Photocredit: Google.
I.
Thunder crashed. Lightning flashed. She turned with hesitant casualness. Before lightning left the blackness of night gulping back the world around her, she had a glimpse of him ducking out of sight.
She clutched her bag in response to the realization that she was being tailed, increasing her steps. A second later found her running.
II.
She scissored through the wind, Continue reading
‘One man down. I repeat one man down. Requesting backup.’
From my sitting position, my back reclined on the kitchen counter acting as a makeshift cover, I stared at my partner, Sergeant Musa. His lifeless body laid spread-eagled on the floor, the blood seeping from his temple had began to morph into a bizarre halo around his head. Even in death Continue reading
In the beginning, there was war in Heaven.
Thunder rumbled in the distance as Thantor tore through the sky, keeping low off the clouds that looked like mist. The plan had been successful; more angels had pledged allegiance to the Cause. But one person worried him.
It wasn’t the head-and-shoulders-above-all-angels, Archangel Michael with the glowing sword. It wasn’t even Yahweh. It was Luragon! Continue reading
People get killed by drunks everyday across the globe. But you died young and people don’t like that. Your grandma who had died of stroke was bitter when she saw you. She was crying, she couldn’t look at you – with your head that had become a big mass of squashed bone and flesh. The dead don’t bleed.
You wanted to cry. Continue reading
They said the darkest hour comes right before dawn.
How fitting they called this place the Isle of Death’s Shadow. Not even the moisture dripping from gnarled branches of this cursed forest could quench the fire in his throat.
He shivered as he passed the poles displaying the disembodied heads Continue reading
They sauntered into the gloom of the desert cave. The blood splatters on the ground made him caress the dagger by his side. Whatever valuable this strange man had found, it certainly wasn’t worth Musa’s life. They found the box with the tarpaulin cover.
“It is there.” The man told Musa, his voice quavering Continue reading
“Blue or red wire?” I said into my com, the camera fixated on the explosive on the floor before me, transmitting the live images to Police HQ. The digital screen attached to the bomb glowed, the timer reduced as seconds ticked away. 40 seconds left.
…39…38…
“Cut the red wire.”
“Nigeria is a poultry. The masses are the hens, the government is the farmer. And we are all waiting for christmas.”
– Adeosun Adams Mercy
It was the eve of the presidential election, the night the General was declared winner. We were at Aso Rock, eating meat and dancing reggae. It was a buffet. Continue reading
Inside the questioning room, wrists cuffed to the table, I listen to the two detectives on the other side of the glass divide until a female voice joins in. Gbemi. The one I have been waiting for.
“Aren’t we just a terrible bunch? She says. “So we arrested a lady just because we found a few other ladies chilling in her basement?”
They laugh, and when I laugh too, they stare in at me. I wink at them. I see their growing confusion; I shouldn’t be seeing or hearing them through the soundproof partition.
“I’ll speak to her.” I say aloud, relishing the shock on their faces. Continue reading
There was no one in sight. From the hospital gate right to the wards.
“Hello” I shouted. I felt a chill as the echo returned.
Empty hospital beds, no nurses, no patients, why the hell was the hospital open. I was contemplating going to another hospital when I heard a baby’s cry. I traced the sound. Alone in the maternity ward was the most beautiful baby I’d ever seen.
I sat by the bed and sang to the baby.
“Soft kitty,
Warm kitty,
Little ball of fur.
Happy kitty,
Sleepy kitty,
Purr Purr Purr”
I had learnt it from the ‘Big bang’ series but it was lovely enough and made the baby smile.
Two hours passed and I was still there. Engulfed in the ambience of the baby’s beauty and innocence.
Five hours passed. Six. Seven. My wife called but I didn’t pick up. Nothing else in the world was important.
Suddenly, the baby held my thumb and next thing, I was on the bed, watching a man in a black suit walk away with a grin. I couldn’t move. I tried to scream but only baby noises emanated my mouth.
I was there. Days and night. I couldn’t tell how long I waited.
One fateful day, I heard footsteps and then a “Is anybody here?” I cried out loudly immediately.
I watched a young lady walk up to me. “What a pity” I thought “This fine girl will have to be stuck here for a good while”
I decided yesterday’s death threat was a prank.
Got home late from work today and there’s a note on the table.
“I
Am a rose
Right, left, center
Behind and in front
You read the first words”
I read the first words: I. AM. RIGHT. BEHIND. YOU.
Immediately, the lights go out…
The sun scorches as I plow along the outskirts of Igando market. Lean, I find it easy manoeuvring slow-paced Continue reading
****** I’m standing in front of the mirror. I see my reflection. It’s tossing on the bed. The lights go out and my window slams shut. I already closed that window a minute ago. ‘In Jesus name!!!’ I scream in fear. And then for the first time I hear it talk: ‘Amen’. ********
the dark notes 