TEACHER NWACHUKWU (CRIMINAL LOVE) Episode 20 Author Nath (Bright Daniel)
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Heading: Scary Truth
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SAME NIGHT
Murphy, the new teacher, took over Nwachukwu’s room where he suppose to spend the night, while others used their various rooms. He stepped inside the very sanctum wearing a knicker and a singlet. In his hands were the devices. He had sprouting beards, a bit dark in complexion like an adult, but cut his hair totally low like a school-boy. As the gaurd was dressing the bed and changing the bedshit, so as Murphy was surveying the room critically. He dropped the devices on a table, walked to the bookshelf to see several books including the secret diary which he opened to see all their names and tags. “Teacher knows about Dave and Judith.” he thought still flipping. When he saw his name-tag and that of Ada, he closed the book then turned to the guard who just finished dressing the bed.
“What do you understand by the word outstanding?” he asked him.
The guard straightened up. “It means standing out from others, sir” he replied with hands behind him. He was giving Murphy maximum respect like he did to teacher Nwachukwu.
Murphy stepped out from the bookshelf, directed his eyes to a bar inside the room but never went there for a drink. “Teacher isn’t shot, tell me the truth.” he requested.
The guards said nothing.
“Teacher is studying all of us, and since I’m outstanding, it was his plan to make me the next teacher. True or false.”
“With all due respect, sir, I don’t know what you’re talking about. By tomorrow morning, you’ll be free to visit teacher Nwachukwu in the special hospital to confirm that he was really shot.”
Murphy exhaled. He didn’t get it. He knew he was at the right track in finding teacher’s plans but at the same time feels like his result is useless. Nevertheless, he glanced at the bar again. “May I?” he pointed at drinks over there, walking to take one. After having one in a glass cup, he glanced at the devices and back to the guard.
“Why would you tell someone who’s still alive ‘rest in peace?'” he asked.
The guard remained mute.
Murphy took a deep breath, sipped his drink and murmured. “What’s teacher’s full plan? Ada should be safe now. What could possibly kill her? Why the tag ‘rest in peace?'” He looked up at the guard with a louder tone. “Everything is ending tomorrow. I must figure it out tonight.” he concluded.
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On the other hand, other kids had assembled in one room to deliberate on abstract issues. One could see Judith holding Dave round the waist and rested her head on his shoulder. Cynthia stood closely with Daniella. Only Obi and Vivian seemed untangle.
“Why would Murphy command us? He said we should address him as teacher. Can you imagine?!” Daniella broke the silence.
“Who even made him a teacher?” Dave supported.
“A common guard did” Judith’s voice whispered from Dave’s shoulder.
“Like seriously?” Obi seemed upset. “Is this what we should be discussing now? We have the police tracking us for goodness sake! We should reason with Murphy and call him whatever he wants to be called not go against him!” He objected.
All looked at him in the silence that creepped in, thus, assimilating his statement.
“I kind off support Obi.” Vivian broke the silence.
“Me too” Cynthia supported.
Three against three. That was the ratio of who was against Murphy and who supported him. Therefore disintegration gradually began to loop among them. Daniella walked out of the room angrily
“Ella!” Cynthia went after her.
Vivian had to also go into her room alone since her roommate, Ada had become their enemy.
Obi refused to go out rather sat down at the edge of a large bed found in the room, while Dave and Judith walked out to the darkness. They could be seen seated on a fallen tree like village old couple.
“If my biological parents hadn’t thrown me away, I wouldn’t be here.” Judith placed her head on Dave’s shoulder.
He slid her hair down. “Being alive is the main thing. Look at me.”
Judith raised her head, looking at him like he said. Dave held her cheek with two hands also looking into her eyes.
“I’ll be the best parents you’ll ever have. This will be all over soon, okay?” Dave encouraged her.
“I don’t like the way things are turning around; Ada is gone, teacher is shot and now we’re disintegrating.”
“Come here.” Dave embraced her.
However, Cynthia had met Daniella inside another room. She pulled her by the arm.
“What is wrong with you?!” she yelled.
“As far as I’m concerned, teacher Nwachukwu is the only teacher I know.” Daniella withdrew her arm.
“It’s not a big deal if Murphy takes over from him! You would have done the same if you were in his shoes.”
“But not by commanding us to address him as…”
A soft kiss from Cynthia put back the remaining words into her mouth. “Is okay. Let’s go to bed” She sounded romantically.
Several minutes later, Dave entered into the room to see Obi shedding tears and spacing through a window.
“Obi.” He called him.
The young boy turned with tears in his eyes. “Dave, I’m so scared to lose Ada.” He said.
“Ada is safe, very safe now she has found her biological father.”
“But I guess nobody has told her.” he swallowed hard. “Teacher told me that i will never see her again. I’ve been trying to figure out the meaning of the statement but all to no avail. I don’t even know what’s going on!” he broke down in tears only to discover he was doing it on Dave’s shoulder.
“Everything will be fine” he consoled him like he did to Judith. Dave was a boy of hope and courage but easily angered…
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2a.m in the midnight, like winter, the weather grew cold with gentle breeze. It rattled on the roof of the building like the presence of a moving ghost. The quietness in the premersis made it so audible. Suddenly, a knock came on Daniella and Cynthia’s door. They rushed up half naked and half asleep, wondering who that could be at that hour. They looked at each other.
“Who’s there?” Cynthia asked.
“Guard!” A male voice replied.
“What do you want?”
“You both. Teacher wants all of you in the sitting room now!”
They heard the footsteps of the guard as he was leaving. Cynthia looked at her sexual partner.
“Which teacher is he talking about?” she whispered.
“Who else if not Murphy.” Daniella replied sarcastically, dressing up.
The two girls came out to the living room to see others already standing like soldiers. They joined them, waiting for the so called teacher to come out. Suddenly, the sound of a door paved into their ears. Murphy stepped out with a box like suitcase and the secret diary. His eyes darkened like a weed smoker as an evidence that he had not had some sleep. His footsteps was like that of teacher Nwachukwu. Carefully, he placed the box on the glass centre table, giving it a breakable sound in the ears of his fellow kids. He looked at them one after the other to detect sleep in their eyes. He cleared his throat, told the gaurd to give them some privacy and began.
“A night before Jesus Christ was crucified, he met his disciples sleeping instead of praying.”
Daniella and Dave glanced at each other after hearing that.
“You were sleeping when you’re being planned to be killed by the police.” Murphy continued. “I’ve found out the content of the devices and teacher’s plans” he opened the box. The kids could see a screen on the open part like a laptop and a space created for the devices on the lower part of the box. Murphy fixed them in it, pressed a button and a particular event began to display on the screen. The kids watched it like horror movie, their attentions couldn’t be compromised at the moment. After five minutes, the event stopped.
“I saw people in the government looting funds. Adopting and killing children. But what for?” Obi broke the silence.
“The answer is simple; for rituals.” Murphy replied. “When the mass sees this, they will go against the government, and boom, revolution occurs. When that happens, teacher Nwachukwu emerges as the new president when he will have chance to execute his plan legally.” he substantiated.
“So teacher was using us anyways.” Daniella clarified.
“I think so.”
They became quiet. Murphy’s eyes didn’t leave any of them expecting more questions from them.
“But Murphy… I mean, teacher.” Cynthia realized herself. “I also saw some number readings on the screen which is abstract to what was displaying. What are they for?”
Murphy cleared his throat and opened the secret diary. “This is teacher’s secret diary, he knows everything about us.” he showed them.
“Why is Ada’s name tagged ‘rest in peace?'” Obi became curious.
“Because her life is the number readings you saw on the screen. Immediately it gets to zero zero, she dies likewise Stephen.”
“How?”
“The landmines. Though they are mines but have some kind of life deductive totems. Which is to say, if they don’t die by explosion, they must still surely die after the readings on the screen.”
“Then how did it reflect on the device found in a government house?” Dave wanted to know.
“First, teacher produced these and captured…”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Judith stepped forward by interrupting. “The presence of Stephen and Ada on the landmine was teacher’s plan. Which is to say that he purposely sent them there to die but lied to us.”
“Exactly! Think of a landmine only one person can defuse. It’s not technological but diabolical even these devices are something else”
“I still don’t get this whole thing!” Vivian stepped forward.
“Teacher is not human!! Think!!” Murphy flipped his fingers. “He has no family. He was reported dead sometime ago but he’s alive today. What gives him life? People who reason like him. That’s why he studies us like a book, train us to reason like him and finally kill us using…”
“The landmines” Obi completed, while Murphy nodded his head.
“So, he tests our knowledge, if you can reason like him, he sends you to the landmines to take your life and add to his. This is why he wants to become the president to legally train people for the exchange of his life.” Murphy clarified.
Ghoose bumps escalated on the body of the kids. Hence they became scared. Judith held Dave tightly.
“I’m so fuckingly scared right now.” Cynthia confessed.
“How are we even sure that we’re orphans?” Vivian asked rhetorically.
“We have three enemies to defeat now; the police, the government and teacher Nwachukwu.” Murphy closed the suitcase….
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TEACHER NWACHKWU (Criminal Love) Episode 21 : : Written by author Nath. : : Heading: Costly Mistake. : : SAME NIGHT The time was two forty-five anti meridian. The weather did not just get colder, the kids in the living room got scarier too regarding Murphy’s research and observations. They didn’t know what to believe. Hence, they became convincingly speechless thereby allowing the sound of the wind on the roof of the building vibrates their eardrums. Dave walked to the wall where he hit his hands hardly like a boxer. “Fuck!” he exclaimed. His voice attracted others to him. Murphy monitored all of them, taking notice of their reactions. On the same way, Daniella never left her eyes from him, trying to read his mind. Judith’s breaking voice overshadowed the sound of the wind. “Teacher Nwachukwu is the nicest person I have ever met. How can he turn out to be the enemy?!” “That’s what drives me crazy!” Dave turned from the wall. “My own problem is Ada. How can we stop her death!?” Obi lamented too. “Quiet all of you!!” Daniella’s voice came like a roaring thunder. Therefore, it did not only mute them but also scared them. Hence all stared at her, while she gazed at Murphy like a sapent monitoring its prey. Once again, the sound of the wind on the roof took over. Murphy returned the gaze from Daniella, placing his two hands inside the pockets of his knicker. It was as if both wanted to commence a combat like two ready fowls. Others could see it especially Cynthia who knew Ella’s mindset on Murphy. Nevertheless, Murphy picked up the secret diary from the centre table, opened it then smiled, pointing at Daniella’s name-tag: mind reader. He looked up at her. “I know you’re trying to read my mind to really know if I’m saying the truth, but you might be wrong this time around.” he broke the silence. “What makes you think, I might be wrong?” Daniella unabashedly approached him. “Then tell us what you’ve read from my mind.” “When I look at you what I see are illusions!” Murphy kept quiet. Hearing that, Dave began to walk closer from the wall to others who gazed at the two challengers as if watching a movie. “Your mind is not pure, Murphy!” Daniella added “You address me as teacher, Ella. If I correct you again, you’ll be severely punished.” Murphy fiercely uttered. “Fuck you!” Murphy remained quiet, glaring at her. Silently, he pulled up the suitcase from the table and began to walk into the room as all watched him. Before he clutched the doorknob, Vivian asked him, “What are we to do now?” Murphy looked at them all. “Go, think of a suggestion. By day-break, we shall put heads together and know how we shall win everybody.” he finally clutched the knob. : : On the other hand, at the old love garden, teacher and the pilot had heard everything they said through the camera. Teacher stepped out from the secret control room and headed to the bar speechlessly. As the running sound of the drink inside a glass cup paved around the sanctum, the pilot said, “Sir, you gave the boy allowance, he has taken double of it with an extreme cleverness!” Teacher stepped out of the bar with the glass cup of drink in his hand. He sipped it then placed the other hand inside the pocket of his trouser. “Sir, what do you have to say coz you know what that boy told his colleagues are not true” the pilot added. Teacher kept quiet, sipping the drink like a rugged man with his face on the ground. “Sir, should I also believe what the boy said about you?” The pilot was still inquisitive. Teacher looked up at him with red eyes. “The boy is more brilliant than I thought.” he began. “For that, he’s a threat to me and his fellow kids. Putting him on that position is a costly mistake which I’m afraid that I may not be able to correct again.” “I don’t understand, sir.” “Murphy has turned the children against me.” “Yes, but why?” “Because he wants to get rid of me.” “Why?” Teacher walked to the bookshelf and brought out his secret diary. He flipped to a page and showed it to the pilot. “Read the statement on that page.” He told him. The pilot narrowed his vision and read thus: “I, Nwachukwu will use the devices to emerge as the president of this nation.” He looked up at teacher for clarification. “I wasn’t only testing Murphy’s cleverness and leadership skills, I was testing his loyalty too. So i wrote the same statement on the diary at the other building to know if he will still be loyal as he leads, knowing that whatever he does is for my own benefit coz a true leader which I’m building him must have the above three qualities. But it’s unfortunate he lacks one, hence I can’t choose him again. So Murphy wants to get rid of me in order to emerge as the president instead.” He closed the book, kept it back and turned to the pilot again. “My fear now is how I can call him back to order for him to understand this.” he rubbed his head fearfully. “Sir, I’ve not seen you this scared before especially for a small boy.” the pilot said in disbelief. “That’s the point!” Teacher walked closer with a pointed finger at him. “He’s a small boy with sense! Look at how he related the number readings on the screen to Ada’s coming death! Did you also see how he made me a diabolical entity within a few minutes with convincing proves! God!!” Teacher turned from the man, rubbing his head haphazardly again. “Sir, we need to restrain him now!” After making the statement, they saw the camera through which they watched and listened Murphy go off. “It’s already too late, pilot. He has discovered that he’s being watched.” Teacher heartbrokenly said. “Call the guard over there to restrain him immediately!” Teacher began to look for his phone… : : The kids had gone back to their rooms while Murphy could be seen speaking through a telephone. He dropped the call and summoned the guard to his own room. He turned from the window when the guard came in. “Sir, you called.” “Yes, you know this war is beyond cleverness and love. It needs weapons too.” The gaurd waited for him to stop beating around the bush. Murphy stepped forward. “I want to know how to handle a gun before that time comes.” He stretched his hand at him to give him his gun. The gaurd smiled, stupidly handed the gun to him after which his phone rang. He brought it out to pick but surprisingly, Murphy aimed the gun at him. “A bullet into your head won’t auto-crash these devices but will send you to hell. So don’t be stupid and slide the phone to me.” Murphy threatened. The gaurd slowly did as he said. “Good. Lie face down on the floor.” he commanded. When the guard did, he tied his hands and legs before picking the call…. : : When the call was picked, teacher put it in loud speaker but didn’t hear a word. He glanced at the pilot as they waited for a voice to speak through the phone. Smartly, Murphy never said a word, waiting for them too. Only then did teacher know that the phone had gone into the wrong hands. So he had no choice but to begin the conversation. “Murphy” he called. “Teacher” Murphy mimicked. Teacher glanced at the pilot after hearing the mimicked tone of his own boy. Nevertheless, he continued. “You’re making a mistake, Murphy. You need to listen to me carefully..” “No, teacher, is time for you to listen to me. So the teachings and studying us were for your own benefit. You…” “I study you to prepare you.” Teacher interrupted. “You want to use us to get the presidency. Sorry, I’ll be the one using you now, and don’t think you can outsmart me on this second mission coz I’ve spent years privately studying you too; the way you think, speak and react to situations. I’ll be the one that will always be one step ahead of your plans.” he hung up the call. Teacher looked at the pilot. “Fly me back to that building now!” he commanded. : : The sound of the hilecopter woke the kids up. All rushed out to the door of the living room to see suppose-shot-teacher running inside the house with the remaining guard. They had not seen their teacher running like a pregnant woman. Some got scared of him while some like Daniella blocked the door. “Teacher, what’s going on!?” she shouted over the sound of the helicopter that was gradually going off. The man didn’t answer her. The guard pushed her away, rushed inside the room to see Murphy gone with the devices. Teacher entered too. “Sir, he’s already gone with the devices.” the guard announced. “Search for him. He must have not gone far!” Teacher commanded. Just then, two more helicopters came above the roof, shinning their torchlight at them through a window. “This is Kali police! Put your hands behind your heads and come out where we can see you!” A voice, through a megaphone, came from one of the helicopters. The kids ran into the room where teacher was. “Teacher, what’s going on?!” Daniella asked again. Teacher glanced at the telephone. “Murphy has brilliantly set us up.” The man replied unbelievably. “I’ve made a costly mistake” he soliloquized…. : :
TO BE CONTINUED
