THE PAST'S PATH

Samuel

I swear I didn't know when my arm flung in the air and descended with my palm on her left cheek. There was this silence thereafter; a silence that made me realize my action and my steamy eyes cooled down. I felt the weight of the neighbors’ stares pinning me to my feet.

“How had I not realized that our altercation had dragged us out the
front door?" I questioned within me.
I turned my back and there was my little boy standing in front of the swayed door, wearing a lackluster brown T-shirt; one I do not remember getting for him.
"Was he watching us the whole time?"
"I wonder what he thinks of his father now."
He was only five but those thoughts kept knocking at the door of my mind.
I left Cecilia, hunched, with her face sandwiched by her palms, like a son guilty of his father's accusations not worthy of seeing his face again. I hurried out of the rusty iron gate and I faced Mella outside. She had on a slightly different makeup from Cecilia’s but hers was a deep touch of purple coating her lips. We locked eyes fiercely for what seemed like three seconds before I walked away; but heading to where exactly? Perhaps a bar? An old friends' crib? A hotel? - Damn, I had no money but I walked on!
I wondered what dialogue Cecilia and that bitch, Mella, would be having. I wondered why Cecilia chose to do such to me.
"Had she always been a devil all along?" My thoughts were
interrupted in a rather unexpected manner. I felt the plastic face of a truck slam into my guts and I fell on the muddy earth. The face of death was pretty; she winked at me and faded. I wasn't dead. My eyes dimmed.

***
Jilams

"What is going on?" I thought as I opened my eyes but only one was open. The other was in bandages. "Why do I feel so much pain?" I saw a man in white, "Am I in heaven?" I mused at the idea.
"Hello Ken" he said smiling at me. I recognized him immediately,
another "brother" from school,
"Swash what happened?" I asked calling him by his nickname. His
real name was Chris.
"You were attacked. You need to rest".
“Where is my son? How did I get here?" I queried.
"A good Samaritan brought you here. As for your son, I don't know.”
Then I remembered death's beautiful face.
“It was Mella – Celia’s friend.” I screamed. The rage slowly built up within me. "Celia is using her against me". I half whispered. I could see the puzzle on his face. "They won't get away with this" I muttered under my breath "They must pay". Looking at Swash, I blurted out "I need your help".
He smiled his crooked smile and I knew he already understood. All
he needed was my permission. Cecilia has no idea the hell about to be unleashed upon her. We just came out of retirement.

***
Ese

"Ken! Are you sure the plan would work? It's been so long since I set my eyes on her" Kamal said wearing an unsure expression.
"I know her well. She is my wife remember? It'll work, trust me" I
glanced at Swash quickly and as soon as he nodded, we knew it was time.
I couldn't wait for this episode of my life to be over. Cecilia had turned me to a monster. I was hurt mostly because my son shouldn't be going through this trauma at such a tender age of five. I sank into my pillow and felt bits of me flow along with my tears which soaked the sheets.
"K-aaa-mm-al" Cecilia stammered "Is it really you?" She asked as she struggled to stand. Her feet had become numb and her eyesight blurry for tears had gathered there but had refused to pour. She opened her mouth to speak but she couldn't say a word. She yearned so badly for the ground to open and swallow her but unfortunately, the time had come to face a part of her life that she had shut out for years. This part that could ruin her chances of a happy ever after.
Kamal reached to hug her "surprise!"

***
Miracle

"I am surprised indeed"! Cecilia found her voice as she pulled out of the hug. “Will this ever end?” She thought she had covered her tracks when she left school five years ago but apparently not.
She immediately suspected this to be Ken's way of getting back at her, but she was going to fight dirty.
"Kam... you sure are sight for sour eyes" she purred seductively. She had always known how to get under Kamal's skin. He was her ex after all.
Maybe Ken didn't know that. She giggled wickedly as she stood in front of him touching his broad chest and stroking his nipples through his shirt.
She watched him shiver at her touch. Clearly he was loosing focus as to why he had visited.
"Such a pity you are being used as a pawn my love" she whispered
seductively. Her lips brushed passed his lower lips and their breath
mingled. Her breast rested on his chest and she could feel his solid bulge through his jean trousers. She smiled and Kamal smiled back. "Anyone on Ken's side is still my enemy!" her thoughts suddenly took over and her eyes turned cold.
"How dare you!” she screamed pushing him over the couch and
dashing for her hand bag on the table. She pulled out a gun.
"Stay down Kamal." She said pointing the gun at him with jittery
fingers. Kamal rushed at Cecilia as her gaze riveted to her son Emma coming out of the room,
"Mummy?" The gun went off.

***
Successa

It took Kamal some seconds to realize that he was still breathing as the bullet hit the silver pendant on his necklace. Survival instincts made him play dead. Cecilia dropped the gun and rushed to attend to her son.
"Baby, what are you doing up? You should be having your afternoon siesta".
"Why did you shoot the man mummy? Where is my daddy? Is that a real gun mummy?"
"Okay honey, too many questions. Come, so mummy can rock you
back to sleep."
When the coast was clear, Kamal felt his body to make sure no part was broken.
"The bitch shot at me! She really has learnt to be a first class bitch
after all."
He quickly dialed Ken and Chris waiting in the car outside as he picked up her gun.
"Hey guy! Your bitch nearly killed me, I told you this wasn't going to work, I mean my once gullible and agreeable Cecelia pointed a gun at me and pulled the damned trigger!"
"Calm down you're shouting man. Are you still in the house?" Ken
asked.
"Yes!"
"Switch to plan B, man. I'll be with you in a few minutes. Chris will stay put and make sure that bitch Mella doesn't take us by surprise…"

***
Sandra

“… do you understand? Hello… ”
“He’s dead. And so is our son Ken.” It was Cecilia’s voice on the
other end of the line.
“Nooooooo” Ken screamed as the line went dead.
Mella rushed in and saw Kamal laying faced down with a knife in his back.
“Celia!” she screamed, “What has come over you? I thought this was just a phase for you but I see you have completely lost it. How can you push your own son down a well to drown because you have a misunderstanding with his father? I’m calling the police… I will not be a part of this nonsense”
“Don’t be in a hurry Mella.” Cecilia pointed the gun at her friend
who immediately put her hands up in fear. “You are just a part of this as I am. Take a sit and let’s wait for Ken to come in”
“How do you mean?” Mella stuttered.
“You have been sleeping my husband behind my back. You both
took me for a fool right?” Cecilia began and puffed her cigarette looking intensely at her scared friend,
“That’s not true Celia…”
“Don’t you dare…” she was raising her voice then she calmed down and almost sank to a whisper even though just the two of them were in the room “This is the end of the road, Mel. He promised we would not revisit our past but we still live in it.” She threw a white file from her bag on the table. And some photos scattered across the room making Mella’s eyes wide with recognition. “I know everything Mel. Right from when it started.
I loved you as a sister so it didn’t matter that you shared my husband since we have shared men before him; but then you tried to rip me of my happiness. You asked my husband to divorce me… why?”
“Please…”
“Please? You know what I could not understand? How you never
liked him when he came for my hand in marriage yet he is sleeping with you and would divorce me for you. You were not even happy when he took me off the streets and gave me a home…” she spoke as hot tears broke from their sockets.
“Celia…”
“You’re pregnant for him aren’t you?”
Mella immediately dashed out of the room and locked the door with Cecilia inside it. Cecilia fired the knob and chased after her.
“Run… run Ken. She’s crazy but she knows everything.” Mella
screamed on seeing Ken. The other prostitutes, who had been
eavesdropping waiting for a fight, ran into their rooms and locked
themselves in when they saw Cecilia with a gun. Ken turned to run but the first bullet passed through the back of his skull to the front of his forehead.
Mella stood frozen and turned to face her friend.
“I’m sor…” The shot passed through her gullet.
“Too late…” Celia said and then a third shot was fired as Swash
rushed in.

THE PAST'S PATH - NIWCO TOGETHER STORY

Dorcas

“You act like you ain't perturbed, Cecelia.” Mella said with surprise
and disgust written all over her face. “This was once your husband. I know he had his short comings but the way you're going about all this strikes a bad chord in me,” she added.
“Don't even act like you're innocent Mella,” Cecilia guffawed. “Didn't you take him out with that tool?” she said as she puffed on the cigarette between her fingers.
“I only acted on your command; but that doesn't make me a killer.”
“Can You just keep quiet and let me think? I paid you for this, so it's either you give back my money or keep shut that dirty mouth of yours for once.” Cecilia added.
“I fear for his life.” Mella said softly “You sold the only house you
both owned. You’ve taken his son away from him and at your command, he lies still in a hospital fighting for his life. I hope you have a rethink about this whole plan,” Mella finished while staring hard into space.
“I was born for times like this. He wanted a beautiful lady at his peril.
Did I beg him to take me off the streets? After all he knew I didn't love him yet he promised me the heavens and also that we would both forget the

past. I'm not going back until I ruin that fool's life.”

***

Victory

Every morning I watch the clock; feeling the weight of each strike as I struggle to overcome the lethargy of the night before. Drowning a bit before I can resurface, burning a bit before I can be reborn.
You know how it's said that when we die, our whole life replays before our eyes? Well here is a story of a man who dies every day.
Every day when I wake, my life is replayed before my eyes, and while I struggle to abandon this reverie, I'm stuck with the same questions, the "what ifs" and "maybes".
“What if I was another kind of man?”
“What if I was less of some of me and more of the other tidbits?”
“Maybe this wasn't supposed to be my life, maybe mother fate gifted me the life of another with more woes than I had it in me to bear.”
My story is simple, and like a lot of simple things, its simplicity was its trap.

I was a husband and a worker and I had everything I needed. There was no way I would've predicted, that my life would turn drastically from that morning.

***

Tolu

I tried to make ends meet despite many sleepless nights. I am a hard working man in my late thirties but I already have more salted hairs than a man of ninety. It’s not because I am wise, neither was I born with it. I have been gifted these sorry grey hairs to remind me I live in hell. I wished I didn’t have to choose my wife just as I couldn't choose my parents. If the creator had chosen for me maybe my life would have turned out better.
I felt I could tolerate all of Cecilia’s excesses during our early days because her love overwhelmed me. Never imagined things could go this way because it never started like this – or maybe I didn’t notice.
Everything was in abundance when we met till things changed a few years back. She makes me believe now that she must have fallen for the paper.

She now picks calls from deeper voices. She also renamed Saturdays as Owambe days and I never dare to leave home without dropping cash if not, she will use my neck tie as a threat tool for suicide. That manipulative wretch of a wife tormented the living lights out of me. Now, she has sold our only house.

***

Tosin

A man in agbada and shiny shoes knocked on my door that morning. He came with two hefty men behind him, he delivered the news with so much gusto saying,
“Young man, you must be the care taker of this house,” immediately the haze of sleep cleared from my eyes.
I was not sure I heard him correctly so I asked, “Mister what are you talking about?”
He said, “This is my house. I bought it from Cecilia the previous
owner.” He was boldly waving some documents in my face.
I was shocked. A sudden wave of cold began to seep into my bones. I just couldn’t believe it. I haven’t recovered from the anguish of the phone call I got from my bank manager yesterday. Cecilia had emptied our joint account! Now it’s my house - my sweat and blood! Cecilia has finished me!
I have been dialing her lines since yesterday but it’s been unreachable.

I was duped and rendered useless under the sanctity of marriage. Who will save me from this wormhole? I don’t know the hole she is hiding in but I won’t rest till I find her and demand why she has turned my life to a disaster zone. No I won’t stop searching. I really have nothing to lose anymore...

***

Stella

"Why are you standing there staring at me like a moron? How did
you even find me you low life son of a bitch?" Cecilia fired.
This woman is a real bitch. She still has the temerity to lambast me.
“Did she not notice the anger mixed with impatience oozing out from my eyes?” I thought and prayed under my breath. “Oh God, don't let me devour this witch". With all the calmness I could gather and all the strength I could muster, I asked,
“Cecilia what on earth have I done to deserve this suffering from
you?" “Really? Is this me talking?” I almost laughed at myself. I already concluded all hell will let loose when I see a silhouette of her. Here I was, standing before a woman I would give anything for but had taken everything from me.
"You see", she began and I could feel all the anger in her tone despite how calm she appeared to be.
“What could I have done to anger her this much? What could I have done to make her hate me?” I watched as her thick lips coated in black lipstick made the words,
"My son and I are so done with you Ken." she screamed at me. “how did you even find me?” she queried now. And once again, I couldn’t believe how I sounded when I spoke.
"A friend who lives in this neighborhood told me he saw you around here with OUR son. How could you bring my son to the house of Mella?
Knowing what goes on here…” I saw a smirk on her face. She was enjoying this. it was a game to her so I changed it immediately,
"Cecilia I need my house and my son back before the end of today!"
She spoke in a tone that I had not heard before with wide eyes,
"Not in your wildest imagination."

PURPLE DEVIL

ESE
Tina trembled as she left with the police men. Aderemi's gaze at her was like a tiger waiting for an opportunity to strike. He had warned her earlier to stick to the plan for he would not hesitate to get rid of her if he perceived her a threat.
I couldn't believe Aderemi could Mastermind an evil plot against me. We had been friends since I could remember.
I raised my hands to strike him but I couldn't, I tried again not knowing that I was on the other side of existence and can't come in contact with this side of the living.
"Tina why?" I asked rhetorically as she tearfully wrote her report at the police station. Aderemi was consoling her from behind. "Don't rest until you find the monsters who did this to my man" Aderemi said to the police man as he gently pulled Tina from the station.
"Are you just going to let them go? Can't you realize that they just

put on a show?" I said looking at the police officers in charge.

VICTORY
Of course they can't hear me. I decided to pause for a moment. It all still felt surreal. Just a few hours ago I was having the party of my life and now. I'm stuck in limbo, forced to watch the traitors who ruined my life get away with it? This wasn't the least bit right!
As I walked out of the police station trying to piece my thoughts together, unsure what to do about any of this, a voice interrupted my thoughts. It was odd. Somewhere in my mind, I had concluded that I was forever alone on this ethereal plane but I was sure this voice was referring to me.
"Are you okay?" it asked again
I turned towards the source, perplexed.
"You can see and hear me?"
"I'm neither blind nor deaf. Your shirt looks very dirty, is that blood?"
I sized her up in a few glances before looking at my shirt. It was a messy sight, I had coughed up a lot of blood in my final moments. Irritating as this girl was, she was currently my only link to the physical world. There was just one problem. She seemed barely 13 years old.

DORCAS

"The code of trust was broken; in exchange for your good deeds,
you're trapped in this place forlorn. I fear for you, for this is just a tip of the iceberg, a fraction of what is to come. Your soul is doomed", the little girl said.
“But who are you little girl?” I questioned.
"Just call me purple devil". She replied abruptly.
"Whatever that means. I'm happy you can see me.” I said excitedly.
“Aderemi betrayed me because of a girl. I can't be seen nor heard, I can't believe I'm dead". I lamented.
“I need help! I came to help you, because you also helped me during one of my numerous outings to your planet. On that day I took the form of a child, purple is an allergy for me so I couldn't go past a purple rope on the floor and I screamed hard because I was trapped and my time on your planet was running fast. You helped me take off the rope. I knew I'd repay the kindness, someday." With a tap to my head, I tumbled and tumbled and tumbled until I sneezed in the morgue. Everyone ran. The strong stood and captured the rising dead.

GREEN

Green, you glow like the fairytale nightingale

Full of indisputable splendor

Love, meet me on the green carpet, where I lay beside my lover,

And ignite our dying love by your enchantment ~ STELLA

Enchantment of these great view, calms my beating heart.

These diverse flora captivates my scenic being.

The flowing network of waters and sunlight, giving them life.

Brings a splurge, of so rich a color beautifying the world. ~ TOSIN

Beautifying the world with its fertile smile

It's allure maketh men hopeful

Sweet melodies inspired and contagious

Even the babes feels the masterpiece's calm ~ JILAMS

 Calm as the ocean wave as it slaps the sands which we walked on, 

 Holding hands like young lovers on the early winter mornings,  

Arms wrapped around each other 

And just us in our little bubble ~ AISHA

 Bubble bubbling with life for survival

Greenest vegetation as fertile as it is

Making productivity full, free and safe

For there's freshness sprayed with mintness ~ PEACE

Mintness tasting sharp and sour,

He really wasn't hers,

Now he's her friend's,

Envy rolls thick and green.  ~ SANDRA

PURPLE DEVIL

TOSIN
“Wow, this is a great turn out! I can’t believe you pulled such crowd in just a few hours.” Aderemi said to me grinning widely while exchanging pleasantries.
Happiness was radiating from every pore of my skin. Sexy babes,
different curves and complexion; the movers and the shakers of the
industry were all gathered; I have never felt this proud of myself like now.

It was not just a birthday celebration; I just signed the biggest deal of my music career. I was on top of the world.

“Hmm, I must be tipsy from the different drinks I have had tonight.” I thought, as I felt my senses begin to slowly give way. Finally, the M.C called for my birthday song and toast and the dance floor was lit. The last time I checked my gold plated wristwatch, it was 11pm. Not long after, my sight gave way as a sharp pain took over my body. I only heard glasses crash and my body hit the floor.
“What is happening to me? Someone help me!” I shouted but I

couldn’t even hear my voice. 

“Thank Goodness! I feel and see better now.”

Then I saw that my friends surround someone; some were taking pictures.
“That looks like me!” I shouted. Aderemi was crying, moving around with a phone to his ear. I guess he was calling my family, or the cops.
“What just happened?! Why can’t anybody see me? But, today is my birthday...”

SUCCESSA

"What are you all doing? Can't someone help me off the floor?"
I searched for Aderemi. I'm sure if I can find him, he'd be able to hear me."Guy, we had better leave this place now, before the police arrive."
Koko said following Aderemi.
"Koko just shut your mouth and let me concentrate on what's next. If you had not been so stupid as to overlace his drink, Tina would have had a good time to make him sign over the cheque before he gave in to the drug's effect."
I saw Aderemi dial Tina's mobile, “Come over to the room you and Tayo booked for the party. Next on the list is to take care of Koko, else the lily-livered bird would sing to the police.”
I was supposed to feel hurt but I realized I could feel nothing so I followed my friend on. The sight that greeted Tina on her arrival to the room, would have made her merry heart laugh, had she not been too shocked at Aderemi's capacity for evil in one night. It finally dawned on her that she had been living a fool's dream to imagine she loved him and not sweet Tayo. Meantime, she resolved to play his game his way, for safety sake.

"I see you've killed Koko to keep him shut... What do we do next?"

JILAMS
"We wait for the police to do their investigation" Aderemi replied
"There will be so many suspects because of the number of people at the party. We just have to play the part of grieving friends" he continued
Tina nodded in agreement, but she already regretted being part of this plan; she regretted ever being fooled by Aderemi's charm and wit. She regretted betraying Tayo. Right now, she wished to go back in time to undo everything.
The noise of the ambulance coupled with the siren of the police brought her out of her reverie.
The Police Superintendent came in, supervised the evacuation of the body and in a baritone said
"The rest of you are coming with me to the station so we can take
your statement" I watched as my best friend Aderemi signaled my girlfriend, Tina to stick to the story or else she will be next. I wonder just how thick, this conspiracy stretches...

TO BE CONTINUED...

THE VERDICT

ESE
He quickly thought about one of his old friends who was a private
inspector. If he was going to be vindicated from a crime he didn't commit, he would have to go back to the scene where it all started to get the facts right. He asked to make a call and he was granted so he immediately called Mohammed.
"... your boy is in trouble...I need your help now." Dele said with
panic in his voice. He knew Mohammed was the best man for the job but he wasn't sure how he was going to solve the mystery in one day. He needed more time but it was impossible to convince anyone as the victim was a superior sergeant. Femi had his gun that very day but he never fired.
He knew he couldn't have been so careless that a shot be fired from his own gun and he wouldn't have known about it. The only information that baffled him was that the shot fired was from around the corner where he sat.
"Did someone set me up?” he wondered continuously and Muhammad arrived to visit him.
"Who were the officers present that day and what working
relationship do you have with them?" Muhammad asked fully ready for work.

PEACE

”My Oga... There were three other officers with myself and the
inspector. And we're all good. We’ve never had any rancor or a reason to" Sergeant Femi said with a swollen face.
Muhammad removed his glasses letting it dangle on his chest with the lace around his neck keeping it in place. He wiped his face and stirred unconvincingly at Femi. Then snorted out; “Are you sure?”
Without waiting for response he picked up and left for the crime scene where he searched for traces of any clues to help his old friend.
Sergent Femi was more than convinced that there was an outsider, who had taken the shot. Halfway through the bush around the shade, Muhammad stopped in his tracks.
"Can you remember who else was there when the shot was taken
aside the officers on duty with you?" Muhammad asked on his return to the station. Femi tapped his head severally in a bid to recall. Suddenly, some came flooding in.
“Yes, yes… a young man looking all scruffy, dark skinned, average

height, with dark brown eyes. The officers were checking his papers or something” Femi said sharply. Muhammad nodded in approval. He was convinced now that the investigation had a strong lead, but how to get one of the officers to agree with him had him 

perturbed.

DORCAS

Having concluded the ritual processes in three days, Dele and Faji
prepared to return to Lagos - their abode. As their custom was, they never plied the same route they came by. However that fateful day, their plan took a different turn.
"Faji, that route is shorter,” Dele said. “Trust me we can go by it
again". He added.
"E be like say you wan die abi? Which time we don take one road two times?" Faji replied in a pidgin be laden tone.
"I've never seen dumb police men like those ones we met before,
believe me. No one even took any cognizance of our identity. Didn't you see how they fled like puppies?” Dele said mockingly.
"This plenty English wey you dey talk dey worry you. Me I never
wan die. I wan enjoy my money for long o. But na true, nothing fit happen.
Na the first time your English dey produce better talk be this. Oya make we take am." Faji concluded.
They hummed along as music blared from the speaker of the car,
each one thinking of how to spend his billions from the just concluded ritual.
"Fuck their father. Who say money no sweet?" Faji screamed in
ecstasy.
“Without money hide your face… Or how did that popular artiste
say it again?”
“If you no get money, hide your face…” Faji corrected him as their
laughter faded to a comfortable silence – each man lost in his own ecstatic thoughts. They couldn't wait to enter into Lagos not with the numerous parties laying in wait for them.

SANDRA

Their joys were short lived however. Muhammad had taken the mission very personal and had questioned every officer on duty by hook or crook as they prepared to lay the body of the commandant to rest in a couple of hours by the cemetery which happened to be close to his last duty post in his locale.
Soon a green rickety Peugeot came rolling by with no intention to stop.
“You should slow down. We’re almost at the check point.” Dele said amidst the smoke filled car.
“Maa pa wan danu. I go kill any motherfucka wey stand for road
today.” Muhammad and the other officers in duty rushed and opened fire at the vehicle refusing to stop after flagging them down severally.
After the vehicle hit a tree trunk, one of the police officers identified the one of the boys as the same young man at the check point the day the commandant was killed. Searching the car, they found some huge sums that were un accounted for and some weapons including a hunting gun at under the seat of the car.
It was identified as the bullet that killed the commandant years after
Sergeant Femi had been hung to death for the crime he really had not committed.

THE END

SAFE

Who is here? I'm no where!

Where am I? lost and scared.

Give some light, space is life.

There you are! Safe and sound. TOSIN

Safe and sound, what a relief

A place of security to live

When life permits we stay safe

No hurry would there be to the grave. SUCCESSA

To the grave!! What an ironic safety

Here no troubles and trials abide

But all dread it's solemn silence

And seek for shelter within their anguish. JILAMS

Anguish rents this abode  

Not free from  worries and helter-skelter;  

 Is it safe in here?         

 If not take me away to a haven without risk. TOLU

"Risk it. Yes, risk it all"

They do not see the climb

What if I miss a foot and fall?

Your tongues; wet and blind. SAMUEL

Blind out here,

Bright in here,

The world is a snare,

Safe is me, in here. SANDRA

THE VERDICT

TOLU
"Kakkka" is all I heard. I was about opening the second page of the
papers with me while on my daily duty on the federal highway. I turned back, cocked my gun as other cops dodged in the bush.
"Oga! Oh my God!" I shouted. "Wetin happen? Who be that?" Two of my fled colleagues hopped out of the bush. We moved closer to the scene; a thatched roof spot beside the road.
"I didn't do it. Sir, please talk to me. Who has done this? Guys, you
have to believe me I don't know who shot the gun" Sergeant Femi said. The words flowed out of his wide mouth like a dubbed cassette player. He is known as a trigger-loving cop by fellow officers. Who would doubt if he had not pulled the trigger on his superior officer even though there is no bad blood between the pair. The two were the only ones under the thatched spot. Femi's pistol was flaunted in his right hand as the superintendent bled from his massive belly.
"My paper, oga police". The guy whose paper I withheld shouted as

our van was set for an emergency rescue mission.

SUCCESSA
"Guy let's move it quickly, we are running behind schedule" Faji
shouted as he ran out of the bush to rejoin Dele in the car.
They had to deliver the head in the booth before 4pm. It was already 3:15pm and they had one more checkpoint to cross before getting to safety zone.
Thanks to the ingenious plans they made ahead of time. Faji had left the car a short distance before they got to the police check point. He had snuck into the bush behind the shade occupied by two police officers and shot at the one that looked like he commanded more respect. The rest had panicked, forgetting to complete their duty.
"Hahahaha..." Faji couldn't control himself now as he remembered
their short, but comical reaction at the sound of the gunshots.
Dele behind the wheel, catching on immediately, joined in the mirth; as he remembered how he had to act the innocent driver to get the car's particulars back.
"No doubt, they will blame the one with him" Commented Dele
amidst laughter. If they only realized how luck agreed with them at that point; having allowed them play into hands of the infamous trigger happy Sergeant Femi. However, posterity awaited them, not too far away.

AISHA

Dele’s heart was racing as he thought of the heads in his trunk bumping.
He was used to the feeling. It wasn't the first time he was delivering heads, but this time it was more risky. Too much check points, all the crisis in Nigeria was making the job more difficult transporting the goods. The problem was even more now as Faji had shot the commandant.
They parked the car at the bumpy rough road that had a military check point sign ahead. Faji looked around and didn't see anyone. He smiled coldly at the thought of having to shoot another person that same day. Dele took the heads out of the trunk, blood dripped slowly from the sack. Dele led the way. He knew the way like the back of his hand. Faji only brought two heads - that of his mother-in-law and a girl who had turned down his advances online and humiliated him - how silly she was.
Back at the check points the other officers had gathered around Sergent Femi even as police officers were ready to take justice into their own hands at that moment. They dragged him and tied him to the police van.

JILAMS

Sergeant Femi saw his life flashed before his eyes as his fellow officers beat him to within an inch of his life. True, he had gained a reputation for being a trigger-happy sergeant, but he wouldn't dare kill his superior, much less a man he considered a father.
How could he explain it? How can he prove his innocence? He wondered despite the lynching "Will you all stop this nonsense already?” the DPO had been notified of the incident and had quickly made his way to the scene.
"Oga, na him kill inspector", one of the officers replied in pidgin
English.
"He is a suspect and we also need to know his motive for his barbaric act, that is why you should take him to the station and lock him up" the DPO ordered.
Grudgingly, they obliged and Sergeant Femi knew that it was
because they would rather have him dead than wait for all the lengthy bureaucratic process. Well, the inspector was a man who was loved and it seems an injustice to let the perpetrator to live another day.
Femi thought to himself, “I will have to use this extra day to prove my innocence”, he just had to.

TO BE CONTINUED...

ABUSE

 Oh! How man's inordinate desires

creates cascade of events

All for his selfish satisfaction

Invents subjugative acts and actions  - JILAMS

Actions spurred by lustful desires; 

This is more than a devilish act   

Oh! Brother you have to retire       

 Or else you are set for a burning path.  - TOLU

Path slimy and thorn laden

The broad path, it's called

Gully and sloppy lay it's borders

For a path to destruction it is  - DORCAS

Is there a Savior from this?

For the aches it bores in holes and moth

Having no  pledge for mercy

 Desiring to devour at all cost - PEACE

Cost, does man ever think of that?

The price of his myopic indulgences

The dominoes that crash on innocent hearts

and the ripples of destruction he causes.  - GABRIEL

Causes and effects, who cares about it?

We soil his childhood and he learns the bad habits.

Daddy slaps Mummy, order is restored.

So I hit her too, its normal and right!  - TOSIN

NEMESIS

PEACE
"Denrele! Denrele!... You seem not to understand anything from
what I've taught you all these years" Denrele's Father Shouted.
The war between the two families didn't just happen. Shola's Family got tangled in this with the ex-military colonel - Denrele's Father - who has grown bitter with greed and hate.
"I've told you before, do not get involved with Shola. He’s to be
eliminated, just like his father should have been..." He continued.
Denrele dropped his head into his palms and walked his fingers through his scruffy looking hair in a bid to think faster.
"Dad, I'll do what needs to be done." Denrele grudgingly said, and
stormed out of the room.

ESE

"Yes, this is Thor. Who is this?" He asked not wanting to jump into
conclusions for he had perceived it was Denrele from the moment he said hello.
Denrele and Shola were like little brothers to him but he had
favourited Denrele whom he said had a stronger and more willing spirit.
"It's Denrele" the caller finally said with a tone that carried an iota
of fear. He knew immediately that there was trouble and Denrele had tried to handle it all by himself but had made matters worse. The snake had bit him hard and only he could take out the poison.
"What is the problem Denrele?" He asked without waiting for him
to open up.
"It's Shola."

SAMUEL

Denrele explained the situation to Thor, their malicious and dreaded godfather and they had contrived a plan on how to deal with Shola. If only he knew that Thor was the heart of everything happening.
They set out late around 9pm that very day, driving through the street lit road to Shola's comfortable apartment; stopping by his golden designed gate, both men, concealing pistols in their pockets, stepped out from the tinted vehicle with their veins pulsating with madness.
"You go first", Thor asserted.
Denlere nodded and marched forward bursting the gate open and
proceeding.
"Blaw! Blaw!" a pistol sounded outside, waking Shola from his
drunken slumber.

SANDRA

“Welcome home brother” Shola laughed as both friends pointed
their guns at each other.
“Home? Brother? How can you say such words after what you
did?” Denrele queried with irritation written all over his face.
“What I did? I never did anything than protect you and your
interest dude. You’re my brother...”
“... Shut up... stop saying it” Denrele screamed. He believed him
but he just could not understand how things could just fall apart. “If youdid not do it, then, we have been chasing ghosts and...”
A gunshot broke out straight to Shola’s head as Thor proceeded
from the darkness.
“It’s done.”
“No ooo” Denrele broke down. “Wrong target Thor... Wrong
target.”
“What do you mean?”
“He didn’t do it. I believe my brother did not do anything...”
“Yes, he did not. I did.” He shot Denrele in the stomach and
immediately kicked the gun out of his hand. “Guess I just have to fix this part of my plan myself” he said as he produced as folded picture from his jacket. “As you go to hell, you need to know the sin you committed so take a look at this picture... that’s my family. You rugged dirty scums invaded my cool city, raped my sisters and killed my parents because you felt you could get away with anything?”
Denrele rushed at him pushing him to the floor and twisting the
gun inward. One last shot.

THE END.

RED

Blood bleeds red

Danger reads red

Should red be bred

For things unheard?

                                   SUCCESSA

Unheard and unthought

Un-nice and uncouth

entrapping and beguiling

Dripping death but no truth

                                       VICTORY

 Truth is my heart ♥ is red hot

                             It bleeds at the right spot                         

                                  No traffic, no red for stop                             

  It is held by love ❤, there is no flop.

                                                     TOLU

 Flop, plop she splashed through life's rainbow.

It took a while for her to get it.

Red is her identity,  taboos or not.

Oh see, how she looks now, chin up and heart steady!

                                                                                         TOSIN

Steady and slow get the risks dimmer

With splashes of hope, churning and burning

For danger lies ambush

To everyone impatient with a rush

                                                                                           PEACE

NEMESIS

TOLU

Denrele drove into the compound hitting the gateman at the back.
"Kai oga!" Abdullahi said faintly.
"If you dare open that gate tonight, you are gone, gone forever.
You hear me?" he shouted as he wheeled into his apartment. The
gateman lay on the floor with mouth wide open seeing another thriller from his boss' son. Denrele walked to and fro waiting for an idea to pop up.
"Huh! My plate number" he rushed out of the room to remove any
means of identifications as the gateman watched on from his apartment.
"Open this gate or else you are all gone!" Someone at the gate

thundered. Abdullahi shivered on hearing another military command within minutes. Gunshots into the air became sporadic as men in uniform surrounded the building and he heard the scampering footsteps and car tires screeching in the distance.

TOSIN

“What did Shola expect?! No one cheats me and gets away, No
way! Not after what he did.” Denrele shouted to an empty room. “He broke the brotherhood code so he has to pay for it. The brotherhood comes first! Did he think, I 'Denrele the Deadly' will let him go just like that? I just have to call daddy now, he will sought out this dogs on my scent…”
Denrele and Shola were bosom friends from their first year in university.
They joined the same fraternity in school and rose in ranks together.
Having plundered, threatened and exploited their way around campus.
The name of this two, cause even the fiercest of students and lecturers to

quake in their shoes. Now in their fourth year, a sudden wind blew - bosom friends turned into enemies. “What could be the cause?” Noisy whispers could be heard as various rumors waved across departments and lecture halls; but it has escalated now. It’s no longer a feud but a blood bath as corpse of young students litter the campus surroundings daily leaving many injured in the mad rush. The school premises has turned to a battlefield.

DORCAS

"More heads will roll! More families will cry for the demise of their children; until I, Shola get that son of a bitch down and pee on his fucking mangled body" he guffawed while his sagging fat sides quaked from the effect of his deep throated laughter.
To say he was obese for his age – 23 – would be an understatement. His teeth were all shades of brown and his breath reeked of pure tobacco. He held a rotund cigar in his hand and puffed on it with a long gold chain worth hundreds of pounds. His baggy trousers could take in hundreds of men with a bubu shoe encompassing his plump sturdy legs. Shola was spoilt from childhood. He had never made a result in his life.
All his results were either paid for or simply awarded out of fear of his father - a former minister and one time colonel in the army - who made sure he had everything.
"He thinks his good look gives him an edge over me but he seems
to have forgotten that I taught him the codes of fraternity and mentored his silly ass to maturity. The battle line has been drawn Denrele!” He smiled wickedly with vicious glints in his eyes as he puffed circles in the air.

JILAMS

Thor grinned as he realized his ingenious plan was becoming reality.
"I will destroy them", he had vowed. "For killing my beloved
family; I will eviscerate them". He had hatched this plan for months, outlining variables, eliminating probabilities until finally he created the perfect blueprint of a master plan with all alternatives covered.
Taking a family portrait of his family and looking at it "Denrele's father took everything from me, it’s time to return the favor", he said as if talking to the portrait. Putting it back in its place, he
sighed, "It's time for phase two.”

NIWCO TOGETHER POETRY

NATURE'S GLORY

I love the smell after rainfall,

It gives hope of a new dawn,

I love raindrops on leaves,

It gives a picture of petals. - Miracle

It gives a picture of petals,

Clear as crystals,

Wounded in mother earth's bosom,

With a beauty surreal.

Petals that smells like vanilla,

I wish I would just watch it grow,

I wish the flowers would make me whole,

I wish it will be the first thing I see and the last.

 - Dorcas & Grace

The last night rays glittering off the glassy sea,

Serene as the green highlands,

Set apart like mountains from valleys,

Oh, what composition can describe this spectacles? - Jilams

Spectacles eyes only cannot behold,

Dimples twinkle on sight of mountains,

Awestruck by its contemporary valley,

How I wonder what you are. - Tolu

Valleys; How I wonder what you are,

Splendidly spread across the land,

Green fields as carpet

Sprawl on all your landscape. - Successa

Landscape of my earth might be rocky,

Might be sandy or just plain clayey,

But in all it variations, truly it,

Blesses and nurtures food for my belly. - Tosin

Belly has butterflies flourishing in it,

When the morning dew touches the earth,

Who can contend with the beauty of the waves of the ocean?

Even the creator marvels at His creatures. - Peace

Creatures hovering in the sky and on earth,

Giving a painter an infinite source of muse,

With winds from willows filling the air with mirth,

And waters that run fervently, pure and loose. - Samuel

Loose must be mother earth's womb,

Raped, abused,  misused, are her fruits,

The land stands desolate in ruin,

Yet we marvel at her glory - Nature's glory. - Sandra

NIWCO TOGETHER STORIES - MERCY'S PLIGHT

STELLA
"Mum! Mum!!!" Mercy screamed at the top of her voice, as she
stormed inside the compound, where her mother and her lived in an old one room apartment. She walked inside the room, ignoring the award winning gossipers, washing clothes in front of the fifth house before the house they lived in. The surge of anger she felt arising from hunger that devoured her stomach right from her way back from school, made her bashed into the room.
Chinwe, Mercy's mother, was pacing from one end of the room to the other end of the room, staring into nothingness, when Mercy stormed in, disrupting her thoughts. "Mercy!", she thundered, do you want to pull down the door we are managing? Don't come and turn my wahala from frying pan to fire ohh abeg". She slumped into the bed clasping her legs against each other. Mercy hesitated, then moved and sat down carefully at the farthest point away from her mother.
"Where is my, my.... ".
"What mercy, you have come again abi". Tears welled up in Mercy's eyes.
"Where is myyy… my father? Why did he leave us mother?" she
asked amidst choked voice, forcefully swallowing the lump already
forming in her throat. Chinwe withdrew into her shell. She paused,
swallowed her saliva and tried speaking up. "Hmmmm… There are things you cannot understand my child", she let out a loud, doleful wail.
"Why mother? Why did he leave? life has become unbearable. We

cannot continue like this".  

DORCAS
"At school I'm a laughing stock. Everyone talks about their fathers
and I only gape at them even when I know I'm being scorned indirectly.
Mother life has become unbearable for us and to make matters worse, you don’t talk or play with me anymore. I'm always so hungry I loose concentration in class mother! Could life be worse than this?" She bursted into jagged tears screaming without realizing how loud her voice was.
She had slapped Mercy hard on the face before realizing what she did.
Mercy was dazed. This used to be her best friend and mother. Then her mind went back to that long wrapped cigarette like paper she caught her mother with a day before then. She knew her mother needed help but couldn't fathom how to help her when she herself was neglected and only a child. Her mother's strong arms wound her roundabout and she decided to enjoy the moment. They sobbed together like their lives depended on it.
“Nne, ndo inuna. Mummy is sorry. I will never hit you again, you
hear? You don't deserve to live like this. I'm sorry for all you have to go through each day. Everything is going to be alright.” Mama Mercy cried, hugging and kissing her daughter.

TOSIN
“Everyone knows that Pa Ejike is the neighborhood womanizer but
he still has enough money to keep for his numerous concubines. Pa Ejike has pursued me for two years now. He still cornered me three weeks ago at a neighbor’s wedding but I escaped. Now that I’m in a mess and things are worse than ever, what should I do God?”
“I heard that things have been difficult with you and Mercy these
days. Don’t you think it’s time you gave in to me? I assure you a better life awaits you with me. Just become my woman Chinwe and your problems will be over.” Pa Ejike had said the last time they saw at the market when he went to sell her wrapper to buy food.
“I have to make a decision I cannot continue like this. Mercy will
soon return from school now and there’s no food for her to eat. Two days in a row. haaaa” she shifted from her position on the bed.

SANDRA
Then got up to dress up “I think I will take him up on his offer”.
She spotted a piece of paper which she didn’t keep there sticking out from under her pillow. She pulled it out. it was her daughter’s
handwriting. She smiled immediately remembering how they used to reassure each other of their love through letters when all was well. Then she read aloud to herself,
“I love you mother but I am tired of seeing you cry and lonely. I will go back to heaven and make God to change our story…”
“Mama Mercy come o. come quick…” one of her gossip neighbors
called from outside as she heard an uproar outside her house. Mama Mercy quickly snapped out of her dilemma, wrapped her head tie around her head and dashed to the door only to see a man carrying her daughter already soaked in blood.
“What is this?” She screamed.
“It was an accident. She walked into the road before I could stop my brakes…”

NIWCO TOGETHER STORIES - MERCY'S PLIGHT

MONDAYS 6PM

ESE
I drew out the wooden box under my bed and unlocked the rusty padlock.
I took out some currencies and counted, "5000… 6000… 6500…" I had just six thousand five hundred naira and I needed an extra one thousand three hundred and fifty naira to complete the rent before the week ran out. I was still lost in thoughts when I heard a knock at the door, "Who is that one that wants to break down my door? or doesn't that person know that this is somebody's house?" I asked as I walked quickly to see who it was.
"Let thunder fire that your mouth mama Mercy. Is it me you are
running your mouth like that for?" I heard mama Chinedu say as I opened the door.
"Ah! I’m sorry o. I did not know it was you. I was thinking it’s those jobless children that usually bang my door." I said to her and quickly dusted a stool for her to sit.

"I am not here to sit down. I just came to remind you that my money is long due. No money, no house!" she said and walked out.

JILAMS
“God!” Mama Mercy screamed gnashing her teeth, "How long must I continue to face this?"
"Mummy! Mummy!! I am hungry" her daughter, Mercy called to her in anguish. Anger and frustration welled up inside her as Mercy called ou again "mummy I am hungry".
"Leave me alone. Can’t you see I am thinking?" She snapped
involuntarily. The child recoiled on hearing her mother’s tone. The unshed tears hanging by the side of her child’s eyes also brought tears to her eyes.
Since she had her daughter out of wedlock with the man responsible disappearing like smoke, she had struggled to provide her a comfortable living, but it was snatched out of her hand by a major fire outbreak caused by an electrical fixing. Now, with no shop and the loss of her goods worth tens of thousands, she had not been able to recoup her losses and she had to scratch and scrape just to feed. Never a defaulter in paying her rent, she
has become a serial debtor. Never one to deny her daughter anything, she couldn't provide now her basic needs.

"God", she muttered "When will this nightmare end?" the tears finally flowed freely as she thought to herself, "I will continue to struggle if not for anything, but my daughter's sake. I won't give up", She vowed.

SUCCESSA
Ten years old Mercy could not understand her mother's strange tone. She had always been an indulging mum, so Mercy was sure she must be the cause of her mother's anger. Thus, Mercy decided to do something to end her mother's unhappiness. She thought about running away, but she was scared of where to go, or who to run to, since she and mother had always
been alone.
"Maybe I should drink that rat poison, Isioma said makes people die.
I'm sure mother would be better without me in her life". Then she recalled that the priest had preached that people who take their own lives, go to hellfire where they burn forever and ever and. "No! Killing myself will make God angry. Even though mother may be happy, I do not want God to be angry with me too."
She remembers her encounter with a woman on her way from school the other day; that is how bad it has become; she treks to school and back these days because mother could no longer afford the school bus fee, nor even the school fees. Should she accept the woman's offer to go with her abroad?

Thoughts like these sought for dominion on Mercy's young mind as she left home that morning, without breakfast and bade her mother, who didn't seem to have heard her, "goodbye Mum".

TOLU
“Oh! The clouds are so blue and the environment serene. This is
surely not Nigeria.” Mercy looked around hastily as though forgetting something “Wait! I don't know all these girls. I could have claimed that I finally made it to the school's list of scholarship yet I couldn’t even make the first twenty in class. I seem to be the youngest but the others were older. I have been taught to dress decent but all I see here nudity. It's so cold here, I'll need an armor to cover my fleshy body. Huh! I need to get a
taste of the delicacies set before me. Chicken lap with a plate of macaroni; so tasty" Mercy smacked her lips as Miss Irene watched on. She picked her cane and cat walked the classroom row to flog her latest culprit. Mercy returned from her dreamland on the second lash by her class teacher.
"You can't just disturb me with your useless sound when others are out there playing. My head aches standing there for hours yet my little rest has been cut short by your snoring"
" No food to eat at home, I can't just enjoy my break with my dream again" Mercy muffled and wept

TO BE CONTINUED...