Chereads / SCOURGED / Chapter 5 - A Friend Turned Enemy

Chapter 5 - A Friend Turned Enemy

Clement wasn't joking when he said he was going to strike his friend. He had successfully secured his thugs and some of the personnel in his office, his next plan was to go after one of Dickson's children and the target was Diane since her environment was a kind of loose.

Calling Jeffery and Kachi he told them to meet him later in the day at his office. Going out of his workplace is not going to favour him, he knows what Dickson is capable of.

Dickson on his side wasn't making any effort to battle with his friend especially as Peter never brought him any serious information concerning his movement. He then stopped going through the messages sent to him due to his tight schedule.

In Clement's office, the three met at about 2 pm, Kachi disguising himself as an electrician made penetration easy and less suspicious but Peter was quick-witted and noticed the different shapes Kachi had been using to enter Clement's office. The surprising thing is that every 5 minutes Jeffery enters and both remain there for like an hour. This was surely their way of meeting and he started calling his boss instantly but Dickson wasn't in the office, he went to an official meeting and he couldn't even respond to calls. Seeing how urgent the situation was he gave him several messages but wouldn't respond he then waited outside the office, monitoring their next move.

Seems like Clement and his crew had this planned out. He sent his family abroad just yesterday which he purposely refused to tell his friend. The plan had been made and Kachi left in a hurry to gather his gang for the mission. He never knew Peter was behind him, noticing every step although he wasn't sure of the structural plan. Just then Kachi and his packs rushed out, jumping into the vehicle and they zoomed off. Peter was meticulous, he followed from behind and tried not to be seen but the place seemed far and he knew he would soon be caught. Nevertheless, he followed maintaining a quiet distance appearing and reappearing on the rear mirror made it obvious he was following them.

Kachi and his gang were aware but they ignored. He then called some of his men from his station to pin him down.

Finally, they stopped in front of a shop and waited for Diane to come out. Sighting her they rushed to the gate with speed, Kachi jumped out of the car and carried her on his shoulder in no time, The driver saw this and ran out of his car jumping and shouting but it was too late, the guys were fast and won't waste time crushing anyone who tries to stop them.

Peter was behind, he was the only one who could stop the abduction but Kachi's boys pinned him down where he was watching them from and was taken as well after a series of fights.

Dickson leaving the meeting decided to go through the messages Peter sent to him. After reading them he zoomed off to his office and straight to Clement's immediately.

' Clement what are you up to', he questioned angrily.

' Telling you my plans won't make the game fun', he said crossing his legs and smiling maliciously.

'If you cross your limit, I won't mind crossing mine too', Dickson warned giving him a dangerous look.

Just then his phone rang, it was Diane's driver. He looked fiercely at his friend who kept rolling on his chair smiling.

' I said you can't leave me on the hook'

' What have you done?, he demanded hitting his desk.

' In no time you will know', he replied laughing, flicking his finger at his face.

**************************************************************************************************

The place was dark, my head was covered with some sort of dirty sticky rag, and I couldn't shout even though my mouth was sealed. I was striving to breathe, I wondered what was going on, just then I heard footsteps approaching and the door clicked. I started drifting away As if I knew the intent of the abductor.

The sack on my head went off suddenly and just then I saw how bad the situation I was in was. A tall dark man stood in front of me, fuming like I took something valuable from him, he bent over and spoke with his husky voice.

' Hello Diane', he said smiling.

What? This isn't normal, something must be wrong somewhere. I sat staring intensely.

'What do you want from me', I muttered.

He removed the sellotape from my mouth harshly, I was breathing fast and I couldn't feel my legs and hands. Looking down, that was when I realized that I was tied.

Shaking rigorously, ' What do you want from me?'

'Something valuable than your life'

'What?, Are you going to kill me', I asked bewildered.

'If the situation demands', he returned rubbing a knife on my hand.

' You dare not touch her!'

That was Peter's voice, everywhere was so dark that I couldn't see him.

'Shut the fuck up!', he shouted, shattering whatsoever

' You should be scared for abducting Dickson's daughter', Peter continued.

'Please don't hurt us, my father can give you any amount you want', I pleaded with a shaking voice.

' No one wants your father's dirty money', he turned angrily.

' You all should patiently wait and see, you will soon be on your knees begging with tears', Peter retorted refusing to be silent.

' And I said shout your smelly mouth.....'

All of a sudden the light went on, and he kept quiet bowing to who seemed like the boss.

'What's going on here?'

He even sounded more dangerous

'Boss..', bowing again

' This bastard', pointing at Peter, 'is threatening us, saying Clement will soon show up and smote us'.

The boss laughed rigorously.

'You shouldn't be thinking of that small man...', facing him. ' ....think of saving your ace. I heard you serve lighter'.

Waiting for an affirmation but Peter refused to speak staring hard at him. He then slapped his cheeks tenderly and waved to his boys to follow him.

They off the light and left us in the darkness.

'Diane', that was Peter

'Yes?', it seemed like I was in some sort of movie or watching a Hollywood action film.

'Don't be scared.... your dad will soon be here'.

Him consoling me wasn't the antidote, I needed to know what led to this, where my dad know these guys from, and from the looks of things it seems Peter was into some shitty business too.

' What business does my dad have with these guys ', I asked trying to trace him in the dark room.

' It's very complicated'

' Is it?', I asked again.

' The most important thing now is how to get you out of here safely'

All those safety shit seems like no business to me, however, the few moments spent with these guys was enough proof of how dangerous they were and their sort of work. I waved the thought and decided to know what transpired the kidnap.

' Who is Lighter?'

' Lighter?...', Peter asked forging ignorance.

' Tell me the truth, Peter'

' Check, is your phone on you?'

That was a swift one and helpful too. Staying here for a day will ruin my life.

' My hands are tired, I don't think it's here I kept it in my hand bag'

' Ohh...', he said moving his body

'Mine is here', he announced excitedly.

' Thank goodness', I said feeling relieved.

'It seems it's off or on silent. Your dad should have called if it wasn't off by now'.

' Really...?'

'Yeah... The news must have gotten to him'.

'Definitely....what are we going to do now'...

I was still talking when the guys came in, carrying food and water. There was a fat man who looked like the chef, he bore some dishes with his dirty apron walking like he was forced to bring the dishes and the others were the thugs.

He brought the food to me while the boys served Peter. It was a surprising sight, I knew within myself that I wouldn't eat their poisons.

'Eat', demanded the depressed chef.

'Thank you, I'm okay', I answered turning my gaze from him.

'Fine', he returned with a husky but sad voice. dropping the food he made to leave.

'What are you doing', one of the boys questions fiercely walking towards him.

He needed not to be told and he quickly turned back to me, I was already thinking of what he was about to do but got cut short of the thought.

'Eat now', he commanded with a louder voice now, holding the food to me.

' I'm not hungry', I replied shaking.

'Hmm....do you want me to feed you?', he obliged drawing closer.

'You dare not touch her', Peter intersected from where he was.

' Keep it down', one of the boys retorted slapping him across the face.

This went on and as I was bent on not eating the pack found it annoying. The noise got and their boss stormed the room with his guards following him.

'What is the matter', he shouted looking at the boys tensely. ' Don't you know what is going on here and where we are?, Or do you want us to get exposed?'

' No boss, we are sorry boss' they replied begging on their knees

Turning from them he glared in my direction. The chef was already shaking and I wasn't left out.

' Drop that food and get out of here....pig!'.

The chef briskly dropped the dishes and ran out of the room in total fear.

' Oh...you don't want to eat abii?', he asked with a manic smile.

' I'm not just hungry'

'Fine', he replied backing off like he was surrendering.

'Let boys', he ordered, looking at me with a smile.

That scary smile of his keep gave me chills.

' You should be careful Diane', Peter spoke from his corner.

' Yes! That's why I don't want to touch this food'.

' They won't poison you...you are part of their exclusive plan', Peter returned like he was aware of their plan.

But that will not change my mind. I just want to go home.

**************************************************************************************************

Dickson felt cheated and angry. He has been moving around without making any plans for this fight, and now Clement is far ahead of him with plans that he is fully aware are void of his traps and tricks.

He took his phone and called Lighter, summoning him to his house to make sure his family wasn't aware of the incident. He called in the driver and warned him seriously to keep his mouth shut both to the outsiders and his family.

'Was anyone there when she was taken'.

' Yes sir....people were at the gate and road already', he replied kneeling before him. 'Please don't kill me, sir... I will keep this as a secret', he begged for his life in tears.

Dickson wasn't bothered by him, he was calculating something else. Just then someone knocked on the door and the driver opened the door. It was Lighter, the driver was scared already, looking pitifully at his boss.

'Go to your post, I won't hurt you', Dickson assured him.

'Thank you sir', he shouted, rushing out of the house.

' Good day sir', Lighter greeted bowing.

' What the hell is going on Lighter?', Dickson yelled angrily.

'Boss?', looking confused.

'Oh..you haven't heard', he said pacing to and fro.

'I gave you a very simple job and you jinxed it!'

'I'm very sorry sir, but I still don't understand'.

Dickson was so angry that he felt like breaking all the glasses around him, he was too big to be taunted by his ordinary friend after boasting to him. Lighter wasn't expecting any answer from him at this rate. He picked up his phone and started dialling Peter's number but was switched off.

Disturbed too, he wondered who to reach, he called two of his boys but the answer was the same, they hadn't heard from him.

'Sir?', he pleaded, seeking answers.

'Diane has been kidnapped', Dickson let out helplessly.

'What!'

Lighter fumed, calling his boys to track Peter because he assigned him to the function and he strongly believed he wasn't the type who relent on duty. Not long the boy called him reporting the result to him before sending the image of the location they found.

'Boss...we know where they are'.

Lighter knows all the nooks and corners which they operate within and outside the town. He called his boys and arranged quickly for breach.

On the other hand, Clement called Kachi to order for change of location, he doesn't trust his friend. By now he would be making arrangements to pursue them, by changing location he won't easily track them. He ordered them to check the kidnapped for a trace of phones or trackers But it was too late, Lighter discovered their hideout and was on a move with his boys even Dickson couldn't stay still. He got into his car and followed behind.

Kachi and his boys started arranging their things to change location as ordered by their boss. They barely finished when Lighter and his boys stormed the place carrying heavy weapons. Kachi knew he was done for but didn't allow the fear to engulf him.

'Grab the captives now', he yelled taking a few of his boys with him as he positioned them at different angles.

He was grateful since the door was an iron gate, it would give them few minutes to pack the drafted plan so as not to leave any trace. If Lighter should know he is the one heading this gang he will become a dead body in no time.

Lighter was fully aware of what they needed, he positioned two handmade bombs on the two sides of the gate and drifted away with his boys while Kachi guys waited at the door hoping to hear gunshots before they released fire too.

'Get your masks and move away', he shouted.

In no time the door was down and some of Kachi's boys couldn't get themselves from under the door. Lighter's gang came in briskly releasing fire and trampling on those under the door shooting them through open spaces.

It was war, and Kachi guys took to their heels as they were outnumbered Kachi quickly reformed his army and waited silently in the dark for his predators. Lighter was aware of the dead silence, he motioned to his boys and they covered their faces with their masks before throwing the tear gas into different directions of the building.

The place was filled with peppery smoke and the opponent couldn't hold it for long, they dropped coughing. Kachi took the captives and fa ew of his strong guys, Tying their noses, they shot at them, backing off before escaping through the back door. Lighter and his boys followed them shooting and hiding from their bullets.

Kachi was lucky he got out through the back door with his two surviving soldiers, he threw Peter on the floor shooting him in the leg, before taking off.

Lighter's men followed without relenting, two of them took Peter and rushed him to safety while the rest followed Kachi. He is not giving up, his identity been revealed is more terrific than he can imagine.

Dickson waited patiently for his daughter in a distance from the scene but seeing Kachi taking Diane into his car, he got high and started his engine. Lighter's boy, Wolf, his good driver got into the seat and started after him and the rest took different directions in the hope of trapping him in a circle.

It was fierce, Kachi drove like never before, increasing the speed limit at different points. Wolf was focused on following aggressively from behind, The first group blocked him at the junction, taking the left by the second route, and he was halted by Lighter. He knew it was the end, he hit his head, thinking fast to profane a profitable solution. He tore the under of his shirt and masked his face, Taking his pocket knife he got hold of me pushing the door aggressively.

'If you don't want her hurt, then leave now!', he shouted turning at all the angles where Lighter and his men were standing with their guns.

'You think you can do that?', Lighter questioned drawing closer with a scary look.

I was saying my last prayer already, seeing how hopeless the situation was.

'You think I can't slit her throat to save my ass?'

'You can't do that I say', Lighter yelled still moving.

At this point, he had no choice but to move, he opened the knife with his hand shaking he reached for my throat. I was crying already,I can't just believe this is where it ends for me. The situation was intense and everybody was on the edge waiting for command, they glare from eye to eye holding their guns tightly...

'Stop!... Lighter stop please', that was my dad.

'Dad...', I called out whimpering.

He cut me short, holding me tighter

'Yes baby, I'm here and I will get you out of here'.

The situation was still grievous, he kept turning from one edge to another holding me tight with his knife on my throat.

'Fine!', Lighter shouted, dropping his gun gently, his boys followed him as they all dropped their guns with their hands in the air.

'Please don't hurt her', my dad pleaded with his hand in the air.

It was the first time of me seeing my dad in that state, I keep seeing my family's other side for the first time....funny.

'Okay....I'm not going to hurt her..... and you won't hurt me', he said lowering the knife.

'Don't move I say, stay put', he added.

Still turning, he tossed me to the ground holding out his knife and moving towards the bush. After detecting the calmness he took to his heels and straight into the thick bush.

My dad ran to where I was crying on the floor and took me in his arms. Few of Lighter's boys went after him but he called them back.