The once familiar building that showcased that groups wealth was now abandoned, only the part standing told of it's former glory while the rest turned to debris.
The damaged building displayed was exactly the house of the original owner's "friends" who had murdered him.
The original owner had 4 friends but during his investigations, when he hanged around their house, he had learnt that 1 of them is not was not involved in their schemes learning that he focused his mind on the remaining 3.
He had attacked 2 of them, one through sabotage, he had tipped his illegal meeting to the police the other died through carbon monoxide poisoning.
He had been planning for the third ones demise when his window shattered ever since then even though he was reluctant he had to abandoned the plan.
Because the presense of security personnel increased around the area.
Jidenna had concluded it would be foolishness to carry out such things when the area was swarming with police officers patrolling regularly, the government's eyes had shifted to his neighborhood.
And Jidenna knew he wasn't good enough to do something illegal openly under their noses and get away with it.
With all this facts before him, Jidenna decisively abandoned pursuing the third target that's why when the suspicious doctor arrived he was able to pack up and leave cleanly.
'But all this time I didn't known that the target I was pursuing was…' he looked at the image one more time, collapsing into the seat beneath him.
The sombre music playing at the background did little to help Jidenna's mood.
Jidenna's eyes furrowed in thought, trying to understand why he reacted so much beside him, the driver entered into the van, turned it on and moved it forward after buying the fuel he moved he revised from the filling station, speeding off.
Perhaps to lighten up the mood the driver said, "didn't we come from one of those places affected by the blast," he looked at Jidenna distracted figure up and down "young man you're really lucky"
But the dazed Jidenna only gave a hum in response to the man's words.
Seeing that his words did not work the driver focused on driving humming a tune to himself to relieve himself from the awkwardness.
While Jidenna on the other hand tried to break down the jumble of emotions he felt.
____
Before he had paid for the trip Jidenna informed the company that he would be joining them.
Rather than spending additional money for transportation, wouldn't it be better if he could join them and save it?
Jidenna sighed remembering the pitiful balance in his account.
The journey ahead would be a long one, 'if only I could snap my fingers and appear there' his stomach churned in dread as Jidenna thought of the long hours he'll have to spend in the confines of this van.
The last time he had gone to the village by the time he had come down he had to massage his numb butt and his feet had swollen up but thankfully the next day it went.
He was told it's the "traveler's neighbors" unless you graduated from newbie to veteran it would be a regular companion.
Jidenna was too afraid to ask what the requirements for graduation were but he had an idea.
'Leaving by this time I'll get to the village in about' he checked the time on his phone '10 hours, that is, if we travel through the night'
He leaned back his head resting on the head rest, outside the window was a blur of greens as the van moved past trees speeding to their final destination, his village.
Jidenna allowed his body to sink into the chair, shifted to find the perfect resting spot.
From his pocket he brought out his airpods, stuffed them into his ears, closing his eyes. Jidenna slightly bobbed his head to the rhythm.
Because he knew, it would be a very long journey, 'better make it as interesting as I can'
Birds chirped cheerfully from the towering green trees by the roadside, the sun's first rays greeted the earth driving away the darkness but not the chill.
In the quiet village of Umuagwu, a van rode in disrupting its peace.
Curious wide eyes peeled from the windows of houses the van passed, trying to find out who's driving but after the van passed their interest faded as quickly as it came.
Inside the van Jidenna rubbed his arms trying to ward off the cold, he tugged his sleeve further up his arm and just like the curious children did earlier he looked out the window.
The last time he came to the village, he came like a thief in the night, arriving when the majority were off to la la land.
In the daylight, Jidenna could see houses littered around made of cement while a minority were made of bricks but a lot of houses had their own water supply system, tall platforms supporting water tanks unlike his former apartment where the water was supplied by the government.
A flash of blue in the distance caught his eyes, squinting, off to the side was an object hung on the door. It was a circular object with something that looked like 'rippling waves?' in the middle.
Jidenna wanted to take another look when a group of villagers passing by attracted his attention. Jidenna forgot to check the weird sight not knowing immediately he looked away and the object gave another mysterious glow before fading.
The passing villagers were wearing simple but practical clothes, nothing flashy with farm tools slung over their shoulders heading out.
They took curious glances at the van but still continued on their journey.
Jidenna assumed they were going to the farm.
Worried calls of parents over their naughty children who sluggishly prepared for the day while grumbling about the holiday gave Jidenna a feeling he couldn't quite describe.
The van continued moving. It wasn't as fast as Jidenna would have liked but very soon Jidenna saw a familiar compound.
Unlike the rowdiness around it seemed isolated from all the activities around it, 'like a different world on its own' Jidenna laughed o
ff the absurd thought.
He must have glanced at too many webnovel books during the journey.