The haunted bride - Season 2 - Episode 15

4 years ago

The haunted bride - Season 2 - Episode 15

“You mentioned a prototype?” George moved closer and settled into a chair. He had to listen carefully and properly. Aniekan Umoh seemed like a good person. If his snaky lawyer was up to some mischief, he would be left with no option but to expose her.

Seun cast a look of, “tell him yourself,” at Aniekan, who quickly understood.

Aniekan cleared his throat and pulled out a chip from his pocket. It was very tiny yet visible. It was protected in a little glass casing which had a label that read: “Demon Hall2.”
“I design games for a living…”

“I know that part,” Uncle George winked. The old man had one of Aniekan’s games in his computer and he played it whenever he was stressed.

“I have Luciferon, Glacierbreakers and Surulere on my computer.” He said.
Aniekan was awed, humbled and impressed that a man like George took interest in his games. It spoke a lot about what he did. He was touching lives across age groups. Now that he knew that old people could play games, his next line of action, would be to design games that would suit their age group.

“I am surprised, that is good to know. I will always keep you in mind, while designing my next games.”

It pleased George to hear that, but it would please him more to find out how Ese was connected to Ada and whom they had been plotting against.

“Please go on about the prototype.” George urged him on.

Aniekan nodded and shifted in his chair.
“There is a game that I have been working on for some years now, Demon Hall1. It is a big deal and it would pull in a lot of cash and investments to my company. Everything is in here…” Aniekan raised the chip up.

“With my permission and readiness, it would be distributed to worldwide gaming centers, toy companies and online game streaming sides. I just have one problem.” He paused.
Seun’s eyes met with his uncle’s, but he quickly looked away. He’d wanted Aniekan to state the purpose of their visit by himself.
“What could that be?” George waited for the young man to speak.

“I…I think someone is after the prototype. And if this chip gets into the wrong hands, all my effort would be ruined, because I do not know what plans this person has for my game. This is why I have come. I know that I am supposed to keep this in the bank or with a law firm, but I don’t trust anybody now. I have to fight this on my own.”

Speaking of lawyers…

Mr. George felt this was the best time to make some subtle inquiries.

“So you want me to keep this prototype in my underground house? What makes you think that I cannot sell your game to those who want it? I could make a huge profit and flee the state.”

Aniekan had thought of that possibility, but achieving success involved risks and he wanted Demon Hall1 to be successful.
“I have been friends with Seun for a very long time. I trust him with my life, even more than my family. If Seun believes in you, I also believe that you are a man of integrity and purpose. You are an honorable man.”

Seun confirmed his friend’s assertions with a nod.

George smiled sweetly, “I must say that you are a good talker. What other talents do you have apart from designing fun filled games and having a convincing tongue?”

The room was saturated with different notes of laughter. When silence returned, the old man cleared his throat. It was time for seriousness. It was time for honesty.

“I would love to be a part of your success story, but I cannot keep something so delicate and precious in my care without knowing your reason for wanting to hide it, in the first place.”

Aniekan thought that the old man’s argument was valid. Only a simpleton and a naïve person would have accepted the prototype without questioning its foundation.
“Please be very honest with me, and you will have to append your signature to a paper, stating that you want me to keep it.”

Seun’s lips parted in a devious and silent laugh; knowing how smart and pragmatic that his uncle was.

“Sure, that wouldn’t be a problem.” Again, Aniekan was pleased by the old man’s conduct.

“Before then, you have to answer two questions. Is this acceptable?” George quickly peeled a clean sheet of paper and folded it on his lap.

“What are your questions please?” Aniekan waited for the old man to speak.
“Who is your Lawyer? And who is after the prototype?”

At first, Aniekan had expected tougher and more personal questions. The old man’s inquiry seemed unrelated and inconsequential to the existence of the prototype. He didn’t have a choice. He couldn’t ignore the question.

“Barrister Adaugo Elechi is my official legal representative. For the prototype, I feel many people want it.” Aniekan couldn’t expose his brother to a total stranger.

But he wasn’t an awesome liar; George had spotted his unwillingness and hesitation for the second question. However, he had confirmed one thing; they both shared the same lawyer.

“Please I want you to be honest with me. Keeping this prototype could endanger my life, especially if the people looking for it are dangerous. I need to know what I am up against.”

Seun understood why Aniekan wasn’t quick to answer the second question.

“I will help him answer that. We suspect his older brother, EseabasiUmoh. But we do not have proof yet, it is just a hunch.”
“I see,” George caressed his chin.
He had gotten the answers that he sought. He would find a way to avenge the criminal for defrauding him.

Ese had followed his brother’s car to a barren land. At first, it confused him. Why would Ese park his car in the middle of nowhere? But when he approached the rusty tank and found a metallic ring on the ground. Ese smiled with satisfaction, for he had found his brother’s hiding place.

“So the fool thought he could hide the prototype from me?”

In a swift move, Ese pulled out a gun from his pocket.

Elena’s feet hurt as she chased after the dark figure. It seemed to float. It moved faster than Elena, but she wouldn’t be deterred. She had to be sure that she wasn’t going crazy or having a mental breakdown.
When Elena stepped into the hallway, leading to the forbidden room, she was slowed down by darkness. But she didn’t stop running. She still felt the eerie presence in the corridor. She continued to run, until she burst into an area with dim light. She had been locked in one of the rooms by Aniekan’s lawyer, on her first night. She remembered it clearly now.
When a little light had pierced through the hallway, Elena noticed that the black figure was nowhere to be found.

“S--t!” Elena yelled in a loud voice.
“I lost it!”

She panted like one who was being chased by a masquerade. Her feet hurt. Her mouth felt dry. Her lips shivered. Sweat covered her face.
Elena was exhausted from running, she was afraid that something was wrong with her. If there had really been a figure, she would have seen it, touched it and spoken to it. Something was misleading her mind. Something triggered hallucination within her, and she had to discover the truth.

A tear ran down her cheek as she imagined a life of isolation. Yes, people who suffered mental illness, even in the mildest forms, were usually shunned by their own family. She couldn’t believe having delusions would happen to her, at such a young age.
She placed her hands against her face and sobbed.

“I am going crazy!” When she was done with her morning cry, she rose to her feet and decided to go to work. She would have to talk to someone about this problem that she faced, because it was eating her up from the inside.

The first person that came to her mind was Ada. Ada had proven herself to be a good friend; she was going to tell someone about this problem that she was passing through.
Elena was about leaving the forbidden wing, when she heard soft music playing in the background. At first, she tried to shake it off, as another trick that her mind was playing on her. But when the song continued to play, she had no choice but to trace the origin of such a familiar and sweet tone.

“Where is this song coming from?” Elena forced her eyes shut and searched the deepest places in her mind.