Most wanted maid
Episode 20 & 21
“Mom,i’m in trouble.The police wants me.They want me..”Sonia wailed between throaty sobs. “Haven’t she had enough? Must she do this?”Adaora kept asking.One could easily conclude she was asking the broadcaster on the t.v “Mom,what do we do now? I do want the police to catch me.People have seen the announcement alre-ady.What do i do?”Sonia asked in despair as if the police were alre-ady on their way to get her. Adaora held Sonia’s face and made her look into her eyes. “Listen to me.Dont be afraid.You are not going to prison.That is a promise i’m ma-king to you.Even if it means me going against my will,I will do it.You have suffered enough un-der me.I dont think i deserve to be called your mother”Adaora told her,nodding gently,fully prepared to do whatever might be of help to Sonia.Even if it meant revea-ling her secrets which she knew wont sound good to anyb©dy. David was kneeling in the church.He had been there for hours.He was tired,worn-out, weak and hungry but there was no piece of appetite in him.The abs£nce of Angela was ma-king him abnormal.He abandoned his work,which was a great risk.He had searched every searchable place for her.No good news seem to have entered his ears from the police. “We are trying our best”That was all they kept saying. He made no sound kneeling there in the church all alone but he was crying and praying to God to bring back his wife. Sonia looked at herself in the mirror,standing infront of it.
The brown weavon Adaora fixed on her really disguised her.She looked totally different. “We are leaving this place immediately to a more secure environment”Adaora said. It was getting dark.The sun was no longer up in the sky.Pehars,it has gone to give other people somewhere its light. Angela could hear the sounds of nocturnal insects and animals.The two guards were there as usual,ma-king sure the place was guarded.She had begged them to have mercy on her,telling them she would give them whatever they wanted if they let her go but not even a single word war heard from them,which left her wondering if they were still there,as she was blindfolded. She soon felt a hand around the back of her head and shook her head in retaliation,hitting the hand with her head. “Don’t let me sma-ck your head”She heard the angry voice of one of the guards,who brou-ght his hands back to untie the cloth tied around her eyes. Some drop of tears fell from Angela’s eyes as the blindfold was re-moved.The ropes on his hands and legs were also untied. She lifted up her face and pres£nt were the old ‘dibia’ and Ebere with the two guards. “The gods are re-ady to accept your blood and the sacrifice must be made before dawn tomorrow.So ,we have come to prepare you for the sacrifice”He said,di-pped hand into his animal skin bag and brou-ght out a white chalk which he circled round her eyes.Angela wanted to say something to Ebere but she was too weak to do so. After circling her eyes to his satifaction,he brou-ght out a white go-wn and gave it to Ebere.
“Take off all her clothes and make her wear that white.Not even her inner wears should be on.That is what the gods demanded.If she refuses to let you do it,then the guards will have to do it with all plea-sure”He instructed,ma-king some incantations. Ebere looked at the white go-wn in her hand and looked at Angela.From,Angela to the two guards and back to the white go-wn in his hand. “Look away,you two”She told the guards who obeyed and turned away their faces. She dropped the go-wn on the ground and re-moved Angela’s t©p and her bras-siers.She pu-ll-ed off her Sk-irts and her innerwears and then,rolled the go-wn on her.Angela expressed no fear while she did all that.She uttered no word to them. “Make sure you forgive Sonia in your heart before you die because i made her do what she did.She killed someb©dy and i caught her.I have a very good proof and so,i told her about it and told her what she must do for me so that i do not expo-se her.And she did it.Yes,i personally brou-ght her to you because i wanted to use her to have my revenge on you”Ebere whispered into her ear,leaving her more suprised than she was.
“We are coming back by the early hours of the morning for the sacrifice”,the ‘dibia’ said and turned to the guards “make sure she doesnt escape.If she does,you will be used for the sacrifice” The guards tied her hands and legs again but this time,by the order of the ‘dibia’ which he claimed c@m£ from the gods,her eyes were spared. Angela could see Ebere smiling as she followed the old ‘dibia’ out of the place. Angela looked at the guards,there weren’t the type that hears or un-derstands words as plea-se,have mercy or i beg. She looked up to heaven,allowing the stream of tears to run down her cheeks. She remembered her parents and David. “If i die,oh lord,take care of my husband.Give him the strength to move on” She la-id down softly,praying dawn never comes Bisi peeped again at the lady standing in the compound throu-gh the window.She was in no way familiar.Bisi had seen her walk bodly into the compound not long ago. “Bisi,Kilode? You have been peeping out throu-gh that window for sometime now”Her mother shocked her,coming closer to see what she was peeping at. Bisi had g@sped,jumping back ,out from the window side,facing her mother. “Iya
mi.You startled me”She said with a poutedl-ips,ma-king a face.
“Leave the road jare,let me see something”Her mother murmured out,ignoring her complain and looked out throu-gh the window to have a view too. “Who is she?”She asked,still observing the lady in a black suit with a dark lense covering her eyes and a red handbag in her hand.Her red high-heeled shoe seem to make her taller. “I don’t know o.She just entered the compound”Bisi explained. “She is not a ghost.She is a visitor.Go and open the door for her,lets know who she is and what she wants” Bisi looked at her mother vaguely and made for the visitor boldly,like a child whose father s£nt to steal.Such a child they say,breaks the door with his feet. The lady smiled as she saw the door open.She wiped the sweat off her face with a little white handky which she produced from her handbag.Bisi closed the door behind her. “Goodday.Are you looking for anyb©dy?”Bisi asked the lady who re-moved the glas-ses from her eyes,holding it with her left hand.
“Actually,i c@m£ looking for you”She said,smiling,stretching forth her right hand for a handshake,”I’m mrs.Johnson Eze” Bisi shook her hand,capturing her face with her eyes and imagining if they have met before. The lady sat on the plastic chair provided for her in the sitting room,looking around in keen observation.She had told Bisi’s mother she wanted to have a little talk with her daughter.The trouble-less woman left them alone,hiding somewhere close, eavesdropping. “I am mrs.Johnsom Eze.I am a banker”,she opened up,getting nods of agreement from the anxious looking Bisi,”I learnt Sonia is your friend.She is the main reason why i am here” “I hope all is well?”Bisi asked.Worry lines etched on her forehead.It ’s been quite long since she heard last from Sonia. “I am her account manager.The reason why i c@m£ looking for you is because i haven’t been able to contact her.She won 5 million naira in the save and win promo from our bank…” “5 million naira! Oluwa jesu”Bisi exclaimed,covering her mouth with her palms. “Yes.5 million naira and the bank wants her to come and sign some do¢v-ments within 7 days before redeeming the money or she lose everything.I have been looking for her but she’s nowhere to be found.The house she lives with her mother has been on lock for days.I don’t know if she travelled with her mother.I haven’t been able to reach her with the phone number she gave to me and today is the 5th day. Do you know where i can find her?
These are some papers i nee-d her to sign for me”She made to open her bag to bring out some papers but unfortunately,the bag turned upside down,letting everything in it fall on the floor.She bent down,carefully picking up
everything.At last she pres£nted few papers to Bisi. “She nee-ds to sign these” Bisi nodded in excitement.Wishing she could just fly wings and get Sonia to sign them immediately,so as not to miss the 5 million.That’s a hvge amount one should never miss,she thought. “I haven’t seen her too o.But there is a place she stays.She works as a househelp there.I will go and check on her”Bisi volunteered. “She isn’t there.Dont you know any other place she could be? I thought she is your friend.Just help me out.The bank will reward me too when she receives the money.If you help me,i will give you 500,000 naira” “Five hundred thouzon naira!”Bisi exclaimed,not believing her ears. The lady noddded and gave her a paper containing her 11digits mobile number. “Call me as soon as you sight her.Don’t even let her know about it.I have to get going”She said, standing up. “I will do just that”Bisi as-sured her as they shook hands again. Bisi watched her walk magnificiently out of the compound. “Bisi.Who told her Sonia is your friend?”Her mother asked coming out of her hiding. “Iya mi,you are asking me as if i am a diviner.I don’t know ni.Five hundred thouzon.Iya mi,we are rich”Bisi chanted. Her mother’s eyes caught the attention of something.It was un-der the chair where Mrs.Johnson sat.It was a laminated card.She went there without wasting any time and picked it up. “Iya mi,what is it?”Bisi asked coming to view the card as her mother’s face changed after seeing what was on it. “This is her voters card and she just got it few months ago.She could be lying…” Bisi collected it from her and saw the pas-sport on
it.It was no doubt the lady that just left but Mrs.Johnson Eze was not written anywhere on it.There was nothing like banker as occu-pation on it.Miss EBERE Ezibe was the name on it. She turned to face her mother. “I s-en-se trouble”Her mother interjected.
Dawn was fast approaching.The moon was shinning bright up in the sky.Cold wind blew throu-gh out the thick forest.Angela yearned for her husband’s warm b©dy as she curled up with her eyes closed.She imagined what could be happening in the world she left behind;the tears she knew would be on David’s eyes,the emotional trauma her parents would be going throu-gh especially her mother.
She regreted running out of her home that very day she did. Angela gently opened her eyes on s-en-sing someb©dy stand close to her.It was on of the guards.Angela caught his eyes feasting on her expo-sed [email protected] wondered for how long he must have been staring at her and there was no way she could adjust the loose go-wn to cover her properly,knowing she was wearing nothing un-derneath.Her hands were tied backwards.Her legs,not spared. She tried shaking her b©dy to see if it would give her the covering she wanted but instead,it seemed to get worse. Angela watched his eyes burn with de-sire as they tried to pene-tratedee-per.A look at his trou-ser told her he was alre-ady ha-rd . Angela closed her eyes for a while and opened them again,giving him a smile.
“I know i would soon die.plea-se make me feel like a woman before they finally come for me”Angela surprised him. He threw a look at his companion who was a bit far from them,slee-ping and snoring ha-rd .He smiled and turned to face Angela who gave him the sweetest s£dûç!ng smile he ever saw in his entire life. “Cut off these ropes from my hands and legs and take me to a world of happiness and plea-sure.I am all yours”Angela tem-pted him. He looked around in a haste and as if commanded to be fast about it,untied Angela. “Let’s be fast before they come”Angela told him and drew him closer to herself.She ca-ressed his head slowly,carefully watching him as his face lit up with joy. “Are you sure your p@rtner will not wake up?”She drawled.
“I put something in the last food he ate.He is not getting up soon except i decide to wake him”He as-sured her,peering at him again. “Oh you alre-ady planned for this? hmmm..how did you re-ad my mind?”Angela pinched his nose pla-yfully and placed a simple k!sson hisl-ips which almost took his breath away and ignited in him the power to make advances on her. He felt the softness of her skin gently with his palms,moving the hands down to her l@ps region. “Easyyy…”Angela whispered to him,catching his hand.Her right hand holding his left hand while the left held his right.At first,she held them gently,pressing herself on him ti-ghtly.She could feel his heart beat throu-gh her che-st as she pressed herself to him. Then,slowly,she ti-ght£ñed her hold,gently re-leasing herself from him.His eyes were closed.With the light of the moon,she could see the happiness that filled his face. Angela’s face changed.Her teeth clenched.
Her eyes surveyed the target and with the last strength she got,her knee went in- between his two legs in a powerful kick, automatically forcing the closed eyes to open.With a quic-k reflex,he scooped his hands around his ‘property’ which was no doubt,on fire. “Ouuu.awww Sweet Jesus…”He cried in pains and staggered forward and then,fell down.He wailed at the t©p of his voice,with the strength of a dying man,calling upon his p@rtner to come to his rescue “we-tin happen?”Jack,his p@rtner,running towards him and ru-bbing hands over his eyes,asked. “Na the lady o.Na the lady o”He f0rç£d out,still bearing the excruciating pain. “we-tin happen to the lady? Where she dey?,”Jack asked seeing the way he was standing,with his hands between his two legs,”And we-tin dey do you?” Jack looked around and saw the ropes with which their prisoner was tied.His eyes went red with anger. “we-tin happen! You no sabi talk again? “Jack asked him again,shaking him r0ûghly. “She escaped.That girl na witch o.I dey somewhere here dey watch her.The next thing,i come see someb©dy wey wear black.Na so the person come dey cut the rope.Na im i come rush to hold the person.I never even come close,the person stretch leg kick me for my ‘level’.Before i know we-tin dey happen,the person vanish”He narrated. “You never talk we-tin happen
o.Zomb.ie ! You be fool! Make we pursue am o”Jack cursed and took his gun and torch from where he dropped them. Angela was lost, de-ep in the forest.Yet she was still running.Where she was running to,she couldn’t tell.She knew the guards would come after her.As she ran,he heard different voices.The voice of wild animals.The voice of her mother,praying and calling her name.The voice of David weeping.The voice of Ebere laughing triumphantly.She st©pped and covered her ears but the voices kept echoing in her br@in. She saw a little shelter of bamboo sticks with some old rafia as the roof.She knew it was dangerous but she moved in,thinking it was safer. She had ba-rely stayed upto five minutes in it when she saw rays of light flashing towards that direction with heavy footsteps. “They are here”She lamented The lights flashed again into Angela’s little hiding place,doubling her fears.The thought of pu-lling off the white go-wn she was wearing to reduce the chances of being easily sp©tted nimbled throu-gh her but she discarded it. She tried holding her breath to prevent ma-king even the slightest noise of breathing. As the footsteps c@m£ closer,she heard their voices. “This was all your fault.Why were you slee-ping on duty?” “St©p talking nons-en-se my friend! You think say i believe that your nons-en-se story? Spirit my foot.Ghost seer.Just pray to your god,whether amadioha or olokun or any other one wey you dey serve because i know say you no dey go church.Just pray make we find her o.Or na your head dem go take do the sacrifice”
Angela listened as their voices died down.She didn’t hear any more word from them again but she wasn’t sure if they were still around or not. She heard the crackling of dry leaves besides her.The low silence shattering noise by the dry leaves gave her great cause for concern. She surveyed with great great effort,arround the place with the help of the moonlight. Then,she saw it.A great python,crawling towards her. Angela felt herself flush slowly,and heat coming in waves up her throat and cheeks.She wanted to scream but instead,she found herself covering her mouth with her palms.She wasn’t sure if the men looking for her were still around. The python crawled fas-ter and before she knew it,it was right in front of where she squ-atted. “David!”She screamed and bur-sted out,hearing a gunsh0t and seeing flashes of light.She hid at the back of a hvge tree until the lights went off.She heaved a sigh of relief,made the sign of the cross and followed another direction. 4.45am Ebere and the old ‘dibia’ arrived as planned but the place was quiet and quite unusual.One of the guards should have met them some distance away from there,to make sure they were not unwanted guests. “Egbe!” “Jack!” “Are you both slee-ping? Is that how you secure this place?”The old man asked,infuriated,expecting them to both run out and beg for forgiveness but to his greatest surprise,it seemed as if he was talking to the trees of the forest. Ebere’s eyes burged out in bewilderment when she flashed the big torch she was holding to the place where Ebere was lying the previous day and found only ropes and nothing more. “Baba,she is gone.She is gone”Ebere disclosed,with the fear of insecurity and danger looming on her. “What? Impossible.That can’t happen,”he dashed forward,taking the ropes in his hands,”Nooo.This cannot happen.The gods are alre-ady waiting for her blood.What do i tell them now…..” The two guards p@n-ting heavily,ran up to them,interrupting him from speaking further. “She has escaped.A spirit c@m£ and cut the ropes from her o”Egbe reported.Jack eyed him and nodded in agreement. “May thun-der strike the both of you.Go and look for her.If you fail to bring her here,the gods will come after you”He threatened,s£nding them back in search of Angela. *** David’s phone rang.He was lying on the floor of his parlour with empty bottles of alcoholic drinks besides him.He lazily reached for the phone and looked at the clock hanging on the wall before answering it. It was 6.05am. “David.Any news?”Tony,his friend who was on the steering asked. “No news my brother.No news”David replied. “Why is your voice like that? Hope you haven’t been drinking” “I’m fine” “Alright.I’m driving now.I have to catch an appointment.I will come over as…………” David could hear the sudden sound of car br@kes and the faint shouts of “Jesus! Jesus!” “Tony? Tony whats happening? Where are you?”David kept asking,looking at the phone in his hands as if he was actually referring to it. Tony alighted from his car immediately.He prayed the person didn’t die.He rushed to the front of the car and found her there.A woman she was,in a white go-wn,lying on the ground
Tbc…