‘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
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
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
Every day, by 4:05, time pinched her.
She had begun to notice it a few weeks ago. At that particular time, something always drew her eyes to a clock, watch, phone……something with a time display. At first she had ignored the strange coincidence, but it had gone beyond that now. Now, she was scared. Continue reading
Stephanie returned the diamond ring but she didn’t return Cyril- the cuddly brown stuffed-bear that her ex-lover had bought her. Cyril had become her friend and no one should return friends. Continue reading
I wasn’t so sure if Mike was comfortable with the furtive glances other people in the bar threw our way.
Those glances.
We got a lot of those the next day when my wife and I decided to give Mike a treat at the state park. Our dog, Tommy, tagged along also, making purring noises all the way. One of the people that couldn’t keep their eyes off was a photographer. I had him take shots of us as we jollied around and then we took a couple more holding hands around the Christmas tree. I gave him my address and he promised to come in by 10 a.m. the next day.
10 a.m. and the pictures came in. The first one showed me, alone, with my hands around the Christmas tree. The next showed me, alone, arms spread out eagle-wing style.
“Photographer!” I shouted, quite perplexed. “What is this? Why is my wife, Mike and Tommy not captured in these pictures?”
“Sir, you were alone in the park yesterday” the photographer answered calmly.
I turned to my wife. “Sweetheart, did you hear this clown?” I said.
“Sir, there is nobody in here with us.” The photographer said again, his voice starting to tremble.
**
_Joe Aito
the dark notes 