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Chapter 33: the flux
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2024-10-29 19:42:56The sweat mixing with the fresh wound on my head, stimulating another throbbing feel of the intense pain. The tips of my fingers were at the brink with fragmented pieces falling into my eyes, obstructing my vision and inflicting more damage. Everything was against me in the fraction of this second as it was displayed and I could feel my hold slip off but still, I toiled with exertion till the pain in my hand made it known that I couldn't hold on any longer and I let go.
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La Requiem Chapter 34: the flux II
We had descended from the slopes, away from the Rhumsiki while walking beneath the mountains where the shallow caves lay. The area was filled with so much green vegetation and arable lands with trees longer and leaves firmer."1967, All the way back to the Civil war," Aliyu began, his words a tale I was familiar with as we walked. "Ah amidst the coups of the five majors and the postwar economic boom, a strife between two emblems as the bloody Thursday befell, hence the calamitous Biafran war," I finished in summary of the most devastating and mournful history we've ever faced. "Indeed a verbatim without error," he smirked as my lips shaped into a smug smile."Moreover, The then Head of State, Yakubu Gowon had created secret bunkers around this area for a special military group at that time," Aliyu added, further explaining as we walked, disclosing something I hadn't been aware of."Bunkers?" I asked my tone evident of the surprise that his statement imbued."Yes Lade, Camp Zero, Camp
La Requiem Chapter 35: the comber
The adrenaline rush produced from the surge of the push had combined with the terrifying feeling of falling to my doom a second time in the space of 24hrs. Along the line, the fall entangled and sheathed us in unbearable dust and sand particles arising from the earth. The large stones and rocky bumps became a crippling effect to our beings seeing as the force at which we were rolling to the bottom of the slope made us rub against them numerous times. A second or two and I dropped, landing with a loud ‘thump’ and surprisingly a ‘splash' too as the water below began seeping in and soaking my clothes from the position at which I lay. My bones were crying for mercy as it was as if they too were being stiffened from the constant unwelcomed union to the ground. I felt too weak and fatigued as I squeezed my face seeking the will to move and regain my stance but then the next thing that followed was so similar to the rewinding of a track record as my ears remembered instantly, the rauc
La Requiem Chapter 36: the comber II
The whistle of the Scot pines in obedience to the soft flows of the wind, rising steadily at every second. The hours were lessening and soon this terrifying wind would occupy the whole North, leaving us stuck in the middle of no man's land. Some dried leaves that had fallen from the short and bushy trees that enclosed us, scraped the ground in the direction and command of the same wind that seemed to be the governor of all our predestination. Aside from the ease and relief I had felt when we had escaped once more from their sights, I was damn tired of being lucky all the time. I wished it to be all over as I had had enough of the constant threats and sprints to flee from the unbending enemy. Now I had found Bashir and I had thought it would be the beginning of our triumph but instead he came bearing more disheartening news, leaving me the more depressed and dispirited. "A moment of silence, A moment of summons," Bashir voiced, breaking through the tranquil and lonely
La Requiem Chapter 37: the shock wave
NARRATOR'S POV... The clarion calls of fate sound like symbols of the infallible tunes of infinite power and boundless knowledge, verity justified by that which is visible to the eyes of destiny only. Some say it is also that which lies in the innermost parts of the mind, rising from a soft subliminal monologue to an authoritative utterance which may be a warning or a means to an irrevocable end. Dreadfully today we hear the declamation of this call, being carried by wind throughout the air and even inside us. The complex and paradoxical demeanor of the mystery, Abubakar Shekau is seen wearing a white caftan with a bullet proof jacket strapped across. His feet were inserted into a leather sandal that looked brandished and constantly abused by the unfavourable weathers of the North. Possessing the title of the most wanted man in the country, the fearless loner Shekau, is said to be in his mid 40's. A part theologian and part gangster and although his predecessor Mohamme
La Requiem Chapter 38: the shock wave II
A few hours ago...Lade... If you looked around through your normal eye, everything appeared to be quiet and still. The rising wind as well as the raised dust from the ground and the serene atmosphere, it was all normal but then only a razor sharp vision could see beyond the fictitious sights. I whipped my hands up in quick signs, directing them straight at Bashir and he too replied in the same patterns as an encoded conversation ensued. Standing a few feet away at approximately 145° degrees from standpoint was one of the soldiers of the Jama'atu placed as a watch guard towards the East. It wasn't only the soldier in our peripheral vision we had detected, all around the vicinity, hidden in the midst of the trees were blood sucking soldiers with large rifles waiting in ambush. The bunkers too were hidden at the base of tall trees in particular, and the rest of the camp was a little farther inside to determine. We had found them and finally the war had begun and so, our onl
La Requiem Chapter 39: the billow
Lade... On instinct, I tugged my eyes open, welcoming the view of the darkening clouds and the pitiable sight of the lady with her kid. I still felt choked up as I had been cornered into a difficult situation that I now had no idea how to come out from.I glanced once more to the far end of the line, searching for Bashir but then it seemed that silently, he had crept away in the shadows to begin his own part of the plan.It offered a small feel of relief that at least Bashir had begun combing the area for any signs of the hostages and honestly, I prayed that they were even still inside the camp because if not, then all our sacrifices would definitely be in vain."Let me tell you a secret boy," Shekau's voice seeped in through the gaps in the wall of my thoughts I had been engrossed in, hauling my sight back to where he now sat on the stone bench. "A young man once quoted, 'I love it when people dig their own graves as it saves me so much time'," he began in a reverential tone, suckin
La Requiem Chapter 40: the billow II
A starter pistol with a subsequent bang almost like I was at the front line of a race field as my whole body reacted to the dangerous and exciting scenery around. The feeling of "fight or flight" and a signalled flash with a simulating smoke that had originated from the shot began the timing clock. I took to my heels as well, racing against nothing exactly but everything at all with no certainty of the finish line. The ground I walked upon was grass-covered and solid, looking visibly suffered by the dry and arid air that enveloped us, leaving a chilly effect on the surface of our skins too. The atmosphere was strikingly cool, a contrast to the initial billow of torrid temperatures of air. It was time for a season change—the Sahara wind had started its course—humidity had gone extinct and the dusty climate, rapidly beginning to take over. It was not necessarily a sixth sense but I could tell and feel the weight of hard stares searing through my back. I had been convinced initia
La Requiem Chapter 41: the breaker
Everything was in an uproar, producing loud noises and resulting in flash movements, similar to a state of absolute madness and havoc. The intense powerful vibrations and echoes from the earth, depicting the unmistakable elements of commotion. How does one particularly define chaos? Maybe as a mega potent trigger of an overactive mind, undergoing battles with an inner active self but what happens when that war is inside out? It's almost like chasing a dream that is not yours to actualize and definitely, seeking an inner peace becomes futile as the internal and external responses you require are automatically the chaotic circumstances that determine your thoughts and feelings. I felt cramped up amidst all the turmoil, appearing to be like I couldn't breathe as the rushed actions made the world around seem as though it was rotating inwardly but like a silent spark or trigger, my feet set in motion instantly. "We are under attack, seize the area!" A deep voice bellowed out the
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La Requiem Chapter 58: the Ice storm III
LADE: The Jama'tu soldiers left us alone upon Shugaba's command. The pain in my chest grew as if something was being drilled into my skin. My lungs weren't strong. I felt weaker than before. It was only a matter of time. "Agent Lade Adenuga of the ICS, we meet again," Shugaba said, wearing a striking snarl. He sent his gaze to my wounded arm and flitted it back to my face. Raising the arm some minutes ago had been tasking but I had no other choice. My weapons were on the ground. His soldiers had dislodged the bullets from inside them. "I have waited for you." His brows tipped. "Really?" "You owe me, soldier. I hate loosing." I flashed a charming smile. Shugaba eyeballed me and wet his lips. His next action had caught me off guard. He had thrown his weapon to the ground and opened his arms. "I'm all yours. If you w
La Requiem Chapter 57: the Ice storm II
Hafiz had told a lie, dawn didn't have to reach. Lade burst into the tent I was in with Hafiz. The look on his face revealed that there was trouble at hand. The final moments was here. I noticed he had aged a lot since I had first seen him at the Jama'tu camp. Now, it was time to end it all. "Your sister has made her move. I've been on her tail. She has made contact with the Jama'tu." It took about two seconds. I watched the news dwell on Hafiz. He jumped to his feet, big eyed and ready like he had been preparing for this moment for a long time, but scared because it had come too soon. Lade moved around, grabbing bags and anything reasonable. "I didn't expect her to do it so soon, but we have to act, and fast." Hafiz joined Lade in grabbing things and I stood, watching the two men try to survive. I couldn't stop myself from worrying. What if it was a trap? Since everyone had been pret
La Requiem Chapter 56: the Ice storm
CRYSTAL... Protesters filled the streets, wailing. Some stood with angered faces. Everyone had something to say about the headlines of that morning, including Crystal. The news about the secret operation wasn't so secret anymore. The whole country knew about the eighteen dead men that risked their lives to save the kidnapped girls. The nineteenth was a traitor and only the twentieth had lived. Crystal didn't know what to think or believe. Lade had died in some faraway land and betrayed his country. Sitting at the back seat of the Maybach, she placed the cards together. She put everything Emeka had said from the start and the news of Lade's treachery in one basket. It didn't add up. Lade could kill in cold blood but he was loyal and she knew that. She didn't want to remember what Emeka said about her past pregnancy. What's to say he didn't lie? Emeka was Lade's bestfriend but he acted like an enemy who held a personal ve
La Requiem Chapter 55: the whitecap III
"The beginning?" Hafiz chuckled. I frowned at him. I couldn’t read his features, and at this point, I had no clue on where our conversation would end. Tipping a brow, I could only fold my arms. Hafiz backed me now. He took a slow turn around the tent and said, "I'm afraid you're the beginning itself." I dragged a sigh and stood to my feet after that. "If you insist on beating around the bush, I don't have time to waste." "I know who you really are, Jane." He attacked from nowhere. "I came here today to let the cat out of the bag. It's time to come clean." At once, my gaze hardened like steel. For a second there, my heart had jumped in fear. It stunned me to hear those words fall from his mouth. I couldn't have thought that anyone would find out. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but a minute ago you tagged your sister as our biggest threat, and not me."
La Requiem Chapter 54: the whitecap II
Hafiz toppled over, completely bound in chains of laughter. Apparently the conversation that came across as dead serious to me was weirdly amusing to him. The last indirect question he had brought to the table put me in a tight spot. I had said enough, there was nothing to free me from his vocal trap.
La Requiem Chapter 53: the whitecap
Morning had come but even so, I sat still, staring in silence at the wall. He didn't stay anymore and maybe this would be like all the previous times. Going scarce whenever a serious conversation happened, he had told me so much but I was even yet to spill any morsel of my own secrets—secrets that could change everything. He had also said soon, I just needed to wait a little more. Things were goin
La Requiem Chapter 52: the monsoon II
Crystal...
La Requiem Chapter 51: the monsoon
It was still dark, dawn was yet to arrive and the only difference was that this time, I wasn't alone in the tent. The weight of another presence tightened the air. I was calmer now, and the upset in my belly had quelled.
La Requiem Chapter 50: the roller IV
I probably shouldn't have been wandering outside the tent in the dead of night but maybe I had just needed to clear my head. The dilapidated bungalow that was used as an infirmary by the locals here controlled
