Bloodline....... Season1

Ok

waiting patiently for it oh

can't wait.....

Oga bring am naa general coolval durn come

Chapter one Eric woke up and stopped the alarm clock buzzing for over a minute. The bright sun ray was already halfway across his bedroom. Pushing the blue coloured down blanket aside, he yawned and stretched both arms as far as they could reach. Rubbing his eyes, he looked around the bed and bedside table for his cellphone. Then he paused. The house is unusually quiet, especially for a saturday morning. No whirring sound of the vaccum cleaner whenever his mother performs the daily cleaning routine that seems to never end on saturdays. The alarm buzzed at 10 am. Two hours ago his mother would have pulled the blanket off to wake and remind him that his room wont clean itself. Eric casually got out of his bed and saw the phone lying on the floor. He might have dropped it as he fell asleep the night before. Picking it up, he checked for missing calls and new text messages as he adjusted the collar of his pyjamas. He paused again and cocked his ears for any sound or movements. Except the muffled chatters of kids playing outside the six storey apartment, the house was dead silent. Wondering what his mother was upto, he head towards the door of his bedroom. "Mom!", he called out as he crossed the living-room, heading towards the dining. No answer. Eric opened the refrigerator and took out a half filled bottle of water. Closing the door, he noticed a yellow sticker on it as he raised the bottle to his lips. "Gone to see someone i will be back by afternoon. Make sure u eat your breakfast" It was his mother's hand writing and was hurriedly written. Eric pursed his lips and swallowed the cold water. "Probably gone to see Dave", he thought with a smirk. Mr David whom Eric calls Dave was a patient his mother met in the hospital where she worked as a nurse. A few dinner dates and unending phone chats later, a good chemistry had being developed between him and Eric's mother. Eric got to know what was going on when he noticed the greater amount of time his mother spent on wearing make-ups. And seeing her checking out some dresses infront of the mirror in her bedroom. Dresses Eric never knew his mother had. Some late nights he do caught her in the balcony of their apartment smiling and talking softly on her cellphone. Eric took a few more gulps of the cold water and grimaced. He hate the taste in his mouth and need to brush his teeth.

It's 2pm and the dojo is packed with practitioners of different ages and sizes. All of them were doing one form of training or the other since it was the dojo free training day. The place was big but not that very big and located at the basement of the building. It had everything. Six punching bags hung on the left side. Four of them were heavy bags. Away from the punching bags and against the wall is a big four legged wooden frame that resembled a swing, but smaller. It hanged four heavy sandbags. Two were above around the chest level with a few inches of space between them and the other two were below and a few inches above the floor with similar space in between them. Next to the wooden frame is a rack of dumbells and barbells. The right wall is adorned with a large blue coloured logo that had "KYOKUSHIN-KAN KARATE" written on top of it and a japanese inscription on the side. There is alot of energy in the place. Some practiced and perfected their 'katas' infront of the giant sized mirror facing the dojo. Others were either stretching, hard hitting the punching bags or conditioning their knuckles and shins with the "Makiwara" , a padded striking post firmly attached to the sandbag frame. The little kids contented themselves with running around and play wrestling on the padded floor After completing the tenth round of a five minutes hard hitting of the heavy bag with both fist and leg combinations, Eric wiped the sweats dripping from his face with a towel. He is trying to control his breath and must have pushed himself too hard. Drinking some of the mineral water he had with him, Eric proceed to the "Mkiwara" to condition his knuckles while he cooled off. Taking the stance and making sure it was right, he begin to rhythmically pound the first two knuckles of his fist on the wooden board. Unclenching the fist as he withdrew and clenching before it hit. The thumping sound keep getting louder and louder as he put more power to the punch, earning him a few stares mostly from the beginners. "Dude.....is that how hard u can punch?", Eric paused for a moment and continued. He recognized the voice. "No wonder guys dont wanna fist fight with u because u might tickle them to death with those lady punches". "Oh yeah?".......i hope u dont mind me tickling u on the neck right now", Eric began as he turned and faced Stanley, his best friend. "Where the hell are u coming from?", he asked. "From the hospital" "Hospital?.....so what is it this time?, herpes or something worse?" "Ask your sister.......u should have told me she was a bed frame tester", Stanley feigned seriousness as he tried to suppress a smile. "Let's just say i wanted to teach u a lesson", Eric said. The two friends laughed and shook hands that was more like grabbing arms. Stanley was more built than Eric but not as tall. He was their high school wrestling champion and he is now training with the national wrestling team. He is 18, same age as Eric. "So what's up with u yesterday?", Stanley asked as he looked around the dojo. "What do u mean?", Eric wasn't sure of what he was talking about.

Stanley looked at Eric surprisingly. "About Jerry's birthday. U promised to attend only to call at the eleventh hour saying that u wont make it. And u sound rather impatient on the phone", Stanley stated. Eric remembered. He was with Janet. Actually he had made his plans for the occasion until Janet called. He didnt know how she got his number and was pretty sure that Liz didnt give it to her. She said she wanted to have dinner with him to show her appreciation for what he did for her last week. Eric had refused the offer and quite vehemently when she was so insisting. Until she told him she already booked a table at an upscale restaurant called the Valentino's. The restaurant is well famed in Metro-city and no one ever refuses an offer to have dinner there, especially on a friday evening because there are always the possibilities of meeting a celebrities and getting an autograph. It was said that tables there were booked in days advance, even weeks. Eric had wondered how Janet pulled it off till he learnt that the restaurant proprietress was her god mother. "So why the change of heart?", Stanley asked Eric, interrupting him in his thoughts "Home issues", Eric lied and picked up two 12kg dumbbells from the rack. "My mother needed my help in sorting out some stuffs.........work stuff". "Ok", Stanley murmured thoughtfully as he watched his friend do the curling exercise. "So how was it.........the birthday". Eric asked and pursed his lips as he curled up the dumbbells. "It was okay. Lots of drinks, good food and alot of old friends from high school attended". Stanley replied "What about Jerry?". "Quite disappointed when he heard u won't be coming. He wanted to know why, so i told him u were on a date with your girlfriend". Stanley smiled. Eric completed the tenth rep. He re-racked the weight and looked at Stanley. "U knew that he wasn't happy because of my absence in his party". he began. "Then u told him i didn't make it because i chose to go on a date with a girlfriend?..........congratulation......u are a genius and a best friend indeed". "Dude i know u were out seeing that girl.....dont tell me u were at home helping your mother". Stanley said with a funny look. "Which girl?". Eric wondered if he had seen him and Janet. "The rich girl, the one whose mother is a fashion designer" "U mean Liz?". Eric was relieved. "Dude she is just a friend and i wasnt with her that day. She also has a boyfriend". "Really?..." . Stanley asked looking at Eric intently. "...because last time we were together, she had this thing in her eyes each time she stared at u. Like some kind of hunger".

"Anyway am still not interested". Eric said, trying to concentrate on his 'karate curling' exercise. "Activities like that attracts alot of publicity, and i like it quiet. Besides the karate for the olympics is a different style. "What's the difference?". Stanley asked "It is the light contact style. Ours is the full contact. A knock down karate. We hit to knock down or knock out opponents and not to score points". Eric explained. "Oh.........that explains why u were pounding the crap out of that wood". Stanley said and pointed at that wood. "By the way how long have u been practicing?, seven years?". "Twelve years" "Twelve??,....i thought u told me seven". "That is for boxing" "Boxing?......is there any other that u are training i also dont know of?". "Judo and Krav maga........practiced both for ten years" Stanley stared at Eric with his mouth open. Then managed to say "Boy.....i didn't know all that". "There are alot of things about me that u dont know". Eric said inaudibly and continue curling the weights. After almost an hour of training inbetween conversations with Stanley, Eric went to the locker room. He took off the sweat soaked training cloths and took a five minutes cold shower. When he was done, he put on his cloths and stuffed his training gear inside a black coloured adidas duffle bag. A few nods and goodbyes with 'Oss' to the other boys, Eric stepped out of the room and head towards the dojo exit door, where stanley stood waiting. "Ready to roll?". Stanley asked "Yeah........". Eric began as he checked his cellphone. ".......hm...what is this?". he saw a new text message in his phone. He checked and saw it was a bank alert. Some amount of money had being transferred to his account.

"What is it?". Stanley asked as he tried to sneak a peak at Eric's phone. "These guys are really serious". Eric murmured thoughtfully as he stared at the amount of money he received. "Which peope?, what are u talking about?. Stanley asked impatiently. "None of your business". Eric replied, putting his phone away when he saw how inquisitive stanley was. "You pay for the taxi rider". he then said to stanley Stanley protested as both of them exit the building and head towards the main street.

[ CHAPTER TWO ] Esther Uzo was sitting at the dining table with a cup of coffee in front of her. She stared into space as she held the white ceramic cup of the drink that was getting colder. Eric isn't home yet and she hasn't called to know when he will be coming. And neither is she thinking of what to prepare for dinner. She just sat and seemed lost in thoughts. She came back home almost three hours ago after meeting a regal looking woman who gave her name as Nina. Esther first met her during Eric's karate tournament which was about two months ago. Esther saw her congratulating him after his final contest and they exchanged pleasantries. Nina was so eager to have her number which she gave her because she seemed very nice, especially to Eric whom she constantly cheered up because he took the second position after losing the final contest. She promised to be in touch but never did until today. Esther sighed and shift her weight on the seat, clasping the cup of coffee she is yet to drink with both hands. The creaking sound of the chair, as she moved her body is the only audible sound in the quiet apartment. "Stick to the plan or risk losing him", was Nina's last words before she left her in the cafe they met. Nina refused to give her the full details of whatever 'sick' plan she had made except saying that wanted Eric to do 'something' for her. What baffled her most, apart from Nina's phone call demanding to see her, was what she was told to do. She was asked to take a paid vacation. To be frank, she had longed for it for a long time. A dream vacation after years and years of hard work. And the money Nina had offered was good with assurances of no harm to Eric. But Nina's refusal to give her the full details of the plan or the 'something' was the deal breaker even though she was yet to agree to it. Nothing is worth putting the safety of her son at risk. Not even an all expenses paid one month vacation to any place of her choice, her remaining mortgage paid in full and the equivalence of her six months salary deposited in her bank account. Seeing that she wont 'play ball', Nina then brought out a file her chauffeur had been carrying in a brief case and placed it in front of her. Nina then apologized to her for reopening old wounds as she went through it. It contained documents about her past and other documents that could make her lose what she treasured most in her life. Her son. Nina then got up and motioned the chauffuer to the car and told her that last sinister words before leaving. Esther sighed again. She glanced at the clock on the wall and stood up, taking the coffee cup with her. She emptied it's content in the kitchen sink and left it there. Then she moved to the living room and sat heavily on the brown english sofa, resting her head on it's back cushion wirh her eyes closed. She remained like that for some seconds and then opened it. She stared at the at the medium sized family portrait hanging on the wall, away from the mounted flat panel t.v facing her. The picture that was recently taken, had her, with a dark background, seated with her legs crossed and her folded hands on her laps. Eric stood slightly to the right behind her with one hand on her shoulder. Both of them wore all black outfit and gave their best smile for the photoshoot. Esther stared at the portrait and wondered how it would have looked like if some certain past events never happened. She wondered how many faces that would have being there if Ernest had listened to her. Maybe if she had tried harder to prevent him from playing hero, he would probably be in the picture with her in his arms and surrounded by the number of children they would have had. And Eric might not be here. - FLASH! - TIME : 10:50PM .........19 Years ago. "Excuse me young lady" The pretty looking nurse in her crisp white overall uniform pretend not to have heard the call as she stood in front of a storage cabinet filled with labelled vaccine and hospital bottles. She readjusted the white bonnet worn on her braided hair after she was done applying her red lipstick with a small hand mirror. "Hello miss". She slowly looked over her shoulder and saw the man leaning against the entry door post of the storage room. He is about 27, quite tall and handsome. "Yes can i help u?", she asked "Am looking for a beautiful nurse that works here. She stole my heart". "Oh really?, and who is this nurse u are talking about.....whats her name?. "I dont know", the man said as he walked towards her slowly. "All i know is her beauty radiates like the morning sunshine". "Hm........really?, she began as she opened the cabinet to take a bottle. "Well i dont think i can help u if u dont know her name". she continued. "Of course u can", the man whispered in her ear and gently wrapped his strong arms around her waist. "Excuse me.......", the young lady protested playfully. "Do u think u can just hold me without my permission?" "Yes i can and anytime" "Then.......", she turned and faced him. "U better give me a kiss". She put her arms around his neck and they kissed passionately for about half a minute. Then they looked into each other's eyes and smiled. "What am i gonna do without u", the man said to her and pecked her on the cheek. The nurse let go slowly and straightened the collar of the light blue scrubs the man wore and sighed with a worried look on her face. "What is the matter?", he asked after seeing her facial expression. "Ernest, aren't u overworking yourself?", she asked and took out two vials of morphine injection from the cabinet. "U have been working all day. Can't they get another surgeon to perform this surgery?, u really need some rest". "Esther u know how it is with this occupation. Sometimes it could be crazy hectic. This is an emergency and the other surgeon is out of town", he said. "So what is it this time?". "A female patient, probably in her late teen.......", the surgeon began as he took one of the vials from the nurse hand and read it's label. ".......checked herself in last week, heavily pregnant and quite sick. She was diagnosed with fetal distress and had to undergo a caesarean section to give birth. She had twins. One was healthy while the other had complications here and there. And had to be placed in the intensive care unit", he handed the vial back to the nurse. "The condition of the baby in the I.C.U seems to be getting worse so the doctors decided that an emergency surgery had to be carried out". "So will the baby make it after the surgery?", the nurse asked with indifference. "That's the point. It has like 30 percent chance of survival". "What about the mother?" "Still in a coma. She is yet to see her babies. It wont be good for her to wake up and hear that one of them didn't make it", the surgeon sighed "What about her relatives, husband or perhaps boyfriend", the nurse asked "None have visited her". - FLASH! - TIME : 2:15 AM. The surgeon walked into the coffee room wearily with a paper cup in his hand and sat heavily on one of the empty chairs. He was visibly exhausted as he placed the cup on the table in front of him and sighed. A few nurses and E.M.T workers on night duty were on separate tables and discussing among themselves in a low tone. "How did it go?". The surgeon looked over his shoulder and saw the nurse standing behind him and holding a file. He wondered how she got to the coffee room that fast. "It went smoothly", he answered rather weakly with a faint smile. "That baby is one hell of a fighter. The complications was much more bigger than what was thought but it kept holding on to life". "Aw.......the hospital have a new hero", the nurse said nonchalantly. The surgeon didn't like her tone. "It's like u dont care what happens to the baby?", he asked. "No its not that i don't care. Honey look at u. U know very well what alot of stress can do to the body". Then she sat on the chair next to him and placed her hands over his. "Honey u know our wedding is in two weeks time. Maybe it is the reason why i worry so much about u", she said with a concerned voice. - FLASH - TIME : 4:23 AM The nurse opened her eyes and saw herself looking at the hospital ceiling as the florescent lights flashed by. The surgeon was staring down at her and saying something as he and another man, probably an E.M.T worker pushed the stretcher trolley she was lying on. His mouth kept moving but the uncomfortable ringing sound in her ear made it impossible to hear what he was saying. The warm sensation on her forehead made her to reach out and touch. She did so and saw blood on her fingertips. The ringing sound was now fading away and being replaced by the screams and sounds of chaos. The nurse tried to sit up but was prevented by the surgeon whose voice she can hear clearly now. "Esther are u okay?", he asked. He was frantic with fear. "What happened?", she asked as she looked at the blood on her fingers and also saw more on her white overall. "I don't know.......some kind of explosion.......", the surgeon replied as he and the other man wheeled the stretcher to the next corridor leading to the exit door of the building. ".......the hospital is on fire. We have to get u the hell out of here!". The nurse looked around and saw the place was in total chaos. The nurses were trying their best to control the crowd of patients from all the hospital wards. The elderly were being wheeled out or carried by the male E.M.T staffs. "Please u take her out of here. There is something that i have to do", the surgeon told the other man who nodded and took control of the trolley. Sensing what he was about to do, the nurse grabbed his scrubs that had gotten dirty. "Where are u going?", she demanded. "I have to go get........", he began but the nurse cut him short by telling him not to go. But he managed to breakaway from her grip and forced his way through the incoming crowd. The nurse kept screaming his name as he disappeared. - FLASH! - "Mom.......mom!". Esther flinched on hearing the call and saw her son, Eric, standing near the refrigerator with a bottle of water in his hand

Continuation. "Oh.....Eric", she began, pretending to be looking for something. "When did u come home?", she asked. "I just did", Eric replied, curiously staring at his mother. "U seem lost in thoughts when i came in. I hope everything is ok". "Everything is okay". Esther placed one of the sofa pillow on her laps and rest her elbows on it. She smiled at Eric on seeing that he wasn't convinced by her response. Eric shrugged and drank some water directly from the bottle. "I told u several times not to drink from the bottle. Use a cup Eric!", Esther said firmly. "Mom, i don't see anything wrong with drinking from the bottle or any health issue", Eric protested as he put the bottle back inside the refrigerator. "Of course there is. Premature aging" "How?". "Do u want to have those deep wrinkles u see on old women's lips?". Eric paused and licked his upper lip with the tip of his tongue. "I think u are being too dramatic", he said and rubbed it with his index finger. "Anyway, this is my house so u have to abide by my rules", Esther stated. "Ok boss mom", Eric teased with a smile and sat next to his mother. She felt his weight drop on the sofa and knew he might have gained some weight. "So how was ur workout?", she asked as she removed a loose thread from his shirt. "Hm.......", Eric began as he checked his android phone. "........free training day so nothing eventful", he said "What about your master?, Mr Jason". "Not yet back from his trip". "When will he be back?". Eric pursed his lips and shook his head. "I don't know, he didn't say", he replied, still busy with his phone. "So how did it go with dave?, did u guys have fun?, he asked his mother. "Dave?", Esther didn't know what her son meant. "Yeah, u missed him so much that u just couldn't wait to wake me up and tell me that u were going out to see him", Eric said. "Oh.......i wasn't meeting David", Esther said, almost laughing "Who then" "Nina......do u remember her?. "Nina?", Eric murmured thoughtfully with a furrowed eyebrow. "Oh that woman we met during the competition". "Yes". "I see......and what was the reason for meeting her?" "Nothing important", Esther sighed and looked away. "She just wanted to see because she had promised to do so", she lied. "Hm. That woman is kind of weird though", Eric murmured, still busy with his phone. "How?", Esther asked with a little bit of eagerness in her voice. "Well.......after the competition, she had this strange look on her face.......i mean like.....someone who just found what she had been looking for", Eric said as he stopped what he was doing with a thoughtful look on his face. "And that hug she gave me. It was so tight that i began to wonder what was going on. People dont hug strangers like that. She got quite strong arms for a lady", he glance at his mother and continue what he was doing. Esther said nothing. With her elbows on the pillow on her laps and her small hands folded under her chin, she stared at Eric thoughtfully. Eric didn't seem to notice because he was focused on the bright screen of his smart device. This went on for quite a while. "Mom u are acting quite strange today", Eric said without looking at his mother. He knew she was gazing at him. "Did anything happen between u and this Nina?", he asked. "There is nothing strange about me today and nothing happened between me and Nina", Esther replied, trying her best so sound positive. "Well explain the blank stare u had when i stepped in the living room and u gazing at me like there is something wrong somewhere", Eric demanded and looked at his mother. Something is definitely wrong and he could sense it. And he disliked the fact that his mother is trying to convince him that everything is okay. Leaning towards Eric, Esther took his phone from his hand and rest her head on his broad shoulder. "I was thinking about my son, or is there any problem for a mother to do that?", she asked. Then she looked at him. "Are u hungry?", she asked again, trying to change the topic. "Starving", Eric replied. "Let's go out and eat. Which restaurant is your favourite place?" "Really?!.......mom u want us to have dinner at my favourite restaurant?", Eric's face lit up with a smile. Esther nodded and smiling too. "Infact i want us to do something interesting today. After dinner we go to the pub", she added. Eric's smile fades away "Go to the pub?." "Yes". "And do what?". "Do what people do in the pub and i can use a few glasses of martini". Esther had alot on her mind and wanted a little boost in her system to calm her nerves. "Mom, alot of things do happen in the pub and half of them are not good", Eric reminded her "I know and we will be doing the good half", his mother said. "So u really want us to go to pub?" "Yes......am i too old and wrinkly to go there with u?", Esther asked. "U don't want to go to the pub with your 'old woman'?". "No i just want to hear u right", Eric replied. "And u can't be an old woman when most of my friends ask me if u were my sister". Esther laughed at what Eric just said. But she wasn't surprised at all. Most of the people she had met still dont believe she is forty-three. Even David. At that age, she still have those beauty that defined her during her youth. Small frame with curves at the right places. Her behind still look firm like that of a girl in her early 20's and face that men describe as rare beauty with lips that every man would want to kiss if given the slightest chance. "Okay then........", Eric began as he got up to go change his cloths. "I think am gonna have scotch and later on some hard stuff". "No....no.....no", Esther protested, gesturing her index finger at him. "U may have reached the legal age limit to drink but u are having only light beer". "We might decide to escalate things mom". "No there is no escalations and please don't dress like a thug"

CHAPTER THREE - THREE WEEKS AGO - Alex made his way through the empty hallway with hands in his pockets. He wore a blank look on face as he silently walked on the shiny polished floor of the bright florescent lit place that had a long row of metal lockers on both sides. A janitor is at the far end working with a mop. In his brown overall khaki, the old man, probably in his 50's was too busy working the mop to and fro to notice the lone student approaching him. It's about two hours ago the school closing bell rang. Apart from Alex, the last student left about thirty minutes ago. He knew that soon the janitors will be checking the entire classrooms after cleaning for the final inspections before locking up. But it didn't bother him. Neither did it bother him that the family chauffeur had left with his younger sisters and brother after waiting for him for almost an hour. He had told them to go without him after one of his sisters called and demanded angrily when he was going to 'bring his butt' to the waiting car. The janitor paused to stretch his back and saw Alex. He stopped what he was doing and stared at him with a scowl. But that was all he could do because he didn't know which rich family the student is from, just like most of the other students. And his years of working in a school full of rude kids from wealthy families had taught him to always report anything unusual to the school authorities rather than trying to sort it out himself. Though he preferred to ignore them in most cases. "Are you not going home?", he asked Alex with a grating voice as he glared at the good looking young man towering over him. The opposite of his own looks. Alex didn't answer the question. He just ignored the bitter looking old man and head towards the exit door leading to the stairways silently. "Rude kids", the janitor mutter, shaking his head as he continue with his floor mopping. Alex gently closed the rooftop access door and looked around the rooftop cautiously. Seeing nothing but a wide empty space with a tar and gravel floor, he quietly went to the ledge of the building. The fairly bright sun was behind him. And he could feel the cool afternoon wind blowing against his face as he took off his school jacket and dropped it on the floor. He stared down from the top of the four storey building and saw no activity going on below. Then he looked around. His position gave him a good view of the entire school compound with it's classrooms and other building block, the playing field with it's neatly trimmed grass turf and the school parking lot. Farther away from the hedges at the school main entrance gate is the main road with cars zooming by. After several minutes of staring at the scenery before him with his hands resting on the waist-high ledge, Alex gently loosen his black and grey stripe neck tie that indicated he is a final year senior student in the school. Then he raised one foot on the ledge and with little effort, he heaved himself on top of the one foot wide barrier and stood on it. He looked down and saw that he is just a step away from certain death. A step away from ending it all. And getting away from his family, the school and classmates. Before he did that, he closed his eyes and counted down. Tears tickled down his cheek as he did so.

CHAPTER FOUR. Eric felt the chilly weather as he filed out from the bus with the other passengers. He wore only a plain white T-shirt with a singlet underneath and the seven hours smooth ride in the bus that was comfortably warm made him feel quite cold on stepping out of the bus. Earlier he had checked the weather conditions of his destination and brought a sweater and a jacket to keep himself warm. But he will have to get his bag from the trunk of the luxury bus in order to do so. While bearing the weather and waiting with the other passengers for the bus conductor to open the bus trunk, Eric casually looked around the bus station and the activities going on in the place. There are quite alot of people and movements going on around the place. The large crescent shaped station building has a large 'EAST-HILL BUS STATION' sign overhead the entrance. Buses, both big and mini, arriving or preparing to go to their various destinations. Passengers, station workers, hawkers and some people of shady characters hanging around the place or struggling with their luggages. Federal capital state, Eric thought to himself as he took a deep breath of the cool air. He had seen the welcome sign about thirty minutes ago when the bus was still on the freeway. Federal capital state is the nation's capital and it's Easthill city being the largest city in the country. The second largest being Metro city of South Delta, where Eric lived. There are more buildings and high rises compared to Metro city. The air smelt different, the people seem less friendly and the weather quite colder. Soon the trunk was opened and all the passengers left carrying or dragging their bags and luggages with them. Eric slide his phone in his pocket and walked briskly Towards the taxi park after exiting the bus station building. He just finished making a phone call to a guy called Mr Benson who gave him the address and direction of the place they were to meet. Eric still can't believe how it all went so fast. Two weeks ago he got an email from a movie production company wanting him to perform some stunts for their upcoming movie. They told him that they had reviewed some of the videos of his fights at the karate tournament and decided he was the right guy for the movie. He had told them of his interest but lacked the funds for the expenses because he was told it will be a four day movie shoot. He let them know about his situation and the company immediately deposited thirty percent of the money he will be paid into his account and also informed him that even if the movie shoot didn't go as planned, they will forgo the money already paid to him. It was a considerable amount of money. Not being sure of how his mother will react, he broke down the news of his new job to her. And got surprised by her attitude and response. She always had reservations on where ever he wanted to go or whatever he wanted to do. But this time she gave him the go ahead, telling him it was time for him to start exploring and knowing what is out there for him. "Young man, where are you going?. Eric saw the cheerful looking man in his mid forties standing near a clean taxi. "Am going to this location", Eric responded and gave the taxi driver a piece of paper with an address scribbbled on it. "Hm.......", the driver studied the address written on the paper with his glasses and then handed it back to Eric. "Okay.......what about your bag?", he asked and pointed at the duffle bag slung over Eric's shoulder. "Do you want it in the trunk?". "No i will just keep it with me at the back seat", Eric replied. "Okay then......hop in let's go". TBC

Eric stared out of the window of the back seat as the taxi cruised smoothly through the busy street and making some brief stops at the traffic light. He observed some of the activities his eyes were able to capture and took note of some buildings and landmarks. This was his third time coming to Easthill. The first time he was just five years old and ten years on his second. On both occasions he came with his mother to visit his father's grave for the fifth and tenth anniversary of his death. This time he is alone and the city is much more different from how he saw it eight years ago. "You seem new to this city", the driver said to Eric after glancing at him several times through the rearview mirror. "Oh me?, well......kind of", Eric replied. "So which part of the country do you reside?". "Metro city in South Delta" "Hm.......Metro city. You are from the sunny city", the driver said with a smile. "Welcome to Easthill, the hustle city......you can see the people getting lost in the epidemic of the hustle", the man gestured outside the taxi. "Definitely sir", Eric said and glanced at the bustling crowd. The driver laughed as he worked the steering wheel and made a right turn. "So what brings you here", he asked. "Visiting a relative, education or joining the army of young people trying to make something for themselves?". "It is private sir", Eric answered and took out a pamphlet that has the map of the city from his back pocket. "Okay", the driver murmured. Then silence settled between them. Eric flipped the pages of the pamphlet as he studied the map and circled some points with the pen he had with him. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see the driver steady glances at him through the rearview mirror.

"I think i have seen you somewhere", the driver began as Eric was about to say something to him. "Who?.....me?", Eric asked. "Yeah i think i have..... but cannot remember where", the driver said thoughtfully. "On t.v or perhaps the newspaper". "Internet?". "No i don't even know how to use that". "Well unless if u are living next door to me in Metro city." "I think missing person", the driver said thoughtfully again. "Um.......sir, when are we going to arrive at my destination?, Eric asked impatiently. "Almost there", the driver said and pointed at the next block ahead. The taxi slowly grinds to a halt near a back street adjacent to the main street. The driver heaved a sigh and looked at Eric. "That is Cole street", he said and pointed at the one- way back street that was just wide enough to park a car on one side. "Further down the street like a hundred metres from here, u will see the Hilton motel". Then he looked at the street. "Am sorry i cant drive u in there because it will be quite difficult turning the car around", he apologized. Eric looked at the map he held, then to the street and back to the map. He scanned the buildings around the area and looked at the map again. "Are u sure this is the place?". He asked. "Sure......there is only one Cole street that have a Hilton motel in this city", the driver answered. Eric dipped his hand in his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. "Thanks", the driver said with a smile and handed Eric his change. "Take care my boy, this city is full of surprises sometimes. So be on guard and watch your back" "I will remember that sir", Eric said and got out of the car. The driver waved and drove off. Eric slightly pull up the left sleeve of his sweater to check his wrist watch and saw it was 4 pm to the dot. With the duffle bag slung over his right shoulder, he started walking down the street. As he did so, he glanced around the seemingly seedy area that looks empty and quite dirty with filths lying here and there. He passed an overflowing large trash can surrounded with trash bags. Some where torn open with their contents spilled out. Eric read the neon signs of the buildings that were mostly four or five floors. They indicated what they housed. Billiard rooms, internet cafe, bathhouse and a rundown bar. One building is a motel and of low class. It wasn't the Hilton motel. Near the entrance stood a girl in her early twenties. She wore a short blouse and a mini-skirt that is very revealing. Her make up looked severe and she wore an unusually big circle shaped earrings that made Eric wonder if anyone have ever mistaken it for a bus handle. She was chewing and popping gum noisily as her fingers worked her cell phone with a scowl on her face. She paused and looked at Eric who walked by and continue what she was doing. Eric wasn't in anyway focused on her. But on the two guys who seem to be following him. Eric had earlier walked past a mini convenience store and both men stepped out of the place and followed at a steady pace. He had sized up both men with a casual glance. One was a bit chubby, bald shaved and average in height. The other was above average in height and below in weight. He suspected their movement and his suspicions was confirmed when he increased his pace and they followed suit. And also did the same when he decreased it. He wondered who they might be. Thieves?, muggers?, kidnappers?..........organ harvesters?. Eric smirked at the thoughts of having the wrong luck of being attacked and having his organs harvested. Even the thought of adding the word 'harvest' to organ made it feel like a very awkward situation that no man ever wishes to encounter. Perhaps he is being too suspicious, Eric thought to himself. Maybe it was because he is new in town, walking in an almost empty seedy looking street with two seemingly shady characters behind him. Well, he is almost near the Hilton motel as he could see the building with the sign. So he will just get into the lobby and call Mr Benson. As Eric approached the building, the driver door of a black Honda accord sedan parked near the motel opened and a smallish looking guy wearing a black leather jacket got out. He started walking towards Eric with his gaze fixed on him. He looked determined. "Okay........something is about happen", Eric thought to himself. He was beginning to feel the adrenaline rush. But he remained calm and composed. And making his calculations. He had a pair of shoes, a few cloths and briefs in the duffle bag with some thick, hard cover books neatly packed at the bottom. Eric felt the weight of the bag with his shoulder and decided it was good enough. The chubby guy behind him is at his left and his partner at the right. The bag on his right shoulder is exactly where he wants it to be. As the guy in leather jacket got closer, he dipped his hand in the right pocket of his jacket. Then the two guys behind Eric increased their pace, almost running towards him. Eric calmly let his bag slide from his shoulder down to his arm. He could now hear their breath sound and tightened his grip on the bag strap ****************************************** TO BE CONTINUED

CONTINUATION. Eric wiped his blood stained knuckles on his sweater. He maintained his composure and controlled his breath as he looked around the street cautiously to see if there were any other assailants. He glanced at the three men sprawled on the ground and noticed that what just went down didn't attract any attention. Except the promiscuous looking girl he had seen standing infront of the cheap motel he had earlier walked past. She was the only one that witnessed the violence that just happened. The girl stared at Eric with a frightened look on her face. Like she is expecting to be assaulted. What she just witnessed was something she usually see in the movies. All she could remember was seeing fat guy and probably his friend going at duffle bag boy from behind with another guy in leather jacket coming from the opposite direction. Suddenly, with one movement, duffle bag boy swung his bag all the way to his back and clobbered fat guy's face with it. Then he dropped his bag and at the same time threw a right elbow strike to his back and hit fat guy's friend on the jaw. Grabbing his shirt and it's collar with both hands, he hurled the guy over his shoulder with a judo flip and send him crashing into leather jacket guy who got knocked down like a bowling pin. Fat guy had quickly recovered from the stunning blow and charged at duffle bag boy like a wild animal. He got stopped by a front kick to his mid section followed by left and right hooks to the face and jaw that rocked his balance. Then a blow from a round house kick caught him squarely in his neck and fell him down like a chopped down tree. He hit his head on the paved ground and passed out. Leather jacket guy and fat guy's friend had regained their stand and attacked duffle bag boy, with leather jacket coming with his right hand raised in a stabbing position. He was holding a syringe in that hand. The boy went at him first. Blocking the right hand with his left and sending leather jacket guy sprawling on the ground with a right hammer-fist punch to the face. Fat guy's friend had landed a couple of punches on duffle bag boy but the boy was unfazed. So he went for more and got taken care of real good. The sounds of fists meeting jaw and cheek bone sent cold shivers down the girls spine as she watched the boy unleash an unending barrages of ferocious punches at fat guy's friend, bashing him left and right. And had him laid out on the ground unconscious, bleeding from the mouth and nostrils with lumps on his face. "Do you know this guys?", Eric asked her as he started checking the guys and searching their pockets. The girl keep staring at him and said nothing. Too petrified to say anything. He went over to the guy in leather jacket. He was the only one of the three men still moving. Eric picked up the syringe the man dropped when he was being slugged. He looked at it's needle and studied the yellow coloured liquid in it. Then he looked at the girl. "Do you know them?", he asked her again. The girl shook her head and said nothing. With the syringe in his hand, Eric stood over the guy on the ground and stared at him. The guy stared back at Eric with fear in his eyes, expecting terrible things to start happening. Then Eric bent over the guy with one knee on the ground and held the syringe in front of his face. "What is this?", he asked. The man said nothing and Eric took a swing at him, hitting him across the face and sending blood and saliva flying from his mouth. "You see.......i have this condition that have to do with emotions.......", Eric said quietly as he searched the hurting man's pockets. ".......emotions associated with the fight or flight response to any event that seem to impact us negatively. But my condition made mine quite unique. The flight response is nonexistent. The fight response is best described as using a flamethrower to light a barbecue grill", Eric pulled out the man wallet and checked his i.d card. "Years of my personal therapy had made me able control it. But when i start getting impatient while trying to get some information in an event that seem to impact me negatively, it hits overdrive and becomes uncontrollable". Then he glared at the man. "So answer my question before something real bad happen to you", he continued. "Its tran.....tranquilizer", the man murmured and passed out. Eric felt he might have hit him too hard. Eric got up and glanced at the other two guys lying on the ground. The chubby guy seems to be moving. Eric ignored him and looked at the i.d he got from the man wallet. Then he stared at the black car parked near the motel. He did so thoughtfully and shift his gaze to the entrance of the building. He took out his phone and dial Mr Benson's number. Then he heard the sound of a phone ringing. It was coming from the inner pocket of the leather jacket the guy on the ground is wearing.

With his bag slung over his shoulder, Eric was heading towards the main street in a fast pace, almost running. He was sure that he will make it to the bus station on time to be able to get the ticket for the night bus back to Metro city. He still couldn't believe what was going on. He had being set-up. But for whatever reason is what he is still trying to fathom. Was the movie production company some kind of a kidnap ring?, if so then why go through all the troubles to bring someone from hundreds of miles away just to kidnap the person when there is an unending supply of humanity available in this city. And alot with money. The words that the taxi driver said to him about watching his back and the city being full of surprises started coming back to him. Now his main objective is to get out of the city, this state and start his investigations inhis home state. As he approached the intersection, a solid grey coloured 2009 model range rover sports parked at the junction ahead of him. Eric slowed down and approached cautiously. The rear passenger door opened and a lady in black suit and wearing dark sunglasses stepped out and shut the door as she is busy with her phone. She took a quick glance at Eric's direction and continue dialling her phone. Then she paused and looked in that direction again. She was staring at Eric as he got closer. She took off her glasses to get a better look and Eric recognized her face. "Eric?,........what a surprise!", the lady began. Eric could hear the click clack sound of her black high heels as she came towards him. "What are you doing here?, when did u come to Easthill city?, she asked. "Hi Mrs Nina........well.....i just came in town a few hours ago but i intend to leave now", Eric replied. "Already leaving?........why?......and what is that u are holding in your hand? For the first time Eric remembered that he was still holding the syringe and it made him feel awkward. He had wanted to dispose of it somewhere else because of the way the promiscuous looking girl had stared at it. She must have known what it is and he was afraid that she might use it on someone else or an unfortunate customer. But he was so caught up in his thoughts about what just happened to him that he forgot about it. "I was attacked by some group of guys and they wanted to use this on me", Eric sighed. "Do you know them?" "No mam". "Let me see that", Nina demanded. Eric reluctantly handed it to her and she examined it. "Did you call the police?, Nina asked without taking her eyes off it "No mam". "Can you show me where it happened?". "Yeah it is close to a..........". Eric began and turned to point at the direction. Then he felt a sharp pricking sensation on his shoulder. It made him to turn around quickly and saw Nina holding the syringe that was now empty of it's content. "What the hell......". was what Eric could say before the effects of the tranquilizer took over him and he collapsed on the ground.

CHAPTER FIVE. Eric opened his eyes slowly and found himself lying on a bed, partly covered with a blanket. The bed was quite comfortable and his cloths felt the same. His cloths can't feel that comfortable in bed, he thought and immediately raised the blanket and saw that he wore a hospital patient wear. He is in a hospital room. "Did you sleep well?". Eric looked at the direction the voice came from and saw Nina. She is sitting on a chair next to the bed he laid. There is also a tall hefty looking man in the room. He is standing near the door behind her as if guarding it. He wore dark glasses and looked scary with an expressionless look on his face. Eric made an attempt to sit up but felt too weak to do so. And Nina prevented him by placing her hand on his shoulder. "Eric relax........", Nina began, patting him on his shoulder. "You are still weak and need alot of rest". "What is the meaning of this?", Eric asked. "What have you done to me?". "Nothing........you already know what was in that syringe", Nina replied as she slide her hand away from his shoulder. "I underestimated you. Next time i won't deal with amateurs". Eric thought for a while and looked at her. "You sent those guys?", he asked. "So all that movie production facade and wanting me to be a stuntman was just a ploy to have me kidnapped". "Kidnapped?.........nobody is being kidnapped here". "So what do you call this?", Eric demanded. "Besides how did i get into these?", he gestured at his hospital wear. "What happened to my cloths and my bag?, where is my phone?", he asked. "Everything is safe", Nina assured. "When you will get them depends on the outcome of our discussions", she continued. "Discussions?,.......discussions about what?" "About why you were brought here and if you are willing to co-operate". "What do you want from me?". "I want you to do something.........some kind of job here in this city", Nina began and relaxed on her seat. "And i want you to.........." "Okay i have heard. So can i get all my things", Eric interrupted her. "Please do hurry because i have a bus to catch", "You don't want to hear what am about to say?", Nina asked "You said that you have some kind of a job you want me to do, right?. Well am not interested", Eric answered. "So whatever else you want to say is invalid", he said and then looked at Nina. "Can i have my things so that i can go back to Metro city", "You want to go back to Metro city?", Nina asked "Yeah..... and now". "Okay then". Then Nina opened her handbag and brought out a voice recorder. "I know you love your mother alot", she began and placed it on the bed. "And she loves you alot too. Infact the last time i was with her, she told me tha you were her everything", then she pressed the play button. "Hello Eric......", Eric recognized the voice coming out from the speakers. It was that of Esther, his mother. "I hope you are okay. If you are hearing this, then you are with Mrs Nina. I know by now you hate her like i do but you have to listen to her and do exactly what she says. She has given me the assurance that nothing is going to happen to you. Anyway for my own sake and for that or yours, please do as she says. I love you son and i dont want to lose you. Take care my baby", The recording ended and Eric stared at Nina. He was dumbfounded, with rage slowly building up inside him. "What have you done to my mother?", he asked, trying to control his anger as he sat up. "Nothing, she is okay", Nina answered. "If you go back to Metro city u will see her but i want you to hear this before you make that decision". "All those things she said.......what does it mean?.......why would she say she doesnt want lose me", Eric demanded. "Let's just say your mother did something a longtime ago. Something that could get her into trouble with the law if they.......well......somehow find out", Nina said with a smirk. "Having a bad record is not a good thing for a senior nurse, especially in this country. But that is the least of her worries. She might spend time in jail". "So you are using it to blackmail her?". "I won't call it blackmail. I will call it my leverage". Then Nina put the voice recorder back inside her handbag and looked at Eric. "So.......do u still want to go back to Metro city?", she asked intently Eric said nothing. He remained silent. Thinking, perhaps weighing his options in a situation where there seems to be none. Nina on the other hand waited patiently, giving him enough time to think over what she had just said before he makes his decision. And hoped it won't be the initial one he had made because it will be a foolish decision. "What do you want from me?", Eric finally asked. He had decided to play along. For now. "Good.......", Nina began and dipped her hand inside the handbag. "..........before we begin i want you to look at these", she handed Eric some photographs. Eric was reluctant to know what it is. But what he saw made him to hold them close to his face as he stared at the pictures. The face in the pictures was his. But he was not sure if he had ever taken such pictures. "Where did you get these?", he asked curiously, holding the picture away from his face. "I have never had such picture taken........". Then he brought it close to his face again. "..........definitely because these are not my type of cloths. "You are right", Nina said with a smile. "The person in those pictures is not you". Eric is really puzzled. "Then who is this?", he asked "Who he is, is not important but what we want you to do", Nina replied. "And what is that?", "This is what we want you to do......", Nina leaned closer with one elbow resting on the bed. "........someone or some people, infact a family will walk through that door. When they see you, they might smile, hug or even give u kisses. You know the family reunion kind of stuff. Or they might not. But they will think u are him". Nina pointed at the pictures "So.........." "So you have to be who they think you are. Answer the name they call you, eat the food they feed you, infact do everything this person is known to do, even if he gives his own sister a mouth to mouth kiss". "Wait.......what?", Eric interrupted. "I hope he is not some kind of sick human being", he asked. "Nina smiled at what Eric said and continue. "All am saying is you have to do everything he is being known to do. You have to live his own life". "What makes you think i can be able to do all that?", Eric asked. "Of course you can. And for the ones you can't do, you have to find a way to do it", Nina answered. Then Eric looked at the pictures again. He just cant believe what he is seeing in front of him. He is staring at these pictures that has his own face in it and he is being told that it is not. How is that even possible and who the hell is this person?. Perhaps the person must have undergone a plastic surgery operation and ended up looking like him. That is the only possibility. "So who is this person to you?", Eric asked Nina "Just a client", she replied. Nina dipped her hand inside the bag again and brought out a smart phone that isnt Eric's own. "This is his phone and yours for now", she said and handed it to Eric. "There is a document and an image files in it. It is about the family. I want you to go through them, study the pictures, memorize the names and know who they are. There is also a list of the social networking sites he is using, his email addresses and their password". Then Nina took the pictures and put them back inside her handbag. "So in........", she looked at her gold wrist watch. "..........thirty minutes the family will be coming through that door, so i suggest you start getting ready". "Wait.......you want me to do all these things you just said in thirty minutes?", Eric seem perplexed. "How is that even possible?". "Of course it is possible", Nina said. "Especially for someone with an I.Q that is above 150". Eric heard that and gazed at Nina. "I have been doing my investigations for the past two months after i met you", she continue as she fold her arms and gazed back at him. "My findings really amazes me. But what i don't understand is why aren't you in one of those institutions for the highly intelligent people?. After two years of graduating from high school, you are yet to go to the university. "Money of course", Eric said. "Why do you think i agreed to take an acting role for a movie that i just found out is fake". "Haven't you heard of scholarships?". "Was also thinking about that till you came with your bullshits". "Anyway there is also a G.P.S software installed in that phone. It will help you in your navigation around the city. You can't be this person if you don't know your way around this city. Though you will be diagnosed of suffering a minor memory loss by the doctor as a precaution" "Oh i also have a mental problem?........this just keep getting better", Eric murmured. "Anyway is there any other thing i need to know about this your client?", he asked. "Like what?", Nina asked. "Well.....like other things........confidential stuffs that you wouldn't want to talk about, especially in front of that king kong standing at the door", Eric said and point at the big man who frowned at what Eric called him. "Everything is in that phone i gave you", Nina answered. "And how long am i suppose to live this new life", he asked again. "One month" "One month?" "Yeah one month", Nina said and zipped her handbag close. "And you cannot contact your mother or anybody you know in Metro city, especially your mother. Though i have made sure of that but don't in anyway try to get in contact with her till we are done", she warn sternly. Then Nina straightened her suit jacket and fold her arms. She stared at Eric with a faint smile on her face with head tilted a bit to the side. She had the look of a mother watching her baby making it's first step. "What now?", Eric asked after about ten seconds of being stared at by her. Without saying a word, Nina got up and head towards the door. The big man opened the door for her and glanced at Eric as he followed her and left, closing the door. Eric stared at the door and wondered what was that all about. He looked at his new present, the phone Nina gave him. It looked kind of new and was switched off. He relaxed on the bed and pressed the power button. TBC

continuation The doctor switched on his medical penlight and performed a pupil gauge on Eric. After he was done, he put on the ear-tips of the stethoscope and listened to Eric's heart and lung sound. Nodding his head, the doctor glanced at the woman standing beside him. "So how are you feeling now", the small statured mousy looking man asked Eric. "I feel okay", he replied. "Are you experiencing anything unusual like mild irritations or a frequent need to use the bathroom?", the doctor asked again. "No sir........none of that", Eric said and looked at the woman beside the doctor. She is his new mother or the woman he will have to be calling 'mom'. Her name is Agnes philips. A plus size woman with a hard and an unfriendly look on her face. Eric had earlier gone through the pictures in the phone and she look worse than she looked in her picture. When she walked into the room with two young girls who are her daughters, exactly 30 minutes after Nina and her big man had left, Eric was expecting her to throw her arms around her "missing" son or ask frantic questions about his state of health; things that mothers usually do is such kind of a situation. But she didnt. She just stood and stared at him while the doctor told her how her son was found lying in some corner and brought to the hospital by a good Samaritan. Even her bodily expressions showed emotions of contempt. And all Eric could think of is how it just keep getting better and better. "So can we take him home now?", Agnes asked the doctor who had been saying something that she was very unwilling to listen to. "Oh yes madam..........", he answered timidly. The timidness in his voice amused Eric. But he didn't show it. "But if he happens to start.........", "Don't worry our family doctor can handle that", Agnes rudely interrupted. "Alex......get whatever things u have here and meet us outside", she said to Eric without looking at him and gestured at both girls. The older one is about 17 years of age and was too busy with her cell phone to even look at Eric while the younger one is about 13 and was staring at him without saying a word. Both of them followed their mother behind and they left the room. "Alex........the dudes name is Alex", Eric thought as he slowly got out of the bed. Then looking at the doctor. "Where is my cloths", he asked. The doctor who is now going through a file and writing something in it said "I think it is inside there", and pointed at the wardrobe beside the bed. Eric opened it and stared at what he saw with a furrowed eyebrow. "What the hell is this?", he asked. "What do u mean?". "Don't tell me am suppose to wear this". The doctor craned his neck at the wardrobe and saw a white and brown school uniform with a brown jacket. "Well........." he began as he continue going through the file. "They said it's yours. "So am suppose to be in school or what?" "If that is what it means", "Well it means one thing to me............horse crap". "Now look here young man.........." , the doctor retorted irritatedly. ".......my work with you is done, so please put on your cloths and leave", Eric smirked at the man's newly found courage and felt like strangling him with his stethoscope tubing. Perhaps start killing his way to the truth about this situation he is in. Starting from this hospital. But he decided against the idea and started taking off the hospital patient cloths. "So how much did she pay you to put up that performance?", he asked as he put on the uniform and button up the white shirt. "Or is there any dirt she got on you?, perhaps threatened to send that gorilla to separate some limbs if you don't co-operate", he keep asking intently. The doctor ignored the questions and head towards the door. Eric watch him leave as he put on the jacket. It fits perfectly.

CHAPTER SIX. The 2007 black Mercedes Benz ML class swung into the car park as the gate-man pressed a button and the gate automatically slide shut. Agnes killed the engine and lazily unbuckled her seatbelt. Victoria, her 17 years old daughter who sat at the passenger seat beside her had already done hers quickly and got out of the SUV. Eric, who was at the back seat with suzanne, his other new sister, had enjoyed the smooth ride except for suzanne's constant glances he had to deal with. Eric got out of the car slowly and closed the door as he beheld the breathtaking architectural design before him. He just stood and stared at the 3 storey mansion like a kid in Disneyland. Then he looked around the compound. Everything there, from the house and it's colourful and beautiful concrete paved floor to the fleets of cars he had just seen, speaks of opulence. The last time he saw something similar was when he went to Liz house on her birthday. "What are you looking at?", Agnes barked at him. Will you get into the house and take a shower!. Am sure you haven't had any for the past two weeks that you disappeared", she said angrily. Victoria sniggered at what her mother just said. "Geez........woman take it easy", Eric muttered inaudibly, wondering what Alex must have done to warrant this insult. Thinking about the cold reception the Philips gave him at the hospital, Eric is having the feeling that this Alex was some kind of a problem. Perhaps the black sheep of the family. And must have been good at it because nobody seem to like him, even his own mother. Throughout the ride from the hospital to the house, she didnt utter a single word to him, not even a glance. Now, except for the pitiful stares he is getting from the three female workers in uniform who were probably the house helps, everyone else are giving him the cold shoulder. Especially the boy who just came out from the house. He is Daniel. Alex younger brother or rather say Eric's new younger brother. He is 16 years old, quite tall for his age and had some facial resemblance of his mother Agnes. He is wearing a clean white "dogi" with a japanese inscription that Eric quickly recognized. "Hi mom.....", Daniel greeted Agnes. He hugged her and eyed Eric strangely. Eric sensed sibling rivalry. "Hi Danny, how was your lesson today?", Agnes asked with a smile and put her hand around his shoulder. "How is he?........what did the doctor say is wrong with him?", he asked, jerking his head at Eric as both of them walk towards the house. Eric could hear Agnes tell Daniel that the doctor said he is having some kind of a manageable mental illness to which Daniel laughed at. "Oh my God!.......Alex!", Eric saw a chubby and jolly looking woman approaching him. "Probably the house cook", he thought as he gave her a weak smile. "How are u doing?.......what happened?", she asked and place her thick hand on his shoulder. Then she looked at him from head to toe. "My God you lost some weight". "Lost what?", Eric thought as he stared at her. "Nancy, i hope there is something for him to eat", Agnes asked the woman. "Yes madam", Nancy replied and looked at Eric. "I will also prepare your favourite", she said and lead him into the house.

Eric closed the door and look around the bedroom. It looked very clean and cozy. The room is quite bigger than his own in Metro-city and had more furnitures. All of them, from the bed to the reading table are all positioned at the right places. Not bad for someone Eric thought would probably have a bedroom that could be best described with a warning sign that says "Biohazard" He sat on the double size bed and felt the soft mattress covered with a white bed sheet. He glanced at the wardrobe and looked at the bedside table with drawers. Alex wouldn't mind him poking around the room, Eric thought and shuffled to the side of the bed the table is at. Afterall he is living his life. Eric opened the top drawer and saw a few things. Pens, pencils, paper clips, some coins and a few old magazines. He slide it close and opened the lower drawer. It contain a few paper scraps and some text books. He got out of the bed and opened the wardrobe. His eyes met alot of neatly hanged cloths and another compartment that had shoes in it. Eric counted twelve pairs. Four sneakers, four loafers and four leather shoes. He ran his fingers through the cloths. Except for the suits, the rest weren't his style. He went over to the reading table that also have a desktop computer with a flat screen monitor. He studied the neatly packed books in the bookshelf and read the titles of a few. Eric was tempted to switch the computer on but decided that it was too early. Then he checked the drawers of the table and saw a laptop computer and a book that look like a diary. Placing the laptop on the table, he opened the diary and glance through the pages. His eyes caught a sentence "........ just to keep the marriage from breaking up......" Then the phone Nina gave him suddenly vibrated twice. Eric checked and saw it is a new text message notification. "If you are alone, call this number now", it read. Eric dialled the number below the text message and it ringed about four or five times before the call is answered. "Hello", it was Nina's voice. "So what now?", Eric asked "Are you alone?", she asked. "No am with the whole family listening", Eric replied sarcastically. "Don't you read your own message?", he asked. "So how is it going with the family?". "A complete hostile territory". "What do you mean by that?". "Well you should have given me more info about this your 'my look alike' client", Eric said quietly as he slightly opened the door of the room and peeped to check for any activity in the corridor. "What did he do that he had to run away from home only to be seen two weeks later by the mother who seem to wish that he was never found or even worse", he grunted and sighed as he laid on the bed, holding the diary. "Did he like.....impregnate his girlfriend and burn down her father's house?", he asked. "Like i said before, who he is or whatever he did is not important to you. The important thing is you following my instructions", Nina sounded abit impatient. "So what if they start asking questions about things i know nothing about?", Eric asked again. "Am sure you might want me to tell them to wait while i call you to know your instructions", Eric said. "First of all no one is pregnant and no house got burnt down or whatever, so don't worry about being asked questions", Nina stated. "Secondly, if they ask questions, it will only be about what happened throughout the couple of weeks you left the house. You just tell them you cant remember. Have you forgotten that you have a minor memory loss?","Okay then", Eric murmured, seeing that Nina is unwilling to tell him anything about Alex. "Anything else?", Nina asked. "Yeah.....i think there is a slight problem", Eric replied "What is it?". "Well,....i saw Daniel, the younger brother wearing a karate dogi and later found out from the cook that he started his new hobby about a three weeks ago". "So how is it a problem?". "It's not him, but his karate teacher", "What about him?". "If you had came earlier during the National Karate tournament, am sure you would have seen me knocking him out cold". Eric could still remember that knock out he delivered with a round-house kick to the head and wondered if he had taken the human insanity that was going on that day too seriously. He literally made the guy's head to clap his shoulder an feared that he may end up watching t.v sideways for the of his life.

Only the sound of cutlery and food munching could be heard as the family ate their dinner. Barry Philips, Agnes husband, ate and gave the others quick glances; focusing most of his attention on Eric. Barry Philips is a middle aged man in his late forties, well built with strong shoulders. He had some grey hair with a neatly trimmed beard and moustache. He is a man of few words and have the eyes of someone who always seems lost in thoughts. He is the owner and C.E.O of a family conglomerate company well known in Easthill city. Earlier in the day, when he came back from his office, he had gone to Alex's room to see if what he heard about his runaway son being found was true. When he saw Eric whom he thought was Alex, he voiced his disappointments and left. "How is your mother doing?", Barry asked Mary, his wife's 19 years old niece who is spending her vacation in the family's house. "I haven't seen her for almost a month. "Uncle she is okay........and complaining that you hardly make out time to see her", Mary replied and sipped from her glass of water. "Dont mind him", Agnes put in. "He is always busy busy busy. One day i will put him in chains so that he won't leave this house for a month. "Oh really?......", Barry said to agnes as he accept the glass of water she just poured for him. "Then i better hire bodyguards to protect me from a chain wielding woman", he contiued. Everyone else except Eric laughed. The family talk at the dinner table continued with Eric still not listening to their conversations. He was thinking about what he had read from Alex's diary. The events that transpired from the time he woke up in that hospital to him stepping into the Philips mansion had being nothing but pieces of a meaningless puzzle until he read the book. And it gave Eric some clues on what was really going on. Alex was an orphan adopted by the rich Philips family. And he was suffering from extreme depression. He was adopted as a baby after five years of Agnes and Barry being unable to have children. But two years into the adoption, Agnes started having babies. And Alex problems started. Eric had gone through the dairy page by page and saw an unending tales of being mistreated and belittled and abuse. The loving family Alex had known as a child had become his worst nightmare and it all seem to start after Daniel, his younger brother was born. Even at school he wasn't spared. Being bullied everyday seem to have become a subject in his own curriculum. One student in particular, whom Alex calls Greg, made it a hobby of making life hell for Alex in school Eric took a sip of water from his glass to wash down the food he had been chewing. He stared at Agnes, the main culprit for the hell Alex was going through and remembered the list Alex made in his diary. The list of horrible names she had called him and horrible things she had said. The one that Eric can't get off his mind is the one Alex had written he overheard her telling her friends. That he was just a "bastard orphan adopted just to keep the marriage from breaking up". The first line Eric saw when he opened the diary. And that explained her attitudes towards him when he first saw her in the hospital. Alex, do you want to have my chicken?", suzanne, who is sitting next to Eric asked with a cute voice and put a piece of chicken in his plate before he could say anything. "Suzanne.....eat your chicken!", Agnes commanded. "Mom i want him to have it", she began but got cut short by her mother who barked out her command again. Eric looked at the chicken as if examining it. Then he shove it into his mouth and chewed it noisily. "Thanks", he said to suzanne with a smile. Everyone including Agnes stared at him. "Yours even tastes better", Eric continued and stared at Agnes while chewing. He was doing it to spite her. "Why you dont want to eat it", Victoria asked her younger sister. "That is you favourite part". "Is there any problem with her giving me jer favourite part of a chicken?", Eric cut in and looked at Victoria. "Maybe it is her way of saying she is happy to see her big brother". "Her big brother", Daniel sneered. "Do you have any problem with that?", Eric asked him. "No, it's not a problem....", Daniel began indifferently. ".....it's just that for the past two weeks since u......well.......disappeared, her classmates had being teasing her. Though i don't see how your coming back will make any difference. "Then i will make her classmate apologize to her", "Well he is teasing her and keep telling her that it was his elder brother that made you to runaway from home", Victoria said to Eric. "He said he gave you the order and you obeyed". "Oh really?, then i will have to deal with him for saying that", Eric said to Suzanne. "I will make both of them apologize?". Victoria and Daniel burst into a fit of laughter with suzanne starring at Eric like he said something crazy. "His brother is Greg", Suzanne then said. "Greg?, isn't he the boy that made him cry like a baby in school last year?", Agnes smirked. "Made Alex cry?", Mary asked, looking at Eric. She was trying to paint a picture of him crying infront of other students in her head. "Yeah.....that day was the most embarrassing day of.....", Victoria began to her cousin. "Enough!!", Barry suddenly interrupted angrily. "I don't want to ever hear any of that again!", he warned. Eric got up and wiped his mouth and hands with the white napkin on the table. He pat suzanne on the back and said, "I will still make them apologize", and head straight to his room. He could hear sniggers behind him.

"Today i have decided to end it all. I think my purpose of coming into this world is done. It's time to go even though nobody will ever miss me. My only regret is not being able to know who my mother is and never having the chace to meet her if she is still alive" Eric had being starring at that last entry in the diary for minutes with a tornado of questions in his mind. But the one question that bothered him more than any other is, this Nina's scam he is being part of, is he really going to be playing it just for a month as Nina had said because he is staring at what seems to be Alex's suicide note. Nina is probably not aware of this diary and he is sure of that. So is he going to play this bluff for a month or.......forever?. A knock on the door interrupted Eric in his thoughts. He immediately hide the diary under one of the pillows. "Yeah the door is open", he said. Suzanne stepped into the the room and gently closed the door. She is wearing a pink flowery pyjamas. "Suzi.......aren't u suppose to be in bed by now?", Eric asked and glanced at the wall clock. It was almost 9:30 pm. She shook her head and rubbed her elbow. Eric invited her to sit next to him on the bed. "So......", Eric began and looked at her beautiful face with cute eyes covered with glasses. "Is there anything you want to talk about?, perhaps all that had happened when i wasn't around", he asked "Nothing really happened. Just some men came to our house and asking questions. Victoria said ther were policemen", Suzanne answered. "What about you?, where you worried?". "I was crying". "Crying?". "For almost two days. I thought something happened to you or maybe you were......dead". Those words made Eric to glance at the pillow where he hid the diary. Then he look at suzanne. "Well you can see that am not dead", he said with a smile. "Suzanne nodded and said, "But you have changed". Then she looked at Eric's body and arms. "You look kind of different", she noticed "It's still me. Maybe i look different to you because tou haven't seen me for over two weeks", Eric said thinking of how intelligent she is. "Maybe", she said and looked away. "But i missed you alot", she murmured. "Why does mom hate me so much?", Eric asked her intently, hoping she will spill some infos he might need. "I don't know.....", Suzanne shrugged. "She said you are not one of us and can't be one of us. Daniel is practising karate because of you". "Why?". "So that he can beat you" "Oh really?, well i don't think he can.....am sure of that". "Suzanne looked at him and said, "The last time you had a fight with him, he beat you". "You think so?", Eric asked, thinking how much of a wussy boy Alex was. "I let him beat me because he is younger that me", he continued, not even sure if what he said made any sense. "What about Greg?, did you just let him beat you?", "Eric smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. "Well......Greg talks too much. Most of the things he said are not true and people who talk too much are not even strong", Eric said. "It is the quiet people that are really strong. But they dont fight" "Why don't they fight?", Suzanne asked. "Because if they do, they might hurt people or even do worse". "How do you know that?". "Let me tell you a story", Eric began and sat closer to her. "There was a boy who lived with only his mother. His dad died before he was born. In school they called him the silent one because he hardly talks. Some of his classmates and other students thought he was silent because he wasn't strong and scared. So they made jokes about him and said bad words to him. But he still remained silent and never complained to the teachers, not even to his mother. One day he was alone in the classroom, some students came in and locked the door. There were five of them and quite big. They wanted to beat him up". Eric stopped and looked at suzanne who was staring at him with alot of interest. "So what happened?", she asked eagerly. Eric got up and went over to the reading desk and picked out a thick hard cover book He handed it to suzanne as he sat next to her. "He used that.....", he began and pointed at the book he just gave her. "He used it to send them all to the hospital". "Suzanne looked at the book and said, "That's impossible. I think you are joking". "Do you think am joking?", Eric asked. "Suzanne stared at the book curiously. Perhaps she is wondering how possible is it to use it as a weapon for a beat-down. Eric stared at her and wondered if he was suppose to tell her that story. The story of what got him suspended for two weeks when he was in high school. "So what happened to the boy?", Suzanne then asked. "Well, he got suspended from school and his mother made himto promise never to hit anyone again.....never", Eric replied. "Do you think he kept his promise?". "I don't know about that. Maybe he did or maybe he didn't. But am sure he is always trying his best not to fight no matter how trouble comes". Then Suzanne placed the book on the bed and got up. She yawned andd stretched. Her eyes looked tired. "I think you have to go to bed", Eric said to her and got up to go put the book back in the shelf. Suzanne then wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. After a few seconds she break away saying, "Goodnight Alex", and heading towards the door. "Wait can i ask you something", Eric asked. Suzanne stopped and looked over her shoulder and asked what it is "Sometimes the medicine the doctor gave me make me forget things", Eric lied. "Do we know any woman by the name Nina?", "No i have never heard of that name or know her", Suzanne replied. "Okay then.....goodnight", Eric said and watch her leave the room.

So interesting...gud job mr. writer.

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CHAPTER SEVEN. The four of them got down from the car and the youngest waved at the driver as the car rolled away. They immediately split up and joined the other students that are heading towards the school main building and classroom blocks. Eric made his way towards the building with suzanne walking beside him. He had earlier asked her to help him locate the senior students classroom block; using the "doctor's medicine" excuse. That was his best option to avoid raising any suspicion among the other two even though they cared less about him. Besides it will be strange for a final year senior student to be walking around the school and asking other students how to locate his classroom. "I hope you don't mind walking beside me", he asked suzanne when he noticed the constant stares and glances he is getting from some of the other students. "No it's okay. The whole school heard about the news of your disappearance", she said. "They are all surprised to see you again. "How much big of a news was it?". "Quite big......it was broadcasted on t.v because dad thought someone might come forward with some information about your whereabout". "Okay", Eric murmured and looked at Alex's school uniform he is wearing. "I can't believe i will go through this bullsh!t for a month or even more", he murmured inaudibly. "Huh?", Suzanne looked at him "Oh it's nothing". "Okay". Eric then looked around the school that has the sign that says "ROCK VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL", and knew that he is in the school for the rich and well to do families in Easthill. The buildings around him looked handsome and pristine with a beautifully made and well trimmed hedges and lawn. The school atmosphere is very relaxing and conducive to learning. Most of the students arrive in expensive cars driven by family chauffeur and walk around with alot of effortless grace. "There.....", suzanne pointed at the four storey building on their right. "That is the classroom block for the senior students. The final year students classrooms are on the fourth floor". "Okay", Eric looked at the building and it's entrance door. "That one is for the junior students", Suzanne pointed at another building at their left that look similar to the one at right. "I will see you during lunch break", Suzanne then chorused and went over to a group junior female students gesturing at her. They all entered the junior student's building together. Eric remained where Suzanne left him and stared at the crowd of students in their white and brown uniform with brown jacket, trooping into both buildings. He stole quick glances at the senior students that walk past him; both the males and females. It felt kind of odd to him, especially being someone who attended and graduated from an only boys school. The girls caught his attention more because most of them were very pretty. The next that walked by seems to be more prettier than the other; like they were walking past him in an ascending order of beauty. "Hey Alex!". Eric saw an over-excited nerdy looking boy approaching him. He seem to have appeared from the crowd of students entering the senior classroom building. He is quite small and his immaculate and well ironed uniform looks a little too big for him. "Oh my God, how are you doing?", the boy asked with a nerdy smile and Eric saw his dental braces. He looked 16 or 17 years of age. Eric said nothing as he stood towering over the boy who is small framed and staring at him. Nerdy boy's smile fades away slowly as they keep staring at each other without saying a word. "Alex, it is me.....chris, your best friend", the boy finally said when the staring became uncomfortably long. "Oh yes..... am sorry", Eric began trying to act like he had being thinking of his name. "I know but i was trying to remember your name. Am taking this medications so somehow i forget things like people's names", Eric hoped he was puting up a good performance. "The doctors said it is the side effects". "Oh really?, am sorry?", Chris said pitifully. "Anyway come let's go in. I will show you all that we have been taught when you weren't around", he gestured at Eric and both of them head towards the entrance of the building with other students. As they walked in, some of the students looked at Eric and whispered among themselves. The boys looked at him with ridicule while the girls giggled. Though some smiled and nodded at him. Eric kept a straight face as he followed chris who incessantly talked about all that had happened since Alex vanished.

After wiping the dust off the desk and chair with a piece of rag given to him by chris, Eric lift the desk lid and place the notebooks and textbooks he got from Alex's locker inside the desk compartment. As usual, he had used his medication story to make chris help him locate the student lockers and which desk in the class that belonged to Alex. Chris was more than willing to help out and also told him how things worked in the school in case if his "medical condition" make him to forget. Eric got all the info about the school and was also really glad that Alex was a science class student. What he was in his days in high school. In the class some students saw him and said nothing while a few asked him how he was doing and the reason for him going missing. To which his answer was not being able to remember what happened or anything. Chris also let them know that he is taking some medications that have side effects. "Are you sure you can cope with school work while taking that medicine?", asked as he sat on his desk chair holding a pen and a notebook. "I think i can.....and also have you to help me out", Eric replied. Chris smiled and felt important. He said, "Dont worry.......what are friends for". "Wow!.......who do we have here?", a boy chorused as he walked into the classroom. He was tall and quite big with a cold look in his eyes. He is flanked by three other boys who weren't as big as he was. One of them was quite short and acting tough from the way he walked. "Boy.....how are you doing?", the big boy asked Eric rubbing his head with his hand in a coarse manner. "I heard you came back to school so i wanted to see for myself if it is true", he continued still rubbing Eric's head. Eric ignored him while resisting the urge to grab the hand and snap his wrist. Some of the students around there were tensed while others sniggered. "Greg......you know he is not feeling well", Chris began with a stammer. "He is under medication....please". The boy turned his attention to Chris and sneered at him. "Hey rat-face, have you forgotten what you suppose to say whenever you see me?", he asked Chris. "Good morning......", Chris murmured and said something else inaudibly. "Good morning....what?", the boy bent towards chris with his head cocked. "Good morning big brother". "Good boy", the boy said with a smile and straighten up. Then he looked at Eric. "So Alex my boy, i will see you later because we have alot to discuss so make sure you come to our usual spot", the boy said and left with his friends and went over to a beautiful girl sitting at the front of the class. Eric stared at them and for the first time he wished that his friend, Stanley, was here. This is the kind of situation that fool always get down on his knees and pray for; let God allow some or a group of idiots to come act tough infront of him so that he could body slam the individuals and knock spines out of place while he, Eric sits and watch the carnage. "Good morning big brother", he said and looked at Chris. "What does that suppose to mean?, he asked. "It means i don't want to have my skull caved in till i finish the school certificate examination and get the hell out of here", Chris answered. "And graduate as someone who being known to be pissed on by everybody", Eric added. "Oh well...... i don't allow those things to bother me at all", Chris said. "Really?, and how long do you think you will live like this before you will look back at your life and regret living like this?", Chris was a little bit irritated. He said, "Am sorry to say this but am not the one who is rumoured to have run away from home because Greg had threatened and told to never come to this school". "And you believed it?", Eric asked and suddenly realized that he was being more of Eric than Alex. Years of putting bullies in their position seem to make it difficult for him to play the one being bullied. "I didn't say i believed it but look at the size of that guy and look at me", Chris gestured at his small frame with his hands. "My chances against him always equals to zero, no matter how you calculate it". Eric laughed at what Chris said while Chris gave him the "go ahead and laugh at me" look. "Well you have to know that it is not the biggest guys that are the toughest and baddest people", Eric then said. "It is those small and quiet ones. The silent and sitting in a corner kind of guys. Those are the ones you really need to be scared of because they are the ones plotting people's death. They seem quiet and harmless but when they explode, they are the loudest". Chris smiled at what Eric said despite the fact that he was surprised to hear the person he had know for over five years talk like that "Dude you sound kind of strange......what happened to you?", he asked. "Did you like spend two weeks getting lessons on violence?". "Maybe". "Well violence is not always the answer. There are other ways of sorting things out with Greg and his crew". "Like how?". "Well.......talk to them,try to reason with them or try being their friend". "Did it work out for you......i mean....us?". Chris pursed his lips and shrugged "Anyway i agree with what you said", Eric said with a nod. "But you have to know that violence always sends the message across like nothing else. You could talk to them or even try being their friend and still end up being disregarded and disrespected. But the one thing that will make them take you serious and understand how you feel, especially in a situation you just can't get away from.......is violence", he continued. Chris was abit scared at what Eric said to him. But he still wants to know how violence settles situation from his own point of view. "So.....how will violence do that", he asked. "Okay......", Eric began and shift his weight on his seat ".......Let's just say you got really tired of their bullsh!ts and life in general. Then you kill the big one. You cut his head off and kick it down the hallway. It will instill fear in his friends because it is extreme and extraordinary. And the mere mention of your name will give them waking nightmares, why?, what you did is new to them. And unlike anything they have ever seen, it is extremely callous......" Chris stared at Eric with his mouth open. He was visibly shaken by those words and sitting next to the person whom he had always seen as his best friend kind of made him feel unsafe. ".......in the end no one will ever mess with you because they have seen or heard what you did and they don't want it happening to them", Eric continued. The girl whom Greg had being talking to suddenly got up from her desk and angrily walked out of the classroom. Eric stared at her as she left. She was muttering under her breath as she did so. Chris avoided doing so because he had glanced at Greg and saw that he doesn't look happy at all. "Relationship speed bumps huh?", Eric murmured at Chris and jerked his head at the girl's direction. "Dude.......seriously what is wrong with you?!", Chris suddenly asked in annoyance and carefully glanced at Greg to see if he had noticed Eric's gesture. "Wow......what is the matter", Eric was surprised by the outburst. "I mean......you are really acting strange or is it also one of the side effects of your medicine?. Before you always avoid anything that have to do with Greg like a plague. Now you are talking about cutting his head off and other strange stuff", Chris spoke in a low and nervous tone of voice, glancing around to be sure that none of the students sitting around them heard what he said. "And you are staring at his girl when you know that he literally manhandled one boy for doing so........oh i forgot, you weren't there because it was Greg who scared you away from this school......so what if he catches you looking a her?, am sure his wrath will be shared between you and me. That is what i don't want", he continued. Then Chris picked up a textbook and told Eric that he wants to go to the library with a rather uninviting voice.

Eric watch Chris walk out of the classroom after Greg and his friends left. He thought about what chris had said to him for a while and shrugged. Sometimes he can't help with the way he talks, Eric thought to himself and brought out a text book. Glancing at the digital clock illuminating in his cell phone, he wondered why the teachers are not teaching. He rest his elbows on the desk after opening the book and monitored the students and the activities going on in the classroom. It's friday and all them seems to be in a good mood because of tomorrow; just like during his high school years. And they are probably talking about how they will spend their weekend or the places they will go, alone or with their partner. Then Eric asked the plumpy female student standing near him why there are no teachers giving lecture. She gave him a funny look and told him that all the teachers were having a staff meeting. It is friday and the teachers always have meeting on fridays. He thanked her and continue monitoring the classroom. "Hi Alex". Eric look to his side and saw the girl Greg had earlier been talking to. "Hi..........", he responded curiously with a slightly furrowed eyebrow as he stared at her. She is strikingly beautiful. Her very light skin and curly golden brown hair that was neatly packed behind her head showed that she is biracial. European and African. And spoke with a British accent. Her uniform is a little bit loose fit but it still showed a body that will make boys fantasize. Eric could see the reason Greg always goes "wild rhino" on any boy that looks at her for too long. She is one of those rare breed of beauty. Those created when God was in the very best mood. The girl put out her hand and Eric unwillingly shook it and wondered if she really know the kind of conflagration that will happen if Greg happens to step inside the classroom. "Can i sit?", she asked and sat down on chris desk before Eric could give an answer. "So how are u doing?", she asked. "Oh.......am.......well, okay and still recovering", her hazel coloured eyes staring at him seem to make it difficult to find words. "I am taking this medication that make me forget things, including names......". His is now getting real tired of using that line. "......so u wouldn't mind if i ask what's your name?". He asked. "Lisa", she answered. "You wouldn't know my name because we didn't get to know each other". "Okay". "I was in this school for like two weeks before you stop attending. Then i heard the rumours that you were missing". "Yep......and that it was your boyfriend that scared me away". "Greg is not my boyfriend", Lisa corrected. "I don't know why everybody is saying that". "Really?........well i was told not to even look at you because there is a growing list of boys getting pulverized for doing so", Eric said. "So if you are not his girlfriend like you said, why the........the reign of terror?", he asked. "Scare tactics i guess", Lisa replied, laughing at what he said. "Since he cannot be my boyfriend, he is preventing any other boy in this school from doing so". Lisa smiled. "As if i came to this school to look for boys". Then Lisa leaned abit closer to Eric and looked at the book he was reading. "Chemistry.......", she began and look at Eric. "My least least favourite subject". "Really?.....why is that?", he asked. "Am really having a hard time learning all the chemical equations and formula", Lisa shook her head. "The periodic tables of the elements and all that". "Well you have to put alot of interest in it", Eric said. "And alot of time". "Am doing so but still perform bad at it". "Maybe you need a better teacher then". "Maybe....", Lisa looked at the book and then back to Eric. "Will you teach me?", she asked. "Teach you?......", Eric asked thoughtfully. He is beginning to notice the uncomfortable stares from the the prying eyes of some students. Some with envy and some with a condescending sneer. "......ok i will teach you if you insist", he said to her. Lisa smiled as she got a little more closer to Eric as he took out a pen and a notebook.

CHAPTER EIGHT.: Nina stood In the balcony of the two storey villa with one hand holding a wine glass and the other resting on the Ceramic handrail. Wearing a sleeveless velvet night gown that draped around her knees, the bright morning sunshine made her Caramel colour skin and her Nefertiti face with strong jawline to glister. She took a sip from the glass and keenly watched the sweaty workers cleaning up the villa in their overall khakis. They didn't seem to notice her except for one that got her attention. He is the swimming pool cleaner. Several times he had paused to look up and smile at her. The smile wasnt a casual one. It was kind of playful and he seemed to be expecting something because Nina had being staring at him. And she knows what it is. Nina took another sip and shift her attention to other workers as she drummed the fingers of the other hand on the rail. Lucky creatures, she thought. When they are all done, some will go back to their families and loved ones while some will go socialize, have a few drinks with friends and later on go to their sweet hearts to get laid. Nina couldn't remember the last time she socialized without it being part of the job. The last time she got laid, that was some years ago, was only done to remind herself that she is a woman. In one particular case it got out of hand. In the middle of the act, she lost interest and had told the guy to stop. But he was already too deep into it to stop so he refused. Nina left the motel room just minutes before the medic had arrived to rush his mangled body to the hospital. She finished the wine in the glass and turn to the pool man. He is now waving at her with the same playful smile. Nina smiled back at him and slide open glass door of the spacious living room. She entered and left the empty glass on the Center table beside a black suit case. Then she picked up the phone and dialled a number. "Yeah......", she began after the line was picked. ".....please send the pool cleaner upstairs and make him comfortable in the living room". she left the phone on the table. "Leave a clean towel on the sofa and leave", she ordered the house maid who was rearranging and cleaning the furnitures in the living-room. The maid nodded with a "yes mam" and left. Nina head straight to the bathroom. She closed the door and stared at herself reflection in the bathroom mirror. Then she Took off the night gown gently to reveal a wonderful lean figure with strong abs. There is a thin scar below her belly button and many more on her back. She reached for her back and touched some of the scars. Staring at her image in the mirror and feeling the scars, Nina thin lips curved into a smile. She remembered something; her first love. He was a subject the Family had marked for elimination and her first job. Her mission was to gain his trust and make him sign some paperworks before taking him out. But she failed in her mission. She failed because she had fallen in love and worst of all, he was married. The mission was jeopardized and he got to live while she earned those scars and an exile to a backwater and conflict ridden country to work her way up back into acceptance to the family. The Sosai of the family, who was particularly enraged by her actions made sure it was a near impossible task for her. But she still succeeded and gained back her position. After a number of years. Nina reached for the shower faucet and let a steady stream of cold water pour all over her body. She chin up and reached for the body wash. ********************************************** After five minutes Nina emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a wet towel. She head straight to the living-room and saw the pool cleaner sitting on the sofa. Seeing her, the man immediately stood up. "Good morning mam", he began with a playful smile as his eyes travelled all over her body and rested on her partly covered thighs. "Good morning", Nina replied and smiled back at him as she rubbed her wet long hair. "How is your day", she asked. "Oh it is.......wonderful", the man stammered and swallowed hard. Rubbing her wet hair, Nina undo the wet towel and let it fall off her body to the floor. The man gasped as he stared at her n@dity with his mouth open. He seem to be breathing fast as an uncontrollable bulge formed in his trouser. His eyes were glued below her tummy. "Hand me that towel", Nina said to him and pointed at the clean towel the maid left on the sofa as Nina had instructed her. The man almost stumbled as he immediately took the towel handed it to her. She gently wrapped it around her body as the man stood infront her, expecting something. "Bring that suit case on the center table", Nina said again and went over to the dining area of the living room. The man sheepishly grab the suit case and followed her. Then he saw some of the scars on her back and the excitement in his face begin to fade. Nina sat down on one of the dining chair and collected the black case from him. "So........", Nina began as she placed the suitcase on the dining table and punched in the key combinations to unlock it. "Are you married or have a girlfriend?", she asked and unlocked the suitcase. "No mam", he answered. "Really?........", Nina asked again and opened the suit to reveal It's contents. Lots of guns. ".......i don't like liars.....infact i hate them with a passion", she continued and took out a Glock 19 handgun and examined it. "Errrm.......actually i.......there is this girl seeing me......sorry i mean........seeing her", the man stammered uncontrollably with beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Really?.......", Nina dislodge the magazine from the gun and the bullet in it's chamber. The sound of the bullet dropping on the floor made him to flinch. "........so do you love her?". "Yes mam! " Nina placed the Glock on the table and took out a sheathed knife tucked inbetween a stainless steel Desert eagle and .45 ACP Smith and Wesson pistol. She pulled it out from it's sheath and felt the shiny and wicked looking serrated edges of the blade with the tip of her finger. The Pool cleaner was trembling visibly. "Do u really love her?", Nina asked again as she pointed the knife, twisting her arm left and right as she checked the blade. "I love her so much... mam", this is definitely not the time to piss off his madam. One or two swings of that knife at him and he will see pieces of himself on the floor. Nina dropped the knife on the table looked at the man. He is now half the man she saw when she stepped into the living-room. "I want to ask you one more thing.......", she then said and crossed her legs; exposing most part of her thigh. "Have you ever killed someone?......." she asked him with smile. ".........i mean....actually use a weapon to end someone's life?", she gestured at the 'hardwares' on the table. The man shook his head and tried hard not to look her in the eyes. He is now sweating profusely, wishing he should have mind his work and never tried his luck with this woman. "There is this overwhelming feeling that comes with killing someone.....", Nina continued and placed her hand on the knife. ".....especially if the person is a sworn enemy or someone you despise. Me, i like using the knife because i like it being up and close.......", she grabbed the knife and pointed it at his direction. "........Though it might get messy but when you push the blade into that individual.......", she then made a stabbing motion at him. ".........and feel the life leave the body as you look the person in the eyes, it makes you feel supreme, feel invincible like a god or goddess in my own case". Nina cellphone begin to ring. She glance at the direction where the ringing was coming from and got up. She got so close to the pool cleaner that her breasts pressed against his chest. It made him to quiver abit. "So......", she began as she caressed his sweaty cheek with her middle and index fingers. "You can see am not the type of woman you would want to have any kind of relation with.......", she said sweetly and played with his lips. "Unless you want to live a short life". Then Nina back away abit and pointed at the door "Get your things and get out of the villa......if i see you here again, you will be in hell watching another man f*@king your beloved girlfriend after she is done mourning your death", she said in a cold and stern voice. The man took off without waiting for her to finish the last words. Then Nina went over to the living- room and took the cell phone that had being ringing in her handbag.

"What is it now?", Nina asked with a stern voice as she answered the phone call. "Sorry am i disturbing you?, i can later", it was Eric. Nina sighed and asked the reason for him calling with a calmer voice. It's about your client.....as usual", Eric replied. "Yes what about him now?". "I did alot of digging and found out alot of things about him. But i wouldn't want to go into that........anyway i called because of his situation in school", "What kind of situation?", Nina asked as she sat on the sofa and crossed her leg. "The dude is a complete wussy boy in school. He and his best friend called Chris", Eric replied. "Atleast i understand his friend's situation because he always keep reminding himself that his small stature is a challenge and therefore thinks he doesn't have the talent to put trouble makers in their rightful position", he continued. "Whatever.........", Nina murmured. "So what does that have to do with what you have been instructed to do?". She asked. "Well, there is this bully boy who seems to take great pleasure in torturing wussy boys in this school", Eric said. "Him and his friends. And the entire students seem to be scared of this guy. Worst of all the school authority seems to be giving him so much free pass because his uncle is the school proprietor". "So?". "Madam......am sure u know very well that am not the type of guy that run for the hills whenever this is trouble.......", Eric said coolly. ".......especially the one that involves bullies because that is the kind of trouble that just don't seem to go away". "Yes i know you are not the type that run for the hills.....you reminded me of that with what you did to those three guys", Nina said. "But the instruction remains the same. And don't do anything that will raise questions", she continued. "Oh well..... you better think of something else because i can't just sit back and watch that douchebag give me headache on top of the headaches am having now", Eric warned. "Am trying to follow your instructions and live like Alex 'p#ssy boy' Philips. But that bullying bullsh!t really gets on my nerves and if i take it too personal, then a 'Watergate Scandal' grade questions will be raised". "Do i have to remind you that you are in no position to tell me what to do because you have no choice here", Nina retorted. "You have to do as you are instructed. And as from now on, no more phone calls from you, not anymore. I will be the one doing the calling from now on", Then Nina ended the call before Eric could say anything and dropped the phone carelessly on the sofa. She rest her head on the sofa back cushion with a frown. She must have underestimated Eric too much, she thought. It's like she was wrong to think that him being raised by a soft woman like Esther would have made it easier for her to make him do her biddings. Anyway she just hopes that he doesn't end up doing something drastic till she is done with her mission.

Sitting on a wooden bench in the garden behind the Philips' mansion, Eric was busy browsing the net with Alex's laptop under the shade of an outdoor canopy. Also with him in the garden were the Philips kids and their cousin, Mary. Victoria and Mary were chattering happily while Suzanne sat on the chair of the garden swing playing a Sony psp game that seemed boring to her. Daniel was busy practising his karate kicks and punches that made Eric to glance at him several times and shake his head. For over half an hour, Eric had being going through Alex's social networking sites and emails to see if he could get a some clues or any kind of communication he might have had with Nina or any other person who is not from his school. Eric had checked Alex's Facebook and saw that the last time he updated his statues was almost six months ago and the only message he had was a two weeks old message from Chris, wishing him to come back home. The twitter account was logged in only once, the same day the account was created which was about four months ago. Eric then decided to check his emails. There were three of them and Eric had gone through the first two emails; he checked the inboxes and trash and saw nothing but the usual mail ads and website notifications. Eric sighed and rubbed his eyes. Glancing at Vicky and Mary whose laughters distracted him, he logged into Alex third email account. The inbox contained alot of mail......eighty-six to be exact.....and almost half of them is unread. All of the unread mails were received within a two weeks period and the most recent one just yesterday. The unread emails were from the same sender with a user i.d called 'Chunky-guy'. Chunky-guy, Eric thought as he scrolled the page. The name gave him an image of an overfed kid from a rich family. He purse his lips and begin to read their content. "Who is this comedian?", Eric muttered to himself after reading some of the emails sent by Chunky- guy. They were really insulting, condescending and threatening. The kind of words he had seen being thrown back and forth when people are having an argument after an online discussion forum had degenerated into a show of ignorance and dumbing down of humanity. Some of the lines he read are really amusing even though to some degree quite depressing. "Hm this guy is being hit from every angle......at home, in school, online.....", he muttered again and shakes he head. The phone in his grey sweat pant pocket notified him of a new text message. He took out the phone and shift his eyes from the laptop screen to the device. "Please don't take your pills.......i dont want you to forget that tomorrow is my birthday". It was a text message from Lisa and it ended with smiling emoji. "Don't worry i won't but i might forget the gender of the celebrant. So i hope you will forgive me if you get a present meant for a boy from me", Eric sent. Then he received more smiling emojis and Lisa also told him that she is on her eay to the mart to get all that are needed for tomorrow's occasion at her place. Eric wished her goodluck and slipped the phone back into his pocket. He sighed and thought about Lisa. Six hours ago in school he had done his best; or at least tried to, in teaching her chemistry. But it seems as if she wasn't interested in the explanation he was giving nor the methods of solving chemical equations he had scribbled on the notebook. Half of the short time they were together, she was staring at him and trying to change the topic. Neither did Eric even cared to know if she was learning at all. His mind was on Greg's reaction if he happened to walk into the classroom and see them sitting together. The luxury that Greg never got from Lisa. Eric was glad that it never happened till he excused himself to go to the library and left. But not after Lisa had stored his number in her phone and made him to promise that he will attend her birthday party that will be held tomorrow in her family's house. Eric sighed again and shift his attention to the contents of the email on the screen of the laptop resting on his laps. Staring at the words, he wondered what was the bone of contention between Alex and this Chunky-guy. From what he read so far, this is a back and forth situation that had been going on for sometime. Whatever it was, it had turn one person into an unrelenting internet troll and the other almost having a mental breakdown. Eric thought for some minutes and decided to send a reply to chunky-guy. He typed a few lines and clicked the send button. Then he glanced at Daniel performing his karate moves again and shake his head. This time Daniel saw his gesture. "What is your problem?", Daniel asked rudely. "Oh nothing.......just....", Eric began. Almost thirteen years of hard karate training had made him to involuntarily show his distaste for anyone training with little dedication and poor form. Especially the boy infront of him who seems to be showing off rather than training. "Just what?", Daniel cut in, glaring at Eric "Just wondering what you are doing". "Well.....you can see am training", Daniel said proudly. "And it is called karate in case you don't know", he continued arrogantly. "You have being doing this for like over half an hour and i can barely see the energy and sweat", Eric said. "If i don't sweat so what?", Daniel asked. "Sweating means being serious, doing it with passion and much focus. Not fooling around", Eric replied. "Oh so when you were sweating while Greg was kicking your ass, where you sweating because of too much focus and passion?", Daniel sneered and looked at Victoria who sniggered and covered her mouth with her hand. "Yep..... if that is what happened that day". "And you cried like a baby", "If that is what you all saw that day then am not disputing it". Daniel laughed and looked at Victoria and Mary. He made a gesture to the that Eric is crazy. "Anyway........", Eric began and pretend not to have seen the gesture. "........all am implying is you have to get serious with your 'Equipping myself to kickass' hobby. Stop those lazy arms and leg stretching you are doing to impress these girls and then walk around me like a tough guy and talk like you gonna kick my ass from here to the moon. Boy, you are only lying to yourself and will one day make a fool of yourself. Daniel stared at Eric without saying anything. The girls stared at both of them intently and wondered what's going to happen next. "Anyway i don't have any problem with you walking up to me and talking trash", Eric continued. "Neither am i willing to engage you to any verbal exchange. But i will give you an advice as a big brother; or rather as most of you all say, an orphan. If you are training because you intend to beat someone or anybody then i advice you to get serious and train harder than the next guy in your dojo. Messing around like this and feeling tough at the end of the day is bad.....really bad. You may be getting free passes from me and from other people in this house. But there are bad people out there. I mean......very bad people that can be best described as a 'one man human abattoir'. One day you might get too silly and encounter that kind of human being. And daddy and mommy won't like the end result. Daniel was stunned by those words. The orphan who barely knows how trade words is schooling him big time. Mary stared at Eric and seem to be admiring the way he responded to Daniel's insults. Victoria saw it in her face and frowned. She is wishing that Daniel would do something like the way he did last time. "What is this orphan boy talking about?", Daniel managed to say and looked at Victoria. "Victoria shrugged, saying, "I don't even know", and looked at Mary who smirked at Daniel's weak come back. "I don't want to deal with you because you are still taking your medicine", Daniel blurted out. "Well that's not an excuse", Eric admired his audacity. "Why don't you bring your ass here let me teach you lesson like i did last time", "Eric ignored him and continue browsing the internet. "Oh are you scared?, perhaps that's why your bloody mother dumped up and they brought you to this house". Eric heard those words and stop what he was doing. He gently place the laptop on the bench and got up. Straightening his white T-shirt, he calmly walked towards Daniel and stood infront of him. "Okay big boy, am willing to learn that lesson you intend to teach me", he said quietly to Daniel. "You guys should stop that", Suzanne began but Daniel barked at her to shut her mouth. It's no secret to him that Suzanne likes Eric alot. "I will beat you like.......", Daniel threatened. "You talk too much", Eric interrupted. "Just go ahead and show me what you got". Immediately Daniel threw a punch at Eric but he effortlessly blocked it and put him on arm-lock. "Wide motion punches.......i can see the punch before you even throw it", Eric said to him and pushed him away. Daniel angrily threw another punch which Eric blocked and put him in another arm-lock again. Everything done effortlessly. "Your punch is too slow......i can as well go into the house, get a glass of juice and still have enough time to return and block this punch", Eric said and pushed Daniel away again. This time a bit harder and Daniel almost stumbled. "Use you legs", Eric reminded him. "Or have you forgotten that you can also use you legs in karate?". This infuriated Daniel and he threw a round house kick. But before it could hit the target, Eric had moved in and gave him a shove. Daniel lost his balance and crumbled to the ground. "First get your balance before you execute a kick", Eric said to him. Daniel got up wildly and threw another round house kick. Eric raised his leg and defended it with his shin that had being conditioned for years. Daniel's leg met the hyper-hard shin bone and he backed away with a limp. The expression on his face showed that of pain. Alot of it. "First, you have to know where you are directing your kick because mistakes like that will end up snapping the bone in your leg", Eric noted. "I bet you have eaten noodles. So am sure you have heard the sound an uncooked noodle makes when you break it in two. That's what you will hear if you kick carelessly. Not knowing what to do, Daniel stood and stared at Eric, sweating and breathing rapidly. He was done and defeated. And have lost the will to fight. Then Eric walk up to him, grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him closer. "Now listen to me and listen good", Eric began sternly. "If i ever hear you mention my mother again, it's not going to be that sweet dance we just had.....am gonna beat you so bad that the doctors will have a hard time finding words to describe it.....do i make myself clear?". The flame Daniel saw in Eric's eyes made him to nod involuntarily. "Good.....now why don't you be a good boy and go put some ice on that leg", Eric gestured at his hurting leg. "Unless you want to be walking around with legs of different sizes tomorrow", he said and watch Daniel limp towards the house. Eric sat down on the bench without looking at the girls. He could hear Mary asking Victora who he really is because he is not the Alex she had known. Victoria was too shock to even know what she was saying TBC

Lovely

Lolz, nyc 1 @eric

Wow wat a story so so interesting ride on guy

You guys ain't seen nothing yet.

At least you now got some respect

It payback tyme broda!!

wowwwwww....wat m i missinq?

Hahahah u won fight jet li u neva see anytin

I hate it wen de mention my family member in anytin bad i feel real bad

Following

Following.

Interesting

I just pray u dont blow off ur cover...... either way very interesting!!!!!!

vhis gonna be fun, game on!

nice one

"I told you so many times that we shouldn't have brought this boy back home until his madness is cured", Agnes fumed at Barry. "Look at what he did to Daniel's leg", she pointed at Daniel who is standing with a slightly swollen right leg. "We have to send him back to the hospital before he does something worse". Barry, who was sitting on the sofa with Agnes remained silent. Eric and Daniel was standing infront of them. Daniel had a downcast gaze while Eric held his head high and glancing at everything in the living-room except Agnes. Victoria, who told their mother her own version of what happened, was sitting on another sofa while Mary is in the kitchen telling the cook and other house help what really happened. "And the worst thing is.......", Agnes continued angrily. ".......no matter what i say, he just keep smiling like nothing happened. After almost breaking Daniel's leg". Then silences followed as she kept quiet and stared at her husband. Waiting for his reaction. "Can i say something", Eric broke the silence. "Will you shut up your mouth!!", Agnes barked at him. "I thought in this situation, we are supposed to be asked what happened", he continued, ignoring Agnes. "Atleast know the reasons for it happening, than make a conclusion that it was caused by a poor state of mental health. Which i highly doubt". "So what's the reason?", Agnes snapped. "Tell me the reasons for doing this to his leg.....huh?". "First of all, i didn't do anything to him. He was the one trying to fight me. He was using his......karate moves and ended up hurting himself. Secondly he insult my mother by referring to her as 'bloody mother'. That is enough for me to not only break a leg but also leave the person with irrevesible damages". "Then go ahead and.......", Agnes began furiously. "'Enough! ", Barry interrupted her. Then he looked at Daniel. "Did you say that to Eric?", he asked him. Daniel sighed and said something inaudibly. "Did you say that to him......answer me!!", Barry asked him again with a loud angry voice. Daniel nod his head and glance at his mother who gasped and looked at victoria and the back at him. "And which mother are you talking about?....", Barry demanded. "Am asking because there is only one mother in this family", he said and glanced at Agnes who scoffed and looked away. Daniel remained silent and still downcast. Barry sighed and pursed his lips. Then he said, "All of you should leave". Victoria got up immediately and head towards the stairs leading to the mansion bedrooms. Daniel followed her quietly and still limping. Agnes stared at her husband surprisingly. It wasn't what she had expected. "I said you should excuse us", Barry said to her with a firm voice. She obeyed her husband and left; but did so angrily. He gestured at Eric to come sit on the sofa. Eric did so and then Barry picked up the t.v remote on the side table beside the sofa and switched on the 50 inches flat screen. He watched the seven o clock news In silence while Eric waited intently to know hear his verdict on he and Daniel situation. After a few minutes of waiting, Eric's mind begin to wonder away. He wondered what he would be doing now if he hadn't gotten into his present situation. He would probably be in the gym or dojo as always. And doing the same thing he had been doing for the past thirteen years. Eat, sleep, study and workout. He had never gone to a relative's place to spend some time or a vacation because it was only him and his mother. They had no relatives. His mother came into the country at a very young age as a refugee who lost all her family in a war torn country. His biological father that he never had the chance to meet, died before his wedding to his mother so the man's family rejected her. "So.......why did you run away from home?", Barry asked without taking his eyes off the bright screen and interrupting Eric in his thoughts. "I don't know.......", Eric began with a shrug and not really knowing what reasons to give. "Maybe i just wanted to get away........especially from all these things going on here". "You mean your stepmother's attitudes?". "Well......maybe.......but i have realized that sometimes you can't change how some people feel about you". "Can't change how some people feel about you", Barry repeated with a nod. "You see.........". Barry began as he moved his weight and the expensive leather sofa making a crinkling sound. "For the past eighteen years i watched you grow up. And all those times i had known you to be a very timid boy. Never participated in your school extra-curricular activities, hardly had any friends and embarrassingly weak despite your size", then he paused ....and continued. "When i started seeing the way Daniel disrespected you and you backed away with fear, i lost it and gave up on you. And felt that i must have failed in building you into a man who can be able to stand on his own". Eric stared at the old man and said nothing. "But yesterday evening at the dinner table, i saw a different person; a different Alex", Barry said and looked at Eric. "As if you have been reborn.....you had so much confidence when you talk, seemed to challenge your stepmother whom everyone else in this house are scared of, and.........", he paused thoughtfully. "You had that look in your eyes", he continued. "It reminds me of..........", and paused again. Eric gazed at Barry, waiting for him to finish. But the man remained silent and still thinking. "Remind you of what?", Eric then asked "No .......it's nothing", Barry waved his hand and shift his attention back to the t.v. "So......is that all?", Eric asked as he slowly got up. "Why do you ask?". "I kind of have a load of school work to do. I have to catch up after two weeks of none attendance". "Ok........you can go to your room but.....", Barry gestured his index finger at Eric. "......you have to bear this in mind. I will find out where you had being or who you had being with for those two weeks you disappeared". Eric said nothing and head towards the stairs leading to the bedrooms. He paused and looked behind and saw Barry still staring at him. He turned and begin to ascend the stairs. Eric closed the door of the bedroom and exhaled deeply. Then he sat on the bed and slide the laptop lying on it towards his side. He hit the screen power button to reveal the activities that had being going on before he got called to the livingroom to explain why one of Daniel's legs was several sizes bigger with a blue-black colour. Eric clicked on one of the new mails in Alex's inbox. "Why don't you give me a location and also bring your crew cos i will be coming with mine to destroy you and your f@cking loser!!". Eric read the message sent by Chunky-guy with a smirk. "What a clown", Eric muttered and clicked on another message "Have you heard of the J.C Boys??....the Jack Crew Boys!!......well am the Capo so dont let me find you cos i already put an X on you. And if your family interfere, they are gone too". Eric read and shook his head. All these just because he earlier sent a message to Chunky guy telling him that it was time to stop all the childish bullsh!t. Then he clicked on the last one. "Better hope your mother and sisters dont be around when we get you cos we gonna run a train on them all night long so better kill yourself u f@cking dead meat". Eric was tempted to send a message to him; asking him if he is writing all these as a result of masturbating furiously because he sounds like he is doing so. But Eric decided against it. Then he went to the wardrobe and opened it. Eric checked the cloths to select the one he is going to wear for Lisa's birthday party.

"What are you doing here?", Lisa asked Greg "You are having a Birthday party and you didn't invite me?", Greg answered her question with another question. Three of his friends were squabbling with the two boys Lisa had put in charge of checking the list of people invited to the party. Lisa had gone outside and saw Greg and his friends having an argument with the boys. They were threatening to start a fistfight when they were being refused entry because their name wasn't in the invited list. The commotion was about to get out of hand as some guests got involved. But Lisa managed to diffuse the situation and quietly led him away to a secluded place in the house compound. "I didn't invite you because i didn't want you to come here", Lisa replied. "And i told you so many times to stop going around and telling people that you are my boyfriend. Please don't let me involve the authorities", she warned. "Why?". "Why?.........first you are not my type....second, i don't like your attitudes, especially towards other students or anybody you see too weak to defend themselves.....third am not interested in having a boy friend". Then Greg saw Eric walking towards them. He stared at him with a frown as he stood beside Lisa. "What are you doing here!", Greg growled at Eric. "Did you invite this fool?", he asked Lisa. "Yes......i invited him and he is not a fool", Lisa retorted. "Atleast he can hold a sensible conversation.......unlike some people who think they know better". "Sensible conversation?.....", Greg scoffed. "We will soon see how sensible his conversation will be when am done with him". Then he looked at Eric. "I told you to meet me at our usual spot in school and you didn't come. Now you are here......i can see your so called mental sickness have made you bold..... huh?", he said condescendingly. "Bold?......dude i got invited to a birthday party and i honoured the invitation. I don't see anything in it that have to do with being bold", Eric said coolly. "Are you talking back at me?", Greg sneered surprisingly and approached Eric. He looked threatening . His three friends were now coming towards their direction. "Greg just go and leave us alone!", Lisa warned and stepped inbetween Eric and Greg. "Leave my house before i call the police!", she threatened and glanced at Greg friends who have now surrounded them. Greg stopped and stared at Lisa. And then said, "I can see he is your taste; your type of guy.......Well you better enjoy the boy with mental sickness while you can because one day he might not be around to be enjoyed......stup!d b!tch". Then he gestured at his friend and started walking away. "Well i will advice you to be wary of guys with mental issues", Eric began as Greg was about to leave with his friends. "Sometimes they are the ones to be avoided at all cost", he continued with an expressionless look on his face. Greg looked over his shoulder and said, "I will see you and your rat face friend on monday". Then he strode away with his friends as they smirked at Eric and Lisa. "Are you okay?", Eric asked Lisa who seems too upset to look at him. Lisa said nothing. Then she sniffed and looked at Eric. He saw the tears in her sad eyes. Eric felt really bad because it was her birthday and suppose to be enjoying every moment of it. But here she is, crying because of some bloat headed fool. Eric was having the massive urge to go meet that douchebag, that punk who always thinks he is a big boy and show him how the big boys play. "Just say the words", Eric thought as he dried her tears. "Just say it and i will bring pieces of them as your birthday gift". But Lisa didn't say the words. She just told Eric that she wanted to be alone for sometime and also told him to mingle around with some of the party guests because she wanted to go into her room in the house. Eric said he was okay with that and Lisa left without saying anymore word; not to him or anybody.

chapter9 Eric finished his drink and glanced at his wristwatch. It's almost an hour since Lisa left him for her bedroom and she hasn't come out yet. Probably being comforted by her best friends and having those long girls talk, he thought as he watched the party scene and the guests dancing to the music. A girl came to him with a smile and said hello. Eric gestured at her that he wasn't interested and she left with the smile fading away. That was the third girl that have approached him. The other two wanted to dance. One was quite tipsy and said things he could barely understand, while the other was quite cocky and has a boyfriend also present in the party. So Eric wasn't going to take his chances with the third. Not after dodging an incoherent discussion and a situation for a potential physical confrontation. Besides, after what happened between Lisa and Greg, he wasn't in the mood to interact. Eric thought about Lisa and wondered if he was somehow responsible for what happened between her and Greg or just someone who got caught in the middle of it or even both. Sometimes he gets confused and dislike being so because it clouds his judgement at times. Anyways, he had decided to wait for one more hour. If Lisa doesn't come out, he will be on his way home. Then Eric went over to the table with numerous cups filled with fruit punch drink. The boy incharge of mixing the drink saw him and smiled. This was Eric's third round. "One more?", the boy asked with a smile. "Yeah one more please", Eric said. Then he paused and looked at the boy. "Is alcohol also in mix?", he asked the boy. "Just little........we dont want to have drunk guests here and some are not of age", the boy answered. "Really?........i wish it was abit noticeable because it tastes like fruit juice to me", Eric said. "Are you sure?", the boy asked in disbelief. "Because i can see some noticeable effects on the guests......especially the girls. "Well it is not working on me", Eric sighed. "Oh really?.....", the boy nodded. "....so do you want to amp it up abit?", he asked. "What do you mean?". "You know......boost it up". Eric stared at the boy for a few seconds and handed him his cup. The boy glanced left and right carefully. Seeing that no one is watching, he brought out a blue coloured bottle from inside his jacket and poured a shot into Eric's fruit punch. "More", Eric demanded. The boy looked at him curiously and added two more shots. "Don't do anything stup!d", the boy warned and handed Eric the cup. Eric took a sip and grimaced hard. "Holy mother of God!", he gasped under his breath. "What did you put in this?,.......jet acid?". "What the hell is jet acid?". "I don't even know.......whatever you put in this almost knocked me into the clouds and at the same time burning through my gut........jet acid is all i can think of". The boy poured some juice into another cup and handed it to Eric. "You better mix it if it is too strong for you because that thing is hardcore........it could make you go home walking sideways", the boy said and attended to another guest. Eric left the guy with both cups in his hands. He sat down on a bench that was quite aloof from the guests. He took another sip of the mixture and grimaced harder. Placing both cups on the bench, he rubbed his 360 waved low cut hair with his right palm and nod his head to the beats of the rap music being played as he watched the party scene. Then a boy came over and sat down beside him with a cup in his hand. Eric recognized him. He's one of the boys Lisa was having a discussion with earlier. He looked plain but well dressed in a white long sleeve shirt and black Levi's jean with black Louis Vuitton sneakers. He is young just like Eric, probably nineteen years of age or more. "Alex Philips.....the Alex himself......", the boy began without looking at Eric. ".....the guy who ran away from home because he got too scared of a school mate. Got too scared that he even developed a mental condition". "So.....are you admiring or mocking me?", Eric asked without looking at him. "Does it even matter in you own case?", "Eric remained silent. The boy took a sip from his cup and then said, "Lisa is the kind of girl every guys desire to have as a girlfriend", the boy continued. "She is very beautiful, very intelligent, caring, jovial and most of all very sexy. There are rumours that she is still a virgin. Some of her best friends said it is true because she said so. They even said that she said she will lose her virginity after her eighteenth birthday.....this birthday. So alot of big boys are trying to court that girl". "So why are you telling me all these?", Eric interrupted. "Well.....with all these big boys all around her, I'm wondering how is it even possible for someone like you to pop up in her radar?", the boy asked. "How did you even get to be quite close to her?" "You heard what she said earlier.......am her classmate", Eric replied. "Yeah......and so are dozens of other boys in your school", the boy noted. "And i also heard her say that you are her 'special friend'......so what's so special about you?", he asked Eric and looked at him from head to toe. "I think you suppose to be asking Lisa that question", Eric answered. "It came out from her own mouth not mine". The boy smirked and took a sip from his cup. Eric noticed the expensive gold wristwatch he wore. "Anyway, Lisa is a member of our group; fraternity group. And this group associates with some certain type of people.......", the boy then said. "......cool guys and girls from rich family and guys that make things happen", Then the boy looked at Eric from head to toe and said, "You don't look cool to me.......i heard you are the adopted boy of the Philips family so that means you don't have their blood running in your vein. You are just related to them by paperwork. And you don't make things happen.......rather, things happen to you. So i don't think you should in anyway be associating with Lisa. Though i will soon let her know how we feel about her friendship with you". "Oh really?......", Eric began after taking a sip of his 'jet acid'. "So this fraternity that you are talking about is made up of a group of cool guys and girls from rich family and people that make things happen?........or let's just call it the fraternity of cool rich people who make things happen........", then he took another sip. ".......well if your members associate with guys who make things happen, then i am more than qualified to join and associate with you guys because i also make things happen. Am a happening guy and alot of things have being happening". "How?," the boy asked. "Well i can begin by tying you up and leave you dangling upside down from the frame of that swing over there", Eric pointed at the swing in Lisa's house compound. "Yeah........", he nodded at the boy as he stared. "...........and use you to show all these people here how hard i can hit a punching bag for straight five minutes without a single pause to rest", Eric gestured at the boy with his hands like a teacher giving a lecture in a classroom. "And you will see that am more than qualified because the happening will make the headline news on t.v.", The boy stared at Eric in silence for some seconds and threw his cup on the ground. As he made an attempt to stand up, Eric grabbed him by the collar of his long sleeve shirt and sit him down forcefully. "Now look here.......", Eric began sternly, still holding the collar of the boy's shirt. ".......am beginning to have a really bad day and the last thing i wanna hear is some stup!d words of advice from a clown who belongs to a group of a bunch of milkshakes. If you ever come to me again with these bullsh!ts, you will be very very sorry for doing so", Eric then let go of the boy's collar and pat him on the back. "Why dont you go relay my message to your frat friends", Eric said coolly with a smile as he continue patting him on the back. The boy got up and quietly left.

"She is waiting for you in her room", Lisa's friend said to Eric and sat down on the sofa. "Oh okay......but...", Eric looked at the girl. "Is she still upset?", he asked. "No she is feeling better now". "Okay....thanks". The girl smiled at Eric. He did the same and ascend the stairs leading to the bedroom. "Lisa......", Eric began as he closed the door of the bedroom. "How are you doing now?", he asked her. Lisa looked at Eric and smiled. Without saying anything she wrapped her arms around his neck and rest her head on his broad shoulders. After some seconds she drew back her face and looked into his eyes as he apologized for what happened earlier. Then she planted her lips on his and started kissing him, interrupting him in his apologises. Eric responded, though surprised. He couldn't remember the last time he kissed a girl, though most were done unwillingly which didn't feel right to him. But this one felt so good and it made him feel like he was levitating. The kissing start getting intense and Lisa slide her wet tongue in his mouth and caressed his own with it as her lips keep crushing into his. Eric gently slide his hands from her waist down to her behind. He grabbed it gently and pulled her body closer. This made Lisa's breath to quicken. She held him tighter and her tongue got ecstatic in his mouth. It made Eric's heart to thump hard and faster against his chest; like a beast in his body trying to get out. After what seem to be like an eternity of tongue kissing, Lisa stopped and rest her head on his shoulder again. "Eric....", she murmured. "Unhuh" "I want you". Eric heart skipped a beat. He looked at her in the face to be sure she wasn't sleeping. "I want you right now", Lisa said again, looking into his eye. "Arent we going abit too fast?", Eric asked. Lisa thought for a while and shook her head. Eric sighed with a worried look on his face. "What is the matter?", Lisa asked slowly in a low tone of voice when she saw his facial expression. "You don't like me?". "No.....i like you so much", Eric replied and looked away. "But i just want you to be sure that you really want to do this", he then look at her. Then Lisa let go slowly. She sat on her bed and stared at Eric as he stood in front of her with his hands in his jeans pockets , anticipating what might happen next. Then she slowly took off her short sleeve t-shirt to reveal a black bra supporting her youthful mounds and slide her mini skirt down from her waist to show him that her black underwear is the only thing preventing him from seeing what no other boy have seen. Lisa slide into her bed and stared at Eric. With the look in her eyes telling him that he is invited to come take off the rest of what she is wearing. That is what Eric is about to do as he begin to take off his jacket.

CHAPTER TEN 10:30 am monday morning. The mathematics teacher, a pretty woman in her mid thirties stood infront of the quiet students who listened to her keenly and took notes as she explained the mathematical equation on the board. She held a chalk on one hand while using the other hand to explain the formulas and how to solve maths problem. Like the other students, Eric seems to be paying attention and taking notes. But he was just glancing and making a crude drawings on a paper. Drawings of what looked like a man being attacked by a Minotaur with the man labelled as Chris and the Minotaur, Greg. He wrote "Your life today" on top of the drawing and nudged chris, who was extremely focused at what was being taught. He looked at Eric and he showed Chris the drawing. After seeing it, Chris continued what he was doing with a frown. Then Eric slipped the drawing inbetween the pages of his notebook. He shift his eyes to Lisa and watched her as she listened attentively to the teacher with her hands folded under her chin. She had remade her hair and was very beautiful. As beautiful as she was last saturday when he was on top of her and staring at her face as she bit her lips with alot of pleasure in her eyes. After what they did at her place, Eric have being asking himself why he had allowed such a thing to happen because he later realized that his situation had gotten more complicated than ever. He lost focus and totally forgot about his mission, the reason why he is Easthill.........Nina's job. Now he will have to find a way to explain to the girl who lost her virginity to him how he is not the person whom she think he is. Even if she is okay with that, how is he going to explain to her that he just have a month or less to stay in Easthill before going back to Metro- city. For the first time he regretted not following Nina's instructions; to stick to the plan. Lisa is not the kind of girl who will let go easily. He might be wrong. But even if he somehow developed a bad character or habits to see if she will shun him, the way she sang to the heaven and earth when they were "doing it" and her endless text messages that flowed into his phone the following day meant that he will have to do more than developing a bad character or habit. He will have to do something and do it fast before Alex comes back and start asking "what in Satan's butthole happened to his already complicated life". "Alex!". The call brought Eric back to reality. He shifted his eyes to where it came from and saw the teacher staring at him. "Alex can you show the class how to solve this equation", the teacher said, pointing at the blackboard. Eric got up and quietly went over to where the teacher was standing. He could feel all the eyes staring at him as he stared at the geometric equation in silence with a blank expression for almost fifteen seconds. "He can't remember anything", someone at the back of the class said and the whole students except Lisa, erupted into laughter. The teacher quiet down the students and asked Eric if couldn't solve it. Eric turned and looked at the other students with a smile. "There are three ways to solve this equation", he began and looked at the board again. Then he took the chalk from the teacher and wrote down all the three ways to solve the equation with all having the same correct answer. "The first is the very easy way, the second is the normal way and the third is the hard and complex way", Eric explained. "So......how you solve the equation depends on the type of question asked. If they want to know just the answer, i would recommend the first one. But if they want to know not only the answer but how you got to it........i mean the step by step, then you can either use the second or third one, depending on that person's mathematical intelligence; be it ordinary or advanced". The entire students in the class remained silent and stared at Eric in amazement while the teacher stared at what he had written on the board. She was dumbfounded and could only nod with her mouth open as she went through them. "Excellent.....", she managed to say and looked at Eric. "I have always said that you all should study ahead of what you being taught in school", she continued and motioned him to go back to his seat. "Dude......." Chris began quietly as Eric sat down. "When did you learn all that?", he asked. "I did what the teacher just said", Eric answered quietly. "I always study ahead". "I am so definitely coming to your place to study with you......you literally blew the teacher away". "Okay.......she was boring anyway. I just wanted to make this lecture abit interesting. As the lecture progressed, a junior student stepped inside the classroom rather timidly and whispered something to the teacher. Then the teacher looked at Eric. "Alex.......the principal wants to see you in his office".

Eric entered the office and quietly closed the door behind him. He took a quick glance around the well lit place that had a few metal storage cabinets and alot of bookshelves. A bald headed man in his mid fifties with a thick moustache and sharp eyes sat on a swivel chair behind the big dark brown coloured mahogany desk. There is a desk nameplate on the desk that reads "MR. DONALD. E". Sitting infront of him is Suzanne and another male junior student, probably her classmate. Eric looked at him and recognized his face or what was left of his face. He is Thomas, Greg's younger brother. He has a lump that slightly changed the shape of his head. His lower lip is also swollen and eyes very red. "Good morning sir", Eric politely greeted Mr Donald, the school principal and gave Suzanne a "what have you done" look. "Good morning Alex......have a seat", Donald replied and motioned to the chair next to Suzanne. "So......." Donald began after Eric sat down. "I called you to my office because your sister insisted that she wants to see you before she can tell me what happened between her and Thomas", Donald pointed at the boy. "Okay sir", Eric murmured. Thomas said they had a fight and Suzanne hit his face against the wall.......well you can see the injuries inflicted. So i wanted to hear Suzanne's part of the story but she said she wants to see you first", Then Eric looked at Suzanne and asked, "What happened?" "He had been insulting me and calling me names", Suzanne began quietly. "I ignored him but he didn't stop. Then i told him to stop and also said to him that i came to school to study and not misbehave like him. Then he.......". "Sir, she grabbed my hand, twisted it and hit my face against the wall", Thomas interrupted. "Be quiet and speak only when i tell you to do so!", Donald warned Thomas and told Suzanne to continue. "Then he started making fun of my brother", she continued. "I was very upset and then decided to leave the classroom. But he followed me. He grabbed me and pushed me against the wall. Then i pushed him away. "You....pushed him.....away?", Eric asked and glanced at Thomas face. He knew exactly what Suzanne had done. Through out yesterday morning, Suzanne had asked him to teach her how to fight. Knowing that it was because of what he did to Daniel that brought about the new interest, he flatly refused to do so. But after much begging and bothering, Eric decided to enlighten her on some of the art of beatdown but only gave her lessons on how to defend herself. After spending more than half an hour in teaching her some techniques and moves, Eric thought she would go back to doing the usual girls stuff. But she didn't. She kept practicing and practicing. She abandoned every other thing she was suppose to do and practiced hard all that day. "So Thomas......is she telling the truth?", Donald asked Thomas. "Did you insult her?". "Yes sir", he murmured. "For what reason?". Thomas didn't say anything. Then Donald looked at Suzanne and asked, "Which of your brothers did he make fun of?". "Alex", Suzanne answered. "So is that why you wanted him here?". Suzanne didn't say anything. Donald rubbed both eyes with his index fingers and relaxed on his swivel chair. Then he looked at two junior students. "Am letting both of you go with a warning", he began. "Thomas.....if i ever hear that you insult Suzanne again, not only will i suspend you but i will make sure that you will be punished for the whole day. And let what Suzanne did to you be a hard lesson to you", he said to Thomas. Then he looked at Suzanne. "You are one of the brightest student in this school so i expected you to report to your teachers about his behaviour, rather than taking matters into you own hands......" "She took it too seriously", Eric thought and it amused him but he didn't show it. "..........so next time i don't want to hear that you had a fight with anybody" Donald continued. "You all can go back to your classes. "Thank you sir", Eric said and took Suzanne's hand as he left, almost dragging her out of the office. "What did i tell you at home?", Eric asked her angrily when they got outside. "I warned you to never do that in school and you promised me". "But you told me to defend myself", Suzanne said sadly. "And i also told you that you could just walk away" Eric retorted. "You could hurt someone or get hurt yourself", "But how can i walk away when he had me against the wall?", Suzanne asked, almost in tears. Eric thought for a while. Then he pulled her closer and pat her on the back. And said, "It's okay don't be upset.......it's just that am worried about you......sometimes it's just better to walk away from trouble". "I know.....but i got tired of just ignoring Thomas insults. I wish i had hit him more", Suzanne said with a determined voice. "I think you have done more than enough damage already". "Really.....how?". "He will spend alot of time thinking of how he got beat up by a girl more than anything else......that is a serious mental torture", Eric smiled. Suzanne thought for some moments and looked up to Eric and asked, "What about his brother Greg?". "What about him?". "Aren't you worried about what he might do to you if he hears what i did to his brother?". "No.....not really". "Anyway i don't care........am going to join you to fight him if he comes". "And how do you intend to fight him?", Eric asked and held up her small smooth hands. "Are you going to hit him with these?". "If i can't hit him hard, i will bite him", Suzanne answered with determination. Well.......", Eric began with a smile. ".......unless you have butcher knives for teeth, that will only infuriate him and he will tear you apart like a piece of paper". "Suzanne sighed and asked, "What are we going to do?". "Nothing", Eric replied. "Nothing?". "Yeah......nothing. Why dont you go back to your class and let me worry about Greg.....okay?". Eric said to her. Suzanne nodded and started walking towards the junior students classroom block. **************:****************************** TO BE CONTINUED

CONTINUATION. "Hey firecracker.......", Lisa began with a smile as Eric came towards her. "Where have you being?", she asked. "Firecrack?", Eric furrowed his eyebrows at her. "Yeah.....firecracker......that's what you were last saturday". "Hm.......am quite disappointed". "Why?". "I thought you would have said demolition man", Eric feigned sadness. Lisa laughed wholeheartedly and held his hand and they locked hands as they walked. "So why does the principal what to see you?", Lisa asked. "Just a minor issue", Eric shrugged. "My kid sister got into a fight with her classmate. The funny thing is she told the principal that she wanted to see me before she would say anything. So that's why i was called to the office", "Hm.....your kid sister likes you alot......am jealous", Lisa chuckled. "You don't have to be", Eric smiled. Both of them keep walking towards the school gymnasium building as Eric told her about the three girls who had approached him during her birthday party and the "jet acid" drink. But he didn't mention the boy she had conversation with during her party and what he said about her being a member of a fraternity. Eric opened the door of the school school gym that was not locked and Lisa followed him in. Then he looked at her. "Well.....do you want to follow me to go meet the school principal", Eric asked. "No i was told that the principal wants to see me here", Lisa replied. "Did he say why?". "No.......the junior student that was sent to deliver the message didn't say why.......what about you?" "I was in the male bathroom when i was told that am needed here. I thought it had something to do with Suzanne". "Why would the principal want to see the both of us in the school gym instead of his office?". Eric remained silent and looked around the empty gym. He was suspicious. He glanced at his wristwatch and saw it's just a minute to lunch break and all the students will be trooping to the school lunch hall. All the students and teachers in the lunch hall means that nobody will know what is going on in the classrooms, or any other place. Especially in the school gym that is farther away from the rest of other school buildings. "Lisa, i think we have to go......", Eric began and grabbed her hand. "This doesn't feel......." Before Eric could finish that statement, two boys stepped into the gym and stood infront of the door after locking it. Then Greg and another boy stepped out of the storage room. Lisa saw them and froze while Eric sighed with a smirk. "What does he want now......what do they want?", Lisa asked Eric with a whisper. "I guess to fulfill a promise......the promise he made at your birthday party", Eric murmured to her as he stared at Greg. "The two love birds......", Greg began as he clapped. ".....boys, why don't we give a round of applause for this beautiful couple". The boys clapped mockingly. "So......", Greg began as he and two other boys approached them while one boy manned the door. "I hope the both of you have enjoyed yourselves enough. ....i hope the enjoyment was memorable". "Dude......this is between you and me", Eric said to Greg and glanced at the other boys. "Just leave her out of it........just let her go". "Oh dont worry about her, i want her to be here to watch while her mentally unstable lover get manhandled", Greg chuckled. "And we intend to take our time in doing it". "Greg......why are you doing this?", Lisa asked deeply. "Because i refused to be your girlfriend?". "Hey, no time for your sentimental crap". "What do you want from me?......from us?". "Well......", Greg glanced at the other boys with a sinister grin. "........You can help your boyfriend's situation abit if you let me and my boys have some fun with you. Then we might consider not being too severe with him", he looked at her still grinning. "Never......", Lisa shook her head and held Eric hand tight. "It's not gonna happen....i rather kill myself than let you and your boys touch me with your filthy hands", she said angrily. Females, Eric thought. They always say or do things out of feelings and not facts. If she had checked the fact on the ground now, that they are being outnumbered, she wouldn't have made that outburst. "Do you know what,...", Eric then began as he gently took off his school jacket and unbuttoned the cuffs of his long sleeved school uniform. "I am getting mighty tired of your sh!ts", he said to Greg and rolled up his sleeves. "So let's just make this situation more interesting". Eric got hold of Lisa's arm and pulled her behind him. "If you guys can take me out,........beat me down, then you can do to her what you douche-nozzles see in the porns you masturbate to for as long as you like". "Alex.......", Lisa began quietly and surprisingly. "Shh.....just trust me", Eric looked over his shoulder and whispered to her. Then he looked at Greg. "So are we going to start this sh:t or keep measuring the length of our cocks?", "Get that fool!!", Greg bawled and two of the boys went at Eric. The two boy came at him with one infront and the other following behind. One moment Eric's hands were on his sides, the next moment ,the right hand shot out and delivered a laser precision straight punch to the face of the boy infront. Eric could feel the boy's nose bone collapse under his fist as it met his face. The boy crumbled to the ground, bleeding profusely from his nose. The second boy was too eager for some action to stop and think about what just happened to his fellow comrade. So he threw punches that Eric easily dodged and blocked. After about half a dozen failed attempts to get a hit, Eric showed him how it is done. The boy threw one more, Eric dodged again and this time countered with a right hook that hit the boy's chin and a left hook that hit his right jaw and rattled the boy from his jaw to his neck bone, putting some dizziness in him. Then Eric grabbed his school uniform. He tugged the boy closer and unleashed three thunderclaps. Whaam!!.....a right fist to the rib cage, two ribs snapped......whaam!!.....another right fist to the gut, alot of excruciating pain.........whaam!!......right uppercut to the left jaw, head almost knocked off from the shoulder. The already falling boy got a hard front kick to the gut that added more momentum to his crashing to the floor. Greg and the third boy came rushing wildly with Greg wielding a metal pipe that Eric didn't know where he got it from. Greg was quite a big guy and the other guy almost the same. Confronting both of them at the same time with one wielding a weapon seems to be a very bad situation for a lone boy. But not for this one with a second degree blackbelt in Kyokushin karate and almost a decade of boxing and krav maga training. Eric changed his stance and the fight got intense. Kick to the groin, fists to the jaw, kicks to the ribs and gut, hooks, uppercuts, jabs followed by straight punches, Greg groaning painfully, elbow to the face, metal pipe clattering on the floor, pulling, grabbing, headbutt to the face, another headbutt, boy collapse to the ground, grunts, fist pounding, more fist pounding, endless fist pounding. Lisa stared in utter amazement as Eric took the boys out one by one. She was expecting herself to wake up from a dream in any moment. But as the scene of Eric unleashing an endless barrage of merciless pounding got longer, she then realized that the drama unfolding before her was real. This is definitely not the person she had heard stories about. Sad stories. This is not the person.......this is not even a person. Eric wiped the bloodstains off his knuckles on the shirt of one the boys he knocked out and looked at Greg lying on the ground writhing in pain. Then he looked at Lisa "Are you okay?", he asked her. Lisa didn't respond. She just stood wide eyed, staring at him with her mouth open. Eric went over to where Greg laid and stared at him as if thinking of what to do with him. He looked at Lisa for a few seconds and back at Greg. Then Eric bend over him with one knee on the urethane surface floor. He grabbed Greg by the collar of his shirt with both hands and pulled him closer. Eric put his mouth closer to his ears "I am not Alex.......", he whispered. "........but you are right......i was once mentally unstable and you are about to find out". Then Eric took a swing at him and hit him across the jaw. The blow bounced Greg's head against the floor. Putting his palm on Greg's face, Eric pushed it against his nose hard until the cartilage broke. Greg groan out in agony. Then Eric grabbed his right thumb and dislocated it. Greg screamed. But Eric wasnt done. He grabbed the index fingers of both hands and snapped it. Greg couldn't scream again. An overwhelming spasms of pain made his body to tremble. Then Eric got up and left the mangled boy, whispering, "goodluck in writing your certificate exams". Lisa stared at Eric with horror as he approached her. "Lisa, let get out of here", Eric was about to hold her hands but she backed away from him. "Who are you?", she asked with a shaky voice. "What?.......", "Please stay away from me".

Donald heaved a sigh and rubbed his scanty hair with his thick palm of his left hand as he stared at the documents the Secretary gave him. Documents faxed from a hospital. Then he flipped the pages rather lazily as he glanced through each page. He had earlier gone through the four A4 sized papers. But what he had seen, made him to keep glancing through the papers with disbelief written all over his face. After a minute or two of flipping pages, Donald rubbed his eyes and reclined in the swivel chair that squeaked as he did so and shift his gaze at the two senior students sitting infront of him. A male and a female. "So they lied that i wanted to see both of you in the school gymnasium in order to lure and attack both of you", he said as he gazed at both of them keenly. Trying to study them. As a seasoned psychologist with Ph.D degree, Donald could read peoples minds and understand what they are thinking by just looking into their eyes, watching their body languages and facial expressions. He knows what the girl is thinking. She had seen something quite disturbing and it is bothering her inside. And it must have being done by someone really close to her. But the boy beside her is different. His face gives away no expression. And looks extremely calm like nothing had happened. "Yes sir", the girl replied without looking at the principal. But the boy maintained his steady gaze at the old man infront of him. "They attacked the both of you?", Donald asked her again. "No.....they attacked Alex", the girl said slowly. "What did you do when Alex was being attacked?". "Lisa couldn't do anything nor escape because one of the boys had locked the door and had the key in his pocket", the boy put in. Donald leaned forward from his reclined position and took the papers on his big mahogany desk. "These are the fax i received from the hospital those four boys were taken to.....and what i read here speaks otherwise......it's like the boys got attacked savagely", Donald waved the papers at them. "It says....", he began to read the contents. "........one boy has two broken ribs and a multiple fractures in his jaw", he place the paper on his table and read the next one at hand. "........This one has a broken nose with the possibility of him undergoing surgery to fix it", he dropped the paper. "......this one is worse......a thumb and index fingers of both hands broken, three ribs broken, nose badly broken and a skull fracture". Then Donald dropped the last paper on his desk and said, "The hospital was asking if they had being in car that had a collision because it's hard for a normal person to beat someone that bad with barehands. Unless the person is well trained with years of hitting hard surfaces or the person was swinging a tyre iron or wrench". Then he sighed and looked at Lisa. "It is clear that you didn't play any role in those boys terrible beatings", Donald said to her. "So you can leave......i want to talk to Alex". Lisa said "Yes sir", and quietly left without making any eye contact with Eric. Eric stared at her until she was out of the principal's office, closing the door. Donald got up from his chair and went over to one of the metal storage cabinet. He slide it open and took out something. A bottle. Eric saw it and his lips curved into smile. "Sir....are you suppose to have that in school?", Eric asked. Donald glanced over his shoulder and took a sip from the bottle and put it back to it's former position. "The school is already over so no worries", he said to Eric casually and returned to his seat. "You still have to drive back home sir......the authorities really frown at driving with the smell of booze in your breath". "Young man, we are here to talk about you, not me", Donald said sternly. "Okay sir", Eric replied, reminding himself not to get too familiar with the head of the school. "So......", Donald gathered the papers on his desk and put them in the top drawer. "Tell me exactly what you did to Greg and his boys?", he asked Eric. "Sir......i said it before. We had a fight....that's all", Eric replied. "And you did what?, throw bricks at them during the fight?". "No sir". "Then explain the fractures and broken bones they sustained". "Well......if you hit someone at the right places with the right amount of force, things tend to break", Eric smiled. Donald gazed at Eric thoughtfully for about a half a minute and said, "After you went missing and got found, your character have changed. You are no longer that student that always walked into my office to complain about Greg or other students treating you bad. I first noticed it the moment you stepped into my office when i called you because of your sister, Suzanne. But i thought you might have decided to start building your courage". Donald paused for a few seconds and said, "But to take out four of some of the most feared students in this school single handedly.......if i hadn't reviewed the CCTV footage and seeing just you and Lisa going inside the school gymnasium, i would have sworn that Greg and his gang got beat up by a mob". "So what happens".....am i free or getting punished", Eric asked. Donald got up and paced around the office quietly. Then he stopped and looked at Eric. "You know that Greg's uncle is the proprietor of this school", he then said to Eric. "Yes i know that". Then he stood near Eric. "In normal circumstances i suppose to let you go because it was self defence and you prevented a girl from possibly being molested or even being raped". Then he sighed. "But his uncle, my boss might get angry if i dont punish or even kick you out of the school. You know what that means." "Your job being on the line?", Eric murmured "Exactly........so i hope you understand my situation. So i will have to suspend you......but just take it as a holiday" "No hard feelings sir.......infact, i think i might need it",

"What's up rock-valley hit man", Chris hailed Eric as he stepped outside. "How did it go with the pal man?.......did he present you with any trophy?", he asked. "Yes.....a week suspension", Eric answered. "What?,.....why?.....that's unfair, those brutes wanted to beat you up", Chris protested. "I know.....", Eric said with a smile. "But it is okay". Then he looked around. "Where is Lisa?", he asked Chris. "She left.....she had gone home "Did she say anything". "No, not a single word to anybody".

CHAPTER ELEVEN. Nina dropped the suit case on the dining table beside the numerous bottles of assorted liquors on the table. She bent her neck both sides and it's joints let out a cracking sound as she took out the silencer from the Glock 19 hand gun she held in the hand and tucked it in the holster strapped on her shoulder. She paused to take a deep breath and exhaled gently before punching the suit case key combinations to unlock it. As she inspect the contents of the case, a sound came from the living-room that was separated from the dining with a wooden room divider. Nina heard the sound and paused for a few seconds before she continue with what she was doing. She heard the sound again. It was a muffled deep throaty cry that keep getting louder. "Be quiet!.....no one can hear you", Nina said out loud as she took out two latex gloves and the knife with serrated blades. She slipped her hands into the gloves smoothly and hummed in cheery tune to herself as the sound from the living-room continued. Feeling the texture of the gloves, Nina looked at the bottles infront of her and took one. "Hm.......cheap bastards drinking cheap booze even though they got a huge payout", she murmured after reading the label on the bottle. Then she opened the bottle and took a swill. She picked up the knife and head towards the living- room, stepping over a dead body lying near a pool of blood. There are three more dead bodies strewn on the floor of the living-room with bullet holes and brain matter stains on the wall and furnitures. At the center of the living-room, where the center table used to be is a n@ked man taped to a chair with his mouth also covered with tape. He was sweating hard and bleeding profusely from the bullet hole in his leg and knee cap. Nina stood infront of him still humming the tune with the bottle in one hand and the knife in the other. Ten minutes ago those men were celebrating their big payout. The ransome they got for the teenage daughter of a wealthy family they kidnapped. The party was about to start when they heard a knock on the door. Thinking that it was probably the girls they hired through an escort agency, they opened the door and saw a seemingly harmless woman in suit. Then all hell broke loose. She killed four men in a matter of seconds and spared one, their leader, because the girl's family had paid good money to make his own death slow and painful. The girl's father is also a ruthless man and wanted to send out a message to any other gang wanting to extort him. "What is the matter big boy....", Nina asked and took another drink from the bottle. "Can't mommy have a little time for herself before coming to put you to sleep?". The man saw the knife in her hand and his breath quickened. Nina dropped the bottle on the floor and ran her fingers from his shoulder down to his hairy chest. She caressed his bare chest and played with his left n!pple as she smiled playfully at him. The movement of her fingers made the man to quiver as he stared at her with fear written all over his face. Then Nina grabbed his n!pple with her thumb and index finger and cut it off. The man gave out a long throaty cry as she dropped the piece of him inbetween his laps and put her arm around his shoulder as he struggled on the chair. "Shhh.........be quiet", Nina whispered softly to him. Then she put the blade on his right chest, close to his armpit and slashed him slowly across to his left armpit. The man writhe violently in pain and Nina held him down to limit his movement as she did so. After a long groan with blood flowing down to his belly and waist, the man dropped his head and sobbed uncontrollably as Nina watched him. "You have being a bad boy........a very bad boy", Nina said to him softly as she she rubbed his head. "What did you expect to happen when you kidnapped that girl and shot her chauffeur?......candies and cookies?. The moment you even conceived the idea in your mind was when you made a terrible mistake". Nina stepped back and stared at him as he continue sobbing. Her eyes ran from his face down to inbetween his thighs. She smiled as she keep staring there. Then Nina knelt before him and begin to slide her hand from his thigh towards his manhood. The man immediately got the idea of what was about to happen to him and begin to shake his head with a "mmmph......mmmph" sound coming out of his taped mouth. A knock on the door interrupted Nina in her game. She held the knife close to her chest and pulled out the handgun from it's holster under her arm. She tipped toed towards the door and peered at the peephole. Then she signed and opened the door. "What is it?......" she demanded irritatedly. "......can't you see am busy?". A very big man in a black suit and wearing dark shades at the door showed her a cellphone. "Whatever it is, can't it wait?", she asked as she tucked the handgun back in the holster. "It's about the boy", the man said. Nina sighed. She took off the bloodstained latex gloves and took the phone. "Hello....", she began and listened. "......He what?......", she exclaimed and listened again. "......how long?, she asked and listened again. "......a week?,...okay, i will call him later", she concluded and handed the phone back to the big man after the line clicked. Nina sighed and stared ahead thoughtfully. "The boy is quite stubborn......", the big man began. "Do you want me to go rough him up abit and put some sense in him?", he asked "Don't you ever think about that", Nina retorted at him. "I promised that woman that nothing is going to happen to him......besides, if i want him to be roughed up, i will do it myself". "He got the knack of getting into trouble.......and seems to have the downright lack of concern for his own mortality", the man said to Nina. "What do you expect?, he has the blood flowing in his vein", Nina said. "That's how he is......that's how they are". "But why is the other one different?", "Hah........you think so?, he is yet to know what he is capable of doing because of the environment he was raised in. Wait till he becomes self aware. "Anyway you know that Sosai's eyes are on every member of the family and the workers", the man said as he slipped the phone into the inner pocket of his jacket. "If he finds out what we are doing and about them, my ass is gone.....so if this boy is going to attract unnecessary attention to us then you better send him back and think of another way of completing this mission of yours", he continued. "Oh don't worry.....", Nina pat the man on his back that made him look like a Mack truck. "I will cover for you" Then Nina handed the man the knife and buttoned up her suit jacket. "Get the suitcase and the money, and meet me at the car.......leave no prints", she said to the man and start walking down the corridor, towards the elevator while the man stepped into the apartment to finish the job. "Hi......how are you doing?", Nina speak to her cellphone as she exit the building and stood near a parked Porche Cayenne SUV. "Hello aunt Helen.....", a male voice responded "So how is your lesson today?, she asked. "It was good.......i learned alot today", came the reply. "I came back home about an hour ago.......the house help told me you left.....so i have being waiting". "Waiting?......u know i have to work?". "Yeah but you told me that we will be going somewhere today". "Of course.....but something came up.......my boss wanted to see me so i had to answer the call". "Okay aunt Helen........so what time are you coming home?". Nina saw the big man coming out of the apartment building holding the suitcase and a black duffle bag. "I will be home soon......am on my way now", she replied. "Okay.....bye". The line clicks. Nina looked at her cellphone and smiled. She slipped it into her pocket and looked at the man. "How is our friend?", she asked. "Cried like a sissy girl before joining his other friends", he replied. Both of them entered the SUV and drove off.

"So i told him that he better stay away from me or else i will call you and have his face condemned like that of his brother, Greg.......", Suzanne said with a laughter. All afternoon Suzanne have been ecstatic about what Eric had done to Greg and his friends. Eric sat and listened helplessly as she keep ranting and ranting. Even her favourite animation movie that was being shown on the t.v couldn't get her attention. But apart from the cook and the family chauffeur who had suddenly developed an interest in him, Suzanne is only person that made him feel human because the rest barely looked in his direction. And now that they have heard what went done in the school gymnasium, they all seem too scared to talk to him because they think he is truly crazy. Eric had used different excuses to see if Suzanne will let him be but somehow she always find a way to get close to him. And start her rant. So fearing to say something that will make her join allegiance to the "enemies", he just allowed the torture to continue, hoping that she will get tired or something else gets her interest.......or him getting talked to death. It's almost four hours since he got home from school with the philips. Lisa haven't called or sent any text and Eric is contemplating whether to text her or not. He had being trying to convince himself not to do anything. Even trying to make himself feel angry at how she ignored him after the principal dismissed her from his office, so as to focus his mind on something else. But still, the thoughts about her keep intruding into his mind. Eric wondered if it was the feeling of likeness or the feeling of guilt. Or even both. "........even when i was about to leave the classroom, Thomas came to me and apologized for all those things he said to me........he offered to carry my bag. But i told him to buzz off", Suzanne said cheerfully. "Maybe he likes you", Eric sighed as he picked up the t.v remote to change the channel. "Thomas?.....like me?", Suzanne was disgusted. "....he must be dreaming". "Why dont you be friends with him. You might enjoy his company as a classmate because he will now respect you alot", Suzanne thought for a few moments and asked, "Do you think so?", As Eric was about to say something, his phone vibrated twice. He immediately reached for it, thinking it was what he had been expecting. Lisa's text message. But he frowned with disappointment when he saw it was Nina's text message. "What is it?", Suzanne asked and peeked at his cellphone. "Just a friend......", Eric began and got up. "I will be back", he said to her and head towards the stairs. Eric closed the door to his bedroom and dialled Nina's number. "So what is the new instruction", he began when Nina picked up. "You have been very busy......right?", Nina said. "What do you mean by that?", Eric asked. "Don't play dumb with me.......i heard what happened in your school today", Nina retorted. "Now tell me, is it because of that your new girlfriend?.........it must have felt so good when she was losing her virginity to you that you decided to show some 'badassery' and left four boys beaten up and lying in the hospital bed as a present for her birthday". Eric was quite stunned. He remained silent and wondered how Nina got to know all that, especially what he and Lisa did. There is only one explanation he could think of. His phone is being bugged or the number was cloned. She is definitely reading all the messages and listening to their phone calls through another source or device. But how did she know about Greg's beatdown and the suspension?, he wondered again. He didn't send any messages or made any phone call to anyone telling them what happened. Someone must be watching him, either in school or possibly in the house and giving Nina all the info. "So now that you have enjoyed your little sex escapade with that girl and gained some fame for yourself in school, have you asked yourself what's going to be the implication of your actions to Alex himself if things happen to go wrong?", Nina asked. "What if that girl happens to get pregnant, who do you think will take the blame?, will Alex be able to defend himself if Greg or whatever his name decides go for second round?. "Well......", Eric began and sat on the bed. "If you are worried about that girl, whose name is Lisa, getting pregnant then don't worry about that because i........well forget about that.......just don't give yourself sleepless nights about her getting pregnant. I may do crazy things sometimes but am not silly. The thing about Greg was an unavoidable situation. Whoever gave you all the low-down about what happened in school today didn't tell you that Greg and his boys set me up for some serious walloping. The guy was even wielding a metal pipe for God sake.....so how did i go wrong in defending myself from a possible brain damage?, not to talk of the girl i saved from being gang-raped. Or do you want me to make a phone call to you while am being pummeled to death to get your instructions?". "That's the point. You started getting yourself involved in something that's why these things are happening", Nina put in. "That girl.......that Lisa or whatever her name is, you have to cut her off. I don't want you talking to her again. Infact i want her to be your sworn enemy from now on", "Why should i do that?", Eric asked. "You follow my instructions boy!, you don't ask any f@cking question!", Nina's voice barked out angrily from the phone. Eric was now getting angry. To him it's like Nina only seem to care about giving out her instructions and it being obeyed. She doesn't seem care about what happens to him. "You gave my mother the assurance that nothing will happen to me", he asked Nina. "That's why i give you these instructions to follow......it will keep you safe and at the same prevent Alex's situation from getting complicated", Nina answered. "Did it ever occur to you that your instructions might further complicate things for Alex and put me more in danger?", Eric asked. "You are so blinded by your own instructions to see that i made Alex to be respected both at home and school. I just solved his bully problem. You have to be here to know what the hell is going on before giving those damn instructions of yours", Eric continued. "Am done talking to you......", Nina then said. "You heard what i said about that girl........cut her off", "Well........that's not gonna happen", said Eric. "What?". "You heard me.......am getting tired of taking your useless instructions......so you better think of a useful one". "This is the instruction!......and you better don't cross me boy!". "Why don't you take that instruction, turn it sideways and shove it up your Mrs Nina butt- hole......am not doing it and am done talking to you!!", Eric barked the last word at the cell phone mouthpiece and ended the phone call. Then the phone started ringing immediately. Eric pressed the answer button without looking at the number. "What?!!", he yelled. "Alex?........", it was Lisa's voice.

i'm enjoying dis like seriously.... but i'm sure alex and eric are twin brother

Kul

Alex and Eric might be an identical twin.

sure Dey should be

Nice one

Kill dem all i d feel ur figt

More abeg

Nice one

Eric n Alex r twins. guys remember wen Ernest went bak inside da collapsing hospital to save someone. dats wen he died. i also i remember wen u operated on a twin kid dat was fyting for it life. da oda was born healthy

Love dis story

I luv ur gut @Eric

maybe mr philip na their d doctor self... who knows

am sure alex nd eric are identical twins

am very sure that alex and eric are twins brother. . . .hope nina deal with eric mother cus of eric diobeying her instruction . . . . Ride on bro

Enjoying the story

No need to guess... Eric and Alex are identical twins.

8:40 pm, after dinner. Eric stepped into mansion's spacious balcony from the living-room and slide the glass door shut. He inhaled the air of the cool night breeze and looked at the silhouette of the man before him. He was standing with his back at Eric with his hands resting on the hand-rail of the place that was dim lighted. Eric let the air leave his lungs gently and paced towards the man. "Dad.......", he began and felt awkward because he had never used that word to address any man before. "You sent for me?", he asked. "Barry rubbed his fingers on the rail as he gazed at the dark night sky that had a few visible stars. "You know.......", he began, still staring at the sky. "When i was a little boy, the sky used to have alot stars at night.......there were so many of it that i once told my mother that if one of them happen to fall down, that i will pick it up and give it to her", then Barry shook his head. "These days i look up and see just a few. I wonder what happened to all those stars". "Industrial pollution happened", Eric murmured. "The stars are still there but industrial pollution is happening". Then barry shift his eyes to the front yard below and watched one of the house maids striding rather tiredly towards the servant quarters. "Have you ever wished that some things were different?", Barry asked and looked at Eric. "Wish that some things werent the way it is?". "Sometimes.....", Eric replied, wondering what this was all about. He thought he was here to be questioned about what happened in school and his suspension. "......do you?", he asked Barry. Barry smiled and said, "Of course.......there are alot of things i wished that were different.....that i could change". Eric said nothing. "Before you were born.......i mean, before we adopted you, your mother and i couldn't have children for almost five years after getting married", Barry continued. "Yeah i read about that in Alex's diary", Eric thought to himself. "We had alot of problems because of it.......lots of arguments, lot of fighting..........sometimes we spent days not talking to each other........" Eric looked at Barry and listened keenly. ".......so we decided to separate........you know......to give each other space and time to think about the relationship and see if we should continue or divorce", Barry signed. "During those years of not having kids did you and mom go to the hospital to check the reasons for being unable to have one?", Eric asked. "Of course we did........and the doctor said we were one hundred percent okay", The oldman answered. "So why all those problems when you and mom already know that there was nothing wrong and all you need was little patience?", Eric asked. "Son.....am sure you know by now that the Philips family is a lineage of people with little patience", Barry signed again. "Impatience made my own father to build a big family business in a short period of time.......it also made him die when i was just Daniel's age. My mother was even the worst. She was impatient and also had little tolerance for people who don't meet up with her expectations. So imagine how it was for your mother; especially when my own mother keep telling me infront of her that i need to get another woman". "So how long were you and mom separated?", Barry thought for a while and said, "We were separated for about three months". "Wow.....so what did you do throughout those months?", "Alot of things son......alot of things that am not proud of because i was out of control.......until i met this woman". "Oh boy.....here we go", Eric thought to himself. Then he asked, "So what happened between you and this woman?". "She taught me alot.....pulled me out of the reckless life that was beginning to affect the family business", Barry said. "Then came this........problem", he added "What kind of problem?", Eric asked. "I had put myself in a position of trying to choose between this woman and your mother.......", Barry shook his head. ".........And your mother had told me that her mind was made up and wanted a divorce.......So i told her my intentions but to my greatest surprise she refused.......and even convinced your mother to come back to me.......seriously i don't know how she did it. Then she disappeared. Till today i haven't seen her, he concluded. "I see.......so is that one of the things you wished you could change?........perhaps she agreeing to marry you and you leaving mom?", Eric asked. "More like her being the one i got married to......it may sound like am being unfair to your mom but that's how i feel sometime", Barry said thoughtfully. "Well......i understand", Eric mumured as he stared at Barry Even though Eric could barely see Barry's face, the way he stared in space thoughtfully for some time showed that the woman, whoever she was, must have left a lasting impression in him. "So.......", Barry then look at Eric. "I heard your little heroics in school. I heard you beat some sense into that your nemesis called Greg and his friends", he said. "Is it true?", he asked. "Yes........it is true", Eric answered, expecting some serious admonishing. "Hm.....i know you had it in you.......you always had it in you", Barry said to Eric with a smile. Eric stared at Barry surprisingly. It wasn't what he expected to hear from him. "How?", he asked. "You mean how it is in you?". "No i mean how you knew it was in me?" "Instincts i guess.......and they say the eyes is the window to the soul. The look in your eyes said it all". Eric wanted to ask Barry what he said before. About the look in his eyes that reminded him of something.........or somebody. But he decided against it because he is beginning to have the feeling that the family has alot of secrets and what Barry just told him is probably just the tip of the iceberg. "So now that you have made a name for yourself in school, what next do you intend to do?", Barry asked Eric with a smile. "But.......aren't you unhappy with me getting suspended", Eric asked. "Of course am unhappy with that.......but sometimes in this life you have to ruthless", Barry replied. Then Eric looked at the cars at the mansion's car park. There are five automobiles there. Eric gazed at them for some time and smiled. "Those cars", he then said "What about them?", Barry asked. "I want to drive one of them". "But you don't even know how to drive son" "Well just last week you said i was very weak and timid", Eric said and looked at Barry. "Okay.......", Barry nodded with a smile ".......tomorrow we will see what you can do". "Hey Nancy.......", Eric began on seeing the cook as he entered the kitchen. "I thought you had gone home by now", he said and kept the plate he was holding in the kitchen sink. "No......i will be spending the night here", Nancy replied as she went through the food stuffs on the kitchen table. "Oh i heard what you did in school.......you did very well, Alex........but don't tell anyone i said so", she said with a smile. Then Eric noticed the dark spot on her left cheek, almost below her eyes. And it seems as if she had tried to cover it up with a heavy make up. "What happened to your face?", he asked Nancy. "Oh nothing......it's nothing", Nancy sighed and Eric noticed the sad look on her face. Eric got closer to her and gently put his hand on her cheek as he studied the spot. It seemed as if she had being hit on the face. "What happened?", Eric asked again. "Nothing......am okay?", Nancy replied, taking his hand off her face and looking away. "I just had a fall that's all". "When?". "Yesterday, when i was getting down from a taxi". "But yesterday you didn't go anywhere.......you spent the night here and didn't go to the market today. So how is it even possible?......or is there a taxi being driven in the kitchen?". Nancy kept silent and continue doing what she was doing. "Nancy please tell me what is going on", Eric demanded. "Even if i tell you......there is nothing you can do.....i don't want to disturb you at all", Nancy murmured. "But am here willing to listen........am not complaining", Then Nancy sighed and stopped what she was doing and looked at Eric. "My husband......", she murmured. "Your husband?,.......i thought you were divorced", Eric said. "Yes......but as long as am being paid, he still thinks he is my husband" "What do you mean by that?". Nancy looked down and shook her head and said, "He always come to my house whenever i receive my monthly wage to demand for money". "Money for what", Eric asked. "What else?, his drinking habit, gambling and womanizing", she shook her head again. "I wonder how the man i used to love turned out to be such a reckless and good for nothing man", she said. "What happened?". "Alex......it is a long story". "Well i have all the time in the world.....besides am not going to school tomorrow if the story is going to take all night". "Ever since our daughter died.......", Nancy began quietly. "........everything just turned upside down for me. I became his outlet for his anger. Whenever he is having a bad day, i become his punching bag. He and his friends even accused me of being responsible for our daughter's death when God knows that i tried everything i could and spent all my savings while he was in bed in the comfort of another woman's arms. Even told me that ever since we got married, he was having nothing but bad lucks. I endured it for almost three years and decided to end the marriage because i was losing my mind. He was more than happy when i told him because he was already seeing another woman. We got divorced and i got this job. Two years later he came back to my house. Ten times worse because that woman had taken what was left in his miserable life and disappeared. "So he came back because he had nothing and wanted you to give him money", Eric asked. "Yes......i thought it was going to be a one time thing", Nancy replied. "But soon it became frequent and somehow he found out the time of the month am being paid". "So he showed up the day before yesterday", Eric said. "Yes....but yesterday i didn't receive any money because madam was too busy to go to the bank. So i told him i had none", then Nancy begin to sob. "He accused me that i was lying". "Then he hit you", Eric murmured. Nancy nodded "And he was with his friends. They even gave him a helping hand", She Sobbed. Eric sighed and pursed his lips. Then he gave her a tissue to wipe the tears in her eyes and pat her on the back. "Why didn't you report to the police?", he asked. "What are they going to do?, they won't detain him forever.....", Nancy answered. "......soon or later they will release him and he will be back again. Beside am just too weak to do anything about it. The only thing keeping me strong is the interaction am having with you children when am working. That's the only happiness i have". "Okay.....", Eric was quite touched. "Well.....why don't you stay here for the time being until things cool down....there is enough room in this house to accommodate one more person, he said to her. Nancy nodded and wiped her tears. Then she looked at Eric. "Thanks for listening.......i really feel alot better now", she said with a smile. "Hey.....no worries......whenever you feel like talking to someone, am always here.....okay?", Eric said to her with a smile. Nancy nodded and smiled back. "Good.....keep that smile on that beautiful face", Eric said and head towards the door. Then he paused and looked at Nancy. "Do you know where your ex- husband usually spends his time", he asked. "Why?", "Well....to have some discussions with him to see if he will change". "Nancy laughed and shook her head. "I wish you could but he will fight you". "Well it's worth trying......i could convince my dad to do something". "Really?, do you think your dad will do something?" "Just give me his name and that of his friends and where they usually hangout". But Eric was lying. He intends to go there alone.

Eric closed his bedroom door and sat heavily on the bed. He noticed that the laptop on his bed was still humming. "I thought i switched it off", he muttered to himself and lift the lid. He clicked a button and the screen brightened, showing the menus. As he move the cursor to click the power off button, he noticed he had some new emails. He frown. He already knew who sent it. Chunky-guy. "I swear am gonna beat this guy to death with my barehands if i get him", Eric cursed angrily as he read the 'insult mails' Chunky-guy sent to him. Things like these hardly bothers him but the constant mail he was receiving from that guy is really getting at him now. And since it was an internet stuff, finding the guy and dealing with him accordingly is quite impossible. Eric had even given the guy an address where they will meet so as to sort it out like the tough guy he always claimed in his emails. But the guy only reponded with more insults. Eric wished he could find his house through the i.p address. But that is the job of the internet provider. So he has nothing else to do than to either bring himself low into the gutters to respond to Chunky-guy or just suck it up and ignore him. After a while of thinking to himself, Eric decided to send a reply. "Am gonna get you.......i promise you that i will find you and do all sorts of things to your body after i have killed you. You wait and see". Eric clicked the send button. After the confirmation that it had being sent, Eric turn off the laptop and drop it on the floor carelessly. Then he paused and placed his left hand on his left chest. His heartbeat was kind of erratic. Then he immediately sat on the chair of the reading table and place his hands on the table. He watched his fingers closely. The suddenly his right pinkie finger twitched. It twitched again and started twitching uncontrollably. "Oh God......" he began and immediately rushed to the mirror on the wall and gazed at his reflection. His eyelid was twitching too. "Oh no.....this can't be happening!". Eric immediately snatched his cellphone to dial a number. Then he paused thought again. And continued. He dialled his mother's cellphone number and press the send button. He glanced at the clock on the wall and muttered, "F@ck Nina's instruction......this is an emergency", to himself.

CHAPTER TWELVE. Eric glanced at his wristwatch again and it was almost 3:35pm of the warm tuesday afternoon. Lisa was five minutes late for their meeting in the fast- food restaurant that she wanted to see him. It was quite difficult locating the place even with THE G.P.S software in his smartphone. After several inquires from passerby and shop owners in the street Lisa said the place was located, he managed to find the place. It wasn't one of those popular chain fast-food restaurants but it was a very good place to have a chat and the settings, quite relaxing. He was very hungry. But he wanted Lisa to arrive before taking his order. While waiting for her, he casually glanced around the joint and listened to the soft lounge music being played. The restaurant was sparsely filled with costumers and most were young aged couples or high school aged kids, having a snack or two with their friends. Perhaps it was that day of the week in which few customers are seen or maybe it was too early for people to start filling up the place. Five minutes later, the automated entrance glass door slide open and Lisa walked in and carefully looked around the restaurant, holding a pink purse close to her chest. As she stood there, some of the male customers focused their attention on her like a pack of wolves staring at a fattened sheep infront of them. She wore a black short sleeve, tight fitted one-piece dress that showed all her lovely curves with black high heel. Her hair wasn't tied as usual. She let her golden-brown curls to drape around her back and shoulders, making her look like an angel walking into the place the moment she stepped in. When she made a brief 360 turn, Eric caught a glimpse of her behind and hoped the traffic outside wasn't in chaos because he could swear that some driver must have lost control while staring at her from behind. Eric then waved at her when he saw the waitress trying to get the attention of a male customer staring at Lisa. She saw him and came towards him with a faint smile. "Hi......", she began and sat opposite him. "Hi......you really look good today", Eric said to her. "Have you eaten anything?", Lisa motioned at the waitress. "Starving like crazy......you are late. If i had waited for another five minutes, you will probably see me being carried away in the meat-wagon*". Eric joked. Lisa laughed and glanced at him as she received the menu from the waitress. They told the waitress what they wanted and she took the orders and left. "So how is your first day of serving your sentence?", Lisa asked. "Today was sweet.......dad let me drive his benz with him inside", Eric said. "He even took the day off so as to see my driving skills". "Wow.....really?", Lisa asked surprisingly. "I thought you will be crucified for being suspended. But you get to have some fun". "Yeah.......kind of odd huh?", Eric smiled. "How about you?......how was school today", he asked. "Ugh!..........", Lisa shook her head. "I walked into the classroom and it was like a freaking press conference. Everybody was asking me how you destroyed Greg. There are even rumours that you might have met a witch doctor to weaken Greg". Eric laughed. "Even your friend Chris was using the situation to boost his image", she added. "He was walking around and telling other guys that you were his best friend.....and it worked because most of the guys that looked down on him seemed too scared to talk to him". Both of them laughed and then remained silent. Waiting for who to be the first to say something. The waitress arrived with their food. A vegetable salad and a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice for Lisa. Eric being a meat guy got a double cheese burger and french fries with a can of soda. Then they ate in silence. After a while, Lisa cleaned her mouth and looked at Eric. "Alex......am sorry for the way i reacted last time", she started. "I was just too shocked when i saw what you did to Greg". "I understand........", Eric said as he chewed his food. "You first time of witnessing that level of human insanity", he joked. "Alex am serious......you....you went too far. What if you had killed him or left him with a permanent disability?", Lisa asked with a worried look on her face. Eric picked up a clean tissue on the table and wiped his mouth. "Too far you say......well......to me i did what i felt was the right thing and i don't see how i went too far", he answered. "I believe they got what they deserved, even if they end up being paralyzed or taking an eternal nap, six feet deep". "But Alex......that's unfair", Lisa murmured. "Unfair?......", Eric chuckled. "That day they didn't come there to have ice creams and talk about favourite hobbies, they were there to hurt us......do you even know what they would have done, especially to you if they had succeeded?........each and every one of those boys would have forced themselves on you, one by one until they get tired of doing so. But guess what, before they do that, they will have to beat me till am half dead first. So i will be lying unconscious or be conscious and watch helplessly as they assault you. I dont want any of that happening to me". Lisa remained silent, thinking to herself. "Lisa.....i know you are a very smart girl and also a very nice person", Eric continued. "But you seem extremely naive about the way things are......the way things operate in this country and the world as a whole. One thing you really have to learn is to never get too soft with some certain type of people". "Then Lisa gently slide her hand towards his on the table and held it. She locked her fingers with his and looked into his eyes with a smile. "Fire cracker........", she began softly. "Sorry i didn't hear that", Eric joked "Fire cracker!........", she said abit loud and a few customers in the restaurant looked in their direction. "Okay i heard you loud and clear". Lisa looked around the fast-food place and then at Eric. "Do you want to go somewhere else.........somewhere better?", she asked, stroking his hand. "Like where?", Eric asked, slightly raising his eyebrow. "Well........somewhere......", Lisa didn't finish the sentence and smile playfully. "Well since you didn't finish what you want to say......", Eric said and got up. "......i think i will check out that place because it must be a fun place". Lisa got up and locked hands with him as she picked up her purse. TO BE CONTINUED

CONTINUATION. Nina stubbed out the cigarette in the half filled ashtray on the side table beside the sofa and exhaled the cigarette smoke from her lungs through her thin lips. She rested her back on the sofa back cushion and crossed her legs as she looked at the man standing infront of her with his hands in the pockets of the black plain trouser her wore. His navy blue short sleeve t-shirt was well ironed and a bit too big for his small frame. He looked young and wore eyeglasses with contact lens. A computer geek. "So how many times did he call his mother?", Nina asked the man. "Ten times........", he replied. "With a minute interval between each call". "Did he call any other number after that?". "No mam.......just text messages to that girl's number........they are having an appointment today.... this afternoon". Nina smirked and nodded. "Okay.......let me know if anything else comes up.....you can go now", Nina dismissed the man. She got up after the man had left and paced around the living-room as she thought to herself with an expression that showed alot of concern. Eric was getting out of her control and making Alex's situation the same, Nina thought as she kept pacing around. And only five days had gone since he decided to do the job; just a fraction of the number of days he was required to do it. Nina sighed and wondered how out of control the situation might be in the next five days........fifteen days......even on the final day. She had really underestimated that boy. Underestimated everything about him and it was time for her to take things to another level. It has to be done to avoid any careless mistakes he might make that could reveal to the Philips family what had been going on. Which could possibly lead to an investigation by the authorities and possibly end up getting the Sosai's attention. She definitely don't want that to happen because it only meant one thing, her going back to that "hell hole" she came out from and the elimination of all the people involved; knowingly and unknowingly. Nina sighed again and paced towards what looked like a mini-bar with a crescent shaped bar- countertop and stools in the living-room. It had a liquor cabinet filled with glasses and numerous bottles of assorted liquors. She went behind the counter and poured herself a shot of brandy. She swallowed it and poured another shot and left the bottle on the counter. Then she picked up the cellphone that was there and slowly scrolled through the numbers in the contacts list. She tapped one of the numbers and it showed her the contact info. It was Esther's number. Her new number. Nina thought about her as she stared at the number and felt bad for what she was making the woman go through. She had killed, maimed and destroyed with zero remorse with an ever growing list that is longer than a party guest-list. But they are bad people with blood in their hands, though a few were unfortunate individuals. Still, whenever Nina thought of Esther, a simple woman who against all odds managed to raise the boy who took from her the man that she loved, to be good and did it singlehandedly, she sometimes felt ashamed of what she was doing. She wondered how Esther managed to do that despite working a demanding job. Nina also wondered why she chose to go through all those trouble for the child that was responsible for destroying the good life of a happily married woman she was supposed to live. Somehow she envied Esther because Esther was what she had always wanted to be; a normal, forgiving woman who would wake up every morning to take care of a family. Not the "damaged beyond repair" human being she was. And not to always be smiling and giving handshakes when exchanging pleasantries with people while having the thoughts and plans on how to kill them if needed. There are some nights she had curled up in bed and wept silently after spending the day thinking about her life over a bottle of hard liquor. "Aunt Helen...." Nina turned and saw the boy standing in the lobby and smiled at him. She didn't here him come out from his room. "Did you sleep well?", she asked. "Yeah......but i heard you talking to someone", the boy answered as he came towards her. "Oh.....it's just a co-worker....i hope we didn't disturb your sleep?". "No not at all, i was already awake......going through some books". Then boy looked at Nina's face. "Aunty......are u....crying?", he asked curiously. "Me?........", Nina touched her face and noticed the tears rolling down from her right eye. "....no.....i wasn't....maybe it's the drink", she lied and raised the glass. "Okay.......", the boy murmured doubtfully and sat on one of the stools. "So aunty.....can i asked you a question?", "Oh go ahead". "Can you tell me about my parents?" Nina paused and looked at the glass in her hand. After about half a minute, she looked at boy. "Well......your parents were very good people", Nina began. "They loved each other alot and am sure they would have done the same to you if they were here". "What about my mother?...... you said she was your sister, so i guess she was beautiful......just like you". "You think so?........that am beautiful?", Nina asked with a laughter. "Yes of course", the boy replied. "Anyway you mother was a very good and probably the kindest in our family......sometimes people misunderstood her. Still, alot people liked her", Nina said with a distant gaze in her eyes. "So aunt Helen......why are you not married?", the boy asked again. "Well.......", Nina began with her head tilted abit to the side as she looked up. "I almost did......but it didn't workout. Since then i decided to live my life as a single woman". "Are you happy being single?". "Well......sometimes i think about the things i am missing, being a single woman........but reasons for me being single outweighs them......alot". "Like what reasons". "First of all am a bad cook......", Nina said and both of them laughed. "The man i loved was the only man i could ever love.........", distant gaze in her eyes again. ".....i have tried so many times with others but it never worked". "Okay....." Then Nina stared at the boy as he picked up her phone and checked the contents. She was very happy with the progress she had made with him in the short period of time they had been to together. The first time they met, he could barely answer any question or even keep a steady look at her. Now the amount of confidence he showed in his movements and communications made her quite happy. But there's more to be done. Alot more. And when she is done with him, he will be a force to be reckoned with. He will probably take over the family. "Esther?.......Eric?.....", the boy said as he scrolled through the contact list in Nina's cellphone. Then he looked at Nina. "......who is Eric?".

"Dude you are lucky......", the ice cream truck guy said to Eric and handed him his change. "How did you hook up with that girl?", he asked and glanced at Lisa. "Who told you i hooked up with her?", Eric murmured and slipped the currency into his wallet. "She is not your girlfriend?". "She is my classmate and friend", Eric said and left. Lisa was checking out some shoes in a shop nearby with the shop owner following her around and telling her the prices. And also trying to start a conversation with her. "Do they have the strawberry ice cream?", she asked Eric when he came inside the shop. "Here you go......strawberry for you.......they don't have coffee so i bought yogurt. Then Lisa thanked the shop owner who looked disappointed when he saw Lisa locking her hand with the boy who just came inside his shop and only managed to nod as they left. "What's with that man's attitude?", Eric asked as they strolled. "I dont know, he was giving me the creeps after asking my name several times", Lisa replied and licked her ice cream. "Hm......are guys always like this whenever you are around", "What do you mean?". "I mean.......guys just seem to lose control of themselves......it's like you have this strange effect on boys". "Really?......so do i have that same effect on you?", Lisa asked sweetly. "If you do, i would have understood and wont be asking the questions", Eric replied with a smile. "So why don't i have it on you?", Lisa asked, nudging Eric on his side. "Maybe it's not working", Eric said with a smile. "Or maybe you need to try harder.......or perhaps am a twisted fellow". "I kind of like the last one......a twisted fellow", Lisa laughed. "Hello, am Lisa and this twisted fellow beside my is a good friend of mine", she joked and laughed again. "Well......that sounds kind of reasonable to me", Eric said and took a bite from his ice cream. Lisa licked her strawberry lollipop and looked at it. "What is with boys staring at girls licking a lollipop ice cream", she asked and looked at Eric. "I don't know about that", he answered. "Come on......take a look at it", Eric glanced at it and said, "i dont see anything so special about it. Just an ice cream that will melt if you keep asking questions about what boys think about it". "Some rap musicians say it alot in their songs". "Maybe they are using their music to promote the sales......who knows". "Alex....are you always like this?, trying to avoid the real issue because it is kind of a naughty talk", Lisa asked with a wink. "Stop pretending because you must have heard it being discussed among boys". "Of course.....but not all of us think like that though". "So.......you are one of the boys who don't think like that?". "We can talk about it if you want but things might......you know......escalate" "How will it escalate?" "How?.......oh i forgot you are still new to this.....am sorry" "Me new to this?.......just because i got my first plowing last weekend doesn't mean i don't know all that stuff", Lisa pinched Eric on his shoulders. "Then why are you asking me?........are you trying to get my mind in the gutters or what?", Eric laughed. "I want to know how the discussion will escalate". "Okay.......it will start by me dragging you into an empty alley and give you another lollipop.......and this one doesn't melt at all.........then proceed to plow you like it is the end of humanity". "Give me a lollipop that never melts and plow me like it is the end of humanity?.......your mind is not only in the gutters but also..... rented a space there", Lisa said trying to control her laughter. "Okay now that you have succeeded in making me do so, can we talk about something else?", Eric asked. "Sure......for now". Then both of them discussed as they strolled towards the taxi park, holding hands.

"So......when are we going to see each other again?", Lisa asked Eric as he opened the door of the taxi. She has the expression in her face that says she is going to be missing him. "Soon......or you can drop by my place if you start getting impatient but you have to call to let me know first", Eric replied. "Okay......", Lisa murmured. She glanced at the taxi and looked down. She really don't want to leave. "Hey......", Eric began as he put a hand under her chin and raised her face up. "........we will meet again......okay?,........now you have to go back home before your dad start getting worried". "Him?,........he can wait forever...... i dont care". "Still..... you have to go home to prepare for school .....to study. Do you want to write the certificate exam for third time?" Lisa shook her head in silence. "Then you have to go home......we can talk on the phone when you arrive at your place". Eric said quietly to her. Then Lisa put her arm around Eric's neck and gave him a long kiss on his cheek and whispered, "Am gonna miss you fire cracker". "Me too.......", Eric whispered to her as he gently break away from her tight hug after seeing the impatience in the taxi driver's face". Lisa slid into the back of the car and blow a kiss at Eric as he shut the door. The driver hit the pedal and the car rolled into the traffic. As the car left, Eric could see Lisa staring at him from the window of the back seat and waving. He waved back at her. Then he sighed after the taxi vanished in the traffic and waved at the next taxi approaching him. The taxi grinded to a halt infront of Eric and the driver peered at him from the passenger side window and exclaimed, "Hey.....my boy!". Eric looked at him carefully and remembered. He was the taxi driver who picked him up at the bus station on his first day in Easthill city. The man looked cheerful as he was the first day they met. "Sir!........nice to meet you again", Eric began as he opened the back door of the taxi. "Do you also ply this route?", he asked as he slammed the door shut. "I go anywhere the money is at", the driver said with a smile. "So where are you going to?", he asked, guiding the car into the traffic. "Hill-crest estate sir". "Hill-crest?.........", the driver glanced at Eric through the rearview mirror. "Are you staying with a rich family member?", he asked. "Yeah.......my parents". The man glanced at Eric again. He seemed puzzled. "Last time you said you lived in Metro-city", he began. "Now you are telling me that you live in Hill- crest estate of Easthill......so which one is not true?", he asked Eric. "Last time we met, you said that the city was full of surprises". "Yes.....i remember that". "Well......this is one of them sir". The driver smiled. "So why are not being picked up by some private car being driven by a chauffeur since you are one of those rich kids?", he asked as he made some turns. "I prefer moving around with a taxi", Eric said "Let me guess.......you dont want the girls coming to you for the wrong reasons", the man smiled. "Yeah.....more like that sir". "Smart boy". After about a minute or two of silence between them, the taxi driver glanced at Eric through the mirror and asked, "My boy, do you know if your family is employing?". "Why?,.......do you need a job?", Eric responded with another question. "Um.........well.....the taxi company intends to trim the workforce.......some taxi drivers will be fired", the driver replied. "So am just trying to secure another job incase my name appear in the list of those to be cut out". "I don't know......but i will ask". Eric said without looking at the man. His mind seemed to be somewhere else. "Please do my boy.......", the driver said eagerly. "....Alot of responsibility hanging around my neck, so i can't afford to stay unemployed". Eric didn't hear the last words. He mind was on what happened to him yesterday night and was quite worried. The doctors had reassured him that he would live a normal life as long as he interacted regularly with people, exercised alot and avoided any mental stress inducing situation. Of course he had being under some stress caused by Nina and the people surrounding him. And he hadn't worked out for almost a week; the longest time for him not to have done any kind of exercise so far. But he never thought or felt that it would affect him in anyway nor make those warning signs to flare up. The warning signs of his Mental Psychosis. That night he had called his mother's cellphone to let her know what was going on but her phone line was disconnected. After calling the number about ten times, it dawned to him that for the time being, he alone would have to prevent himself from becoming what he and his mother had feared he might end up being........he becoming a psycho killer. Even though he was mentally wired like one, he had control of himself and it made him to be able to think straight and have reasons for any actions made. That's why he disliked being confused. Eric sighed and looked at the taxi driver who had been talking all the time. Then he remembered something and dipped his hand inside his back pocket. He pulled out a piece of neatly folded piece of paper. Eric unfolded the paper and glanced at the scribblings in it. He thought for a while and looked at the taxi driver. "Sir......i need your help", he said to the driver "You need my help?.......how can i help?", the man asked. "I want you to take me to this place", Eric said and handed the man the piece of paper. The driver took a few glances at the paper. "Why do you wanna go to this kind of place?", he asked Eric. "There is someone there that i want to meet". "Who is this person that you want to meet in this kind place?". Eric stared at the man for a few seconds and said, "There is this guy i want to straighten up abit.........put him in order.........some violence could be involved". The driver paused for a few seconds with glances at Eric and then asked "What did he do to you?". "When we get there, you will know......so are you taking me there or not?", Eric asked. "Well this place is not the kind of place for people like you", the driver said, gesturing the hand that held the piece of paper. "Are you taking me there or not?", Eric asked again. The driver then made left turn and took another direction.

The three men were sitting and playing a card game on the unmade bed that has a very dirty white bed spread and a mattress that screams of bedbug infestation. There are some crumpled currency notes inbetween them and they talked out loud and took sips from the bottles of brew on the floor beside them as they gambled. More empty bottles littered the room that was dreadfully untidy and very stuffy due to the weed smoke the men were puffing. The Wall had alot of cracks, the few furnitures very shabby and below a make shift cloth hanger was a pile of dirty cloths that seemed to harbour creatures. The room is best described with two words. Total Sh!thole. The men continue playing their game, oblivious to the chaos of their dwelling. One of them looked well fed and had a pot-belly that was covered with a black sleeveless shirt. The other two were skinny and one wore a grey t-shirt with some grease stain on it, while the other had no shirt on. None of them wore a trouser or shorts. Only boxers. They looked like they were in their early thirties "Hey......stop!.......my turn" pot-belly guy bawled at shirtless skinny guy and grabbed his hand as he was about to play his card. "He is so much in a hurry to play......can't you see he is losing money fast", grey t-shirt guy chuckled. "Ha......not faster than Mr orangutan here", shirtless man scoffed and pointed at pot-belly. "But he doesn't care because he will be going to get some dough from his woman. "Are you even sure?........", grey t-shirt said and blew a cloud of weed smoke in the air. "Last time he didn't get any.......she said her madam didn't pay her. This son of a b!tch almost knocked her down with a slap". They roared with laughter. "Hey.......", grey t-shirt guy put his arm on pot-belly shoulder. "......since she is no longer your woman, why don't you let us......you know.......enjoy some of that plus sized flesh the next time we pay her a visit. Am sure it's been a long time someone touched her. So it's gonna be sweet". "Well if you want her, you can have her as long as my palm is well greased", pot-belly said indifferently as he sipped his beer and played his turn in the game. "Have you started pimping her out?......anyway you still owe me some money......so i think we can trade......five rounds with her and the debt is cancelled", "Five rounds?.....dude, do you want to kill his woman?", shirtless guy laughed "Three rounds......i don't want her to pass out before it is my own turn", pot-belly guy said. "Four rounds......three for me and one for this id!ot, am tired of catching him masturbating in the bathroom", grey t-shirt guy jerked his head at shirtless guy. "Okay it's a deal......but she has to be at home because for the past three days she hasn't come back. I think she is staying at her madam's place". Then there was a knock on the door. The three men glanced at themselves and stared at the door curiously. Then pot-belly guy motioned at grey t-shirt guy to go check it out. He dropped his cards on the bed and got up lazily and went towards the door. He unlocked the door and it made a low creaking sound as he opened and saw a boy standing infront of him. "Yes can i help you?", grey t-shirt guy asked indifferently . "Hi.....am looking for.......", the boy began and looked at the piece of paper in his hand. "......for James....Mr James", he looked at grey t-shirt guy. "And....who are you?", "I have a message to deliver to him". "What's the message?, why don't you give it to me and i will deliver it to him". "Sir, i have to deliver the message myself". Then grey t-shirt guy sighed and looked over his shoulder. "Hey jay, there is a boy here who wants to deliver a message to you.....he said he wants to do it himself", he said to pot belly guy. "Okay let him in", pot belly guy said. Grey t-shirt moved away from the door and the boy entered the room. He wrinkled his nose and frown in disgust as the smell of the place hit his nose. Then he looked around the messy place and shook his head as grey t-shirt closed the door and stood beside him "So.....who is Mr James?", the boy asked. "Me......so what is the message?", pot belly guy asked. "Actually it is a message from me.....", the boy began as he looked at the messy pile of dirty cloths, hoping that no creature jumps out from it and attack everybody in the room. ".......and it is about Mrs Nancy", he continued. The men glanced at each other surprisingly and stared at the boy. "What do you mean?", one of them then asked. "You see......Mrs Nancy is our family cook and a very nice woman", the boy began, trying to be as polite as he can. "She cooks a very delicious food for the family but we love her more because of her very warm heart and how she cares alot for us, especially me", The boy paused and rubbed his hair with the palm of his hand gently as he sighed. "Then i noticed that her food tasted abit different the day after she collected her wage and she looked quite upset. So i decided to find out what happened and she told me about this man who won't stop bothering her. And i also found out that the man had the nasty habit of appearing on the day she was being paid to forcefully reap from where he didn't sow." Then the boy stared at pot belly guy. "Sir ....am not the 'knock your hustle' kind of guy but when that hustle start affecting me in anyway, especially the taste of food in my mouth, then we gonna have a serious problem". The three guys stared at the boy dumbfounded. "So am here to just warn you and your friends to stay away from Mrs Nancy. That nice woman deserves better. And you will have to give me your word that you will never ever go near her again", the boy concluded and glanced at them. Pot belly guy got up and stared at the boy. He then scoffed and looked at grey t-shirt guy standing near the boy. "Kujo.....throw that rat bastard out of this room", he ordered grey t-shirt guy. As grey t-shirt made a move to push the boy out, the boy redirected the hand and in the process left the guy's arm outstretched. Then the boy a threw a vicious uppercut at his elbow and the blow dislocated the elbow joint instantly. The guy screamed in agony. The boy threw a right hook that spun the guy around and made him hit the wall, face first. Then the boy grabbed the guy from behind, pressed his face against the wall and hammered a punch into his side. He hammered another more vicious blow and his fist dug deep into the guy's side and did some damages. Then he let go and grey t-shirt guy crumbled on the floor like a rag-doll. Shirtless guy immediately dived at the table beside the make shift cloth hanger and searched frantically among the numerous x rated magazines and bottles of lotions and shaving cream, knocking down some in the process. He picked up a box cutter and rushed at the boy wildly. Pot belly guy watched with terror as the boy neutralized shirtless guy and went savage on him. He screamed, "Oh Jesus!", when he heard the sickening crunch as shirtless guy's collar bone and wrist snapped. And he slowly backed away after the boy had left his second friend lying on the floor motionless. "Stay away from me.....", pot belly guy began and pointed his shaky hands at the boy. "What do you want from me?!", the guy cried. The boy looked at the box cutter the shirtless guy had dropped and picked it up. He examined it's blade and looked at the pot belly guy. Then his eyes shift to the guy's belly. He stared at it and extended the blade of box cutter slowly. "Please......", the guy began and feel on his knees. "I will never go near Nancy.....please....i swear on my mother's grave i will never go near her", he begged as the boy approached slowly. "Trouble makers......", the boy said quietly and shook his head. "Always the ones begging in the end......am sorry but it is too late for you now", he said and raised the box cutter over his head. "Please.......oh Jesus!.......Save me please.....save me". Suddenly the door opened and a man walked in. He looked at the boy holding the box cutter and then to pot belly guy kneeling on the floor with a wet boxers and a puddle inbetween his legs. Then he glanced at the two guy lying on the floor in amazement. "My boy.......what have you being doing?", he asked the boy.

- Ain't nothin changed woadie (nope) - - I've been trying chill (chillin out) - - I got my changed up - - Now i ain't gotta kill - - But f@ck sending n!ggas - - They f@ck around and squeal (might rat) - - I'm coming by myself - - Right in where you live (ya crib) - - I'm running right down, why you with your kids - - You gotta go n!gga - - And that's just what it is (damn!) - The hardcore rap song by a rap artist called 'Hardo' was pounding out of the taxi with a loud volume as the car zoomed along the express road. The driver worked the steering wheel and stole glances through the rear-view mirror at Eric who was nodding his head to the beats and lyrics of rap music while staring out of the window. The man shook his head with a smile and glanced at the road sign they approached. "Haven't we gone far enough?", he asked. But Eric was too busy enjoying the loud music to hear what he just asked. And the driver don't want to turn down the volume because Eric had paid him well with specific instructions, to never touch the volume of the music till they reach their destination. The man wondered if he enjoys listening to music that loud or doing it with the intention to torture the pot belly guy in the trunk of the car because there are two loud speakers in the car trunk. Whichever it is, he don't care. But he was sure that they had gone quite far enough. Enough to let the pot belly fellow go. As Eric had planned. To drive the man several kilometers away and leave him on the highway to walk back home wearing only a sleeveless shirt and a boxer. Definitely he won't get a hitchhike because the motorist will think he is a lunatic. - I'm really into sh,t - - And you just run ya mouth (just talking!) - - Trapped in them checks - - I ain't like that (these hills) - - Went and grabbed my strap (2 minutes) - - Came right back - - Hit a n!gga up - - Had n slain that - - I was young as f@ck - - Pushing brains back (like 13) - - I'm a natural killa - - I don't need a pill (nope) - - Go ahead, act gorilla - - My banana filled - The music keep pounding hard and other motorists could hear the lyrics even with the windows of the taxi rolled up. "Haven't we gone far enough?!", the driver asked a bit louder this time. Eric shifted his eyes from the the scenery that was flashing by to the driver. Then he glanced over his shoulder to the rear window and gave the man a thumbs up. The driver decelerated the car and brought it to a standstill near the thick bush alongside the highway. He put his hand on the audio volume knob and looked at Eric who gave him the go-ahead to turn it down. The man reduced the loud music to an almost inaudible sound and turned it off. Then he disconnected the USB cable that was connected to Erics smart phone from the USB port on the car dashboard. "So what now?........", he asked as he handed Eric his phone. ".......are you going to beat him till he start eating grass?". Eric said nothing and quietly got out of the taxi. The driver hit the open button for the trunk and got out too. Eric casually glanced at the cars zooming by as he stood near the trunk and checked his cellphone for messages while the taxi driver lit himself a cigarette and offered one to him. Eric declined. "It's like you really care alot for that woman......", the driver said and blew a cloud of smoke into the wind caused by the zooming cars. "You literally dealt with those guys.......by the way how did you even take them out singlehandedly?, are you in the force........military marines?.......special force?", he asked and stared at Eric. "Why do you ask?", Eric murmured as he slipped his phone into his pocket. "You took out two grown men like they were nothing......one even wielded a box cutter. That is not what a normal every day high school boy does", the man said. "I have a military backgroud and i know how hard it is to neutralize two guys at a time.......but i watched you waltz into that house and do it like it was just eating a piece of a tasty cake". "I don't think you wanna know sir". Then Eric lifted the trunk lid of the car as the driver stubbed out the cigarette and stared at pot belly guy curled up inside it with his hands tied behind his back with a tape. The guy who was sweating heavily stared back, anticipating what's going to happen to him next. Eric grabbed him roughly and yanked him out of the car trunk. "Did you enjoy the ride?", he asked the guy. "Wh....what?". "I said did you enjoy your ride?!". "Ermm......what?". "Look at those things in there......", the taxi driver said to Eric and pointed at two big speakers in the trunk of the car. "How do you expect him to hear what you are saying after leaving him in the trunk and playing the music at very high volume. Do you know how ungodly loud it will be in there?........this whole week the dude would have to scream so as to even hear himself". Eric smirked. He picked up the tire iron that was also in the trunk of the car and lead the pot belly guy into the bush with the driver following behind. After a few steps, away from being sighted by the motorists passing by, Eric halted the guy and faced him. Then he brought out the box cutter from his right pocket and extended the blade. "So what it is gonna be?", Eric began and showed pot belly guy what he held in both hands. The guy remained silent and stared at Eric and the taxi driver with fear in his eyes. "Is it going to be your throat being slit......", Eric asked and raised the right hand bearing the box cutter. ".....or beating you till your soul fly with the birds?", he asked again and raised the left hand bearing the tire iron. "....or even both?". "Please forgive me.......i.....i will never do again...i swear", pot belly guy began with a shaky voice. ".......i swear i will never ever go near Nancy again". "What about all the money you took from her?", Eric asked, moving the box cutter closer to his throat. "I will pay her......i swear....i will pay her all that money......sir please spare my life". Then the guy broke down sobbing. Eric stared at him for a while and looked at the driver who shrugged and smirked. Then he used the box cutter to cut the man's hands loose. "Today is your lucky day......Nancy will be cooking my favourite", he said to the guy as he removed the tape around his wrist and wiped the tears in his eyes. "I don't want to eat the food and be thinking of how i killed her ex husband". Then Eric turned to the driver and said, "Let's go sir", and both of them headed towards the car. After a few steps, they stopped and looked at pot belly guy following them behind. "Where are you going?", Eric asked him. "Mm......my....house.....", he stammered. "So why are you following us?". "I thought you guys are.....going backing to the.....". "You thought we are what?", the taxi driver asked. "You want to take my taxi?,.....do you have money to pay for the fare?", "No sir". "Why?". "Sir......i don't have any money". "Okay do you have money in your house?" "Sir......i don't have any money at all". "You don't even have any money......after taking that poor woman's wage?". Then the driver grabbed the tire iron from Eric and bawled, "You better take a hike before i f@cking turn your fat head into a f@cked up mess!!", and the man took off into the bush as the driver approached menacingly. "Foolish man!", the driver spat and then followed Eric who was smiling to his taxi. "Turn his fat head into a f@cked up mess?........sir you are really mean". "Ha!......says the person who broke bones and dislocated joints".

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. Barry took out a bottle of Hennessey and a couple of glasses from the liquor cabinet and went over to spacious living-room, heading towards the man sitting on the sofa with his long legs crossed. The man looked the same age as Barry and almost same built though Barry looked abit bigger. But the man was not as good looking because he was bald. He wore a dark grey suit with a white shirt inside and a deep blue tie. His eyes looked friendly and he also wore an eyeglass. Barry poured a generous shot in one of the glasses and handed it to him and poured one for himself as he sat down. Both of them continued their discussions with some laughters and a few friendly arguments. Then Eric descended quickly from the stairs leading to the bedrooms clutching a few textbooks. He decreased his pace when he saw Barry and the man. He didn't know who the man is and neither did he expect to see Barry still in the house. "Good morning dad......", he began as both men turned their faces to him. Then he looked at the man and said to him, "Good morning sir". "Good morning my son......", Barry began with a smile. Then he looked at the books Eric was holding and also saw that he was dressed up. "Son......are you going somewhere?", he asked. "Yes dad......to the library", Eric replied and glanced at the man in suit. He noticed the strange look in the man's face. "Arent you going to the office today?", he asked Barry. "No.......am feeling abit under the weather so i decided to take the day off", Barry replied with a smile. "Anyway my friend Williams came to see me......he came back from the states just yesterday.....and he also wants to check up on you. He heard what happened", he added and looked at the man. "You can see Alex is doing great". Barry said to the man. "Oh.......i hope you enjoyed your trip Mr Williams", Eric said to the man, trying to be cautious not to give himself away because he didn't know who he is nor did Nina say anything about him. "Mr Williams?.....", Williams chuckled and looked at Barry. "So you no longer call me uncle Williams?", he asked Eric as both men laughed. Eric smiled at what Williams just said but had one word in his mind. 'Damnation'. "Oh come on...Willy, boys do grow up you know.....", Barry said. ".....he is now a big boy so no more uncle this or that". "Ahh.....i see, anyway i hope you are okay now but if you in anyway don't feel well, you let me know so i can do some check ups on your health", William said to Eric. 'A doctor', Eric thought to himself as he stared at Williams and nodded. "By the way.....why are you not in school?", Williams asked. "He got suspended......for singlehandedly beating up four boys in his school......Willy can you believe that?,......four boys....and even saved a girl. I told you that my son had it in him", Barry said excitedly with pride in his voice. "Really?", Williams furrowed his eyebrows. "How come?". "And do you know the most interesting part?......", Barry continued. "......that boy who always bullied him in school was one of them and got the worst beating. I heard he was admitted to the hospital". Williams said nothing. He held his glass of drink with his hands resting on his laps and stared at Eric. "How is that even possible?", he asked and looked at Barry. "I don't know.....but i guess he was saving it for his final year in school so that he can unleash hell and graduate as a famous student", Barry said with much excitement. "You know how we did it during our school days". "So....what about the boy in the hospital?", William asked, still staring at Eric. "What if his parents sue you?". "Sue me?........", Barry scoffed. ".....Well they better don't try it because am gonna make their life miserable for them". Then he looked at Eric. "Son.....when will you be back because i want to go get you a drivers licence......i know someone who will help fast track it for us". "Alex also knows how to drive?", Williams looked at Barry surprisingly. "He is very good......i think he must have learned it secretly so that he can surprise us all", Barry said and looked at Eric with a grin. Eric can now see the suspicions in Williams face and decided that he better be on his way before his suspicions are confirmed. "Oh......", he pretend to check the time in his wristwatch. "I have to go now.......my friend is probably waiting for me". "Tell Jim to drive you to the library". "Okay.....oh one more thing dad,....can we employ one more driver for the family?', Eric asked. "I know someone who is very good in driving". "Why do you say that?". "Well.....i think we are making Jim to overwork himself with constant driving to and fro. Besides it's high time you stop driving yourself to work everyday". "Well i enjoy driving myself around though". Barry noted. "Of course......but it could be one of the causes of you being under the weather.......you know..... driving through the horrible rush hour traffic and at the same time thinking of how to move the family company forward. Won't it be better if you relax and do the thinking while being driven in the car?", Eric stated. "And alot of men in your position are being driven around. So i don't understand why you prefer to do the driving yourself". Barry thought for a while and smiled. "I think he is right.......isn't he?", he asked and looked at Williams. "Williams said nothing, still staring at Eric. "So who is this person that you know?,...do you know him very well?", Barry asked Eric. "Yes dad......he is a taxi driver and a very good one......and extremely loyal", Eric replied. "Okay.....why dont you bring this fellow for an interview". "Okay dad", Eric said with a smile. Then he went over to Barry and gave him a hug. Eric wanted to put up a show for Williams because of his suspicions. "Take care of yourself today", he whispered to Barry and left. Barry stared at the door as it closed and smiled happily. Then he poured himself another shot and glanced at Williams glass. "Drink up willy....", he boomed happily and swallowed the shot. "Alex is now becoming the son l have always dreamed of", he said and poured himself another shot. "Barry, are you sure that boy is Alex.....your son?", Williams asked quietly with some concern in his voice. "Of course". "I don't think so.......that boy is not Alex". Barry heard those words and almost choked on his drink. Then he looked al Williams amusingly and glanced at his glass. "Are you drunk already?......what do you mean by that?", he asked Williams. "I hope you saw the same person that i saw minutes ago". "Am telling you......that boy might not be Alex". "Do you even know what you are talking about?, are there two or three Alex in this world?". "I don't think so but......", "Then what makes you think that he is not Alex?", Barry interrupted. "Barry,......don't be blinded by all these sudden feats", Williams began with a sigh. "I mean, how did he even get the strength and heart to take out four boys and even put then in a hospital?......remember that i spent alot of time with Alex to know why he was so timid and his disturbing lack of confidence......why did i find it hard?,.......because he could barely communicate with me or even with anybody. But now see how confident he is, even making suggestions on how to things should be done. Can someone build that kind of confidence in just two weeks?", he asked. Barry stared ahead thoughtfully. "Besides you heard him call me Mr Williams......Alex never called me Mr Williams, even if he was talking to someone else about me", Williams continued. "Not to talk of how he seemed not to recognize me". Barry thought for a while and shook his head with a smirk. "So what are you saying?......that someone had a plastic surgery to look like Alex, changed his voice to sound like Alex, learned everything about this family and replaced Alex?", he asked. "Does that even sound possible to you because to me it is impossible in all the realms of humanity", "I know but we have to take a closer look......put four boys in a hospital and he being unscathed?......aw come on Barry......what is he?, a trained hitman?.......i have seen the boy who bullied Alex constantly and he was quite big and scary...... the entire boys in that school were scared of him. Yet you believed that Alex took him out. Him and four other boys......the Alex that i know multiplied by four can't possibly do that". "And like i told you, he must have had it in him but didn't know", Barry put in irritatedly. "He beating those boys is not impossible for him because i know he can do it!". Then he got up and paced around the living-room while Williams sipped his drink and stared at his friend. "Confident, hardworking, tough and intelligent", Barry muttered and then looked at Williams. "Just like her". Williams heard it and stared at Barry with his mouth open. He looked down and sighed. Then he got up and went over to Barry and placed his hand on Barry's shoulder. "Are you still thinking about her after all these years?", Williams asked almost in a whisper. Barry sighed and nodded. And said, "Ever since he ran away and came back, he had been displaying all those qualities. One time i almost told him the whole truth about everything". "Barry, you know you can't do that......you might destroy your own family if you do so". "But for how long will i keep the secret?......the longer i hide it the more the damage it will cause if they eventually find out". "You have to let them know for sure......but to me this is not the right time.....besides how do you know that Alex is even her child?", Williams whispered and looked around the living-room carefully. "She never told you that she was pregnant. She just told you that she wanted to break up and vanished, only to call you about nine months later to tell you to go to some motherless babies home to adopt a certain baby". "My friend do the maths......", Barry said to Williams. "She disappeared........and called me nine months later.....that means she was pregnant and didn't tell me and called me nine months later after having the baby.......sometimes i wonder if you studied to be a medical doctor or native doctor", he said sarcastically. "Two other women claimed to be pregnant with your child after she left you and they also vanished", Williams said quietly. "Maybe she got to know one of them and decided to call you. Remember she was the one that called Agnes and convinced her not to divorce you. So dont you think that she might have convinced one of those women to give up their baby for you to adopt. Especially for the fact that you and Agnes were in desperate need of a child. Alex's blood test showed that you are his father but we can't tell who his mother is because we have neither of those women blood samples". Then Williams pat Barry on his back as Barry stared down thoughtfully. "It's high time you just forget about her and move on pal.....", Williams said quietly. "If she really loved you, she wouldn't have left you for no good reason. Even after telling her how willing you were to dump Agnes for her. Then Barry went behind the counter of the mini-bar and took out another bottle from the cabinet. He poured a shot for himself and another for Williams who sat on one of the stools there. Both men raised their cup to the secret known to only both of them and sipped. Then Williams thought for a while and looked at Barry. "Why don't we check him again", he said. "What do you mean", Barry asked. "I mean why don't we check your son again......i keep having this feeling that something is not right". "How?". "Let's him undergo another blood test".

"Mr Tommy?.......Mr Tommy?....", one of the two young female receptionists behind the desk called out as she glanced at the clipboard she held and looked at the visitors waiting patiently for their turn to see the medical doctor in his office. "Am here", Eric raised his hand as he answered the fake name he had written down in the name space of the form he had earlier filled. Now his is going to get the treatment for the 'Unending Massive Headache' he also wrote in the ailment space. "Oh, Mr Tommy......you can go and see the doctor now", the plain looking girl said and gave Eric a bright smile. Eric got up and straightened his white short sleeved t shirt and followed the receptionist to the corridor leading to the doctor's office. As he followed her, she stole a glance at Eric and smiled again. He did the same and noticed that she was putting a little more twist to her hips. But he wasnt impressed at all. When they came to the door of the doctor's office, the nurse knocked twice and opened the door. Eric followed her into the office as she entered and went over to the doctor to hand him the clipboard she had with her. "Good morning doctor", Eric greeted. "Good morning to......", the doctor began as he looked up and stop midway when he saw Eric's face; too surprised to utter another word or say anything. Eric smiled and sat on the chair opposite the man. The man still looked the same as he was the first time Eric set his eye on him. That time being the day he woke up in that same hospital to take the impersonation instructions from Nina. And sitting on the swivel chair behind the desk made the small mousy man look even smaller. "Thanks....you can go back now", the doctor dismissed the nurse without looking at her after collecting the clipboard. The man waited until the door was closed. "What are you doing here?", he then asked Eric. "What am i doing here?......", Eric began with a chuckle. "This question is kind of odd because there is a sign outside this building that has 'hospital' written on it. And the nameplate on your desk has......", Eric looked at the the nameplate infront of him. ".......it has 'Doctor Dick. P' written on it", the name made Eric to furrow his eyebrows. 'Dick. P as in Dick Power?.......Dick pounder??', he thought to himself. The last one made him purse his lips. "So what?.........", the doctor demanded. "Can't i go to a hospital to get a treatment or did Nina give you the instruction not to allow me come here?", Eric asked. "Treatment for what?.......", the doctor asked and looked at the paper on the clipboard. ".......Unending massive headache?.......what does that suppose mean?....Mr Tommy??", he blurted out. "The kind of headache that makes it feel like there is an anvil bouncing around inside your skull each time you shake your head". "I thought i told you that my work with you was done.......and if you are having a massive headache, you should go to the drug store and get some pills......so you better get out of my office or else......", "Or else what?,...... you call the security to have me thrown out?", Eric asked coldly. "Yes!", the man barked and reached for the phone on his desk. "Before or after i have beaten you to death with that phone handle?". The doctor paused with his hand over the handle of the phone on his desk and stared at Eric in silence. Eric sighed. "Look I'm not here to have any argument with you or cause any problem. Am just here to ask you something", he said quietly. "I came here to ask you about that woman call Nina, since you and her had some kind of dealings. Sir......i need your help". The doctor slowly retrieved his hand from the phone and reclined in his seat. "The day before yesterday, i called my mother but her line was disconnected", Eric continued as he gazed at the files stacked on one side of doctor's desk. "Yesterday i called her workplace and they told me that no one have heard or seen her after she was given a month leave......i made more inquires to know why she was given a month leave. Her co workers told me that they themselves were surprised by the hospital management move to do that because it was unlike them to suddenly give a worker a month leave for no reason. So i suspected it was Nina's doing". Then Eric looked at the man. "That's why am here.......i want to see if you can give me some informations......any kind of informations about that woman so that i can take care of her, should anything happen to my mother", he said. The doctor laughed and looked away. Then he shook his head and stared at Eric. "Son......this is my advice to you.....", he began. "I know how hot headed you young men can be but whatever that woman is making you to do, you better do it and even ask her if there is more to be done......if you are dreaming of crossing that woman then you better say some prayers and stop sleeping". "What does that suppose to mean?", Eric asked surprisingly. "You know what i mean". "Am sorry i dont really know". "By the way how did a young man like you get into a mess with a woman like that?", the doctor asked, gazing intently at Eric. "I have nothing to do with that woman.....i don't even know her", Eric replied. "Two months ago me and my mother met her in Metro-city and she seemed so nice and very kind. Then last week i came to this city for some job......only to wake up in this hospital and me being told to do something or else my mother go to jail for something she did a longtime ago". "She is blackmailing you?", the doctor asked. "Yeah....she is blackmailing me and my mother......and i am only doing what she told me to do because i don't want my mother to go to jail for whatever it is she had done", Eric sighed. "I know all this sound kind of crazy". "Yeah it does sound kind of crazy......", the doctor said thoughtfully. "....Because blackmailing is not Nina's kind of thing". "What do you mean?", Eric was confused. "She never uses blackmail as a tool to get things done.......as far as i know.....it's either you do it or she will cause you great pain or end your life in the worst way........and she is very very good at it", the doctor said. "This blackmail thing is new and unlike her". What the doctor just said baffled Eric. He had always seen Nina as a cheap blackmailer who probably had some connections here and there. Not some kind of a bringer of pain and death which he kind of believed because of the fear he saw in the doctor's eye when he talked about Nina. But he had seen her and the way she carried herself. And she doesn't in anyway look like what the doctor said she was. Well, looks can be deceiving and she might truly be some kind of a "lucifer's daughter". "Then why is she blackmailing me and my mother instead of threatening to bring pain and death if we don't do her biddings?", Eric asked. "Why would she threaten to report my mother to the authorities when she knows very well that the fear of death will make anyone do anything?". "Son.....i don't know, but my advice is you better do whatever it is that she wants because Nina blackmailing you to do something means that she is in a very very good terms with you and your mother whom you shouldn't worry about either". "Why shouldn't i worry about my mother?". "Because if Nina wants something to happen to your mother, she will make you watch while it happens before she take your own life......", the doctor said, pointing his index finger at Eric "........maybe your mother is somewhere else or maybe Nina had given her the order to cut off any kind of communication with you". Then Eric remembered what Nina said about making sure that he cannot contact his mother when she was giving out her instructions. "So you are telling me that the woman is very bad", Eric asked. "No......am telling you that the woman is a freaking monster and never to be messed with", the doctor replied. Then silence settled between the both of them. The doctor stared at the paper on the clipboard on his desk even though his mind was somewhere else while Eric stared at the files on the table and thinking to himself. "I think i get it", Eric then said with a faint smile. "Get what?", the doctor asked. "This thing that Nina wants me to do for this so called client........it's not about the client", Eric murmured. "He is not a client or perhaps there is no client........it's about her.... Alex doesn't know what is going on......or he is probably dead. I mean.....why won't he be glad to come back to a house that was a nightmare to him to see everybody respecting him?........or go back to the school where he would be hailed as the guy who put the terror of the school in his place?". "Terror of school?,........what are you talk about?", the doctor asked; he was confused. Then Eric got up and smiled at the doctor. "Sir.....thank you for the info", he said to the man and headed towards the door. "What info?.......son, please don't do anything foolish if you want to live long", the doctor said with a nervous tone of voice. "Who said i want to live long?", Eric said as he reached for the door handle. "At some point i might get bored and blow my brains out". "Whatever you do please just don't mention my name!!".

8 pm........later in the evening at the banquet hall in the third floor of a five star hotel. The guests in their fashionable clothings and expensive jewelries held their champagne glasses. Some mingled around with other guests while some discussed inbetween laughters, hand gestures and smiles. A live jazz band made the atmosphere of the party lively and also entertained the guests with a slow and smooth jazz music. "You know.......i always admired your beauty ever since i set my eyes on you......", A burly looking man in his fifties wearing a black three piece suit, said to Nina as he looked at her from head to toe; admiring her and her close-fitted purple dress showing her body figure with the sleeves gently wrapped around her elbow. The dress was tight around her waist and it's bottom draped around her ankles. Some male guests standing behind her stole a few glances at her with their eyes rolling from her body down to her waist. Nina heard what he said and her thin lips parted into a smile as she raised her champagne glass to her lips. "Oh really?.......", she began and took a sip from her glass. "General, are you flattering me?", she asked the man. "If you consider it to be so........but i still don't know why a beautiful woman like you prefer to be single. Not even a boyfriend.........or a lover", the man gave her a mischevous smile. "Maybe am not interested in having one......or maybe am yet to meet the man who can sweep me off my feet", Nina said with a wink. "Not even a man like me?", the man asked. "I would have considered you but you have a wife and a few girlfriends here and there.......and i don't like competing". "Well i can still get rid of them if you say the word". "General......i don't want to put you in that situation.....it could be bad for business". Then the man took her hand gently and they walked. "If you and i had tied the knot, with your connection to the family and the power that i wield in this country, you and i would have made a good couple", the man said to her. ".......we would have done alot of big things in this country". "Really?.....that sounds really interesting", Nina nodded. "Especially now that I'm in the process of achieving my political ambition", then the man looked her in the face. "Why don't you join me", he said. Nina gently looked away with a faint smile. Then she saw the big man coming towards them. He handed Nina a cellphone and whispered into her ear. She nodded several time and looked at the burly man. "General am sorry i have to take this call.......i will see you in a few minutes", she said to him and headed towards the ladies restroom. "I hope you have gotten rid of that girl.......", Nina said to the phone mouthpiece as she stood close to the pearl white ceramic hand sink and gazed at herself in the mirror. "Nope.....i told you last time that it's not gonna happen", it was Eric's voice. "You think this is a joke.....huh?", Nina asked. "You think am playing with you?........well playing time is over". "Well play time was over when i called my mother only to find out that her phone was disconnected.....by the way, what did you do to make her boss to give her a month paid leave?", Eric asked. "I told you not to ever contact your mother until the job is done and you still went ahead and disobeyed my instructions", Nina asked. "So you want me to make the call and have her arrested and prosecuted.....is that what you want boy?", she asked again. Well......that is not going to happen because i know you won't do it as far as am concerned". "What do you mean by that?", "You know very well what i mean.......anyway i didn't call to listen to your instruction, rather i called to give you some instructions because the rules of engagement have changed and you better listen carefully". Nina laughed. "You are joking right?, tell me that this is a big joke", she said. "No, this is not a joke so you better listen if you don't want this job to get more complicated than ever......", Eric stated. "I know you are the one responsible for making my mother to disconnect her phone.....so you have to contact her and give her this number to call me.......i give you until tomorrow and she better don't call me with a complain of being threatened". "And if i don't do it?", Nina asked with an irritated tone of voice. "Then you better start finding a suitable explanations for Alex when things start happening.......like his face being on the news for one thing or the other he didn't know about", Eric said. "You know it will be bad for him and really really bad for you". "Are you.......threatening me?". "Threat?, no one is being threatened here......it's just my leverage.....just like you said to me the last time we met. So you can either do what i said, which is relatively easy or ignore it and keep enjoying your bingo night". "Do you know how easy i eliminate brats like you?, boy don't let me show you the really bad side of me", Nina warned. "You think brats like me really give a rat's ass what happens to them?........if you want your job done well then you better do what i said". The line clicked before Nina could say any other thing. She stared at the cell phone for a few seconds and then laughed. Another woman walked into the restroom and saw her staring at the phone and laughing. She stared at Nina like she was crazy. "Can i help you?", Nina then asked her with out looking. "Are you okay?", the woman asked "Yes am okay", Nina replied. "Are you sure?, i hope there is nothing......." "I hope you mind your damn business and take your piss", Nina said to her and gave her a stern look. The woman quietly left the restroom as Nina dialled her cellphone. ********************************************* Esther poured what was left in the bottle into the her glass and left the bottle on the floor carelessly. "Careful with that bottle honey", the man sitting on the sofa said as he put down his own glass of drink. "Unless you want to be the nurse pulling out pieces of glass from my skin". She smiled and went over to he was sitting; staggering abit. She was quite drunk and tried very hard to control her steps. Placing her glass on the table beside the sofa, she sat heavily next to him. "What is wrong with you today?", he asked as he put his arm around her shoulder. "I have never seen you drink like this, is there anything wrong?", "David why are you asking?........", Esther asked and rested her head on his shoulder; her voice abit slurry. "You ask alot of questions.....you all ask alot of questions.....and am tired of answering alot of questions". "You have been here for the past three days, i hope everything is okay?", David asked. "Why.......do you want me to leave?". "No.......not in a million years dear. Am just worried because there seem to be something bothering you and am also worried about Eric......i hope he is okay because you havent said anything about him.......neither have you called since you came here". "Eric is old enough to take care of himself now Dave, don't worry", Esther said and placed her hand on his own. Squeezing it gently and looking at his face. "Dont you miss him?, you always told me how much you cared about him and that he was all you got in this world?", David said, staring at her. "Yeah......", Esther began with a sad look on her face. "Just like others that i had cared for and they all got taken away from me.....", the sad look on her face then turn into a distant gaze. "......everytime i put so much energy and work and.......love to something or somebody, one way or the other it get taken away from me". Then she looked at david. "Tell me......why do bad things happen to good people?", she asked. "Well.....", David sighed and rubbed her shoulder gently. "In this world it's like there is a constant war between good and evil and alot of good people get caught up in it". "Then evil had certainly declared war upon me i guess". "Why do you say that?". "Take a look at me David.....", Esther began deeply. "All i ever wanted is to love and be loved, have a family, be a happy mother.....but everytime am so close in achieving it or think i have achieved it, it all get taken away from me......or only find out am being used". Then Esther looked at David with tears rolling down her cheek "Don't i deserve to have that........or am i cursed?", she asked with a sob. David held her tight and wiped her tears "No you are not cursed and you deserve every good thing this life can give to us", he said. "And we have each other". "That's why am scared.......scared of you being taken away from me" "Don't worry honey, am not going anywhere.....that, i promise you". Then a phone rang. It was coming from her handbag lying on the living-room center table. Both of them stared at the bag as the phone inside it keep ringing. "That phone have never ringed since you came here", David noted as he keep staring at the bag. Then he looked at Esther. "You don't have to answer it", he said to her. "Nope....i have to....", Esther began as she got up and tried to maintain her balance. "Whenever that phone rings it means it is important", she said as she reached for the phone inside the handbag. "Hellooo.....", Esther said with a slurry voice. "Hello.....Esther?", it was Nina's voice. Esther looked at David and whispered, "the devil". "Yeah this is Esther.....how are you doing and how is he doing?", she asked Nina. "That's why i called you.......are you drunk?". "Am not drunk.......do i sound drunk to you?......maybe your phone is faulty, it happens sometimes". "Whatever.......anyway i want you to call Eric your son......you have to talk to him because he is going way out of line in our deal", Nina stated. "You have to tell him that he has to stick to the instruction given to him". "You want me to call Eric and tell him to stick to your instructions?", Esther asked. "What is the matter woman?........are you finding it hard to control him?.......is he giving you headaches?......it's like the hospitals over there are being overwhelmed by the people he is bashing up left and right or is he now leaving dead bodies in the hallway just like i feared he will do someday". "I don't know what you are talking about woman, if you don't want to lose your son then you better do what i said", Nina said impatiently. "And who told you am worried about losing him?", Esther asked. Nina remained silent. "The day you brought that file to me was the day that i accepted that i had already lost him. How i got him is clearly written in that file.......i had lost someone so dearest to me and i moved on......so i can also do the same if i lose Eric". "Oh.....so you don't care whatever happens to your own son?", Nina asked. "You asked the question, you answer it yourself". "Why?". "Why?........", Esther began with a chuckle. "Woman let me tell you something that nobody knows.......after i lost my fiance in a terrible fire, i held a baby.....the baby responsible for him getting roasted in that inferno.....the baby that was responsible for him dying a very painful and agonizing death......have you ever seen a man with third degree burn in over 90 percent of his body?, anyway, as i looked at the baby, all i could think of was the best possible way to take it's life......but before my fiance died, he said i should take care of the baby.....so i decided to fulfill his wish. The baby grew up to be a handsome kid and soon i became so fond of him and liked him alot. Five years later i found out some thing terrible about him. He had a mental problem. Mental psychosis was what the doctors said it was. How did i find out?...... dead cats around our house, neighbours complaining about their pet dogs missing. And each time he got back home with bloody hands without any explanation of what really happened or how he got bloods on his hands. So one day i bought a lovely pet dog for him. Then i return from work one day to see him beating the dog to death......i was shocked but what scared me most was the look in his eyes while he did it. It haunted me for days and i even locked myself in my own room at night. Anybody in their right sense would have taken him to a mental institution and left him there to rot. But i never gave up on him. I made him undergo treatment after treatment, therapy after therapy, money spent by the boat- loads......until i fixed him abit. Since then i had always lived my life trying to prevent anything bad from happened to him because i know that one day it's going to happen.........maybe that time has come and am done trying". Nina remained silent. "So why don't you tell Eric that his mother doesn't want to call him", Esther continued. "And i want you to show him that file you have with you.......he will understand when he sees it......so please don't you ever call me again". Then Esther threw the phone at the wall and it destroyed on impact. David stared at her with his mouth open. Nina heard the crashing sound and the line clicked. She heaved a sigh and looked at the big man standing beside her. "There is something i want you to do in Metro-city".

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 4 pm. After two uneventful days. The 2008 model white coloured Mercedes Benz E-350 sedan grinded to a halt near a two storey gated mansion. The driver of the car glanced at the big gate and the high wall that made every activities going on in the masion unknown. Then the driver exhaled with a bright smile, glancing around the interior of the car and feeling the wood-grained steering wheel of the car. His face was like that of a little kid who just received his favourite toy as a Christmas present. "God.......I've always wanted to drive this car.......", he murmured as he looked at the smooth dashboard and it's buttons. "........this car is just too sleek with powerful horses under it's hood". Then the driver looked at the boy sitting at the backseat through the rearview mirror. He seemed lost in thoughts as he stared out of the car window. "Alex my boy......", the driver called out. The boy heard the name and looked at the driver. "We are here.........that house is 105 dash 15", the driver said and pointed at the high walled mansion. "Oh......', Eric began and glanced at the gate. He didn't know they have arrived at his destination. "I hope you like this new job sir", he then said to the driver as he pulled out his phone from his black jean pocket. "Boy.......i just can't thank you enough. This is far much more better than that shitty taxi job", the driver said happily. "And the pay is just too good". "It's okay sir......just do your job and do it well.....that's all the family want from you". "Okay.....and please one thing. No need to call me sir, you can call me Rogers.......i now work for your family so you are also my boss too". "Okay Mr Rogers.......", Eric said with a faint smile as he opened the door. "I will go home with a taxi or call you to come pick me up". "I got you.......take care of yourself", the man smiled. Eric closed the door and the car zoomed away. Then he dialled a number. After four rings, Lisa picked up call. "Why do you even want me to be here?", Eric asked as he and Lisa head straight to the building. The security man was closing the gate behind them. "I want to introduce you to some of my close friends", Lisa replied with a smile as they locked hands. Yesterday night Lisa had called Eric, telling him that she thought it was a good idea to introduce him to some of her close friends. After some inquiries about the friends she was talking about, Eric found out the friends were members of the fraternity she belonged. The fraternity the boy he almost roughed up at her birthday told him about. The fraternity of happening guys. Eric had flatly refused to go. After much pleading by Lisa that almost resulted into a misunderstanding, Eric agreed to attend one of the weekend meetings. Not because she succeeded in persuading him, but out of curiosity. Besides he needed to get his mind into something else after waiting for his mother's call and getting worried about her. "Alex....am sure you gonna like these people", Lisa said to Eric who was following behind as they ascended the stairs leading to the living-room of the house. Eric said nothing. Lisa noticed how unusually quiet he was and looked at him. "Alex!.....", she then called out. Eric looked at her and said, "yeah......what is it?". "Is there something wrong?......you seem lost, are you okay?", she asked again. "Am fine.......", Eric began indifferently. "Just some home issue bothering me", he lied. Lisa shrugged and lead him into the living-room. There are quite a number of people in the spacious place. Most of them are young; in their teens to be precise and all look like they are from wealthy families. Everybody were chattering with a cup or a bottle in their hands and alot of intermingling between both sexes. "Welcome to our group meeting", Lisa said with a smile and then she looked at Eric. He was going through his cellphone. It made Lisa to feel unhappy. Some of the boys saw Eric and gave him a curious stare while the girls whispered among themselves with giggles and looked at him with admiration. One even waved at Eric when Lisa was not looking. Eric ignored the gesture and studied the activities going on before him with an expressionless look on his face. Then one boy stepped out from the group and approached the both of them with a smile. He was well built and wore expensive designer cloths with a gold chain and a gold wristwatch. His hair was braided and had somewhat a cold look in his eyes. Probably twenty years of age. "Hello Lisa......how are you doing?", he began and looked at Eric. "....is this the guy you told me about?", he asked. "Yes.......", Lisa replied with a smile and then looked at Eric. "Alex, i want you to meet Angel.....he is the leader of our group", Lisa said. "Alex......good to meet you at last", Angel said to Eric with a smile that made Eric feel uncomfortable. "Lisa told me alot about you so i asked her to bring you here", he extended his hand for a handshake. "Good to meet you too", Eric said but didn't shake his hand. "So.......", Eric looked around. "So these are the members of the so called happening people fraternity?", he asked. Angel smirked and looked at Lisa who stared at Eric curiously, wondering what he meant by "happening people fraternity". "Anyway am sorry about that little encounter you had with one of my boys", Angel apologized non- committally. "Sometimes we frown at our members hanging around some certain kind of people.....people way below our level", he said and glanced at Eric from head to toe. "Levels huh?.......that's interesting", Eric said without looking at him. "So did my levels in anyway convince you guys to see me?", he asked. "Well....you have to be grateful to Lisa because she is the one who made it possible for you to attend this meeting". "Grateful?, what makes you think that i even want to be here hanging around with you guys?". "Alex......", Lisa began slowly but Angel gestured at her to stop. "You might not want to be here but as time goes by, you will like being with us", Angel said. "Alot of guys and mostly girls want to hang with us.......but few are chosen". Eric pursed his lips and nodded. Then he saw the boy he met at Lisa's place. The boy saw him and whispered to two other boys. One of the other boys regarded Eric with contempt while the other sized him up with a smirk. "So what do you guys do in this group?", Eric asked as he stared at the three boys staring back at him. "Alot of things......", Angel began and glanced at Lisa. "The guys and girls get together and have fun.......all kinds of fun......parties......or group things". "Group things?......", Eric murmured and looked at Lisa. "What kind of group things?", he asked her. "Get together as a group and have discussions,..... share interests", Lisa replied. She had a look of disappointment in her face as she stared at Eric. "And is it kind of educational?", Eric asked. "Do you guys learn new things or share knowledges that educate the naive ones amongst your group?". "I believe that one is done in school", Angel replied and looked at Lisa. "Why don't you and your friend make yourselves comfortable. There are refreshments on the table over there", he said to her. "I will talk to you later", he concluded and left. "What is the matter with you?", Lisa asked Eric. "What do you mean?". "You sounded so impolite to Angel.....he is a very nice person. Why be so indifferent to him?". Then one of Lisa's female friend came over. "Hey Lisa how are you doing?", she began with a smile. Then she looked at Eric and said "hi". "Hi Tracy........i just came now, how are you doing?, where are the others?", Lisa asked the girl. "Come......they are in the dining", the girl said and took hold of Lisa's hand. Lisa looked at Eric and then at the girl. "Okay let's go", she said and followed her to the dining. Eric stared at them as they left and sighed. Then he went over to the table that had cups filled with fruit punch and bottles of beer. He took a bottle and opened it with his teeth even though there was bottle opener on the table. After taking a drink, he glanced at a few faces and watched the activities going on around him. Some members gave him a curious glance while a few nodded and said "hi" to him. Eric did the same to them and continue looking around while drinking his beer. Then the three boys who were staring at him came over and stood next to him. Eric saw their movement but he ignored them. "Hey Steve, how many guys do you think we have here?", one of boys asked the other. He said it loud enough so that Eric could hear him. "I don't know.....maybe ten or more", the other boy replied and and looked at Eric. "More than enough to put some sense in any disrespectful person......especially if they are alone in here". "So that means the said person need to show some respect or suffer the consequences......like having his head busted open", the third boy put in. Eric smiled and drank his beer. 'Thugs wannabes', he thought to himself. That's why he feels no remorse for that kind of individuals whenever his pounding their face in. "I really like that mulatto chick called Lisa", the boy said again. "Dude those ass can give you serious wet dream......you should have seen it when she wore a tight mini-skirt on her birthday......i felt like grabbing her and giving it to her there and then". Eric still ignored them. "Well if I'm there while you are doing it, i will definitely join you bro........you know.......hold her down while you do your thing and take over when you are done. Anyway she is a member here......who knows......one of us might get lucky and take a dip into that space". The three boys laughed while Eric keep drinking his beer; still unmoved by their taunts. "Hey i remember you", the boy then said to Eric after seeing that he was neither giving them any attention nor showing any sign of anger toward them. "Aren't you the guy who disrespected me at Lisa's place?", he asked. Eric still ignored him. Then the boy stood infront of him while the other two flanked him. "What was it that you said to me last time?", the boy asked. Eric said nothing. "What is the matter?, did a cat get hold of your tongue?, are you not brave again?". Eric looked away and raised the bottle to his lips to drink. "What is it gonna be you f@cking bastard?", the boy bawled, knocking the beer out of Eric's hand and grabbing his shirt. "What is it gonna be now!!". The boy's bawl and the sound of a beer bottle falling on the floor attracted the attention of everyone in the living-room and they stared as the boy keep getting rough with Eric who did nothing. "Hey Desmond!, that's enough!", it was Angel and standing beside him was Lisa and her friends. "Don't do that again". Then Angel looked at Lisa. "I think you have to leave with your friend.......and i think we might reconsider your request for joining the inner circle.......we don't need people hanging out with trouble makers". Then Lisa went over to Eric. "Let's go", she fumed at him and headed towards the door. TO BE CONTINUED.

"Alex......seriously, do you have to act like that?.....infront of my friends?", Lisa asked irritatedly as both of them stepped out of the mansion, heading towards the gate. "Aw come on Lisa........those people are not your friends. They are not the kind of people to be made friends with", Eric replied as he followed her behind. "And why do you say that?!". " you might not see it now but with time you will know what i mean.......especially that guy called angel". "What is it about Angel that seem to make you not to like him", Lisa then stopped and looked at Eric. "You have only gotten to know him for like thirty minutes and you just don't like him at all......what is the matter?, is it jealousy?", she asked. "Aw come on.......you know me better than that Lisa", Eric said with a chuckle. "Then why do you have to be jerk towards him?, not to talk of the unruly behaviour with other members". "Lisa, that guy is nothing but a scavenger and some kind of a green snake in a green grass. Didn't you hear what he said?, i know that everyone want to be in a place where fun things happen but 'all kinds of fun' could mean anything......'Group things'.......Lisa seriously?,......that 'group things' just don't sound right. I have a bad feeling about this people. I don't know how long you have known them but a group that regard other people not in their level as lower human being?......is that really the kind of people you want to hangout with?". "I think you misunderstood what Angel meant", Lisa muttered. "Maybe......but i met one of his so called boys during you birthday party and do you know what he said to me?, that alot of guys are coming to you because they heard that you are........never mind", Eric shook his head. "This people want you to join for a reason and i feel it is not a good one". "Well.....then whatever it is i can still learn how to live with it.....just as i had always done". "What does that suppose to mean?", Eric asked. "Everybody that i have ever met always had a reason to be with me", Lisa sighed and looked down. "And i just don't understand why........no one seem to take me as a normal person they can interact with or even see past this", she said and gestured at her body and face with her hands. "It's either am something for them to show off, coming to me out of curiosity or because they think there is something special in hanging out with me", then she looked at Eric. "Even you Alex". "What?........what do you mean?", Eric asked. "All those times Greg did what he did to you why didn't you put him in his place long ago?", Lisa asked, staring at him. "Why the sudden change in attitude after you met me?.........sometimes i even feel that what happened in the school gym was something you set up just to impress me". Eric smirked and shook his head. "Lisa, i might be willing to do or may have done alot things that i'm not proud of", he began quietly. "But the willingness to undergo a near death experience just to impress a girl i have known for just a few days is not one of them and am sure Greg will agree with me". "Then tell me because i want to know!". "Tell you what?......because am not sure what's going on here?". "Who you are?" "I thought you already know who i am?". "I thought i knew. But after doing alot of thinking, i found out i don't know much about you. Even what i heard everybody in our class say about you is totally different from what i have seen so far". Then Lisa looked down and said, "Am sorry if i sound confusing, but the thing is am in a dilemma here. You heard what Angel said to me. Now i have to choose between you and them", she pointed at the mansion. "I know them very well and what they are about, and some of my best friends are there too. But i don't really know much about you even though i like you so much.....maybe it's love.......and i don't even know what you have in mind for me". "And do you know what they have in mind for you?", Eric asked and jerked his head at the the mansion. "How i feel about them is not the same as how i feel about you", Lisa replied. "And if they hurt me, it will be nothing compared to how i will feel if you hurt me after i have decided to choose you over them. That's why i really want to know the truth about everything......about you and your reasons for this relationship". "Lisa, the reason why am with you is because i like you.....we like each other alot and you know that very well.......there is no curiosity or showing off, none of that", Eric began. "Secondly, you can't just know everything at once and there are somethings that are best not known at all. If you wake up and find out about something, then you deal with it accordingly, that's all. Knowing everything at once could be bad......dangerous sometimes. "Well i still want to know", Lisa put in. Eric sighed. "You want to know?", he asked. "Yeah.....i want to know", Lisa replied. "Everything" Then Eric dipped his hand into his pocket and took out a picture and handed it to Lisa. She glanced at the picture and looked at him. "So?......what does this suppose to mean", she asked. "The truth", Eric said and pointed at the picture. "That is Alex.....i am Eric", "Eric?.....", Lisa sniggered. "What are you even talking about?", "My name is Eric Uzo and i live in Metro-city with my mother. That guy in that picture is Alex Philips, the son of the Philips family", Eric stated. Lisa stared at him as she help the picture in her hand. "I got into some kind of a situation that i wouldn't want to tell you about and ended up in the Philips family house", he continued. "Alex is hiding somewhere or possibly still missing or even worse. So i was told by this strange woman to replace him......like impersonating Alex. That explains why Alex seem to change after going missing. Everything you have seen so far, the fighting, the boldness........everything, is not done by Alex because the person is not Alex........i am not Alex". Lisa stared at him and then burst into a fit of laughter. Eric stared at her and he wasn't surprised. What he just said to her definitely sounds crazy. And him telling her all these things which happens to be the truth with all the words going around in school about him having mental problem will certainly have her convinced that she had being dealing with a deranged person. "Alex........", she then began with a sigh. "You could have just told me that you are done with me, that you are no longer interested in me.......that you want to break up with me because you are too scared to answer my question". "Lisa that is the truth i know it sounds crazy.....by the way why are u talking about breaking up?, we are not in a relationship.....we are just friends......right?", Eric asked, really confused and doing more damage. Lisa shook her head and looked away. "The funny thing is most guys lie to get into a relationship or to end it which is normal as human beings. I always thought you were different from most guys but you have taken it to a whole new level. And of all the rubbish lies in this world, it is the one only found at the bottom of the barrels of lies that you can come up with", then she looked at Eric. "Alex, i may have thrown myself at you so easily but am not a five year old kid. It will hurt me if you dont want me anymore but it will hurt more if you also think am less than a fool", tears welled up in Lisa's eyes as she stared at Eric. "Lisa.......am telling you the truth....it sounds crazy for sure but that's the truth", Eric said with regret in his voice. "Even the woman told me to never meet you again but i refused even though i heard she's a dangerous woman.......i could be putting you in danger too", more damages. Lisa stared at Eric for a while and sighed. "Alex.......you can leave now", she then said and wiped tears rolling down her cheek. "You should just go........and never ever talk to me again". Then she started heading back to the mansion in quick paces. "Lisa wait!.....", Eric said to her and she stopped and looked over her shoulder. "What?.....", Lisa asked him with a unhappy look on her face. "I know that I'm the last person you want to see now but you have to listen to me", Eric said. "........those people in that house are not good people, especially that guy called Angel......there is more to that 'having all kinds of fun' and 'group things'........you need to stay away from them". "Well......maybe that's what i need now......", Lisa said to him. "Maybe i need Angel to help me get alot of things out of my mind......and i will do just like you said, if i wake up to find out about something, then i will deal with it accordingly, that's all". Then she entered the mansion while Eric stared at her. Eric stepped out of the compound as the gateman closed the gate behind him and looked around. Then he pulled out his phone from his pocket to make a phone call. Suddenly a black van raced towards him and screeched to a halt beside him as he frozed and stared at it. Then the door slide open and Nina stepped out. She pointed a gun at him and pulled the trigger.

hope she won't kil im

Truth they say is bitter following keenly.

Eric woke up and felt weak, quite weak but not very weak and his head felt several sizes bigger with a throbbing headache. His body was in a sitting position. He knew because of the slight pain he felt in the back of his neck due to the strain caused by his head bending forward. But he couldn't move his arms and legs; like they had been tied to something. Then he slowly opened his eyes but it was dark, he couldn't see anything. He closed his eyes and opened again and still can't see anything. Then he heard a sound and recognized it. The click clack of a female high heels and something being dropped; perhaps on a table. "Eric...Eric...Eric....", the female voice sang and then started humming in cheery tune. "Woman, you can see that I'm awake so please take off this blindfold.....atleast let me see what is going on", Eric said. After a few seconds, the female voice said, "Take off the blindfold. The black cloth covering Eric's head was taken off and he saw himself in an empty room well lit with a fluorescent light. He looked at the big man in black suit as he dropped the black cloth used For covering his head and went towards the door and manned it. Then he looked to his side and saw Nina standing near a table facing away from him with an open suitcase on the table. He couldn't see it's contents but he could see the hammer and electric drill machine beside it with a pair of rubber gloves. The drill machine power cord was connected to an extension power cord that ran across the room to a power socket on the wall. Nina looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. "Nice to meet you again handsome. Did you sleep well?", she asked. "Am getting really tired of you shooting me up with tranquilizers......and at least put me in bed like you did last time than have me tied up in a chair", Eric said and glanced at the tapes used in tying both his hands and legs. Then Nina went over to him and hummed the tune as she stared at him. "Hm.......", she inspected his face gently and smiled when she was done. Then she bend over him and placed her hands on his thighs. "What are you doing?", he asked her casually. Nina continue humming as she felt his legs and thighs. "Hm.....that's good......you have strong muscles in the right places", she then said. "So does that mean that I'm qualified for whatever it is you about to do to me?", Eric asked intently. Nina said nothing and went back to the table. She slipped her hands into the rubber gloves and felt the texture. Then she picked up the electric drill machine that had a drilling bit mounted on it and pushed the button. The drill switched on with a whirring sound that filled the whole room. Nina stared at the drilling bit that was spinning too fast and looked at Eric. Her eyes moved from his face down to his knees and she smiled with a wink. "So.....what the hell is going on here?", Eric asked but Nina said nothing. Then he looked at the big man standing near the door. "Excuse me big guy, can you tell me what is going on because am not sure if this is some kind of a performance or if i am about to be brutally murdered". The man remained silent. "Hey big guy.......i know you are not deaf...." "Not only are you stubborn but you talk too much", Nina said as she switch off the drill machine and placed it on the table after taking out the knife with serrated blade. "He is not complaining", Eric murmured. "Yeah....he doesn't complain....he never complains and follows instructions to the last full stop. Unlike you boy". "Maybe it is because he still pisses himself out of fear even though he is oversized". "So you are not scared huh?, boy you should be scared ......really scared". "Scared?........of what you are about to do?, psh!....", Eric smirked. "I'm more scared of dying slowly from one of those strange diseases than a butcher knife wielding woman whose favourite toy is a drilling machine". "Anyway i gotta commend you on your bravery.....did you know that it was a tranquilizer i was pointing at you instead of a real gun", Nina asked. "I didn't know that", Eric replied. "Most guys i have pointed a gun at usually piss themselves and pass out even before the hammer hits the bullet". "Atleast you have seen that i am not most guys". Then Nina held both the knife and electric drill and glanced at both of them. As if she was wondering which one to use first. "Woman am getting bored here.......why don't you just use both of them", Eric suggested. "Then you can drop the first one that seems to be boring". Hahahahaha.......oh you are really funny", Nina said sarcastically. "So funny that am sure that man over there will like you alot", she said and pointed at the big man. "He might even take you to his house and let you sleep with his girlfriend". "Oh really?........so where in 'gorilla city' does he and his girlfriend live?", Eric asked. Nina dropped the knife on the table and came to him with the electric drill. She wasn't smiling again. She stared at Eric with a contemptuous look on her face and then looked at the big man at the door. She nodded at him and he left the room immediately. He came back about 20 seconds later, dragging a woman with him. Her hands were tied behind her. She was Esther, Eric mother. Eric saw her and frozed as she protested the big man's grip on her arms. Then she saw Eric with Nina standing near him with the drill. Esther shrieked and tried to rush to Eric but the man's powerful grip rendered her immobile. "Eric!......Eric!!.....let my son go!, you devilish woman!", Esther spat at Nina as she struggled to free herself from the man's grip. "No woman.......i told you to call him but you refused....which meant that you cared less about him and your silly and stubborn brat refused to follow my instruction, which meant that he didn't give a damn what happens to you", Nina stated. "So i will have to kill you both. But first i will make you watch while i torture him......but i will leave him conscious enough to watch me kill you before finishing him off". Then Nina switched on the drill machine and brought the spinning drill bit close to his right knee cap. "Nina please let my son go!", Esther screamed as Eric remained calm on the chair and stared at Nina. Nina keep bringing it closer and closer. "Nina......please let him go, i beg you!". It fell on deaf ears as the drill was about to pierce through the skin of his knee. "Nina please!!......he will do exactly whatever you say....please", Esther cried. "Eric will do whatever you want". Nina heard it and paused. She switched the drill machine off and straightened up. Then she slapped Eric hard across his jaw. And slapped him again, this time harder and the sound of the hit echoed around the room. "You heard what she said boy?, you are going to do whatever i say.....", Nina barked at him. "You are going to do whatever i want!!", she almost screamed. Eric said nothing and just stared at her with blood trickling down from his nose. Then Nina dropped the drill machine and looked at Esther. "She really loves you......so don't disappoint her again. I will be keeping her here with me until we are done", then she looked at Eric. "If you in anyway disobey me......even if tell you to eat by 6 pm and you eat a minute earlier or late, you will get your mother back piece by piece with the glue you will use to stick her back together......do you understand me?!", Nina barked again. Eric stared at Nina and said nothing. "Take her away", she ordered the big man. "Please there is one thing i want to tell my son", Esther began as the big man was about take her out. "Eric......there is something i always wanted to say to you....but i never thought it will be in this situation". Nina signalled to the man to stop. "Eric i love you so much but........but am not your real mother.......i..... i stole you from the hospital, Ernest is not even your father...... that's the reason for her blackmailing me.....am sorry", Esther apologized tearfully. Eric heard it and shook his head. "No......mom stop.......that's not true", he murmured. "You are lying". "Son i have to tell you this incase anything happens to me........i want to make this confession to you and have your forgiveness......so even if i die, i will die a happy woman". "No......it is a lie....you are lying mom.....tell me that you are lying". Eric breathing quickened abit. Then Nina gestured at the big man to take Esther away. "Aw what a bad day for you.....", Nina said softly as she gently caressed his head. "Atleast mommy still cared for you......hm?", then she bend over and kissed him on his cheek. "So if you want to see her again, you better do what i say", she whispered into his ears. "But if you want her to die, then you can go ahead and do whatever you like.....but in the end i will still kill you....boy". Then she took the black cloth and covered his head.

The van gently grinded to a halt about fifty metres away from the Philips mansion and the headlamps switched off. Nina took black cloth off Eric head and the light in the van made him to squint and blink a few times as he eyes started getting used to the light. Nina looked at him with a faint smile while he remained silent and stared ahead of him. "Home sweet home.....", She began as she dropped the black cloth on the floor and looked at her wristwatch. "Eight-twenty pm.......wow you are quite late today....well am sure you can give them a good explanation.......tell them you had a date with your girlfriend........by the way, have you......". "Yes i have broken up with her", Eric put in. "That's good......now that is what i want you to always do Eric", Nina put a hand on his shoulder and rubbed it. "You do as i say and everyone get to have some peace........" Eric said nothing with no expression on his face as Nina looked at him. "Aw come on........don't feel bad.....after this job, you can still have any other girl over there in Metro- city", Nina continued, still rubbing his shoulder. "Or i could hook you up with one.......one who will even allow you do whatever you want with her", she smiled. "Get your filthy hands off me before i break it", Eric murmured. The smile on Nina's face faded as she slowly slide her hand from his shoulder to her laps. "Are you really that mad at me?........boy i taught you a valuable lesson, which is to always listen and take instructions seriously because if you dont, things like these happen......to you and to the people close to you", Nina stated. "Or am i wrong?", she asked Eric remained silent. "Perhaps i even did you a very big favour......think about it". Eric still remained silent. Nina pursed her lips and slide the door of the van open. "Oh one more thing.....", she began as she glanced outside van. "If the Philips take you to the hospital for any kind of check up, you play along.......no funny attitude or any of that silly behaviour of yours that will raise any suspicion......just act natural. After the check ups you call me and tell me exactly what they did.......okay?......now get out!", she motion to him to get out of the van. "Mommy is really angry with you Alex", Suzanne said to Eric; following him as he headed toward his bedroom. "You came back home late today. What happened?, we even called your phone several times but you didn't pick up", she continued. Eric didn't say anything. He opened the door to his bedroom and quietly walked in. Suzanne stopped by the door and leaned against it's frame as she stared at him with her arms folded. It's being quite long since she had seen her brother in this mood; that was before he went missing. She thought that he had changed but it seems as if he is still the same. And it disappoints her. Suzanne sighed. "Anyway am going back to bed. I hope you sleep well", she said and left, closing the door quietly. Eric sat on the bed and picked up the laptop on it and lift it's lid. He gazed at the power button for a few seconds and pressed it. The device came to life with a low humming sound and the screen brighten up. He needs to do something, anything......anything that will keep his mind at ease because of everything that had happened to him earlier. And what he had found out. What his mother said to him......what the woman whom he had always seen and thought to be his mother, said to him keep ringing in his head. The exact words she had said with her voice keep playing and replaying endlessly. Now he has some questions that need to be answered. He was stolen. For what reason?, from who?, from where?. Who are his parents?, where do they live?.......who is really this woman he had been calling his mother for the past nineteen years and why would she take him away from his parents only to raise him as her own child?. Eric ran the fingers of both hands through his waved hair. This must be a dream.....all these things, everything must be a dream, he thought. Maybe he is undergoing one of his psychotic episodes and seeing things that are not there. And will soon wake up from one of those damn blackouts, lying somewhere in his house in Metro-city with his mother beside him. Or perhaps he had finally gone mental......his mind dwelling in some illusion while his body is in a wheelchair in some mental institution and wasting away. All these things that are going on now; Nina's mission, seeing the picture of someone that has a striking resemblance of himself, Philips family, Lisa,.........and what his mother said. They all seem to be proof of that. Then Eric looked at the laptop screen and saw he had two messages. Definitely from Chunky-guy and he don't want to check it because now is a very bad time to read something that will escalate his emotions further. As he clicked the internet icon to surf the web, the door to his room suddenly flies open and Agnes stomped into the bedroom. "Where are you coming from?!", she barked at him. "I asked you a question!......where are you coming from?.....and will you get up when am talking, this useless boy!", she fumed. 'This is definitely reality', Eric thought to himself as he glanced at Agnes and ignored her as he continue doing what he was doing. He is now getting tired of this aging nagging meat-sack infront of him and this is not the time for her or anybody to barge into his room and make loud noises. "Not only did you get yourself suspended from school, now you also think that you can do whatever you like in this house....go out whenever you want and come back anytime you want!", Eric remained silent and wondered when she started caring about Alex's school activities. "The worst thing is Barry supporting you......i have told him several times that your mental problem is not yet cured", Agnes continue fuming. "And instead of him to have you sent back to the hospital like i told him, he will never listen......just as he refused to listen to me when i warned him about adopting a baby probably from some lowlife in the street!". Eric heard that and suddenly threw the laptop with full force at the wall beside Agnes. It's lid got separated from the rest when it hit the wall. It made Agnes to give out a shriek and stare at Eric with wide eyes and her mouth wide open. Then he got up from the bed wildly and stood infront of her; glaring down at her as she stared up at him. He was breathing hard. His body felt hot and slightly shaking with rage, all his muscles begging him to unleash some never seen before kind of fury and making promises of a fantastic job to be done if he just allowed his brain to relay the go ahead. But deep inside him was something. It was speaking with a soft whisper...... telling him to exercise restraint, to take steady deep breaths and calm down. It was speaking with a voice......the voice of Esther. He had heard it alot of times and sometimes he ignored it, especially in the heat of a bad situation. But now he is paying alot of attention to the voice because he is scared. Scared of the thoughts of losing the owner of that voice. Agnes made for the door but Eric got there first and slammed the door shut. Then he picked up the broken laptop and glared at her as he tightened his grip on it. He could see the fear in Agnes eyes as she kept looking at him and glancing at the broken device he held; expecting the worst to happen to her. "Before you leave this room......", Eric began quietly. "I want you to tell me one thing.......what do you really want from Alex?", he asked. "What do you mean by what do i want from you", Agnes replied quietly, scared that her talking abit louder will attract a wrath delivered by a broken laptop computer. "I said what do you really want from Alex?!", Eric asked again, abit louder this time and making Agnes to quiver. "What do you derive from all these belittling and name calling?......answer me!!", he barked at her. "Is it joy?.......enjoyment?......some goddamn validation of your position in this family?......what?". Agnes stared at him in silence. "Alex never begged to be adopted in this family in the first place", Eric continued. "Neither is he competing with you or anybody for anything in this house. All he ever wanted was a normal childhood just like the other kids.....so is that too much to ask for?.......all these hurtful things you have been saying to him without any reason, have you ever for once in your miserable life asked yourself how he feels about it?......woman, how do you even live with yourself?, how do you even sleep well at night?......tell me what even makes you better than him?!......oh, because you think he is an orphan?". Agnes still remained silent with a downcast gaze. Then the door opened slowly. Eric looked and saw Barry with the rest of the family standing at the door staring at him. Eric sighed and dropped the mangled laptop on the floor. "Alex, i want to see you outside......in the balcony", Barry then said to Eric and left. Eric glanced at Agnes who is now sobbing with downcast gaze and walked out of the room. Suzanne followed while Daniel and Victoria entered to comfort their mother. *********************************************** Barry poured himself a shot in the glass from the brandy bottle and swallowed the drink. He sighed and glanced at Eric who was standing beside him; resting his elbows on the balcony handrail and staring ahead. The dim lighted place made his expressionless face quite unnoticeable. Barry poured another shot. He looked at Eric and offered him the drink. Eric looked at the glass in Barry's hand and then shifted his eyes to hi face. "Go ahead.....you are not a little kid anymore", Barry said to him. Eric took the glass and gulped down the drink with one swill. He stretched out the hand holding the glass to Barry. "More.......please", he said to Barry. Barry looked at him curiously and poured another shot in the glass with a smile. "It's like you are having alot of stress lately son", Barry said as Eric gently let the hot drink to flow inside him. "One of the things that comes with growing up and being a man". "Yeah.....", Eric muttered. "And there are times it gets too much that you will feel like.....breaking something......doing some damage or hurting someone". "Yeah.....tell me about it", Eric smiled. Then Barry takes the glass from Eric and poured another shot in it. He held the glass close to his firm chest shown by the tight fitted white t shirt he wore and gazed at the night sky. "But sometimes you have to exercise some restraint in your actions no matter how you feel son", Barry then said and sipped from the glass. "You shouldn't have done what you did in your room". "So.....what's your point dad?, that i should just sit still and get berated?, that i should always be reminded of who i am and how i came to this family?", Eric asked. "No my son". "Then what?". You did what you had to do son, i know that. But to smash things?........son, most of we the men folks always feel and want to do that but these kind of emotions are best left unexpressed because it had turned alot of us into wife beaters", Barry stated. "She is your mother even though you were adopted. Some of us had it worse and they were our real mother.......i told you about my own mother. Son, she was ten times worse. If i have to smash something for everytime she had made me feel terrible, then you will need freightliners to ship it away......I just let her know how i felt and even told her that i will stop visiting her". Barry sighed. "That's what i want you to do son", he said. "And not trying to knockdown the building with a laptop computer to show her your anger because one day you might decide to use her to do the job........and every other women you will meet in your life". Then Barry poured a shot and handed the glass to Eric and headed towards the glass door. Then he paused and looked at Eric. "Oh i just keep forgetting to tell you this....." he began. "Mr Williams wants you to come to his hospital......he said you have to undergo some examinations and test", he said to Eric. Eric remembered what Nina told him and said, "Oh okay......when are we going?", he asked. "Whenever you feel it's the right time for you", Barry replied. Eric thought for a while and furrowed his eyebrows. "Dad.....can i ask you a question?", he said to Barry. "Go ahead son", "Whose idea was it?,.......i mean whose idea was it for me to go for the medical examination?", "It was Mr Williams idea.....but if you don't want to go then no need". "Who was also there when he suggested the idea?". "Well......no one else was in the living except us...me and him......actually i initially objected because i didn't see any reason for it but i later agreed on our way to the golf course after he wouldn't shut up about it", then Barry looked at Eric curiously. "Why all the questions?.....is there anything wrong?". "No dad.....", Eric replied. "One more thing........ you and Mr williams went to the golf course right?, did you drive the car?", Eric asked again. "No.....i was drinking so i told Jim the chauffeur to drive us there", Barry answered and looked at Eric more curiously. "Son what is it?.......why all these questions", he asked. "Nothing.....", Eric said with a smile and sipped the hot drink. "Just trying to remember something".

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. Saturday morning is always a busy time for all the workers in the Philips' mansion. And they hated it. Not because of the numerous tasks they had to deal with, but because of Agnes' barking orders they had to endure while sweating over the tasks given. But today they are working with smiles and ease because Agnes is hardly seen stomping around the house. After what happened in Eric's room last night, she had decided to spend the morning in her bedroom with the possibility of her staying there all day. Most of the workers wish she would. Unlike the workers, the Philips children were relaxing in the garden under the bright morning sunshine. Victoria and Mary sat quite aloof from the others as they gossiped about what happened last night in a low tone of voice. Daniel practised his karate kicks and punches with some seriousness while Suzanne was at her usual spot, the seat of the garden swing, reading a novel. Eric sat on the bench by himself and quite busy with his cellphone. None of the Philips kids had said anything to him since they woke up this morning. Not even Suzanne. They didn't even look him in the face and seem to give him space each time he got closer to them. But Eric didn't even notice. He was too preoccupied with something else he had in his mind to notice the new attitude or even know what was going on in the house. Then Eric saw Rogers and Nancy walking towards the house with Rogers helping Nancy in carrying some foodstuffs. Earlier he heard that Roger drove Nancy to the market to buy the things needed in the kitchen, and they are just coming back. Eric stared at them and noticed that from the way Roger and Nancy talked and smiled at each other, there seem to be some kind of connection going between the both of them. When they got closer, he got up and walked towards them. "Good morning Rogers....", Eric said to the driver and looked at Nancy. "Good morning", he said to her. "Good morning", Rogers and Nancy chorused with smiles. "My boy i heard you came home quite late yesterday......why didn't you call me to come pick you up?", Rogers asked. "Oh......i had alot of things to do with my friends and one of them dropped me off when we were done", Eric replied. Then he looked at Nancy. "I want to talk to Rogers privately, i hope you dont mind?". "Oh no it's okay Alex......you boys should take your time", Nancy replied and gave Rogers a look with a smile and left. "It's like there is something going on between you two", Eric said with a faint smile when he saw the way Rogers keep staring at Nancy as she walked away. "That woman is very nice and i really like her.....", Rogers murmured, still staring at her. "Not only does she cook such a delicious food that will even make the devil himself to repent, she is also the kind of woman i wanna spend the remainder of my years with......so caring". What Rogers said amused Eric. And also the way he stared at Nancy. "Rogers.......sir, wake up", Eric snapped his fingers infront of Rogers face to get his attention. "There is something i want to ask you". "What is it?", Rogers asked, shifting his gaze to Eric. "This is important to me........probably the most important thing i have to deal with and i want all your attention" "Yes go on my boy.....am listening". Eric glanced around the place they stood and asked, "Did you tell anyone where you dropped me off yesterday? Rogers thought for a few seconds, "yeah two people.......Nancy and Jim", he said. "Why did you tell them?". "I told Nancy because she prepared something for you. She said it was your favourite and wanted to know when you will be back so that she can set the microwave timer". "What about Jim?". "Jim?......boy that fellow is kind of strange", Rogers muttered thoughtfully. "Since i came here he hardly says anything to me. It seems as if he doesn't like me at all.....so i was surprised when he was acting so friendly and demanding the address of the place i dropped you off. I told him not to worry because you said you will call me or take a taxi but he keep insisting on having it.......saying that it was the rule of the house for drivers to share informations incase if one is too busy to be reached". "So what did he do after you gave it to him?", Eric asked. "Can you remember exactly what he did after you gave him the address?". "Nothing at first.....he just left.......though i later saw him making a phone call and speaking in a low tone......he said he was calling his girlfriend after he finished making the phone call", Rogers replied. Eric nodded. "Where is he now?", he asked. "He took the boss to the country club". Eric thought for a while and looked around the place again. "Rogers.......i need your help", he then said. "You need my help?", Rogers asked. Then he thought for a few seconds and looked at Eric. "Is it the kind of help am thinking of?". "Yes it is". "Jim?, what did he do, beat another woman?". "No.....this one is a long story and it is very complicated. You are the only one i trust here. "Well.....go ahead, i have all the time in the world to listen". Then Eric told Rogers the whole story. What brought him to Easthill, about Nina's job, Alex disappearance, what happened to him yesterday and his mother being held by Nina. Rogers listened to all of it in amazement and nodded his head a few times. Eric also showed him Alex picture and the text messages from Nina. "Boy........", Rogers began with a sigh. "If i didn't know you very well, i would have said that you are crazy", he sighed again. "So you think this guy Jim is spying for this woman you are talking about?", he asked. "Yeah......think about it", Eric said. "I got suspended, she knew. My dad talked about sending me to the hospital with a friend in the car driven by Jim, she knew. You told Jim where you dropped me off, she came there and kidnapped me. I think that man is working for her. He is here to keep tabs on me". "So what do you want to do?......what do you want me to do?", Rogers asked. "I want to get some information from him. I want to know where this Nina resides because am sure that's where she is holding my mother", Eric replied. "Even if my mother is held somewhere else, i will make that Dam tell me where". Rogers sighed and looked around the mansion slowly. "Boy.......am beginning to enjoy this job.....and Nancy's cooking", the driver said slowly. "I will help you.......as long as you won't get me fired", he continued. "Roger, that's not gonna happen i assure you that......but that should be the least of your worries". "What do you mean by that?". "That woman is very dangerous Rogers...something more serious could happen if she find out about your involvement.......she could kill you". Rogers smiled and said, "Tell me what you want".

Lisa focused on the mirror of the dressing table and gently applied the red lipstick. She placed it on the table next to her cellphone and pursed her lips as she adjusted the collar and short sleeves of the black floral designed casual blouse she wore. She ran her fingers through her curly hair. Then the image in the mirror of the bed behind her caught her attention and she paused in what she was doing. She stared at it as the bright look on her face slowly turned into a gloomy one. This day a week ago she was in this room and in that bed with someone whom she thought would be the love of her life; her first love. A week later she is in the same room, feeling so alone. Everything started so fast and ended so fast. And after her last words with Alex.......Eric or whatever he call himself, she had been wondering where it all went wrong. Alot of boys had made so much advances at her, the so called hot-boys that had throngs of girls running after them had begged her to be their girlfriend and even stalked her, but she blew them off. The one boy she fell for; the boy almost everyone in school looked down upon and no girl wanted to date with was the one she went for. But within a week......just a week, he blew her off. Lisa wondered if it was a big joke or karma playing with her. Then Lisa picked up her cellphone to check it and paused. She shook her head and left it in it's original position on the table. That was probably the one millionth time she was checking her phone for a text message. A text message she had being wishing to see in her phone since yesterday. "Lisa are you done.......", one of Lisa's female friend said as she opened the door to her bedroom. Lisa remained silent and kept staring at her cellphone. The girl came over and stood beside her with her hand on her shoulder. "Are you still thinking about him?.......", the girl asked. "I told you to forget that boy, he is not even worth your attention.....why are you even hanging out with him in the first place?". Lisa remained mute. "Lisa you need to get over him. Infact you should have set him up and have him beaten up for embarrassing you in Angel's place", the girl added. "Tracy you know i can't do that.....besides i...i", Lisa stammered. "You what?", Tracy interrupted. "I still love him and have so much feelings for him", Lisa replied. "Lisa, as your friend am advising you to leave him.......if you still want to be among our group.....you heard what Angel said, and now that you are about to be made one of the members of the inner circle, you have to forget about that guy completely", Tracy stated. Lisa stared ahead thoughtfully while Tracy looked in the mirror and applied some make ups. After a minute, Tracy looked at Lisa. "Why don't you give Angel a try?", she asked. "Many times he had approached but you keep waving him off......sometimes i just don't understand you girl........you ignored a hot guy like him for that mentally unstable fool?, you really amaze me". "Tracy....you know he has numerous girlfriends and i don't like the headaches that is involved with that kind of situation", Lisa said. "Besides i heard some strange rumours about him", "It is because the guy rocks.....that's why girls are so after him", Tracy said. "But many times he had said that if he gets a girl like you, he will cut those girls off.......girl imagine you dating the leader of our group.....have you wondered why he was willing to let you join his inner circle of friends?, it's because he likes you alot". "Really?", Lisa asked. "Yeah girl......", Tracy replied. Then she grabbed Lisa's hand and stood her up. "Come on girl.....you are late for today's party and your joining of the inner circle.......and also the opportunity to get the hottest guy in town", Tracy dragged Lisa who protested that she had to take her phone and hand bag. She picked both of them up, checked herself in the mirror one last time and followed Tracy.

The benz slowed down and stopped a few metres away from the villa. Eric and Rogers gazed at the high wall and CCTV cameras that changes it's focus every twenty seconds. Rogers sighed and shook his head. "It's like Jim didn't tell you that the woman lives in a damn fortress", he said to Eric. "How are we suppose to enter that place without being noticed?. Even if we do, we don't know what is waiting for us inside......the likes of that woman could be paying her a visit today". Eric glanced at his wristwatch and saw it was a quarter past 5 pm. "Am sure there is a way in without being noticed", he murmured. "How?.....", Rogers asked. ".....because we have gone back and forth for like four times. The house is more secured than a federal prison", he continued. Then a delivery van passed them and stopped infront of the gate of the villa. The driver who wore a khaki overalls with the delivery company logo stepped out of the van, holding a clipboard. He pressed the button of the intercom system beside the gate and said something. Then he waved his hand at the camera overhead. After a few seconds, the gate automatically slides open. The man got into the van and drove into the compound and the gate slides shut. "Great!......we will have to give the camera a big smile and wave before they even let us in", Rogers sighed. "So what plan do you have for us?", he asked. "I have a plan for how i can go inside". "You have a plan for what?". Eric looked at Rogers. "This is where we split sir.....remember i promised not to make you lose your job", he said. "No.....i can't let you do this alone", Rogers protested. "Well......someone have to return this car. Remember that Jim is still asleep in the trunk, tied up", Eric said. "You have to drop him off somewhere before he wakes up and find out that you are also involved. You know what that means". Rogers gripped the steering wheel and stared ahead as he thought to himself. "Besides you like that woman, Nancy......she is a nice woman and she likes you alot too.....don't make her lose you", Eric continued. Rogers sighed. "Okay....but do come back home my boy......come back alive", he said. "That, i can not guarantee you. But if you happen to see me and i ask questions about you then you know who it is". "Alex?". "Yeah". Then Eric slipped into a black jacket with a hoodie and slowly got out of the car. Rogers hit the start button and brought live to the car engine. As he drove off, Eric could see him staring. Eric waited till the car disappeared in a distant. He put on the hoodie and walked towards the gate of the villa with his head bowed to avoid his face from being viewed by the cameras. As he got nearer, the gate slide open and the van slowly rolled out from the compound; the man must have finished making the delivery. The driver glanced at Eric approaching as he checked both sides of the street before driving away. The gate began to slide shut and Eric quickened his step and got inside the compound before the gate locked. He saw himself in a spacious compound with a neatly trimmed grass lawn and flower hedges. Infront of the building is a fountain with a white marble statue of a lion with one of it paws on a globe. The white coloured two storey super luxury house is something he had never seen before and he spent a few seconds admiring it, muttering "wow" to himself. He tried to act natural as he carefully walked towards the building in quick paces after seeing no one or no activity going on. There are cameras in the compound but no security men or a security box. Perhaps it's somewhere inside the villa with the men monitoring the whole area through the cameras. Eric pressed himself against the wall of the building and looked around, trying to determine which direction to go. He carefully sneaked towards the back of the building, pausing each time he heard a sound. He tiptoed and looked around him to see if he will find something handy to use as a weapon incase if one is needed. When he got to the backyard, he saw a concrete paved patio with chairs and canopy. And a clean swimming pool with chairs and lounge chairs. A woman was sitting on one of the chairs in the patio under the canopy and reading a book. She lifted her face from the book and looked in Eric's direction. She saw him. Eric frozed as both of the stared at each other. "When did you come back?", the woman then asked Eric as she got up from her seat and left the book on the table. "I just did.....", Eric replied as he held his breath and tried to remain calm. He saw the uniform the woman wore and knew that she was the house help. "Alex.....do you need anything?", she asked as she approached Eric. "No......i was just......strolling around the house", Eric said. Now he knows why the security men didn't make any move on him because no intruder will go unnoticed with all those cameras in the compound. They thought he was Alex. "Your aunt is about to leave and she told me to prepare whatever you want to eat because she might comeback late", the house help said with a smile. Then she looked at her wristwatch. "I have to go check the laundry", she said and headed towards a door. Eric followed her behind, silently and carefully. They entered the kitchen that was sparkling clean with all the utensils neatly arranged. Eric saw the knife rack on the table. He quietly slipped out a knife from the rack without attracting the attention of the woman infront of him and hid it under his jacket. Then they entered a corridor with doors on both sides. The woman opened the door that had a sign that reads "Laundry room", and walked inside. Eric continue walking down the corridor, glancing at the doors and wondering if his mother was locked in one of those rooms. He decided to open the door ahead of him. He did so and saw himself in the lobby of the building. He carefully looked around as he closed the door behind him and paced silently towards the stairs leading up. He glanced around the empty lobby and slowly ascended the stairs. Eric got to the top and stood infront of a windowed door. He peered through one of the glasses and turned the door handle. It wasn't locked and it opened noiselessly. Eric slowly stepped into the spacious and well decorated living room and quietly closed the door. He was very nervous. The skin on his tummy kept feeling the cold steel of the knife under his jacket as his breath quickened abit and he moved in. His eyes caught the suitcase on the living- room centre table. He remembered where he had seen it. On the table in that room where Nina almost drilled a hole through his knee cap. "Hello Eric". "Eric immediately turned to his side and saw Nina in the living-room mini bar, holding a glass of drink in one hand and a handgun in the other. Eric stood still. He glanced at the muzzle of the glock 19 pointing at his chest and stared at Nina. "Here to pay mama a visit?", Nina asked as she placed the glass on the table and slowly paced towards the suitcase with the gun still pointing at Eric. She was dressed in a black suit with high heels. "I saw you coming before that delivery van left. So i decided to prepare for your visit.....even though you came on a short notice", Nina said as she punched the the buttons on the suitcase and unlocked it. Eric saw it contents. A sheathed knife and two handguns with several bullet magazines. "So what can i do for you?", Nina asked with a smile. "Well......am here to see how you are doing and also leave this house with my mother", Eric said, smiling back at her. "Well let me see......", Nina pretend to think. "Hmm.....i don't think it's possible", she said and looked at Eric. "By the way, drop that knife you are hiding underneath before you cut yourself. I prefer to do the cutting here". Eric dropped the knife on the floor. "Kick it towards me", Eric did so and the knife came sliding towards Nina. She picked it up and looked at it with a smirk. "So you came here to free your mother with this?", she asked. "Seems kind of dumb to me......especially for someone like you boy". Then Nina threw the knife at the dining place and looked at Eric. She slowly walked closer to him and put her hand of his cheek with the muzzle of the handgun pressed against his chest. "Hmm.......", she sighed and rubbed his cheek gently with her fingers. "Woman what is it with you and touching my face?", Eric asked with disgust. "Just let my mother go and nothing will happen to you", he continued. "Excuse me......but I'm the the one with the gun here so you don't make demands and tell me the thing that will or will not happen", Nina stated. "What about letting the organization know what one of their own had been doing behind their back?", Eric asked. Nina stared at Eric. "What does that suppose to mean", she then asked. "You know what i mean Mrs Nina", Eric replied. "I used to think that you were just a cheap blackmailer with a bodyguard until i heard about your reputation.......that you are someone not to be messed with. Someone who will kill without even blinking an eye. Someone who brings so much pain especially to the people who fail to do your biddings. So i was confused, i asked myself why would she be using blackmail which isn't her modus operandi. And why be so lenient with me after i had disobeyed so many times. It meant one thing. This job is very mighty important to you and you need me more than human beings need air. Then Jim mentioned you being part of some organization that make things happen. He said you guys wield alot of power and influence in this country, enough to make you guys seem invisible and probably invincible. Then i thought again. That kind of organization won't send those three guys i beat up near that hotel when i was tricked into come to Easthill. Neither will they employ a guy like Jim to keep tabs on me, which he later confirmed when i confronted him. They will send professionals......men with a long list of jobs well done because an organization like that wouldn't tolerate failures nor send amateurs a teenager could easily out maneuver". Nina stared at Eric with a smirk. "Then i thought, maybe she is doing this alone and in secrecy.....that's why she wants me to do everything according to her instruction", Eric continued. "Not because of Alex's life getting more complicated because to me, it was already f@cked up.....i saw his suicide note. And neither is it because of what the Philips will do if they find out. But it's because of the organization finding out what you have doing behind their back. People like that always keep a close watch on its members. What else will make a woman like you to be so cautious.......or even scared?.....it's like this your job will rattle someone's cage in the organization if they find out. Someone very heavy", Eric said with a smile. Nina cocked the handgun and pointed it at his head. "So had i put everything in place before coming here......and if my friend doesnt seem me tomorrow, then a sweet story will appear in the newspaper and t.v", Eric added. "No matter how ridiculous it will sound, am sure the organization will still look into it". Nina stared at Eric for almost a minute and then brought down the gun . she smiled and dislodged the magazine and the bullet from the gun chamber. Then she picked up the bullet and placed everything inside the suitcase and locked it. "Boy i like your story.......", she began, facing away from Eric and taking off her black suit jacket. ".......even though it is just a load of horsesh!t", she dropped it on the floor and unbuttoned the white long sleeve shirt she wore. "But i want us to have some fun.......you and me", she took off the white shirt and adjusted the black sports bra she wore. "If you win, i will let you and your mother go back to Metro-city and you will never see me again. But if i win, i will kill both of you". Eric saw the scars on Nina's back as she headed towards the living-room door and shook his head. "Lady, i would love to engage in this sick fetish of yours but am not in the mood", he sighed. "Besides those trophies you got on your back.....probably from surviving some kind of a wild beast attack. Seeing it kind of killed my libido. Nina looked over her shoulder with a smile as she locked the door and came over to were Eric stood. Eric saw the scar on her tummy and furrowed his eyes as he stared at the woman. "You have no choice boy......", Nina said as she took off her high heels and threw it across the room. "Unless you want to just remain still and take a beating......", she balled her fist. ".........and you have to know that a woman like me never gets tired". Then Nina hit Eric across the face. Before he could recover from the stunning blow, she hit him in his guts and knocked him to his side with a right hook.

Tracy and Lisa stepped inside the room as they chattered and laughed uncontrollably. Lisa seemed quite tipsy and she sat heavily on the bed and laid on her back. "So this is The big guy's room.....Angel's room", Lisa asked and looked around luxury place and felt the soft mattress with her hands. "Why does he want to interview me here?", she asked Tracy with a smile. "I don't know.....but i hope you are not too drunk to give him the wrong answers", Tracy replied and both girls laughed. "Oh......last saturday....i....", Lisa began and then paused. "What happened last saturday?", Tracy asked. Then Lisa sat up and looked at Tracy. "Tracy, you are my best friend right?", she asked. "Yeah", Tracy replied. "I want to tell you something". "What it is?". "I.....I'm no longer a virgin". "What?!.....", Tracy frowned abit. "Yeah", then Lisa saw Tracy's facial expression. "What is the matter?", she asked. "Oh it is nothing", Tracy said and forced a smile. "I'm telling you this because you were telling the girls that i was, so i had to let you know that am no longer one", Lisa continued. "Okay.....so who did you lose it to?", Tracy asked and looked at her. "Don't tell me it is that boy......Alex". "Well, yeah it is him", Lisa replied. Tracy frowned. "What is the matter?, do you have any problem with who i decide to sleep with?", Lisa asked, abit irritated. "No.....i just think that you dont suppose to let that happen, especially with that boy", Tracy replied. Then she got up. "Angel will join you in a minute or two. I want to use the bathroom", she said and left Lisa who was baffled by her attitude. Tracy met Angel with two of his boys in the corridor. "She is in the room", Tracy said to him. "Good....", Angel said and glanced at the door to his room. "But there is one thing i have to tell you". "What is it?". Tracy glanced at the two boys and got closer to Angel. "She is no longer a virgin", she whispered to him. Angel frowned and remained silent. "I think it is that boy, Alex". "I see.....", Angel nodded and scoffed. He seemed quite enraged. "Angel please don't do anything unpleasant.....if she refuses just let her go", Tracy said. "Whatever i do is none of your business!", Angel retorted angrily. "You have done what i told you to do....so you can go now". Tracy stared at Angel and reluctantly left them, heading towards the living-room. "That motherf@cker!!.....", Angel barked angrily and made a fist to punch the wall. He stopped midway and sighed with a downcast gaze. After a few minutes he looked at the boys and smiled. "Do you guys wanna have fun?", he asked them. The two boys looked at each other and nodded with a mischievous smile. "Go tell the D.j to increase the volume of the music and wait for me near the door", he ordered and the boys left. Then Angel entered the room and smiled at Lisa as he closed the door behind him. Lisa smiled back and Angel saw she was tipsy. "So.....", Angel began as he sat on the bed next to her. "Ready for your interview?", he asked. "Yeah.....", Lisa replied. "I hope i will do well because am abit intoxicated. My friend was feeding me shots after shots". "No it's okay", Angel said and held her hand. "Okay then.....", Lisa began and composed herself. "Shoot the questions". "Okay......so you want to join the inner circle because you want to be one of us?", Angel asked and got abit closer to Lisa. "Yeah", Lisa replied. "And you think you can do what it takes to be one of us?". "Well am yet to hear what i have to do". "Really?, am sure you can do it......besides it is just having fun", Angel placed his hand on Lisa's lap and caressed it. The smile on Lisa's face faded as she glanced at Angel's hand on her lap and stared at him. "Am i being interviewed?.....", she asked. ".....because this doesn't seem like it". "Of course this is the interview......", Angel said and got abit more closer as his hand begin to find it's way inbetween her leg. "Everything here is about having fun and partying". Then Lisa gently took his hand and placed it inbetween his legs. She picked up her bag and got up. As she made for the door, Angel got up and stood infront of her with his back against the door. "Where are you going?, we haven't finished the interview yet", he said to her with a cold look in his eyes. Lisa stared at Angel and the look on his face scared her. "I ....i....want to use the bathroom", Lisa stammered. "Why don't you use my private bathroom", Angel said and pointed at another door in the room. "I might not feel comfortable there because......", Lisa began. "I said use it!", Angel said abit loud, still giving Lisa the cold look. Lisa quietly went to the door. She turned around and glanced at Angel who kept a steady gaze at her and entered the bathroom. The bathroom has no lock inside it. Lisa leaned against the door and immediately tookout her cellphone from her handbag. She started typing a message as fast as she can and sent it to a number. She closed her eyes and prayed that the recipient to sees it on time. Then she typed another one and sent it to another number. Suddenly the door of the of the bathroom was pushed open and it made her to almost stumble. Angel came in and smirked at her. Then he showed her a cellphone and it belonged to Tracy. "Telling your girlfriend to come rescue you huh?", he asked with a sinister smile. "Now let's have the proper interview". Then he grabbed Lisa by her hair and blouse and roughly dragged her out of the bathroom. Lisa fought back but Angel was stronger. He dragged her on the floor and threw her on the bed. As he jumped on top of her on the bed, Lisa kicked him hard on his groins and he groaned painfully and doubled up. Lisa rolled out from the bed. She rushed towards the door and opened it to flee. But as she was about to leave the room, the two boys waiting outside grabbed her and lifted off her feet. They threw her on the bed and held her down. Then Angel mounted her and hit her across the face. He hit her again and grabbed her neck. "You f@cking b!tch!!.....don't you ever try that again", he bawled at Lisa as she screamed for help. Then he brought the tiny bottle and the white handkerchief from his pocket. He opened the bottle and poured the content on the handkerchief. He covered Lisa's nose with it. Her fierce struggling and screaming turned to a moan and weak movements as she became drowsy. Angel rubbed her curly hair and smiled. "That's good....", he murmured. "Just remain still and it will be over soon". Then he got up and looked at the other boys. Take off her cloths let me get the candles......but leave her underwears.....i will take them off myself", he ordered them and then opened the wardrobe of his room as the boys eagerly unbuttoned her blouse and her jean trouser. They could her moan something as they did so. "Firecracker".

With a judo flip, Eric sent Nina crashing into tv stand; causing the tv to jolt and the flower vases to fall on the floor and break. He spat out saliva mixed with blood from his mouth and watch the woman get up. "You are making a big mistake woman", he warned as Nina wiped the blood on her temple and balled her fist. "Boy ......i underestimated you again", Nina said with a smile. "So where did you get all these training?.....you don't fight like an ordinary karate fighter". "Well you once asked me why am not in the university after two years of graduating from high school", Eric said and raised his own fist. "Mr Jason wasn't just my karate teacher......he trains soldiers in the special force and i spent two years with him in the camp". "Really?, so why aren't you in the army?". "Some left the camp because the training was too tough and demanding......i left because i got too bored". "Okay then, let's see if you will get bored here". Then Nina swing a round-house kick to Eric mid section. Eric blocked. But it was a fake kick and with an unbelievable speed and flexibility, Nina redirected the kick to his head. The blow dazed Eric and made him lose balance. Nina swing another kick that hit him on his right rib cage and knocked the air out of his lungs. Then a quick left and right hook made Eric to taste more blood in his mouth. Two more hooks and Eric got knocked down to the floor. "Special force?......i once killed a man who had two ex special force as bodyguards......killed them all with my barehands and hanged their bodies", Nina said to Eric as he got up. "I think you still need more training, boy". Eric tried to maintain his composure and stance as he stared at Nina. Her blows are really causing him alot of damages and he just don't understand. He had been hit an infinite number of times in countless fist fights and all his combat training that he developed a very high tolerance for pain. But the one delivered by this woman who is even twice his age seemed to be on a whole new level. And it hurts real bad. She is not an ordinary woman and her fists and legs are some serious 'hammer and anvil' package. "What is the matter, baby boy?", Nina asked Eric as he seem to be hesitating to fight. "Already losing steam?, is mama better than you?". "Nope.....just waiting for you to come get me", Eric replied Nina smiled and immediately threw a punch at Eric. He docked and moving in closer. He grabbed her and lifted off her feet as he headed towards the wall. He slammed her body against it. Nina groaned and hit him with an elbow on his back. Eric slammed her again harder and made a 180 degree turn, still carrying her and slammed her on the floor, stunning her real bad. Eric hammered in two blows in her gut and one straight punch to her face that bounced her head against the floor and made her nose to bleed. Eric hit her again and raised a foot to stomp her head. But Nina rolled away before the heel could crush her neck bone. "Tough woman.....get up and fight!", Eric taunted her. His rage was building and he was breathing hard. Nina got up and stared at him. She was breathing hard too and the look on her face showed that she was taking it very serious after his foot missed her neck. "Boy i will f@cking kill you now", Nina murmured as she frowned. "Bring it on woman.....this time you won't be walking around with scars on your back.......it gonna be me walking around with your skin after am done skinning you alive and using it to make myself new shoes and belts", Eric said. Then they both rushed at each other with their fist raised and started swinging; beating each other real bad. ************************************************ As Lisa drifted in and out of consciousness, she could hear the two boys talking. She felt the of hand of the boy sitting beside her feeling her up as she laid on the bed. But she was too weak to resist and unable to move her arms because because they were tied to the bed. The boy fondled her breast and said something she couldn't make out while the other boy laughed. Then she opened her eyes and could only see a blurry image of two boys staring down at her. Then a third boy came and she saw him taking off his shirt. "Fire cracker.....", she moaned and turned her head. "What is she saying?", Angel asked the two boys as he dropped his shirt on the floor. "I don't know.....she has been saying it since she woke up", one of the boys said. "Fire cracker?, what does that suppose to mean?", he laughed. "Maybe she want us to give it to her real hard", the other boy said and laughed too. "He is going to get you?", Lisa moaned again. "He is going to get you all". "Who is he?....who is she talking about?", one of the boy asked and glanced at Angel. "That fool called Alex.....", Angel replied. "Don't worry baby, when am done f@cking you, i will go get him first and let him know what i did to you before taking care of him", Angel said to her. "Pathetic bastards......you guys will soon be very sorry". Angel heard it and smiled. "You are the pathetic one here", he said. "And after we are done with you, you gonna be very sorry". Then he looked at the boys. "Spread her legs". The boys held each leg as Angel unbuckled his belt with a smirk. Lisa closed her eyes and tears rolled down her cheek. ************************************************ Both of them crashed into the chairs in the dining and fell on the floor. They rolled with their hands on each others throat as they struggled. Nina was gaining the upper hand as she had Eric lying on his back with her on top of him. She threw punches at him. Eric blocked some while the others hit their target. After a brief fierce struggle and hitting, Eric saw the kitchen knife Nina had earlier thrown at the dining place. He reached and got hold of it. But Nina saw the movement and grabbed the hand bearing the knife. She held it down and hit him hard across his jaw. She hit him again and this time with her elbow which she brought down hard on Eric's face and stunned him. Then with one quick movement, Nina disarmed him of the knife and sat on his chest, pinning him down on the floor. She grabbed his neck and raised the knife above her head. "See you in hell boy", Nina said and brought down the knife straight to his face. Eric remained still as he stared at the blade of the knife that is a few millimetres away from penetrating his face. Nina looked at him and sighed. Then she threw the knife away and got off his chest. Eric sat up and stared at her as she went over to the refrigerator and opened it. "What are you doing?......aren't we fighting again?", Eric gasped, he don't understand what is going on now. "Leave me alone boy......am tired", Nina said and brought out two ice pack and closed the door of the refrigerator. "When will you boys ever listen.....i gave you one job.....just one job!", Nina dropped one ice pack beside Eric. She unlocked the door to the living-room and placed the other ice pack on her forehead and winced as she headed towards the the sofa in the living-room. Eric got up and followed her. "What is the meaning of this?", Eric demanded as she sat heavily on the sofa and placed the ice pack on her face. "Please stop talking loud.....i have a headache", Nina murmured and wiped the blood dripping from her nose. Eric was really confused. Few minutes ago they were trying to kill each other. Now she is acting like none of that happened. "Well i won't stop until i get an explanation for this". "Explanation for what?". "For this sh;t.......this fuckery that is going on here now". "Boy.....mind your language and i owe you no explanation......we are done. That's all you have to know", Nina said sternly. "No we are not done until you tell me where my mother is", Eric retorted. Nina sighed and looked away. Where is my mother?", Eric asked again. "Your mother is here", Nina replied. "I say where the hell is she?". "Goddamit!!.......she is here.", Nina began irritatedly and looked at Eric. "I am your biological mother!".

Great story love it

What?

i sense it, waoo dis story don gobsmack me

wow didn't see dat 1 coming

Wow! wow!! wow!!! She is ur wat.....!!!

i cant blive dz

I though as much. She could ve killed u if she wanted u know. but I bet it her blood run in your veins...... u are damn strong. Hhhaaaaaaaa ANGEL I pity ur condition oh because u go turn devil when FIRE CRACKER is tru with u. He now has a great back up..... una don die.

If na dat my guy wer him name na eric gun bomb grenade no fit killam slf nyc story

Following like a good follower Next plz

Waooo see mind nah....eric & his mum, interesting

rili rili enjoying dis story lyk hmmmm...

Gosh this story has a whole damn lot of mysteries to unravel.

One of a kind... Nice story. Second to none.

Am following.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. Nina removed the ice pack she had on her face and gave it to Eric who was sitting beside her. He took the pack of ice and pressed it against his left cheek and grimaced. He sighed and touched the cut on his other cheek. "I don't believe you", he murmured and looked at Nina. "How will i know this is not one of your scams?", he asked. "Aw come on.......even that madness we displayed minutes ago would have convinced you", Nina replied. "We are both crazy.......am a crazy woman and you are crazy boy.....the thing is you were too blinded by your hatred for me to see that we are the same". "Woman, we are not the same", Eric murmured. "I'm not crazy and I'm not like you". "Really?, now tell me how we are not the same?", Nina asked with a smile. Eric looked at Nina surprisingly. "You are a killer!......", he exclaimed. "You torture and kill people and i heard you do it like it's some kind of a hobby". "Of course i kill people....i admit it. But they all had blood in their hands and none was innocent. They all deserve what happened to them", Nina said. Then she eased closer to Eric. "Remember i told you that i did my investigation......and i found out that whenever that woman you call your mother seem to have a problem with anybody, something strange happen to them". Eric remained silent. ".........the drugstore owner had his shop burnt down.....", she continued. "What did the furniture shop owner say to Esther that had him almost beaten to death in his own house and his shop burnt to the ground?. Oh and that story about a masked guy entering a bus load of a high school football team and taking all of them out with a baseball bat after the rumours about them molesting a girl was circulating. Even though they got what they deserved for whatever they did, the person metting out those punishments is definitely crazy.....don't you think so?". Eric rested his back on the sofa back cushion, still pressing the ice pack against his face. Then he looked at Nina. "If you claim to be my mother, then who is my father?", he asked her. "Your father......", Nina began and smiled with a distant gaze. ".......he was such a lovely man. I always regret why i left him.......but i had to do that for his own safety", then she looked at Eric. "You have his eyes and his composure......i also heard he had being good to you". "Good to me?, what do you mean?......who are.....", Eric paused for a few seconds and glared at Nina. "Barry Philips?!", he asked aloud. Nina nodded. "Oh God!......but that man is married to Agnes", Eric said and looked away. "How did you.......", he paused and looked at Nina again. "It's you.....you are the woman he was talking about.....", he said to her. "What do you mean?", Nina asked. "You are the woman he always wished to meet again.....", Eric continued. ".......the person he wished he was married to, instead of that woman called Agnes". "Did he say all that?". "That man loved you so much......But you left him". "Look, i didn't just leave him.......it was a complicated situation". "Yeah sleeping with a married man", Eric scoffed. "So how did i end up in my mother's hands.....i mean Esther's hands?", he asked. "I don't know......i think you have to ask Esther that question", Nina replied. "What do you mean you don't know?.......she claimed that she stole me from you and you are telling me that you don't know how it happened?". "I don't know because i didn't even know that you existed!", Nina retorted. "I thought it was only Alex, but i didn't know that i had twins". Eric stared at her with his mouth open and gasped as he looked away. Nina got up and picked up the phone and dialled a number. "Yeah.....i want you to bring her to the living-room", she said to the phone mouthpiece and dropped it on the table. Then she went behind the counter of the mini-bar and took out a bottle of brandy from the liquor cabinet. She glanced at Eric and took two glasses. "When she comes......", Nina began as she poured a shot on both glasses. "......you ask her to tell you the rest of the story". ************************************************ The big man in black suit opened the door and politely motioned at the living-room. Esther glanced at him as he turned around and left. She went inside and looked around the place as she paced quietly; not being sure why she was brought there. Then she saw Eric sitting on the sofa. "Eric!!", she shrilled and rushed towards him as he got up. Esther almost knocked him down as she threw her arms around him and gave him a tight hug. Eric winced with pain and tried to breakaway from the hug. "My son, are you okay?", she asked. Then she saw the cut on his cheek and some blood stain in his nostril. "Oh my God what happened to your face?", she asked as she examined the cut. "What did that evil woman do to you?". "The evil woman didn't do anything to him". Esther heard Nina's voice and turned her head. She saw the woman in the mini-bar making a toast and sipping the drink. Esther glared at her with alot of anger while Nina smiled at her. "What did you do to my son?.....", Esther began angry as she made a move to go and confront Nina. "No...no mom.....", Eric grabbed Esther's arm and gently pulled her back. "You don't want some of that woman........believe me, she is more of a monster than human". "Eric let me go!!......", Esther protested. "Let me teach her a lesson!". "Mom.....calm down please!", Eric tried to calm her down. Nina picked up the bottle of brandy and two glasses and came towards them. "Woman, you need to listen to him", Nina said and placed the bottle and glasses on the centre table. "And he has questions that you need to answer", Nina stood infront of Esther and stared at her. "Why don't you go burn in hell!!", Esther spat and threatened to hit Nina. "Woman, if you touch me, i will send you to that hell first", Nina warn with a cold, stern voice. "I will happily go there as long as i put you there first....evil b!tch!!". "Alright you two women shut up!!", Eric bawled and got inbetween Esther and Nina before they could start tearing each other apart.......or rather before Nina kill Esther. "Calm down and let's settle this mess going on here". "What is going on here?!". The three of them heard the voice and looked at the direction where it came from. They saw a boy standing at the door and staring at them. Eric and Esther stared at him with their mouth open while Nina smiled at him. "Hello Alex......are you back?", she said to the boy with open arms. "I want you to come meet someone here", she beckoned at him. Esther glanced at Eric and stared at Alex in bewilderment. Eric stood with arms akimbo stared at him as he slowly came over to where they stood. Then Alex hugged Nina and looked at her face. "Aunt Helen what happened to your face", he asked. Then he glanced at the broken flower vase and disorganized furnitures. "What happened here?.....who are these people......who is this boy?", Alex asked and stood infront of Eric as he stared at him with alot of curiosity in his face "Aunt Helen?.......", Eric chuckled and glanced at Nina. Then he looked at Alex. "Hm.....so you are the one called Alex, huh?", he asked. "Are they......twins?", Esther gasped as she gentle sat down with a thoughtful gaze. "Twins?......", Alex muttered and looked at Nina. "Aunt Helen, what is going on here?......who is this boy?", he asked again. "Dude.....even me myself don't even know who this boy is", Eric said to Alex and tapped himself on his chest. "I thought i knew, but now am as surprise as you are". Alex glanced at Esther and Eric. "Aunt Helen, please tell me what is going on here", he asked without looking at Nina. "Her name is not Aunty Hel.....", Eric began. "Shut up your mouth i didn't ask you!.....", Alex interrupted him rudely and glared at him. Eric chuckled and looked away. He suddenly grabbed Alex and fell him down with a headbutt. Then he grabbed Alex by his shirt and heaved him up and raised his hand with open palm to smack him on his face. "Hey!.....boys!....Eric enough of that!", Nina barked. She separated them and pulled Alex away while Esther got up from the sofa and held Eric. "I'm the one who took care of all the bullshits in your pathetic life......", Eric barked at Alex as he felt his face and stared at Eric with fear. ".......the bullshits that keep happening because you were so much of a coward to face it and chose the easy way out......by the way your suicide letter sucks so bad that nobody will come to your burial if it was read". "Eric!....will you shut up your mouth!", Nina warned. Esther looked at Nina. "That job....was it to make Eric impersonate......Alex?", she asked. "Yes of course!......just that. But the id!ot went about rattling people's cage", Nina retorted. "But why?", "What do you care?" "I just want to know why", Esther's voice was calm. Nina pursed her lips as she thought for a while and looked at Esther. "Before i tell you why, you have to tell me how you got Eric and why you adopted him", she said. Esther looked at Nina and nodded. Then she sat down on the sofa and sighed.

"It was a terrible fire and alot of people lost their lives.......", Esther said and wiped the tears in her eyes. "Quite terrible.....some dead bodies were badly burned that it was difficult to identify them", she looked at other three as they stared at her and listened. "That was the day i lost my fiance, Ernest......he was badly burned when he risked his life to save a baby. I was there.... i saw him come out of the inferno with almost all his skin gone.....and carrying a baby covered with a wet blanket. Then Esther remained silent with a downcast gaze. Nina poured a shot in one of the glass and handed it to her. Esther accepted and took a sip. "We were suppose to get married in two week......", Esther continued. "....Two weeks to the happiest day of my life i watched my 'husband to-be' lay on the bed and cry in agony as his skins fell off his body. All because of one baby. Yet he kept telling me to take care of the baby. He died of course. Screaming for water....i dont know why he wanted water. Though i heard that before your final breath, you will have a vivid flash of all the events that happened in your life. I guess the last was him being roasted in that inferno", Esther sighed and raised the cup as she looked up. "Ernest i know you will be surprise to see me drink this", she said and drank it all. Then Esther gave the glass back to Nina and looked at Eric. "After a few days nobody came forward to claim the baby", she continued her story. "And with so many charred unidentified bodies, the hospital put the baby's mother as deceased. I was the one who made that paper works and also forged the orphanage paperworks. Then i took the baby and left Easthill city because i felt that there was nothing here for me. We went to Metro-city and started a new life and i called the baby Eric. That was the name i always told Ernest i will name our first son", Esther pat Eric on his shoulder and smiled. "So why did Ernest want to save the baby?", Nina asked. "That, I'm still trying to comprehend after all these years", Esther answered. "I don't know if it had to do with him being the surgeon who initially saved it from dying due to complication......maybe he got too attached to the baby after performing the surgery on it", "Did he tell you anything about the mother?", Nina asked again. Esther thought for a while and sighed. "He said she was in her late teens. And that she had a caesarean section due to some kind of problem......i think he said fetal distress", she replied and shook her head. "That poor woman.....she had twins.....she was still in a coma when the fire broke out......probably died without seeing her babies". Eric slowly turned his head and looked at the scar on Nina's tummy. Nina stared at Esther and asked, "So how come did i see only one baby beside my bed when i woke up?" "What do you mean?", Esther was puzzled by the question. "She mean to say that she is our mother.....and that she woke up in the hospital with only Alex on the baby cot beside her bed", Eric said to Esther and pointed to the scar on Nina's tummy. "You can clearly see the scar from the C-section she had". "What?!.....", Alex exclaimed and looked at Nina. "You are my mother?.........why did you tell me that you were my mom's sister and she died a long time ago......what the hell is going on here?!". Esther stared at Nina and scoffed. She shook her head and looked. "So what is this?.....are you here to claim your kids?", she asked. "Is that why you brought us here?, to claim what belongs to you through lies and deceptions?". "I didn't come here to claim anybody or anything, woman", Nina retorted. "What am i going to do with them anyway?", she asked. "Am a woman but i can never be a good mother........i can never be like you", Nina said and looked at Esther. Then Nina sighed and poured herself a shot. "When i came back to this country, the first thing i did was to check up on my baby", she said as she stared at Alex. "What i saw broke my heart......". "He was a total loser", Eric whispered to his mom and she eyed him. "I even doubted he was the baby that i had and left in the care of his father.......his character was so different from that of the family", Nina continued. "So i decided to do some digging to be sure that he was my son. I managed to get some old files that survived that hospital fire. It was there that i found out i had twins." Then Nina drank the liquor and poured herself another shot. "In my quest to find my other son, i dug deeper and located were he lived with the woman registered as his mother. Then i saw him perform in that tournament.... the way he fought.....so much killer instinct....a natural born killer. It was there and then i knew that he was my flesh and blood. From a bloodline of psychos and lunatics", Nina chuckled "..... So i decided to use him in my plan to help Alex's situation", she concluded. "And you came up with that sick plan.... huh?" Esther asked her. "Blackmailing us into doing your bidding because you thought it was the best way to make Eric help you with your plan?". "And you expected me to do what?.....", Nina asked. ".....Walk up to you and be like, 'hi my name is Nina, the real mother of that boy who caused the death of your fiance and your son through some forged documents you made. And i want to use him to execute a job'.......is that what you wanna hear..... woman?", she asked again. Esther remained silent and stared at her. "Besides....my aim was to execute the plan without any of them or any of you knowing that i am their mother", Nina said. "And neither did i want what was going on to be made public because of their safety......because of the safety of everyone close to them". "What do you mean by that?", Esther asked. "She means the organization", Eric answered. "The family", Nina corrected. Then Nina showed them the scars on her back. Esther gasped when she saw it while Alex stared at it with his mouth wide open. "I was tortured for a week for failing a mission.....", Nina said. "......and sent to the worst part of killing fields of Congo to work my way back into the Family. By the orders of the Family head....we call him the Sosai. Guess what the mission was?, to kill Barry Philips....your father. But i fail....because of love. I was on the run for months.....with you boys in my womb. I couldn't even go to the hospital with hitmen trailing me and all the computer networks being watched to see if my name will appear anywhere", then Nina laughed. "Do you know that before i checked myself into the hospital, i had engaged in a gunfight with four of the men sent to eliminate me", she shook her head. "After giving Alex up to be adopted by Barry, i gave myself up to the family and got punished". "Wait.....but why didn't you just find a way to take the so called family down.......or even kill that Sosai or whatever his name is", Eric asked. "I couldn't do that", Nina replied. "Why?.....". Eric asked again. Nina smiled. "Because he is my father.....your grandfather", "What?!!", the other three exclaimed. "Yeah.....and he doesn't know about you boys", Nina nodded. "And if he could do this to his only daughter for failing to kill a man who is the son of someone he had a grudge against, what do you think he will do if he finds out that i had children for that man?", she asked. "He will kill you all and everybody that you know.....even your pet cats and dogs......he will go nuclear on everybody.......and he will take his time on me and Barry". Then Nina looked at Eric. "You can see the reason why i always told you to follow my instructions", she said to him. "His eyes is everywhere.....and he is watching me very closely. Then the Cellphone in Eric pocket notified him of a new text message with two vibrations. He took it out from his pocket and checked the message. "Hey that's my phone", Alex began and pointed at the phone Eric was holding. "Yeah i know......", Eric murmured as he read the message. "It's Lisa.....", He sighed and handed the phone to Alex. "I thought she said she dont wanna talk to me........now she is telling me to come help her......she said she is in Angel's place and feeling very scared. I told her not to go there". "Lisa?......you mean the Lisa Richards?", Alex asked Eric surprisingly. "Yeah....it's her so what?", Eric eyed Alex. "Dude she is like the hottest girl in town.....how did you even hook up with her?", Alex said excitedy. "Whatever". Then Alex read the message and frown. "Dude if she is in Angels place and she is asking for help then you better go there as fast as you can", he said and looked at Eric. "Why do you say that?......she wanted to join the fraternity of happening people", Eric said, glancing at Nina and Esther. "Maybe they are having one of their group fun and the rowdy boys are making her feel scared". "I heard alot of bad things about that guy Angel.....something that have to do with drugging and gangraping unsuspecting girls and other things i just don't want to talk about", Alex said. "And everything is always being covered up by his wealthy parents. That boy is the definition of a crazy spoilt brat. And his own is on steroids". "Then you better go help her.....she might be in serious trouble", Esther said looking at Eric and Nina. After a few second, Nina looked at Eric and said, "How fast can we go there?" "I don't know......but we have to get there real fast", Eric said to her. Then Nina picked up the phone and dialled a number. Yeah......get the car ready".

The porsche suv screeched and swung to the left as Nina worked the wood grained steering wheel. She hit the pedal and the engine revved hard and the automobile accelerated, overtaking every car infront of it. "Has she pick up the your call?", she asked Eric who had being trying Lisa's number. "Nope.......she is not answering the call", Eric said and furrowed his eyebrow. "I will kill that nigga if he dare touch that girl", he murmured with some anger in his voice. "Do you think you can do it?.....", Nina asked as she swerved the speeding car from right to left. "I mean, to kill somebody". "It's not a matter of if i can.....but a matter of when", Eric replied. Then he looked at her. "How many people have you killed?", he asked. "I lost count at two hundred and fifty-eight", Nina replied. "Do you intend to break my record?", she asked Eric with a smile. "I have told you before and am telling you now that i am not like you", Eric replied. "We will see about that", Nina murmured and chuckled Then Eric looked at the traffic light that is about to flash the stop light. "I wish that sh:t will only be on green.....we need to get there fast", he said. "Give me that your phone", Nina demanded. "What?". "I said give me the damn phone!". Eric curiously handed the phone to Nina and she dialled a number as she controlled the car. "Hey Tony, this is Nina.....", Nina began talking to the phone mouthpiece. "......i want you to hack into the city traffic system and track this car. Every traffic light it approaches should be a greenlight". She handed the phone back to Eric. Then Eric watched closely. And saw every traffic light they approached automatically turning to the greenlight while the others halted every other car coming from other directions. "I be damned", Eric muttered as the car rolled along the road undisturbed by any traffic. He looked at Nina and nodded with a smile. Nina hit the pedal and the car roared louder, with the speedometer indicating how faster the car had gotten. "I hope your girlfriend is a fighter.....", Nina said as she swung the car into the street leading to Angel's family house. "......Because if she is not, then Angel might be done by now......depending on how long he can last before he ejaculates", she looked at Eric intently. Her intentions was to psych him up. And it worked when she saw Eric's breathing suddenly quickened. "Just drive this car to the place.......", Eric said slowly but with a sinister voice. ".......God help him.......God help them all", he murmured. Nina heard it and smiled. They reached the the high walled house and Nina brought the car to a screeching halt infront of the gate. Eric immediately opened the door and jumped out. "Eric!......wait a minute!", Nina called out as he was about to head towards the gate. "What?!", Eric stopped and asked angrily. Nina strode to the back of the Porche Cayenne and beckoned at him as she opened the trunk of the car. Eric came over to see what is inside it. "We might need one of these.....", Nina said and gestured at the contents in the trunk......matchetes, 12 gauge sawed-off shot guns, Ak 47, Uzi, mac-10, handguns........and other 'hardwares' for killing. Eric glanced at her and stared inside her trunk. "It's like you are always ready to overthrow the government.....", he said as he bent over to pick one. "......wait...is that a....a chainsaw??", he asked and glanced at Nina. "Are we here to rescue a girl or open a human abattoir?", he asked again Nina pursed her lips and shrugged. Eric shook his head. Then he grabbed a baseball bat and straightened up. "I want to take my time in bringing pain to them frat boys", Eric said and examined it. Then he glanced at Nina and headed towards the gate. Nina grabbed a handgun and tucked it in the belt behind her as she slammed the lid of the car trunk shut. She went over to the gate as Eric banged his fist on it. The security man opened the gate furiously and stepped out. He glared at both of them angrily with arms akimbo. "Who do you think.......". Before the man could finish those words, Nina pistol whipped him with the handgun and and knocked him out cold. One of the boys who came for the party going on inside the house saw what happened as he stepped out and froze. He looked at Eric and recognized him. Then he staggered and rushed back into the house. Nina and Eric followed him in quick paces. "Hold her still!", Angel said to the boys as he unbuckled his belt while they struggled to spread Lisa's legs apart. Though she was very weak, Lisa trying her best as she kicked and thrashed her legs. But she know that it's just a matter of time before the effect of the drug they just injected her starts to kick in. And her fate will be in the hands of the three boys. "This girl is quite a stubborn one", one of the boys said as they struggled to hold her legs still. "I think we have to wait till the drug weaken her more", he said to Angel. "I might enjoy it when she is struggling......since she is no longer a virgin", Angel said as he unzipped his trouser. "It will make me give it to her very hard", he smiled. Then the door of the bedroom swing open and another boy stumbled inside, interrupting them in their rape game. "Angel, that guy is here....", the boy announced breathlessly. "The fool that was with her yesterday". "Which guy?", one of the boys holding Lisa's leg demanded. "Alex......", Angel murmured. Then he zipped up his trouser and smiled. "This is going to be too f@cking interesting......we gonna make him watch", then he looked at the two boys holding Lisa. "You guys go tell the other boys downstairs to get him", he ordered them. "He is here with one woman.....and i saw.....", the boy who just came in tried to tell Angel what happened to the security man but Angel barked at him to join the two boys that were now leaving the room. After they left, Angel sat beside Lisa who turned her head weakly and stared at him. She is now giving him a weak smile. "Run....run for your life", she said to Angel inaudibly. Angel lit himself a cigarette and blew the smoke at her waist. "Don't worry girl....when the boys bring your friend, we will make him watch while me and the boys enjoy ourselves", he said to her and took another drag from the cigarette.

Eric swung the bat and hit him in his gut, making him to groan and double up. Then he beat the boy to the ground with another blow to his back. Eric glance at him and the other two boys lying on the floor and writhing in pain. "Hm......impressive", Nina said and lit herself a cigarette. She had being watching as Eric dished out the beat-down on the three boys. "But still not good enough", she added and blew a cloud of smoke. Eric ignored her and headed towards the entrance of the house. As he approached the door, he heard the stomping of several feet. Then the door swung open and six boys came out. They brandished bottles, metal pipes.......all kinds of bludgeoning tools. Eric saw the determined murderous look on their faces as they stared at him with alot of eagerness to start using the weapons on him. Then Nina came over tapped him on the shoulder. "Go ahead and rescue your girlfriend", she said to Eric as she stubbed the cigarette with her feet. "Let me handle this cockroaches". "Don't use your gun here......", Eric murmured to her. "Who said anything about using a gun?.......let mommy show you how it is done", Nina said and walked towards the boys. "Boys...", she began as she approached them. "Don't you think that you all suppose to be at home studying?". She asked. The boys glanced at themselves and smirked. One of them told the rest that Eric must have brought his aunt and they laughed. Nina stood infront of them and glanced at each and every one of them "Anyway we are just here to pick up a girl who is not supose to be here and we also suspect that she is in danger", Nina said cooly and adjusted the cuffs of the jacket of her black suit. "And you guys can clearly see that we are not in the mood for any time wasting activities", she gestured at the other three guys still lying on the floor and groaning. "So it is unwise to be a hindrance to achieving our objective......so i suggest that you guy just step aside....or go back into the house and continue enjoying your frat party". She concluded. Then one of the boys holding a metal pipe approached Nina menacingly, calling her an old woman and bawling at her to get the hell out of their face. Before he could say another thing, Nina swung her left fist to his face. The blow broke his jaw instantly and got knocked to the ground like he got hit by a wreaking ball. Nina picked up the metal pipe the boy dropped due to the "involuntary accident" . She stared at him as he laid on the floor with his hand on his hurting jaw and groaning in pain. Then she glanced at the other boys and savagely swung the pipe at the boy's head; busting his temple open. And dropped the bloodstained pipe beside his motionless body as blood spurted profusely from his skull. "So.....who else wanna be brave?", Nina asked them with a smile. The remaining boys rushed at her like wild animals. The last thing Eric saw before he dropped the bat and slipped into the building was two boys sprawling on the floor and bleeding profusely. Another boy's foot was horribly twisted at the ankle as he tried to flee the terrible carnage. And a blood- curlding scream from the last boy with the sound of a bone being cracked Eric ascended the stairs leading to the living-room in quick paces. Another boy descending from the stair saw him approaching and immediately came at him. Eric swung a right hook and bashed him in the face before he could throw a punch. He grabbed the boy by his shirt and propelled him to the wall. His body met the hard surface with his head thumping against it. Eric swung another punch at the boy's face that made his head to hit against the wall again, harder this time. Then he tugged the boy's shirt , gave him a hard shove and watched him tumble down the stairs. He took out another opponent standing infront of the door to the living-room in a matter of seconds with brutal sledgehammer blows that sent him into oblivion. Then Eric left him lying on the floor, bleeding from his nose and mouth. And proceed to kick the door open. Eric entered the place that was crowded with boys and girls. They were drinking and flexing to the hip- hop music that was being played out too loud. The few that noticed how he barged into the living-room stared at him curiously. He looked around the place wildly and made his way through the sweating bodies; pushing away those blocking him and touching themselves inappropriately as he headed towards the corridor with doors to the bedrooms. "Hey!......you!.....what the hell are you doing here?!". Eric turned to see who it was. He recognized him. He was the boy who had grabbed his shirt on the first day he came to Angel house with Lisa. The "motherf@cking thug wannabe" who had the nerve to knock down the beer he was drinking. "What the hell are you doing here?!", the boy asked again as he came over and grabbed Eric by his shirt. "Who the f@ck do you think you?!", he barked. Eric looked at him and smirked. "You gonna know who i am today".

Angel stubbed the cigarette in the ashtray and glanced at his watch impatiently. He wondered what was taking the boys so long to bring Eric. He got up and paced around his room and glanced at his wristwatch again. Then he went over to the window of his room to check for any activity going on outside the house. "Where are your friends?.....", Lisa slurred her words and moaned weakly. The effects of the drug they injected into her had kicked in. "Have patience girl", Angel murmured as he peeped through the glass of his window. "Your boyfriend will be here soon so that we can show his weak ass how to handle sweet girls like you". "There is nothing.......you can teach him.....", Lisa murmured as she moved her legs weakly. "Why....don't you....meet him to get lessons....on how to take a girl....to bed....". Angel turned slowly and looked at Lisa. "........it took him just few hours to make me give it to him.....", Lisa continued. ".....and he was so....so good in bed.....but you are the.....weak ass.....tying a girl up with help from your weak friends......i bet weak boys like you are terribly weak in bed.....", she scoffed at him and laughed. Angel stared at her with alot of anger. "You think am weak...huh?!", he barked angrily as he went over to the bed. "You think am weak in bed?!!", he slapped her twice and started taking off his belt. "Iet me show you what i got....". Suddenly, the door to bedroom almost got knocked out of its hinges as a boy crashed into the place and collapsed on the floor. His face was completely battered. When he landed on the floor, he gasped and exhaled deeply from his mouth with blood and a few teeth dropping from his swollen lips to the floor. Angel staggered backwards as he stared at the boy who had gotten some serious beatdown, lying on the floor. Then he looked up as Eric walked into the room quietly. "Hey firecracker.....", Lisa moaned at Eric with a smile. "You came for me.....i know you will always come for me", she moaned tearfully. Eric stared at her lying on the bed with both hands tied to the bed and only wearing a bra and pants. He shifted the cold look in his eyes to Angel and pursed his lip. Nina made her way through the crowd of party guests that are now standing near the door to Angels room. Most of them stared at Angel with a distasteful look on their faces and shook their heads. "Oh boy.....", Nina murmured as she stared at Lisa lying on the bed half Unclad and tied up. "This doesn't look good for you", she continued and looked at Angel. Then she went over to the bed and begin to untie Lisa's hands. "Honey.....let me get you out of here first......", Nina began as she freed Lisa's hands and gently carried her out of the bed. "....I dont want you to see what's gonna happen next......it will make you to never ever want to meet your boyfriend again", Nina supported Lisa's weak body and gently walked her out of the room, telling the crowd to make way for her. Before she left, she looked over her shoulder. "Make mama proud......", she said to Eric and left with Lisa who could barely walk. Eric watch Nina leave with Lisa. He sighed and stared at Angel. "You cant do me nothing!.......i can call my dad and you will be in a lot of trouble!", Angel stammered. Eric quietly walked towards him and he backed away. "You can't f@cking do me nothing....Alex!", Angel continued, beating his chest. "Do anything to me and my parents gonna f@ck your life up you piece of abandoned dog sh:t!!", he bawl and pointed at Eric. Eric stopped. He turned around and looked at the guests standing at the door, watching both of them. He looked around the room and turned to leave. Then he saw a digital stop clock on the bedside table. He picked it up and examined it. Angel could hear the "beep beep" sound as Eric begin to set the timer. "Why don't you take that......as a payment for seeing you girls underwear......" he mocked. "I like the sound she made when i slapped her around.....why don't you try that whenever you want to sleep with her". Eric said nothing. He finished setting the timer and pressed a button. He glanced at the digital time counting down and looked at Angel with a smile on his face. "Your time is running out bro.....", Eric said to him and slipped the timer into his pocket. "Don't say that i didn't tell you". Then Eric winked at him and headed towards the door, stepping on the head of the boy lying face down on the floor as he did so. "Yeah you better walk away asshole!....", Angel barked at Eric as he left the room. "....And you better keep an eye on your b!tch because i will be around.....and if i get her again, she gonna be someplace where homeless dudes gonna be paying me a dollar to have their way with her......that, i promise you!". Then he looked at the guests at the door staring at him in disgust. "What the f@ck are you all staring at?", he growled at them as they begin to leave. "Get the hell out of my house.....party is over!....get the f@ck out!". ********************************************** Eric readjusted the pillow and gently lowered Lisa's head on it. Esther bent over her and wiped the vein on her arm with a cotton wool dipped in alcohol. She gave Lisa an injection and applied a light pressure on the spot. Then she picked another needle connected to an I.V and gently pushed it into the vein. Eric watched his mom keenly as she taped the I.V needle to Lisa's arm and adjusted the line connected to an I.V bag hanging on a make shift hanger. "This will flush out the drug those boys injected into her.....", Esther said, glancing at Eric and straightening up. Then she examined slightly dark spot on Lisa's face. "Those boys hit her quite bad", she muttered. Eric remained silent and stared at Lisa as she slept. She looked quite peaceful. And very lovely as she laid in the bed of one of the numerous bedrooms in Nina's villa. "She is very beautiful", Esther said, noticing how Eric stared at Lisa's face. "I didn't know you had an eye for beautiful girls", she teased. "What do you expect from a boy raised by a beautiful woman?", Eric muttered. Esther smiled and touched the part of Lisa's face that was darkened by the beatings she received from Angel. "I hope you made that boy to pay for what he did to this girl?", she asked Eric with some anger in her voice. "Definitely". Both of them turned and saw Nina standing at the door. "He did a very good job in making Angel pay for what he did to that girl", Nina said again and stared at Eric with a disappointed look on her face. Then she looked at Esther. "How is she doing?", she asked. "Sleeping......for now", Esther replied as she covered Lisa with a blanket. "When you brought her here she was talking quite carelessly". "Yeah she did so throughout the ride back home", Nina said. She stood beside Esther and stared at mixed-race girl lying on the bed. "Is she gonna be okay?", she asked without looking at Esther. "Yeah....she gonna be okay", Esther replied. The two women stared at Lisa for over a minute in silence. Eric stared at them and knew that both of them were waiting for each other to say something. "Look.....am really sorry for what happened.....", Nina decided to be the first to break the silence with an apology. "Its okay.....", Esther interrupted her and sighed. "I understand......a mother will always do anything for her child". "Do anything?.......", Eric chuckled. "She almost drilled a damn hole through my knee-cap mom". "Tough love.....deal with it boy", Nina said to him. "Well i dont need it if it's going to leave me crippled for life", Eric retorted at Nina. "Eric mind the way you talk to this woman.....i taught you better", Esther warned him. "Oh....ok now you are taking her side". "Am not taking any side....all am saying is you have to show some respect". "And if i don't?", Eric asked intently. "Then get ready to be grounded". Esther replied. "Mom....helloo, we are not in our house......we are not even in Metro-city", Eric said with a smile. "Here is Nina or aunt Helen house. Or should i say aunt Helenina's house.....so your grounding jurisdiction is kind of invalid here", he chuckled. Esther stared at the boy and shook her head. "You need to get punished", she muttered at him. "Well......you know the job is not finished", Nina said and looked at Esther intently. Esther looked back at her and smiled. Eric looked at both of them with his smile fading away. "That all expense paid one month vacation you told me about.......is it still on the table?", Esther asked Nina. "Of course.....i can call my agent right now to tell him where you want to spend your vacation so that he can make the preparations", Nina replied. "What vacation?.......what are you talking about?", Eric asked in confusion. "Can you make it for two......i need to spend some quality time with David", Esther said and looked at Eric with a smile. "Done......just tell me where and when the both of you are going", Nina asked and also looked at Eric. Then Esther pat Eric on the back. "Congratulations son......you just earned yourself a month stay with your biological mother", she said to him and walked out of the room. "Mom what are you talking about?", he asked Esther as she left. Then he turned to Nina. "What is she talking about he asked her. "What she is saying is you and i gonna do alot of things in the next thirty days", Nina replied. "And alot of questions to be answered". "Question?". "Yeah....questions about what happened in Angel's room", Nina said irritatedly. "You just entered there and walked away. Why didn't you do something,..... anything to him?, have you suddenly gotten so soft?", she asked. "You said i should make you proud", Eric said. "Yes of course....and don't tell me that the bullsh!t you did there is your own way of making me proud". "No......it's still not yet time", Eric took out the digital stop watch he took from Angel's room and showed it to Nina. The time is still counting down. Then he turned and headed toward the door. As he was about to leave, he bumped into Alex at the door. "How is she?....", Alex asked Eric eagerly and craned his neck to get a view of the bed in which Lisa laid. "She is in there and please get the hell out of my way", Eric said indifferently. "Hey!........What is it with you and this attitude of yours?", Alex asked irritatedly. "And why won't i have this attitude when because of you, i am always in the position where people wants to f@ck me?", Eric asked coolly. "Now my mother have put me in a position to get f@cked by your aunt Helen", he pointed at Nina. "And the worst thing is she likes to do her own sideways...... so please leave me alone let me get some rest so as to get myself prepared to go to 'plow-ville'", Eric said and left Alex standing and staring in confusion.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Lisa woke up and slowly stretched with a yawn. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and wondered where she was as her eyes darted around the bedroom. They rested on the boy sitting on the chair beside the bed. He raised his eyes from the book he was reading and looked at Lisa with a smile. "Alex......", Lisa began weakly and smiled back. She looked around room again. "Where are am i", she asked as she tried to sit up. Eric got up and put his hand on her shoulder to stop her from doing so. "Relax.......you still look tired", he said to her and adjusted her pillow before her head rested on it. "How do you feel now?", he asked "Where am i?.....", Lisa asked again and held his hand. "What day is today?". "You are in my Aunt's place and it is sunday morning", Eric replied. "Sunday morning?!......", Lisa began and raised her eyebrows. "How long have i been sleeping?", she asked and put her palm on her forehead. "What happened?". "You don't remember what happened?". Lisa thought for a few seconds with her eyes shut. "I was in Angel's place......", she muttered still closing her eyes "...took alot of shots with Tracy.......Angel forcing me to his bed", then she opened her eyes and looked at Eric with a worried look. "Did he.....touch me?", she asked. "Almost.....and the coward hit you", Eric said and touched the fading dark spot on her face. Then Lisa thought again and sighed. She was having a recollection of everything that happened. Eric stared at her intently waiting for her to tell him more about what happened. "Tracy......", Lisa murmured shaking her head. "No wonder she was trying to drown me in alcohol.....she was playing her part in the set- up........i thought she was my friend. How could she do that to me?!", Lisa asked and looked at Eric. Eric shrugged and said nothing. "I can't trust anybody anymore...", Lisa murmured. "You were right about me still being naive". "Well atleast you have learned somethings about some people", Eric said to her. Lisa then noticed she was wearing a pink flowery pyjamas. She raised the blanket covering her and looked underneath it. She felt chest and waist. And looked at Eric with a playful smile. "Did you put the pyjamas on me?", she asked. "Why do you ask?", Eric answered the question with another question. "You took it off" "Took what off?". Both of them stared at each other for some seconds. Then Lisa giggled and pulled his hand. "Come lie down here with me", she said. "I want you to keep me warm". "The blanket is not warm enough?", Eric asked. "It is warm......but i want you to keep me......'warm'.....". Then both of them stared at each other again. This time Lisa had a look on her face and Eric recognized it. He had seen it when he was in her bedroom on her birthday. "Jesus Christ!.......Lisa?", Eric looked away. "What?", Lisa giggled. "You barely escaped a group of boys trying to running a train on you", Eric protested. "So....?". "I don't know about you but i don't think i can have that kind of feelings after escaping a dangerous situation". "Perhaps it is me being in that situation and you coming over to rescue me that kind of puts me in the mood", Lisa said and tried to pulling him over to her. "Just like in the movies.....the hero and the girl having a happy ending". "You quite strange......", Eric murmured and resisted. "Anyway this is not the movies and am not in the mood......we are in my aunt's place and she is around. Besides she is the one that actually saved you not me......she did most of the heavy lifting". "Really.....?", Lisa raised her eyebrows. "What did she do?.....walked into the house and beat the hell out of those boys?", she asked jokingly. "Hm.....you should have seen the insanity that went down", Eric murmured. "She literally went...'say hello to king Kong'....on them", he muttered inaudibly. He could still remember the look of sheer terror he saw on those boys' faces when Nina was dishing out her punishment for their disobedience. That's what she told him when they were leaving Angel's house with Lisa; a punishment for disobedience. But the so called punishment will definitely be bringing a boat-load of hospital bills. And the possibility of an irrevesible disfigurements. "Always making funny jokes....", Lisa laughed, interrupting Eric in his thoughts. Eric looked at her and wished he was joking. "She is the one that took your........your cloths off", Eric remembered that she only wore undies when she was rescued. "And slipped you into the pyjamas", he said. "She said you need to change them". "Anyway......", Lisa sighed. "I hope you made him to suffer", Lisa said and stared at Eric. "I hope you made Angel suffer for what he did to me". "His time will come", Eric murmured and looked at the page of the book he held. "What?......what do you mean by that?, you didn't do anything to him?", Lisa bombarded him with questions. "You need to take a lot of rest", Eric sighed. "You will be going back home......your dad will probably be worried about you.......especially when he can't reach you through the phone". Then Lisa remembered that her cellphone dropped in Angel's room during their brief struggle. And also her handbag. It was quite and expensive brand and losing it made her feel quite unhappy. Then the door to the bedroom opened and Esther walked it. She saw that Lisa was awake and smiled. "Hi Lisa.....how are feeling now?", she asked as she bent over and placed her back hand on Lisa's forehead to check her temperature. "Hm......", Esther nodded. "Any unusual feeling?", she asked. "Just.......", Lisa began and looked at Eric. "....just a bit tired and needing some warmth". "Ok.....", Esther said and glanced at Eric. "You have to rest......get more sleep....i will get more blanket for you". 'If only you know that it's not a blanket she wants.....', Eric thought with a smirk as he glanced at Esther and continue reading the book. 'She wants the warmth caused by the rhythmic friction between two sweaty body'. "Eric i want to see outside", Esther then said and head towards the door. Eric waved at Lisa and followed his mother behind. Lisa did waved back and made a "i will see you soon" gesture at him. "So.....", Esther began when they got to the corridor. "I will be going back to Metro-city.....this morning", she said and looked at Eric. "This morning?", Eric exclaimed and raised his eyebrows. "Why the rush?", he asked. "I don't want David to get worried......you know.....your real mother kidnapped me and brought me here. He called earlier today and i told him that i went home to get somethings". "So how do you intend to go?......Metro-city is like eight hours from Easthill". "Nina already booked a flight for me......a private jet", Esther smiled. "Very rich and dangerous woman.....", she murmured and looked around the corridor with expensive lights. "So that means we won't be seeing each other for a month?", Eric asked. "Yeah......", Esther replied. Then got closer to Eric and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Actually i want you to spend sometime with your real mother". "What do you mean?, you are my real mother......to hell with whatever she said", Eric said. "And i will always see you as my son", Esther said and held his arms tight. "But i want you to spend time with her so that you can choose who you want to be with......there are things that she could give you that i can't". "What will that be?", Eric demanded. Then he saw Nina emerge from one of the rooms in the corridor. She paused and staring at them. "Even if you let me spend a whole year with her, i will always choose you mom", he said firmly to Esther as he stared at Nina. Nina smirked and looked away. Then Esther gave Eric a tight hug and refused to let go. Nina watched them for a some seconds and came over to where they are standing. "Sorry to break the emotional moment.....your flight is waiting for you", She said to esther. Then Esther let go and gazed at Eric. "I will see you soon my son", she said and left him. Eric stared at her as she left. Nina stood beside him and also watched Esther leave. "So.....it's now you and me.....", she began as she raised a hand to put it on Erics shoulder. Eric left before the hand could touch him without saying a word. Nina stared at him as he left and smirked. "Go ahead.......", she murmured. "In the end you will come to me.......i promise you that boy, because we always come back.....just the way i did to my father, and how he did to his own father........monsters only enjoy the company of their own kind", she smiled. ****************************** Eric stared at the big guy standing near him as he relaxed on the sofa while they waited for Nina. He had being looking at the heavy and dangerous looking man intently to get his attention. But the man remained still like a statue wearing black suit with dark sunshade. No body movement, no flinch, not even reaching out to scratch an itch. Eric stared at him and wondered what kind of a man he was. "So....", Eric began as he sat up. "What is your name heavy man?........any relatives?,......sir are you married?.......perhaps girlfriends?......or maybe....boyfriends?" The man heard 'boyfriends' and slowly turned his head and looked at Eric. "Boyfriends of course......", Eric continued. ".......because i can't imagine you banging a girl with that large body of yours. The poor thing will be pulverized before one rhythm is completed......dude look at the size of your body.....am sure you have enough power To Molest a buffalo senseless". The man continue staring at Eric without saying a words. "Even though you can't get laid by any creature on earth, jacking off is not an option for you......just look at the size of your hands", Eric pointed at the big man's hand. "You might tear your balls out with those 'bench clamp'......sir you are large but your life is kind of f@cked up though", he sniggered. Then Nina entered the living-room carrying a suitcase and a handbag with Alex following behind her. "I want you to drop him off in the Philips house", she ordered the big man and pointed at Alex. "Yes mam", the man said. "Wait....what's going on here?", Eric asked Nina and glanced at Alex. Is he finally going back?". "No.....he will stay there just for a day.....today", Nina replied. "You have to take your girlfriend back to her dad's house. After that, you and i have alot of things to talk about". "Talk about what?". "Talk about your uncompleted mission". "Why don't i go to her dad's house with king kong?", Eric asked. "Why?", Nina asked and tilted her head abit. "Me taking a girl who has a black eye to her father who probably had being calling and waiting all night for his own daughter", Eric said. "I will definitely need a back up incase the man come at me with the cavalry". "That's your problem.....you deal with it", Nina said nonchalantly. "Why don't i take her home myself....", Alex suggested and looked at Eric intently. "Shut your coward mouth before i do it with a broken bottle", Eric warned him. "If it was Greg lying in that room you would probably piss yourself and pass out", he mocked. "Mind how you talk to Alex because he is the oldest", Nina said sternly to Eric. "Like what?, two minutes?", Eric snorted. "Even if it is two seconds, he is still older because he came out first". "Whatever.....". "Yeah...whatever. But make sure the girl is back home before i get back", Nina ordered. Eric thought for a while and smiled. "Okay i will do it....", he then said. "But i will need a car", "Okay.....we can.....", Nina began. "The porsche suv.....", Eric interrupted her. "What do you mean?" "He wants to cruise around town with his girlfriend in your Porsche cayenne", Alex said and eyed Eric. "Dude got a taste for the good life". "Wait.......when did this buffoon learn how to talk?", Eric asked the big man and gestured at Alex. Then he looked at Nina. "So can i have the keys or do you want to have another occupant in your villa?" "Get me the keys to the Rover.....", Nina said to the man and tossed the keys she had in her hand to Eric. "Am in no mood for endless debate with you.....just go do whatever you want but be back home on time", she said to him. Then Nina opened her handbag and took out a piece of paper. "I tracked the location of the computer i.p address you gave me.....", she said as she handed the paper to Eric. "The real name of the user and other infos.....who is he?", she asked. Eric took the paper and glanced through everything written on it. Then he smiled delightfully and he looked at Alex. "What is it?", Alex asked. "One of your problems.....", Eric replied and looked at the paper again. "The fool is even living in Metro- city.......my own city", he said with a grin as he went through the address written on the paper. Then he picked up the phone and dialled a number. "This is going to be a sweet job for Stanley and his crew", he murmured as he waited for the call to be answered. "Am sure he is be back from his training tour". "What are you talking about?.....who is this fool living in your city?", Alex demanded. "Your internet warrior called Chunky-guy", Eric replied. Then the call got answered and Eric heard Stanley's sleepy voice.

The suv rolled to the side of the road and stopped. Eric turned off the music playing from it's speakers and looked at Lisa who was leaning towards him with her head resting on his shoulders. Then he surveyed the compound of her house carefully and saw no activities. Neither did he see her dad with his cavalry. "Home sweet home.....", he said to her with a smile. "Time to go........you have to go prepare for tomorrow". "Aren't you taking me inside?", Lisa asked and put her hand on his laps. "You want me to drive the car into your house?,......i will if this car can fit through the door", Eric murmured and surveyed the compound again. "No not that....", Lisa laughed. "I want you to walk me into the house?", she gave him a cute eyes and a duck lips. "You want me to walk you into the house?,.......are you now suffering from some kind of a 'princess syndrome'?", Eric asked. Then he sighed and rubbed the wood grained steering wheel as he stared ahead in thoughts. He wants to say something to Lisa and he is wondering if it is the right time to do so. "Lisa.....", Eric began, deciding to break the news. "There is something i want to tell you". "What is it?", Lisa asked. "It's about this thing going on between you and i", Eric murmured. "I think it should stop", he looked at her. Lisa stared at him for almost half a minute and asked why. Eric sighed and looked away. Then he turned and looked at her. "This relationship is kind of based on a lie.....my lie", he said to her. "And there are things about me that you don't know........things that make people around me unsafe". "What is the lie?", Lisa asked. "You remember what i told you the first time we went to Angel's house". "Yes" "Well i meant what i was saying.....i was playing Alex and my......". "Yes i know", Lisa interrupted him. "I know that......Eric", she looked at him and smiled. "Your twin brother, Alex told me". "Alex what?!, when?", Eric gasped. "He told me when we were in your aunt's place", Lisa smirk. "I thought it was you telling me your bullshit story again till i noticed the shirt he wore and the look in his eyes.......he got that exciting look. But you, nothing seems to excite you at all. Then i eavedropped on your discussions with your 'aunt' or rather your real mother......and i believed what you told me about her being the one who did most of the heavy lifting". Eric stared at her for a minute in silence and then pursed his lips. "Alex......that [email protected] will get that fool", he murmured. "You should thank him", Lisa nudged him. "I think he cares for you to tell me all these himself". "It's because he is a f@ck boy.......who is now developing loose lips". Eric muttered. "But he is still your brother......your twin brother", Lisa said quietly. Then she leaned more closer to Eric that the scent of the shampoo she had used during shower hit his nostrils. "So tell me the things about your that make me unsafe", she demanded. "Do you really want to know?", Eric asked. Lisa nodded. "Alot of things though.......one of them is i have this mental condition.....mental psychosis.....that flares up when am under heavy stress", Eric muttered. "Sometimes i have these thoughts....perhaps voices in my head.....i....i just don't know....but they are unclean......very terrible", his gaze became a distant one and his grip on the steering wheel tightened. "There are some days i just want to put the hurt on someone.....watch someone suffer by my hands.....make someone bleed....that explain why i did what i did to Greg". Then he surveyed the house compound yet again when he saw the house help walk by. "Don't worry....my dad is not around", Lisa sniggered when she noticed his constant look out. "He had probably gone to the bowling alley". Then She eased away and unbuckled her seatbelt. "Why don't we go inside the house so you can tell me more", she said and opened the car door. Eric followed suit and both of them headed towards the front door. Both of them entered the bedroom with Eric following Lisa behind. As he closed the door and turned to say something to her, she immediately pushed him against the door and crushed her lips into his. Lisa tongue kissed him fiercely and pushed her waist against his quite hard. Though Eric was surprised, without any questions asked, he responded by grabbing her behind and pulling her so close that he could feel flesh inbetween her legs. Lisa moaned and wrapped one leg around his hip. The tongue kissing got ecstatic. Her hips rubbing Eric's own in a rhythmic way. Then Eric lifted her and propelled her towards the bed as she wrapped both legs around his hips. More tongue kissing on the bed as both of them ripped out their cloths like it is on fire. The two Unclad bodies rubbed against each other as they got entangled in their wild kissing and caressing. Then Lisa grabbed Eric's manhood and guided him inside her. It made him gasp and his breath quickened. Lisa moaned and looked into his eyes. "What are you thinking now?", she whispered to him. "Crazy things.....", he whispered back and pushed deeper into her. "Lots of it". "Show me something crazy.......show me what you got big boy". "No......you may get hurt". "Then hurt me!", Lisa moaned. "I want you to hurt me". "No.....", Eric declined. "I insist......", Lisa finger nails dug into his flesh as she grabbed his behind to make him go deeper inside her. Like someone who suddenly got possessed by a demon, Eric grabbed Lisa's hands and held it down with one hand. He grabbed her neck with the other hand and held her head down but didn't squeeze. "Wanna get hurt huh?", The sex started getting rough. Eric thrust into her like they were having a grudge with each thrust getting harder and harder. Lisa was moaning loud and almost out of breath as Eric hard thrusting knocked all the air out of her. The "thing" filling her up and spreading her wider was giving her some pain and alot of pleasure......pleasure that she had never experienced and it seems to be building something inside her. Something that felt so good and also felt like it will soon pop off. As if he wasn't feeling what he was doing, Eric then roughly flipped Lisa over and grabbed her hips. Lisa responded by getting on her hands and knees. She arched her back as Eric grabbed her hair roughly and took her from behind. The entire bed protested loudly as Eric plowed her like he just got the news that life on earth will end any moment. After what seemed like an eternity of getting pounded from behind, from the corner of her eye, Lisa saw what Eric was doing to her through the mirror on the dressing table. She turned her head and watched the action. Looking at Eric's sweaty well built body and hard muscles made her go ecstatic with every thrust he made. Then Eric stopped and got out of the bed. "Oh you wanna watch?", he grunted breathlessly with lots of sweat when he noticed what she was doing. He dragged her to the front of the mirror and bent her down infront of it, making her to place her hands on the table. And then they literally knocked down everything on the table as both of them went at it. Eric was ramming her hard like he had the intentions to hurt her.......perhaps break her back. Lisa's moans keep getting louder and louder, not caring if the house help heard it. After they had almost dismantled the furniture, Lisa turned and pushed Eric away. She then pushed him to the bed and had him lying on his back. She took the cowgirl position to let him know that she is taking over the show. She slapped him across his face and placed both hands on his chest to hold him down and started riding him hard. So hard that his hip bone ached. 'This girl is an animal', he thought as she rhythmically and roughly moved her hips in different motions with her breath getting quicker and harder; her loud moans turning into screams. Like a wild banshee. They both of them hit the point of no return together. It was Lisa's first time and it felt like the floodgates of pleasure was opened inside her. Her body quivered like crazy. She was screaming "Oh my God!!" when she hit the cloud nine and grabbed Eric's chest, almost ripping the skin off it. Then she collapsed on top of him, trying to catch her breath. She was done. Eric was done too. After about a minute of bearing Lisa's weight on top of him, he gently propelled her body that moved like a rag-doll and laid her beside him. Only the sounds of their breathing could be heard as both of them laid in silence and remained still for some minutes. After a few more minutes, Lisa turned and faced Eric. She place a hand on his chest and rested her leg on his. "Eric.......i think i know why you didn't do anything to Angel", she said and played with his Tip. "Why?", Eric asked and looked at her. "Well........", Lisa pursed her lips. "You wanted to do something real terrible to him but there were lots of witnesses......so you decided to get him another day". "Yeah......you are almost right about that", Eric sighed. Lisa smiled and rested her head on his chest. She said, "I wish i will be there to watch you make him suffer......i might even join the action", she smiled. "No.....i don't want you doing none of that". "Why?". "Because i do my dirts alone and i prefer it that way.....even if i want to involve someone, it will never be you". "Okay.....i will just watch". "Neither do i want you to watch.........it could give you nightmares". "Nightmares?,.....what do you intend to do to him?", Lisa asked, looking at Eric and furrowing her brow. "Can we just talk about something else?", Eric asked. Lisa smiled and put her head in it's former position. Then someone knocked on the door and opened. It was the house help. She saw their Unclad bodies and immediately turned her eyes away. "Lisa........your dad wants to see you", the girl said and immediately closed the door. Eric immediately jumped out of the bed and searched for his cloths. But Lisa casually put hers on and laughed at how hectic he was. *********************************************** Sitting on the sofa with his back resting on the back cushion, Eric remained in a calm composure as he drummed his right fingers on his thigh. He was focused on the programme beaming from the flat screen. But it wasn't the comedy show being shown that got his interest. It was his way of avoiding the steady gaze of the man sitting opposite him. He was Lisa's father and since he saw Eric coming out from Lisa's bedroom he had been staring at him without saying anything. 'Goddammit! ......say something!', Eric thought aloud and glanced at the man. His name is Mr Tom Richard, Lisa's father and the manager of one the biggest electronics company in the Federal Capital State. He is in his late forties and wasn't much of a big man. He wore eyeglasses with an expressionless look on his face......perhaps he had that look because of the comfortably seated boy infront of him. The boy he saw coming out of his daughter's bedroom. "Sir.......is there anything wrong?", Eric then asked, bearing in mind that if the old-man knew what he and Lisa had done some minutes ago, the question will prompt the man to go get his gun and knife. "So you are Alex.......", Tom began with a sigh. "The guy who saved my daughter from those school bullies". "Well yeah.....", Eric nodded. "I heard you literally rip those boys limb to limb.......you gave them a lifetime beating in five minutes", Tom smiled. Eric nodded, not sure of what to say to the man. "So.......if my family have any problem with some bloat heads, can i call you to come take care of them". "Sir.......just give me a knife and i will kill any number of people you want", Eric sighed and looked away. He just don't understand the situation and the questions. "Good......", Tom said and furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at the screen of the t.v. "I will let that man know that i also have tough boys with me", he murmured. Eric heard it and looked at him surprisingly. "Which man?", he asked. "Just one fat headed man who seems to enjoy sh;t testing me at the bowling alley", Tom said and moved his weight on the sofa. "I think i will take you there so as to let that fool know who he is messing with......knock him around", he murmured almost inaudibly as he gazed in thoughts. Eric heard those words and chuckled as he slowly ran his fingers through his low cut hair. "Sir......", he began and looked at Tom. ".....i know Lisa must have said alot of things about me.......but being a 'knock-around guy' is definitely not one......and neither are you going to let her date one". "Oh......but you are the same person who almost ended the lives of some bullies......that's what i heard", Tom said and looked at him. "Well it wouldn't have happened if those boys walked away". "That's the same problem am having.......he just won't let me be.....always all over me......i just can't enjoy my bowling game". "Then make a report......call the police", Eric glanced at the stairs leading to the bedrooms and wished that Lisa would come so that he won't continue this discussion. "I don't want to do that......", Tom said with a frown. "I want to take matters in my own hands". Eric glanced at the stairs again and said, "where is Lisa?......i have to leave because my mother is waiting for me". "Don't worry she will join us shortly......", Tom motioned his hand at Eric to calm down. "Perhaps she is taking a shower.......she must have sweat alot". Eric heard "sweat alot and his heart skipped a beat. He stared at the man intently. "So......", Tom continued. "What do you think i should do to this man?", he asked. "Well......there are alot of things you can do that will make him to never ever bother you sir", Eric replied still staring at the man intently. "Oh really?......", the old man got up from his seat and went over to where Eric was sitting and sat beside him. "Son.....tell me what to do", he demanded. Eric stared at Tom for a few seconds to be sure if the man was in his right mind. "Well......", Eric then began with a curious look on his face. "If it was me, i will definitely do something real vicious......like taking him out and butchering his ass right there infront of everyone. "He is quite a big fellow.....so how will i do that", Tom asked. "You said it is in a bowling alley?". "Yeah". "Then what you have to do is very simple.....just take off your shirt and wrap a bowling ball with it", Eric smiled. "Then you come from behind him when he is running his mouth at someone else and swing it at his head......and crack his skull". Tom remained silent with a thoughtful gaze after hearing what Eric just said. "But as for me, i will do something more drastic", Eric continued. "Like knocking him out and laying him down on his belly with one of the bowling pin shoved in his mouth. Then i will bring down the bowling ball on his head......so as to crack his skull, break his teeth and fracture his jaw......all at the same time". Tom stared at Eric thoughtfully and nodded with a smile. Eric saw the gesture and rubbed his head again. "Oh God......what am i saying", Eric murmured still rubbing his head. "........sir what are we even doing?", he asked Tom. "What do you mean by that?", Tom inquired. "I mean.......this suppose to be a situation in which you would be asking me questions about my relationship with your daughter ......you know...... laying down laws for dating your daughter........not us plotting how to kill a man", Tom smirked and looked away as he relaxed on the sofa. After a few minutes of silence between them, he looked at Eric. "Lisa reminds me of her mother", Tom began with a smile. "Beautiful, very intelligent, always want to be independent, and sometime always in a rush to do things......she always know what's best for her. That's probably the reason why she chose you". Then he shift his eyes to the t.v screen. "I know what the both of you did in her room", he said with a sigh. "And i know that it wasn't the first time......the both of you are grown now, though you might still be inexperienced. So i just leave the both of you to yourselves......but i hope the both of you are fully aware of what could happen", Tom got closer to Eric. "And always remember that she is still my little girl......so if you in any way think you can use her and dump her, i dont care how tough you are boy........terribles things gonna happen to you if i get you", he said sternly with a cold look on his face. Eric nodded and said nothing. Then Tom smiled at him and started asking questions on what to do to that guy in the bowling alley. Lisa descended from the stair quietly and saw Eric and her father talking and laughing together. She stared at both of them for some time and smiled as she went over to join them.

6pm, the same day in a hostel somewhere in Metro- city. The boy rubbed his tummy and shoved what was left of the sandwich into his mouth. He chewed noisily and picked the pieces left on the plate as he stared at the screen of the desktop computer. He dropped the plate on the floor of the small unkempt room and proceed to type on the dirty and dusty keyboard on his thick laps with a dirtier hand. There wasn't much in his bedroom. Just a shabby table that carried the desktop computer and a creaky bed with an ancient mattress. The bed spread was threadbare and torn in some places; like a dog chewed on it. And the entire room reeked of mould and sweaty feet. The boy moved his obesed weight on the creaking chair and laughed at the instant messages that keep popping up in the window of an online chatroom in computer screen. Finding it a bit difficult to type with his food stained fingers, he cleaned his hands with a tissue and dropped it beside a waste basket overflowing with tissues; lots of tissues. Then he minimized the chatroom window to check the messages in his email inbox. He clicked on one of the unread emails sent by a user i.d called Alex22 and read the mail. After going through the message he had received, the boy scoffed and proceed to type a reply. As he typed the words out, muttering curses to himself and scoffed. Then a sound outside the building got his attention. He left the keyboard on the table and went over to the window. Staring down below from the window of the room on the fourth floor, he saw a car rolling towards the government low cost hostel building. A hardcore rap music was thumping out very loud from the speakers of the vehicle as parked infront of the building. All the doors opened and five hefty looking boys stepped out. Three were thickset looking and barrel chested while the other two bore a mean and scary look. One also carried a duffle bag slunged over his shoulder. The five of them stared at the hostel and surveyed the place for a while before they proceed to enter the building. "Gangsters", the boy scoffed, scratching his chubby face and adjusting the dirty singlet he wore as he went back to what he was doing. The chair creaked out loud as he dropped his extra weight on it and continue typing the reply he intends to send to user i.d Alex22. Some very abusive reply; just like the numerous abusive replies he had being sending to the user after the argument they had in an online forum. And he seems to be enjoying what he is doing from the way he smirked with a delightful look on his chubby face. As he was about to click the send button, he heard a loud knock on his door. Staring at the door, he slowly placed the computer keyboard on the table and got up. He wasn't expecting anybody at all today. Probably it's the house caretaker. "Yes am coming!", the body said out loud when the knock came again and lazily paced towards the door. He opened the door and saw the five hefty boys he had earlier seen outside; the "gangsters" he had seen coming out of the car.They were all big and looked scary. And their muscular bodies towering over his short chubby body. "You.....you are in the wrong room", the boy's mouth stammered involuntarily as he stared at the gorillas at his door with alot of fear. The boy standing infront of chubby boy stared at him for a few seconds and then looked at the a piece of paper he had in his hand. He looked at the chubby boy again. Isn't this room 405?", he asked. Chubby boy nodded. Then the boy pushed chubby out of the way and all the five boys entered the room. They looked around the place quietly and with disgust written all over their face as the smell of the room hit their nose. "Damn this place smells like feet during summer", one of the boys said and dropped the duffle bag he was carrying on the bed. The clinking sound that came out from bag when he did so showed that whatever it is in the bag are made of metals. "Stanley,....your friend Eric, should have told you that the person we are looking for lives in a pig farm", he continued as he looked around place. Stanley, the biggest of all the boy, sighed and looked around the place too. Then he shift his eyes to chubby boy. "Where is Samuel Oti?", stanley asked him. Chubby boy stared at Stanley with his mouth open. "Where the f@ck is Samuel Oti?!", Stanley barked out the question again and startled chubby boy. "Dont make me ask you again because it's gonna be a violent question!", he boomed. "I.....i...am Samuel Oti", chubby boy stammered and visibly shaken. "What?!.....", Stanley looked at the other boys who looked at one another. "Fat ass, i'm asking you where is Samuel at?", he asked again, glaring at the boy. "I....i am Samuel.....this is muh.....my room", chubby boy answered as he glanced at the other boys and sweating profusely. Stanley stared at the boy from head to toe and then took out his cellphone with a sigh. Murmuring "F@ck this sh:t", he dialled a number and waited impatiently for the call to be answered. "Hello....Eric!......idiot it's me, Stanley, who the hell do you think it is?, your girlfriend?", Stanley spoke on the phone mouthpiece. "Dude....seriously, what the f@ck is the meaning of this sh:t?", he asked and paused as he listened to the voice rasping out of the phone earpiece. "Me and the boys are at the place right now...... and we are staring at one pork chop who is saying that he is Samuel Oti......i thought you said the fellow is the leader of a gang called the 'Jack crew boys'.......a lard ass is standing infront of me here and he doesn't in any f@cking way look like a gang member", stanley glanced at Chubby boy who was trembling. When Chubby boy heard 'Jack crew boys', he knew that he is in alot of trouble. He had being telling people online that he's the leader of a gang called the "J.C boys. Such gang never exist because he made it up. And most of the people he had said that to, are the people he sent threat mails and even phone calls. Calls made on a phone booth so as to avoid detection. Now he is wondering how he got caught despite covering his tracks online. "Oh.....i should check his computer?!.......dude do i look like a f@cking computer technician?!", Stanley continued on the phone. "I should ask him if his i.d is Chunky-guy?.......the guy looks chunky for sure why should i ask him again". "Hey Stanley, his email i.d says.....Chunky-guy.......", one of the hefty boys said as he stared at Chubby boy's computer monitor. Then the boy sat on the chair and went through chubby boy's computer and mails. "I think we got the person Eric is talking about bro........dude you need to read the sh:ts in his email......alot of foul sh:ts he had being sending.......even the chats he is having online.....", the boy laughed as he scrolled through the emails. The other boys stared at the computer monitor and chuckled at what they saw. "Eric, i think we got your guy......", Stanley continued as he too looked at the monitor. "..... and he is not in anyway the leader of anything.....not even a sisi girls dance club......the dude is just an internet warrior". "And getting fatter due to time spent sitting and saying sh:t online", another boy added. "You still want us to go ahead with the plan?", Stanley furrowed his brows as he spoke. "Dude we came here to take on a gang.....and not to make pork chops.....we......hello?......hellooo?!". Stanley looked at the other boys. "He hung up......the idiot hung up". Then he looked at chubby boy who was trembling and unsure if he will live to see the next hour. "He still want us to go ahead with the plan", he muttered. The other boys glanced at each other and stared at chubby boy. Like wolves about to debowel a lamb. "Bring his Fat-ass over here", Stanley then said and zipped open the duffle bag on the bed. Samuel the chubby boy heard it and immediately made for the door to run out of the room. But before his quickness impeding weight could bounce to the exit, a grip from a strong arm grabbed him by his shorts and flung him back into the room like he only weight a few grams. And letting him know the "over the top" manpower the boy had in him. Samuel body hit the floor and the boy who tugged him in kicked the door shut. Crying for help, he tried to bulldoze his way through the boys standing infront of him. Then a fist came like an express train and hit him on the face; giving him a heavyweight boxing quality concussion and sending him to the floor again. Before he could recover from the thunder punch, he saw a spread out palm coming to his face. It delivered what could best be described as an "iron slap". Samuel thought his cheek exploded and felt his jaw move out of place. He had never being hit that hard before and it literally made him go dumb. Then he felt himself being lifted off the ground and slammed on the bed. From the corner of his teary eyes, Samuel saw Stanley take out a wicked looking matchete from the bag and he instantly pissed all over himself. Stanley came over to were Samuel is being held face down and showed him the the sharp edge of the matchete. This matchete......", Stanley began as he brought the blade close to the face of the boy who is being held down on the bed. "......this matchete you see have been given a special occasion type of sharpening......so if you in any way scream for help again or try to put up any kind of resistance, all i will just do is swing it at your waist.....and it will cut your spine into two". Samuel sobbed and stared at Stanley with alot of terror in his eyes. "We are here to take our time with you", Stanley continued. "So you better don't make us change our mind because if we do, then your family gonna bury you with two coffins". "Please....what do you want from me?", Samuel asked in tears. "My best friend said you messed with his friend called Alex....am sure you know him very well because you have being sending threat emails to him....", Stanley replied ".....and this my friend wants us to beat you beyond recognition before burying this thing in your skull", he waved the matchete at him. "Please am sorry.....i swear i won't do it again.....", Samuel begged and sobbed like a baby. "I swear...i....i will never ever do it again....please forgive me". The boys chuckled on hearing Samuels pleading. Stanley stared at him with a smirk. "But.....we are here to take on you and your so called jack crew boys gang", Stanley said. "And seeing that you are just a lying piece of sh:t internet warrior with a miserable life, we will just leave you with a warning", then he signalled at one of the boys and pointed at the desktop. "Destroy that sh:t", he ordered. The boy immediately took out a crowbar from the bag and proceed to smash the desktop computer and it's monitor. The two boys holding Samuel forced him to watch the thing he treasured most get destroyed. He broke down and cried uncontrollably. When the boy was done mangling the gadget, Stanley looked at Samuel. "That's for thinking that you can hide behind the computer and talk trash to people online", he said. Then he begin to unbuckle his belt. "Take off his cloths and get the camera......time for the real warning".

"And glad you are still alive my boy", Rogers said to Eric through the phone. "So when are you coming back?", he asked. "Tomorrow......you will be picking me up with the others after school", Eric replied and switched on the T.v as he relaxed on the sofa. "So what do you think about Alex, my twin brother?", he asked. "I could hardly tell the difference at first till i noticed the difference in attitude", Eric heard Roger's laughter. "He is kind of uninteresting. And like you said, he was asking questions about me". Nina walked into the living-room wearing a night- gown and sat next to Eric. She just had her usual evening shower and smelled of good fragrance that made Eric to steal a glance at her and continue his phone chat. Nina rubbed her hair and took the T.v remote from Eric and switched to the news channel. "Ok Rogers......see you tomorrow", Eric concluded the phone talk and ended the call. He dropped the phone beside him and glanced at Nina again. "Is it your driver friend called Rogers", she asked. "Yep.....he is glad to hear that you didn't kill me", Eric replied. "I hope you didn't tell him everything about us". "Nope......you have to worry about Alex doing that.....not me". "Okay.......you and that man really did a number on Jim......we picked him up near a car junkyard.", Nina sighed. Eric laughed. "You are laughing?", Nina asked irritatedly. "Do you know that if not for his timely phone call to tell me that Alex didn't enter the family car after school, you wouldnt a twin brother......i got to the school on time to save him from jumping off the roof". "And neither do i give a rat's ass", Eric murmured and then focused on the evening news being broadcasted. Nina ignored him and continue rubbing her long hair. After a few minutes, Eric shift his eyes at her and stared as she continue rubbing her hair. "What?.....", she asked without looking at him when she noticed the gaze. "Why are you staring like you want to do something". "Nothing.....", Eric said and looked away. "Then why are you staring at me?". "Just thinking......You must have being a beautiful girl when you were young". "Ha.....you should have seen me during my teen years......men just couldnt keep their eyes away from me.....even now". "Dont flatter yourself too much woman". "Am not joking....", Nina nudged Eric playfully. "Who do you think gave you all these good looks?". Eric gave a faint smile and stared at the T.v screen thoughtfully for some minutes. Then he looked at Nina who was also staring at the bright screen. She is thinking too. "He misses you a lot", he said to her quietly. "And i think he still loves you". Nina sighed with a downcast gaze. Then she smiled wryly and looked at Eric. "Even though he has a wife and a happy family?", she asked. "If Barry could get a chance to change the past, he will probably do everything in his power to wife you", Eric said. "I saw it in his eyes when he talked about you", Eric looked at Nina from head to toe and her body. "I can see the reason why......especially after years of living with that fat noise maker. "Aww...shut your mouth....what do you even know?", Nina chuckled. "And i know that you still love him........don't you?", Eric asked. Nina remained silent. "Then why didn't you marry him?", he asked again. "If you had done so, alot of bad things that had happened wouldn't have happened......am sure we would have being one happy family......you, Barry, Alex and me.....and what happened to Esther's fiance wouldn't have happened". "Well maybe all the things that had happened was for the best", Nina shrugged. "What the hell do you mean by that?", Eric retorted. "First, i was just nineteen years and he was almost ten years older than me....", Nina said. ".....secondly i was suppose to torture him into signing some documents before killing him.....but we ended up sweating hard in bed in some cheap rundown motel". "Okay....i get the picture", Eric said with disgust. "After we did the first round in some back alley", Nina continued thoughtfully without looking at Eric. "Oh for goodness sake mom!", Eric protested. "Do you also want to go into detail on how the both of you did it?". Hearing Eric call her "mom" made Nina's heart to race with joy. She experienced a moment of happiness. She smiled and grabbed Eric's arm; pulling him closer to her and playfully putting him in a choke hold. "Yes i want to go into the details", she joked as both of them struggled playfully on the sofa. She tickled him and both of them laughed. Then she held Eric's head close to her bossom and gave him a long kiss is forehead. Doing so, she fought back the tears welling up in her eyes. Some thoughts started creeping into her mind. Thoughts of keeping him for herself.......forever. Then Eric break away from the motherly cuddle to check his phone made an alert for the new message that just arrived. It was a message from Stanley and it had a video file with it. Eric tapped the play button to know what it was. He roared with laughter as he watched the video of a stark Unclad chubby boy with red stretch marks on his back, probably from being whipped with something.......like a belt. He was being lead around a room as he moved on both his hands and knees. And being forced to make the oink oink sound of a pig. Each time he doesnt make the sound, a foot wearing a boot would appear from nowhere and find its way to his ass. Nina glanced at the video and stared at Eric as he laughed at the performance. "What?", he asked her. "This punk is the guy who had been sending Alex those derogatory email.......atleast this is better than ....killing him for sure". Nina shook her head with a sigh. She got up and headed towards the dining place. Eric dropped his phone on the sofa and followed her; asking her what was the matter. Nina sat on one of the chairs in the dining room and pulled the suitcase lying on the dining table closer to her. She punched the key code and unlocked it. Eric who was standing next to her saw the "tools" in the case......her handguns and knife. Then Nina proceed to clean each gun silently after disassembling it. "Do you always carry these with you?", Eric asked. "Most of the time......", Nina replied. "Why?". "Because of my job......i am a killer.......a hitman.....or rather a hitwoman for the family", Nina said and then picked up the Glock 19. "But if your father is the leader of the so called Family, why give you that kind of job?", Eric asked. "You could have been something else......or something better". "Actually being a hitwoman is one of my jobs.....", Nina said and looked at him. "It's just that i like it more than the other things that i do for them", she smiled. "How did you even end up working for them", Eric asked again. "I mean.......you could have done something different.....be something different". Nina sighed and stared at the gun she held. "I used to be like you", she said and looked at Eric. "Raised by a different parent......and didn't even know about it". Then she opened a box of catridges and started refilling the gun magazine. "There were times you felt different......times you felt that something was wrong with you", Nina continued as she put in the bullets one by one. "Dont you?", she asked and looked at Eric Eric couldn't agree more. He had always felt that way since his childhood. And he had regarded himself as an unstable human being. "Well you are lucky you had someone like Esther to raise you", Nina said and picked up another empty magazine. "Mine was worse......i got raised by an abusive parents......foster father was a drunk, mother was even worse......i endured their abuse till i was fourteen". "Then what happened?", Eric asked. "Well one night my foster dad came back home stinking drunk.....he saw me and decided that it was time for me to lose my virginity", Nina shook her head with a smirk. "He wanted to have his way with me". "Did he......", Eric began and stared at her. Nina looked at him. "Hell no....he didn't succeed", she smiled brightly. "What did you do?....you ran away from the house?". "I killed him with a pick axe.....swung it at his face. You should have seen the way it popped his eyeball from it's socket. I also killed his wife for trying to hold me down". Eric smiled at the thought of a teenage girl swinging a pick axe at a man with mad rage. Surely the scene after the savagery won't be a good thing to behold. "Then i burnt down the house with both of them inside", Nina concluded. "So how did you meet the so called Sosai, your real father?", Eric asked. "I did my investigations.", Nina replied. "When i met him, the man wasn't happy at all......he knew what he was and never wanted me to get caught up in the kind of life he lead. Just like i don't want you boys to get caught up too", she inhaled deeply and exhaled gently. "But i was more than eager to be with him......to be like him because i saw the kind of power he wielded. He let me join after letting me know that there is no going back if i do". Then Eric picked up the Smith and Wesson handgun. He examined the weapon and felt the cold black carbon steel it was made of. He picked up a loaded clip and slapped it in. Cocking the gun he took an aim and then lowered the "heat". Nina stared at him with a proud look on her face. "I always wanted to have one of these after learning how to use it", he said and handed the gun to her. "Though i don't think i have any use for it". Nina smiled and collect the gun. "This is my favourite baby", she said as she stared at it. Then she looked at Eric and handed the gun back to him. "Happy birthday.....you better learn not to shoot yourself", Eric hesitated before he took the weapon. He felt the gun again and smiled. "Esther gonna be very mad at me for having this", he murmured and glanced at Nina. "I think i will give it a name.....just like Marv of Sin-city did to his gun". "Oh yeah?.....so what do you intend to name it?", Nina chuckled. "I will call it.....Manute....another character in Sin-city. "Why him?". "He always served his masters very well without question". "Well.....", Nina packed the other handgun into the case. "You have to always clean 'Manute' if you want it to serve you well because it could jam on the day you need it the most if you don't". "Have you ever thought of meeting him", Eric then asked Nina. "Meeting who?", she asked. "Barry". Nina said nothing as she continue doing what she was doing. Eric asked her the question again. She didn't give him an answer. She only hummed in cheery tune to herself and avoided Eric's steady gaze. This went on for some minutes and Eric got frustrated. "Am gonna go watch T.v", he dropped the gun on the table and went to the refrigerator. Nina then sighed and looked at Eric. "Do you think he loves me?", she asked quietly. "Of course.....he loves you", Eric replied as he took a can of beer from the fridge. Then he opened the beer and sat on a dining chair. "Why don't you meet him", Eric suggested. "He misses you alot". Nina thought about it for some seconds and shook her head. "No....i can't", she murmured. "I want you to meet him.....please", Eric begged. " Nina looked at him and smiled. "Am sorry son....it cannot happen".

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. Six weeks later. Nina readjusted her blouse with alot of nervousness as she looked around the restaurant. She took out a small hand held mirror and her lipstick from her handbag. Glancing at the boy sitting next to her, she gently applied the red lipstick and pursed her lips when she was done. She paused and sighed heavily. "I don't know why i even agreed to do this......i hate being nervous", she muttered and looked at the boy sitting beside her. He was dressed in black suit. "Whose idea was it by the way?, you or Eric?", she asked him. "It was Alex's idea.....and i am Eric", he replied. "See, that's why i hate being nervous......it makes me get confused", Nina muttered. Then Nina looked herself again in the hand held mirror. "How do i look?", she asked Eric with a nervous tone of voice. "Beautiful as always", Eric replied indifferently as he too was looking around the upscale restaurant. "Please tell me the truth". "If you weren't my mother, i would have proposed to you....you look sweet". "Oh God", Nina heaved a sigh. "The scars on my back. Do you think it is that bad?", she asked again with a worried look on her face. "He might see it and get turned off". "I thought those scars were some kind of a bad-ass trophy you carried around proudly.....why the sudden worry?", Eric asked and furrowed his eyebrows. Besides the cloth you are wearing is covering it quite well, so why worry about Barry seeing it?", he looked at Nina suspiciously. "This is just a meeting.....or are you planning to do something else with him?", he asked. "Planning to do what?". "I dont know....you tell me". Nina ignored him and studied every man that came in or left the place. It made Eric quite uncomfortable. "Calm down woman......he will be here soon", he assured her. "I haven't seen him for almost nineteen years", Nina said with a weak smile. "I wonder what the reaction might be.....it could get out of hand. But i don't want him to do something bad to Agnes his wife". "You mean.....cheat on her?, well that's not gonna happen", Eric shook his head. "And you better make sure that it doesn't happen". "I will try my best". "Don't say you will try......just don't let it happen. Even if it means you threatening him with that knife you are concealing under your skirt". Then Alex came over to their table. "Okay.....he is in the lobby", he began as he rubbed his hands and glanced at Nina and Eric. "So are you ready to meet him?", he asked "Wait, does he know am here?", Nina asked him and looked at the door nervously. "No....he doesnt know at all.....i told him i wanted to have a father and son dinner", Alex replied. "It was really hard convincing that man to come here", he shook his head and sighed "You always had it so easy", Eric said to his twin brother. "Mine was making a bad deal with her so as to bring her here", he pointed at Nina. "Yeah yeah....we all know you are the one doing the heavy ones", Alex said sarcastically. "And also wrote your certificate exam for you because your are too dumb to write it", Eric added. "And i also heard you helped your girlfriend......was she also like me?....too dumb to write it?", Alex smiled. "Don't make me add 'roasted Alex' to the restaurant menu you dumb f@ck", Eric got up and glared at Alex. "Boys!....seriously are the both of you gonna do this right here?....right now?", Nina retorted. "You boys need to behave...especially infront me and your father". Then she looked at Eric. "You have to always show respect no matter the situation.....that is one of the virtues that will make you stand out from the rest", she said to him. Eric said nothing. "You heard what she said. You have to respect me because am older", Alex whispered to him as Nina drank the water in the glass cup on the table. "I will do that on the day you kick my ass", Eric whispered back. "Until then, you better watch yourself". "If not because you put the hurt on Daniel's karate teacher thereby making him to think i am you, i would have joined Daniel in training karate in his dojo....and be able to kick your ass". "Dude just listen to what you are saying". Then Nina suddenly stopped drinking and stared at the restaurant front desk, holding the glass close to her lips. She was looking at the middle aged man who was talking to the receptionist and looking around the restaurant. Without looking at her twin boys, she left the glass on the table and immediately headed towards man. Barry listened to the female receptionist and nodded his head as he looked around the place. He asked about the reservation his son had made and the lady was finding it difficult to find the name he gave her. After checking and cross checking the names on the bright monitor screen facing her, she shook her head and apologized. Scratching his neatly cut grey hair, Barry sighed and glanced to his side. He saw a beautiful woman wearing a black close fitted dress coming towards him and looked at his gold Rolex wristwatch. Then he gasped and immediately looked in the direction of the woman approaching him again and stared at her with his mouth open. Nina came over and stood infront of Barry. She stared at him. Barry stared back at her and they remained like that for almost half a minute. "Hi Barry....", Nina then began with a weak smile. "Longtime no see......how are you doing?". Barry was totally lost for words. He just keep staring at Nina with his mouth still open. Nina got closer to him and held his hand. She looked him in the eyes and gently rest her head on his shoulders. Barry eyes darted around the restaurant. He wanted to be sure that he wasn't in dreamland. Then he gently raised a hand and suspended it over her shoulder for a few seconds before placing it gently. Nina slide her arms around his neck and raised her face to his. Barry put his arms around her waist and pulled her more closer. Their lips met. The kiss was full of passion and Nina had tears rolling down her cheek. "That shouldn't happen", Eric murmured and glanced at Alex. "I know.....just let them be", Alex said and stared at Nina and Barry. "Well you know what can happen when ex lovers meet again". "I know.....", Alex sighed. "But that woman called Agnes have treated me so bad that i don't care what he does with aunt Helen. "You mean Nina". Nina....Helen....whatever the name is. I just want to see her happy.....and my father too". Barry slowly let go and looked at Nina in her face. "You are still as beautiful as how you were when i first met you", he said as he gently touched her face. Nina smiled shyly. "I've gotten old", she murmured and looked down. "Oh come on....", Barry put his hand under her chin and lift her face up. "You are still beautiful as ever if not more", he said kindly and swiped the tears on her cheek. Nina smiled and gave him a peck. "Oh i came with the boy you asked me to take care of....", Barry said and looked around the restaurant. "He is grown now. I have alot to tell you about him". "I know.....and i came with the other boy", Nina said to him. Barry stared at her . "Other boy?,......what do you mean by that?", he asked with a confused look in his face. Nina smiled and pointed at Alex and Eric walking towards them. Barry saw the twins and was flabbergasted. He had woke up today and prepared for the dinner his son wanted to have with him. Not for the drama that is unfolding before him. "How come?", he managed to utter as he stared at the two boys. Then he looked at Nina. "Are they twins?", he asked her. "Yes they are twins......our twin boys". "Our twin boys?,....you mean.....you had a baby for me?". Nina nodded and beckoned at the boys to come to her. "This is Alex, the one that grew up in your house", she said and looked Alex. "This is Eric, the one who had been in your house for almost two months", she said and looked at Eric. "Been in my house for the past two months?, i dont understand?", Barry is really confused. Nina looked at him. "Alex didn't run away from your house. I took him and let him stay in my place", she said. "Eric took his place while i fixed the damage your wife had done to him", Barry thought for a while and looked at Eric. "Well that explains alot of things", he then said. "The sudden toughness and boldness.....it wasn't Alex all these times. It was him", he smiled. Then Barry sighed and glanced at each and every one of them. "This could have been how we supposed to be", he murmured and looked at Nina. "We suppose to be here as a family...not like this". They all remained silent as they stood; glancing at each other. One of the stewards came over and asked them if he could be of any help. Eric whispered something to him and pointed at Nina and Barry. The steward nodded and turned to Barry. "Sir....let me show you and your wife your table", he said politely. Barry and Nina looked at Eric who nodded at them. Then Barry smiled at him. He gently took Nina's hand and they followed the steward who lead them to another table in the V.I.P section. "So what are we gonna do?", Alex asked and looked at Eric intently. "We?, there is no 'we' here", Eric replied. "You should ask yourself what you gonna do". "What does that suppose to mean?", Then Lisa stepped into the place and looked around. Her eyes caught the twins and she smiled. "It means that you will have to find something to keep yourself busy", Eric said and looked at Lisa as she approached them. "Because i already found one". Lisa came over and said hello to Alex as she placed her hand on Eric's shoulder. Alex stared at Lisa. Her close fitted black mini-skirt and black flowery designed blouse that showed her curves wowed him. "And she wants us to go somewhere else", Eric continued and held her hand. "Aw come on bro.....", Alex sighed. "Can't we have some time to spend together as brothers?", he asked. "Sorry not today.....perhaps next time", Eric winked at him. "So what am i suppose to do?". Then Eric went close to Alex. "If you were half as attentive and alert as me you would have noticed that the girl over there had being sitting alone", he whispered and pointed at a beautiful girl in her late teens sitting on a table. "That's why i always tell you am better than you. So you have to respect me". Then Eric took Lisa's hand and walked away. Alex smiled at him brightly and turned his eyes to the girl. He cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. Then he calmly approached the girl. She looked up and saw a handsome boy coming towards her with alot of confidence. And it made her smile.

Can't stop loving this story

Wow. What a great story. Loving this

Barry opened the bottle of red wine after reading it's label and looked at Nina "Is it still your favourite?", he asked her. "Unhuh......", Nina replied, with elbows on the table and hands folded under her chin. "It's like you still remembered". "Yes i remembered.....", Barry murmured as he poured some wine in her glass. "I remembered everything.....like it was just yesterday", then he poured in his own glass. "Are still mad at me after all these years?", Nina asked. "I will be lying if i say am not mad at you", Barry replied and placed the bottle on the table. "After all we had between us you just disappeared......saying goodbye on the phone. Atleast you could have said it to me, face to face". Nina sighed. "Barry, you won't understand.....i...", she began. "What do you mean by that?", Barry interrupted her with abit of irritation in his voice. "That's exactly what you said before you left and that's also what you said almost ten months later when you called to tell me about a baby i should adopt". Then he looked down and stared at his glass of wine for a while in silence. Nina stared at him and wondered what he was thinking about. "It is almost nineteen years since you left", Barry muttered still looking at the glass. "Whatever it is, am sure am old enough to understand", then he looked at Nina. "So please tell me what it is that made you to leave me and convince my wife not to divorce me", he demanded. "You know very well how i loved you so much and wanted us to be together". "Barry, there are things best left unknown", Nina said to him. "And there are things that we can't have.....no matter how hard we try to get it, we can't have it.......and alot damages could be done while trying to have it". "I still want to know". "You want to know?......you want to know the truth?". "Yes.....the whole truth. I deserve to know all of it". "And you think you can handle the whole truth?". Nina scoffed and looked away. "You seem to have forgotten who i am". "Of course i still know who you are", Nina retorted, still looking away. "Barry Philips, the c.e.o of Philips conglomerate.......only son of a civil war veteran and the man who built a successful company in a short period of time......blood type AB......wears the left shoe before the right". Then Nina looked at Barry. "Are you still talking yourself when no one is around?", she asked him. Barry stared at her in silence. No one ever knew about him talking to himself whenever he is alone. Not even Agnes, his wife of more than twenty years. "I can still remember the smell of the paper that had all the info about you", she continued with a smirk. "While i was being drilled on how to kill you". "What?......what are you talking about?", Barry was startled. "You want to know the truth......the whole truth", Nina said to him. "The truth is there was nothing between you and me......initially. Because i was sent to kill you after making you sign some documents. Some of your competitors and business partners wanted you out of the way. And the big man who had an age old grudge with your father was willing to help them do it", then she took a sip from the her glass. "That night i first met you, i was following and watching you. But somehow you developed an interest in me in that bar......at first it felt awkward. Then i had to play along after noticing another set of hired killers sent by your ex business partner to eliminate you watching and following you", she sighed. " All those nights i wanted us to go on a date. It wasn't actually a date. It was just my way of watching over you so those assassins wont ruin my mission till i had killed them all". She took another sip from her glass. "And that thing that happened between us that night in the motel room. It wasn't suppose to happen at all......but it happened. And just like every other nights, it kept on happening because we couldn't get enough of each other. Then everything became so complicated because the man i was supose to eliminate became my first man....it made me weak. Soon i was carrying those boys you just saw in my womb". Barry rubbed the bridge of his nose as he bowed his head. Thinking about what Nina just told him was giving him some kind of a headache. "First of all, who is this big man you are talking about?", he asked. "That, i can't tell you......and it's best you don't know and go on living your life like i didn't tell you all these things am telling you now", Nina replied. "Why?" "Just take it that way". "Okay then, what is this age old grudge he had with my father?". "I wish i know......but whatever it is that made the man want to kill the son who has nothing to do with whatever his father did, it must be very serious". "So what happened?......since you didn't eliminate me, why didn't he send someone else to finish the job?", Barry asked again. "Did he have a change of heart?". "Well....you have to thank me for that", Nina replied. "I had to do alot of things.......underwent alot of unbearable pains and made alot of promises. That's why you are still breathing today". "So why did you do it?", Nina remained silent and stared at her wine glass. "Tell me why you did it?", Barry demanded again. "Why are you asking?, do you prefer to be murdered and all that you have built through hard work taken away by your enemies?", Nina asked coolly. "You did it because you really loved me", Barry said to her and his lips curved into a smile. "You love me". "I don't know what you are talking about" Nina murmured indifferently. Then she looked at her wristwatch. "Barry i think i have to go now", she then got up and started walking towards the exit. "Nina wait!.....", Barry got up immediately and followed her. Barry and Nina remained silent as the elevator descended from the twenty-fifth floor, heading to the ground floor. Listening to the lounge music that played in a low volume from the speakers in the elevator, Barry stole a few glances at Nina as she stood beside him and stared at the elevator buttons. As if trying to avoid looking at him. Then he gently extend his hand and held hers. Nina slowly turned her head and looked at the hand holding hers. She looked at him for a few seconds and turned away. Barry gradually pulled her closer to him and made an attempt to kiss her. Nina resisted, but quite unwillingly. Barry made another attempt and their lips met. Nina immediately withdraw her head and shook it. "No.....Barry please no......you have a wife and kids", she protested quietly. "We can't do this". Barry moved his hand to the elevator buttons. He hit stop button and brought it to a halt. Then he wrapped his arm around Nina's waist and crushed his lips against hers. Nina didn't resist. She responded quite well though protesting weakly that what they were doing was wrong. Then Barry moved his lips to the nape of her neck and kissed it passionately. Nina moaned with alot of pleasure as barry worked his tongue on her erogenous zone. It made her mind to let go of all reasonable and cautious thought. And allowed all kinds of bad thoughts to replace them. Then she hit the fifteenth floor button and the elevator came to life, taking them to the new destination. "I have a room.......", she moaned as they kissed passionately. "I hope you still got it in you". "You better cancel whatever schedule you have tomorrow girl......", Barry murmured at her.

"More than monsters......that's what we are......from the beginning of time till the day the Big Guy decides to turn off the light in this world, that is what we will always be", Nina rubbed the steering wheel of the car with her hands and looked at the boy sitting on the passenger seat beside her. "And the more you accept the fact, the better because it will make alot of things quite clear to you. Make you to be able to make the right decisions, make you to live with no regrets........also make you know what you can have and what you cannot have". The boy remained silent as he stared at the apartment building the car was parked close to. "The day you found out about me was the day i knew that this day will come", Nina continued. "Just like my own day came when i found out who my dad was.....that's why i tried so hard not to allow you boys know who i am. Because no matter what or no matter how far you go, you will always come back. As long as that blood is flowing in you. One family legend has it that it was a curse placed on us. And as times went by, we became nightmares for monsters themselves because of the things we did and the things we have done". Then Nina took a deep breath and paused for a while. "You will have two educations", she continue. One will be the normal education people have. Which is going to college or university to get a career just like every other people do. The other is my own type of education", she looked at the boy sternly. "I will shake and break you boy.....whatever it is that you learned in that house will be taken out of you. I'm going to remake you. And when am done with you, to the outside world you will look like the every day normal guy. But in reality you will even be the bogeyman's worst nightmare because i will make you be the kind of guy people will need if they want the bogeyman to be killed in the worst way. Even if he is in the depths of hell...... "So what's the catch?", the boy asked Nina without looking at her. "For me to be all that, there is certainly a price to pay". "Well....." Nina began with a smile. "Never expect a better tomorrow because the promises of a long life is not for you so that's why you gotta be extremely vicious when dealing with your enemy. You will know pain......falling in love is never an option because it is a weakness for people like us and you shouldn't have any weakness at all. Last and not the least, there are sets of rules that you must follow. You have to abide by it and always remember it. If you break any of them wilfully......", Nina gazed at the boy. "I will kill you myself......i dont care if you are my son and i never cared. And how i will kill you if you break any of those rules will depend on my mood that day; it could be quick or it could be very nasty". Then Nina took a deep breath and and exhaled gently. She looked at the apartment with a smirk. "If you had taken care of that boy that day, he wouldn't have killed that girl", she murmured. "Of course she was the one who had set your girlfriend up in his place but she doesn't deserve to die". "Well, she is the one who brought it upon herself", the boy said indifferently. "After what happened in that house she still hanged out with that guy and his group. Lisa saw her as a best friend yet that girl set her up. To me i think she deserves what happened to her". "Then why are we here?", Nina asked. "The boy's time is up......and you wanted me to make you proud", the boy murmured as he put on a black hoodie jacket. "Besides that bastard got the nerve to threaten me and my mother", he looked at Nina. "Nobody threatens my mother". Nina smiled. She reached for the suitcase on the backseat and opened it. She took out the knife and pulled it out from it's sheath. She looked at the boy and handed it to him. "Don't worry i got everything i need right here", he said and grabbed his black duffle bag. "Okay then......", Nina then lit herself a cigarette and took a drag. She gently exhaled the smoke out of her lungs and stared at the burning end of the cigarette. "Go get him boy", she then say without looking at the boy. "Leave no prints". Putting on a rubber gloves, the boy opened the door and slide out of the car. He put on the hoodie, slung the bag over his shoulder and head towards the entrance of the five floor apartment building with alot of determination.

"Dad i can't stay here for one more day........", Angel barked at the mouthpiece of his cellphone and listened for a while. "Since the police said there is no evidence for them to find the killer, why am i still here?......i want to go home.....today......am tired of staying here"!, then he listened again. "Oh okay then......", Angel smiled as he picked up the remote of the T.v. "Tell mom to give the driver some cloths......and some money.....i will be needing them......see you soon dad". Angel ended the call and smiled happily. He flipped the channels of the T.v as he looked around the living-room of the well furnished two rooms apartment. One of the several apartments owned by his family. And the apartment he had been hiding in for the past three weeks since the murder of Tracy. The murder he committed. He didnt expect the murder to bring that much heat. And due to the gruesome nature of the crime; a girl killed and her body splashed with acid to cover up any trace of fingerprints or any other evidence, there is a growing public outcry for the authorities to find the perpetrators. But as usual his father had used his connections and greased a few palms to save his neck. And a homeless deranged man was somehow made to take the murder rap. Yet Angel just don't understand why his father still want him to stay in one of the apartments that he uses to cheat on his mother. As Angel flipped the channel, a news being broadcasted in the news channel caught his attention. He listened as the female news presenter gave the latest report on a murder case with Tracy's picture on one side of the screen. Angel heard the report and smirk as he looked away. "They should have also told the world that she squealed like a pig when we were taking turns on her", he scoffed and changed the channel. Then Angel heard a knock. He remained silent and stared at the door. After a few seconds of silence the knock came again and continued. He glanced at his wristwatch and got up. Thinking about the driver his dad had earlier said will be sent to him, he quietly went to the door and wondered how he came so fast. He opened the door and saw nobody. Quite baffled, he curiously stepped out from the apartment to the empty and quiet corridor. He glanced both ways and pursed his lips. Probably one of those pranks, he thought as he turned to go back inside. Then he heard a sound, like that of an alarm clock. His eyes followed the sound and saw something a few feet away from the door of his apartment. He cautiously went over to where it laid on the floor and picked it up. He found out it was a digital timer. His digital timer......the one Lisa's boy took from his bedroom. It was ringing and blinking "Time up". Angel immediately dropped the device and made for the door of the apartment. He opened the door and bumped into boy wearing a black hoodie jacket. Angel stared at the boy in shock. "What the hell are.....", he began. But before Angel could finish that sentence, hoodie boy grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and thrusted what looked like a homemade knife at him. The rusty blade of the knife penetrated Angel's tummy. Before he could start feeling the pain of the stabbing, the "shank" got driven into him two more times. Angel groaned and collapsed on the floor with his hands clutching his profusely bleeding tummy. The hoodie boy dragged him into the apartment and kicked the door close. Angel made an attempt to get up but the boy kicked him in his face; making him to go down to the floor again. Then hoodie boy flipped him over and drive the knife into him again. Angel screamed as the blade sliced into him. The hoodie boy was taking his time in delivering multiple stabbings in Angel's back. The boy straightened up and watched Angel cry and beg for mercy as he crawled on the floor with blood spurting out of the knife wounds. He was trying to reach for his cell phone on the table in the dining room and leaving a trail of blood on the floor as he did so. After spending a few minutes watching Angel struggle to reach for his phone, hoodie boy bend over him again and stabbed him more; making sure the blade hit his vital organs. Angel's struggling stopped. He just laid on the floor, in the pool of his own blood with laboured breathing. Then hoodie boy went over to where he had dropped his duffle bag. He opened it and took out a 12 gauge sawed off shotgun. Moving his head weakly and coughing out blood from his mouth, Angel gazed at the boy as he came and stood over him with the weapon. "You......", he began weakly and coughed out more blood. "Who the hell are you?", The boy took off the hoodie and showed his face properly. "Alex.....please.....please dont do this", Angel begged. He tried to get up, but couldn't and groaned painfully. Then boy grabbed Angel by his ankle. "The name is Eric..... not Alex", he said to Angel and begin to drag him towards the bathroom; humming to himself. Angel's body left a trail of blood as he was being dragged into the bathroom. He couldn't put up any resistance. The blade had hit his spinal cord and made his limbs to go out of action. He tried grabbing on anything his hand could reach as Eric dragged him to uncertainty. But his grip was weak and he only succeeded in leaving his blood stains on them. "You don't have do this man.....", Angel groaned as Eric open the door to the bathroom and hauled him into the bathtub. "I didn't touch her.....i didn't touch Lisa....please", he gasped. Eric ignored his pleadings and made sure that he was properly laid inside the bathtub. Then he cocked the 12 gauge "hammer". "Please.....Alex.....Eric...please don't shoot". "You were right", Eric said and pointed the muzzle of the gun at Angel's chest. "I can't f@cking do you nothing......and i can't f@cking do nothing about the order given for your execution". "Please.....don't shoot....don't shoot". "Give my regards to Tracy, tell her more of her killers will be coming soon". Eric pulled the trigger and let the cartridge in the chamber spit death.

Nina heard the gunshot and smiled. Two more shots rang out like a distant thunder. It attracted the attention of the few people hanging around the residential building that is usually empty by that time of the afternoon. After seeing no signs of any trouble, they continued with whatever activities they were doing, not knowing that a manslaughter had just occured in one of the apartments in the building. Nina saw Eric calmly exiting the building and brought life to the car engine. "So.......", Nina began as Eric slide into the front passenger seat. "How did it feel?", she asked, looking at him in his face. "What do you mean?", Eric asked as he took off the blood soaked rubber gloves. "I mean.....how did it feel like after doing what you just did?", Nina asked again. "Well.....it felt like i just killed a guy.....that all", Eric replied as stuffed the gloves inside the duffle bag and tossed it to the back seat. "Or am i suppose to have some special feelings after almost splitting a guy in half and blowing his brains out with a shotgun , he asked. Nina stared at him for a while and then hit the gear of the Range Rover. The SUV slowly rolled out of the parking spot and head towards the main road. As the car hit the road and joined the traffic, Nina stole a few glances at Eric as he stared ahead of him in silence. "No matter how tough or heartless or whoever you think you are boy......", Nina said as she worked the steering wheel. ".....if you kill someone.....if you watch that energy and life leave the body, it will change you......change you forever. You have to know that". Then she pushed the car stereo button and chose a song from the list of songs on the menu screen. "I always listen to this lounge music whenever i take a life", she said and glanced at Eric. "It is calming. I think you should listen to it to calm yourself down". "Who said i want to be calmed down?", Eric asked. "Just drive and shut your mouth if you have nothing good to talk about". Nina hit the music button. She glanced at him with a delightful smile and revved the engine, making the posh car to roar and accelerate it's speed. The song called "Looped" could be heard playing out of the car as it disappeared in the traffic. THE END.

need ur comment guys Watch out for season2

dis is magnificient and fantabulous.... salute 2 d writer

Come on with season 2 dude. Nice story so far But make the season quick

I can comment d whole day just for u to continue dis story

Nice write up @Selimdon...waiting 4 season 2.

My Goodness I love this story even though it involves lot of blood shed and more to come..... Nice one, expecting season two.

Eagerly following, nyc story my dear...... Waiting 4 season2

I luv dis

Wow wow wow Is all I can say for now

wot a nice write up

I love every bit of dis story mehn!! Nice story....

Diz story swit die everytin fallin into place

well done guy thumb up

Nice one

wa oooo . I enjoyed every bit of d story. can't wait for season 2

Hmmm,welldone @selimdon,more grease 2 ur elbow..

nice story..patiently waiting 4 season 2

It seems we are about to see the biggest shit of a life time cause ............ just read and see.

just superb! loving this a lot...

Abeg make we continue

You did a nice job here

woow!!!!!I must admit you are a freaking genius.really enjoyed the story to the fullest

the is becoming interesting !........ride on

Interesting

Nice

Ok i guess it would turn out this way..nancy is eric's maternal grandma while eric's mum is the woman barry is talking an i guess eric an alex those twin they talking about in beginx of the story.my option

What a great story

what of the next season nah