asked.
Tony walked in and said " a man is asking after you"
I wondered who the person could be, so I asked. " have you seen him before?"
" no. He sounds like a foreigner"
I wondered if I had any friend who came back with me. I became suddenly keen and excited that finally I'm meeting someone who would give me a clue about myself. So i said.
" okay. I'll be out soon".
Tony nodded and walked out.
I stood up, dropped the laptop and went to the living room.
I found a thick black man in low cut with no facial hair and a reading glass hanging on his pointed nose. His gray t-shirt hugged well on his body with emphasis on his muscular physique and his brown trouser were tucked in his gray boot. He beamed me an unsettled stare as I walked up to him.
" hello " I said with enthusiasm walking towards him, extending a handshake.
Mary was standing at the back of a couch beside him looking at the man expressionlessly when he took out a gun behind his waist and pointed it at me. I was overwhelmingly surprised and stood looking at the death sentence about to detonate
Mary let out a little scream and jerked backwards. Grandma who was in the kitchen ran out, as she saw the strange man standing with a gun, she also let out a scream.
" what do you want?" I asked frighteningly.
The man didn't take his eyes off me his mind was busy.
Man: where do I shoot him now? Head or chest? Head is better, one clean shot will do it.
I heard this and knew he meant business. I had to think of a swift way out knowing he would he would shoot the moment I move, but I had to act anyways, coz if I don't, he would shook all the same. So I took my chance and quickly turned to Mary pointing towards her and screamed. " Mary no! Stop it!"
The man turned to Mary giving me the chance to jump on him before he could turn back to me. He let out two shots in the air as we fell on the couch beside him, his reading glass fell off.
On the floor, I held his hand and we began struggling. I was on top of him trying to get the gun off his hand, but he seem to be too strong. I watched as the gun turned slowly towards my face. I gave him a punch across his face and his hand abruptly dropped on the floor. In that second, he me by my shirt and pulled my nose to his forehead, this completely destabilized me and I moved away from him grabbing my nose.
He made to sit up and I pushed him down and made to release another punch when he slammed the butt of his gun on my head and made to fire, in the reflex I grabbed his hand and pulled it away from me and the gunshot narrowly missed my face. Mary and grandma let out a loud scream.
I was still dragging with him when someone came in front of the man and stamped his feet on the man's face followed with kicks beside his head. I looked up and saw Henry kicking him continuesly.
The man pushed me off him and quickly made rushing to his feet when Henry jumped, grabbed him from behind and both of the fell on the glass center table breaking it.
The man elbowed Henry off him and grabbed his gun that had fell off his hand. Before he could he could get on his feet, I quickly sent a blow across his face and the next thing I saw, someone poured hot water on the man's head. I turned and grandma standing with a pot in her hands. The man jumped, screaming and danced like a deranged person but didn't let go of his gun. Henry slammed a side tool on his back while he was still dancing and he turned to fire, I quickly rushed towards him and pushed his hand away from Henry, the shot bored a hole on the television hanging on the wall. He staggered towards Tony who had been standing confused and petrified. Tony quickly moved away from him. He turned quickly towards me and shot but I dodged just in time.
Tony pushed him so hard he tumbled over a chair beside him. I quickly ran and turned the chair over on him. He pushed the chair off, jumped to his feet aggressively and was going to shoot Tony, I held his hand and pushed him to the wall. Henry came from behind him and grabbed his neck. Grandma joined, biting the man's hand while I struggled to get the gun off the same hand.The man was impressively strong, even as his skin was beginning to pill off he was still agile and effective.
He suddenly sent a blinding lunch across my face that almost sent me to the floor and pushed grandma down. Mary quickly came to take grandma away. Then nod Henry with the back of his head, the impact pushed Henry's head to the wall and he swung Henry over his shoulder to the floor in front of him.
" stop it! Stop it !" Mary kept shouting.
He made to shoot Henry, Tony threw a little elephant sculpture that stood beside our home theater at the man's head, Henry kicked him hard on his penis and I quickly picked up the sculpture and slammed it on his head, he staggered away from me and I followed him immediately. He pointed his gun at me and fired but I knocked the hand away with the sculpture, the bullet punctured a door just close to Mary. I sent another very hard hit on the side of his head, his eyes rolled up and he fell like tree on his side.
The whole family gathered around him looking if he was dead. He was still jerking with his eyes rolled up. I took the gun from his hand and pointed it at him just incase he tries to get up so I would shoot, but he slowly became still and his eyes closed.
" who is he?" Grandma asked, still scared that he may get up anytime.
" I don't know". I said looking at him.
" but he sounds foreign. I thought he was a friend of yours". Mary said standing behind grandma looking dreadfully at the dead man.
" I can't remember. But I know he's definitely not my friend". I said.
I squatted beside him and was looking at the damage the hot water did on his face and wondered who fights that hard even with such an injury.
I began searching his pocket if I could find a clue.
" get away from him!" Grandma yelled.
" it's okay, I want to see if I could find something about him". I replied.
" let the police do it, get away from him!". Grandma yelled again.
" mummy, allow him!" Henry said and squatted on the man's feet loosing a pair of his shoes.
We all turned astonishingly at Henry who didn't take note of our stares.
" Henry!" We all chorused.
He glanced at us said and continued. " taking my price of the kill". He said.
" Henry get away from him!" Mary yelled still scared of moving away from grandma's back.
" not until I take this shoes off " Henry said loosing the other pair.
" Henry leave there!" Tony bellowed.
" Tony leave me alone!" Henry said dragging the last pair off his foot.
I ignored Henry and continued searching, then found a phone. I took it out and began scrolling, then found the last message.
FOUND HIM. IN AND OUT. The message read.
I turned to grandma and read it out. We were all puzzled. I checked his last dialed number, it was the same country code with Daniela's. I pondered while the similarities,then began wondering if that was the reason I came back. Why was it that he came after I finished speaking with Daniela? Maybe Daniela knows something about it. I couldn't tell grandma this so as not to increase their fear, so I stood up and said to grandma. " lets call the police".
" Henry drop that shoe!". Grandma yelled.
Henry grumbled with the shoes in his hand.
" Henry drop it!" I said facing him sternly.
He hissed and dropped it.
Mary called the police and in an hour time they arrived. They interviewed each of us, we said all we knew. They didn't ask me much because I couldn't remember anything of my past. So they decided to start investigation based on the information I gave them.
They were taking the body away and Henry asked one of the officers if he could keep the shoes.
" Henry! " grandma yelled.
The officer smiled and said no. Henry grumbled and went to sit down looking angrily as the officer took the shoe away.
I was thinking about the call I received from Daniela as I was looking at the cops hauling the body into the back of their truck. I suspected she had a hand in it. So I quickly ran to the officer Mary called as he was about driving off. He stopped the car and asked.
" any problem?"
" yes sir!" I said.
He turned off the ignition and waited for me to speak.
" I didn't tell you everything " I said.
He and the man in the car beside him turned to me suspiciously.
" I received a call from a lady abroad few minutes before the attack. She claims to be working with me abroad and said she sent me a mail concerning a job we were to do together tomorrow, not quite long after receiving that call, the strange man came asking after me".
The officer turned to his colleague and they both exchanged a knowingly stare. Then he turned to me.
" where's the mail?"
" it's in my laptop. But I can't remember the password ".
" get the laptop, we are going to start from there. Thanks for this information. Now get the laptop".
I nodded and went to get the laptop, returned in a moment and handed it to him. He opened and looked at it, then he closed it up, heaved and said. " you have to come with us"
I agreed. Then went in to inform grandma. Mary insisted on following me so I allowed her.
In few minutes, we were driving to the station.

Episode
The next day I went to retrieve my number and my old numbers were restored. My car also was taken to the mechanic.
Later from the mechanic, I went to my bank with the bank details I found at home, met an arrogant saucy young girl at the customer care section and explained myself to her, she asked for my fingerprints and got busy with her computer. She must have seen something that changed her countenance immediately and she became too nice. I didn't know what must have triggered the sudden kindness until she showed me the outrageous figures in my account. How could one person have such money? And from the account details, money enters often the day.
I requested for the details of the person sending the money and it was giving to me, I also discovered that the account was linked to my international salary account. I asked for the name of the company, she gave it to me and I left.
Mary was in the kitchen fixing lunch when I arrived. The aroma pervaded the whole place and made me salivating. She was impressively sexy and beautiful in a pink skimpy gown that revealed beautiful set of legs; her hair was cut low and tinted blond, making her look exceptionally captivating and attractive.
" hi Mike, how's our memory coming?" She called from the kitchen with a perforated spoon in her hand.
I went to meet her in the kitchen. The moment I looked at her legs from behind and her slim curvy waist, my heart skipped a beat, I wanted to hold her right there and plug her from behind, but i looked away and moved closer to see she was mixing eggs and potato in a frying pan.
" this food smells good " I said leaning on the cabinet and looking into the pan.
She smiled and scooped out the ones in the pan: " I'm almost done ". She said and turned off the gas.
I went to the sitting room and sat waiting for my food to be served. Henry came in, greeted, sat beside me and turned on the TV. The news on, they were talking about the new resistant's camp discovered; five members were killed in shootout and 20 captured.
Mary came with the food and asked if I would like it on the dinning or sitting room. I told her dinning, then she placed it there and told Henry to the call his brother for lunch.
We all sat and ate silently, I noticed I was stealing glances at her, she was so beautiful. I began wondering if we were dating, but from what I heard her say in the forest, I think we may not be dating. So I concentrated on my food.
My cousins finished their meal and went inside, leaving I and Mary on the dinning. So I asked her the question that has been eating me up.
" what kind of relationship did we have? "
She looked startled at the question and blushed. I smiled and waited for her response.
She stole a glance at my shyly and said. " platonic ".
I nodded thoughtfully.
Mary: sex mate kind of relationship, but I wish we had more.
" how often did we have sex?" I asked without thinking it through.
She was surprised to hear this and frowned. " you're reading my thoughts aren't you?"
" no, I wasn't!" I denied.
" I know you can hear people's thoughts, so don't pretend and it's not nice! You're seeing everyone's unclothedness! ". She sounded pissed.
I felt guilty. I remembered I ignorantly let the cat out of the bag when we were in the trunk of the kidnappers car.
" I'm sorry, I don't even know how it happened. Maybe if I could remember something perhaps I could figure out if I was born with the gift".
She looked at me for awhile and her facial muscles relaxed.
" what are your plans?" She suddenly asked and began pouring me a glass of fruit juice.
" I don't know right now, but what I'm sure of is that I want to kiss you ".
She paused with the juice jug in her hand. Then she slowly dropped it, passed the glass to me and smiled.
Then she said shyly: " why asking? you should have come to take it, girls love guys who go for what they want".
I smiled and drank from the glass of juice. Mary stood up and began clearing the table.
The door bell rang.
" who's that?". I asked, standing up to get it.
When I got to the door, I saw Jude and an elderly man standing.
" hey superman" Jude said and tried to shake me in that funny way but I couldn't follow, we just laughed about it.
The man with Jude was just looking at me as if he saw a ghost. I greeted him and invited them in.
As they settled on their seats Jude introduced the man with him: " this is Otondo, your dads friend, he's a superman".
The man nodded and sat up. " your father and I were brothers, you look so much like him. We saw the ups and downs and survived with medals. Your father was a soldier, a great man! I was privileged to have known him. When Jude here told me about you, I said to myself, ha! I must see this boy oh, and so I came to see the offspring of Mike, rugged superman".
I was flattered hearing this from an elderly man. It made me feel good being the son of such a hero
" I wasn't privileged to meet my dad, but I have seen his picture " I said.
" growing without a dad is a bad thing. He would have passed on his ruggedity to you himself, nevertheless, you are in safe hands. We are your family, you are one of us, so don't worry, you can find mentorship in us your blood and brothers". The old man said.
We spent the rest three hours talking about the kidnap and other things circling around the recent events after my kidnap incident,I believed they wanted to work with what I remembered. And thereafter, Otondo invited me for a recognition meeting with the brotherhood of supermen. I agreed and they later left.
Mary came to the sitting room and sat beside me.
" I am sorry, but I overheard most of your discussion with them" Mary said and turned to me. " I would love to call you sweetheart, coz that's how you make me feel, I truly love you and would die for you if need be, you can listen to my thoughts and tell if I'm lying I lov....".
I was dumbfounded by her words and kissed her before she could finish her statement. Then she slowly broke the kiss, looked me in the eyes surprised and then kissed me hungrily.
After awhile of intense kissing, she broke it catching her breath and said stopping me from coming closer with a hand on my chest.
" what I was trying to say was". she turned to me and looked into my lusting eyes. "Don't join that stupid cult". Then she broke into tears and held my hands. "People die in that stupid gang. Jude does not have a life, two of that old man's sons are dead, he got only one daughter left. I beg you, don't listen to them".
I looked into her eyes and saw sincerity, then my urge to kiss her because overwhelming. I first kissed the back of her hands looking into her eyes, then pulled her close and we locked lips passionately. Things was getting intensed as my hands ran through her body and was I about taking it to the next level when someone loudly cleared his throat twice. We abruptly stopped and looked up simultaneously, only to see Henry smiling at us.
" what do you want? " I asked feeling this had happened before.
" emm...grandma isssss...back..." He said, smiling wickedly while dragging his words and pointing at the door comically.
He finished his statement and ran back inside the house.
I and Mary hurriedly sat up and arranged ourselves. And the door just opened just when we were done.
Mary turned immediately and greeted grandma with a phony smile as she stood up to hug her.
" mummy welcome" she said and took the bag from grandma
' yes my daughter, did you cut your hair?" Grandma asked looking at Mary's hair as she gave Mary the bag of foodstuffs.
" welcome " I said.
" my son. I saw the car outside, have they fixed it?" Grandma asked as she moved to the kitchen with Mary.
" yes ma".
My suddenly phone rang and startled me, I picked it up and saw a foreign number with the name, Daniela. I slowly took it.
" Mike, i have been trying to call you since yesterday. I'm coming into Africa tomorrow. I told you I have a deal with a new prospect there". A female foreign voice came through.
I tried to remember who Daniela was but couldn't, so I played along.
" oh that's true. I'm very happy to hear this "
" I'm coming with Gabriel, please get ready, you're coming with us, I've sent the prospects information to your mail, please study it and be prepared" Daniela said.
" alright". I said, trying to remember if I have a mail, then it occurred to me that I could have it in the laptop I found in my room.
" are you okay? You sound different". Daniela asked.
" oh, I'm perfectly fine!" I said smiling, with so much emphasis and a finger in the air.
" alright. See you tomorrow. Bye". She said and hung up.
I looked around the sitting room aimlessly. Grandma and Mary were already busy laughing in the kitchen. I thought of something to give me a clue on this Daniela, then I remembered my laptop. I ran to my room and retrieved the laptop where i kept it in the wardrobe.
I opened it, turned it on and waited for it to boot. After booting I tried to operate it, but it was on a password mode.
" Bleep!'' I cursed.
I can't remember the password to my own laptop.

Episode
Mary returned and knelt beside Daniel who sat down with the gun on his thighs. He was really hurt and bleeding profusely. The fat woman seemed really worried for Daniel who was already turning pale.
" I think we scared the driver away with the gun". The fat woman said looking at the road if another vehicle was coming.
" how did you guys survived it?" I finally asked the question brewing inside of me.
" The military ". Daniel said in a weak tone.
" don't say anymore". The fat woman cautioned.Then she stood up and walked to the road.
Daniel held my hand and said smiling." I pulled...you guys all out safe"
I smiled back and nodded. " you were brave".
He smiled and bent over like he was about dozing off. I shook him holding his shoulders and he jerked back to consciousness.
" hey! Not here, not now, you heard?" I said still shaking him.
He nodded and turned to Mary who squatted silently beside him.
" you...you fooled them all" he said and smiled.
" stop talking" Mary said with tears dropping down her cheeks.
He smiled and said to her. " are you crying? I can't die again, I survived there, how can I die here? We are all coming out of this alive".
The sound of an approaching car was heard coming from the opposite direction of the road. I was struggling to my feet and Mary helped me.
The fat woman stood in the middle of the road waving at the car approaching from a distance, Mary joined her. I quickly picked the gun from Daniel who initially refused to let go and threw it inside the bush.
The car stopped and the ladies ran to it. Mary was already talking with the driver when I joined. The driver had a lady in the front seat whom I suspected to be his wife. Mary told them that we were attacked by armed robbers and they were willing to help because of Daniel's condition.
The four of us managed the back seat. I turned to Daniel and he seemed to be okay. I asked him if he was comfortable, answered me " I'm good".with a smile.
We got to the nearest hospital and I turned to Daniel who was staring at something in front . I followed his gaze and saw nothing.
" we have arrived ". I said.
He remained still. I shook him slightly and he dropped his head on the fat woman's shoulder who also was trying to see what was wrong with him, that was when we knew he was dead. The fat lady rushed out of the car calling on the nurses. She was hysterical.
The nurses came and wheeled Daniel away on a stretcher.
I sat on a chair in the hospital hallway watching as the fat woman walked to fro the hall uneasily. I turned to Mary, she sat silently beside me looking blankly at an anatomical photo of a naked man.
The doctor suddenly appeared and asked. " you people brought him?"
We nodded and gathered around him. I already knew what he wanted to say and walked back to my seat feeling weak to my tummy.
" I'm sorry, he was dead before he was brought here". The doctor said to the ladies curiously staring at him.
The fat woman shouted and threw her hands in the air before she sagged to the floor crying. Mary slowly sat beside me shedding silent tears. I remembered the last words Daniel said in the car.
" I'm a hero". He laughed and I joined him. "I did one thing in my life that I'm proud of. I can't wait to tell everyone about it, maybe write a book".
This thought pained me so bad i closed my eyes foughting back the tears threatnening to fall down.
I was later admitted in the hospital due to my hip and leg dislocation. Mary called home to inform them about our whereabout.
In the evening of that day, an elderly woman that looked familiar came into my ward and hugged me passionately and emotionally while Mary stood beside the bed smiling at the family reunion. She broke the embrace and was in tears as she happily sang and danced. Two other teenagers came in and was very happy to see me.
Then she later realized I could'nt recognized her, that was when she broke down in tears and Mary comforted her.
An hour later, two guys joined too. One was using wakking stick. He greeted the old lady and the lady was happy to see them.
" Mike my man! Who did this to you?" The one with a walking stick asked looking disapproving at the bandage on my knee.
"He can't recognize you, my grandson can not even recognize his mother". The lady said and began crying.
The boys were surprised. The other moved closer and asked. " do you know me?"
I looked at him and smiled, then turned to Mary for explanation. Like she could read my mind she said to me. " Stanley and Jude, your new friends ".
I remembered the name from Mary's thought earlier in the jungle and turned to the guy fvcking Calista and smiled.
Two days later, I was discharged and returned home. I sat at the balcony in my white jalamia looking at the business card I called the number on it at the kidnappers den. " Fiona, who is she? ".
I called Henry to borrow me his phone. He brought it to me. When he left I dialed the number, it connected and a familiar voice asked. " hello, who is this?"
" hi. My name is Mike, I found your number..."
" Mike? What's going on?" She cut in. Her voice sounded angry.
" I'm sorry, I was kidnapped and luckily escaped". I explained.
" yeah... I suspected. I reported the case immediately you called earlier and they tracked the line to the forest that same night but they didn't see any captives". Fiona said.
" oh, we got lucky ". I said wondering how timely her rescue team were.
" where are you now?" She asked.
" I'm at home"
" please text me the address, I'm coming over to see you right away".
" I'm sorry, I lost most my memory when those kidnappers ran me over with their car. Please I don't even know this address but I can ask".
I called Henry, he came and I handed him the phone to give her the description to our house. Henry did exactly as I told him and returned the phone.
" okay, that's where I live". I said.
" I'll see you soon". She said and hung up.
I was still at the balcony seeping on some lemonade when the gate man opened the gate for a red Lexus jeep. I sat up properly and adjusted myself, someone in that car must be very rich, I thought.
She packed under a mango tree in front of the balcony and stepped down. I was surprised to see a very light skinned chubby lady with beautiful face, her perfume pervaded the whole compound the moment she was out from the car.
She was in a red bodyhug, cleavage baring blouse that revealed her flat tummy and a very tight blue jeans that elaborated on her broad hip. Her hair hung on her sides and her fingers were well manicured in red.
She came closer eyeing the crutches lying beside me. " hey, what's that?" She asked climbing the few steps to the balcony.
" I told you about the car accident ". I said adjusting the crutches out of the way.
She sat and looked at my face. " you look dark. You need to hydrate".
" that's what I'm doing". I said smiling as I took a sip from the glass of lemonade.
We later got talking about the kidnap and our escape, then talked about ourselves. I told her I could'nt remember anything, but my grandma told me I grew abroad, worked abroad and just returned. She said it showed in my ascent and she also suggested a psychological therapist for my memory lost. It was when she spoke about herself I got to know she is married to a military man who hardly stays at home, all her family members are all in the military except herself who chose to manage her own oil and gas business.
When I asked about her kids, she said she had non but believing it would happen for her soon.
When I looked into her eyes I discovered she was my mate, but was looking too matured for her age.
We talked about other things about life and I discovered we shared so much in common. We laughed at each other's joke and hours was spent together without knowing. We had lunch, had some snacks, fruits and drinks. We continued having a great time until it was already dark and so she forced herself to leave.
Twenty minutes after she was gone, the gate opened, I looked and saw the gate man allowing Jude and Stanley in. I didn't know why those boys gave me the creeps. But I waited to know why they came.
" hey blood" Jude said and made to shake a funny handshake with me but I didn't follow.
" what was that?" I asked smiling as he sat opposite me.
Stanley took a seat beside him and said to me. " that's our brotherhood handshake".
I laughed and said to them. " you guys are just too funny".
Stanley leaned forward and whispered. " is grandma in?"
I shook my head and said " she went to her friends, may not come back today. Why?"
Jude brought out something from his pocket. " we brought you your drugs".
I looked at the strange dry mashed leafe in a nylon in his hand and asked. " what's that?"
The boys exchanged a startled glance and exploded in laughter. I was surprised at why they were laughing.
Jude began wrapping the substance in a white paper; he handed one to Stanley who lit his and began smoking immediately, then wrapped one for himself, lit it and dragged in smoke looking at me and puffed it out on my face.
" what's the meaning of this?" I retorted angrily.
" trying to jog your memory amigo" Jude said and handed me the smoke in his hand.
I hesitated and he said. " if you really want to gain back your memory, you need weed".
I took it from him, looked at him and Stanley, they both nodded and I dragged in a smoke. They clapped and encouraged me to drag in more. I did and then I had a flash of a party with naked women everywhere. When I opened my eyes I saw the old man in the forest walked past behind Stanley. I jerked up and looked to see if I was imagining it but found only the mango tree.
" what's it?" Jude asked laughing.
I looked at them, they seem to laughing at me and I told them I thought I saw a snake. Their laughter increased and I pretenciously joined them.
I passed the weed over to Jude and after he took a drag, he said. " you'll attend your first meeting with the brotherhood".
I could'nt believe he meant it initially. So I asked. " what brotherhood?"
" the one your father initiated you into before he died. The reason you came back to Africa, to continue from where he stopped, you can't remember?" Jude said verily on a serious note.
" my father?". I asked, trying to remember what they were talking about.
" yes. Your father was a rugged member. Try and remember why you came back. This was it, you need to uphold your fathers legacy". Jude said.
" please...I'm overwhelmed. I don't know if it's this thing I smoked, just give me time, perhaps when my grandma comes back, she will know better". I said.
They exchanged glances and Jude said to me. " not your grandma nor anyone must not know about this. You are a king in the brotherhood. You were supposed to lead your rugged brothers as a king that you are before the accident. I'm a friend, like a brother too, I can't cheat or deceive you. ".
I heaved and asked for the weed.

The updates are coming too late these days, so sorry, just too busy. Mabinu.

Episode

I watched as they pushed her in front of the leader, he moved over to the lady with his pistol in his hand; I was filled with anxiety and tension that I couldn't keep steady.

" please...please... I was only trying to ease myself". She said going on her knees.

The leader pointed the gun on her forehead. I stood behind him looking without knowing what to do.

" please...spare me. I'm the breadwinner in my family, my kids still needs me, please". She pleaded.

I had this strong feeling to do something, I couldn't stand watching her get killed without a fight at least. I turned to the men around us, there was no way I could play a smart one without being shot instantly moreover the odd was against me, I couldn't even escape with my bad legs. I thought of who to use as leverage for escape; the girl seem expendable, the only person apparently of value was the leader, but he was out of my reach.

While I was still thinking, Daniel knocked down a guard standing in front of him, took his gun from and pointed it at the leader's back in a swift second. He was visibly shaking as he looked around apprehensively.

" let her go!" Daniel blotted.

The guards all cautiously pointed their guns at Daniel, Mary and the girl ran to stand behind me, but the leader did not move a muscle, he still had his gun pointed at the fat woman.

" Dude, get out of here with the ladies!" Daniel said to me in a shaky tone.

" what about you?" I asked.

" don't worry, this is the death I have always wanted, now go!" He replied.

I turned to Mary and pushed the little girl away from her. Mary and the little girl gave me a surprised look.

" she's a mole! She's been spying on us!". I said pulling Mary away from the girl.

Everyone turned surprisingly at me for an explanation.

" it's a lie! He's lying!" The girl yelled.

" I saw her going to give them information this night. That's why Mary pulled that stunt to save the lady". I said.

Daniel pointed the gun at the leaders back who still held his gun at the fat ladies face and screamed. " let her go now!"

I knew I had to stay behind to work with Daniel on whatsoever suicide mission he had in mind, so I whispered into Mary's ear. " run, run far away".

She held my hand and pulled me, I resisted and was going to repeat myself when a loud gun shot flickered bright yellow light from Daniel's direction. I turned towards the it but was mentally destabilized by more gunshot that followed. The guards retaliated and it was flashes of yellow lights and loud gun sounds everywhere.

In that frenzy, I pulled Mary's hand and ran into the bush with my bad hip and legs limiting me. As we ran we heard further gunshots, I knew Daniel was dead and the fat lady too, we were next, I had to run as fast as I could; now, it was Mary pulling me along as I began lagging behind from the pain.

We ran with every strength we could gather. Mary continued dragging me along as I fought with the pain driving into me. Mary suddenly tripped on something and fell. I stopped behind her and pulled her up, then took a little time to looked around the dark forest, everything looked like a human being spying on us.

"we have to keep going". I said to Mary, trying to recall the route we came from earlier in the day.

" I think we came through there" Mary said pointing adjacent our direction.

Then I heard a rustling sound. I shush Mary immediately and listened if i would hear it again. The sound seem to be coming from every direction.

" lie down!" I whispered to Mary.

She gently laid on her and I followed her. We remained still watching. My legs vibrated in fear, my eyes were very alert just as my ear's antenna stood erect.
After a while of waiting, I saw a dark figure walk passed circumspectly. The fear in me increased, my hands joined my legs shaking, I fought it so that Mary won't know I was sacred as she remained calm looking at the figure passing. I could hear her praying silently and making some recitations in her dialect.

Something ran through Mary's waist, she let out a low startling cry and drew attention to us. The figure turned our direction and began walking slowly towards us. I couldn't make out if it had a gun, I could only see it had a human frame.

Mary now was shaking and clinging firmly to my arm. I tried to stay calm but couldn't. The figure came closer and I couldn't see if it was putting on a cloth or not coz everything was dark.

It finally stood in front of us, opened the leaves that covered us and then disappeared in a wisps of smoke. I was half out of breath and Mary who let out a low scream and froze. I shook her to be sure she was okay, and she turned to me.

" are you okay?". I asked.

She couldn't bring herself to say a word. I slowly stood up frighteningly and looked around if the strange person or ghost was around. When convinced it was gone, I motioned Mary up and we continued our running. I didn't want to spend a second there, not after being spooked by whatsoever it was.

We ran and walked for hours until we heard sound of moving vehicles. I turned to Mary in excitement, it felt like we just walked into paradise at last. She smiled, heaved a relief sigh and we continued towards the direction.

About forty minutes of staggering and battling with excruciating pain, thirst and tiredness we came out to the high way. What a relief at last. I and Mary stood impatiently waiting for a vehicle.

A car flashlight ray beamed from a distance. We looked hopefully at the direction.

" who are you!" A voice suddenly said from behind and spooked us.

Mary let out a cry and jumped on my back. I turned and saw a very old dry and slim man with a white cloth around his waist standing between bushes looking at me, I couldn't see his face clearly in the moon light but I knew he looked pretty weird.

" who are you" I retorted cautiously.

He turned to the car approaching and asked again. " who are you?". His voice was dry coaxed and husky.

" please lets get out of here". Mary whispered to me.

I turned to Mary briefly and returned to the man, but he had gone. I had no time to wonder where he went to, the car was already very close, we immediately started walking towards the approaching car and waving.

The car came closer and we waved at it hopefully but it drove past us. I was surprised, why would he do something like that? I asked myself.

" people are too scared". Mary said as if she read my thought.

I was still conscious of the old man, our captors and the shadow we saw earlier. Mary too kept glancing around like she was expecting a wild animal to come out anytime. The sun was coming up, it felt relieving that at least we could see what was coming for us.

Then another car was seen approaching. Mary rushed forward and waved at it, it was a white pickup van. The driver slowed down and we rushed to meet up. He was a smallish dark man with full hair bald in the middle, full mustache and a reading glasses on. Putting on a short green sleeve shirt with its first four buttons opened.

",good morning" Mary greeted as we looked through the passengers front seat window.

"Yes? Where are you people going to?" The man asked eyeing me suspiciously.

" just anywhere away from here". Mary said looking behind her.

The man smelt trouble and become frightened. He slowly placed his hands on his steering and asked. " is everything okay?"

" we were robbed" I said before Mary tells him the truth.

The man looked his front and back immediately and hurriedly beckoned us in. Without delay we entered the car and the engine stopped. We both turned to the driver questioningly, he too seem surprised.

" what's happening? " Mary asked.

" I don't know, I don't understand" he replied, still trying the ignition.

While we were waiting uneasily for the car to pickup, the old man suddenly appeared in front of us and stood looking. Now I could see him clearly; he was as charcoal dark man, his face looked like it was drained of blood and his head stood standing gray hairs that showed his shining scalp, his eyes were bulging out of the sockets. His lips were a very slim line and covered in wrinkles, he looked like a dry wood bathed with veins. His stomach was almost touching his back, with very visible ribs and his waist was very tiny with the white clothe around it and two broom like legs shooting out from underneath resting on two bare feets that were unbelievably huge.

" jeez!" Mary exclaimed in shock when she saw him.

The driver followed and stared completely dumbfounded. The old still stood motionless looking at us with his hands straight beside him.

" who is he?" The driver asked and a sudden surge of desperation to leave engulfed him as he tried the ignition with a tremulous hand cursing under his breath.

" who is he? What does he want?" Mary asked.

" I think I should ask him". I said, not even sure I meant what I said.

Mary turned to me unbelievably and said. " you are not going anywhere!".

I knew the old man wanted something, whatsoever it is, let me pay the price.

With this thought, I opened the door and Mary tried to stop me, I insisted and stepped out ignoring her. As I walked to the man I wasnt feeling the pains as much as I felt my heart threatening to choke me to death.

I stood few steps away from the old man and asked. " what do you want?"

He opened his mouth to speak, I couldn't see any teeth nor tongue save for white background.

" who are you?" He asked dragging his voice in a dry husky tone.

I didn't even remember who I was but knew they called me Mike but I couldn't tell him that until he tells us what he want.

" who are you, what do you want from us?" I asked courageously

He stretched forth his palm and said looking straight into my eyes. " come with me".

Mary shouted shooting her head from the car window. " Mike no! Mike come back! Get away from him!"

I turned to her swiftly and before I could I turned in front of me again, he was gone, I was startled and stood looking. The sound of the car engine came alive suddenly. I was so relieved and was returning to join them when someone came out of the bush with a gun and pointed it at the driver. I couldn't believe my eyes who it was.

" Daniel!" I called.

He turned to me looking like he was dying. He smiled and staggered to the car still pointing the gun at the driver, then he sagged on a knee, Mary jumped out of the car to assist him. The the fat lady came out of the bush behind him.

I joined them and asked what happened, how they managed to escape. I thought they were dead. Just then, the driver zoomed off, Mary ran after him shouting but he was far gone.

gly:


More grease to your elbow bro.
It is not easy doing this for free.
I appreciate you so much.
Like I would always say...people are watching and following. Recommendation would surely come soon.

Regards

Ese! Oga me

royalguy123:
oga Topher 052 thanks for this Sunday update,more wisdom and good health to you and your loved ones as you continue to put smile on our faces through your write ups, kudos to you .

Amen bros.

EPISODE

I watched as the girl shook as though she was frightened by the presence of the men who came for us.

The leader looked at us one after the other, then asked in surprise. " where is the other mans?"

We all kept quiet, I could sense the tension in the air, even I was scared of what may happen next.

He came closer to Daniel looking menacing at him " what happen to the man's that is follow you people?"

Daniel looked up to catch his face but buried it almost immediately without saying a word. The leader took out a pistol buried under his belt and pointed it on Daniels chest.

" answer me or die". He said and clinched his teeth, frowning his face.

We were all looking hopelessly at the leader. I could see from the look on his face that he would pull the trigger any moment. Daniel stood like a drowning man looking at the face of the leader.

The little girl suddenly rushed forward and knelt beside the leader. " please, don't kill him! The soldiers killed them but Daniel saved us with that gun. They would have killed us all if not that he fought them back".

I was too surprised that I left my mouth open for awhile watching her perfect innocent display.

The leader turned to her and looked like he was studying her face. Then he asked finally. " where their body?"

She pointed behind her from where we came from. Then the leader turned to his men and said something to them. They turned to us and motioned us forward.

After walking for two hours or so, it was dark. I was dying of thirst and my leg and hip no longer hurt, it was on fire. I had already caught a fiver and managed with the help of Mary to walk that distance.

We stopped under a tree and made two camp fires; one for the armed me with their leader and one for us. I sat with my back against a tree trunk shivering with high fiver. Six armed men sat around us discussing amongst themselves.

Few minutes after we settled, two men came over to our camp and pointed their guns at the little girl. She moved backwards towards Mary in fright. One of the men moved hastily to her and dragged her away as she struggled with him screaming. Every other person watched helplessly as they dragged her away.

" oh god, let it not be that they want to rape her again. That's how they rape her every night". The fat lady said almost in tears.

" she's not being raped" I said.

They all turned to me. I realized I shouldn't have said anything directly so as not to leak my know of who the girl was and put myself in danger, so I rephrased my statement. " they won't want to rape her because of what happened today. They're probably still in shock by now".

" that's true" Daniel said and followed the direction they took through. " she saved me today and I can't do anything for her".

I looked at Daniel from the reflection of the camp fire, his face was laden with emotion. Then I turned to the fat woman, she was crying silently. Mary just sat looking into the fire in deep thought, she kept mentioning Calista and Jude. I listened closely to understand what she meant.
Mary: I should have followed Calista to that party. I wouldn't have kept Mike in this condition, it's all my fault. We may die here, who knows. Jude must be happy when I die, he must be so so happy that I'm gone. Calista and Jude would be making love on top of that bed I bought with my money, not that I care though. What did I ever do to him? why does he hate me this much? What if we die here...

The men returned with the little girl and everyone's attention turned to her as she limped over clinging to her tummy.

As soon as she came closer, Mary and Daniel went to help her sit and sat beside her as she cried. The fat lady moved closer to and asked curiosly.

" what happened? "

"they raped me in turns". She said and cried more.

Mary embraced her passionately and looked at me with tears in her eyes. I turned away to the two guards waiting on us who were busy talking and laughing. If only they knew who she was?. Then returned to the little gathering around the girl.

" what do they want?" Daniel asked.

" what else if not money!" The fat lady said angrily and turned to Mary. " you could be next. Be strong, we are getting out of this alive"

The little girl slowly raised up her head before Mary could reply. " they may kill us all tomorrow or sell us to people who buys human parts. He said we are becoming a burden to them. Please we have to call everyone one we know, I just called my father, he promised them the money". She said in tears.

" I really don't have money. My son is still in search of job, my husband is late, what will I do?" The fat lady lamented.
Daniel turned to the little girl. " how much are they asking for?"

" 10 million". She replied.

Daniel's face dropped in frustration. " I can't afford that. But I can raise 5 million". He said muttering to himself.

The fat lady turned to him expectantly and pleaded. "Please, tell them you are paying for both of us. They will kill me if they find out I can't afford anything. I'm just a small trader, I don't know how I got here".

Daniel turned to her and nodded blankly. Then he looked at Mary who was far in thought still holding the little girl in her embrace. " what about you?"

Mary turned to him with a startled look in her eyes and slowly loosened her embrace on the girl. Then she looked at me where I sat observing the tension in their midst; I forced a smile and she returned to Daniel and said in an uncertain tone. " we are together".

They all turned to me and then everyone settled into their own thoughts and worries except the little girl. I monitored her closely, she pretended to be in deep thought but was considering who was dispensable or not and each time she kept stealing glances at the fat woman.

That night, everyone slept really deep. I woke up and caught the little girl sneaking off in the shadows of the moonlight because our camp fire had burned out. I pretended as if I was asleep and watched as she whispered something to the one of the guards pointing at the fat woman whose snoring disturbed the peace of the night. Then she hurriedly returned to us and took her position on the floor.

Sleep left my eyes immediately but my leg and hip still hurt. I watched as the guard walked towards the other camp and disappeared out of sight. I knew I had to do something. I looked around, the guards were still very active. I turned to my colleagues, they were all sleeping peacefully.

I slowly tapped Mary's leg and she jerked up, looked around in hostility then caught my sight. I shush and beckoned her over. She looked at me in alertness and slowly moved towards me, rest her back on the same tree trunk with me so she wouldn't draw attention.

I whispered into her ears. " we have to get that woman out of here".

Her eyes widened and she asked a little louder. " why? "

I covered her mouth with my hand and turned to the girl if her eyes was opened and when convinced she may not have heard Mary's voice, I whispered again. " they may kill her tonight".

The surprised look on Mary's face was typical. I ignored her and looked around for anyone was watching us.

" how do we get her out of here?" She whispered.

" I don't know... that's why I called you, so we can think of something together".

She looked deep in thought and suddenly stiffened with a finger in the air.

" what?" I asked abruptly.

I'll create distraction and you will tell her to escape. I thought of the idea but it was a 50/50 chance. Moreover, it was dark and they wouldn't know when she sneaks off . Then I nodded in agreement.

Mary took in some large air and exhaled several times, went back to where she laid and lied down. After two minutes, she jumped up screaming "snake! snake!"

The rest sleeping jumped and ran confusingly around. I quickly grabbed the fat woman as he ran, jumping towards me and whispered quickly into her ears. " no snake, it's a distraction for you to escape! They'll kill you tonight. Run!"

She looked at me with an eye filled with questions. There was no time, the guards were already distracted and her chance was wearing out in five seconds. I pushed her toward the nearest bush and she immediately snuck out, while Mary jumped about scattering everything, putting everyone in confusion and panic.

The guards from the other camp came over and one of them held Mary still. " stop! Where snake?".

Mary looked around like a demented being, pointing frighteningly. The men followed her gaze but there was nothing in view, although there was no torch light to ensure there was actually a snake or not.

The leader came to the commotion and said yelled something to the guards, they began searching the area immediately. He looked at Mary and asked. " you sure you see snake?"

" big black snake! It climbed me. I felt its coldness on me!" Mary said shivering.

I stood looking at how real Mary pulled it off. While they were searching, a voice called our attention. We all turned towards it and saw the fat lady in front in the shadow of the moonlight and two men behind her saying something in their language. My heart sank in despair. I turned to Mary, she too was as shocked and heart broken as I was.

Sorry guys for the long absence. Sometimes I get too choked up and other constraints. Thanks for ringing the bell for me, I see you , I'm really grateful. May God bless you plenty plenty.

The knife in my hand lost his earlier enthusiasm as I saw the guns pointed to my face ominously.

The leader was still smiling when he turned to his men waving them down. Then he stood up looking at me while I held the knife to his neck frighteningly, looking at each of the men unsure of my fate.

" you get mind. You put knife in my neck mean you have heart". The leader said and gently pushed the knife away from his neck with a finger.

I stood looking like a lost dog, the pain in my waist and leg worsen the situation I was in. I still held the knife towards the leader who seem not to be frightened a bit by it. He walked away from me to pickup a pistol from a table beside us.

The young girl stood up pulling up her bum short and adjusting her shirt as she hid herself behind me.

I watched as the leader walked up to me with the gun pointed to my face, my lungs froze and my whole body shook in fear. He stood in front of with my eyes looking into the little hole of the gun.

" you really get money?" He asked expressionlessly.

I nodded and took a quick glance at the young girl to reassure myself I was right. She nodded swiftly affirming my thought.

The leader smiled and turned to the girl. " your wife have lucky oh. He marry a rich man!". Then he walked to a jacket hunged on one of the woods of the house, searched in its pocket, took a phone from it and returned to me. Shoved it in my face. " call. thirty minutes or we cut her head".

I took the phone from him not knowing what to do with it. I couldn't even remember my own name let alone anyone's phone number. The girl took the phone from me and began dialing a number. But the leader snatched the it from her and yelled." who ask you! Then placed the phone on my chest. " call the money! Thirty minutes!"

I looked around for help but met five masked men facing me without knowing what their faces looked like. I then thought of searching my pocket for a clue and stumbled on a business card. I immediately took it out and looked at it, Fiona was the name of the CEO of the oil and gas company. Who the fvck was she? I dailed the number and waited for the phone to connect. After few seconds a female voice came through.

" hello"

I tried to place the voice but it was alien. So I responded carefully trying to act as though I know who was talking.

" hello. Please I need 30 million. I'm held captive by some guys demanding that amount..."

" who the hell is this!" The voice barked.

"Fiona, please help me. I'm in-between life and death".

She was silent for awhile, then asked. " Mike?"

I was surprised. That was actually my name? How come I don't remember?

Then I quickly replied. " yes. It's I, Mike. Please help!"

The leader snatched the phone from me and said to Fiona. " Thirty Minutes or I send him head inside nylon for you". And hung up.

I turned to the girl with me who was literally shivering in fear and smiled to her, she didn't seem to notice it as her mind was busy.

Girl: what am I going to do? How did I get into this mess? Oh god, if you save me from this, I promise to change. I will stop sleeping around for money, I'll go to church and sing in the choir.

I could really hear her thoughts. She wasn't moving her lips but I could hear her as audible as though she had spoken to me. I began to wonder who I was, if was a kind of magician or prophet?

A lanky masked man ran in like he was being chased by a lion and said something hastily while looking behind him as he spoke. The leader quickly picked up his Ak and said something to the men with him. Four followed him with the man who came in and they all rushed out while one armed man was left to guard us.

I turned to see if I could catch a glimpse of what's happening when I heard gunshots followed with the armed men running passed the wooden house.

The man guarding us jerked around and rushed to peep, then returned to I and the girl and stood looking at us like he was contemplating on what to do. The gunshots continued. He turned to an opening between the woods and peeped again, then turned to us almost immediately. He pointed his gun at us and motioned us towards the exit. I nodded with my hands up and moved with the girl beside me.

Outside was a frenzy. Gunshots coming from every angle. I was happy that help had finally located us but was scared of getting hit. He motioned us quickly into the forest. We hurried in and walked faraway from the shooting. We continued walking until he asked us to stop, looked around circumspectly before he whistled still looking around and someone replied. He turned to the place the voice came from and waited impatiently.

A dark, slim teenage boy in green combat trouser and black singlet and white dirty sneakers surfaced from the bush beside us and was surprised to see I and the girl. He immediately covered his face with a mask he brought from his side trouser pocket, but it was too late as we had already seen his face.

The man who escorted us was mad at him and yelled angrily, the boy apologized and they both turned to us like they were considering our fate. The one who came with us heaved and turned to face the teenage boy. He said something to him and they turned to us again. The teenage boy moved closer and the girl with me slowly hid behind me holding my arm. He stopped in front of me and said apparently hardening his tone. " move! ". Pointing the directon he came out from.

We obeyed. The other left while we allowed allowed ourselves to be led into a thicker part of the bush.

After walking for what seem like forever, we arrived a place where some persons; two young men in their thirtiee, an elderly man, one teenage girl who looked like she had undergone series of rapes and a fat dark woman all sat on the floor guarded by a slim tall masked man.

The teenage boy said something to the guard and he immediately motioned the people he was guarding up and pointed them forward. I and the girl were made to join the group. I noticed that I and the girl were looking so beautiful compared to their captors before us, that means they must have been there for weeks or months.

I struggled with my bad hip and leg as we sojourned. The girl kept helping me steady each time I staggered.

We had covered up to some reasonable distance and I was dying of thirst. What I won't pay to get a cold ice water but it was apparently an impossible request at that moment, but I knew I may faint if I don't get a drink, I really need to try my luck afterall he was just a kid. So I stopped and said to teenager " water please ".

The reply I got was the butt of his gun on my nose, I saw blue sparkles of light as I found myself on the floor with a woozy feeling. The girl knelt in front of me and checked my face.

" are you okay?" She asked.

I slowly looked up and she appeared double. The teenage guard shouted and pointed his gun at us. The other guard came to me and pulled me up by my shirt muttering words of disgust.

I was yet on my feet when one of the men from the captors threw sand into the teenage boys face and jumped on the other guard, both of them fell to the ground. The second man who stood looking suddenly rushed the teenage boy and held his gun. The first man followed the guard up with punches while the second continued struggling with the teenage boy.

A gunshot was let out and the elderly man with us sagged to his butt holding his stomach. The fat woman rushed to him and the teenage girl with them ran to join the fat woman.

I and the girl stood looking. I wanted to help but I didn't know who to assist. The girl with me rushed the other guard struggling with the first men and held the gun; she and the other man forced the guard down and overpowered him.

After a while, the two guards were defeated and their guns taken from them. The first man removed the asked mask from face of the other man and we saw a very young boy of about fifteen years old.

" who are you guys?" The first man asked.

The boys said nothing, they just looked as though regretting not to have shot us. The woman suddenly screamed and we all turned to her. She was shaking the elderly man as she cried.

We gathered around the lifeless body of the man wondering what we were going to with his body.

" who know him?" I found myself asking.

" no idea. He was here before I joined them three weeks ago". The fat woman said sniffing in.

" how do we go about this now? We really have to get moving before they get us". The girl with me added.

"what about these boys? What are we to do to them?" The second man asked in confusion.

" lets kill them" the first man said and pointed his gun with at one of the boys to fire.

the fat woman quickly ran to him and pulled the gun up. " what are you doing Daniel? They are kids" she said utterly in surprise.

" what kids? and they shot that sick kid yesterday? They deserve to die!'' Daniel said and made to shoot.

The fat lady ran in front of him, blocked his way and said " I won't allow you do this. Look at them, they're just children".

" we're the resistance group". The second man said pointing the gun at Daniel. " you won't kill anyone of them, drop your gun".

We all turned to him overtake by surprise.

" what are you doing Bob?" Daniel asked completely dumbfounded.

Bob smiled and said " I was planted to monitor you guys. The boy they killed was a collateral damage. We abducted you guys to raise money for the war we are planning". pointing the gun at Daniel.

" then why help fight the boys?" I asked.

" wanted a little fun" Bob said with a smirk. " the boys don't even know I'm one of them".

I turned to the boys that were as startled as we were.

" so you were with us to get information?" The fat woman asked.

He smiled and focused on Daniel.

" so what now?" the girl with me asked.

" those guys who attacked are the government. Our cover is blown..."

"... I wish they killed that ugly fool who tried to rape me". The girl with me interrupted Bob frowning in disgust.

Bob turned to her and smiled. " this is war my dear, expect a little rough play".

" and so what now? " The fat woman asked.

The man turned to her and said calmly. " you're all coming with me".

" no way bro! I got a pregnant wife to go back to" Daniel said and pointed his gun at Bob firmly.

Bob smiled and faced Daniel. " I don'want to kill anyone here. You guys are all important. And if I shoot your leg you now, you will slow us down. But I won't really like to kill you, so drop that gun".

Daniel held the gun steadily with sweat dropping down his face.

" it is you against all of us, you can't kill us all". I said pointing at Bob.

He looked at my bad leg and said. " you? What really can you do?" Then he turned to the ladies with me. " and you count these ladies too?"

I knew he was right but we had to get out of here without him.

" we have to get out of here. Kill us all if you want. Mike lets go!" the girl with me said and pulled the teenage girl by the hand who had been standing silently.

Bob fired very closed to the feet of the girl with me and before he could return to Daniel, Daniel shot him in the neck. He dropped his gun abruptly and clinged to his throat, with his eyes looking in horror and blood pumping out between his fingers and under his palms. He turned and ran towards the nearby bush, but before he could get into it, Daniel shot him twice in the back and he fell.

Daniel then turned to the two teenagers who were looking at him dreadfully and shot them dead even before the fat woman would get over the shock of Bob being dead.

There was a momentary silence. Four dead bodies laid on the floor. The sight was gory and frightening. I turned to the girl with me, she was hugging tight the teenage girl with us. The thirst I felt had miraculously disappeared.

" who knows the way out of here?" Daniel finally asked breaking the silence, looking around.

" I think we should go back towards the place they brought us through" the fat lady said looking dreadfully at the gun in Daniels hand.

Daniel thought of it and shook his head. " no. we can't risk returning back into their hands. Lets take here". Pointing behind him.

" no sir. I heard one of the guards saying the main road is that way". The teenage girl softly said for the first time with fear in her tone, pointing adjacent direction.

We all turned to her direction. Daniel didn't completely buy the idea, he looked around for a better option, but it came back to the girls direction.

We found ourselves walking through bushes and narrow paths. Everyone suddenly trusted the girls intuition. I and the girl who I discovered her name was Mary got talking, she was telling me some strange things about myself and I believed her because I had to. I had finally come to accept that I had lost my memory.

After about an hour of walking without getting anywhere and it was already getting dark, the fat woman stopped and asked tiredly. " why is everyone following this little girl as though she knows were she's going to. We have been walking for awhile now and have gotten nowhere".

" I was here before you people. This was where they brought me through". The teenage girl said emphatically.

" but you said you heard the guards saying this way leads to the road?" Daniel asked suspiciously.

" yes. And we came through this path, I remember". The girl confidently replied.

We all exchanged glances and continued following her. I was going through pains but kept moving. The girl with me never kept her mind off me, she continued checking on me and encouraging me on. My chat with her helped reduced the pain. I asked her if we were married, she smiled and was about answering when we heard a familiar voice:

" if you move!"

We all froze abruptly. People started coming out of the bush with guns and they were the masked men from earlier. Daniel dropped his gun and put his hands in the air. Mary held the terrified girl as she looked around at the men surrounding us.

As the leader smiled coming closer, I heard the teenage girl saying in her thought: thank god Ra isn't dead. Ha! I thought I was alone oh. Mercy, you're such a good actor. I thought I would not be able to lead them into this trap but I did! Ra must kill this Daniel for killing Madman Jonz.

I was so transfixed listening to her as she pretended outwardly to be innocently afraid. Why didn't I hear her earlier?

Sorry guys for taking this long. Una no go understand . Thanks for sticking around though. And those of you who got sexual healing, thanks to y'all, I'm very grateful.

I opened my eyes and found myself in a dark place with someone beside me. It felt like whatsoever we were in was moving with a little hole that air came through and slight rays of light. I tried to remember where I was what I was doing before I got there, then I felt a sharp pain in my hip and leg, coupled with a strong headache threatening to blow up my head.
I stretched my hand to feel where I was or what it was I was in.

" Mike?".

It was feminine voice. I turned towards her.

" Who are you?" I asked.

She hugged me from behind and said emotionally. " oh Mike. I thought you were dead".

" where are we? What's going on? Who are you and who is Mike?". I asked completely oblivious of what she was saying.

She broke the embrace immediately. " Mike? What's going on? Why are you asking me such questions?.

I wished I could see her face at least to know who she was, but couldn't due to the dark moving box I was in.

The thing we were in jumped into something deep and came out and I hit my head on a metal and the headache felt like I was going to pass out. That was when my brain picked the engine sound of a car.

" are you okay? Mike?". She sounded shivering.

I then decided to play along. " yes. What happened? Where are we?"

" you can't remember?" Her voice sounded startled.

" no. What's going on?"

She traced her hand on my face in the dark and said . " you were knocked down by a car and passed out. We are the trunk of the car. We have been in this trunk for a very long time now".

That was when I realized we were actually in the trunk of a car.

" who are they? Why did they put us in this truck?" I asked.

" they're kidnappers" she said. " they adopted us from where our car got stocked, remember?"

*has he lost his memory? He doesn't recognize my voice again? oh god save us*

I turned to her. " what is your name?" I asked.

* oh god, Mike, he has lost his memory*

" stop saying I lost my memory. I don't recognize this voice!" I bellowed and retreated to the hard pounding in my head.

* what is he talking about? When did i eat hé lost his memory? Or is he hearing things?*

" now you are saying I'm hearing things? You were the one who called me Mike and said I lost my memory"

*can he hear my thoughts?*

" please stop this. I'm too tired for this game. How can I hear your thoughts? Tell me what's going on here"

She gasped and let out a little scream. I could feel her moving away from me.

* he can hear my thoughts. How possible?*

" Mike, you can you hear my thoughts!". She said almost half screaming.

Before I could reply her the car stopped and I turned my attention to what was coming. The trunk opened and bright light blinded me. When I adjusted my eyes to the light, I saw two wretched looking masked men, each carrying a long gun saying something I couldn't understand but I needed not be a psychic to know they wanted us to come down.

I humbly climbed down and the girl followed. The men were five and armed with their faces coverd, only their eyes were left open.

We were in a thick forest with trees and grasses everywhere. Sounds of strange birds were coming from different angles. There was also a snake narrow path leading into the forest. Actually the forest began from where they stopped the car.

One of them muffled something and pushed me forward. I tripled and fell. The pain in my hip and leg was so excruciating I felt it was broken and my head banged mercilessly.

The girl ran towards me." It's okay Mike. Get up!" She said helping me to my feet.

One of the men moved in front of me; eyed me from my head to my feet then said something to his men, corked his gun and aimed to fire. The girl ran in front of me with her hands spread, shielding me with her body and begging them to spare us.

I looked at the smallish looking girl pouring our her heart in tears, risking her life to save me and wandered if actually I had lost my memory. Who was she?

One of the men came to the one pointing a gun at us and said something him that made him reconsidered. Then they pushed me forward not minding nor considering my condition nor even the pain I was going through as we walked in the forest.

The little girl helped me through the endless journey. Even with my weight three times her size, she still supported me with my hand around her neck and hers around my waist as I limped and biting back pain.

After what seemed like forever they asked us to stop abruptly. One of them looked around circumspectly and whistled. Another invisible person return the whistle and the first man whistled again before four armed men came out of the bushes on both sides and they exchanged a handshake before we continued leaving the four men behind.

We repeated the same thing three times before we came to camp. The camp was built with woods and grass roofs. There were over thirty armed men in view all looking malnourished but alert and ready to fire at any slight provocation.

They led us to one man in one of their wooden houses. He sat on a wooden chair, talking with two masked men who humbly stood in front of him. He was putting on a dirty yellow singlet and green pant. He was the only one without mask on. His beards were over grown and unkempt, his hairs bushy, his skin black as charcoal, his eyes narrow and red.

As we walked towards him, his bloodshot eyes turned to us and then he motioned the men with him earlier out without taking his eyes off us.

I was confused, what have we done to be led to a place like this? I was desperate for an answer and when we stood in front of the men I couldn't help but ask:

" sir. I'm sorry to be this cocky. Please what in fvck sake have we done to get such inhumane treatment from you? Imagine being put in the trunk of a car like animals!".

The little girl with me pinched me but i went on fighting back the ache banging in my head and body.

" I can not imagine the level of cruelty been displayed in this magnitude. This is absurd and completely..."

A dirty, deafening slap from behind shut me up abruptly. I then looked at the man seated and noticed the ominious look in his bloodshot eyes. For the first time I caught sight of the dagger in his big hand and caution played a better role in my reasoning.

The man slowly stood in front of me looking into my face while I tried to avoid his eyes. He suddenly pushed me hard on my shoulder I almost tripped due tp the pain on my hip and leg but the little girl helped me steady

" how much you get?" The man's baritone asked.

With a tremulous hands I was trying to keep steady, I searched my pocket and stumbled on my wallet. Took it out, opened it and noticed an ID card with my picture and name on the passport space " Mike Junior " was on it. It then occurred to me the girl was right after all.

I was still staring when a big hand snatched the wallet from me, he looked at the identity card briefly, pulled it out and threw it to one of the men with us and said something that wasn't English. The man looked at it and passed it on the the next who then read it out.

" Mi...keeee, Mike...Junior. Dri...dri...dri..vers, Li..ce...nse, drivers license!" He finally said proudly.

The red eyes man asked him something while pulling out the bundle of cash in my wallet. The man replied and the red eyes frowned at the reply while counting the money from the wallet.

When he finished counting, he came to me and asked causally. " you get money? If you no get money, I kill you now!"

I was surprised that I didn't know if I had money or boke or even average. But seeing all that notes being dragged out of my wallet means I got more, so I replied carefully.

" I got money. Lots of it!"

He smiled and moved to the little girl. " fine girl"

Then he fumbled her breast with recklessness. The girl removed his hand but met an abrupt resounding slap that startled me. He then pulled her steady and tore her transparent top and everything inside unveiling her breasts. He seemed pleased by her breasts and smiled. Then he turned her around so she he would see her buttocks, the girl did not hesitate any further but cried silently and coverd her breasts with her hands. He pulled down her bum short while his men laughed wickedly and he joked about something and they laughed even louder.

I wasn't enjoying the maltreatment on the girl anymore. So I said without thinking.

" stop! She's my wife!"

The man turned to me and seemed to be surprised I actually referred to him with that statement. I knew I had done what I shouldn't. Nevertheless, I swallowed hard and repeated what I said.

The man raised his dagger to my face and said between his teeth. " I go cut your fine face and give you tribal mark. You like it?"

I shook my head, and he nodded. Then he added. "Watch as I enjoy her okay? After we talk money".

He then turned to the girl; walked around her holding his dick and licking his lips. He said something to his men and they obediently nodded and backed him.

He then slowly began losing his belt. I knew I had to do something, I didn't know who she was though, but she risked her life to save me, plus she knows me too well. I knew I had to do something and had to do it fast. So I said as the man as he made to force the girl down.

" one million! Cash! I'll give you one million!"

He paused half way letting go of the terrified girl and turned to my scared and sweaty face. His men slowly turned to me too. He then stood erect facing me with his belt and opened trouser in his hands and asked slowly like he didn't hear what I said earlier.

" what have you say?"

" one million! I will give you cash! I got money! I'll pay you cash! Please don't sleep with my wife!". I said feeling like I was going to be killed for stopping his fun.

He looked thoughtfully at me and said. " 20 million! 20 million or all of us lick her one by one"

I couldn't believe my ears. That was outrageous. I wondered, lost in thought, thinking if I had assets that could afford that amount.

He turned to me with a smirk and said. " 30 million!"

With that statement he pulled down his pant, while his eyes fixed on me, then to turned and forced the girl to the floor. She was too small for him to overpower, I watched helplessly as he pulled off her bum short and was about penetrating her.

" okay! 30 million, cash!" I said, not even sure I had 500 thousand to my name. But I knew I had to buy time.

He froze on her, even his men turned to me. He slowly stood up from the girl that was now crying uncontrollably and walked up to me, standing few inches away from my face. " who you be?"

That question got me wondering who I really was. But I knew I had to reply him something convincing and fast.

" I'm a business man. A rich business man". I said, looking around for a clue and thinking what to convince him I was into.

" which business?" He asked, almost suffocating me with his breath.
" I...I sell.." I stuttered while thinking of what to say. Then I suddenly remembered the car we came in " I sell cars! All kinds of cars!"

He studied me for awhile and said. " you lie! Your eyes run like rat as you lie. Everybody here go eat her and you go watch. After, if I know you lie, I go cut her head and you watch, and cut your head, because you waste my time, I hate poor people, they waste time".

I wanted to say something else to defend myself but he turned to the girl who had stood up and moved away from him. He called his men to get her. She ran round the hut while they chased after her like an animal. I knew I had to do something, but didn't know what.

They eventually caught her and brought her to him while she struggled, screaming and crying. The red eyes man slapped her so hard she fainted. He pulled down his pants, looked at me, smiled and laid on top of her.

I was feeling very unsettled in my spirit. Every part of me was craving to do something. I turned to the five men who backed us whispering and laughing among themselves and then to the man who was now trying to penetrate her. I spotted the dagger dangling on his trouser on his feet. like something who had lost it, I picked up the dagger and placed it on his throat.

" get off her or I swear to god I'll cut your goddamn throat open" I said squatting beside the red eyed man.

He smiled looking at me. His men turned and saw me with a knife on their bosses's throat, immediately pointed their guns at me. That moment, I knew I made a huge mistake.

Next update is tomorrow

sypher23:
pls can someone help me with the link to part 1

https://www.nairaland.com/4517241/madam-me

EPISODE 28

I got back home after dropping the boys off. To my surprise Mary was still home. She was helping grandma in the kitchen, I could hear grandma's laughter from outside.

" Mike!" Grandma called, guess she saw me coming in.

I moved to the kitchen and stood beside the door, Mary assessed me quickly.

" Mary was telling me how she was accusing an ugly tout who sat beside her in the bus for stealing her phone. She held the man's shirt screaming 'thief' while the phone was right in her hand". Grandma said and laughed.

I smiled and turned to Mary who kept her eyes on me. She didn't bother to turn her face away, she wanted me to know she was looking at her.

" hi Mary " I said.

" hi Mike". She replied, still staring me.

Mary: why is he avoiding me? Jude must have spoilt my name, or could be that he's afraid of Jude? He's not even taking note of me anymore.

I turned to grandma, but she was now busy steering the soup in the pot and so I went to the sitting room.

About two minutes later Mary came in with a plate of banana, she placed it in a stool and dropped it in front of me and sat beside me saying

" I got it on my way here".

" I have been seeing the ones you have been bringing. Our refrigerator is full with fruits". I said taking one finger from the bunch.

" I love fruits, good for your health. My aunty used to say it makes ones skin smooth, but yours is just flawless" she said and chuckled.

I smiled and took a bite. Then turned to my favorite program showing on tv and poured my attention on it.

Mary sat silently while I laughed at some funny scenes.

" dinner! " grandma announced.

My cousins were the first to attack the dinning as usual. I was still seeing my program, while Mary sat with me.

" Mike! Come and eat, it's you Mary is waiting for". Grandma yelled.

I turned to Mary briskly. " Go, I'll join you" and returned to my program without waiting for her reply.

An hour later, the program was over. Grandma was done and was now discussing with Mary in the sitting room, my cousins had returned to their rooms. I stood up and headed for the dinning. Mary stood up and followed me.

The food was already cold. Mary quckly took the bowl and put it in the microwave. When she returned, she had an Apple with her in a plate, she dropped it in front of me and sat opposite me and said while arranging the dishes. " just five minutes, the food will be ready".

Mary: god! I'm famished, can't wait for this microwave to get it over with.

My heart melted, I stylishly looked at her pretty face laden with stress as she was busy wiping off the mess my cousins left on the table.

Grandma announced her departure and I and Mary were the only ones left.

The food was ready and Mary dished the food from the bowl into my plate, served me water before she did hers. We ate silently, I kept stealing glances at her. I have seen finer girls but there's something about her that makes her so charming and attractive. I began to wonder why Jude treats her the way he did, he could even pass her over to me like she was some piece of rag.

She ate innocently and peacefully. I could see her whole attention was on the food. So I asked to break the silence.

" you seem pretty hungry. When last did you eat?"

She smiled and said with her mouth full " been busy since morning" she swallowed and continued. " didn't have time to eat all day".

I became angry and dropped my spoon. " and you decided to wait for me? Why do that!" I barked.

She saw the anger in my eyes and looked really sorry. " please don't be vexed. I just wanted to eat with you"

" and starving?"

She smiled and apologized. " I'm sorry, please eat your food, it encourages me to eat more".

And with that statement, we continued silently. Then she asked after she finished drinking from a glass of water.

" what has Jude been telling you about me ?"

I wasn't expecting that question and froze in the shock, but immediately controlled myself.

" what makes you think we've been talking about you?" I asked and bite from a lump of meat.

" I don't know, your behavior of late says it all". She said pouring herself a cup of grape juice.

I smiled and rested my back on the chair looking at how she fought to avoid eye contact with me. The more I look at her, the more I want to cuddle and kiss her, but I had to control myself.

"what is really your relationship with Jude" I asked.

She looked up at me surprisingly. " this should be the third time you're asking me that question. Did you think I lied to you before?". She sounded hurt.

" oh, no! Just that I don't understand how you guys live together and you're here he doesn't care, knowing I could probably have sex with you". I said, just to hear her own side of the story about Jude's approval of us.

She kept a study stare on my face and then heaved before saying. " Jude said I can hangout with you and grandma, he doesn't care if we fvck or not, all he cares about is that I pay him his money "

Her statement made me believed something must have triggered Jude's behavior. Something must have caused him to act the way he is acting. So I asked.

" was he always like this? I mean, not minding who sleeps with you so long as you pay him his money?"

She slowly shook her head.

" so what happened?".

"When I came into town". Mary began "Jude had house rent problem, the landlord was threatening to evict him. Though he was hiding it from me initially, but I got to find out.

One morning the landlord came with some thugs to throw us out. I was the one who wept and begged the landlord to give us a week before he agreed. That evening, Calista called me and told me she was going to introduce me to a man who would clear our dept. I agreed, it turned out to be prostitution. I didn't tell Jude about it because I liked him. So I slept with the man and he gave me the money for the rent.

Jude asked where I got the money from, I told him my uncle sent it to me. We settled the house rent but more debtors kept coming. So I continued the Job.

So one day, a man approached me, I didnt know he was Calista's client. He offered me good money and i went with him. After that day, I noticed that most of Calista's clients were now disturbing me, they even told Calista to bring me to them. Calista found out about the man I slept with and told Jude what I have been doing to raise money. Jude changed from that moment"

Now I understand why he detested her. He wasn't really a bad guy, he was betrayed. I also understood why Calista slept with Jude and wanted to sleep with me, she hasn't really forgiven Mary.

So I asked Mary why she still hangs out with Calista, she said they reconciled. I laughed in my mind and warned her to be careful of her, she agreed.

I was seeing her off, we stopped beside my car and she stood in front of me. Her eyes and lips in the reflection of the security light made me want her desperately. I knew I liked her, she was just too captivating to be ignored, but then, Daniella had the greatest part of me.

Whilst she spoke I planted a kiss on her seductive lips, she didn't resist but returned it as though she had been expecting me to kiss her. We kissed passionately, my hands ran through her soft little body and hers held me close to herself. We must have spent thirty minutes or so kissing before she broke the kiss hurriedly and hastily unbuckled my belt, pull down her bumshort and sat on the bonnet of the car. I plugged into her and we continued kissing as I thrust. She would moan silently like she was choking and break the kiss before returning to the kiss at intervals.

Suddenly she stopped and whispered into my ear. " Henry"

I turned around and saw Henry peeping from the window. I immediately pulled up my pant, she jumped down and wore her short laughing. I looked back at the window and the curtain had been closed.

" That boy is something else!" I said laughing.

She came close to me and kissed me, I returned the kiss. We were preparing to continue from where we left off when the security man shone his torch light and asked.

" who is there!"

I broke the kiss abruptly and said. " it's me! Off that light!"

" sorry sir!" He apologized and returned to his house.

I and Mary laughed.

" lets get a room" I whispered to her still laughing.

My rod was kicking seriously and hurting me bad. It felt like if I don't fvck her the next second it may break in my pants.

" inside?" She asked eyeing the house.

I followed Mary gaze to the house and wanted to say yes,but considering it may be disrespectful to grandma so I turned to her." no, a hotel room " I said.

She smiled, rushed to the car laughing and we drove off.

Mary kept playing with my dick as I drove.

" you are so hard. I want to make you cum before we get there". Mary said blushing.

She bent over, zip down my pant and put her mouth on my very hard dick. I wanted to stop her but was really enjoying the adventure; driving and being given head. The road was empty so I had nothing to bother about. I had the feeling to park, but wanted to be advanturous so I continued.

She used both her lips and tongue so well I got to my peak prematurely. I felt the sensation rising and exploded into her mouth, i didn't know when i pushed hard on the throttle, the car ran off the road, its right front tire entered a drainage and got stuck.

"Fvck!" I cursed.

Mary stopped immediately and looked up. " what?"

" we are stuck!" I said, zipped up and stepped down.

The tire was deep inside the gutter. I looked around, the road looked deserted, no car coming in front nor back. I went to the trunk and remembered I do not have any tool.

Mary joined me, she looked terrified.

" this is a very dangerous place to stop". She said as she kept looking around as though expecting someone to jump on us.

I entered the car and tried to drive off but all to no avail. Mary even tried to push the car as I throttled hard.

Then it started raining, we had to run into the car. The rain was pouring down violently like it was angry with us. Mary was my concern, she was vividly petrified looking back and forth every passing second.

" what is the problem?" I asked.

She swallowed hard and said. " this place is a den of bad boys. They kill and kidnap people her twice every month".

Mary's fear became contagious and the rain droplets dropped mercilessly on the windscreen with blinding due obstructing my view.

I wiped the windscreen with a handkerchief and noticed a figure approaching in front of us. I turned to Mary and asked her to go to the backseat. She panicked and rushed to the back. I heaved severely before stepping down.

The figure was now three. I tried to make out if they were males of females. Then an headlamb of a car approaching speedily behind me called my attention, I turned and was blinded by it. Before I could think of anything, the car knocked me down.

Sorry guys. Just found so much typographical errors. Wrote them in a hurry, been too busy.

EPISODE 26

We were glittering with sweats. Here I was, standing beside strangers who were fighting my fight; one I just met and the other I was scared and running from. Here I was, about to die with them, the irony brought a shallow smile to my face, Jude caught it and asked smiling." what's funny?"

" nothing". I said and peeped to see if anyone was climbing the stairs. Our attackers were now hiding around the stairs. I thought of grandma and prayed she was okay.

" drop your guns now! Last warning!" The voice earlier yelled in a serious tone.

A man ran into the house and hid behind the sofa so he would be out of sight. He ran across the room and hid under the stairs. I could perceive fuel, I turned into the sitting room looking to get a clear shot but saw nothing.

Then a bright light flickered under the stairs and flew across the room. As soon as it dropped it exploded in large fire, burning the curtains and furniture rapidly.

" everybody out! Everyone out!" The voice earlier shouted.

I looked and saw some men running out. I remembered the house that was already on fire beside ours and turned to Jude. " we have to get out of here! "

" they're going to kill everyone that comes out. They want to chase us out like rabbits". Stanley said.

I looked around in confusion. The fire was increasing. I remembered seeing bag of detergent in the room we were. Immediately I ran off without saying anything to Jude nor Stanley.

As i entered the room, Henry rushed to me.

" uncle smoke!". He said pointing at the smoke coming into the room.

" yes. You guys need to help me!". I said hastily and rushed into the bathroom, filled a bucket up with water and poured enough detergent inside and said to the boys. " get buckets and fill them up!" Then I carried the one I filled out.

Stanley was looking at me coming with a bucket of water. I past him and ran downstairs, emptied it in the fire, it made little impact on the fire but I wasn't discouraged. I rushed back to the room, the boys had filled up two buckets already, I carried it out and emptied it in the sitting room. This created much smoke but the fire was still increasing.

Stanley helped Jude into the room and joined me. The boys filled the buckets while i and Stanley tried to put off the fire.

The smoke was now unbearable. I was becoming light headed even with wet cloth around my nose. Stanley seem to be energetic, he wasn't putting on any mask, yet vibrant.

The water was helping but the smoke was now the problem. Each time we delayed, the fire went up, but I continued with believing we can delay the fire from spreading and killing us all before help comes and Stanley followed.

Jude and the boys remained in the bathroom with the shower on .

I was returning to get a refill when I saw Stanley on the floor. He seem dead. I dropped the bucket and tried with great difficulty to carry him up. Finally, I was able to get him in the bathroom. Jude was so emotional when he saw me bringing Stanley unconscious.

" what happened?" Jude asked limping to me.

" I found him on the floor". I said and went to get water to pour on his face.

When I returned, I heard cars driving off. I gave Jude the bowl of water and ran to the window. The men were driving off. I wondered why.

" what's it?" Jude asked pouring water on Stanley's face.

" they are leaving!" I said and turned to my cousins" go to the bathroom and on the shower" Then rushed off with two buckets of water.

On getting to the stairs, the fire had spread into other areas of the house and smoke was now serious. I poured the two buckets which seem to provoke the fire even more. Our only source of escape was closed, the fire was coming upstairs.

I ran back to the bathroom, Stanley was just getting up. He looked weak with the shower pouring water on him.

' we are trapped here!" I said hopelessly.

" what's going on?" Jude asked, looking frighteningly at me.

" the fire...the fire..." I said demonstrating with my hands because I couldn't complete the words.

Just then, my eyes fell on the Window. I rushed to it but it had protector. The smoke had now covered the room, Henry and Tony were my greatest concern, they were coughing profusely even in the shower and wet cloth tied around their noses

I pulled the protector with all my strength, it remained immovable. I turned to Jude for assistance, but he was a one legged man, then to Stanley who was barely on his feet. The two little boys joined me and we pulled as hard as we could.

Jude limped to the window and said to me smiling " do you think this leg can stop me ?"

He was the first to pull before I and the boys followed. Then Stanley staggered to the window and joined us. He was still weak and couldn't even stand steady.

" hey! go and rest!" Jude commanded.

" and get burnt alive? No way!" He said I pulled feebly.

We all gave our best and soon the edges of the protector began pulling from the wall. We pulled harder until it pulled out.

The room was now hot and covered in thick smoke. The heat felt like we were literally roasting gradually. The wet clothes we had on was slightly helpful but our eyes hurt badly and we hard coughed still.

I looked around the room for anything, then saw the bedsheets and curtains, without delay, i pulled the bedsheets, curtains and duvet. Quickly tore them into sizes and tied them together. Then knotted one end to the bed cabinet and threw the rest outside the window.

Henry went down first, Tony followed. The fire was now penetrating the door and coming from the ceiling. I turned to Jude whose leg was terribly bleeding and asked him to go first. We helped him to the window and he managed to go down the one storey building.

It was now remaining I and Stanley. We both exchanged a glance wondering who to go first. I nodded he goes first. He quickly jumped to the window and as he was half way down, the knot pulled from the bed and he fell. I looked down and saw him standing and saying.

" I'm okay! I'm okay! "

The cops had arrived, they were watching with the rest of the little crowed that were gathering. Some persons were busy taking pictures and making video.

I looked for what to climb down with but couldn't see nothing as the room was covered in smoke. I was coughing really hard I thought I may soon start coughing blood. The heat was unbelievable, I knew I had to jump or roast to death.

" jump down! jump down!" Everyone shouted.

I climbed to the window and looked down, it felt like a 300 storey building. I slowly climbed to the window, sat on the base and slide my body down with my hand on the edge of the window and my body half way down.

" jump down!" Everyone shouted.

I looked down, it seemed far off away. I feared that Iay break my legs if I let go, but hearing the crowed cheering me to jump down, I slowly let go and landed on my feet then dropped on my butt.

The crowd gathered around me to ensure I was fine. I stood up and moved past them, checked for my phone and found it still intact in my pocket. I took it out and saw 135 missed calls. Grandma and Mary had been calling. I immediately called grandma.

" oh my god! Thank god! How are the boys? Their numbers aren't connecting". Grandma panicked.

"They're okay! They're with me. Where are you? You got me worried". I said.

"oh thank god! I'm actually at the salon on my way back from the market. We heard the news! Such thing hasn't happened in that area before. I used to hear about it but not for once has it happened in that area. That's why we bought that house". Grandma sounded worried.

" it's okay. Please don't come back. Stay somewhere, anywhere". I said saving her the stress of knowing what happened to the house.

I turned to my cousins, they were overwhelmed by their house going up in flames. Stanley was helping Jude into a police Hilux. Some persons continued taking pictures with their phones. Two other buildings were in flames and people gathered in front. There were dead bodies and people crying around them. The police helped to haul the bodies at the back of the hilux while the injured ones were helped into the hilux.

Some of the residents were screaming that someone was still in the burning apartment, the people who tried to go in were restricted by the fire and heat.

I saw a man yelling at some cops, he said had been calling them since the moment he heard the first gunshot, they did not come until the rebels had caused havoc. The man was so angry he almost fought with the five police men he was yelling at but was refrained by a huge well fed man whom was supposedly a resident of the estate.

" fire service! Where are they oooh!" A crying lady shouted as she threw herself on the floor resisting consolations from some people around her.

I suddenly remembered to check on Mary, so i dailed her number. She picked up almost immediately. " where are you! Thank god you're okay, been calling like a million times!" She sounded apprehensive.

" I'm fine. Where are you?" I asked.

" I'm safe. I was hanging out somewhere when I heard the news". Mary said.

Jude called me and i quickly rounded up the call and went to him. He was in the backseat with Stanley and a boy shot in the shoulder.

" are you not coming with me to the hospital?" He asked as the cop driver entered the car.

" sure. I'll ask where and join you up". I said.

He nodded and the van drove off. I turned to my cousins; Tony was still in shock, he was just looking at the building going down in flames while Henry got his eyes busy.

The fire fighters came almost an hour later after the houses was almost in ashes. The lady crying earlier attached the first man that came down from the truck. She held him on his yellow overall and kept slapping, hitting the man all over. Then the residents all teamed up, yelling at the firefighters and wanted to beat them up before the cops intervened with guns pointed at the distraughted residents forcing them to retreat.

The firefighters could do a little, they tried their best shooting water from their hose to the buildings. It was a dark night for the residents of Royal Estate.



EPISODE 27
I moved grandma into and my cousins into a five bedroom bungalowvi bought in a Government Residential Area after spending one week in a hotel. Grandma was the one who insisted I get a bungalow against the duplex I proposed, she kept hammering that I should be considerate in my spending but she doesn't know my company abroad will continue paying me even though I wasn't working directly with them.

I, Jude and Stanley became close pals. He was discharged four days after and was their the day we moved into our new apartment. He was still loyal to me even though we were mates. Grandma felt really indebted to him for risking his life for us. I suspected Mary knew about my relationship with Jude, hence the reason she didn't come on that day, though she visited the next day when I was in a drinking spot with Jude.

My meeting with Jude introduced me more guys. Jude knew so many people and I was introduced to most of them. He kept saying I'm family, my dad was a king and so that automatically made me a price. He showed me paintings of my dad and playe me a local song his gang sang of his heroic deeds;.how he cut off the heads of his enemies, slaughter Ten armed men with just a knife, how even the cops were afraid of him and the ladies get wet at the mention of his name. This made me liked Jude more. My dad was his mentor, he practically idolized him.

Jude allowed me his consent with Mary even though I began avoiding her we became pals. Mary visited the hotel to see grandma, when she called to tell me she came, I booked another room in a different hotel. I wanted her to read the handwriting on the wall.

On this very day, Jude was in the house with Stanley. He has stopped working so he can heal completely.

I, Jude and Stanley were in a tent inside the compound talking about music and celebrities with a bottle of gin on our table. Someone knocked on the gate, the security man went to see who it was and opened the gate. Mary was the person coming with a nylon bag. We stopped talking abruptly and fixed our stare on her. She was in blue jean bom short, a white net crob top, a blue push up bra, a small blue purse cross her chest and a white flat shoe. She had Anita Becker haircut, tinted blond with perfect makeup on. She was looking like a magazine cover model.

Jude: what has she come to do here now?

She walked in without taking notice of us. As she was about entering the house, she turned to the car park maybe to check if I was around and saw us staring at her, she was startled and quickly waved at us with a fake smile and went in.

There was silence for awhile and Stanley broke it saying: " that chick is fine! What's your plan with her Jude?"

His question surprised me, the look on Stanley's face told me Jude tells him nothing about Mary.

" I gave her to Mike" Jude said pointing to me, then poured himself a drink.

" really? Why? Are done fvcking her? So you finally didn't allow me fvck her, not even paying twice the money" Stanley said looking disappointed at Jude.

Jude turned to uneasily. " are you interested or not?"

I was startled. " are you sure you really want to do this ?" I asked.

" I have to be blunt with you bro, everytime I fvck that babe I have nightmares. I think she's got husband spirit" Jude said and took a sip.

I laughed out loud. " husband what? What's that?" I asked.

They both looked at me and laughed along with me. Then Stanley asked.

" you don't believe in superstition?"

" of course I don't! African mentality is too outdated " I said.

Stanley: continue bro, foreign guy.

I smiled and stood up. Mary's presence made me uncomfortable. They both looked up at me and Jude asked. " what?"

" I'm not comfortable, lets stroll out" then I remembered Jude's injury. " alright, let's drive".

The boys shouted happily and we drove off.

I got to a gas station to get some gas for my car. As I was about stepping out, I saw Mary's call. Jude looked at me with a crooked smile.

" what?" I asked, picking up my wallet beside the gear.

" take the call" Jude said

I ignored him and took my phone along with me.

I was done with the gas and wanted to return to my car when I saw those teenagers that attacked me at the mall strolling past the gas station playing along the road.

One of them recognizede me and called the fat boys attention. The fat boy whispered to the boy and the four of them with a new face among them in handles to display his muscles started walking towards me.

I stylishly entered the car to avoid being embarrassed by this kids in the presence of my guys and was trying to engage the engine, unusually the car refused to start.

" what's going on?" Stanley asked at the backseat.

I turned to the boys, they had reached my car. The new guy moved to my side and the fat boy stood in front of the car.

" who are these rats?" Stanley asked.

He my side opened my door and said to me confidently. " get out of the car! "

I turned to him said just to show my guys I wasnt weak. " are you stupid? "

The boy held my arm and tried to drag me out but I resisted.

" what is going on there?" The fat boy asked, now holding a dagger and looking menacing.

The boy tried again and I pushed him. Stanley immediately opened the backseat door and gently went to meet the boy. The boy turned to him and froze in shock. Stanley slapped the back of his neck and said coldly: " are you stupid? "

" senior man! Ha! I didn't know it was you!" The boy said humbly.

The fat boy quickly hid his dagger and slowly moved closer, the other boys follow.

Stanley was still washing the back of the boys neck with slap when they came begging. That was when Jude stepped out of the car and called.

" Cricket!"

The fat boy almost fainted when he saw Jude, he touched his toe quickly and moved to Jude shivering.

" what's going on here?" Jude asked in a bossy tone.

" it's this man, he...he " the fat boy hesitating, not knowing if to go ahead as he stole glances at me.

" he what!" Jude stormed impatiently.

" he casted our runs. I just wanted to teach him a les...less...lesson" the fat boy shuttered.

Jude looked around without looking at the boy he said in a cool harmless tone. " and yku chose to embarrass my guy in public? My real G? "

" senior man, I didn't know he's your man. I'm sorry". The fat boy apologized.

Jude smiled looking at the car. " I like you, you are rugged".

" thank you senior man ". The fat boy said smiling.

" bro. Please lets chill somewhere let them wash the car, I think it's dusty" Jude said to me and limped towards a canteen at the gas station.

The boys ended up washing the car. The fat boy tried to avoid it and make his boys do the washing, but Stanley ordered him to wash the tires.

While we waited, a black lastest Benz jeep drove into the has station. We were checking out the car while Stanley was bragging his uncle has it five we laughed and a fresh chubby, light skin lady stepped down, she was in a black fitted mini gown, long rich blond hair that matched her skin, a dark sunshade covering her eyes and a high heel pair of black shoe.
She caught my attention immediately and something about her seemed familiar. Everything else the boys were saying fell on deaf ears, all my attention was fixed on her.

The lady finished with the gas and was about entering her car when I recognized her, Fiona! I was shocked I even remembered her name. Immediately, I jumped to my feet, ran to her car and knocked on her window. She rolled down and removed her sunshade. " Mike?"

She remembered my name too. I smiled and the words that came out of my mouth was irrational " Fiona! You look beautiful!"

She blushed and said. " thank you. What happened? I didn't hear from you".

" our estate was attacked. Our house was burnt down"

She covered her mouth with her hands and slowly exclaimed. " heard about the attack. I'm sorry"

I smiled and said " it's okay" then added quickly. " how is your leg?"

She smiled. " thank you for the other day. I was dying to get a call from you. I told my friend about you, how you carried me like a baby" she giggled shyishly and continued. " my leg is fine. Thanks to you".

I smiled and said. " you're welcome"

She turned to the car that the boys were washing under the hot sun and asked. " what are you doing here?"

"Chilling" I said with a smile.

She returned the smile and turned beside her searching for something, then returned to me with a complementary card.

" don't misplace this. I want to specially thank you with a meal. I mean, home made meal". She said handing me the card.

I smiled and collected the card. " sure".

She turned to Jude and Stanley who were stretching their necks looking at her, waved at them smiling then turned to me " call ".

I nodded. She smiled, rolled up and drove off.

EPISODE 25

Jude opened the door and used the car door as shield as he returned fire, his friend did same, they were both shooting and ducking inside the car. I couldn't even bring myself to raise up my head, I remained where I was shivering and praying that I don't get hit any moment.

Jude suddenly moved away from the door, fired twice and ran off. His friend followed.

I turned behind me and saw them shooting at a man, they were the only ones standing. I had to summon courage and stepped down. Jude and his friend were the only ones standing.

As I came closer, Jude aimed at a dying man fired twice. I walked closer and was looking at young and old men lying lifeless, some were mutilated, my guess was the ran them over.

Jude's friend was now busy picking up guns while Jude moved around looking at the bodies with the gun pointed to them.

I moved to the gate and knocked, no one answered. I knocked severally no answer. I decided to peep through the opening between the gates but couldn't see much. Jude gently pushed me aside and looked uneasily at the gate, then jumped, held the top, moved his body upwards and was over at the other side..

I turned to Jude's friend, he already had a handful and was straining to pickup another. Then a loud banging sound echoed across the gate. The sound continued heavily and something fell, then the gate opened and Jude beckoned us in. The place was void of a soul and the electronic pole i knocked down earlier made the place as dark as night.

I led the way to grandma's house. The door was locked. I knocked calling on my cousins. Then the door slowly opened with a torch light pointed to my face.

" Tony?" I asked.

The torch dropped and I could make out Tony's frame with a knife in his hand, Henry was behind him peeping, I looked down at Henry's hand and saw a bottle in his hand too.

" where's grandma?" I asked walking in.

Tony was looking at Jude and his friend cautiously. " she's not back yet".

I paused half way. " what? "

" she said she was going to the market and hasn't returned". Tony said, moving away for Jude and his friend who were walking into the house.

" let me have her number " I said to Tony.

" I'm coming, let me get my phone in my room". Tony said and ran inside.

Henry followed me silently. I entered the sitting room and found Jude looking around with his phone torch, I wasn't comfortable with his presence in our house and with his friend carrying all those guns scaring the kids.

" hey!" Jude's friend called pointing his torch on grandma's photo.

Jude went to him and I followed wanting to know what he knows about grandma.

" is this not Mike's mother? " Jude's friend asked him.

Jude looked closely and exclaimed. " that's her! Wow, so we are in Mike's house?".

I was scared. I heard stories of how my dad was into a gang and killed some rival groups. Let it not be that these were some of his rival gang members.

Jude turned to me pointing his torch on my face. " you mean, that lady is your grandma?"

I didn't know what to answer. It could be that his father was likely killed by mine and the question was to decide my fate. At that moment, I couldn't hear anyone's thought, my heart was pounding repeatedly.
I
" Jude! Look! Mike's picture" Jude's friend stood at my dad's family potrait.

Jude went to meet him and they were both murmuring and exclaiming.

Just then, Tony came in and said loudly. " Uncle Mike, her number"

The two men turned to me. I was confused, I didn't know what to do as I collected the phone from Tony.

" is your name Mike? " Jude asked pointing his phones torch in my face.

I slowly nodded hoping that my money will save me coz Jude loves money.

Surprisingly, Jude turned to his friend and they both shouted: " wow!"

I didn't know what to respond. Jude came closer to me with tightened face. " so your dad was Mike?" He asked.

I nodded.

" wow! Your dad was a rugged member of our gang! His heroic deeds are currently in our songs as a way of remembrance!" Jude said excitedly.

I was greatly relieved, at least I was on the right side.

" he killed men feared by many, he was a terror to other gang members". Jude's friend added.

" no wonder you ran those guys over. Your dad lives in you! Rugged brother!". Jude said and hugged me.

The sound of gunshots broke the embrace abruptly. Jude ran to the window and then to me. " take a gun, I think another group is here. Put out all lights!".

Jude friend handed me an Ak and then gave one to Tony and Henry.

" what are you doing? They are kids!" I shouted at him.

" old enough to fvck but not to pull a trigger?" Jude asked and ran back to the window.

Henry seem excited about the gift, but Tony was sacred. I had to encourage them so I moved to Tony. " you will stay behind me. We are safe here okay? "

" burn down everything standing !" A voice shouted outside.

This increased our panic. I have never used a gun before, so I came closer to Jude's friend and whispered. " please, how do I use this thing?"

He took a little time out to put me through and I went to teach my little cousins. The gunshots began followed by an explosive sound that shook the house.

I took out my phone and dialed grandma's number. Her number was ringing but she wasn't picking up. A gunshot shattered the window and bored hole on the wall beside me.

" go down ! " I yelled at the kids.

Another gunshot fired again and hit the family portrait. Jude returned fire and shouted. " wooo! I hit one".

Jude's friend ran and hid himself behind a window, said to Jude. " lets see who is going to win. I hit one, I will get more scores" he fired and shouted excitedly. " one one!"

This seemed to infuriate the men as they released more gunfire into our house. I laid on the floor. Then I looked up the stairs and shouted. " let's go upstairs! Upstairs!"

Something dropped into the house through the window and fell in front of me. I looked at it, it looked so much like the grenade I see in movies, I quickly picked it up without thinking and shouted: " grenade!"

Everyone turned to me flabbergastedly. I repeated showing it to Jude and his friend for identification " grenade! grenade!"

Jude and his friend both turned away from me dreadfully and ran upstairs pulling Tony and Henry with them shouting simultaneously " throw it away! throw it away"

In the panic, i ran outside, every split second felt like the grenade was going to detonate, like I was holding my death sentence in my hand, but I had to encourage myself to save the house and everyone in it not knowing where I got the courage from.

Outside, four men stood shooting at the window. They turned to me and fired. It felt like I had been hit seeing flashes of gun fired at me,. Immediately, I threw the grenade at them and was about running inside when it exploded in the air with the loudest deafening sound I had ever heard in my life and a hot powerful wind pushed me down. For a brief moment I thought I was dead, I laid on the floor, everywhere was silent with a whistling sound singing in my ears.

I didn't know for how long I laid until someone came and was pulling me up waking me to full consciousness. I looked around the house that was now covered in smoke; the only light In view was fire burning outside and part of the sitting room with a distant sound of people shouting in slow motion. It felt more like I was dreaming. I felt woozy with a strong headache and couldn't keep steady

I looked at person helping me upstairs, it was Jude. His friend stood at the staircase with a long gun waiting for us.

When I got upstairs, my ears regained normal sound with slight whistle ringing. Jude laid me on a bed in a room I didn't know whose. I wipt the bleeding from my nose and turned to Jude's friend who was now at the window peeping.

" kids, get ready. Get ready to guard the window, I and Stanley will guard the stairs, if we leave it, they will kill us all as soon as they gain access". Jude said to Tony and Henry.

The boys who were looking at me in fear as though waiting for me to save them the fate handed to them by Jude.

I slowly sat up and said to Jude. " give me a gun. I'll watch with the boys".

Gunshot fired into the room and everyone took over. Jude's friend returned fire. Jude joined him and they both began shooting.

Then Jude ran to the door and said to my cousins" Boys come and take over!" Then ran out of the room with Stanley.

I stood up with banging headache and moved to the window looking to see anyone. A bright yellow light flickered followed with a loud sound that shattered the window glass. I almost ran away but stopped when I saw the terrified look in Tony's face with Henry hiding behind him, both of them held the gun as if it was going to fly off their hands once they let go.

I had to be brave, at least for the boys. So I turned to the Window and fired, the gun unbelivably jumped off my hands from the the bullet vibration. I turned to the boys, smiled and shrugged.

Another gunshot almost hit Tony. I saw the bright light past close to his head in a flash. This motivated me to act. I rushed to the boys that were now on the floor, took the gun from Tony and returned to the Window.

A man was aiming to fire. I had gotten experience now and so held the gun properly, shot towards the man and he fell. Two others returned fire shouting and shooting. I had to move away from the Window with my back on the wall. The gunshots scattered things in the room and raised dust from holes it bored on the wall.

When the shooting subsided, I peeped and saw four guys aiming at the window. I made to aim and fire at them but met flickers of lights from their guns that scared me back to my hiding.

The door opened and Stanley came in. "Jude is hurt, I need help". He said in a hurry and rushed back.

I turned to the boys and said to them. " stay were you are, I'm coming".

I ran off to the stairs. When I got there, Jude was on the floor with his back on the wall beside the stairs, his left leg was bleeding above his knee. It was tied with a shirt. Seeing Jude in that situation increased my fear. I knew we may not survive the night but I must protect the kids by all cost.

" Mike! Kill as many as you can! I can't believe I'm the one in this shootout, in Mike's house!" Jude said and laughed, then tightened his face in pain and laughed again." What a way to die! I rather die a hero. What do you think Stan?"

Stanley smiled and peeped. Stanley is Jude's friend.

I could see shadows of movement around the sitting room from the reflection of the fire burning outside. My heart was beating so hard, I could hardly breathe, but I refused to show it. I would nod to anything Stanley said even though I barely heard a word and kept my eyes in the dark sittingroom.

Suddenly, they fired at us. I took cover breathing heavily with the gun clinched to my chest. Stanley who should be in his late twenties; athletic, tall, dark with a punk hairstyle and little goatie joined to his mustache didn't make any attempt to retaliate. He was just looking at Jude inhaling and exhaling rapidly, as though trying to summon courage.

The gunfire continued. Stanley waited until they stopped shooting. He looked at me and whispered. " at the count of three, shoot".

I nodded, but I wasn't sure if I was actually ready. So I waited,he signaled his finger and before could show me his third finger somebody shouted downstairs.

" surrender and join us! There's no escape here! We are going to bring this house to the ground, burn everything here to the ground if you don't surrender!"

Those words almost forced hot shit out of my ass. I couldn't hold my gun steady anymore, every part of me was screaming 'surrender they will spare the kids!' I was about to tell them what I wanted to do when Stanley fired, he shot severally. The men retaliated in full force Stanley had to take cover. I lost all courage, it was a lost battle to me, gunshots came from almost every direction and it seem to be nudging closer.

Then Tony's voice alerted me. He screamed so loud amidst of the bullets raining on us. I looked at the direction of the room and ran towards it.

When I entered the room, I saw Henry shooting. I was surprised, the younger was risking his life and the senior laid on his tummy shouting on him to get out of the window. I immediately went to pull him out of the window. When he turned to me he said excitedly." I killed two. They fell! Two fell".

I smiled and nodded quickly, then peeped and saw what demoralized me even further; two cars just joined and the men were now many outside of our house. A house before ours was already on fire, I saw a man with a bottle and clothe hanging on the bottles mouth. He lit it and about to throw the bottle into our house, i quickly fired several shots at him and one hit him in the chest. The rest men with him ran away from the bottle that was already on fire, it fell on one of their cars and exploded in flames.

I moved Henry farther away from the window and asked him to sit on the floor beside the door, which I also told Tony too. Then returned to the stairs.

EPISODE 24
Jude came down immediately, went straight to Mary, begging her on his knees. I was confused, I didn't know if to go or remain in the car. This was relationship issue, I knew how complicated it was, coupled with my issue with Jude.

Calista moved to where they were and stood beside them watching in silence.

Mary's voice was loud, she was yelling and trying to move away but Jude held her hand begging. She pushed him off her and slapped him severely, he didn't retaliate. He grabbed her waist begging still on his knees. Calista then joined Jude in begging Mary.

" it's over! My mind is made up! Leave me alone, go!". Mary kept yelling.

" I'm sorry! I was drunk! I'm sorry, please forgive me! I'll die without you! I'll kill myself! Please forgive me!". Jude begged.

" Mary, a man is begging you . Please consider him, please forgive him". Calista joined Jude.

I sat in the car watching the drama that took up to 30 minutes. And after a while, Mary seem to be giving in, she had stopped resisting and was now crying. Jude slowly stood up and hugged her while she dropped her hands by her sides but made no attempt to hug him back. I knew the battle was over, Jude's spell on her was a strong one. He slowly pulled her into the house.

Jude was good. Now I realized what grandma meant by Mary being a good girl. She really was a good girl under the influence of a skilled manipulator.

I engaged the engine and wanted to leave, Calista came to me and said.

" her things in the boot!"

I opened if for her to get them out, and after she was done, she came to the car by the front seat passenger's side and opened the door, bent over.

Calista: I love how he talks. Let me try again now he knows Mary is taken. I can gain from this guy.

" thanks for dropping by, you're such a nice guy". She said.

I nodded smiling waiting for her to leave.

" are you new in town? Your ascent. You sound foreign".


" I believe Mary told you I'm new in town". I said carelessly.

She seem slightly embarrassed but waved it aside. " well, I know this town like the back of my hand. If you need someone to show you around, please call me".

I nodded and waited for her to leave.

" but you don't have my number". She said.

" I thought you're Mary's friend, why are you hitting on her visitor without her consent?"

She was startled and then covered it up with an in innocent smile.

Calista: don't show anger, calm down...calm down...

" am I hitting on you? What an insult. Do you think we are mates for me to hit on you? I'm just trying to be friendly, showing my gratitude for helping my friend".

" I'm sorry, but I have to go". I said and waited for her to shut the door while her face was gradually changing into a frown.

Calista: forming hard to get. I know your type, looking down on everyone, thinking everyone is below him, proud fool! Because Mary is young right? Idiot that doesn't know anything.

" can I go please? My door!". I yelled immediately.

She banged the door looking menacing at me and I was about reversing when Jude rushed out shouting and waving his hand for me to stop. I thought of ignoring him, but then thought I owed him nothing, even the money he claims I owe him was a change to me. So I stopped.

He came towards the frontseat passenger side and I rolled down.

" Sir. You again?" He asked with a satisfied smile on his fave. "I'm very glad you brought my girl back. Thank you so much!"

Jude: don't ask him anything that will provoke you! Mary is your LovePeddler, your money bank and you know it. Let him go.

" it's okay" I said unsteadily.

" please, let me buy you a drink at least ". Jude said.

" some other time please. I have to be going ". I said and added. " I'll call you later for what we discussed".

" Okay. Thank you again". He said moving away from the car.

As I was rolling up the glass, I saw Mary peeping. She wasn't happy. I looked away and drove off feeling my heart breaking. I then decided to take Mary off Jude's hands. Even if it means for me to fly her abroad. She was too pretty and young to be going through such stress.

I got home and grandma was surprised I wasn't with Mary. I lied that she decided to stay with her friend. Grandma saw reason with that and we moved on.

I had to challenge my fear the day by meeting Jude as I agreed I would. We met a place he suggested; a lounge around zik road. I followed the description he sent to my phone and met him there already waiting with another guy. They had drank two bottles of beer each already.

"Here he comes!" Jude shouted as he saw me coming, standing to face me.
I noticed he whispered something to the guy seated. the guy smiled and turned to me. Jude moved to a seat opposite his on the table and wiped it clean with his handkerchief. The few people present at the lounge were laughing laughing at his gesture.

" let my boss come and seat here!" He shouted pointing my chair to me.

I wasn't comfortable with his display but took the seat anyways. He rushed back to his chair and shouted like a tout. " bar man!"

A smart looking teenage boy dressed in white shirt tucked in a black pant walked up to Jude from the counter.

" get my man anything he wants". Jude said to the bar man.

An hour later, I was still ina bottle, Jude and his friend were on their 6th. They would laugh at anything and were talking about their driving jobs and the funny passengers they've carried. I saw this as an opportunity to bring up Mary's case.

I began by joining in their jokes and chipped in amidst laughter. " You're bad! A real bad guy! you sent your babe to me, so could fvck her for the night".

He stopped laughing and asked. " which babe?"

I turned to his friend who was keen to know who I was talking about.

" the girl I was with the day I came into town". I carefully said.

He looked at me ominously and asked. " did you fvck my babe?"

I was scared and turned to his friend who picked up a bottle looking at me same way as Jude. I swallowed hard looking pitifully at them both.

" I'm sorry. I....I...didn't know...I .... Thought she was...em...a...a... You know...a " I stuttered looking for avenue to escape.

To my surprise they exploded in laughter that made Jude's eyes filled with tears. I was confused, what was so funny in what I said?

Jude raised up his hands laughing and then pointed at me " we got him! "

They were apparently drunk and were displaying drunkenness.

When he settled, he said. " it's okay bro. I'm her pump. Was just fooling around with you"

" as in P.I.M.P!" His friend added.

" she's just a little girl I'm helping " Jude said.

" so you are not her boyfriend? " I asked

" we are living together doesn't make her my girlfriend. is that what she told you?"

" why did you beat her up if she meant nothing to you?" I asked puzzled.

" well, I warned her not to bring clients home. You see, bringing strangers home is risky in her line of business, but she never listens" Jude said and whispered leaning closer. " do you like her?"

I turned to his friend gulping the last content in his bottle and returned to Jude. " she's a likable person"

Jude looked at me thoughtfully and said resting his back on his chair's back rest. " then you can have her!"

Jude: as long as you keep paying she's yours ( smiled )

" no, no, no! I can't" I protested.

" she has already told me she likes you. She can pass the night at your place if you like" Jude said and called the waiter, ordered for another round including mine.

" no, I'm okay" I said.

It was already getting dark, the place was now getting full, the music had increased. I gave him an envelope and stood up. He was overjoy and thanked me wholeheartedly.

I sat in the car thinking of what to do with Mary when a man ran past and three others followed. I turned to the gate, the security men were closing it. I stepped down and held a man running pass me.

" what's going on?"

The man was overtaken by fear. " they are close!" He said.

" who is closed?" I asked looking at the security men moving away from the gate.

" the resistance. They're here!"

Gunshots echoed, the man pushed me away from him and ran inside.

Immediately my mind ran to my grandma. Just then I saw Jude and his friend running towards me. I waved them over.

" sir. You can't go out oh. Heard the resistance are around" Jude said to me.

" I have to. My grandma lives here!" I said , then turned to the security men seriously shutting the gate and wondered how to get past them.

He looked at me and asked. " you said you live with your friend"

I ignored him and made to rush into the car, Jude held me back.

" you can't go out there!" He yelled.

" you can't!" His friend said behind Jude.

I hesitated, but I couldn't. I removed Jude's grip from my shoulder and entered the car, engaged the engine and drove to the gate.

The security men pointed me back. I rolled down and yelled." open the gate!"

" sir go back!" One of security men yelled back authoritatively.

I stepped out of the car and held the security man's shirt. " open this damn gate! I said despiratly between my teeth.

The man pushed me off him and made to throw a punch but stopped at the sound of gunshots fired again. The security man moved away from the gate frightfully.

I rushed over to the gate but it was padlocked. I turned to the three security men and went to the gentle looking amongst them " please open this gate!"

" do you want to die? We can't". He answered.

Just then Jude and his friend came to meet I and the security men.

" sir. You can't go out there it's risky!" Jude said to me.

I turned despiratly to him and held his arms. " do you have a mother? Won't you do what I'm doing if you suspect she's about to get hurt?"

He nodded, heaved and turned to his friend. His friend nodded and they turned to the security men.

" please open the gate he has to go!" Jude said .

" not possible. You better go inside!" One of the security men retorted.

Jude's friend held the one who spoke on his shirt and said. " you know me very well, you know what I can do. Open this gate before you regret it".

The man he held nodded , urned to his colleague and said. " open the gate let them go with their problems".

The gentle one among them went to the gate and began opening it. I rushed into the car and waited impatiently for him . Jude opened the other side of the car and entered the front seat, while his friend entered the back seat. I turned surprisingly at them.

" what?"

" you won't last a second out there. Just drive ". Jude said looking in front of him frowning.

Jude: I can't allow my office waste just like that.

I was really glad I had them. The gate opened, I zoomed off and drove speedily towards my grandma's house direction.

When I got to the junction to my grandma's house, I saw some group of men walking down the road shooting in the air.

" stop the car!" Jude said looking steadily at them.

I turned unbelivably to him " that's where my grandma lives".

My sense of judgement had disappeared. All I was thinking was to get granny out of there.

Jude turned to me. " you can't save her dead. Lets see where they're going first".

I waited impatiently in the car. The men got to the estate gate and stopped, then began shooting in the air. I was hopelessly confused, immediately, I took out my phone and called Mary.

" hello" I said as the phone connected. " please call your police friend, grandma is in danger!"

" what's happening?". She asked in a worried tone.

" just call him! Call him now!" I yelled into the phone and forgot to ask how she was.

The men had started shooting at the gate. That moment, everything went silent, it's like I zoomed the men closer and every other thing faded out. I didn't know when I dropped the phone and pressed hard on the throttle towards the men.

" what are you doing? You want to get us killed?" Jude yelled.

I ignored him and pressed harder on the throttle.

The men turned to us looking, then they opened fire when they saw me driving towards them. I bent over and the bullet bored holes on our glass.

The car ran into them; few rolled over from the bonnet through the windscreen and over the car and I felt the car galloping on something I suspected to me human beings, then ran into an electric pole and fell it on the opposite direction with flickers or electric lights.

I slowly raised my head and looked behind me. The men where now few and soon began firing at us.

Jude turned behind him and when he saw the attack on us, he yelled hitting the dashboard" reverse the car. Run them over again!"

With a shaky hand, I put the car on reverse and drove backwards but ran the back tire into a gutter and got stuck.

Now the bullets was raining heavily on the car, i had to bury my head. It felt like a bullet would hit me any minute, hearing the sounds of broken glasses and gunshots.

A pistol appeared in Jude's hand he and said to his friend. " take the right, I'll take left".

I was so surprised. So he had a gun with him all these while?

PISODE 23

" good morning!" He said catching his breath with his hands on his knees.

I stopped and removed the earphones from my ear. Then pretended as though trying to recognize him.

" it's your driver! " He said standing up smiling.

Jude: what's the meaning of this act? He doesn't recognize me again?

Then I suddenly smiled and said. " oh, it's you"

Jude nodded '' I went back to that hotel and was told you checked out".

" oh, that's true. You see... I had a call ". I couldn't think of any conveniencing lie so I changed the topic immediately. " wow! What are you doing here?

" actually, I'm waiting for a friend. You live around here?"

The question took me off guard, I should have seen it coming. I knew he may to follow me home if I told him my folks lives in the estate, so I thought of a temporal escape lie.

" well, a friend lives around here, that's why I left the hotel. But I'll be leaving today or tomorrow".

Jude: I think he's trying to run from me. I will that my money.

Jude smiled and asked casually. " where does your friend live? "

" just down the road". I said very uneasily.

It was getting bright already. So I ceased it as an excuse.

" I have to continue my morning workout. It's getting bright, lets talk some other time". I said slowly moving backwards.

He came closer and said. " Otodu's boys are hunting to kill me. I now sleep in my car. I'm out of cash to rent an hotel, and i can't afford a new apartment now because I have not been working".

I was expecting him to say that sooner and I had a reply for him. I know how lawless African can be and how they dread people in uniforms, especially in military, so I took the advantage.

" yes, concerning Otodu, I told a top military friend of mine about it. I will call you later in the day, you, I and him will go and settle the issue. Maybe we will go on your behalf so as not to trigger annoyance. If he asks for money as compensation, I'll pay, but if he refuses, my top military officer friend will bundle him and his men to the barracks, and torture him until he fears you. I can actually make him disappear. I have a government assassin friend, he is a government killing tool. We met abroad. If you like that as an option, both Otodu and his boss will disappear in one night. Just get ready, I'll call you by four, so we can go together, what do you think? ". I made sure i sounded lightly.

Judes countenance changed. He was now smiling wearily. " no problem. You have my number right?"

Jude: what kind of nonsense is this? see how he spoilt my plans! Who asked for your help?

" oh yes I do. I'll call you " I said, happy that my bluff worked and as I made to leave.
He said immediately.

" please wait ".


I stopped and turned to him wondering what he wanted to say.

" I'm owing some people. You know after I helped fight for you, I lost my wallet containing all my pay for that day, including the one you gave me. I don't know if you can raise me at least 250 grand. I'll pay back! I promise! It's a loan". He said assuredly.

I smiled, this was what he wanted as a reward. I will have to delay the pay so he doesn't come up with another prank. So I pretended as though I was trying to think it through.

" that's a huge money. That's a lot of cash. I don't really have that amount of money now. I'm currently broke". I said pretending to be scanning through my head.

Jude: it's a lie, you're not broke. You have it but you dont want to give me. I don't know why rich people are always stingy.

I turned to him " you know what? I'll give you 100 grand. that's because I appreciated how you defended me. I will ask my friend to loan me the money. After I finish the job I came for and get paid, I'll pay him back".

" please make it 150, I'm really indebted" Jude said pitifully. " You know, my wallet that got missing in the fight contained 300 grand. That money belongs to a friend. He's actually on my neck now. Please help a brother".

This guy was really a crook. Now I see what Mary has been suffering. I agreed to give him 150 grand. He just ripped me of 150 grand just like that. Though the money wasn't my problem, but what if I was an average guy, was that how he would have made me feel guilty for nothing but extortion?

" well, leave the military out of it" Jude said scratching his head as I was about leaving. " I will go and beg him with some elders"

" are you sure? That guy is dangerous!" I said.

" don't worry sir. We will settle it the street way. The government are too corrupt. I don't like bringing them into my business. I will be expecting your call sir" Jude said and left.

I smiled and continued my jogging, listening to my rock music, thinking how Jude will feel discovering Mary slept in my place.

Then I noticed a fine lady on the floor some distance in front of me, she was apparently jogging too judging by her outfit. I rushed to where she was, taking off a pair of her sneakers.

" hello. What happened?" I asked squatting beside her.

" I think I fractured my ankle". She said in pains looking at her foot.

I tried to touch her foot, she flinched and pulled my hand away.

" stop! Stop!". She said wincing in pain.

Lady: oh my god! How do I get to my car? What kind of thing is this?

" I have to fix your foot or it will get irreparably ugly. I mean swollen and the pain will be unbearable". I said.

She looked up at me blankly for the first time and down at her foot. Then nodded. I squatted in front of her and held the foot while placed a hand on my shoulder. I looked in her face and said " at the count of three".

She nodded.

I began. " one! ".

She held my shoulder tight dragging in air in preparation for what was coming. Before I got to two, i twisted the foot to the left and right swiftly, she screamed out loud, hit and pushed me away from her. But the bone made a cracking sound, showing it had fixed.

She literally was in tears afterwards, lying on one side on the floor. I didn't disturb her, I knew how painful it can be.

After awhile, she sat up looking at her foot.

Lady: what kind of bad luck is this this morning. How am I to go to work? And how am I supposed to attend Bob's wedding this Sunday? Ha!

" it's okay, I'll take you home. That's if it's okay by you?". I said ignoring her thoughts.

She looked at me briefly and said. " I can manage".

Lady: let me not stress this young man. I can manage. I hate adding my problems on someone, I can manage.

She slowly stood to her feet with my help, and when she made to move, she fell on my body.

" easy! Easy! i said, " I told you. Now can I insist. Show me your car".

She didn't hesitate anymore. I helped her walk a while, she could barely move a step in 5 seconds. Then she stopped and asked if she could call her friend with my phone. I obliged her.

After waiting for a while, her friend seem not to be picking. I had no option than to pick her up. She screamed, shouting that I should put her down, I turned deaf ears and struggling with her weight. Eventually, she got tired of shouting and enjoyed the ride.

Lady: this boy is strong! Thank god it's still early, no one will see him carrying me. What will I tell them, that a total stranger found me on the road and carried me? My husband won't like such story. I pray nobody sees us. Please god, let him just carry me to the car invisibily.

Her weight was killing my arms, my muscles were hurting and back ached terribly, but tried not to show weakness.

" where?". I asked when I got to the junction, trying to control my breathing.

" that car in front of the green house over there" she said pointing to a green storey building by my right. "Sorry, you can bring me down now, I can manage".

" it's okay, I'm almost there". I said struggling to keep steady tone.

I finally got to her black SUV and dropped her beside the car. She searched for her key in her little crossbag and opened the car.

" you were so helpful" she said, bent into her car and came out with a business card. " my name is Fiona. Please give me a call, I will love to buy you lunch in appreciation".

I took the card and looked at it, she was a CEO of an oil and gas firm. I nodded. She entered her car, waved gratefully at me and drove off.

Back to the house. I heard voices of my two cousins and grandma's, they sounded like they were fighting. I quickly rushed inside and found grandma shielding Henry and pushing enraged Tony with a wood box in his hand backwards, both Tony and grandma were yelling on top of their voices, while Henry kept shouting. " I did not take your money oh!".

Tony got so angry he swung the box at Henry and I had to intervene; I held his hand and pushed him away from grandma.

" what is wrong with you!" I yelled, " you want to beat up grandma?"

" no uncle. Tell Henry to give me my money oh". He said grudgingly.

" which money are you talking about?" I asked him.

" I am very sure that I have saved 20,000 in this savings box". Tony said almost in tears showing the opened box to me. " but when I broke it this morning, I only saw 3,450 bucks".

I moved to Henry " why did you take his money?".

Grandma moved away from Henry, but still holding his hand and she said angrily " that is how they fight oh. Everytime I keep separating them. Let this one not kill his brother one day oh".

" I did not touch his money". Henry murmured.

" liar! Liar!" Tony shouted and made to attack, I blocked him and grandma shielded Henry.

" what is wrong with you, stop that!" I yelled at Tony, he stopped but was now in tears as he fought with his temper, looking at his brother ominously.

Henry: I did not take his money oh, I did not touch his money oh. I only took 500 oh, I did not take that money he said I took oh. I only took 500 to buy Linda a Val gift.


I turned to grandma who was yelling at Tony in our native dialet and asked. " is there someone else living here with you?"

Grandma shook her head and said. '" no, just a lady that comes to clean the house twice a week"

I turned to Henry. " did anyone see you the day you took the 500?".

Henry was completely dumbfounded, he couldn't believe I knew about it. I asked him again before he said the house cleaner caught him.

" liar! Don't accuse the poor lady of anything, just give me my money!". Tony barked.

I gave Tony a warning look and he kept quiet, then took the box from him and examined it.Turned to Henry afterwards and asked " how did you get the money out of this squared box through this tiny opening?".

He hesitated a little before he murmured looking at the floor in guilt " I used a long slim curved hook ".

" how?" I asked.

I noticed grandma too was surprised how I knew and also was disappointed at Henry.

" I dug the hook into the savings box hole and when I brought it out, it pulled out money". Henry murmured with his face on the ground stealing glances at each one of us as he spoke.

" what did the lady do after she saw you?". I asked Henry.

" she asked if it was mine, I told her it belongs to Tony and begged her not to tell".

" did she ask you how you pulled the money out?"

" no, she saw me pulled out five hundred".

I turned to Tony. " we have to wait until she comes to work". and added before he could say another word. " I'll give you the money, leave Henry alone".

The surprised boy nodded and walked away. I turned to grandma who was looking behind me with a surprise look on her face.

Grandma: she slept here? What happened to her face?

Immediatly I knew who she was talking about. I turned and saw Mary walking down the stairs in the same clothe she wore the previous day, her eye now had a thick black patch around it and a vivid cut on her lips.

When she came closer grandma gasp and screamed " what happened to you!"

She smiled innocently and greeted her kneeling on a leg. Grandma didn't notice her greeting, she was overwhelmed by the state of her face.

" what happened to your face? Who did this to you?" Grandma asked examining the damage.

Mary smiled and was looking at me to defend her, Grandma misunderstood it and turned to me angrily. " Mike! Mike!''

" no!.it's not me! Her housemate did that to her. I only brought her here". I defended myself immediately.

Grandma turned to her " house mate? What did you do to the person to have received such a treatment?".

" actually, he's not my housemate". Mary said eyeing me and smiling " he's my boyfriend ".

Grandma's anger increased " what sought of boyfriend beatsup a lady?'

" a jealous one". Mary added.

I was just looking at the ladies without saying a word. Grandma took her in to apply some ointment and honey on her eye and lip.

After a while, Mary was out and came to meet me in the seating room.

" Mike, I'm leaving" she said.

I turned from my phone to her. " what? Why? Stay until the cops apprehend him".

" I want to pickup my things now I'm sure he is not around"

" how are you sure?"

" I called my neighbor. She said he came around early hours of today and left afterwards"

I concur with what she said and insisted on dropping her off. Before I could stand to my feet, grandma came with a mug of hot tea and few slices of bread.

" Mary, eat something before you leave" she dropped the tea and bread on the dinning and said to me " Mike, ensure you be a gentle man and drop her off".

" what about mine? I'm famished!". I said.

" don't worry my son. I'm bringing it soon".

After eating, I drove her to her house. She stepped down and ran inside while I waited in the car.

It was almost 15 minutes since she went in. I noticed a chubby light skin lady came to take a look at my car and went inside. She was in a short pink mini handless gown. The gown hugged her so well that every shape and contour of her body was visible with her fresh fat thighs shooting from under it and her full braless breasts pointing its sharp bold nipples.

I was beginning to get uncomfortable. What's keeping her?

After another 25 minutes, the light skinned lady followed Mary from behind with a big bag while Mary carried two. I wanted to step down and help them but my spirit told me not to.

I opened the trunk for them and they put the things inside. Mary opened the door and sat, the lady came to Mary's window.

" good morning sir. Thanks for helping her yesterday. That guy is a monster. He almost killed her. He is so wicked".

I nodded impatiently and smiled awkwardly hoping she would get the hint and shut the damn door so we could get the hell out of there, but she kept talking, her boobs bouncing as she demonstrated. I was too distracted to get moved by her luring body.

Mary stopped her and was thanking her for her kindness and help, she was just smiling and nodding, but her mind was busy.

Lady: even though he's so delicious in bed, I'm not in support of him hitting her. I'm happy she's leaving though, atleast I won't be afraid of getting caught. Free access to the house!

" Mary, lets go!". I said hurriedly after hearing such a betrayal she called a friend.

She waved her friend goodbye and wanted to shut the door when she began searching herself and opened her bag looking for something.

" what's it?". I asked.

" my phone!" She screamed and stepped down before I would say another word and ran inside.

" hi" her friend said to me extending a handshake. " my name is Calista".

I didn't want to receive her handshake, but I eventually did. When our hands met, she brushed her thumb at the back of mine and smiled flirtatiously looking in my eyes.

Lady: handsome, young..hmmmm. Everything Mary said he is is true. It won't be a bad idea to fvck this guy too.

Then she said in a whisper. " such a handsome man ". And turned, pretending to be looking for Mary, but wanted to to see her behind. She widened her legs stylishly so that her dress would roll up and possibly, for me see her bare ass through the reflection of light on her dress. Then she turned to me and bend so that I could see a reasonable parts of her breasts.

" don't worry sir. She's coming". Her tone was flirty and her eyes was fixed in mine.

I looked at her face for the first time, she wasn't bad looking; bold lips, pointed nose, oval face with dimples, her natural hair was braided backwards and her eyes got seduction all over it.

" can I have your number so I can check on Mary?" Calista asked.

I felt irritated at her level of betrayal, so I just said " no!"

Lady: Look at this fool, because I asked for your number? He's not even fine!

" it's okay, you think I'm trying to woo or something? Please, you're too small for my class". She said moving away from my car.

I smiled and noticed Mary coming out and then the engine of an approaching car. I looked at the rear mirrow and my heart almost stopped beating. Jude was very close, Calista's distraction didn't let me notice him in time.

Before Mary could get to the car, he had stopped beside my mine, in front of Calista and our eyed met.

EPISODE 22

We finished with dinner, it was already late, so grandma insisted I drove Mary home even though I had it in mind to do so.

I stopped in front of her house; a non painted new bungalow with no fence and sandy floor. A yellow bulb shone in one of the rooms facing the road with a green curtain covering it half way. Two ladies and a man sat outside discussing in the dark but turned their attentions to us on seeing us.

Mary wasn't so proud of the house as she turned looking at it.

" are you sure it's okay I brought you home?". I asked looking at the people outside that were curiously staring our direction.

She turned to me smiling. " you're really scared of Jude"

" not that I'm scared, I don't just want trouble".

" don't worry, he comes home very late, that's if when he doesn't sleep in one of his girlfriends house".

" alright, I will call you when I get home". I said, waiting for her to leave.

She smiled, then opened the door and stepped down.

Just then, a car light rays flashed into mine from behind. Mary saw it, waved at me and rushed inside.

My stomach knotted when I saw the car moving towards me. I engaged the engine and reversed. Low and behold, the car that passed me was Jude's, he was looking to see who was in my car, thank god for the tinted glass.

Back at home, I retired to my room and called Daniella's number, the phone rang twice and diverted to answering machine, Daniella's voice came on: If you're hearing this, kindly drop a message, I'll get to you ASAP.

The sound of her voice on the answering machine reminded me of her. What I felt for Daniella was so strong I could barely imagine that I would feel that way for someone almost twice my age.

I dailed her number again, same answering machine, I tried three more times before I left a message.

" hi, this Mike. Yeah I'm home... Em... i wanted to let you know I'm home...em.... Are in the office?" I cursed myself for asking such question, how would she be in the office by that time?!. " em... Just em... Wanted to...em..."

Then the phone connected and my heart almost jumped out through my mouth.

"Hello, Mike?"

The sound of her voice made me speechless.

" Mike, is that you?" She asked.

" yes! Yes!" I said finally.

" oh my god! I have been expecting your call!".

Really? That was more than my all day fantasy for fvcking the shit out of her. My heart sang with joy.

" oh..em.. I just got a phone". I managed to say.

" you should have called me on a pay phone, but that's by the way. How are you? I saw you on the news! You looked so battered, me too...". I sense her smiling.

My mind went straight to the ghost cult. Now they know what I looked like. But I shoved it aside and attended to what's more important.

" oh...that's nice.I wish I saw it "

" check it online. CNN". Daniella said excitedly.

CNN? Wow! I'm in soup! I thought.

" how's the office?" I asked to change the topic.

" they all saw you on TV though non recognized you until Gabriel called their attention to it". She said, bringing it up.

" wow " was all I could think of saying.

" Tasha asked me to bring the documents to seal the deal tomorrow. I'm so happy! She asked after you though, I told her what you told me. The police are on it right now". Daniella said

" what? You told the police?" I bellowed. This got me off balance.

" yes, I ought to. Yes, som cops maybe corrupt, but some will do their job effectively well". Daniella insisted.

" what! I didn't expect you to make such mistake!" I yelled

" Mike, Tasha was going to take up the case accusing you of knowing what killed her driver. They all saw you on TV. I had to defend you, that was the only option I had. It was better you have only the assassins on your trail than have both the cops!"

There was sense in what she said. But that wasn't a palatable news. I had to swallow.

" I understand you. It's okay. I'm happy for you. The two difficult jobs". I managed to sound cheerful.

She chuckled and added." Thanks to you. I'll send your ten percent as soon as we begin the job. And I owe you that date too".

Two great news. Ten percent for one client is about 20 million of local currency and I landed two, plus the other jobs I got for the company.

It works this way, any job you bring to the company, you will get 10 percent of every service charge and profit. As long as the client partners with my company, I'll always get paid even after I retire.

" wow! I can't wait to have that dinner with you!". I said almost shouting.

She laughed and said. " I'll be in Africa for another deal after I finish with Tasha's. I believe you will come with me for the job".

" with all pleasure!". I said.

She laughed and added. " Gloria is asking after you, have you called her?"

" no "

" you better call her. She misses the meat between your legs".

I was shocked at her statement. Daniella was too loosen this evening. I wanted to ask her what she meant but she hung up.

I was very happy. She made my evening completely. Then one fantasy crossed my mind. 'Marry her!' I laughed at the sound of the ridiculous idea, but suddenly, I realized it wasn't as funny as I thought. She was everything I wanted my wife to be; smart, intelligent, confident, beautiful, strong, achiever, charming, sexy, bossy...damn! She had it all. I began nursing the idea to propose to her, thinking of how beautiful the wedding will look like.

"Mike weds Daniella". I said out loud, picturing the scenario in my head and laughted happily.

I went to the refrigerator for a drink but saw only juice and yoghurt. I turned back to the bed and remembered to call Mary. I ignored it and turned on the television, but I wasn't comfortable and didn't know why.

So I picked up the phone and the sheet of paper she jotted down her number, dailed her line and it rang for long time before it connected. The sound of her voice got me activated.

" hello. Mary what's it?"

" Mike is that you?". She asked whispering and sniffing in.

" are you crying?" I asked.

" I ran out of the house. He wanted to shoot me!" She said and began crying.

" hold it! Hold it! Where are you, who wanted to shoot you?" I asked getting to my feet.
"Jude! I'm in a bush waiting for a friend... A client though. He's an officer. But he's an hour away". she said in a crying tone.

" can you come where I can see you?" I said grabbing the car key from the bed.

" no! No! " he will kill me!" She said and began crying.

" I'm coming, just give me the location". I said rushing out.

" please don't come. He will shoot you. Jude is crazy when he's angry. Please don't come !"

I was already downstairs and was entering the car.

" I'm coming over to your house if you don't tell me where you are". I said and engaged the engine.

"I...I'm behind my house. I'll meet you at the junction. Please wait at the junction, don't come here. If you don't see me in thirty minutes time, please call the police". She said and hung up.

I drove as fast as I could to her junction and parked. I was very worried and fighting back the urge not to go to her house.

"But Jude knows she was a hooker then why attack her? It doesn't add up, but when I see her I will find out" I thought aloud.

I kept looking behind and forward at any shadow I saw hoping it was her. It was fifteen minutes gone. I tried to engage the engine but refrained. I feared something must have happened to her. Beads of sweat ran down from my forehead and moisture gathered in my armpit.

Someone hit the passenger side window beside me hastily and my spirit almost left my body. I turned and saw Mary struggling with the door. I quickly opened it for her and she said hurriedly hitting the dashboard." go! go! go!".

I quickly engaged the engine and zoomed off.

We got my house and stopped at the car park. I turned to her face, her left eye was swollen, with a cut on her lower lip. I was furious and wanted to inflict pain on Jude.

" what happened? I thought he's cool with you doing your job, why attack you?". I asked angrily.

" he believes any man that brings me home is no longer a client. He very jealous and very dangerous when angry". She said avoiding my face.

Dangerous, that I can relate with. I have seen him exhibit it twice.

" what about your friend? The officer, he should arrest Jude's girl beating ass". I barked.

" he will call me when he's around. But I bet they will meet Jude at home. He has this signal in him he feels each time trouble comes for him. They can never get him. This is not the fifth time he's doing worse". She said .

" this is not even the first? And shooting you is not the first?". I asked surprisingly.

She shook her head. " he shot at me once before now but missed "

" wow! wow!" I couldnt say further.

After hearing what she said, I was scared for my life and that of my family. Every part of me wanted to send her away, but when I turned to her, she was looking more like a beautiful, innocent teenager that needs someone to protect her.
I strenched my hand and held her hand. She turned to me and looked away abruptly trying to hide her broken face.

" it's okay. You can stay in my room until you recover". I said.

Mary: this guy is too kind! How do I pay him back?

She began crying. I robbed her shoulder and wanted to open the door when her phone rang. She looked at me frighteningly.

Mary: it's him!

" Jude?" I asked.

She nodded still looking at me.

" take the call!" I said.

She shook her head and turned to the phone as though Jude was coming out of it.

" don't worry it, so you will know what he wants" I said.

She slowly picked the call and was looking at me while she listened to the caller. Then she barked all of a sudden.

" give me my car! It's over between us! Return my car Jude!"

Then she kept quiet, her eyes dangling like a pendulum. She barked again." you are evil! Don't expect to see me again..... You can't do anything Jude, you can't....Go ahead and report me! Tell them I killed somebody! It's better I rut in jail than live in the same roof with you!... Go to hell! I'm coming for my car!". She hung up and threw her phone angrily at the backseat.

Mary: I don't care anymore! It's over! This time I'm not going back! Thank god for Mike, what would I have done? I'm not going back, never!

I sat silently on my chair looking at her. She now looked bolder now after speaking to Jude. I heaved and said to her.

" lets go inside".

Her phone rang again. I turned to get it.

" leave it! It's that fool!" She said opening the car door.

I looked at the caller ' officer Johnbull '. " it's not him" I said , showing the phone screen to her.

She returned back to her seat looking hopefully at me. I handed her the phone, she took the call hurriedly. " hello! Yes! I'm out of the house, at a friend's in the neighborhood. Where are you? Okay, did you see him?" She turned to me and made a face. " he is not at home? I just finished talking to him... Yes he threatened to shoot me,....yes he had a gun... Yes sir...Please arrest him! Okay sir.... Thank you sir...No, I'm here for the night...Okay sir...I'm grateful....bye".

She dropped the call and said to me. " they didn't meet him at home ". then smiled regretfully.

I led her to my room and she went straight to the mirror and wasn't happy at the shape her face took. I got some ice for the swollen eye and made her a hot tea. We talked about everything else and later slept.

The next morning at about five A.M, Mary was still fast asleep, I went on morning jogging out of the estate. It was still dark as I jogged with my headphone on listening to music.

An approaching car headlamp shone on my face. I wondered why the idiot won't dim his light. As I made to jog pass the car, I recognized it immediately as Jude's and increased my speed. I hadn't gone few distance when someone shouted.

" sir! Sir wait! "

I ignored it and continued. Then I heard footsteps behind me and someone touched my shoulder. I turned and saw Jude jogging after me smiling. I was surprised how he was able to catch up that fast.