?GOD FEARING BROTHER?
Episode 9.
Story by Miriam Edem
The door was locked with a very big padlock and Susan picked up,
“Hello! Her voice c@m£ on phone.
“He….hello Susan its me! I said.
“Amanda! Where in God name are you? Your number is……. “No time for this plea-se I nee-d your help. I’m in the middle of no where and I don’t know what to do. See you nee-d to get me out of here, do you un-derstand? I asked cutting in..
“Wait wait wait let me call Joshua up immediately and give him this number so you can talk to him okay. He alre-ady reported you missing to the police, Susan replied.
“plea-se hurry up I Beg you, I said dropping the call and looked for a stone to hit on the padlock.
It was like the more I hit the door was the more I was getting weaker and the phone began to ring.
I saw the number and recognized it to be Joshua own and picked up,
“Amanda where are you? He asked.
“I don’t know, I weakly replied.
“You don’t know how? Just give me a clue of where you are so i can get you out of there, he said.
“I seriously don’t know, here they kill and sell humans and I’m surrounded by bushes, that’s all I know, i replied.
“What! Jesus Christ! You know what…… I heard footsteps coming with a light from a torch.
“Joshua someone’s coming, plea-se pray for me i beg you, I hurriedly said and fled going to the back of where we were held prisoners and that was how I unconsciously went into the bush breathing ha-rd .
The stench that c@m£ out from there as I walked ba-re footed and bodied in the middle of the night got me shivering as i recited Psalms 23 crying bitterly.
Then i saw a shi-t in the bush, although it was dirty but God knows i was catching cold and i nee-ded it badly.
Despite it was a wear of a dead person, Amanda was alre-ady close to being dead and i had to put it on. Using John phone, it aided me with light as i struggled in the bush ignoring Joshua calls when i didn’t know what to tell him.
That was how i walked for minutes, hitting one point to another and there I was….. On a tarred road just me and my God.
I g@sped and fell on my knees breathing ha-rd and shivering and Joshua called again,
“I am begging you Amanda, is there anything you can see that will help us with a clue? He asked.
“I just arrived at a Main road now and its so dry, i replied crying.
“Oh thank God and calm down okay and look around. Just find a banner or anything that can direct us, I’m alre-ady driving to no destination, Joshua said and i sniffed.
“Okay, okay, i said ending the call and walked on the road looking back from time to time just to make sure I’m not followed, then i saw a building, very beautiful and i wondered what its doing in such an area.
I called up Joshua immediately describing the building to the best I can.
“No number on the house or something? He asked.
“I’m not close to it but I’ll check, i replied and slowly went close to the building and saw the address with the number just at the side of the gate and told Joshua.
“Great, I’ll be there, just hold on okay, he said and i nodded and dropped the call.
The time was exactly 2a.m and i ru-bbe-d my face looking at the building again, then went into the bush to hide just opposite the building until Joshua arrives.
I squ-atted there for close to an hour shivering very seriously sick with cold. Joshua hearing my voice whenever he calls bec@m£ more scared and kept asking me to hold on, but John battery couldn’t hold on, it went low leaving me to the mercy of the insects there and darkness.
My sickness grew worst and i lost hope if I’ll ever get out of there, and i slowly cu-mddled myself up in the bush.
A car drove by but I couldn’t raise myself probably that was Joshua because before the phone went off he told me he’s almost there.
The car st©pped and reversed coming back to the building and I recognized Joshua voice,
“She should be here this is the building, I heard him said.
“Probably she’s hiding somewhere, a strange voice said and i coughed.
“Amanda! Joshua shouted and i moved my legs which shook the leaves and they ran to me.
“Jesus! Amanda! I heard Joshua screamed carrying me from where i was and i pas-sed out happy a savior finally c@m£.
I woke up in a hospital and saw Susan leaning her head on the wall with her eyes closed and i saw the clock there, it was 10a.m in the morning.
“Am i really out of that place? I asked myself as i remembered everything and how an animal was more better than us, then i began to cry which woke Susan up.
“Shhhhhh its okay, Susan said hvgging me. My heart was heavy and there was a lot i wanted to say, but i was just too grateful to say it out when tears took hold of my voice.
“You’re safe now okay, everything is okay, Susan said still hvgging me.
“It was brother John, I said to her.
“He did what? She asked looking at me and i shook my head crying.
“I was such a fool, why did God hide it from me? I thought….. I thought he was real and the ideal one, i replied.
“Calm down Amanda, Susan said holding me and the cops and Joshua walked in. Joshua immediately hvgged me ti-ght as i cried on him,
“Thank you so much, i said to him.
“Don’t mention, you said something yesterday. Where were you? He asked and i sniffed.
“In hell where i thought there was no God, i replied.
“How did you get there? Were you kidnapped? A cop asked and i briefed them of what John did and all that happened there.
“Where can we find him? Another cop asked.
“He’s dead, plea-se Sir there are humans there. Buyers come and point who ever they want to be killed as if we were chickens, plea-se you nee-d to help them, i replied.
“Sure, we s£nt men alre-ady to the area you were found but can you remember where you c@m£ out from? There are so many bushes, The cop asked.
“God showed me a different route out, and i walked for about 15 minutes before i saw the building, i really don’t know where, i replied.
“Okay, now that John is dead and the men has escaped, how can we get the people doing such inhumane act? Do you know any? A cop asked.
“I knew only John but i heard something, the boss is a pastor, i replied.
“A pastor? A cop asked so surprised.
“John was a very dedicated brother yet he was so evil, which sound man of God will be blind to who John really is if that pastor is not the same as John, am i ma-king s-en-se? Joshua asked and i looked at him.
“He had a mask on, i said trying to un-derstand him.
“Joshua you made a very important point here. Amanda, what’s the name of the church? A cop asked and i quic-kly called it out………
?GOD FEARING BROTHER?
Episode 10.
Story by Miriam Edem.
The cops left immediately and I looked at my friends and bowed my head. I suddenly felt so ashamed of myself that I could not say anything,
“You didn’t treat yourself when you fell sick last time, but the doctor said you’ll be fine, Joshua said and I nodded.
“But I want to leave this place, I said.
“Why? Susan asked.
“I just want to go, there’s something I nee-d to do, I replied.
“I told you didn’t I? She won’t accept to stay here, Susan said to Joshua and sat down where she was before.
“Okay fine, but you have to take your medication, Joshua said.
“Sure, can I speak with my mom? I asked Susan.
“Okay, she has been calling though but I had to give an excuse….. Of course a lie, Susan said dialling my mom number for me……….
The cops informed us in the evening that the captives has been rescued and hospitalized and also, the pastor traveled for a programme and he’s not back yet.
“Really? Who told you this? Joshua asked them.
“A member, You still think he’s the one? One of the men asked Joshua.
“Where’s John phone? Joshua asked and I pointed to the socket where it was charged and Joshua got it and switched it on.
I unlocked the phone and gave it to him and Joshua went throu-gh his call logs.
“There is Boss, Joshua told us showing us the phone and a cop quic-kly dialled the number on his phone. It rang twice and he finally picked up,
“Yes! That strong voice c@m£ on phone.
“Hey long time, the cop said.
“Who’s this? The boss asked.
“You don’t remember me again? Or have you st©pped doing the business? John introduced me to you remember? The cop asked settling on a very matured tone that meant business.
“Okay okay, the boss said not sounding good.
“Why what’s wrong? How’s business? Because I nee-d 2 ch!ps for an important stuff, where can I get it? The cop asked.
“Business is having some shake Now and the police is on my trail, I’m afraid I won’t be able to deliver, the boss replied.
“What! Are you serious right now? plea-se you really have to help me because its urgent, name your price and I’ll pay I mean it, the cop said as everyone remained quiet and the boss heaved.
“You think its easy here for me? My place was revealed and the stock I had are all gone! I was betrayed by that useless John do you un-derstand! The boss violently shouted.
“John did that? Listen where are you now let’s talk things out. We can arrange for another place in a different location, don’t worry I gat you covered, the cop said.
“Boss not now plea-se, let’s forget such a business and see how we can safe ourselves, one of the guys said at the background.
“We just want to talk and we nee-d all the help we can now else we’ll be in de-ep mud than we are, the boss said to them.
“What? We are not meeting? The cop asked.
“You better be sure about that, the boss replied.
“Okay its fine let’s not meet again. I only want to help you out of your mess and suddenly you can’t trust your own client, then its fine. Have a good day, the cop said.
“Calm down okay, you’re talking about trusting a client when my own personal boy disappointed me, don’t you un-derstand? The boss asked.
“Its fine then, its just a shame I never expected such disappointment for a big deal, the cop said and he breathed out.
“Okay let’s meet and talk, the boss said and dropped the address which another cop quic-kly wrote it down.
“Great, time? The cop asked.
“Now plea-se, the boss replied.
“Okay I’ll be there with my boy, keep a table for 2, the cop said and dropped the call and I breathed out.
“You gat this right? Joshua asked them.
“Sure, wish us luck, the cops replied and left immediately to arrange their team.
“We’re leaving now right? I asked Joshua.
“Yes so you’ll have a proper rest, Joshua replied and I slowly c@m£ down from the be-d………..
I got home with my friends and it was so good to see the house again. At a point I thought I’ve lost it as I stood admiring it.
“Are you hungry? Susan asked and I shook my head and sat down.
“I’m okay, I replied and t©uçhed my forehead,
“Worried? Joshua asked and I shook my head.
“Any word from the police yet? I asked him.
“Not yet, but let’s give them all the time to concentrate, Joshua replied and I nodded.
“I’ll be spending the night here, Susan said.
“No you don’t have to bother, I said to her.
“Today that I want to sleep Here you’re speaking English, I said I’m spending the night here period, Susan said and I smiled.
“Then keep your house rent o, I pla-yfully said.
“You wish, Susan said.
“I’ve told you my own, I said and Joshua checked the time.
“Alright ladies I have to hurry down to the station you know to catch a glimpse of something about this case. Don’t worry I’ll put you on call, see you tomorrow, Joshua said.
“Thank you so much, good night, we said to him and he left while Susan locked the door and looked at me.
“You’re hurt. You must really love John, she said and I f0rç£d a smile and heaved. I didn’t want to reply that but the eyes Susan used on me was like she was re-ading the inside of me and I breathed out with my eyes teary.
“I’m hurt that I loved a beast, he was no human and I thought so highly of him and that’s where it hurts most, I said and cleaned my tears and Susan sat beside me.
“You are the bible girl here, at least you re-ad more of it than I’ve done and I thought you should know better. There are so many wolves in sheep’s clothing, so many devil dressed as angels of light roaming in the church. Because one goes to church does not make that person a child of God. Because one speaks in ton-gues and performs greatly in church does not make that person a God fearing fellow. Because one knows the bible so much and quotes it out perfectly does not make that person God anointed.
Even the devil quoted the bible to the son of God. Imagine the devil quoting the word for the WORD himself and you think that the church is a safe place where the devil can’t manipulate to be? Even Jesus said, many will do wonders in my name calling him Lord Lord but at the end he will say dep@rt from me he doers of iniquity, you should have known this better.
Forgive yourself Amanda and learn from what God rescued you from, you’re one lucky girl you know and I think it was for a reason, Susan said and I was dripping with tears and h0t sweats from my b©dy.
I just la-id on the be-d crying to myself while Susan let me be.
The house was just filled with my sobs for more than 30 minutes while Susan concentrated on her l@pt©p and a call c@m£ on her phone.
“Hello Joshua was-sup? She picked up.
“What! Susan shouted and I sat up immediately looking at her which she turned and looked at me.
“Are you serious? Gosh! Amanda come hear this, Susan said stretching the phone for me and I quic-kly got it.
“Hello, I picked up.
“Sorry it was successful, Joshua said.
“Okay that’s good news but what’s the sorry for? I asked.
“Its your pastor, he’s the boss, Joshua dropped and my throat went dry as I staggered backwards.
“The…th… You mean the pastor? I stammered.
“We’ll talk tomorrow okay, Joshua replied and dropped the call and I freely dropped myself in be-d with my eyes bulged out.
Suddenly I heard the screams of the people in my head, the machete that landed on the table taking off someone’s head was just before me, the human p@rts i stepped on in the bush…….. all of this was carried out by a man who stood behind the altar re-leasing blessings on us last Sunday.
My heart was beating fast like I was going to explode and my head ached as I couldn’t st©p the screams in my head. I held my head and fell from the be-d screaming alongside with them and Susan held me,
“Amanda! Amanda st©p! I heard her shouting but I couldn’t help it. The sights of last night was just before me, and once again it was like I was in the bush………..
TBC