Love. Lies. Pretense.They never saw me coming but I was watching all along. This is just the beginning. They're all pawns in my game. It's just a matter of time. I'll show them. I'll show her.__________________Grace stood in front of Veronica's door later that afternoon contemplating whether to knock or not. On her way over she kept beating herself that everything was all her fault. If only she had stayed away from the beginning, if only had kept her stupid fantasies to herself, everything would still be normal.Her friends were no longer speaking to her. They never said any word to each other throughout the school hours till they got home and the same could be said for Veronica who had left her at the lab after she released her without saying a word.She had decided to go over to Veronica's house when she realized she was going crazy over the thought of her having to kill Raymond. Time was running out and she had to do something regardless of who was with her or not.Veronica was t
_Shut up and dance with me!_The song from the TV screamed at June who sat almost lifeless on the sofa in the living room. She couldn't bring herself to go to school the next day. She had left the house earlier that morning pretending like she was heading for school but stayed out at her late grandfather's farm then sneaked back after she was sure everyone had left. Joanna wasn't speaking to her anymore. She didn't even budge when June tried to apologize later that night, or when she tried to bring up a conversation at all. It was like she became invisible to her. Never had she felt distant from her sister like she did now. At the moment she was trying to find solace in music. It has always been an escape for her. She had learned that shortly after her grandfather's death. When she was faced with any pain or grief, she would just let herself drown in the beats and rhythm. But it wasn't working as she had thought it would. Rather than taking away her sorrows, it intensified them. The
Morning prayers was a very huge part of the Chike's household's daily routine. Coming from a strong Catholic background, June and Joana's mother Gladys never allowed anyone to leave the house without them all praying together, no matter what time it was or how late they were going to be. Every morning they gathered in the living room where she occasionally led the prayers or sometimes appoint one of the twins to. This Friday was no different with her leading the prayers and shortly after, they all went back to their various routine, the girls preparing for school and the parents preparing for another day at the pharmacy. She got into the kitchen to prepare breakfast and by the time she came out, June was helping Joana dress her hair in a ponytail, both of them already in their uniform."I see you girls have resolved whatever issue you had before," Gladys said to them with a smile."Yes mom, I couldn't stay mad at her forever," Joana said looking up to her sister, they never felt closer
"Okay, Mrs?""Mrs. Ajayi," Maryam answered the officer. He had taken her to his desk due to the gravity of her words. He wanted to question her better. He wrote down her name on a paper."Alright, I'm Officer James, you can start from the beginning." He said gesturing with his pen.Maryam took in a deep breath, both her hands on her knees to keep them from shaking. She tried to weigh the situation. Is all of this worth it? What if Margret was right? What if Sylvester left her? She slowly let the breath out through her mouth in a whistle. If she was right or wrong, it was already too late for her to turn back now."I got home last week Friday to discover that Sylvester wasn't around--""Is that the man you're talking about?" Officer James asked."Yes.""And you said he's your boyfriend and the father of your child?""Yes."Officer James gave a slight nod. He seemed to write down something on his paper with each response."Continue.""So he wasn't around and when I asked my daughter she
Abike Badmus sat at the edge of the bed as she watched her husband Mike put on his agbada. As she watched, she shook her legs in such a way that showed that something bothered her, and her husband knew that too."If you have something to say you better talk now." He said staring at his reflection from the mirror as he fitted his cap to his head."I'm just wondering about the kind of man you are. It's like after all these years I don't know who you are anymore."Mike smiled then turned to face her. He pulls back the long yard cloth to prevent them from falling off his arms before he spoke."I'll tell you what kind of man I am. I am the kind that provides the roof you're living under, the kind that provides the soft wide deluxe bed you're sitting on. The kind that provides the elegant meals you eat, the vacation and shopping trips you have with your friends to Dubai. I made all of this happen." He said with satisfaction and gestured with his arms out wide.
School closed early as usual on Friday and the girls decided to head to Grace's home. There, they were going to get ready for Bright's party. Also, that was where they told everyone they would be that evening because they didn't want anyone in on what was going on. Margret, Joana, and June told their parents they running a school project at Grace's place. Veronica said the same to Hakim.Grace and Efe lived on the top floor of a one-story building. Their apartment was at the third door to the left. They walked up the stairs to the front of the apartment as Grace brought out her keys to open the door. Just as she struggled with the keys in the keyhole, Mama Favour, her neighbor came out from her apartment."Ah Grace, you don come back?"(1)Grace sighed, her eyes and hands still on the frustrating lock. Here she goes again stating the obvious, she thought. Mama Favour, like most housewives, was one of the few nosy neighbors in the compound, the only one living ups
Dusk was already setting over the evening sky. A crowd of teenagers was starting to gather at Sultan's Hotel. The DJ was starting to hit them with waves of good music. Bright's party had started.The girls walked past the gate with a nauseating feeling in their stomachs. A constant reminder that the night could go either way. According to their plan, Grace would be with Raymond throughout the night then draw him out till there would be alone, allowing their killer to strike. The rest would watch from a distance while all these played out but would be there to catch him when he appeared.It wasn't hard for them to find Raymond. He was the loudest of all the boys, yelling and jumping in approval at every song the DJ played. He wore baggy shorts and a big vintage shirt, his face cap turned backward, and a bottle of Hennessey in his left hand."Okay, so we all know what to do right?" Veronica tried to confirm one last time. They all nodded in reply.Jus
After the girls had left Grace alone, she had decided the only option was to blend in the crowd so she wouldn't look out of place. Her plan didn't work for long though as Raymond caught her not long after."Gracie!!" He called with his hands up as soon as he sighted her. "I swear I didn't think you'd come." He said as he got closer to her."Well am here, aren't I?""Yeah, you are. And you said this night is about bygones, so why are we dulling eh?" He curled up his lips. "Am almost done with this bottle, it won't do us any good. Let's go to the bar."Not waiting to hear Grace's response, he dragged her towards the bar."Barman, one bottle of Henny please." He ordered as he took a seat. Grace didn't and he noticed."What's up with you?" He asked.'Yeah Grace, what's up with you? You finally found the excitement you were looking for and now you are acting like a baby.' She thought.She gave a slight shrug. Her caution didn'
A week has passed since Hakim's and the day every senior student at Ketu High finally came. Graduation. The four girls stayed in June's house that morning to do each other make-up and hair to look absolutely stunning for the event. Grace stared deeply at the small dressing mirror she sat in front of while June brushed her hair.Everything wasn't quite back to normal yet. They were still the talk of everyone in the town as well as in their school but they were not going to let it bring them down as they looked to put the event behind them and make the most out of the day."How is it?" June asked, admiring her masterpiece."I look like Barbie princess," Grace replied with a little sarcasm in her tone."You look beautiful, you mean." Joana said as she gazed at Grace, monetarily taking her eyes from Margret who she was helping with her make-up."Let me say what I want to say," She retorted then took a moment to look at herself again. Every other
The atmosphere outside was gloomy in the aftermath of Hakim's death despite the huge relief everyone had that the girls were still alive. Two ambulances had arrived minutes later in addition to the five police cars already on the scene. They all went to work immediately, gathering pieces of evidence and tying up loose ends as Hakim's body was taken out on a stretcher. Joana and Margret were by the other ambulance, receiving medical treatment. Grace and Veronica sat by the stairs leading to the front door of the house as Officer James interrogated them."So let me this straight," He said. "Hakim was behind all of this? He was the killer?""Yes." Grace answered as she and Veronica stared at each other. Veronica tried nibbling at her fingers to keep her composure but it wasn't working, her knees were shaking badly and Grace could feel it."Is that true, Veronica?" James asked.Grace's eyes were sharply fixed on hers without blinking, warning and pleadi
"Let her go or I'll shoot!" Hakim yelled."She's killing Grace shoot her!" Joana yelled."Stop it Uncle Kim," Cassandra said with her hand still pressing down Grace's neck. "We both know you won't shoot.""Please, I don't want to hurt you." Hakim said in tears. "Veronica, please."Suddenly, it seemed like Cassandra's mood changed, but Veronica was now awake."Kill me, please, I'm begging you.""You heard her, shoot.""No, d-don't." Grace said even as she choked. "We can help her... Put the gun down."Hakim slowly lowered his arm as he with Margret and Joana watched in anticipation of what Grace meant."V-Veron-ica... li-sten to me..." Grace said. "She's got nothing on you, it's your b-body... You can take back control.""I-I can't." Veronica replied in tears. Her hands were still strangling Grace, she couldn't stop herself. "She's stronger than me.""That's a lie and you know it... You're one of the stronge
Joana said what she said so that Cassandra would be unsettled and it worked. As Cassandra looked down at the road from the upstairs window, she began wondering if she had underestimated Grace. If she did, then everything may not go smoothly as she wanted it to go."She is spineless, they all are!" She reassured herself and placed her focus back on the road. Grace would be there any minute.Soon enough, Grace appeared and was standing in front of the building. She brought out her phone and dialed Cassandra."I'm outside now.""Yeah, I see you. Come inside.""No, how do I know that my friends are inside? How do I know you won't kill me the moment I step in?""Well you will just have to step in and find out, won't you?" Cassandra replied but Grace didn't seem to budge. "Tick tock Grace..." She said finally before Grace tools a deep breath and step came in."I'm inside now." She said."Keep going further, enter the room at the end
Due to what Officer James had told about the police car, Grace decided to alight earlier at a bus stop outside of the town while she sneaked back in on foot. It was much easier than she had thought as the two policemen had no idea what she was wearing and were busy waiting for a girl to step down from a bus whereas all she did was walk right past them. Standing from a distance, she watched as the two policemen searched the bus in confusion when they couldn't find any girl that matched the description that Officer James had given. It took a while and after they realized that they couldn't find Grace, they got back into their car and drove off.As she walked on, she tried to access the situation at hand. The first part done, she had evaded the police. The next thing now was how to stop Cassandra. Grace knew that meeting Cassandra without a plan was basically handing herself out on a silver platter. She also knew that going alone won't be to her advantage. She needed help,
Chapter 45 ~"So this is the place?" Margret said feeling a bit skeptical as she looked at the house Cassandra had brought her to. The whole environment looked so quiet and calm with a few uncompleted buildings around it. The house itself was a story building without any painting done on the exterior."I don't think I have ever been to this part of town before... I don't think people even live around here." She said looking around."Look, would you prefer we go to a place where we would easily be found?" Cassandra said with a glare."I'm just saying, this place is more or less like a construction site." Margret replied shaking off the red sand that got on her boots."That's what makes it even better, now can we go in or not?"Still feeling a bit reluctant, Margret decided to ask her a question that had been lingering on her mind since she came over."Why did you lie to us about your surname?""What?""We know that your n
Hakim Bello was still in the kitchen fixing the pipes when the police came to the house."Who's there?" He yelled, responding to the banging on the door."It's the police, please open the door."'The police? Why were they here?' He pondered as he walked to do the door."May I help you?" He said with a frown that formed lines on his thick forehead."We are looking for a Veronica Bello." The policeman answered. "Is she inside?""No, she hasn't been home since morning." Hakeem lied before realizing that he didn't even know why they were after her. "But why are you looking for her? Is she in any trouble?""Yes, who is she to you?" The other policeman spoke."She is my niece." Mr. Bello answered. "Now I ask again, is she in any trouble?""Not particularly sir, but we have reason to believe that a killer is targeting her and friends and we want to bring them in.""What the hell!" Hakeem explained. "Why should I believe
Wasting no more time, Officer James quickly dispatched as many other officers available to go search for Margret and Veronica. June had told him earlier that she had warned Margret before turning herself in and he was not likely to find her at her house. Still, James decided to head there first not just because it was the best place to look and trace Margret, but because he wanted to be the one to break the news of what was going on gently to her mother.He went with his partner, Officer Ade who was reading James the entire time they drove to the house."You don't know what you're going to say, do you?" Ade asked just as James was about to knock on the door. James held his hand back immediately Ade spoke, his only response being an awkward silence which seemed to put a naughty smile on Ade's face."You're crushing on the woman! Oh, I must see who she is today--"Embarrassed by his partner's words, James spoke back in a harsh whisper."Stop it! I am
"Veronica, wake up."Veronica opened her eyes slowly to see Hakim Bello's face staring down at her."Uncle Kim," Veronica said getting up, making Hakim move backward."Why aren't you in school?"Veronica placed the back of her hand in front of her mouth in an effort to cover it as she yawned. In no time she realized she was in the living room. But how did she get there? She had no idea. It was like there were blank gaps in her memory. Veronica had been experiencing it ever since she came to Ketu town, blacking out and waking up moments later with no idea of what she was doing before. But it was beginning to happen more frequently and also seemed like she was blacking out for longer hours."Eh, I'm tired I guess." She said as she stood up."Okay, but this is surprising... You have never slept on the couch before and you are mostly locked up in your room. Now you are here, napping on the couch and leaving your shoes on."Veronica looked