Arrested By Love

Episode 12

THE NEXT DAY
Seven men were chosen and sent to the
chief priest. The news circled around the
land of Obioha and people like Odem
never stopped talking and lamenting on
how dangerous the mission is. He had a
bottle under his armpit staggering out
of Mama wine’s shop. “When the day will
come, i will run away because the
mission our king has embarked on with
our seven youths is a dangerous one.

That day will be like where a rock jam
another rock, and when that happens,
of course it will spark and create fire. By
then i must have relocated to another
land without leaving my palm wine
behind.” Odem kept lamenting to
nobody.

Tension took over the land because
nobody knew what would be the result
of the seven men and Red when they
finally clash together.

Daria remained quiet in front of their
compound also thinking about the same
think. She wore a black skirt and a pale
blue top. At a distance were bleating
goats but Daria paid no attention to
them as she sat on the corridor. She
could see her dream becoming a reality.
“They will finally kill Red” she began to
think. “I know my people will burn such
a person alive if they capture him. Why
am i even so concern about this?” she
concluded trying to forget about it but
couldn’t. Suddenly, her mother came out
seeing her lost in thought, so she stared
at her for a moment. “Daria!” she called.
“Yes, mother” Daria looked up at her.
“What are you busy thinking about at
this your age that you couldn’t even
notice my presence?”
“Nothing, mother”
“No, i disagree” the mother sat beside
her. “What troubles you?”
“My dreams trouble me” Daria replied as
an afterthought.
“Dreams? You seem to dream a lot these
days”
“No, mother. It’s about the nightmare i
had the other day” the mother listened
and stared at her to continue. “Mother,
Red was the nightmare. I saw him being
thrown into a fire”
“Is that all?” the mother asked. “It’s a
good dream not a nightmare” she
added.

“Mother, i cried for them not to kill him”
Daria added looking at her mother in the
eyes.

“Chim oh!” the mother exclaimed. “You
cried. Why? Somebody like Red should
be thrown into something more than a
fire”

“No, Mother, i felt he was an innocent
man in that dream and that feelings is
still tormenting me till now” Daria began
to shed tears to her mother’s surprise.
She continued, “Initially, i dreamt when
he was shedding tears..”
“Daria!” the mother interrupted her.
“What are you trying to say? And why
are you crying?”
“I don’t know, mother” Daria began to
dry her tears instantly. As the mother
stared at her in amazement, she stood
up and walked into her room.
“What is wrong with this girl?” Mrs
Alfred asked spreading her hands in the
air.

**

On the other hand, Ebube had no idea of
what the people of Obioha had planned
for him. He stood in front of a mirror
staring at his image without his mask. In
few seconds, he wore the mask and a
helmet, carried his sword, took the
paper written LUCAS IKEDI and walked to
his bike. He jumped on it heroically.
“Croom Crooom” he sped off.

**

Night gradually began to take over. The
people of Obioha remained calm as they
waited for the arrival of the seven youth
which excluded, Henry and Roland.

These two waited patiently by a lonely
road smoking seriously.

“Guy, are you sure this girl will come out
today?” Henry asked.
“Yes, she passes here each day to see
her friend, Lana” Roland replied. Just
then, they sighted Daria coming and hid
themselves. Immediately she drew
closer, they bounced on her in a way she
fell on the floor screaming and flinging
her legs vigorously. At the same time,
Ebube was returning to his house.

Hearing his motorcycle, the two boys
carried Daria into the bush without
being aware that Ebube had sighted
them already from afar.

However, Roland kept running into the
heart of the bush with Daria on his
shoulder and Henry behind him. He
threw her on the ground in a way her
skirt raised up. One could her black pant
and Roland on top of her trying to find
his way into her v—-a. Even Henry was
getting ready for his turn. Just then,
Ebube arrived, grabbed Henry on the
neck and threw him away. He also
grabbed Roland up, gave him a slap and
threw him off. Nobody told them to run
as fast as their legs can carry them. Then
Ebube looked at Daria who was still on
the floor and said, “Are you okay?” Daria
nodded her head positively as she stood
up in a hurry then Ebube turned to leave.
“Thank you?” Daria said, so Ebube
stopped without turning back and
continue walking. “Who are you?” Daria
asked then he stopped again.
“Red” Ebube replied still turning his back
on her.

“I mean your real name” Daria said then
Ebube began to walk again. “I know
you’re a good person!” she added and
he stopped for the forth time.
“You know nothing about me. Go home”
Ebube concluded and briskly walked out.
Daria saw the paper written LUCAS IKEDI
on her way out from the bush then she
picked it up..