The night; when evil rampages.
Samuel Negble
The night was chilly as the cold breeze blew frantically across. The sound of the air buzzed and pitched high as the wind blazed through the trees. The birds had all gone to roost and the beast of the night were dampened in sleep.
The night had swallowed every trace of light and darkness was in succession. The aura of betrayal, hurt, pain, offense and surely greed lingered in the atmosphere. It was at this time that Cyril decided to do the unthinkable.
Veronica was fast asleep when she was taken from the hotel, the car had driven for about an hour into the night. They reached the outskirt of town and then Cyril signaled to Nonso's friend to stop.
They carried Veronica deep into the forest where no one could reach her easily. After about 30 minutes walk into the forest, Cyril decided upon a spot where his task was to be carried out. He told Nonso's friend to leave so he can perform the task alone; it was to be a solo work.
The friend turned around and left while Cyril carried on. He dug a rectangular hole of about 3 feet in depth, 6 feet in length and 4 feet in width; he surely wasn't skilled in burying, he would have known the size of a proper grave.
After his digging was done, he placed Veronica in the hole. She fit quite well for she was only about 5 feet in height. He brought out the tools he would need from his back pack - a sharp knife, a cutlass and a large polythene bag. He was ready for work.
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Nonso's other friends were done with their tasks, they had gone to see the Oracle already; for their next mission. Nonso decided to wait for Cyril, and they were to meet at the shack in Akwa Ibom on the seventh night, so they would go to Akpara Ekpe's shrine together. He was done with his task and had a whole day to spare. He got to Akwa Ibom on the 6th night, he found out that Cyril was the only one who was still not done with his task. They were to wait till the next day before going to see the Oracle.
Everything had happened so smoothly for each one of them, their secrets were as they were - secrets.
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Cyril started with his task, Akpara Ekpe had instructed him of the necessary things he needed. After undressing her, he pierced her belly with the knife and ripped it vertically down through her navel to her groin.
She felt the pain rush through her spine and reach into her brain, she let out a slight whimper. Her nervous system had decoded the message and sent it to her brain announcing to her that she was in pain but her body was numbed from the potion Cyril had dropped into her cup when he served her the wine.
She opened her eyes to see someone bent by her side, she tried to move but couldn't. With all her might she let out the word "please". Tears ran down her eyes but they were to do her no good. She was lying damp in the puddle of her own blood.
After ripping through her belly, he reached out into her abdomen and cut out one of her kidneys which he placed inside the polythene bag, he cut her nipples and then her womb.
By this time she had bled profusely but she was yet alive. There was one more item to harvest from her; her tongue. She laid down unable to move nor scream for help. She only muttered the word "please" but he wouldn't listen to her, instead, to save her the pain he slit her throat.
She bled even more, and tried even more to move but to no avail. After about 5 minutes she was dead, he opened her mouth and with a plier he held her tongue and sliced.
After he was done harvesting her, he placed her dress inside the hole he had dug as her grave and covered it. He called Nonso to ask if he was done with his.
"Hello Nonso where are you?"
"I am in Akwa Ibom, I've been waiting for you."
" don't worry I'll be there in the morning."
{One week later - the last day of the first task.}
It was 7:00 am on the seventh day, Cyril had boarded the bus to Akpara Ekpe's village. The trip wasn't as delightful as it had been the first time. He was always terrified anytime the bus met with the police or soldiers on any of their check points but fortunately for him, none of the military personnel searched his back pack.
He got to the shack at 5:30 pm. Nonso was happy to see him as they embraced each other. They both knew that the week had been a terrifying one but they had successfully completed their tasks.
At 11:40 they headed out for the shrine, when they got there the exterior was the same as it had been the first time; two sticks wrapped with a red linen cloth on either side standing about 20 feet apart with skulls on it and light protruding from the eye sockets. They met with the assistant once more but this time he didn't shout in his thundering voice but rather gestured for them to come closer.
As they got nearer to him, he spread the stringed beads and gestured for them to go inside.
As they entered they noticed the interior was a little different than the last time. There were six big pots on six different stoves, the stoves were made by arranging large stones in a triangular manner.
The pots were so large an average human could squeeze into it. Two of the pots were on fire and something like water was boiling inside it. Each of the pot had a name inscribed on it. The assistant started calling out praise for Akpara Ekpe and immediately he appeared out from the shadows.
The pots were not the only things that were different, Akpara Ekpe himself was looking different. His pale body was somewhat looking muscular, his chin and shoulders had suddenly fleshened, though his beard and mystical eyes remained unchanged.
He looked straight at them and said.
"You are on time with a few minutes to spare. Bring out your prices and place them inside the pot that has your name inscribed on it."
They moved towards the pot and each poured his harvested item into the pot that corresponded with their names.
Cyril poured his harvested parts; a kidney, two nipples, a tongue and a womb. Nonso poured his also, his was pubic 'hairs' and a white kerchief.
Akpara Ekpe gestured for them to sit in the skull drawing that had been there the first time they came.
Akpara Ekpe ladled out a potion from each pot into a small bowl and gave to them and said.
" drink up, and be filled. Destiny from one flowing to another.
The wheel turns the tide as the tide the wheel"
They both felt disgusted at the potion, they knew the ingredients of this mystical soup but they couldn't say no after what had happened to Abiola - so they drank.
He stared intently at them once more and said.
"You both have two more tasks each, you shall know when the time is right. Remember each task has a deadline, if you do not meet up with the deadline, your friend will remain as he is.
Now go and complete your tasks."
After Akpara Ekpe was done speaking they turned around and exited the shrine.