PLAYERS AND PAWNS

“W-who are you?” Ire's hoarse voice spoke as she caught a glimpse of the figure that stared back at her. The figure frowned and held onto the bars. The hooded persona Sighed as they kept their head down. Ire could make out the fact that it was a female though, she always knew.

“I know you did not kill Temi” The figure whispered as they eyed the guards suspiciously, Ire's Eyes widened. What was she trying to say?

“I know who killed Temi, and I also know why You attacked Gina—”

“What?!” Ire whisper yelled but the hooded person shushed her.

“Shh.” the person said as they looked around once again. “We can't anyone. no one can know who am I, and the fact that I am taking to you right now”

“Who are you?” Ire whispered in fear

“Tomorrow, You'll be set free”

“What?!” Ire asked in disbelief. "that's impossible."

“Tomorrow, Gina will Die, at exactly 3:25pm and Mide will be arrested for her death”

”What— why are you telling me this? who are you?!” Ire whisper yelled again.

“I am the one who knows all the secrets and all the lies, I am the one, the missing puzzle that Mide is so desperate to uncover”

“And you will know who I am, when the time is ready, but for now, We need to make sure Gina lives, if Gina dies. It's over”

The hooded person disappears into darkness almost immediately, leaving Ire in her own world of pain, Guilt and doubt, she knows who killed Temi, she knows just how close that person is to Mide — the bond they share, but she also knows there is no way she can prove it.

**********

Mide didn't even blink as he was handcuffed as taken away from his room. His eyes were glued to the bloody mess on the floor of his room. The problem wasn't the bloody mess though. The problem was the body laying in it. “Gina Monroy, Aged 25, Time of death; 12:34 pm, Cause of death…..

　　Battery, she has signs of strangling around her neck region, there are severe cigarette burn stains on her abdomen and it's obvious the hit to the head did it for her,” Demola listed off as he examined the body.

“It's as clear as day, Even without an autopsy she was tortured.” He confessed as he took off his gloves and plopped down on a chair.

“Do you think he did it? do you think Mide—” Jane began but Demola cut her off before could even finish her question. The question that was roaming around in the heads of the four of them currently seated in Demola's lab, floating over their minds, the question that already had an answer they were not willing to accept. At this stage, nothing made sense.

“Look, Jane, I can't think straight right now! but the one thing I'm sure of is that something isn't right here! I've been working with Mide for years now, and he has never shown any signs of aggressiveness!” Demola yelled through gritted teeth. He knew Mide, Yes, he had to admit Mide had issues controlling his temper, but whoever did this didn't just lose control. it was planned every step, every wound was calculated. Demola had been a forensic expert for years now, yet this Case was making all the years he spent training and gaining experience look like a cheap joke. Before he could go on in his thread of doubt, A voice cut through his thoughts.

“Psychopaths don't show signs of anything,” Tayo admitted.

Realization spread across his face “Do you think—”

“Enough!” Demola Boomed. His voice was deep and grave causing the room to fall into complete silence while his team members except for Seyi who seemed rather uninterested in this conversation looked at him in surprise. Demola rarely raised his voice, but when he did. he meant business.

Demola was sure Mide had been taking his drugs and staying off Alcohol, but the bottle of whiskey found in his possession didn't exactly help, the fact that he was indeed intoxicated...that...Gosh, what was he thinking?! Whoever did this was a psychopath! and when it comes to Mide that isn't even up for debate! “I am sure there is a reasonable explanation for this, and we will get that information once Mide has been interrogated or finally speaks out, for now, he is in shock.

“Well isn't that convenient,” Tayo spat. “I'd bet my whole net worth that He is just trying to come up with some sad story. Unfortunately for him, all evidence points at him” He finished seemingly pleased with what he had just said. “Well then, you'd lose. Because you aren't exactly worth shit.” Seyi's voice finally filled the air.

　　****************

“I am so happy for you! I missed you so much!” Bola squealed as she engulfed Ire into a big hug. “I never thought I'd be so happy to see the sky” The half-cast commented. Ever since she had received that news yesterday, she had been worried and was desperate to see Gina, She was so happy but also confused when she was released. No one refused to give her any information on how or when her bail was paid, all she was told was that she was free. whoever that person was, Were they right? Did the walls in this prison have ears? and if they did, did they overhear their conversation yesterday?

“...Ire, Ire, Ire!” Bola called out. Ire was forced out of her thoughts and her eyes shifted from space to her best friend's shiny black orbs.

“You spaced out back there…” Ire stared at her for a moment. Fear filled her body as realization hit her, “Gina...Where is Gina?” She croaked out. Things must have been worse than she thought if Bola's facial expression was anything to go by.

　　****************

Mide couldn't speak, he couldn't tell and he couldn't feel, Mide couldn't do anything. He refused to blink. Whenever he did that, the memories rushed back into his head like a hurricane, the screams, the groans, the shrieks.. the… that Tattoo... The chameleon tattoo Mide knows he saw the killer, he saw the face of the mastermind behind this mess. but what if he was just hallucinating? or what if he was never a player? what if he was just a pawn in this game of Sane Madness