Chapter 5

ABUJA

"What do you mean, your daughter has disappeared into thin air with a stranger,if this is some kind of joke stop it because am not buying it"

Ajoke spoke with a low shrill voice that didn't sound pleasant and a slight frown etched on her face after listening to Charlie story

Charlie on the other hand looked restless her feet dancing uncontrollable as she wept profusely after telling the tales of misfortune that have befallen her to her close friend

"Ohhh...you know me Ajo na I don't make expensive jokes,everything I told you is exactly what happened ,I am just so confused right now somma is my only child ,my husband is there fighting for his life I can't loose them both please help me my friend" she dropped to her knees

"Please get up Charlie " she helped the dejected woman up knowing she was drawing attention from sales girls and customers.

Ajoke is a business woman who own several boutiques in some areas in Abuja in her late fifties and well to do marriage was just the only thing missing what had drawn Charlie close to the woman when she moved to Abuja was her blatant honesty ,she was the type of woman that held no grudge ,she spoke her mind not minding if your feelings was hurt.

"The only way I can help you is to take you to baba Otubana,the last time I told you about him you renounced me like I was the most disgusting person to walk the face of this earth" Ajoke whispered with a frown

"I will go to anywhere you take me to as long as it will bring my daughter back and save my husband life" charlie spoke desperately

"You will do anything" Ajoke asked wanting to be sure

"Anything " Charlie replied vehemently

"Then go home and prepare yourself I will come pick you up at nightfall"

"Really, you will do this for me ,thank you ...thank you Ajoke"

"Its alright Charlie go home and rest" Ajoke replied her helping her to her car outside.

Charlie got to her car and was about driving out when she received a call from the hospital in panic she drove speedily to the hospital parking her car rather carelessly some minutes later at the hospital she ran in demanding to see the doctor as if on cue Dr Paul walked into the reception hall with a file in hand he had that frownline permanently stamped on his forehead that you can hardly predict what's going on through his mind

"Mrs Ikenna" he called

"Dr Good evening,I I how is my husband"

"Good evening madam,can we talk in my office"

He replied her with a pitiful glance

**********************

Jesse found himself driving through a lonely path for several hours ,he only had trees and thick bushes for company ,he wondered why the spirit of God led him down such a path,he hadn't spoken to his family since he embarked on this unknown journey he believed his father had faith in him and was waiting for his own call when he had reached his destination.

Jesse had wondered why they had given him so much love and support, he did nothing to deserve it infact in his school days his grades was the lowest he only graduated with third class by the grace of God, Twenty seven years ago he was picked inside a carton in he bush sick and hungry by this lovely people,they still stood by him when he had scaled through each day with tormenting nightmares where he was been pursued by faceless masquerades that wanted him dead or alive he wasn't sure,there was also a man with a familiar face in agony calling out to him for help,begging to be saved,through the years he had gotten so used to this nightmares that he hadn't considered the possibilities that his destiny was connected to it all he had prayed for was to be delivered and free but God had a different purpose for him

"The thoughts I have for you are of good and not of evil..."

That thought ran through him to reliven his hope suddenly his car came to a halt

"Oh no not now..not now please"

Jesse was in the middle of nowhere the huge golden sun would soon turn to dusk , there would be a blanket of darkness in the sky ,he didn't want to be left stranded in the middle of nowhere certain it wasn't lack of fuel that stopped the car,he stepped down the earth was red and dusty ,each step he took round the car was imprinted on the earth he detected it was not flat tire

"Then what is the problem " he soliloquies going for the bonnet when he felt he was no longer alone.

***************

Umumiri

The sun had already formed a golden circle in the sky as people of Umumiri community was ready to settle in for the day ,most were thankful death had not come knocking during the day but that was not the case of Mama osita as she ran to the only man who she knew would help her .

"Papa Nnoma ohhh" she called out tieying her wrapper to her chest "hey my son,my only son Osita"

She was in despair, her son Osita has not returned from his hunt and no one claimed to have seen him .

Nwoke a manain his late sixties dark skinned slightly robust rushed out of his house on hearing his name

"Nwayioma why have you come here at this hour ,what have gone wrong"

He asked knowing most people are now locked in at this hour of the evening not wanting to be used for sacrifice for Oshimiri.

"Osita has not returned from the bush ohhh"she fell to the ground wailing

" ah ah mama what is it"Nnoma came out to see her soon to be mother in-law on the ground wailing

"Have you gone to ask his friends or maybe check the market" Nnoma father asked as his daughter tried to help her up

"Yes ohhh,yes I have ,no one have seen him today"

"Hmmm...Osita is not one to suddenly go out without informing anyone "Nnoma replied sitting on the ground with the wailing woman now dejected

"I told him not to go ohhhhh" she lamented

"I told him not to go to the bush"

"Mama calm down na , you are scaring me,Osita will come back ,I know he will"

Nnoma couldn't allow herself to give in to fear, her beloved she believed would return soon

"You women should stop this noise and allow me to think for a minute"

They all kept silent looking up to Nwoke relying on his words as an assurance

"Nnoma take her inside to rest she can't return home at this hour for the road must have been deserted, if Osita doesn't return here before tomorrow I will go look for some of our youths if they will not see me as a mad man to go look for him" he replied shaking his head in agony and despair he wandered when this all will end

"put yourself together woman,if Osita had fallen into the hands of Oshimiri masquerade am sure then he gave them a hard fight before he died"

That alone was enough to throw the two women into sorrowful morning as they held each other tightly and wept for it was a great loss

Whether Nnoma father admitted it or not They all knew deep within them Osita had fallen prey in the hands of the masquerades and was never going to return but they just wanted to hang on to that slim thread of hope .