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Nairaland Forum / Entertainment / Literature / The Tarnished Ones (22942 Views)
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Re: The Tarnished Ones by oluwadabira222(m): 8:39am On Nov 21, 2020 |
Royver:hey bro how can i get the concluding part of i see things other do not.and nice story by the way! 1 Like |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Nostradamus: 9:48am On Nov 21, 2020 |
To the readers,what do you consider chukwidi's ability to see beyond the physical as? A curse or a blessing? |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by oluwadabira222(m): 4:29pm On Nov 21, 2020 |
Nostradamus:it is a curse and a blessing from my own POV. |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Nostradamus: 2:36am On Nov 22, 2020 |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by ashatoda: 5:47am On Nov 22, 2020 |
a real blessing wish I have something like that |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Royver(m): 6:20am On Nov 22, 2020 |
oluwadabira222: Send me private message and I will have it delivered to your address. Thanks. 1 Like
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Re: The Tarnished Ones by Royver(m): 7:02am On Nov 23, 2020 |
I caught my breath in horror. Really? Tonight of all nights? And a restaurant? Who in their right minds would rob a new restaurant? But then again I remembered the large crowd outside, the sudden surge of patronage and the low security at the back entrance. It was going to be an easy target. These folks were going to spoil the romantic mood I was trying so hard to create! There was no way I wouldn't have to intervene in this matter. The men approached seemingly casually, making a straight line for the waitress behind the bar. I got up silently from my seat, followed them from behind and waited patiently for them to make the first move. "Here, sister! Come here!" one of the men beckoned. "Can I help you?" she asked innocently as she approached. Suddenly she froze. One of the men had shown her a gun. He flashed it at the DJ as well who quickly raised both hands in alarm. "If you make a sound I will shoot you.” He whispered. “Oya, open this teller and bring out all the money." "Quickly and silently!" the other one hissed. The other customers were totally oblivious to what was happening. The men didn’t turn around for a second; they were totally occupied with the task at hand. My guess was that they wanted to do a quick job and get out of the place without causing a scene. That didn’t mean they weren’t prepared for trouble though. The waitress was a young girl, barely out of her teens and scared out of her wits. She went to the cash register and worked it, gathering all the money in her trembling hands. “Put all the money in a bag and hand it over!” the first man spat. “Be fast!” "Yeah but why should she though?" I said loudly and the men whirled round to face me. "It’s not like it’s your money." The first man brought out the gun that he had been concealing and pointed it at my face. It was a 9mm glock. I heard someone gasp as the customers became aware of what was going on. "So you think say you be hero abi? Move back-" He hadn't completed the sentence before I had the gun in my hand. It was a quick and deft move that took him completely by surprise. Both men looked bewildered for a moment as I gently set the safety to off and put the gun on the nearest table. "Gentlemen, I know this is going to sound weird, but can you do this another time? I'm expecting my fiancé and I don't want to spoil the ambience of this eatery." "How did you...na jazz you use?" the other man asked, mouth agape. I shrugged. "Cat-like reflexes. You get it after fighting creatures like a man-animal. It’s a long story, never mind...look, if you leave now nobody will stop you, after all you haven’t stolen any-" The first man threw a punch that connected squarely with my jaw. So much for cat-like reflexes. I was knocked backwards as the waitress screamed and the couple at the corner struggled to hide under their table. I turned to face them...and saw that the white-shirted Michael Jackson character had entered the fray. He punched the first man that had struck at me in the nose and ducked the blow from the second man, sticking his foot out to trip him over in the process. As the first man recovered and made a grab at him he whirled round and karate-kicked him in the gut. The man buckled, going down and vomiting all over himself. He never got up for the rest of the fight. The second man who had recovered from his fall charged the man in white and shoved him to the service counter, smashing his back against the hard wood. I made to run forward to help but the guy in white grappled the man by the neck and put him in an elbow lock. As he squeezed, the second criminal choked and gasped for breath. In a final effort the criminal raised the guy in white from his feet and flung him over his head. He landed in a crash behind the bar and beside the waitress who apparently had been hiding where he fell. She screamed and ran out of the way. As the criminal looked over the counter the guy in white struck out, smashing a beer bottle on his head. The second criminal promptly passed out. I watched in fascination as the man in white jumped over the counter and tied up the two men. The first guy who had been kicked in the stomach was still writhing in pain. After securing their hands and feet with very strong plastic clips, he sauntered up to me. His ghost girlfriend followed behind looking proudly at her man and for a moment I lost my guard and smiled, winking at her. She gasped inaudibly. "You know, you could have helped." He said. "Well I wanted to, but you were doing so well by yourself" I replied. "I'm impressed. Do you fight for a living?" "Haha, not really. I'm security personnel.” “Wait, you work for this establishment?” “Surprised?” He grinned smugly. “The Manager takes security very seriously but doesn’t want to make it too obvious in the VVIP section so as not to make his guests nervous.” “Well, I daresay you handled those men very well. My name is Chukwudi. And yours?” “Jeffery. Jeffery Ebi.” We shook hands as security men and bouncers rushed into the place and hauled the men away. “What about you?” He asked suddenly, looking at me with interest. “The way you confronted those men; that took some guts. I was half expecting you to do my job for me but then you got socked in the jaw…” I scratched my head, embarrassed. “Yeah, well, I’m kind of proposing to my fiancé tonight and wasn’t concentrating on the fight.” “Nice!” He nodded appreciatively. I’ve never been one to pop the question myself. I’m more of a hit-and-run kind of guy.” He winked and his ghost girlfriend rolled her eyes. I stifled a laugh. “You into security as well?” “More of public relations and stuff.” I replied. The door swung open again just then and I peered around anxiously, but no, it wasn’t her. “You looked a little worried when you were seated at your table.” He remarked, “Hope I’m not intruding if I ask what the matter is?” He had been observing me? He saw the look on my face and laughed. “I watch all the customers when they come in. It gives me an idea of what to expect from them if there’s going to be any trouble.” I sighed. “Nah, it’s nothing. Had a little argument with my girlfriend and she left the house kind of upset. I thought we made up though, we’ve been communicating via text. We were supposed to meet here by 7pm. So far she hasn’t shown up.” We both glanced at our watches. “It’s almost eight bro.” He said. I sighed dejectedly. Nina had never been this late before. It was obvious I was being stood up. Jeffery saw the look on my face and grinned again. “Yeah, I definitely know that look. Why don’t you try calling her and if she doesn’t pick you can go to her place.” “Tried that already, her phone is switched off.” “Uh-oh. Not a good sign man. Looks like you messed up more than you thought.” I shook my head, feeling sorry for myself. Of course I had messed things up, she had been answering monosyllabically and I didn’t bother to call her or go to her place and make things right. I was so hell bent on making this night about the proposal I had forgotten to take her feelings into consideration. Jeffery was looking at me with a smirk on his face. “You’re an idiot.” “Yeah, I guess I am.” I sighed. “Don’t you want to even know what I did though?” “Doesn’t matter.” He shrugged, taking a seat. “As long as it’s a lady you love, you go to her place and drop on your knees if you have to until she forgives you. Works every time for me and I don’t even have the mind of taking them to the altar!” He laughed cheekily and I followed suit, caught in the infectiousness of his hilarity. He seemed to be more or less a jovial fellow. Someone who didn’t take things too much to heart. Not a single bad manifestation around him, except of course for the girl. I thought of using the full force of my sight to probe deeper but decided against it. I liked his spirit and realized he would make an interesting friend. We exchanged numbers and sat a while longer as the manager rushed about pacifying the customers and ordering free drinks for everyone in the VVIP room, his hooded observer following silently by his shoulder. By half past eight there was still no word from Nina. I stood up. “Okay man, I gotta go. Probably branch by my lady’s place and make an ass of myself apologizing.” Jeffery gave me the thumbs up. “Don’t take no for an answer. Sing a romantic song in the crankiest voice possible. They love that kind of stuff.” We laughed over it and I left the place, surreptitiously waving goodbye to the ghost girl as she looked at me with interest. I was able to flag down a taxi and take a drop straight to her Estate. Usually the gates were closed by 9pm but the security guard recognized me and opened it. I smiled and handed him a crisp naira note and he grinned. “Should I wait for you to come back sir?” He asked. “I should hope not. Be like say madam dey vex for me. Give me an hour then if I’m not back you can lock the gate.” He nodded and I walked down the row of houses to her apartment. As I approached I noticed the absolute silence of the place. Through the window I could see the lights were on in the parlour and in the kitchen and caught a glimpse of the television displaying a news channel somewhere within. I took a deep breath and walked up to the door and knocked. No response. I knocked a little louder. “Hey, Nina, you home?” Maybe she was sleeping. I knocked some more and then peeked in through the window. The window blinds obstructed my view a bit but I could see enough of the parlour to know it was empty. I went around the back to her room and found that the window blind there had been pulled back. I didn’t want to look like a pervert but I needed to know if she was at home or not, if she was sleeping or simply ignoring me. I drew up to the window and looked in. My heart skipped a beat. Her room was in shambles. The window blinds had not been pulled back; they had been yanked off the rails and lay haphazardly on her bed which had been pulled out of the corner. Her mirror had been smashed to pieces and one of her wardrobe doors had been torn off its hinges. Lying on the floor was a dinner gown and a pair of shoes, like she had been preparing to go out when something happened. As I studied the scene more closely my heart skipped another beat. The hem of the dinner gown was stained with blood. _____________&&______&&&&&&_______&&&&&____ 8 Likes |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by oluwadabira222(m): 7:36am On Nov 23, 2020 |
Hope nothing serious happen to nina sha! 1 Like |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Kaycee9242(m): 9:14am On Nov 23, 2020 |
Op this kind of suspense is not good for my health. Thanks so much for this great piece u are doing great 2 Likes |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by dawno2008(m): 9:28am On Nov 23, 2020 |
Ghen Ghen ![]() ![]() ![]() Thanks for the update, but don't delay on next update to avoid monitoring spirit ![]() 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by purpose32: 8:38am On Nov 24, 2020 |
I'm new here, i must confess OP you are doing well. |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Royver(m): 6:54am On Nov 25, 2020 |
CHAPTER 4 I’m lost. I’m confused. I don’t know what to do. Oh God, what do I do?! It’s been two days already since Nina disappeared. This was the morning of the third day and I was lying on my bed looking at the time listlessly as it struck 7am. I barely had any sleep last night despite being thoroughly fatigued. I had spent the whole of yesterday and the day before making calls and running to and from the police station hoping for some lead on Nina but there seemed no hope in sight. I remembered how that first night had been. I almost went mad running through her apartment, using my full powers all over the place, looking for any clue as to what might have happened to her. And the more I used the sight the more everything became a blurr and the more confused I got. Damn well woke up the whole neighborhood running around outside like a lunatic and screaming her name. The security man and local vigilantes had soon appeared on the scene and none of them had seen any suspicious activity. After a thorough search of the Estate, they suggested we report to the police. The police kept asking annoying questions, who I was, how was I related to her, what was I doing at her place, how were they not sure I was the one who kidnapped her and so on and so on. I lost my temper and yelled at them a couple of times and the security guard had to vouch for me, begging them in the local dialect else I would have been thrown into jail to cool off. I called our boss and intimated him about what had happened and he made a few calls. Less than an hour later some soldiers came over to the station. They took me from the station back to Nina’s apartment and searched the place again. They asked the security guard if he had heard anything or seen any suspicious person enter or leave the estate and he replied no. They then went further to search every house in the estate. The more unfruitful their search was, the more distraught I became. Eventually we all returned back to the police station in the early hours of the morning, where I gave a statement and Nina was declared missing. There was a procedure of waiting for 24 hours before lodging a complaint but the blood on the gown was too ominous a sign to ignore. Knowing how close we were and how emotionally affected I was, the boss had given me some time off from the office. I had touched the blood earlier. I knew it was Nina’s blood, my Sight had shown me that much. The authorities could only speculate but I knew! If Nina’s blood was on the floor it meant Nina, my Nina, was hurt. Maybe even… I couldn’t bring myself to think about it. I sat in my room perplexed. I was still wondering why I hadn’t gotten any supernatural trigger from her apartment despite the obvious violence that had ensued there. There should have been a clue, a sign, something! It was like someone came in after the deed had been done and cleared the area of any spiritual signature or activity. It was uncanny. Even touching the bed at the height of my powers should have given me an apparition of her last minutes in her room before she was forcefully removed, but I had felt nothing, seen nothing. I was only able to decipher the blood was hers because as soon as I touched it I saw her face. And even then that was a past image. It should have at least shown where she was at the time. In desperation I had tried calling Chukwudi the Stronger forth and it seemed to be working for a moment but then he too slipped into oblivion. I had suddenly stopped hearing or feeling him. What was going on? “Pachios! If you can hear me, I really need your help right now!” I cried out, falling on my knees, feeling completely helpless with tears stinging my eyes. Chukwudi the stronger is my alter ego of sorts. He is me manifested at the height of my powers, my full potential as a supernatural being buried deep within my soul, inhabiting my flesh like a vessel. For years he lay dormant within me as I tried to live a normal life but was reawakened in my clash with Nina’s evil uncle. As a personality he is pure, childlike, undiluted and brimming with supernatural power. The last time I saw him manifest completely was during the incidence with the man-animal in Asaba. Since then he had been idle, coming just below the surface on a few occasions like the night before when I needed reassurance of Nina’s safety. However since the time I entered Nina’s apartment I had been unable to call him forth. Sometimes I would hear a whisper from deep down in my mind, like he was at the end of a long tunnel, but when I closed my eyes to find him the whisper would vanish like a wisp of smoke lost to the wind. This was not supposed to be a new phenomenon. I had lived without Chukwudi the Stronger for most of my youth. But I had grown so used to him the past two years, felt so invincible knowing he was right there within me, that now he was gone it was like I had lost it all. "Pachio? Stronger!" I yelled in desperation. No word from Pachios. No Chukwudi the Stronger. I was talking to myself. ______&&&&&________&&&&___&&&&&__________ 8 Likes 1 Share |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by spicyuzo(m): 3:17pm On Nov 25, 2020 |
Keep up the good work Royver.. We are with you ... |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by dawno2008(m): 3:57pm On Nov 25, 2020 |
Seems a tougher and stronger element is coming into the picture, but what do they want with Nina? Thanks for the update, please keep it flowing. |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Royver(m): 4:44pm On Nov 25, 2020 |
@blueyes1 you have been tagged. |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by oluwadabira111(m): 6:57pm On Nov 25, 2020 |
Nothing should happen to nina oh! 1 Like |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Kaycee9242(m): 12:46pm On Nov 26, 2020 |
Nice one op |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Dybala11(m): 10:33pm On Nov 26, 2020 |
Royver:Thanks for the mention Mr Roy, I dey with you boss. Another banger from the master of suspense himself. 1 Like |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by oluwadabira111(m): 7:45am On Nov 27, 2020 |
Abeg Mr royver come update na. |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Royver(m): 4:46pm On Nov 27, 2020 |
purpose32:Welcome to my thread and thanks for your confession ![]() |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Royver(m): 4:48pm On Nov 27, 2020 |
oluwadabira111: Haha you are really concerned about this Nina character ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Royver(m): 4:51pm On Nov 27, 2020 |
EkopSparoAyara you're cordially invited. 1 Like |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by EkopSparoAyara(m): 11:25pm On Nov 27, 2020 |
Royver: Ah,Chief, it's an honour, seat taken.. |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Royver(m): 7:32am On Nov 28, 2020 |
I decided to call my parents. I was not sure what help they could render but maybe some calming words from them would clear my head. The phone rang twice and there was a click. My dad’s gruff voice filled the speaker. “Hello Son!” He boomed. “You decided to remember us today.” “Leave him,” My mom’s voice filtered through from the background. “He doesn’t know he should call home once in a while. We don’t miss you oh, if you like don’t call.” I chuckled, despite myself. “Hello Dad, greet mom for me. Tell her I’m sorry I haven’t called in a while. Things have been…” “Busy, right?” My dad said reproachfully, “You can always make out time for your parents, son. You don’t actually have to call once a week but…” “I know, I’m sorry.” My Dad sensed the bleakness in my voice. “What is it son? What’s going on?” “I can’t feel him, Dad.” I said, my voice shaking. “Chukwudi the stronger, I can’t sense him. And I really need him right now.” “Are you in trouble?” My dad whispered into the phone. Chukwudi the Stronger was kind of a secret between us, though my mom knew something of my other abilities. My mom was kind of an anxious person and letting her in on my adventures would worry her no end and so we tried to let her believe I was as normal as normal could be and led a pretty boring life although there were times when I suspected she knew what we were up to but decided not to confront us about it. “What’s happened to you?” He probed. “Not me, It’s Nina,” I hesitated, not knowing whether to fill him on the full details. “She’s in trouble and I need Chukwudi the Stronger to find her but I’ve not been able to communicate with him for two days. He’s been completely silent…” “Keep the phone to your ear, son.” My dad said. I could hear the squeaking of doors, as if he was going outside the house. “Where are you going?” I heard my mom yelling in the background “Eh, nowhere dear, Network is poor inside, I want to see if I will hear him better outside.” My dad said. I heard my mom say a suspiciously intoned “Hmmm” but then she said nothing else. “Chukwudi the Stronger, my boy!” My Dad’s voice boomed piercingly into my ear, making me wince. “I don’t know what’s going on over there but you have promised to answer anytime I call! Wake up! Chukwudi the Stronger! Arise!” There was an awkward silence as I waited for the ringing in my ear to stop. “Well?” My dad’s voice chirped from across the phone. “Did it work?” I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate. My mind remained a complete blank. “No, nothing. Thanks anyway.” I replied forlornly. There was a pause as I waited for my dad to come up with something else. “Well, it was worth a shot.” My dad replied after a while. “You’re better off without him anyway.” “How’s that?” I asked, puzzled. “That lazy, good for nothing lout has never been of any use to you.” “What?!” “You heard me Boy.” My Dad replied, his voice filled with an unusual barb. “Chukwudi the Stronger, how pretentious, what has he ever done to deserve the name ‘Stronger’? Chukwudi the Stronger my foot.” From deep down within me something snapped. A fire began to grow within my gut, radiating waves of indignation that swept throughout my being. I began to breathe deep and hard and my throat went dry. “Chukwudi, are you there?” My father queried. I tried to answer but was only able to manage a deep sigh. “I can hear your breathing, it has changed hasn’t it. Does the scared little idiot want to manifest himself?” My dad chortled. His words were liked spikes darting out of the phone and into my mind. “Call me Stronger.” I murmured into the phone. But it wasn’t me. Suddenly Chukwudi the Stronger was there, full force and trembling with rage while I receded into my mind. “Are you sure?” My Dad teased. “I am Chukwudi the Stronger, Father!” He said. And my Dad heaved a sigh of relief. “Welcome back my boy.” He replied and I could feel his grin all the way from here. “I had a feeling that would work. Stronger, you have got keep your temper in check. You are so easily taunted. It’s one of your weaknesses you know." “Thank you father.” Chukwudi the Stronger replied. “I was…taken unawares by an unknown force.” You were what? I gasped in my mind. “We will get back to you father.” Chukwudi the stronger said. “Alright. Stay out of trouble okay?” Chukwudi the stronger grinned. “I make no promises sir.” My dad chuckled and cut the call and I was suddenly back in control. The void within me had been filled and I could sense Chukwudi the Stronger again. 7 Likes |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Royver(m): 11:43am On Nov 28, 2020 |
“What happened to you?” I demanded, “Do you know Nina has been missing? I’ve been unable to feel you for two days. Two whole days! Where did you go?” Total silence. He was ignoring me or something and that pissed me off. After being absent for so long I was expecting him to waylay me with gist. Instead the inside of my head was gravely quiet. “Answer me!” I shouted out loud, my voice resonating round my apartment. Chukwudi the Stronger remained silent but deep within me I felt the familiar rumble. A call to meditate, to parlay with him in the silence of my mind. “So now you rumble after two days?” I started angrily. “Do you know what could have happened to Nina in two days?!” "I...apologise." Chukwudi the Stronger said finally. "I was occupied." Chukwudi the Stronger’s voice in my head was calm, and that unnerved me. Chukwudi the Stronger is normally a boisterous fellow. Mischievous and full of life, ready to take on any and everything that comes our way. But now he spoke with a solemnity that was sobering. “We need to talk. Switch off your phones and lock the door.” I paused for a moment then did as he asked. As I did so I looked around my shoddy apartment; it was amazing how quickly it had become scattered and disorganized in the two days Nina went missing. It also occurred to me that I had barely eaten and had taken my bath only once since the incident. I was going to lose my mind if I continued like this. "Leave your apartment alone, we have bigger issues to worry about." "You think?!" I retorted angrily. "You disappeared without any explanation when you were needed the most and now you want me to just leave everything, right?" "Has it occured to you that I may have disappeared for a reason?" "There's no reason good enough!" I spat ruefully. "There was no reason good enough for you to abandon me like that! First Pachios and now..." “STOP WHINING AND GET DOWN HERE!” I felt rage and impatience surge through my body. It pissed me off and I was about to retort but then I realized it would be better doing it face to face. So I closed the windows and put out the light and went to my bed to lie down. I closed my eyes and concentrated. And in a moment I was once again moving through the deep recesses of my thoughts to that little room in my head where I found Chukwudi the Stronger pacing up and down, his head bowed in thought. “You raise your voice like that to me again and I promise you…” I began, He looked up at me and his eyes widened in surprise. Then he grinned his boyish grin. “”Put out the fires, I’m not spoiling for a fight.” I looked at my body and realized I was totally covered in flames. These were not the same as the lust flames I had previously described with Nina. These were hot and belligerent, blazing orange and yellow flames of rage. In this imaginary room in my mind all spiritual energy was plainly visible. The room itself was eerily darker than usual and walls pulsed with a dull red colour like the inside of a blood vessel. “I want answers!” I shouted. Chukwudi the Stronger sniggered and blew with his mouth and the flames on my body went off instantly only to return as I walked angrily towards him. “Seriously, save the flames. We have more pressing issues.” He placated. The flames went off as I calmed down. He was talking like he knew something. Like he had a clue. More importantly he was being...courteous? That was kind of new. “Now that I’ve got your attention,” Chukwudi the Stronger spirited up two chairs and we both sat down. “Talk to me.” I said. “Were have you been?" "First of all, you’ve grown darker since when I left. These are the first signs of depression. Cheer up. It would be uplifting if you could do something to make this environment more comfortable.” He said, indicating the darkness. The room got darker. “I’ve been having a really bad couple of days.” I responded through clenched teeth. “What do you know about Nina’s disappearance? What did you sense in her apartment?” “The whole place was completely devoid of any spiritual activity. Our sight was totally useless. No clues whatsoever.” he said. I sat back on my chair and sighed in frustration. It seemed he just wanted to waste my time. “I already know that.” “Yes, but the information is useless to you because you do not realize its significance.” I raised my eyebrow enquiringly and Chukwudi the Stronger leaned forward, his boyish face, my younger boyish face, thrust out in...looking defiant, angry. “Whoever took her knew about me.” "Knew about you? What do you mean? Like they know I have the sight?" "Worse". He said. "They know about me! About Chukwudi the Stronger!" He thumped his chest. “They know the power I possess and were prepared to neutralize it!” "Well...that's a first." I murmured. Only a handful of people knew about my alter ego, two in fact, apart from my parents. And Nina was currently out of circulation. "Jenny? You think she had something to do with this?" "No, no, not the mermaid!" Chukwudi the Stronger waved the suggestion away with a flick of his hand. "I'd know the fish-lady's aura from a mile away. This was someone else entirely!" "You seem to be hesitating to say some more powerful than you." I had noted the agitation in Chukwudi the Stronger's voice. He grimaced. "Nonsense!" He bellowed. "No one could best Chukwudi the Stronger! I was just caught a little unawares is all..." "You got your ass whopped didn't you?" I asked, a chuckle escaping my lips despite my predicament. Chukwudi the Stronger blinked and then laughed. “Finally, a little humor! If we are going to solve this problem, you are going to have to calm down, brighten up a little and apply some wit. Stop being angry and desperate and think for a moment!” He was right. I had spent the last two days indoors bemoaning Nina’s fate and feeling sorry for myself instead of coming up with a constructive plan. I had literally been living beside my cell phone waiting for it to ring with report from the police that they had found her or at least received a ransom note. Only twice had I received any information from them and it was to let me know that they were still looking. Now wasn’t the time for despair and self-pity, now was the time for action and resourcefulness. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I closed my eyes and engaged in some more deep breathing, mentally calming myself down and trying to think logically. When I opened my eyes Chukwudi the Stronger was there smiling in approval. Our imaginary room had brightened up considerably. White-washed walls appeared on all four sides and a bright light filled the roof. The hardened wooden seats took on a more modern, more comfortable nature. “Very good.” He said. “Negative thoughts provide no usefulness other than to delay you from achieving your goals. Now, as I was saying, whoever kidnapped Nina knew about me and about your gift of Sight. Same person went all out to erase any trace of spiritual signature.” “So he cast a spell or used a charm or something. It wasn’t an ordinary abduction.” “Right, and with the level of thoroughness I was thinking it would be very difficult for one person to abduct a struggling Nina and use a charm at the same time. From the way her room was scattered she fought back pretty hard...” “So there must have been two people.” I said. “At least more than one person. Another one to keep a lookout as the other was busy dealing with Nina inside. The stronger one I would presume, since the struggle seemed very intense.” “So we have at least two people at the scene.” I said. “One strong one to subdue Nina and the second one to perform a quick ritual so powerful anyone with the Sight would be blinded.” “They are not looking for a ransom.” Chukwudi the Stronger said looking very thoughtful. “How’d you figure that?” I asked. “Think about it. These people knew about us right down to our spiritual gift. If they know about us that much then they also know about our financial capabilities. They know we are not ‘rich’.” “And neither is Nina, so why kidnap her? To get back at me for something?” “Possibly, but then they would have contacted you already. It’s been two days. More likely you were an afterthought; they wanted to make sure that neither the police nor you could sniff them out.” “They wanted me out of the way so they could take her.” “This kidnap was about her, they need her for something.” “Kill her?” I allowed the thought filter through my mind. “No, at least not outright, else they would have done it at her place.” Chukwudi the Stronger remarked. “Use her for something diabolical?” “More like it.” He nodded. I suppressed a shudder. “How do we know she isn’t already…?” “We would have felt something” Chukwudi the Stronger reassured though I wasn't thoroughly convinced. “That’s the problem; I can’t pick her at all, not in my dreams, no visions, nothing.” I shook my head. “It’s like she just fell off the face of the earth.” “There’s more.” Chukwudi the Stronger sighed. "This is where you tell me how you got your ass whopped?" Chukwudi snickered but went on. “Whoever performed that ritual also cast a spell that sucked me out soon after you got into that apartment. I haven’t been ignoring you bro. I was rendered completely powerless in an abyss of serenity. I’ve been fighting through a thick mist this whole time.” “Say what now?” I asked, alarmed. “They waged a pre-emptive war on me. Stuck me in limbo. Made sure I wouldn’t hear your call. Somehow it was your father’s voice that showed me the way and his cutting remarks that filled me with the strength of rage. Else I would still be nowhere, feeling nothing. “But, that’s not possible…is that possible? The last time someone tried that it didn’t work!” “So we have to assume this person is spiritually stronger than the fish-lady.” Chukwudi the Stronger pointed out. I massaged my scalp with my hands. “These guys are pros.” We were both silent for a while, then Chukwudi the Stronger looked at me suddenly. “We need help.” “Whoa, you asking for help? This is really serious.” “Well, not for myself exactly.” Chukwudi the Stronger huffed. “Someone to point the way… show us the next step to take. Like another guardian angel since Pachios is a no-show.” “You mean…” I knew where he was going with this before he said it. He nodded. “We should go and see The Beggar.” ________&&&&&_______&&&&&&&_____&&&&&___ 4 Likes |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by dawno2008(m): 11:43am On Nov 28, 2020 |
O ya,let the action began ![]() |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by MightyFortress: 11:51am On Nov 28, 2020 |
Lovely |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by MightyFortress: 11:54am On Nov 28, 2020 |
Royver is back!!!! The champ is back... Playing John Cena's WWE entrance theme song. I have missed you, bro.. where you go since na? Chukwudi The Stronger even follow u return! 3 Likes |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by MightyFortress: 11:56am On Nov 28, 2020 |
Royver: Thanks For the mention. We have missed you. Welcome. 4 Likes |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Ice4jez(m): 5:42am On Nov 29, 2020 |
One of the best 1 Like |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Royver(m): 9:57am On Nov 29, 2020 |
OluwabuqqyYOLO: @bolded I'm just seeing this ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Re: The Tarnished Ones by Oremeyii(f): 5:10pm On Nov 29, 2020 |
Hwp do you people get such engaging story lines?? *screams* It's soooo good Of course I'm following this! 3 Likes |
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