Dike and Tomori had made scant conversation since they boarded the train en route Warri: Chiefly because, exhaustion from their tension-soaked escape from Safe House 306, had gotten the better of Dike; who hit dreamland, the moment he settled into the comfy provisions of Seat 144. They were an hour-thirty minutes into a three-hour-long train ride to Warri...
Tomori anxiously peered into her phone, previously deactivated until Dike, her partner on this foolhardy adventure fell asleep. The use of mobile phones was strictly prohibited by the Offspring Resistance to the 'Fallen'; to foreclose the possibility of being tracked down, through Global Positioning System technology.
She had made many a purchase at the rail terminal grounds... A private security guard in need of some quick cash, agreed to trade in his mobile phone and sim card for twenty thousand nairas... A good deal it was. Tomori had become an accomplished paranormal wheeler-dealer, in her years of espionage for the Offspring Resistance to the Beguiler and his 'Fallen'.
'Finally...' Tomori heaved, as she made to open a message, which popped up on the cracked screen of her mobile phone. The message read thus; 'ARK OF YAHWEHSHUA-115B Swamp Road, Warri'. She had just received directions to Tayo's Healing and Deliverance Ministry.
Tayo a 'Bog of Hell' and Chief Priest of Excalibur's temple, was infamous for his devastating enchantments against the Offspring Resistance to the 'Fallen'. He had set up shop in Warri, masquerading as a servant of the CREATOR, with the gift of Healing and Deliverance.
Tomori was shocked that Tayo dared to christen his Ministry after the sacred name of the CREATOR; because his work was the antithesis of all the CREATOR stood for. Many in their quest for answers to life's puzzling challenges, had ignorantly sold their souls to Excalibur-and by implication, the Beguiler; through the agency of Tayo.
'Killing this evil impostor will be a huge service to the everlasting CREATOR', Tomori whispered.
'Wow! Guess who's keeping secrets?' Startled by Dike's sudden awakening and remark, Tomori slid her phone into her pocket.
'You are so badass, Tomori. You do not play by any rules. That's what I like...'
'Enough. No one must know about this', Tomori cut in, 'it's not about being badass or flouting rules; in fact, it's wrong to flout Safe House rules, they keep us alive you know... I had to reach out to a friend to help track down Tayo's abode. And no, I never had this phone on me at the Safe House, I purchased it at the train terminal. You must never use a phone!'
'Oh no please, Tomori. There's this one call I need to make; don't know how she's holding up with my disappearance. She just might end up taking her life, if I don't somehow find a way to reach her. Please Tomori.'
'Who's this girl?' Tomori felt a stab of jealousy, 'Is she beautiful?'
Dike sighed heavily, 'She is my mum.'
'No way, I thought you said you are an orphan; who's keeping secrets now? You were so convincing in your act, you even brought me to tears with your theatrics. Dike, you are unbelievable!' Tomori disappointedly said.
'I had to... To keep her safe, I had to keep her 'dead' to all of this. Now she might really end up dead if I don't reach her... I hope I am not too late. It's been four long months since we last spoke.'
Tomori handed Dike her mobile phone.
'Thanks, Tomori. I trust you'd keep my secret safe, as I would yours.' Dike implored. He dialed up his mother's number and amidst sobs, they caught up on lost times. He promised to return to her as soon as his internship concluded in two months.
'Internship, Dike? You truly are adept at lying... I doubt if I can trust you with anything.'
'Come on, Tomori, what would you have had me say? That I am the subject of a universal manhunt; battling demons and travelling with my prophetically betrothed... Yes betrothed at twenty and having not even completed my schooling. Come on, give me a break.'
Tomori stifled a smile, 'It's okay. I understand.'
Back at Safe House 306, Maji was in a fit of rage. Tomori had him fooled, from all appearances. She had risked the lives of residents of Safe House 306... For what? For love or some sick fantasy? Perhaps, he had thought too highly of her, after all, she only just turned twenty... Perhaps, the need for a romantic get-away with her prophetically betrothed, proved too great a temptation to resist.
'They must have been aboard that train headed for Warri' Maji thought. Where in Nigeria, Warri lay, was a question he needed an answer to.
'Bruno!' Maji called out to the Ex-Nigerian army infantryman.
'Sir! What may I help you with?' Bruno asked.
'Are you familiar with the city of Warri? We might be headed there shortly.' Maji blandly said.
'Warri? Yes, I do, I was deployed there for a peacekeeping operation for six months. Its people and geography are well known to me. Besides, I still have friends in the army, who might have friends in Battalion 135, an Artillery Military Barracks situated in Warri.'
'Brilliant! We set out at dawn.' Maji headed for his room.
The occupants of Seat 144 arrived at the Warri Railway Terminal at exactly five minutes past twelve in the wee hours of the morning. Tired but unyielding, the prophetically betrothed duo-Dike and Tomori, disembarked their Transport. Tomori was surprised to see the Terminal grounds alive and kicking.
'Warri is a city that never sleeps', Dike interrupted Tomori's thoughts. 'I had my secondary education in Warri; DSS was the best around in my time, hence I turned out this smart.' Dike said with a mischievous grin.
Tomori quickly hailed a tricycle and from her mobile, read out the location of the Ark of Yahwehshua Ministries. The tricycle operator appeared familiar with the location and so, they agreed on a charter fee and embarked on their potentially deadly journey.
'When we arrive at Tayo's Ark of Yah..., whatever he calls it. Do we storm the gates, create mayhem, grab Tayo, and get away in this tricycle? What's the plan?'
'Dike, silence, for crying out loud.' Tomori cautioned. 'We do not make a move until tomorrow.' She whispered. 'Tomorrow being Saturday, is scheduled for Tayo's Prophetic, Healing, and Deliverance sessions. We make our move tomorrow.' Tomori affirmed.
'Driver, can we get hotel accommodation within the vicinity of the worship centre?' Dike asked.
'Yes, Boss. There are several hotels around the "Ark"... The place is one big tourist destination. People seeking miracles gather weekly. I hope you are able to secure accommodation tonight, because hotels around the "Ark" are fully booked on Friday's, in view of Saturday's program...'
'Thanks for being candid. We'll handle ourselves.' Tomori curtly interrupted. The remainder of the journey was travelled in silence. Anxiety had near crippled Dike's appetite for any sort of conversation.
They arrived at the "Ark", Tayo's empire of deceit, without further drama. It was a sprawling edifice, with several modern pieces of architecture dotting the expansive premises.
'I was going to say that the "Ark" has lodging and accommodation for guests, but it'd be fully booked by now...' The meddlesome driver was at it again.
'Thanks. You can keep the change.' Tomori hurriedly alighted the tricycle.
'Madam, please have my mobile number, so if you need me to run errands or do a quick pick-up or drop-off; you could call. I want your stay in Warri to be a memorable one, "Oyibo".'
'What did you just call me?' Tomori disgustfully asked.
Dike stepped in, '"Oyibo" means a white-skinned person in Nigerian vernacular; no insult was intended; surely, this is not the first time people have remarked about you in this manner.' The driver drove off, sensing Tomori's fast building angst towards him.
'I like the view that hotel offers', Tomori pointed in the direction of Parkview Resorts and Lodging, adjacent to the Ark of Yahwehshua Ministries. They scurried into the hotel premises. However, upon making inquiries at the hotel reception, they were informed that the facility was fully booked. Such was Tomori's desperation to have her lodging in the Parkview Resorts, that she appealed to be allowed to pass the night in the lobby. Her request was resolutely turned down.
Embarrassed, they hobbled outside. Dike braced himself and approached the security guards... Tomori wondered what Dike was saying to them; they needed to find accommodation for the night, not engage in needless banter.
Shortly, Dike excitedly walked up to her, 'Can I get three thousand nairas? I just arranged a short-let of the security tower.' He said, pointing to the twelve-foot high tower.
'The tower room has got a washroom; save for perhaps dirty beddings, our night should be fairly comfortable.'
Tomori was impressed with Dike's resourcefulness, she high-fived him and gave him the sum he requested to seal the deal.
'Dike, you pulled this one off... I couldn't have imagined a better reconnaissance of Tayo's fortress, than what the view from this tower room offers.' Tomori said, as she reached for her binoculars and headed for the single window in the tower room, which overlooked the eastern section of Tayo's fortress-the Ark of Yahwehshua as it was named.
Tomori reconnoitred the expansive premises from her vantage position. She spotted a military outpost within the premises, she reckoned there were no less than ten armed soldiers on the grounds of the 'Ark'. They would pose no problems to her mission... It was Tayo's paranormal bodyguards she worried about.
'In what aggregation were her Offspring relatives dispersed within this expansive facility?' Tomori wondered. She only needed a brief moment alone with Tayo... A five-minute moment was enough to pry open his mind and dredge up his darkest secrets.
The 'Bogs of Hell' had not the ability to wall off mind-reading incursions; but should they have a whiff of danger, they could conjure body-crippling and mind-altering enchantments in an instant. They could drain an Offspring of his life force and leave him stone dead.
'There should be no less than fifty well-developed "Bogs of Hell" in this facility; they are a communal lot, they stick together.' Tomori motioned Dike, towards her view.
'For added security, a few other Offspring species may be strategically dispersed around the "Ark". Dike, I'll need your mind impenetrable when it's showtime. I'll need you super-focused; ready to deploy your peerless gifting at the slightest hunch of danger.'
'How do we approach the building; an all-out frontal assault? I am in the dark on the abduction plans.' Dike vented his frustration.
'There needn't be an abduction if all goes to plan. Trust me, Dike, I've got this covered. The less you know, the better the plan... Upon my instruction through telepathy, create chaos or quietly exit the building.
'Once I have what I need unhindered, I'd communicate our rendezvous to you. Should there be any resistance to your exit, deploy... come on, I needn't tell you what to do; you are a big boy. Do not worry about me, I'd take care of me, I'm a big girl.' Tomori chuckled.
Dike had a sick feeling about this mission. He felt Tomori was not totally being honest with him about their mission to the 'Ark'... He felt left in the dark.
'If she could do this by herself, why bring me along? Why bring me to Warri and leave me a bystander to events?' Dike pondered.
He wasn't going to stand idly by and watch Tomori come to harm. He was done taking orders, after all, he possessed never-before-seen Offspring hybrid abilities...
'I am peerless...' Dike thought to himself, as he exchanged furtive glances with Tomori. He would rely on his instincts to keep them both safe... Still, he couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched...