The sound made by the weapon was deafening. Siji could still hear it re-echo in his ears moments after the shot. Aside from his ears, the whole of his body seemed to be on a shutdown. He stood at the same spot, transfixed. For a moment he actually thought he had been hit; that maybe the numbness he felt was a prelude to the pain to come and his eventual death. Pago's laughter shook him out of the state he was in. He searched his body to check for any wound, there was none. Pago had shot the ceiling, shattering the chandelier.
"You thought I had shot you?" Pago asked, still laughing as he got on his feet. "Wouldn't that be too easy dear friend? Even though you deserved the bullet, killing you now would mean letting you off easily. It'd spoil the fun, and I don't want that. Will you please pick a seat for yourself and go seat beside Daddy overthere." He added, waving the pistol at Siji. Siji did as he was told, and Pago with the gun still pointed at his friend bent to pick a rope from under the dinning table.
He approached Siji and said. "Now I'd have loved to do this while you're knocked out or too weak to fight, but you've given me no choice. I still have to tie you to the seat though. Be a good boy and don't try anything funny while I tie you. I may be using both hands to tie you up, but trust me, the gun is not far away. And I promise if you make me shoot this time, I won't miss again. Understood?" Siji nodded. As he started tying him, he continued. "And don't worry about the noise attracting unwanted guests. Thanks to our old man here, this building is sound proof. So it's just me, you, and him."
"Where is Rose?" Siji asked.
"You are not in a position to ask questions my brother."
"You said...."
"I know what I said. But a man can change his mind, can't he?"
When he was done tying him up, he smiled down at him and said. "Pardon me for what I'm about to do now but I strongly believe in revenge." He then hit him hard on his face with the gun, breaking his nose. Siji saw stars and thought he would pass out. He could taste the blood trickling down his nose.
"Good." Pago said. "Now that we are even, we can start our meeting." He walked over to Victor. "Since this is a meeting, it won't be fair to leave one of us dumb." He pulled off the tape over his father's mouth not too gently that Victor had to let out a cry. He got a seat for himself and sat down, facing both of them.
"Now, this is a family meeting of a man....." He said, pointing the gun carelessly at Victor. "..,his legitimate children......" He touched his chest. "...., and his bastards." He finished, pointing at Siji.
☆☆☆
The loud noise woke Rose up. She still felt somewhat tired, but she was fully awake this time. She sat up on the bed and looked round at her surroundings. She had thought she was dreaming the few times she had slightly woken up during the night to find herself in a strange environment. But she could clearly see the room now, and it was still alien to her. She wondered where her daddy was. She knew he had brought her there.
"Daddy." She called out but her voice sounded weak and cracky. She called out again and again and started to panic when she got no reply. She got off the bed and walked to the door. She heard voices from downstairs immediately she opened the door. She could hear someone ask "Where is Rose?". It sounded like Uncle Siji, and she was relieved.
---Mummy will be downstairs too.--- She thought to herself.
"I am here." She replied but they did not hear her. She gently walked down the steps. She stopped when she got to the bottom of the staircase. The dinning room was right in front of the stairs, so she could see it clearly. She could see Grandpa tied to a chair. She could also see Daddy tying Uncle Siji up. She was about to ask what was happening when she saw the gun in Daddy's hand, then she watched in horror as Daddy hit Uncle Siji on the face with the gun. She instinctively covered her mouth with her hand and rushed under the stairs to hide. She knew her daddy could be crazy at times, but she had never seen him with a gun. She curled up under the stairs and prayed to God to save them from her crazy daddy.
☆☆☆
"I think this is it. The plantation in the description." Ese said as Fatima got off the highway.
"We'll need to find a safe place to park this car." Fatima said
"Park the car? We are not there yet. The house is still ahead, after the plantation."
"I know, we'll walk the remaining distance."
"Are you serious? The way I see it, it's a long way from here."
"We'd have to endure it."
"Why do you want us to ditch the vehicle anyway?"
"Because a sound of an approaching vehicle could spook anyone. You don't want us announcing our arrival, do you?"
"Okay, I get your point. But someone can still see us walking through the plantation."
"Yea, but it's a safer risk. We will make less noise on foot and we would also be able to use the trees for cover if the need arises. Now will you help me find a place to park this vehicle?"
They soon found a shade by the plantation and parked. Ese's eyes widened when she saw Fatima take a gun from her purse and fixed it in the holster hanging by the side of her jeans.
"You have a gun!" She said in alarm.
"Of course I do. I am a cop. Is that not why you asked for my help?"
"Yes....but.....but.... is it loaded?"
Fatima laughed and said. "Of course not. The bullets are in the bag. I am taking the gun because I may need it. I have noticed that, with my size, men take me more seriously when they see me carrying a gun." She covered the side arm with her top when they got out of the vehicle. She locked the vehicle and threw the key to Ese, then both women walked into the plantation
About the Author
Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.
He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.
No comments:
Post a Comment