A few days later, on a Saturday noon- few hours before sunset, I decided to visit the Wise-thug at his house.
I wanted to tell him about the incident, but as I was on my way to his place another thought told me not to. He was going to undermine me.
When I got there, I found him playing play station 5, with his girlfriend, who was on the fridge grabbing some fruits.
“I knew you`ll come back once you run out of cash!” he said, “I hope you used it wisely, did you?”
“Let`s not go there, please!”
“What happened?" he said, "I need to know.”
“I met three of these guys on my way home. They demanded you from me- told me that I should show them where you are or I die. As always, I chose to die." I said, "Hell, they did beat me up, fortunately not to death. When I woke up a few seconds later, I found a gun on the scene, I then went after them. And killed them- all!”
“WHAT! Who were they? Are you sure they are dead?”
It was those lonely days when the Cruel-man met me in the wasteland. By then I was used to the regular routine, the one my Last- born brother showed me when the warehouse was still the Old man scientist`s laboratory. He met me in a spot my brother once took me to. He caught me crying, crying because I couldn’t hold onto reality. The streets were full of blood, people were fighting for their needs and wants and I couldn’t do anything about it yet I wanted to save the world and its people. “Every time we meet, there should be tears on your face. What`s the matter, young man?” asked the Cruel-man. “Nothing I can`t handle, sir.” “Don’t act tough, young man." he said, "Talk to me.” “Says a person who left me to death when I was weak and unable to act tough”, I said with attitude. “I don’t care how you feel about me. What I know is that you currently need someone to talk to. You must thank God he brought you me.” He sai
A few weeks later, when I came back from the underground, I thought everything had been laid to rest. The first group I visited was the victorious Family. When I got there, I found them wasting money like dust yet I didn’t get my cut- that hurts, but I was cool with it, or so they thought. When I got to the notorious Autocracy, I found them still ire and ready for war. They knew who attacked and stole their money. And they knew how they were going to attack their opponents, it was all planned- through me; without my consent. “Is it necessary to retaliate though?” I asked. “We lost soldiers, Mastermind. Never mind our money, I almost died!” said the Wise-thug. “But how will we get our money back if we attack to kill? Unless you know where it`s kept, do you?” “Do you have a better plan?” “How about a fake alert? Instead of us attacking, the police will do”. “Try another one”, said a member. “When the police get th
As I was sleeping after I had tried to study when I got back from the safe house, I had this nightmare- a bad dream, if you may say.In this dream, it was after school on my way to the Corner- Store when I got a message from the group leader demanding an urgent meeting. I decided not to go and instead went to the Corner store as planned.When I was getting close to the store, I heard gunshots coming from the store. I ran to see who was doing the robbery, instead, it wasn’t a robbery but a gunfight. I saw my brother and his girlfriend lying on the ground- shot, and the Wise- thug crying out loud for his sister. Dead as my brother was, the Wise- thug shot him two more times then fled the scene.In the morning, I didn’t tell anyone about my dream. After eating breakfast, I went to school without saying “Goodbye”. I was stressed. The dream was all over my mind.I wonder how I even got to school with that sta
I went to the warehouse to check on my friend. I wanted to verify what the cruel man told me- that the book is cursed and once you read it you are in for good. “My friend, I know you once read this book, that’s if you don’t now. That’s why you are here, right? Because of the book.” “Get to the point, I don’t have all day.” “Please help me make sense of the book.” “I can do that in a condition, my friend.” Said the Wise- thug, “Let me handle the past alone, you can take control of the Family just until I`ve killed all those who killed our future.” I wonder what the past holds for me that my friend doesn’t want me to know off- it made him kill Black Jesus for no reason, now his sacrificing power for a secret. Clearly, there`s more than my brother`s death, no wonder why he took too long to admit that he killed him. I agreed to take control of The Family since the Cruel- man recommended I combine the 2
At school, my friend visited me in class during lunchtime. I thought our friendship had ended due to what I did to us. “How are you, my friend?” he asked, “It`s been a while since we last spoke, are we cool?” “If there is nothing to say, please leave my sight.” “I know it will take time for you to accept the situation.” “What are you?” I asked, “A therapist? Psychiatrist?” “No!” he said, “But you seem to forget that I also lost a sister and I was in this kind of a situation.” “Which situation?” I asked, “Being blamed for your sister`s death? Being convinced that you did something you didn’t do? I didn’t kill my brother, you killed him, you even killed your sister. I did nothing but to help you kill them because by then you didn’t have balls to face your opponents, your testosterone was weak.” “You are losing it, mastermind.” He said, “You were right, I should leave you alone.” “Can you leave me in peace now?” “A
A few days before I could do back to school, I got arrested for a murder that happened 2weeks ago. That’s when I saw that my mom really loves me. But I didn’t feel pity for her because it`s her responsibility to be there for me in everything I do. What I was worried about was that I would never set my feet out of prison this time; I once sued the state, they`ll make sure I go behind bars this time. What have you done, Mastermind! I was surprised to hear that my family didn’t get me a lawyer, even the Wise-thug didn’t. The case was of a murder that happened 2weeks ago at the Corner store. A murder that happened right in my eyes. I didn’t kill her, and I don’t know who did. It wasn’t even my friends for sure. I just didn’t see who pulled the trigger that night. If I say I wasn’t there when it all happened, who would I use as an alibi to back me up? I refused to take the state attorney and pleaded innocent at the bail hearing. I am not a f
Sometimes it’s not a bad thing to lie for good reasons, but lately, it seems like everyone is lying because it’s a usual thing to do.In the morning, my mom and I went to school. We went to tell the Principal about my absence after my suspension. The man knew more than we knew.“What pleasure do we you, Ma`am?” he said.“To apologize for my absence of the past few weeks, sir!”“Oh, you are the serial- killer who has been trending for the past few weeks?”“A serial- killer?” asked mom, “Mr. Principal, what are you talking about?”“Wait, aren’t you the boy who`s been arrested?”“We hear that from you, sir.”“Alright, where have you been then?”“My child was kidnapped by whatever monster it was. They threatened us with his life so we could give them the ransomed.” She cried.“I`m so sorr
When the court day came, I got worried about this newly found evidence regarding my case and if new witnesses came to light.“All rise!”The audience went up as the Magistrate came in.“You may sit!”“Previously, the defendant was given bail and further investigation was made regarding the case. Fortunately, new evidence came to light and was sent to the lab. Hopefully, we will receive the results later on.” He said, “The defendant, you may take the stand.”“I greet you all, protocol may be observed. Ladies and Gentlemen, would you disagree if I said every story has 3sides- what actually happened, how it happened and why it happened. But with this case, we`ve only heard about the ‘actually happened’, never mind the predictions of ‘why it happened', but what happened to the ‘how it happened? My lord, it would be only fair if the defendant gave out his side of the story so
When I got to the wasteland, I found The Mystery- voice waiting for me in person, at the exact spot he said we should meet at. It was on that moment I believed that I`ve being living a lie for all my life. I have being speaking to one person in different forms. The Mystery- voice, the Old- man Scientist, the Cruel- man and My Advocate. All these men were in one man. I should have known better. “Who do you want to talk too?” he asked, “Mystery or Cruel or Advocate?” “I want to talk to the real you.” He transformed as he turned to look at me. It was The Old man scientist. “Young man, what is it you want to talk about?” “My life.” I said, “You know me, what do you think of me? Who am I?” “I know too much about you. I know that everything you do is out of pure intentions. That you do wrong for the good course.” he said, “But as someone who knows nothing about you. I think you are a heartless piece of a scam bag!” “So should I just admit that this is a life I was born to live? That n
My girlfriend was accepted in one of the best Universities that produce the best Medical Doctors in the whole world. It was the best thing that ever happened to her; to us. I was happy that for her. For me. For us. For the first time in my life, at least, there`s someone I can name and say they are a living proof that dreams do come true. You can be the best if you want too. And that proof was my fiancé. Yes, I proposed to her after she got her results and an admission letter. I proposed and she said yes! She accepted to be Mrs. Me. Never mind, I`m getting married so young. Her PHD is going to come with my surname written on it. What an achievement to me! On the day she left to go and further education, we accompanied her as a family to the airport. “Babe, please take good care of Junior.” She spoke in a soft voice. “And please behave. I don’t want mom and sis` telling that you are hooking up with your old friends again.” “Babe, the day I bought that ring in your finger, I had p
The new year came and I had been promoted to my final grade. My girlfriend was nervous and awaiting her matric results. We all knew she had excelled but her worried was being accepted at a tertiary institution of her choice.Our son was growing, so was our relationship. For the past few weeks, I experienced love at its purest form. It was a feeling I can`t explain. I knew I could get more of that for many years if only I become a guy she wants out of me. This girl is full of love. If only I put away this Mastermind and become the real me. Innocent and smart. I would get her unconditional love forever.I do wish to do away with this life. I want too. But realistically, it`s not that easy. I can`t just up and change the situation. There are people who live by the grace of my existence, of Mastermind. I, killing that name would be indirectly killing those people. I can`t just let that happen. I need to do something, I need to do what`s right.“And what`s right, Mastermind?”“Securing tha
Days passed and everything was fine. I had no difficulties with my exams and was done with physio, and I could walk properly so. However, they will never forget that Mastermind was once on a wheelchair, so I had to entertain mockery they made out of it at school just until there`s something new they could talk about.During these days, the only thing I thought about was a plan to make my friend stop getting the monthly debt from the medical facility. I hadn’t thought of any that will work but I had to pay him a visit before the payday. Fortunately, he paid me a visit first- at school.“My friend, I can see you`ve recovered, hey.” He said, “Who would say you were in a wheelchair a few weeks ago.”“What do you want?”“The last time we spoke, I told you we are not done.” He said, “The car is waiting at the gate. Let`s go already.”“I just wonder how they even left you to enter the premise.”When we got to the gate, we found a Rolls Royce waiting for us. We were going for a spin, or so he
As promised, The Cruel- man, Back Jesus and the Prison Commander focused on the plan while I spent my time and focus on my son, academics and recovery. I had to hire a tutor for home schooling for an exemption to write my year examinations at my school. My girlfriend re- registered her previous school and settled the outstanding amount to finish her matric. It was a model C boarding school so she decided to stay at the school dormitory since she couldn’t bare seeing a criminal like me every day. She said I remind her of all the things that happened in my absence because I was the cause of it all but I wasn’t there to rescue her like I do with others and for that, she`s not ready to forgive me- if she`ll ever forgive me. For peace`s sake, we agreed that she will visit the baby on weekends and whenever she`s free too. Also, I made sure that the only stress she has for the next two months was nothing but her academic stress while I handled the rest. I continued with my physio sessions
After my physio session, which was my second session since I was discharged, I told my Advocate that we got to the prison since I had ordered that we meet at the prison office. No one in my family accompanied me to the session because I told them not too.In the meeting we held, it was the prison commander, Black Jesus, the Cruel man and I. We met in a private room he organised for us to discuss what I`m about to propose. A suicidal mission as always! “Gentlemen!” the Commander welcomed us into the office, “What is he doing here?”“Relax! Afternoon to you too, partner.” I said, “Today we meet here because we have a serious matter to deal with. I wouldn’t say any of you is lucky to be part of the plan because it`s not like I had a choice, you are all I have.” I sighed, “Commander, this man you know as an Advocate, I know him as a worse human I`ve ever met. He`s the Cruel man, the reason I am who I am today. And this one, the most wanted criminal in the country; by both the police and
Two weeks later, I got discharged from hospital. What a pleasant moment for my family now that I`ll be coming home for good. But I wasn’t feeling excited as them. I was going to be on a wheelchair for quit some time. Vulnerable and depended. I had to attend physio session for at least a month if I`m lucky. What a punishment for me! What am I going to do? “Focus on your studies, Mastermind. Focus on your studies.” Said the Mystery Voice My Advocate came in and said, “The car is ready outside.” “It`s time to go, my son.” On the way home, a lot was running on my mind hence I wasn’t part of the conversation in the car. Above all that was running on my mind, revenge and anger were the main aspects. Someone had to suffer for this. But who will it be since they are all dead? “We are home now.” I came back to my senses. “Mom, where`s Sis?” She ignored my question by helping me out of the car, “You so heavy.” She giggled. The Cruel man went pass us to open the door for us and when we
There I was, in a dark room. So dark that I couldn’t see my hand no matter how close I put it to my eyes. I heard voices calling my name from all sides but I couldn’t see who was shouting my name. I rounded, rounded and rounded until I saw a light. It was so small like it was reflecting from a small hole. Then I saw my lastborn brother as an Angel next to it. He called my name and told me to come with him to the light. As I walked towards him and the light, I thought about my unborn child. How can I leave him before he gets to know me? Who will take care of him in my absence? I need to be there for my child and his mother. I can`t leave him so young. I just can`t! I tried to wake up as I got my conscious back but I couldn’t. “He`s having a seizure.” Hours later, I tried to wake up as I felt my conscious back. I was still unconscious and couldn’t feel my body. All I could hear was machine beeps but couldn’t open my eyes wide enough. My eyesight was blurring that I could only see sta
Two days later, I went back to the C-max prison hospital where I slept only for two more nights then I was told that I was fit to go back to my cell. When I got there, I didn’t find my cellmate. I hope he is dead. There were still many of us in the block who survived, but a little less than before the night of the war. Some of our soldiers were dead and some were still in the hospital. I don’t know where Black Jesus fell between the two as he was not there in his cell. But he can`t be dead. He can`t be. I didn’t sacrifice my life for him so he could die too. No, he is not! “Sure, Mastermind. I heard you are back.” He asked, “How are you?” “Thank God nothing happened to you.” I said, “As long as you are good, I`m good!” “Well, in that case, we need to talk.” He had a serious face. “I`m listening. Just hoping I`m not in trouble.” “We need to stop selling for now. It`s too dangerous.” “No, we are not stopping.” I said, “The danger