Must Read: The Claw, The Tail, And The Cross. - Season 1 - Episode 15

7 years ago

Must Read: The Claw, The Tail, And The Cross. - Season 1 - Episode 15

We watched the hotel for another hour during which time no other vehicle came into view.

I looked at the time and saw it was a little past eleven o’clock. The town had become quiet except for some night life music playing a little way off. The building lights shone brightly giving off a very pleasant view to the surroundings. Jenny settled into the car seat, reclining it a little and reading from a Cosmopolitan magazine.

There was some noise as a car approached the hotel gate. I looked in the direction of the noise and saw a Black Toyota Corolla speed up to the gate. It wasn’t a blue Camry but I tried to catch a glimpse of the driver all the same and I drew in a sharp breath as I recognized who it was.
“Mr. Kelvin!” Jenny said, as the car drove in.

Apparently she had seen his face too. “What is he doing here at this time of the night?” We waited for a while and soon the car was driving out again, this time with two occupants.

We caught a glimpse of Kelvin driving and Mr. Obi in the passenger seat. Mr Obi appeared to be in some sort of pain.

Jenny sat up and adjusted her seat and I started the car and quickly followed them.

The streets were clear and they were driving at a considerable speed and it was all I could do to keep up with them without attracting attention. Luckily Kelvin drove to a still busy part of town where other cars still plied the road and we were able to catch up considerably with him. He entered into a private compound in one of the streets and we parked outside.
“Okay, now things are getting interesting!” Jenny said.

“Why would Kelvin come to pick Obi up so late in the night?” I wondered out loud.
“Because it’s feeding time!” Jenny said, obviously excited and anxious at the same time. “Kelvin will probably drive out soon in a blue Camry and we’ll know for sure it is them!”

I said nothing and we waited and waited. Soon, even that part of town went to sleep and the lights in the house we were staking out was turned off. And still no action. I looked at the time, it was 1am. Jenny had fallen asleep despite the coffee and was breathing heavily, her head facing up, her red lipstick glinting dully in the pale streetlight.
‘Nothing is going to happen here’.
I felt Chukwudi the stronger move in my subconscious. I closed my eyes for a moment and he was there, pacing around and looking disturbed.

“You think we got the wrong person?” I asked.

Chukwudi looked at me a while then resumed his pacing.

“We didn’t see any manifestation when we first met him. We didn’t see any manifestation when we went out with him the day before. And if you ask me, his aura shows he is a weakling of a man. Friendly, but a weakling none the less. He wouldn’t be the embodiment of the creature we see in our dreams. The creature itself would not tolerate it.”

“But what if he was using drugs to somehow suppress the beast?” I asked. “Or what if he wore a talisman that he removed when he went to the men’s room? He would have done it absentmindedly.”

“it is possible. But it’s already getting late.

Usually they would have gone out by now, to a party, maybe a club to pick up their victim.

If they delay any longer, there won’t be anybody on the street, not even prostitutes.”
“I guess you are right.” I said.

“Indeed I am.” Chukwudi the stronger said assertively.
“I think you should go home. That fish-lady still with you?
“Erm, yes. You know she is.” I said.
He smiled.
“She’s a nice one, but don’t get carried away. She might act all cute and respectful, but at the end of the day, it is your power, me, she wants. Now wake up.

I sat up suddenly. I had nodded off. I looked at my time again and it was almost 1.30am. Jenny was still sleeping and I nudged her awake.
“Come on,” I said. “Nothing’s happening here tonight. If they are the culprits, they probably already ordered in before we came.”
Jenny yawned and stretched. I looked at the house again, nothing had changed. So I started the car and we headed back home.

I had not gone more than a few blocks when I came across a Vigilante blockade, crudely formed from huge logs of wood and large nails.

The logs of wood had been placed across the road, effectively blocking it. I slowed down and then a beam of light shone into the car.
“Who be dat?!” a gruff voice called out from the bushes.

I wound down my window, “Sorry oh, we are going home, can you please come and move the road block.”

“For who na?” Another voice sounded and before we knew it the car had been surrounded by five men armed with machetes and rifles. They walked out of the bushes where they had been hiding and stood in front of the car. They were all smoking and some of them had unfinished bottles of alcohol in their hands. Two beams of flashlight played on our faces and one of the flashlight danced around Jenny’s b0s0ms for a little longer than necessary.
“Emeka, wetin you dey do? Will you stop that nonsense!”

One of the larger men, apparently their leader, said. Emeka, who controlled the mischevious flashlight, switched it off immediately.

The Leader walked up to the car but still maintained a good distance.
“Ol boy, wetin you dey find for our area this time of the night?” he queried. I suddenly felt tense, not for myself but because Jenny was in the car. She hadn’t said a word since we came upon these people and I thought I saw her lower lip quiver a little when I glanced at her. I reached down and sq££zed her hand reassuringly, then addressed the leader.
“Sir, good evening.”
“Go on,” the man said.
“Em, we are coming from a party, we left a little late and we are going back to our place.

My name is Chuks and my friend here is Jenny.

We work at Leeman’s consulting. Would you like to see our Id cards?”

He said nothing, but I reached into my pocket and brought out my wallet, retrieving my Id card and giving it to him. He stretched forward and took it, studying it considerably.

“This na your ID card but no be the Leeman wey you talk dey here na, this Id card dey say Lagos, Bros.”

At that the other men murmured and the one called Emeka raised his rifle menacingly.
“Oh, sorry, I forgot,” I said, “I’m a contract staff here, my firm sent me over to Leeman’s…”
“Bros forget that thing. This one wey you wear black and black so, I sure say you be cultist. You dey on mission abi?!” his voice had become very harsh and guttural.

My throat went dry as I looked down at my outfit. It was true, I looked kind of strange like that and I still had my dark shades hanging on my forehead. I suddenly remembered an old school teacher of mine who had said in her squeaky voice “Dress the way you wish to be addressed” and for one silly moment I wished I had worn a suit.

“See, I told you that outfit wasn’t good” Jenny said, suddenly coming to life. I made a face at her and turned my attention back to the men who were watching us closely.

“Oga, no be so, see my ID na. Make I call my Oga make e confirm who I be for una?”
“This guy jus dey talk English,” one of the men carrying a machete said. “I sure say im be armed robber. Come down jo!”
I felt chukwudu the stronger stir and then his maniacal laughter as he rose to the surface. I took a deep breath and decided to continue pleading, maybe if I offered them some money… I brought out a thousand naira note from my wallet and the one that had spoken smiled but their leader’s eyes flashed angrily.

“You wan bribe us! See this guy o! You no go come down make we search you?! Oya, matthew, go puncture the front tire!”
“Hey, don’t try it o!” I said angrily as matthew approached, a plank studded with nails in his hand.

Suddenly Jenny came out of the car.

It happened so fast I didn’t know when she did it. She opened the door and was out and standing in one movement. And then everything went in slow motion. She walked in front of the car slowly swinging her hips and looking all of the vigilantes in the eye.

I had dimmed my headlights when we got to the blockade and she paused for a moment in front of the car, caught in the pale head lamps, a ravishing beauty, her hair and dress blowing gently in the cool night wind. she took some more tentative steps and finally walked right up to the leader, her face a few inches from his own and set in a mock frown as if she wanted to cry.

All this while the men were standing still as if someone had pressed an omnipotent pause button. The only thing that moved was their necks as they followed her every movement as she slowly approached their boss.
“Hi.” She said.
”Yes ma” the leader replied in a voice completely bereft of malice.
“Please don’t mind my boyfriend, he had a little too much to drink and has been talking anyhow since. I begged him to take me home earlier but he refused and now look, we have entered trouble with you people.”
“Ah, no trouble here ma” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper.
“Really?” Jenny said and the promise of a smile played along her lovely face. She drew a finger gently across his singlet covered chest.

“Will you allow us pass? I understand if you don’t, after all you are only doing your job. A big strong man like you protecting this area, the people here are lucky.”
“EMEKA REMOVE THE BLOCKADE, YOU DEY CRAZE?!” he yelled and Emeka and the others ran to the log and started pushing it out of the way. The leader turned back to Jenny.

“Sorry for the reconvenience…I mean inconvenience ma. They call me Big Paddy around here, anything you want ma, I can get it for you. Let me give you my number in case anybody stop you for road again.”
My mouth dropped open in wonderment as I watched everything unfold. The other men were all smiles as Jenny walked back to the car and Emeka ran to open the door for her.

“Have a safe trip ma,” he said grinning, and then added. “I’m a graduate.”
“I’m sure you are,” Jenny said smiling as she entered the car. He locked the door gently and they waved us on our way.
“What the hell…?” I said as we sped down to the hotel. Jenny grinned.

“You are not the only one with powers.

Tell that bad boy in you to calm down; I could feel him agitating your aura.”
I opened my mouth and closed it shut again.

Then I started laughing. Jenny looked at me and soon joined in. In a short while we were back in our hotel again.