Episode 3

Father wasn't at home, and neither was Mother.

It was just Blessing and I at home. I went into my room; worry lines etched on my forehead. l wanted fast money. James had promised to teach me, but l wasn't sure of how he was going to do it. l turned on my laptop; all l browsed was pornography. My life was taking a different dimension. I was walking through a path that was foreign to me, a path in which l needed guidance. I needed Dad's assistance; I was drowning in something that l didn't want to, but it had gripped my every bone, making me weak . I kept thinking till l sank into a mind-numbing blank sleep.

I couldn't help pulling the trigger. It came like a shock. I was ordered to watch the old man closely against any suspicious move. Then, he made for his phone, insisting on calling the police.

great man, as he was fondly called, was a rich man in his late fifties. I had once seen him going into a hotel with Mum. I asked asked Mum, later on, and she smiled tightly saying that Mr great man and she were just business partners.

As l stared at the corpse before me, my pulse throbbed in my temples, my heart seemed to have dropped into my stomach. Tiny beads of perspiration had covered my entire body and my legs trembled.

I had killed a man old enough to be my father. The rule of the robbery was not kills; we just used guns to scare them in all our operations. James had assured me that we would always come out clean as long we did a neat job, My panicky eyes stared at the old man as blood gushed out of his head. Before l pulled the trigger, he had spoken to me. I could still remember the calm words with which he spoke.

"My son, you are too young for this; how are old are you?" He asked in a soft tone.

"Eighteen," I said sharply, still pointing the gun at him.

"You were misled by your bad friends; this will ruin your life, dear," he spoke, more calmly.

"You better shut up your mouth before l blow off your fat head." I spoke firmly, trying to be in control. But l was losing it.

"I have a son who is your age-mate and he is now in the university and soon he will become a medical doctor; you shouldn't have be doing this. l' m old enough to know that you don't want this".

I turned backwards, using my black T-shirt to wipe the tiny droplets of tears that crawled down my cheeks. "Hey, old man, I may look little, but l' m very mean. Shut your damned mouth and put your head down," I bawled, still pointing the gun at him.

All l felt was anger. I wanted to shoot everybody; Dad, Mum and even myself. My final words to him convinced him that l was furious, and then he made for his phone.

I stared frightfully at the corpse before me.

My eyes began to widen, goose pimples engulfed me and my breathing rate increased. I grabbed at my heart that was kicking like it want to escape.

"What happened, omo what happened?" one of the robbers involved in the operation asked on coming into the room.

"You are crazy? what did l tell you boy; James thundered on getting to know what had happened.

My trembling legs were pinned to the ground. What l feared most was that l had killed someone, a family man

"Guys, is movement. let's leave here quick quick. Move!" James ordered.

I seemed not to hear; l kept looking at the corpse in front of me. Tears trickled down my cheeks; I wept silently.

"You are mad, move jare," scorpion, one of us pushed me immediately and I followed. As we entered the car, I looked out through the window only to see Mr great's wife and children crying bitterly for their father. I had made this children fatherless and the woman a widow.

"My man you dey fuck up! Well, it is one of those things. it is just a matter of time; you will have to kill more people on this path you have chosen. Be a man," James said crossing his hand over my shoulder.

The words "be a man" rang in my ears and l tried to compare them with Mr great's words"You are too young for this." "Was l ever going to get out of this?" I asked myself. I let my head flop downwards to rest on the my raised knees. I already knew that l was never going to the university. Dad has try convincing me, but l had stood my ground, because James had told me that the university was just a total waste of time. He strongly suggested that l need a fast money, not spending years reading books.

It was 1:00p,m. the following day. That afternoon, l had drunk a lots of alcohol with the gang. I just thought it was best for me to return home. The door was unusually open; l entered slowly and closed the door behind me. All the rooms were closed except Dad's room. l walked in carefully and to my greatest surprise, l saw Crystal. She was lying on Dad's bed,with a wrapper across her body. l was shocked. Then l looked around the room, but l didn't see Father.

"What are you doing in Dad's room?" I questioned, staring at her.

"Eh..... the heat was too much in my room so l came here to get some air," she replied with stammering lips.

"ln Dad's room? And dressed like this for God's sake." I paused a while and stared lustfully at her. l was a bit drunk at the time, but that wouldn't affect my sleeping with her. l seemed hit below the belt at the sight of provocative display of her long, shapely and spotlessly fair legs, which made my lips watery. "l had to taste this," l assured myself. l forgot about every other and focused on her. l reached a hand at her back and started stroking it and my other hand moved between her thigh.

She resisted, holding my hands from exploring her body.

"What is your problem?" l asked.

"What if someone sees us like this? What will you say?"

"See, l locked the door firmly; so we are safe." she protested, trying to get off the bed.

"Hey, be still," l shouted, pulling her down.

"l will scream oh, William, leave me alone. l said leave me alone, because l will shout oh."

"Scream, you said? After screaming, you will explain what you are doing in Father's room." l forcefully removed the wrapper that was on her; she tried to stand, but my strong hands held her firm. l had to do it by force, since she refused doing it the easy way. She tried to scream, but l carefully covered her mouth to make sure that she didn't make a sound.

l was almost done before l heard a knock on the door. l stood instantaneously and walked hurriedly towards the door. l opened the door and stared in amazement. it was Father; he wore khaki shorts and a long-sleeved shirt that was barely buttoned.

"William!" Father exclaimed raising an eyebrow.

"So, that explains why Crystal is on display in your room, eh?"

"Which Crystal? What will Crystal be doing in my room? Has she lost her mind?" His eyebrows furrowed and he walked briskly into his room.

"How could Father think so low on me, did he think l could easily be fooled?" l asked myself.

Father entered his room but Crystal was already out. "Where did you say Crystal was?"

"ln your room, of course," l replied sharply.

Silence hung over the living room like the blue black clouds. Our voices were frozen in place like that of a plaster statue in an abandoned corner of a museum. Father entered Crystal's room minutes later and stayed there.

Another knock was heard later on. Mother and Blessing came in. As soon Blessing saw me, she left out a cackle, her teeth flashing against her dark skin.

"Where were you last night?" Mother said vociferously.

"And what business of yours is that," l replied, scowling at her.

"How dare you talk to me in that manner? Are you nuts?" She barked; her eyes hardened.

"it's your husband that has gone mad," l said.

"Seems you are mad eh? Should you insult even your parents because you are now eighteen years old? l just walked out on her and went towards the corridor. l saw Father ran out of Crystal's room as soon as Mother came into the living room. He beamed his winsome smile on Mother and tried hugging her.

Mother drew back, hissed and entered her room quietly. Father got dressed, minutes later, and left with Crystal, in his Toyota Camry.

It was around 4:00p.m. l had gone to see James at 22 Faulks Road where he lived.

"Where is the beer l told you to buy?" James voice rumbled like thunder.

"Arusi, come on, let's go get a crate of beer,"

Scorpion said quickly. They nickname me Arusi, saying that l was small god, even though l had never seen myself as one before.

l hurriedly followed Scorpion to go and buy a crate of beer for the gang. At Asa Road junction, we stood waiting for a clear road before we could cross. immediately, a motorcycle stop in front of us and two huge men came down. Both of them wore a black T-shirt and a black trousers. One of them was fat and his head was unusually big. One of his eyes was closed and he opened his mouth to reveal a set of brown teeth.

"Guy, na this one, abi the other; which one?"

The other asked his partner, pointing a gun at both Scorpion and me.

"Omo, l no sure oh, let's just eliminate one of them," he replied. "Hey, don't move or l blow your head," One of them shouted as Scorpion attempted to pull out his gun.

"Guy, l need a clean job, which one em be, make l clear am now?"

Scorpion and l stood still as a gun was pointing at our heads. My heart pounded wildly, my cheeks were frozen and hot urine trickled down my legs.

Just then, one of them shot at Scorpion, "If it is not this guy, then it will be the other; let me clear this other guy," he said after he shot at Scorpion."

"Chairman, let's leave here sharply before any problem," the other said. They zoomed off in their motorcycle seconds later.

A film of sweat coated my entire body, like a transparent second skin. l gazed at Scorpion; his body was still, his entire body was soaked in his own blood. my knees were frozen in the earth and my mouth flopped open. l began to shake like an agitated ant. Then, l took to my heels, my heart thumping so fast that l thought it was going to pop out.

some boys who saw me running chased after me, some throwing stones at me. "Holla m! Catch am! He is a murderer. Catch him!" their electrifying voices rising in pitch.

l ran as fast as my legs could carry me, but the stones did not elude me. To my surprise, a car stopped beside me; the driver gesticulated that l should enter the car. l didn't ask questions, but entered into the car immediately. The car zoomed off in a second.

On looking very well, l found out that it was James driving the car. At that point, panic mixed with relief made my voice to constrict. "James, are you really the one?" l asked, still panting. It was as though my head was turned upside down. Everything seemed to appear double before my eyes. My heart kept beating so hard, like the base drum in my school was being beaten. Seconds later, l fell unconscious.

To Be Continued....