ARRESTED BY LOVE Episode 16 by Author Nath (Bright Daniel)
After a long wait and tranquility in the room, Daria said, “Who are you?” but Ebube kept quiet with his face downward. “What did our king do to you?” she added, yet, Ebube said nothing then Daria got angry. “What do you take me for?! Do you think I’m a fool?! Just because i can’t deal with this feelings in my heart!” she began to shed tears. “My dreams keep reminding me of that and sterring it up more and more each day!” she sniffed in tears breathing heavily, yet, Ebube remained silent.
“What am i even doing here?” Daria concluded. She walked towards the door but Ebube stood up instantly and held her by the hand then both faced each other looking at their faces. Daria saw nothing but a mask while Ebube saw her beautiful face.
“My name is Ebube Desmond” Ebube said then became quiet. When the silence lingered, Daria raised up her hand gradually and took off his mask. Ebube helped her remove even his helmet then Daria couldn’t believe her eyes; She saw the most handsome boy compared to anybody she had met in her kingdom.
Though, Ebube was not that fair in complexion but the colour could be traced on his face. He had side beards that round from his cheek down to his jaw. He had a slightly pointed nose and small eyes.
“I heard that your body resist bullets. How did it happen?” Daria asked with a low voice. “I mean why are you like this?” she added.
“It’s a long story” Ebube moved back to the centre of the room while Daria followed him.
“I have all the time in the world to listen to you” Daria said.
“I was sent to jail for what i know nothing of” Ebube began…
FLASH BACK
At the airport, airplanes could be seen on the tarmac and workers moving around. Just then, another plane landed and Ebube stepped out from it with his bag. He wore a white suit with a pair of transparent eyeglasses. Suddenly, two policemen rushed him.
“Excuse me sir, we’ll like to search you and your bag” one of them said.
“What for?” Ebube asked. Before he knew it, one of the policemen dragged his bag and began to search it. While the other searched his entire body. “I have nothing illegal, mehn!” Ebube shouted raising up his hands. Sooner did they find a drug inside his bag.
“You are a drug dealer, sir” the policemen brought out their guns and handcuff.
“What?!” Ebube shouted surprisingly. “I don’t know how that entered my bag!”
“You have the right to remain silent or anything you say will be used against you in the high court of law” one of the policemen handcuffed him then pushed him forward.
“I’m innocent!” Ebube shouted..
CONTINUITY
“And truly i didn’t know how the drug got into my bag” Ebube continued. “My father tried his possible best to make sure i didn’t go to jail but i finally did. I was kicked, beaten and nearly killed in jail but i escaped after some weeks” Ebube sniffed in. Daria’s eyes had already become wet with tears ready to drop..
FLASH BACK
Ebube escaped from prison at night. He ran continuously trying so had to hide his identity. He wore a face-cap and a green prison uniform as he approached to their house. He was surprise to see the gate opened without the gateman. So he hurried inside the house and saw his father lying dead in his room. “Father! Father!!” he shook his body vigorously. “Nooo!” he shouted in a loud voice..
CONTINUITY
Tears kept dropping from Daria’s eyes at this moment as she listened and stared at Ebube who also battled with tears in his eyes.
“My heart shattered” Ebube began again. “Seeing my father dead was the last thing in my mind. Due to I’m a wanted man, i had to leave the house. Before i left, i saw a paper written LUCAS IKEDI and picked it up. Though i didn’t know who dropped it and didn’t care to know. Two days after i came back to our house from my hiding place, i saw it totally burnt. So i became frustrated and swore to take revenge on whosoever that was responsible for it. I met a friend who introduce me to a native doctor where i got the power of immortality..”
FLASH BACK
In the middle of the night, the native doctor gave Ebube mark on his arm and said, “You are now immortal! No weapon can kill you if only a woman doesn’t fall inlove with you! Any day a woman falls inlove with you or you have any intimacy with a woman, the power will be weakened and you will be killed..!”
CONTINUITY
Ebube had already pulled his cloth off to show Daria the mark on his arm. He was left with a black singlet and trouser including his shoes. In tears, Daria gently began to touch his muscular body to know if it was actually a human body. She looked at him in the face and saw blood dripping from his noise. “Ebube?” she called and sniffed in. “You are nose bleeding”
Ebube touched his nose sharply and became sad.
“It’s time” he said.
“Time for what?”
“For my death”
“No” Daria said in tears.
“I guess it’s because of me.
I shouldn’t have had feelings for you”
she wanted to run out but Ebube held her back again..
ARRESTED BY LOVE Episode 17 by Author Nath (Bright Daniel)
“Please, don’t go” Ebube said immediately he drew Daria back. “I knew this day would come when i will be killed for the innocent souls i have wasted just to get my revenge. And I’m happy to die because i have finally gotten it. Your king contemplated with a man and killed my father in the name of money and politics”
“You mean you’ve killed my king?” Daria asked then Ebube nodded his head positively.
“My soul will rest in peace now” he added.
“No, you will not die” Daria insisted in tears. “I will do my BEST to make sure you stay alive. First, i have to stay away from you and get rid of the feelings i have for…”
“What of the one i have for you?” Ebube interrupted her then Daria stared at him surprisingly in tears.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“The same feelings run through my vains and steers up my heartbeat” Ebube replied and drew her closer in a way he held her two cheeks shedding tears too. “You can’t help me, Daria” he concluded.
“No, i disagree. I want you to run away. Please, do that”
“I can’t, soldiers are outside waiting for me. My death has been written already since i have become mortal”
Daria gradually disengaged his hands from her cheeks and rushed downstairs.
“Daria!” Ebube shouted her name without a reply. He could only hear her footsteps running down the staircase as he slowly sat on the bed with tears in his eyes.
On the other hand, Daria opened the front door and a bright torch-light shone on her face.
“Hold your fire!” a voice came from a mega-phone-thet was the chief in command of the soldiers. “Put your hands up!” Daria raised her hands up moving forward gradually…
**
However, at the palace, prince Victor’s anger increased. He had deposited his father’s corpse in the mortuary and amended his wound. One could see him standing before the throne and looking at the elders who kept murmuring one thing or the other.
“So this is the reason why my father refused to allow me come home” the prince began then everywhere became quiet. “I must make sure i avenge his death!”
“My prince, nothing you can do to Red. I suggest we wait till tomorrow when the chief priest will return with the seven men so that we’ll know the next way forward. They will probably sent him out of this land” an elder suggested standing up.
“Nonsense!” the prince shouted.
“Heey!” the elders chorused in amazement.
“I have already told the soldiers never to depart until they kill him” the prince continued. “How can a person that murdered my father be spared alive? He must die!!”
Elder Thomas cleared his throat and said, “My prince, it seems like you don’t know who you are talking about. Nothing can kill this man. Moreover, your father, the king killed his own father for money!!”
“Gbam!” the elders chorused.
“Exactly!” another added.
“You are a fool!” the prince said glaring at elder Thomas.
“Abomination!” another elder exclaimed. “How dare you call an elder a fool?!”
“Now, all of you leave my palace” the prince commanded.
“Aru meh!”
“Abomination!”
“What an insolent child?!” the elders kept lamenting as they left the palace one by one.
**
Daria immediately fell on her knees in the presence of the commander in chief. Tears never ceased to pour from her eyes.
“Please, don’t kill him, he’s innocent!” she begged then the commander glanced at his partner.
“Who are you? And who are you to this man?” he asked.
“I’m only a person who knows his story. He didn’t do anything” Daria replied.
The commander glanced at his partner again and said, “Get her!” then the soldiers grabbed Daria.
“Where are you taking me to!” Daria shouted..
Before the last elder left the palace, he saw Daria being followed by two soldiers into the palace then hurried up to inform her parents. The soldiers presented Daria before Victor, the prince.
“Who’s this girl?” the prince asked.
“She came out from the house Red is and said that she knows his story” one of the soldiers replied.
“I don’t want to know any of his stories! Get back they and make sure you kill that man!”
“The order has already be given from government. So no need of repeating it”
“Please, you people should spare him, he’s innocent” Daria pleaded. While the soldiers left her and the prince there.
“Don’t you know that man killed my father?” the prince asked.
“But your father killed his father too” Daria replied. “The way you feel now is the same way he feels!”
Prince Victor looked at a guard and said, “Get her out of here!”
Just at the gate where the guard and Daria battled, Mr and Mrs Alfred hurried up to them with a torchlight.
“Leave me alone!” Daria shouted at the guard who dragged her continuously.
“Leave my daughter alone!” Mrs Alfred also shouted from a distant before the guard disengaged his hands from her. The mother hurried up to Daria before her husband. “Daria, where have you been?” she asked. Before she knew what was going on, the husband dragged Daria by the hand forcefully..
ARRESTED BY LOVE Episode 18 by Author Nath (Bright Daniel)
SAME NIGHT
The quietness of Mr Alfred could not be comprehended by anybody as he dragged Daria by the hand until he reached home followed by his wife too. The expression of anger on his face sent a dangerous signal to his wife who began to beg him immediately but he ignored her.
Daria suddenly stopped crying standing before her father. She expected nothing but interrogations because her mother was already doing the begging silently.
“Daria” the father called with a low voice. “What were you doing at the palace? In fact where have you been all day?”
“Father, i have been with Ebube” Daria replied. The father glanced at his wife then looked at her again.
“Who is Ebube?” he asked.
“Hum..” Daria adjusted backward. “Ebube is Red, father” she replied.
“Eehhnn!” the mother shouted.
“What were you doing with Red?” the father asked.
“Heeey, chim oh!” the mother kept shouting and bouncing.
“Quiet woman!!” the husband shouted at her before she became silent but kept bouncing. Then Mr Alfred looked at Daria to answer his question.
“Father, he saved me from being raped by Roland and Henry” Daria replied after which she began to shed tears.
“What?!” the mother shouted again. “When did that happen? Heey! I said it! Those boys are dangero..”
“This woman be quiet!” the husband interrupted her and faced Daria again. “Is that why you followed Red?”
“No, father” Daria replied.
“Then what were you doing at the palace forcing to be out?”
“I.. i.. i mean.. father, i went to plead with the prince for him to save Ebube from being killed”
“As what?! A movie actor, right? Or James Bond. What is wrong with you?!” the father’s voice became high. “Few days ago was Austine and now is Red or Ebube whatever you call him. And why won’t they even kill him for all the damages and lives he has taken?!”
“Father, you won’t understand, he’s innocent. He was only trying to avenge his father” Daria defended.
Mr Alfred looked at his wife and said, “Have you seen your daughter?” he faced Daria again saying, “Listen to me Daria or Dairy, now get inside your room. Out!” Daria entered. “As for those two fools that call themselves Roland and Henry.. Okay” the father walked out angrily.
1:30a.m.
As the soldiers monitored Ebube who never slept, so as Daria stayed awake crying. What could she possibly do? How would she talk to the soldiers or government to back off from killing Ebube? She stood up from her bed in tears and walked to her parents’ room. The mother woke up to the sound of her knock at the door while the father was still asleep. She adjusted her wrapper as she opened the door just to see Daria in tears.
“Daria, what?”
“Mother, i want to talk to father”
“For what?”
Hearing the conversation, Mr Alfred woke up then Daria entered forcefully and knelt before him.
“Father, i beg you in the name of God, help Ebube. They will kill him”
The father became surprise. “What type of a philanthropist is this?!” he exclaimed. “Daria, what do you have in common with this man? And who told you he can be killed because nothing can kill him?”
“Not anymore, father” Daria replied then the father looked at his wife who stood at the door. “Please, help him” she added.
“Well, there is nothing i can do” the father said.
“I beg you, Father” Daria cried.
Mr Alfred looked at his wife again. “Woman, tell your daughter to go to bed” he told her and laid down.
**
THE NEXT DAY
The news went all over the place even on television. Journalists with their videos machines could be seen at the resident of Ebube to shoot his death or arrest live because it had already been stamped by the government that he must be killed that day.
Mrs Linto turned on her television and tuned it to the local channel which was showing how Ebube will be killed or captured. She could see soldiers at different angles with their guns.
Tension took over the land of Obioha and the entire kingdom. Within a twinkle of an eye, the chief priest was seen going to the new resident of Ebube too with the seven men who weren’t on cloth except black trousers. They had a white Mark all over their bodies and swords in their hands singing victorious song.
Odem, who never traveled as he planned, came out staggering around. “Wicked people! Now that the truth is out, why can’t u allow Red to be? I had always foreseen and said it that our king did money ritual. How can he kill a man for money, yet, you people want to kill the son of the man? The gods of palm wine is watching all of you” Odem concluded.
As Lana met Daria crying in her room, so as Ebube prepared for his death. One could see him writing on a paper which after he folded and kept on the bed.
He looked at himself on a mirror for a while then began to dress up to his initial attire. As he wore his mask which happened to be the last thing, tears ran out from his eyes. After he collected his sword, he walked downstairs and stood at the last door to be opened…
ARRESTED BY LOVE Episode 19 by Author Nath (Bright Daniel)
At the resident of Late Linto, the wife crossed her legs with the television remote. She wore a long gown that covered her body from head to toe, and on her feet were sparkling shoes. She is a woman in her early forties looking younger than her age. Suddenly, a very young and beautiful girl came out from her room. She wore a black bogus trouser and a white top. She parked her hair upward in a way it made a round shape at the centre of the head. One could see her fingernails and lips painted red. She’s the first daughter of Mr Linto who was in her early twenties. She flew back from abroad hearing her father’s death and also wanted to witness the capturing of her father’s murderer. So she sat beside her mother on a couch without a word, then both glanced at each and concentrated on the television again. Amara is her name.
**
Austine came out from his house in a hurry to witness how the battle will take place at the resident of Ebube, but his friends, Roland and Henry came around immediately. All were in jean trousers but only Austine dressed responsibly.
“Where are you going to, bro?” Roland asked.
“To witness the death of that criminal that nearly killed me because of money. But it was unfortunate for him because i deposited all my sales in the bank before then” Austine replied.
“That’s probably why he wounded you” Henry said.
“Yes, i guess” Austine moved forward while they stayed back staring at him. So he stopped and looked at them, “Well, won’t you guys following me to the place?” he asked but the two boys shook their heads negatively remembering their encounter with Ebube. “Why?” Austine was still inquisitive.
“Go bro, we are right behind you” Roland concluded.
:
On the other hand, Prisca spent more time on a mirror. What the land was presently experiencing seemed to be none of her business. She wore a pink trouser that obviously exposed the shape of her underwear. She turned in a million time in front of the mirror looking at her butt. “I have to look very good this time around” she murmured applying a pink wetlips. “The prince must be mine” she concluded immediately she was done.
**
Some of the seven men had local guns while some with swords. When they got to the gate where the soldiers also positioned, they were told to step aside by the chief in command of the soldiers. However, the chief priest had returned to his shrine after hearing the tragedy of the kings death to know the next way forward as custom demands.
“This is our battle!” the leader of the seven men told the commander in chief of the soldiers.
“Please, step aside. This is government mission and order” the commander replied.
“No! We have waited for you soldiers to kill Red but couldn’t. So allow us to kill him by ourselves!”
“Yes!” the youths chorused.
However, Ebube had been hearing everything they said from the house. His fingers grabbed his sword tightly, his heartbeat increased and his eyes kept running down with tears. He had already made up his mind to die, so he raised up his head and said, “God, forgive me for my deeds.” He closed his eyes and brought down his head..
:
One the other hand, Daria’s cry increased in the presence of her friend, Lana who kept asking and wondering why she was crying. Mr Alfred opened her room silently. He had his staff in his hand and a hat on his head as he stared at his daughter without knowing what to say or do because it totally became strange to him. Suddenly, Daria stood up to run out but Lana prevented her by holding her tightly on the waist.
“Leave me alone!” Daria cried. She forcefully disengaged herself and ran out without even minding the presence of her father.
:
At the same time, Ebube opened the door and walked out heroically then the soldiers pointed their guns at him, even some of the seven men. After a long quietness, he gently took off his mask and helmet then dropped them on the floor.
Seeing his face on the television at the resident of late Linto, Amara stood up surprisingly. “It’s D-square!” she said walking close to the television.
“Amara, what’s it? Who is D-square?” the mother asked.
“This man, mummy”
“His name is Ebube known as Red”
“Mummy, i know this guy as Destiny Desmond. That’s why i call him D-square. We met in abroad, in Paris!” Amara briskly walked to her mother. “Stop the soldiers, mummy!” she shouted.
“No, the order had already been given by the government” the mother replied.
Amara glanced at the television again. “Mummy, do something!!” she exclaimed..
:
“Drop your weapon!” the commander told Ebube through the mega-phone. But since Ebube wanted to be killed, he moved forward. “I repeat, drop your weapon now!” Ebube kept moving with his sword. Seeing that, one of the seven men pulled the trigger of his gun and Ebube stopped at the gunshot that touched him. He slowly fell down.
“Nooo!” Daria shouted on the road when she heard the gunshot.
:
I CHANGED MY MIND
ARRESTED BY LOVE Episode 20 by Author Nath (Bright Daniel)
The sound of the gunshot gradually died down. Nobody expected blood splash from Ebube’s body talk more of falling on the ground. Therefore, both the soldiers and the seven men became silent in amazement. Just then, Daria arrived. She saw Ebube lying face-up on the floor and shouted with the last strength she had, “Ebube!!!” Those who heard the name wondered when Red became Ebube. Nobody tried to stop her as she rushed him on the floor because all were still surprise why a bullet killed Ebube whose body had resisted several powerful bullets.
“Ebube, please, don’t leave me” Daria began as she placed Ebube’s head on her two thighs. His eyes were closed and blood stain could be seen on his stomach, even the tears on his face were not yet dried. “No, you don’t have to die, wake up, i beg you!” Daria cried as she cleaned the tears from his face. She looked at the crowed of people who were watching her and said, “I told you he’s innocent, now you’ve killed him” she looked at Ebube again and began to touch his cheek. “Please, wake up, don’t live me. If not for anybody but for me, i beg you. No!” she cried.
Meanwhile, people have approached to the scene even Austine who slightly became jealous and wondered how Daria knew Ebube that much. Lana also arrived, she disdained Austine when she saw him then moved forward to have a good look at Daria and Ebube. Instantly, she began to shed tears too if not for any reason, for the fact that Ebube left her untouched the day she cooked noodles for him.
On the other hand, the commander of the soldiers was seen making a phone called-Mrs Linto was calling him.
:
At the resident of Mrs Linto, she stood at the window making the call while Amara kept watching the television and wondering who Daria is.
“..Is he dead already?” Mrs Linto asked on the phone. Hearing that, Amara did not only turned to her mother but walked closer to her too. As she stared at her, the mother gently brought down the phone from her ear.
“Mummy, what’s going on?”
“He’s dead”
“No, Mummy!” Amara glanced at the television again. “Destiny can’t just die like that” she picked up her cell phone and walked towards the door.
“Where do you think you are going to?!” the mother asked her angrily.
“I’m going to the scene, mummy!” Amara replied standing at the door.
“Are you crazy?! This man killed your father for goodness sake!” the mother shouted but Amara stared at her quietly for a while before walking downstairs. “Amara! Amara!” the mother called but there was no reply.
**
Back to the scene where Daria was still crying her eyes out, the commander walked closer trying to drag Daria out but Ebube opened his eyes to their amazement then the commander left the place instantly to call Mrs Linto again.
“Da..ria” Ebube stammered in a very low voice.
“Ebube! Oh my God! Thank goodness your alive!” Daria shouted touching his cheeks.
“I’m happy to die on your thighs”
“No, don’t say like that. You’re not going to die”
“I love you” Ebube concluded and closed his eyes.
“No! Please, take him to the hospital!” Daria looked at the commander who was coming to do so, not because Daria told him but because that was the order given to him by Mrs Linto. Before they could carry Ebube up, three vehicles arrived. The one at the middle carried Amara while the other two were escorts.
Amara also rushed Ebube who was still lying on Daria’s thighs. “Take him inside the car now! We are going to the hospital” she commanded.
“Thank you, ma” Daria said in tears as she helped them carry Ebube up but totally left him for the soldiers afterwards.
Without wanting to know who Daria is, Amara walked back to her car where Ebube was also carried to. Before she entered, Daria came to her and said, “Please ma, can i follow you people to the hospital?”
“Bring her along” Amara ordered her escort as an afterthought.
“Thank you, ma” Daria followed the escort in another car then they drove to the hospital, even the soldiers.
**
Everybody went home while the seven men went to the palace and told prince Victor all that happened.
Austine needed a quiet time, so he went home and sat on a chair with his hands folded. He couldn’t just stop thinking about the unexpected drama performed by Daria.
Even Mr and Mrs Alfred suddenly became calm at their daughter’s actions. They couldn’t just put a finger on why she had to cry twenty-four hours for Ebube and also why Ebube’s body suddenly accepted a bullet. Then Mr Alfred remembered her daughter’s words the previous night when he told her Ebube’s body resist bullets: NOT ANYMORE, FATHER.
**
Odem picked up the topic at Mama wine’s shop looking very drunk. “I guess why Red received that bullet is because he didn’t take enough palm wine. That’s why I’m trying so hard to make sure my stomach is filled with palm wine. But if Red dies, i will paint this whole kingdom red. Wicked people!” he concluded and ordered another.
ARRESTED BY LOVE Episode
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