Pennsylvania, 2022Not once during the five days following the explanation behind Uju and Abby's death had an image of their dead bodies buried underneath the ground come into Maria's mind. She had thought about it bitterly until she could no longer cry or think again. She had thrust the whole scene back and forth, and there it still lay, monstrous, horrible and terrifying as it had been before. She was not much of a believer but she believed in the power of words and truth. And to think that her ancestral father, James Blackwheel who she had never met was involved in their deaths made her feel awful and sad. She was not so much in a bad stupor or in a wayward lane with brown leaves falling quickly with no end. She was in a bizarre situation where she saw Uju and Abby begging for their lives and being punished for doing so.Having been briefed by Detective Doe about the incident that had kept her in the dark, she made a quick call to Clark with the hope that he would answe
Pennsylvania, 2022Maria sat very still, listening and not listening. She was looking at the face of the man who had come in place of James Blackwheel, to ask for her forgiveness and understanding. If someone had asked her to repeat the words of the preacher, she would not have been able to do so without making a single mistake because she didn't understand what he meant when he told her to forgive and forget. She didn't understand the ease he felt as he let those words slide out from his tongue as if it would take away all the atrocities that James Blackwheel had committed in his life. But she felt and sensed the genuineness in the preacher's voice and she saw meaning as she tried to reason in the same plain he was reasoning. As the preacher talked more about forgiveness and its positive impact in the modern society, a vast dark silent void lifted away from her eyes and she could see familiar images which grew large and powerful; familiar images of Blackwheel planting hi
Kano, 2022There was no light. There was no sound. There was no imaginary figure running around his mind and playing games with him. The road that was up above him was clear and black. Fear, Ifenna now realized, was an intense rush of displeasure that motivated a man to run for the security of his own life. Short of breath, he fumbled through the blackness towards the road, almost staggering, almost allowing the image of seeing Kelvin raising a gun and shooting at him revolve around his head. He found a soft spot and made an attempt to rest when he realized that he had to make sure that Jane was safe. But how could he reach her when he couldn't remember where he had last seen his phone? Just then, as he was thinking about the location of his phone, an alarm he had set up in his phone about a week ago to make sure he attended all the morning exercises class rang. He reached out towards his left pockets and brought his phone out. He smiled as he felt grateful that some unfo
Chibuzor Victor Obih was born in the southern part of Nigeria. Delta State to be precise. His writing includes essays, poetry and short stories. He likes to play soccer, read, study and above all, write. He is currently a fourth year student of a renowned public university in Nigeria. The University of Port-Harcourt is where he is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. The Last Full Moon is his third book and his third attempt to explore the beautiful world of a novelist.
There is no greater way to write a book than to write it in the manner it wants to be written. You may feel the need to cultivate a story with a good ending and still end up messing around with the plot as the story unfolds. It was not until I realized that there was a way to tell a story without actually paying reference to the cause that I first thought seriously of writing this story. Three items of my experience combined to make me become aware of the presence of a life form that moves freely in the dark without being noticed. Before I begin this story, I must pay some respect to three wonderful women in my life that has shaped the existence of this story. I honor Leah Fisher for her undying contribution and unmatched love. I honor Rooman Tariq for her constant reminders and unending praise. Finally, I honor Lyv Aiken for her professionalism and years of creative experience. Without their help, this story would have been nothi
Göteborg, 1781As the bell rang to signify the end of the meeting, Blackwheel held his wrist tightly as a sign of respect for the newly elected leader of the brotherhood. Close to him was his wife and children who had managed to accept his kind invitation despite having a family dinner with his wife's parents.When he reached the exit of the building, he turned to take another look at the piece of architecture that had relentlessly endured foreign threats for the past three decades. This ageless sanctuary in Göteborg had been a home for people of his kind, people who came alive when the full moon was at its peak.Blackwheel lowered his gaze as he saw a slender man approaching him. He wore a leather coat and had an almost comical curling mustache. His appearance was not something he would fancy on a regular day."My name is Oskar," the man said in a rough Swedish accent, "and I am here to advice you on certain issues concerning your recent visit to the c
Igboland, 1781The first feeling of discernment may not be easy to deal with. Living alone in the outskirt of a large village where everyone interacted with each other but avoided a particular person based on some rules is even harder to deal with. The loud cry of condemnation can terrify a human soul to the point of suicide.The village in the east was not far from the village in the west but they did not live in harmony because of an ancient history that told tales of wars with bitter endings. Apart from the village that lived in the north, the village in the east was not at peace with any other village. True, they had large farms with fertile loamy soils that could turn a yam tendril into a full-blown adult at one thrust. Still, they didn't have the capacity to maintain order in their village.The time for wars had come and gone. Men were only interested in drinking to stupor. Women were only interested in distinguishing between old clothes and new ones. C
London, 1786"My husband did not commit suicide," Mrs. Blackwheel said, tapping her foot on the wooden floor. "He was murdered by an unknown man."The Judge wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as he told a man dressed in white to present his facts."On July, 1781, Mr. Blackwheel's dead body was found on top of a bridge with a knife in his hand. According to onlookers, they had seen a man leave the scene with a necklace he had taken from Mr. Blackwheel’s neck. There was no evidence of struggle between Mr. Blackwheel and the man who Mrs. Blackwheel claimed to be the murderer of her husband.""Is that all?" The judge asked.There was a short silence. The man dressed in white inspected the piece of paper he was holding."Anything else, Mr. Strange?""Nothing of interest, sir.""If you are withholding information that may lead to a better understanding of the case we are dealing with here, I advise you make a reasonable decision