NIGHTMARE
PROLOGUE
It looks like the ground tears apart as he runs. Both small and big trees shriek, and their leaves rustled as if in pain. All the creatures have transitioned to death and everywhere is quiet except for a harsh distant bell. Its unrhythmical sound takes whatever bravery a mighty man may possessed. Though, the ringer is invisible, the bell rings ceaselessly, and now the sound becomes so clearer to the ears of the tireless racing man who because of the harsh bell sound gradually becomes tired and scared.
The moon peeped through the cloudy sky and the stars refused to shine brightly. Apart from the continuous sound of the bell, the cloudy sky infrequently splits in two and causes thunder to rear at the forest, and lightening to glimpse at it.
Suddenly, the running man gave out a loud cry when he could no longer run. The ground shakes in terror at his cry until he fell off his large couch in his spacious living room and opened his eyes in bewilderment. Tiredly, he used his left back palm to clean off the sweat which filled his forehead like drops of water. He fumbled for the wrist watch which lays flat on a small aged table beside the couch. "3:45am" he sighed.
~ ~ ~ PART ONE ~ ~ ~
"Two good years in pain?" Ini asked in bewilderment. Her sleek black hair matched her glossy shirt which pinned to her torso and gracefully shows her tintless camisole. Habitually, her red tie hangs loosely round her neckband. She absentmindedly adjusted her t-skirt in her seat. Her eyeballs dance around curiously and she absorbs every word of her client. The client, Mrs Mella Charles, has an oval face, and when she smiles or talk her brownish teeth come into view. She has a white skin which makes her look like an half caste. She has close set eyes unlike Ini, her lawyer, whose protruding eyes will always dance around. Even if Ini has been in the office for about a year and half now, her eyeballs still play around as if looking for a prey. She is five feet tall with brown skin. The diastema between her lower incisors, the narrow dimples by her cheeks, her white set of teeth, her sleek black hair, her protruding eyeballs, and her bottom hourglass figure made her so unique, and so "Orekelewa" was added to her name by her peers in the university. Since then, she always add the by-name to her names. Hence, "OREKELEWA" was boldly inscribed on her frame which is hung on the wall of her office. Her husband had surprised her with her artistic figure on her twenty third birthday.
"Two years?" She asked again in bewilderment, rapidly tapping her knuckles on the transparent glass in front of them. Mrs Charles nodded. "No... no, co.....mon", you have kept to yourself too much. He could have killed you! And I....I think he has done much to hurt your emotion". Mella could not respond. Hot tears filled her eyeballs, and her face has become swollen from tears. A short painful sound escaped her throat, and she shook her head in regret. "Now, that's definitely not the solution Mrs Charles. I will... " "Call me Mella, please " Mrs Charles interrupted slowly "That makes me freer with you. I mean... after all... I am getting a divorce soon". Ini's eyes dropped on the glass table in front of them. Since she started working, no client ever told her to neglect the title attached to his name. She would have objected to this idea but she is determined to make her client, Mella, see the joy of living again, especially without an uncouth husband. "Alright, Mella" she said smilingly. "Thank you, Mrs Adegbola" Mella replied with relief. Now isn't this ironic? Ini thought. "Dear Mella, call me Ini, at least, this makes us flow together in the same level. Only, that I am not divorcing. Or, am I?" She asked herself, unsure. She looked at Mella who now sits staring at the bookshelf opposite her in the office. It was apparent that she was totally lost in thought. Ini squeezed Mella's folded hands softly in an assuring manner.
"I don't think going home to meet him would be saved tonight" the lawyer began to say. "Mrs Parker will be your tutelar tonight. Or what do you think? "It's well that way" Mella heaved. "Alright, alright. Mella, last night when he asked you to undress were you reluctant?" Mella shook her head in self pity before she quietly answered "You know, I was happy at first because it has been five months since we come together. Last night... he came home happy, and you know... I became happy too. We chatted for about two hours, and it was like an eternity to me. When he asked me to undress, I... I was happy but when I remembered that he had a copulation with Omoyele I quickly withdrew. I managed to get out of his might by running to the next neighborhood. A friend took me in last night ".
"A male friend? "
"No, female, Mercy"
"How did you know her? "
We attended the same secondary school ".
Ini nodded severally before she asked again "do you know if Mercy and Omoyele are friends?"
Mella shievered at the question. "I... I don't think so! Mercy is a very good friend of mine from secondary school. I know Omoyele from the university. They don't know each other... no... I don't think so". As Mella speaks her voice becomes fuzzy. Hot tears becloud her eyes and she shivered constantly. Just then Mrs Parker came in to remind them it was closing time. Then Ini noticed that they had spent a whole four hours. After the first client, a man, she attended to in the morning, Mella came in next. Mella isn't a new client. She has been visiting since three weeks. Ini, had however, delightedly directed two other clients to some of her colleagues, and concentrated on Mella. She is ready to bring the poor young woman back to her feet, independent of anybody - at least to a very good extent. Mrs Parker looked at the two curiously, spreading her slender arms wide to say the day has been far spent.
"Mrs Charles, how do you do? She asked jovially. Ini had expected her to tell Mrs Parker to call her by her first name, but she didn't. Mella only nodded. "Thank you very much, Mrs Parker " Ini looked at her, her eyeballs dance around as usual, and if one did not know it to be Ini's manner, one would thought she was secretly passing some message to Mrs Parker. "Eh... I was just telling Mel... em... her that you would be her guardian tonight. After looking at the situation of last night with her husband, I think it would be foolhardy to allow her sleep under the same roof with him ". Mrs Parker nodded in understanding. As the founder of "Your Right" organisation, Mrs Parker has a way of giving her employees the power to act freely, but with respect to their clients. She seldom disagrees with the opinions and service render by her employees, as far as the service rendered is rightly done. She has been managing the organisation for five years now and the service they rendered is always applauded by their clients. This has made "Your Right" outstanding among its peers. Though, Mrs Parker cares for her employees and treats them impartially, she secretly likes Ini more, because as a young lawyer she is so nimble and calm. Ini, is infact, becoming to be well known as one of the prominent employees in the organisation.
Ini glanced at the watch on her left wrist, and stood up abruptly, shook Mella's right hand passionately, and assures her she is saved with Mrs Parker. Mrs Parker held Mella's left hand affectionately, and assisted her from her seat. My place is fun to be. Tonight, you will get to know some other women of your age with great reputations. You will like it". Ini smiled at them as she carried her red quilted bag, and walked elegantly out of the organisation. She successfully maneuvered some of her colleagues, who were also getting ready to go home but would surely stop her for some chat. She waved at the guards who were already smiling at her before she got closer to the gate.
The sun has fully gone to rest for the day, and the moon is lazily coming out in the gloomy sky. It is past seven. "He will be home" she muttered to herself as she stands on the kerb, eagerly waiting for a cab.
