ARRESTED BY LOVE Episode 6 by Author Nath (Bright Daniel)
The sound of the motorcycle came loud and clear into Daria’s ears thereby stimulating her sympathetic nervous system: increase of heartbeat and fear. So she laid flat on the bed and covered herself with a blanket but that didn’t prevent her from hearing the sound of the motorcycle.
**
Still at that late hour of the night, king Lucas couldn’t sleep. He walked around his room with his hands behind him. He wore a long pyjamas which made his big stomach obvious. Just then, his wife, the qween woke up to see him in such mood.
“My king” she began. “What’s troubling you? Is it still about Red’s request?”
“Yes” the king replied gazing at the ceiling. “I have decided to give him the storey building built by our son who is in abroad” he added.
“You don’t mean it?!” the wife exclaimed in anger. “Our son just completed the building for a hope of coming back to Nigeria and you want to give it to.. to.. Red or whatever he called himself”
“It seems like you don’t know what this man is capable of doing!” the husband barked angrily looking at his wife.
“Then what will you tell our son if he comes back to live in his house?” the wife asked.
King Lucas didn’t reply immediately. He averted his eyes back to the ceiling and groaned bitter after which he exhaled heavily. “Time shall tell what will happen or what i will tell my son. But i know one thing; Red must be arrested, killed or driven out from this land. I will make sure of that” he concluded and went back to bed.
**
THE NEXT DAY
The first visitor king Lucas had was Red who stopped in front of his gate. He didn’t need to activate the horn of his motorcycle before the gateman opened the gate for him because the sound of the motorcycle substituted the horn. He drove in.
Meanwhile, the king, his wife, elder Thomas and Ben were already standing in front of the house waiting for him when they heard his motorcycle. When Ebube jumped down from the motorcycle, elder Thomas adjusted backward.
“I hope my message was delivered” Ebube spoke out. They didn’t see his mouth but they heard him.
“Yes, it was” the king replied.
“Then where is the house?”
“Elder Thomas and Ben will take you there”
“No, you take me there” Ebube insisted.
“Okay, let me use my car” the king walked towards one of his cars.
“No, you ride with me on my baby” Ebube referred to his motorcycle.
“Abomination!” the queen exclaimed. “My husband won’t ride on that motorcycle” she added. Without waiting time, Ebube brought out his sword moving briskly towards them.
“Heeey! Red has come again oh” elder Thomas shouted as he ran inside the house with elder Ben.
Ebube dragged the king on his ear and looked at the queen who was shivering in fear. “I’ll forgive you because you probably do not know who Red is. But go on your knees” he told the queen who did as he said immediately. Then Ebube dragged the king to his motorcycle. “Croom croom” he sped off with him.
After that, the two elders came out and saw the queen on her knees.
“Aru!” elder Ben shouted.
“Abomination!” elder Thomas added.
**
With a high speed, Ebube passed Odem on the road for the second time. He didn’t fall but staggered by the nearest bush. “Gods of palm wine!” he shouted. “Is that not our king on Red’s motorcycle?” he asked.
“That’s what I’m seeing!” a young youth approached closer with his hands on his head surprisingly.
“Abomination!” Odem exclaimed.
“Is like our King has been kidnapped by Red”
“Kidnapping is under statement. Our king has been killed already by Red!”
“The Wine, let’s go and save him” the youth suggested then Odem disdained him.
“Alright, go, I’m behind you. Let me get my weapon from Mama wine. Idiot!” he staggered out.
**
One could see Austine dressing his resident when Prisca arrived. She wore black leggings trouser and a white top. Her black beauty glows like diamond in the sky.
“Hey, Prisca” Austine smiled.
“Good day, Austine” Prisca sat down. “You called me”
“Yes, what can i offer you?”
“Anything”
Austine offered Prisca a drink which he also partook on it. After they had drank and chatted, he looked straight into her eyes and said, “I love you” Without Prisca saying anything, he brought his head closer to kiss her but Prisca stood up instantly.
“What’s it?” Austine stood up too.
“What about Daria?” Prisca asked.
“I never loved her” Austine replied.
Just then, Daria came unnoticed. She stood at the door which was only covered with a cotton watching and listening to them.
“You are lying to me” Prisca objected.
“No, I’m telling you the truth” Austine held her round the waist. “Please, accept to be my girlfriend and forget about Daria. I love you” he brought his head closer again to kiss her. Prisca reciprocated but they were distracted by Daria’s sniffing voice and running footsteps.
“Who was that?” Prisca asked.
“Nobody” Austine replied.
“But you heard the footsteps”
“Maybe it was one of these children” Austine went back to kiss her…
Episode 7
Grasses flogged on Daria’s legs as she ran non-stop to their house. She pushed the door of her room open and locked it immediately then began to cry with hands on her chest. Her breathing rate changed simultaneously with the beat of her heart. “No, this can’t be happening. Austine can’t do this to me” she soliloquized in tears.
*
The government were doing their possible best to see that Ebube is arrested or shot dead because he had terrorized the locality seriously.
However, in the land of Obioha, the king’s palace crowded with elders in red cap and staffs. All were murmuring about what Ebube has done to their king. As the soliloquy lingered, the king walked in angrily then all stood up in greetings.
“This is nonsense!” the king began without sitting on his throne. “That idiot knelt my wife, the queen of Obioha kingdom down and made me ride on a common motorcycle!” he added angrily.
“Aru!” many elders chorused
“This is too much!” one of them added.
“As if that was not enough…” the king began again. “He made me, king Lucas Ikedi the third of Obioha kingdom walk home on barefoot!!”
“Abomination!” the elders chorused again.
“Something must be done about this!” elder Ben said aloud then elder Thomas looked at him in a way that says: COUNT ME OUT.
“We must do something urgently” the king concluded and sat on his throne.
*
The sun set. Shadows of trees and human beings began to disappear. The atmosphere was taken over by a gentle wind-breeze, yet, Daria had not come out from her room. Lana walked into their compound without seeing anybody but the parlour door was opened. “Daria!” she called and knocked at the door continuously before Daria opened and returned back to her bed sadly.
“Oh my God! Daria, are you okay?” Lana sat with her on the bed. “You look.. hum.. you don’t look good”
“I caught Austine kissing Prisca earlier today” Daria replied sadly with her eyes closed as she leaned her head and back on the wall.
“God! I told you that Austine and Prisca were up to something”
“What have i not done for Austine” Daria began to shed tears. “I gave him all i could” she added then Lana consoled her by drying her tears.
“He doesn’t deserve your tears. Stop crying”
“But i love him so much, Lana” Daria cried.
“He doesn’t deserve your love too”
“How can i get over this feelings?”
“You can” Lana concluded.
*
The house given to Ebube was big and beautiful. It has a fence and black gate which Ebube left widely open twenty-four hours. One could see him entering a room in the house with a bag. He flung the bag on a bed then money pumped out from it. He slowly walked towards a big mirror staring at his image for a long time. The more he stare, the more tears dropped from his eyes through the mask. But he suddenly turned and brought out a paper written LUCAS IKEDI. He stared at it for a long time too and folded it then headed to the bathroom.
*
Still yet, Daria couldn’t bear it. She walked to Austine’s knowing very well the day was getting dark and met him outside his house. “Austine?” she stood from afar looking at him then Austine turned.
“Hi, Daria. Why are you standing far away from me?”
“I don’t want to come closer”
“Why?”
Daria remained quiet while Austine walked to her.
“You look worried, what’s it?”
“Austine, i never knew you were deceiving me all this while”
“What do you mean?”
“You said you love me and i gave you my heart. But i saw and heard everything you told Prisca earlier today. How could you do this to me?” her voice began to break again.
Austine knew he had been caught red handedly so he robbed his head with his hand facing downward. “Daria, listen” he looked up. “I’m sorry to say this but it’s over between us”
Hearing that, Daria began to shed tears. “No, Austine, tell me is a lie! I love you so much, don’t you get it?” she held his hands.
“I’m sorry” Austine disengaged her hand and walked inside his house.
:
The day became not only bad for Daria but also rendered her heartbroken. She shed tears that night until she doze off on her bed. She couldn’t believe herself dreaming about Ebube for the second time.
:
DREAM
Daria saw everywhere on fire and people with different type of weapon shouting victoriously. Suddenly, she saw Ebube being carried to the fire. “No! Please, don’t kill him!” she cried bitterly and wanted to prevent them but Lana held her back. She watched as Ebube was thrown into the fire. “Nooo!” she shouted and stretched her hand forward then woke up in reality.
:
REALITY
Daria’s voice attracted the parents to her room. They could see her sweating and breathing heavily on the bed.
“Daria, what is it?” the father asked.
“I had a nightmare” Daria replied.
“It’s just a nightmare, go to sleep” the father walked out while the mother sat with Daria trying to hear her out as a mother.
“What nightmare, my child?” she asked.
Episode 8
How could Daria tell her mother that Ebube is her nightmare? She stood up without answering her mother and began to dry both her tears and sweat.
“Won’t you tell me what your nightmare is?” the mother became more inquisitive.
“Mother, is just a bad dream” Daria returned to the bed. “It’s not that serious. I’m fine” she added then the mother stared at her.
“If you say so my daughter. Make sure you pray” she stood up and walked out.
Daria couldn’t sleep again. Only one thing wandered in her mind; Ebube. The reason why she kept seeing him in her dream is what she cannot write home about. After a long thought, she laid down and closed her eyes in sleep.
**
THE NEXT DAY
At Austine’s supermarket where he sat with his friends once again, prisca walked in.
“Good day, Austine” she greeted standing very close to him.
Roland and Henry kept staring at her with cigarette in their hands.
“Welcome, prisca” Austine replied.
“Can we talk privately?” Prisca didn’t like the presence of Roland and Henry.
“Any problem?” Austine asked.
“No” they entered into the shop. Few minutes later. Prisca came out with bags of provision in her hand and eventually went home. Then Austine went back to his seat expecting questions from his friends.
“Guy, have you finally gotten her?” Roland broke the silence.
“Gotten who?” Austine asked.
“Prisca of course”
“Sure”
“Bad boy!” Roland shook hands with him while Henry stared at him thoughtfully. “What about Daria?” Roland asked.
“She’s out of the game” Austine replied.
“But why?”
“Don’t you know that Prisca’s parents are far richer than Daria’s. There will be a lot of benefits?”
“Wait..” Henry interfered. “Is that why you left that girl, Daria? Austine you are a big fool!!”
“Don’t mind him” Roland light up another cigarette. “It has even favoured me. Now, i can get back to Daria because she drives me crazy” he concluded.
Just then, they heard the sound of vehicles-that were soldiers called by king Lucas to kill or capture Ebube. Everybody ran out even Daria and Lana to witness the horrible sound of the vehicles. Odem also ran out from Mama wine’s shop when the three vehicles of the soldiers passed with a speed thereby creating a dust.
“Heey! War!” Odem exclaimed.
“What are soldiers doing in our land?” Mama wine asked fearfully to the hearing of Odem.
“Have you not heard that our king called them to capture Red?”
“Heey!” Mama wine exclaimed. “This is going to be a big battle!” she added.
“Chei..! The king has just touched the lion by the tail” Odem concluded.
On the other hand, youths, both boys and girls picked up the topic. All came out wondering what will happen at the new resident of Ebube. Lana and Daria were among them.
“Where are the soldiers going to?” Daria asked Lana.
“Probably to Red. I heard the king called them to kill or capture him” she replied.
“Kill him?”
“Yes, aren’t you suppose to be happy?” Lana asked but Daria kept quiet staring at Austine and his friends who were at another distant. Austine saw her too but averted his eyes. So when the eye contact lingered, Lana asked, “Daria, what’s happening”
“Let’s go home” Daria replied and walked out briskly.
“Daria!” Lana ran after her.
**
The soldiers came down from their vehicles inside the very new compound of Ebube. One could see them in army uniform and heavy guns in their hands. They surrounded the house at gun point ready to shoot. Two soldiers pushed the front door opened, each threw a tear gas inside the house and ran back immediately to their initial positions.
“Red, we know you are in there, come out with your hands up!” the chief commander commanded with a mega-phone, then everywhere became quiet and calm. The smoke created by the tear gas saturated the internal building. They could even see some particles of it coming out from the front door. Suddenly, Ebube came out heroically through it in his black attire. He had his sword ready in his hand without showing any sign of intoxication by the tear gas.
“You came to my domain to fight me. Have you not heard of Red at all?” Ebube spoke out.
“Surrender now or you die” the commander’s voice came from the mega-phone again.
“Die? What are you gonna kill me with? Guns?” Ebube laughed and moved forward.
“Fire!” the commander commanded and they began to shoot him…
**
At the resident of Mr Alfred where Daria and Lana were sitting outside the house, Daria heard the gunshots, so she gasped and held her chest breathing heavily. “They are shooting Red” she said.
“Yes, i guess so. I wish they arrest him or kill him” Lana replied then Daria looked at her without saying anything. “What’s strong with u? Won’t u be happy if they kill the criminal?” Lana asked.
“I want to tell you something, Lana” Daria said as the sound of the gunshot continued.
“What?” Lana asked again.
“It’s up to two times i dreamt about Red” Daria replied.
“U dreamt about Red?!” Lana shouted then Daria nodded her head…
ARRESTED BY LOVE Episode 9 by Author Nath (Bright Daniel)
Lana adjusted on her seat and looked at Daria in anticipation. “Well, won’t you tell me about the dream or should a say a nightmare? Because any dream Red is into should be called a nightmare. So tell me about it” she said.
“At first..” Daria began but her ears and mind couldn’t go off from the sound of the gunshot. “I saw Red crying, and asked him why but he didn’t say anything rather commanded me to leave him alone. Secondly, i saw when he was about to be thrown into a fire then i began to cry in a loud voice”
“Heey!” Lana shouted and clapped her hands in a way that says: WONDERS SHALL NEVER END. “You really had a nightmare” she added.
“The first one isn’t a nightmare” Daria defended.
“What do you mean? Wait oh, did i hear you say you cried for Red?”
“Yes, because i felt like i know him very well as an innocent man”
“How can a professional criminal be innocent? Just forget about it, it’s just a dream” Lana concluded.
**
Back to the new resident of Ebube, the soldiers moved backward as they shot him continuously. Mistakenly, some bullets touched his motorcycle but they were no scratch on it-the bike resist bullets too. Seeing that, Ebube became angry. “How dare u shoot at my baby?!” he asked looking at the motorcycle. With the anger, he bounced on a soldier and cut off his hand. Blood splashed. He handled another soldier, cut him deep on his thigh and moved forward to the chief commander who shouted with the mega-phone, “Retreat!”
All the soldiers located their vehicles and began to jump into them even the one without a hand. But yet, they kept shooting at Ebube who grabbed the last soldier, put the sword on his throat and cut him to death. Blood splashed. The soldiers started their vehicles and sped off. Seeing that, Ebube jumped on his power bike too. “Crooom crooom” he pursued them.
Still inside the moving vehicles, the soldiers kept shooting at Ebube who ran closely behind them. Both the sound of the gunshots, vehicles and motorcycle became very close to Odem and other people at Mama wine’s shop.
“What am i hearing?” Odem stood up.
“They are coming back!!” one of them shouted and they all ran away. As Odem ran, his trouser fell off remaining only his local boxers which also was not stable on his waist trying to fall off too.
“Red, please spare me oh! I’m not among them” he shouted lying flat on the ground face-down. He stayed that way pleading to nobody until the soldiers and Ebube passed. After which he stood up, pulled up he’s trouser and continued his race.
**
The sun began to set again, yet Ebube had not returned after he pursued the soldiers. At this time, the king’s heart boiled with anger and at the same time with fear. He moved to and fro in the presence of his elders with hands behind him.
“What else shall we do to make sure this evil creature named Red leave our land!” he asked angrily.
“Your highness, there is nothing we can possibly do since even the soldiers cannot capture or kill him” one of the elders replied.
“Yes!” many elders chorused.
“Your highness” elder Ben stood up. “I suggested we send some of our able men to the chief priest to make them become as immortal as Red so that they will be able to capture him”
“Gbam!” few elders shouted hitting their staffs on the floor simultaneously.
“Your highness” elder Thomas stood up. “I suggest we beg Red to leave our land peacefully or better still allow him stay in peace because i don’t want any trouble..” before he could finish, other elders shouted at him to sit down. “I’m just saying” he concluded and sat down.
“I think I’ll go with elder Ben’s suggested” the king spoke up. “Please, summon the chief priest to me” he added.
**
6:30pm
Darkness began to take over the atmosphere. Everybody were still on their normal businesses especially people like Austine and Mama wine. Odem told the story of his race that almost got him necked to any ear that was willing to listen.
Just at that hour, Lana and Daria came out heading to get something from a nearly shop closed to that of Austine. When Austine saw them, he averted his eyes because he couldn’t look at Daria anymore in the eyes. To their surprise, Ebube arrived at that particular place with a gun he collected from one of the soldiers he pursued. Of course people should have flee but the gun prevented them.
Ebube jumped down from his motorcycle. “Lie down!” he commanded Austine.
Meanwhile, Daria and Lana shivered in fear at another corner. They watched him entered the shop and came out with a bottle of champagne. He jumped back to his bike and saw Lana and Daria. “You, come here!” he pointed at them. Hearing that, they began to shed tears and Lana pushed Daria forward thinking she was the one being called.
“No, i mean you” Ebube pointed at Lana then Daria ran back immediately.
“Please, don’t kill me” Lana cried. Immediately she came closer, Ebube grabbed her onto the motorcycle and sped off.
ARRESTED BY LOVE Episode 10 by Author Nath (Bright Daniel)
Instantly, Daria ran to Mr Joseph, Lana’s father and delivered the capturing of his daughter by Ebube. With the same fear, the father ran to the king. Due to the darkness that was taking over the weather, he carried a touch light with him. He knocked at the palace gate and the gate man opened.
“Igwe! Igwe!” he kept shouted until he entered and stood before the throne.
“Mr Joseph, what troubles you?” the king asked.
“My king, the unbelievable has happened!”
“Speak! What is it?!” the king climbed down from his throne.
“Red has done the unbelievable!”
“Red again?!”
“He has captured my daughter to his house!”
“But why?”
“I don’t know igwe, that’s why I’m hear. Please, help me, i don’t want anything to happen to my only daughter. You know her mother is no more and i can’t afford to lose her too”
King Lucas exhaled deeply staring at the ceiling. “Mr Joseph” he called and brought down his head. “Go home, your daughter will be okay” he added.
“Are you sure my king?”
“Yes, if she doesn’t return tonight, I’ll go there myself to bring her”
“Thank you my king” Mr Joseph left.
**
Daria totally became woozy when she got home. She walked up and down the sittingroom until the father came in.
“Daria, why are you restless? I hope you have been hearing about the battle going on in this land. Make sure you remain indoors and flee whenever you hear the name, Red. Don’t say i didn’t warn you” the father said and wanted to walk inside but Daria stopped her rubbing her hands piteously.
“Father, please, help my friend, Lana. She has just been captured by Red”
“When?” the father became surprise.
“This evening”
“But why?”
“Father, i don’t know”
“This is serious. Let me see her father first” Mr Alfred moved out again.
**
Darkness had totally took over the atmosphere. Ebube arrived at his house with Lana. He came down from the motorcycle with his hand on Lana’s neck then began to drag her inside the house. After they entered, he pushed her forward and locked the door. Immediately, Lana went on her knees in tears.
“Please, don’t touch me, i beg you in the name of God”
Ebebu ignored her moving towards the television-stand and brought out a stop-watch. Lana watched him as he came back, positioned the watch before her and said, “You have fifteen minutes. Get your butt inside the kitchen, prepare something for me. If you bring out the food after fifteen minutes, you won’t go home with your head. Your time starts now” Ebube started the stop-watch while Lana ran into the kitchen.
Inside the kitchen was like a new world to Lana. All the chest of drawers were opened and closed at the same time by her. She didn’t know where to start until she put an empty pot on a gas cooker. “Matches, matches, matches” she kept murmuring looking for it. She was over confused that her name became Confusion itself.
However, Ebube relaxed in the sittingroom with his Legs on the centre tabled. Beside him was his sword and a gun. And before him was the stop-watch ticking continuously. In the next seven minutes, Lana carried a plate of food out and placed it on the table. Ebube could see her hands vibrating as she place it and stared at him squeezing her hands in fear. The mask on his face got Lana more scared.
“Seven minutes, what food is prepared in less than seven minutes?” Ebube asked but Lana kept quiet. “Open it!” he commanded yet Lana didn’t make a move rather began to cry. “I said open it!” Ebube picked up his sword angrily then nobody told her to open the food by force.
“What?!” Ebube shouted when he saw the food. “I told you to prepare a food and you prepared noodles for me”
“Please, forgive me” Lana went on her knees. “That’s the only thing i could prepare to save time” she added.
Ebube stared at her for a moment then sat down again. “You may go” his voice became calm.
“Ehn..”
“I said go home”
“Thank you” Lana rushed the door.
“Stop!” Ebube interrupted her then she turned. “Who was the girl with you?”
“You mean Daria?” Lana asked fearfully.
“Is that her name?” Ebube threw back the question then Lana nodded her head positively still shaking in fear. “Out!” Ebube concluded then Lana ran out into the darkness. She screamed at the gate when she saw the corpse of the killed soldier.
**
As Mr Alfred wanted to leave the resident of Mr Joseph, Lana ran in breathing heavily.
“My daughter!” Mr Joseph hugged her. “Are you okay? What has that demon done to you?”
“I’m fine, father” Lana replied.
“Thank God you are, let me go and tell Daria your friend that you are back” Mr Alfred went out.
:
When Daria came that same night, Lana told her all that happened but forgot to mention that Ebube asked about her.
“I think Red has a good heart” Daria said.
“How do you know?” Lana asked.
“You should know from what he just did with you”
“Partially, but i don’t trust him” both became quiet. “He asked about you?” Lana added.
“Who?” Daria became curious.
“Red of course” Lana replied.
ARRESTED BY LOVE Episode
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