We had gone a few miles across the bed of the hills and mountains that walled Rio Hondo, when I saw a figure, a familiar one, he was naked, at the summit of the mountain, staring all the way down, about to fall over and take his life. Promptly my attention was brought upon this figure. Obviously, it was a male and because he was standing with his back facing my direction, I could barely figure who it was. I had to dim my eyes and stare very carefully as I wondered who could be stark naked and on top of a mountain summit; it only occurred to me that no sane person would do that;Hold on. Hold on. Wait a minute! That was Brian. Yes. I knew who I just saw now; that was Brian Fanny. I had been with him and taken care of him so I could recognize him from afar if I saw him.Now nothing in this life had scared me more than that sight. I was so sure of the figure. I flinched from my seat and advanced to the window. The train was speeding and the farther we went, the tinnier the figure.“That
Just then, Brain tilted his head backward, and his beady eyes glared at me, before he lowered his gaze and fondled with his fingers. I would have to keep at that song because I could see improvement in his countenance.I had to keep at my tone, singing aloud his lyrics and opening my arms in embrace. I could notice his legs earning some steps backward. My singing voice became longing as I dared to charm him the more. I had to bring out the best of my voice and sang in a way I had never sung in my entire life. I noticed he was beginning to laugh sheepishly, scratch his scraggly, unkempt hair and chuckle almost at intervals before frowning abruptly.Soon his steps increased and he came into my embrace and I wished he could feel my shivering and trembling body as I feared for the worst not to happen. Brian was radically mad and his violence was always uncertain. He could push us over and that would be the end. I didn’t know how pessimism took over me and I am so in danger and peril now;
I thought the Fanny’s weren’t going to locate our current location based on the hidden sight of the mountain. Hours had dragged by and despite giving them direction through phone calls, they were yet to locate us in the ocean of vegetations that gathered at the Rio Hondo border.After so long a time, I could hear a help in the form of a hovering over my head. When I cast my expectant gaze overhead, I could see their hands waving and heads peeping down to us. A private jet was hovering over us. Amidst their clamor, I could see fingers and heads staring down to us in clear exactitude.The Fanny’s were here.Before their arrival I had exhausted my tone in singing those lyrics. By this time Brian had been lulled to sleep on my shoulders, leaving me with no option than to sit on the mountain, so that he could enjoy his sleep on my shoulders.I didn’t know the force controlling me now. I was supposed to be on my way to Ohio; what could have instigated me to yell at a train operator and forc
My countenance was devoid of blithe at the time. I stepped backward to give them the limited attention I had. Once I gazed upon that blue document the horrible moments I had with the Fanny’s relived in me and hit me with hurt. I wouldn’t want us to talk about a contract marriage again. I was going to tell them my purpose of traveling to Ohio was to hustle, make enough money that could sort out the half a million dollars they gave me as exchange for agreeing to marry their son.I knew they were fascinated by the stunt I pulled to save Brian. But in the natural sense, I could barely climb a tree perfectly well let alone a mountain. Perhaps the evil spirit that often possessed me whenever I saw Brian was back, and it was the evil spirit that gave me guts to climb a mountain, meant for professional mountain climbers.“And what about it? If I can remember, I was divorced and mandated to refund back the half a million dollars, else I stand to be jailed. Please I am out to hustle and pay yo
I wept because my fate was getting maddening and to think of the fact that I was fated to be with an insane man installed in me the virtue of conquering obstacles that ordinarily would have worn me out. Right now taking a decision to walk out of this marriage and return to Ohio was even a stronger obstacle; one that was stronger than me. And the only way to conquer it was to stay back.“Stay back!” my thought snapped.Oh my God, I couldn’t believe I was about okaying a contract marriage that left me worse than it met me. I had a life ahead of me. Trust me I had moved on and this shouldn’t be what I should be dealing with right now. I wanted to give them a disapproval but Eva had entrapped my heart like golf ball in its hall.No words had crushed my heart than that of Eva; perhaps it was because Brian was mentioned. But I could see myself being pulled back to reconsider my decision. I was practically about to devote myself to my vomit. I thought I agreed within myself never to get into
These days Brian had formed the habit of being lulled to sleep on my shoulders, usually after dinner. His typical shouting had reduced which informed me that, of a truth, he wasn’t healthy. The healthy Brian whom I knew so well was supposed to be ravaging the entire villa with his shrill voice and ranting, not forgetting his usual stamping of feet on the door. He was indeed sickIt was evident in his fallen, sluggish eyes, cold feeble palms and skinny neck which gave him the looks of one suffering from malnutrition. Whenever I gazed upon him, I had this burning desire that he was acutely sick and needed urgent medical attention; I looked forward to his usual yell which I was missing so much now. Some days ago he had only shouted once and the other night he never shouted at all, rather he channeled his energy to blushing and tittering within himself.When I wanted to bask in the euphoria of this new development, I was stunned when it dawned on me it was only a signal of ill health. Wh
Ever since I became Brian’s contracted wife, I hadn’t seen him chant and pummel against the walls and door in such manner. I was yet to believe he was the same person that was sick the other day. Had it been I gave him the green tea the other night I would have accused Salsa of drugging the tea. But it was far from it; my husband’s ranting had doubled and although I was excited that it was evidence of quick recovery yet I couldn’t stand the mind-seizing rant that sounded from him.At dawn, Brian woke up with a strange kind of violence that stirred everyone to panic and peep from their chambers; wondering if it was another Brian or the one that was sick.I was yet in my state of confusion when I got a call from Fanny asking me what was happening. Fanny feared that Brian was out to either pull down the entire mansion or to cause havoc because the vibration if the walls and the door whenever he pummeled on them. I was only peeping from my chamber and strategizing effectively.I told Fann
“It gets me batty to wonder how Brian got hold of cleaver knife. I perceive you don’t know what cleaver knife is. That piece is a damn weapon; I mean one of the most dangerous tools for butchers. Who gave that shit to him? How did he get hold of such devilish weapon?” Doctor Emma queried, stared at the both of us and narrowed his gaze in an inspective manner.Fanny gave a questionable stare at me, expecting some satisfactory, implicating reply that would put an end to everything or open a new page of war.I lowered my gaze, fondled with my fingers, processing within me; all that Salsa told me about Kate and Frank being the people sneaking weapons into our chamber. I was yet to verify her assertion and although I had lost trust in Salsa yet I found unverified truth in what she revealed; I wish I had evidence. I wish I could call names with evidence. The Fanny’s were powerful people I wouldn’t want to toil with at the moment.“What do you have to say Melissa?” Fanny’s husky voice came a
“Do you mean Opula Luis, the same Opula that I know is pregnant for my son all this while? Come on, Fanny Luis, I don’t like it when people pull my legs. I do understand the fact that I earnestly want Rod to choose a wife but you don’t have to joke with it.”Fanny sat up once he caught the interest in the eyes of James Benson, “I am not pulling your legs my dear friend. I have only been searching for the appropriate time to break such news to you. Don’t forget you wanted Melissa for your son, so I have been careful not to break the rules.”“What rules are you talking about?” James interrupted Fanny, “Your daughter has been pregnant for my son and you kept it away from me all this while. Oh my goose!” James stroked his hair in surprise, “To hell with Melissa . I only chose Melissa because my son loves her so much but with the current development I can tell you it is Opula that my son loves.”James chuckled, line of joy stood on his face, “Oh I see, James, why don’t you tell me? It see
James Benson and Fanny Luis were proudly seated by the pool side and smiling cheek to cheek as the servants poured a glassful of wine for their refreshment. They had busied themselves discussing about their corporate lives and reminiscing on their friendship. All the while they discussed fanny though it wise to revela Opula’s preganancy to him, hoping it wouldn’t be a surprise to him. Fanny knew he had no time to waste anymore and delay could be dangerous.As soon as the servant bowed and left, James Benson reminded him of the two billion dollar contract and how it would save Fanny Group form the impending bankruptcy.Although Fanny Luis was all smiles, he couldn’t tell the exact reason James Benson visited. He argued if it was for business. He knew Opula’s pregnancy must have sprouted trouble in his home; obviously Rod would have told him about it, including the ill treatment he got when they were poor.Right about now Fanny couldn’t wait to know the reason James visited, so he asked
All eyes fell on me once I cheered up and sniffed heavily. Already the police men had entered the hospital and advanced towards us with an investigative countenance and scowled faces which struck us with silence and suspicion.“Why is police in my hospital?” doctor bill queried anxiously and settled his suspicious gaze on me, “I can’t recall inviting the police to my hospital. Who could have invited the police?”There was a hush of silence when the police detective surged closer and queried everyone with his scarcely familiar look which had so much gloom.“Good evening, doctor,” the detective greeted warmly and shot his dark eyes at us, “We got an urgent phone call from this hospital. The voice couldn’t speak out but we traced the phone call to this hospital. The police detective said to Doctor Bill with so much expectation for an explanation, “Perhaps you may know who did.”“I did, detective,” my voice sounded with an iota of confidence and conviction, “I made the phone call to you b
Doctor Bill had stormed the Emergency unit and ordered mom and I to vacate the unit immediately. A handful of nurses paced up and down under the command of the doctor who was still battling to restore my husband who had been jerking under the oxygen machine.Outside the emergency unit, I wasn’t in my best of mood. My heart thudded with danger and I had no doubt something was wrong with Brian. The color had drained from my face and I wasn’t thinking about the baby in my womb than my husband.Mom rolled her eyes at me and about to step away when Doctor Bill stepped out with a fallen countenance ; I swallowed hard when I saw those red eyes of his and dark face ; he seemed as one that escaped hell.Mom had paused to know what news doctor had to share with me. I knew her wish for Brian was death and nothing would gladden her heart than to hear news about Brian’s demise.Upon setting my anxious eyes on the doctor, I melted as wax and could barely open my mouth to question the doctor, who w
The doctor spoke so loudly, obviously making a noise to attract attention and Opula gestured at him to bring down the tone of his voice.“You know someone could be listening to us,” Opula whispered, “Please, take things calmly. You must not make a noise about it. But I have told you the forty percent is not going to be possible. Why would you demand I pay you forty percent of a contract you know nothing about…”Doctor Bernard burst into a mocking laughter and grinned afterward, “Oh do you think I know nothing about it? Is that what you think? I am going to tell you what I know about it. The Bensons want Melissa as an arranged wife but your greed wouldn’t rest, you forced yourself on your ex-boyfriend, Rod thinking he will get you pregnant but unfortunately this pregnancy belongs to Ken,”Kate was still eavesdropping at the door at the time, Doctor Bernard made that statement. And she gagged her mouth in shock ; she couldn’t believe Opula had been lying about her pregnancy all this wh
At the time ambulance came to pick up Opula who was still coughing out blood, Salsa was peeping from the kitchen where she prepared lunch. She smiled evilly and gritted her teeth as she shook her head in vengeance. She hoped the abortion would happen this time around; she couldn’t wait to hear news of Opula losing the pregnancy; only then would her joy be full.From the kitchen, she peeped out to the ambulance personnel attending to Opula, and she could recall how she did it;Opula had requested for a fresh orange juice a while ago and Salsa prepared it for her with mixture of her poisonous herbs that would abort the pregnancy. Salsa was responsible for the bloody cough Opula was experiencing and if Opula should cough out blood for a longer time she could lose the pregnancy.“Until the teeth of my vengeance bite you, I shall know no rest. Opula, you are going to suffer in my hands until you lose that pregnancy. I will not remain alive and watch you get pregnant for a man I love so muc
When Kate barged in on Opula, she met her sobbing and weeping in her palms. She was red on the face and the color drained from her face; it was obvious Opula had been weeping all night.“Oh my goose!” Kate exclaimed and paced to the side of Opula and clutched her teary chin, “What happened to you again? Why are you all tears? The day is too early for this, Opula,” Kate petted her and caught sight of the picture on the bed and when she picked it up, it was rod’s picture, “Is it because of Rod Benson? What did he say to you again?”Opula swallowed hard, sobbed even greatly and managed to say, “He has refused to pick my phone calls ever since he rejected the pregnancy. The most annoying thing is that Rod wants me to abort the pregnancy. Can you imagine? Does he hate you that much?”“What!” Kate snapped and snorted, “Is he sick in the brain? How could he suggest such a thing? Oh my God!” Kate raised her gaze in frustration and asked yet further, “Did you show him the paternity test result
“MELISSA!” she called, her body shivering, the fierceness of her face threatening as she molded her fist, “What are you doing here? Are you supposed to be here at this time?” she asked, her hands trembling.I hummed and quoted, “Because the bird has learnt to fly without perching, the hunters have learnt to shoot without missing. I knew you were up to ruin. A leopard cannot lose its spot. So this is it mom. You demanded to know the ON and OFF knob so that you could sneak in and turn off the oxygen machine and suffocate Brian? Your evil has caught up with you.”Mom’s jaw sagged as she fumed, “You rotten maggot. I am only doing you a favor. I really want to have you back as my daughter but you must be set free from this evil marriage. He has to die.”I advanced forward and replied her, “You got to be bluffing, huh. My husband? Are you okay, mom? Are you saying it to my face that you want to kill Brian? This is unimaginable, mom!”“Listen up, Melissa. I have so much money now. I may not
Promptly I flinched from sleep; it was a dream.“Oh my God,” I whispered and wiped my face of the nervous sweat that trickled down. “Brian cannot die. What sort of dream is this? Something must be happening to my husband,” I said to myself, gasped, stroked my hair confusedly and picked up my phone to call the doctor…***Seated in front of the police detective were Fanny, Opula and Kate. While they spoke, the police scribbled down vital information on a paper, with keenness in his eyes.“The total sum of money is one million dollars,” Fanny said in a baritone voice, “I believe the money is somewhere in my villa, obviously in one or two chambers. I really want you and your boys to fish out and punish anyone found guilty of stealing the money.”The police detective winked after scribbling down some more information from Fanny, “Um, Mr. Fanny, this one million dollars in question was it stolen from your company, the Fanny Group or from the villa? Because you made mention of the money was