Emotional Tingle episode 26

EMOTIONAL TINGLE
(The Mind Reader)
Episode 26
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Written by Author Nath
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Nervously, Crucifix seated in,side Mrs Kate’s office alone. The tapping of his foot on the floor was a clear indication that the boy’s mind wasn’t at rest. He roamed his eyes around the office to see different pictures of rich men and calenders which didn’t interest him. All he could think of was his miserable life. A life he tried to put together, a life that was getting out of control, a life he wished he never had and a life without Margret in it. Poor boy.

Suddenly, the door of the office cracked open and Mrs Kate entered with her brother, Marcus, the director of the police. Crucifix, put his foot to a stop as he looked up at the man who sat down before him.

“Look at him. He said he wanted to see you in person. He didn’t tell me why.” Mrs Kate broke the silence as she was taking her seat too.

“Good morning, sir.” Crucifix greeted.

“Why did you request to see me, young man?” Mercus asked. His weight on the seat was like the weight of an elephant on flora. He was huge and dark with a potbelly. His physic alone could get someone scared, just like Crucifix was.

“Sir.” he began by swallowing hærd. “For two good times now my life remained a millisecond for it to end by a bullet.”

“Holy Mary!” Mrs. Kate did the sign of the cross as she leaned forward to get the best part of the story.

Crucifix continued. “Some people want me dead, director.”

Mercus sat up. “Do you have a clue why this people want to kill you?” he asked critically.

“With all due respect, sir, I should be asking you because they think I’m working with the police. If I can remember vividly, you’re the only one who has spoken to me about joining the police force. Jeeez!” he stood up frustratingly.

Mercus and Mrs. Kate glanced at each other in the silence that had made its way to the office.

“Calm down kid.” Marcus began. “How can suggesting an ambition to you makes someone to take your life? Think! As far as I’m concerned, it was in this office I suggested that to you and nobody knows about it. Unless you told someone about it.”

“I didn’t.”

“Even if you did, it isn’t a guarantee to have you dead by someone! Something is missing!”

“The issue is bigger than we think.” the principal added.

Mercus exhaled. “Listen, kid. Do you want me to help you find those who want you dead?” he asked sincerely.

Crucifix turned to him. “I want all this to stop. I want to be happy. I want to get that which I want without experiencing problems from nowhere. I want peace of mind.” His words were so touching especially to his principal. Of course his last sentence reminded him of Obiageri’s words.

“Okay, sit down.” Marcus cleared his throat as the boy took his seat. “You need to answer my questions correctly if you want me to help you. Where do you usually go?”

“My life revolves around Kenny High, my home and two other homes.” Crucifix replied without mentioning the casino.

“Which other homes?”

“Mr. Adams and Mr. Nelson’s.”

“What’s your relationsh¡p with these families!”

“I’m a friend to their daughters which one is in this school.”

“That must be Margret.” Mrs. Kate ch¡pped in.

“Now, if you’re asked, who you think that want you dead or knows anything about it? What would you say?”

The question reminded Crucifix about Lucy who he read her mind not long ago. “Lucy..” he began.
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FLASH BACK
Crucifix!” Lucy exclaimed joyfully. She ran to the boy and hugged him tightly to everybody’s amazement especially Margret who had started feeling jealous. “Thank God you’re still alive.” she whispered to his ears.

Hearing that, Crucifix gently pulled her from his shoulder and read her mind thus immediately: THANK GOD KESTER LIED TO ME ABOUT HIS DEATH.

“Who is Kester, Lucy?” Crucifix asked her instantly.

The question reminded the girl that she had f–ked up again. “Did you just read my mind? That’s bridge of privacy, dude! I might report you for that!” she fired.

Crucifix pulled her out from the classroom to a more secured corner. Margret couldn’t help but to giraffe, wondering what was going on with both. Nonetheless, Crucifix’ voice harshly whispered at the corner, “Lucy, you just thanked God that I’m still alive. How the hell did you know you should be thanking God?!”

“When did thanking God for seeing someone becomes a crime!” Lucy fired back.

“But I just read your mind!”

“You can’t prove anything from my mind!”

Both became quiet. Lucy wanted to walk out but turned with a lower voice. “I really like you, Crucifix. I’m not your enemy. I was only happy to see you because you’ve not been in school for days.” she finally walked out….
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CONTINUITY
Already, the poor boy was standing again as he narrated his encounter with Lucy. Mrs. Kate became stunned with her arms folded while Marcus stood up saying, “The girl knows something. We shall bring her in for questioning. We gonna start from there.” he walked out.
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The sunset had the colour of the walls of Crucifix’ mud house changed to yellow. Geb seated in front of the house, using the cool evening to reflect on the newspaper in his hands. He wore just a single with his legs stretched and crossed. On his w–st was a brown trouser. Suddenly, he turned to the sound of footsteps beside him to see Crucifix, so he closed the paper.

“Papa?” Crucifix called softly, but the old man didn’t respond. “I came to see how you’re doing?” he added.

“I believe you’ve seen with your eyes. Now, you can leave before another bullet start hovering on my roof.” Geb replied.

“I don’t know why the first bullets hovered. I know you may be thinking that it’s from the gamblers, but it’s not!”

“First bullets, huh?” Geb detached his legs. “So they are second bullets. Why are you really here, Crucifix?”

“I came here because my live is turning into something else that I’m not happy for!”

“And who made that choice?!”

“The only choice I ever made was lovcilia to the only girl I love! How is that a crime?!” The boy’s voice became high.

Geb stood up, dropping the paper on the side of the bench. “You’re a boy who knows nothing, Crucifix! You think you know what love is, yet you do not have a clue. I know this love for Margret triggered you to a casino to gamble for money which had never happened before lovcilia. Again, you’re now being forced to gamble, if not, the same Margret whom you love will be killed. Now have you seen why your misery is connected to that single choice you made? Excess protection for the ones we love, makes us to start protecting ourselves along the line.”

“What are you saying now?” Crucifix spread his hands.

“I’m saying that you should go back to where you’re coming from.” the old man returned to his seat.
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Mr. Nelson walked down the staircase of his house to see Raina in the living room. “Hey, my love.”

“Yes, Daddy” Raina replied, looking at him.

“Aren’t you lonely? What about Crucifix, your friend? Haven’t been seeing him around.” The father stopped at the door of the house.

Hearing that, Raina’s mood changed. She swallowed hærd. “I don’t know him anymore, Dad. There’s a lot going on in his life now that he wants to drag me into. Some people want him dead.” the innocent girl replied.

“Really? Can you have him come over now, may be for a dinner. I might help him.” Mr. Nelson smiled over a positive reply from his daughter..

A few hours later, at the dinning table of Mr. Nelson were four plates of foods set for dinner. Already, the man of the house had poisoned Crucifix food; a delicious fried rice and many meat in it. Just then, Crucifix knocked and entered to see only Raina in the house. The girl disdain him.

“Raina, listen. I’m sorry for the other day. I shouldn’t have said what I said to you.” Crucifix pleaded.

Raina kept mute, watching a television while Crucifix walked to her in a way he sat closely to her too. “I’m really sorry, the most beautiful.” he tickled her thereby bringing a smile on her face.

Raina looked at him. “You’re lucky I like you. Anyways thank God you’re fine, but I will only forgive you in one condition.” she said, putting a finger up.

“Okay?”

“In a condition that you give me two of your meats for this dinner we’re about to have”

Crucifix laughed. “Fine, when we start having the dinner, I’ll give you three meats.” he promised

“No, I want them now. The foods are served already.”

Crucifix looked at the dinning table. “That’s not proper, Raina. I don’t even know the one that is mine!” he lamented.

“Come, I’ll show you.” The girl dragged him to the dinning table. “These are my parents’, this is my position, so clearly that will be yours. Open it and fulfil your promise otherwise no forgiveness.” she insisted.

Crucifix chuckled. “Fine.” The boy did as she said. Just then, they heard the footsteps of the parents, coming down the stairs. Quickly, they returned to the living room, smiling sheepishly as Raina chewed her meat joyfully. Immediately, all retired to the dinning table where they began to eat except Crucifix who was still looking at the food and listening to Mr Nelson.

“My daughter told me something, Crucifix. How are you handling it?” Mr. Nelson broke the silence over the sound of the ceramics.

“The police is handling it.”

“Police?” the man stopped eating. “How are they handling it?”

“There’s this girl called Lucy in my school…” Crucifix explained mentioning the name ‘Kester’. “The police will bring her in for questioning.” he concluded.

That was a total problem to Mr. Nelson and his gangs because if the police should interrogate Lucy and she gives out information about her brother, it would be trace back to them. He needed to do something and do it very fast!

“Dad, allow Crucifix to eat his food before you kill him with questions.” Raina interfered.

Crucifix took a spoonful rice to put in his mouth but, Raina’s coughing voice stopped him. The girl started coughing seriously to the extent blood began to come out from her mouth. She fell down on the floor.

“Oh, my God! Raina!!” the mother rushed her while Crucifix dropped the spoon, rushing the girl too just like the father of the house who carried Raina up, running outside to his car. Speedily, all fled to the hospital where the girl was given immediate attention while Crucifix and her parents waited outside. None was sitting, knowing the condition of Raina. Suddenly, a doctor came out and all rushed him.

“Doctor, how’s my daughter?” Nelson asked.

“I believe she will be fine. She took poison. How come?” the young looking doctor asked.

“Poison?!!” The parents shouted at once.

“Yes! Why she might be alive is because the potency of the poison was low. Anyways, see me in the office” He walked out.

Wow, that was because the poison wasn’t much on the meats. Nevertheless, the parents turned to Crucifix, glaring at the boy who became the suspect. He could even see it in their eyes.

“No, I didn’t poison Raina, Mr. Nelson.” he said immediately.

“Was there a time you went to the dinning table before the dinner?” Nelson asked him.

“Yes, but…”

“Heey!!” Mrs. Nelson shouted with hands on her head. “You poisoned my daughter!!” She lamented, dragging Crucifix on the shirt. Oh, poor boy. He seemed confused on the alligation which triggered tears in his eyes again. How could he defend the alligation. The boy didn’t know what to do or say at the moment. He just kept shedding tears in the painful hands of the woman while the husband faced the wall…
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On the other hand at Mr. Adams residence where Margret laid on her bed with a story book in her hand, wearing a trouser and a white top, Eda entered unexpectedly and sat on her bed. The girl put down the book, staring at her nanny.

“Mama Eda, you look worried. What?”

“No, my child. I just came to know how you’re copping…you know with your father’s decision about Crucifix and you.” the woman said.

“I’ll be fine, mama Eda.”

The woman looked straight into her eyes. “But you still love him, don’t you?” she asked.

Margret smiled. “Yes, I do.” she replied.

“You should. He’s a good boy.” She stood up, walking out of the room while Margret kept staring at her.

“Mama Eda” she called her. “Why do I feel that you’re hiding something from me?”

The woman smiled. “It’s nothing, child.” she finally walked out to meet Mr Adams in the living room alone. She stood before him like a maid saying, “Sir, I want to tell you something.”

The man lowered the volume of the television then looked up at her to continue.

“Crucifix is a mind reader. He’s a special kid. For being special, he did something for your daughter because he really loves her and that thing means only one thing for both of them.”

“What did he do?” Mr. Adams asked enthusiastically……..
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Same night, as Crucifix was on his way home, so were Nelson and Adams at the warehouse alone.

“Is the boy dead?” Adams asked.

“No! He’s not rather my daughter is the one dying!” The man bitterly narrated.

“What the f–k! Kester told you to have a plan D.”

“Speaking of Kester.” Mr. Nelson began. “Crucifix said Kester’s sister is about to be interrogated by the feds because the f–king mind reader read her mind!”

“That could lead to us!” Adams began to pace around. “I have an idea. If we can’t kill this boy, we need to have him join us. We need to cage him in a our palms.”

“How do you intend to do that?” Nelson asked curiously.

“You know the kid is special. Margret’s nanny said he performed what is called lovcilia to my daughter which means both must end up as husband and wife otherwise he dies in some stupid quest for a ribbon. I’ll use this to get the boy.” He concluded.
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THE NEXT DAY
As Lucy was preparing for school so was Crucifix in Mr. Adam’s car. The man had called him secretly as if he wanted him back to his daughter. How would Crucifix know that he only use that to get his attention?

Notwithstanding, in,side the car, Crucifix rested his head on the seat with a hand on his forehead. He just didn’t know how to explain Raina’s food poisoning and why?

“Are you okay, kid?” Mr. Adams asked him.

“Not really, sir” he sat up. “Where are we going to?” he asked.

“Somewhere, I want to appreciate you for saving my daughter the other day.” He replied.

The man drove the boy to a lonely mountain. He came out from the car with Crucifix who surveyed the place to see hills, rocks and scanty trees. “Sir, I don’t understand. What are we doing here?” he asked again.

Mr. Adams didn’t respond rather opened his car and brought out a gun. Seeing it, Crucifix shouted, “Jesus!”

“Crucifix, listen and listen very good.” Mr. Adams began. “I am the person who wants you dead because there’s a prophecy that you’ll be the one to kill me.”

“Why would I kill you!!!”

“Because I’m a drug lord!!” The man’s voice was higher than the boy’s. “Probably you were gonna do that as a policeman. I hired Kester to kill you on two occasions, but he failed.”

“You know who Kester is?”

“Kester is Lucy’s brother. You read her mind and reported her to the police. That’s a f–king problem to me and my business.”

“What are you saying?”

“I know how you’ll die if you don’t marry my daughter and I can shoot you right here and now, but I’m not gonna do that. I want you to be part of my father. I’ll make you marry my daughter no matter what but you have to kill Lucy yourself for that to happen.”

“What?! No, no, no, I can’t have blood in my hands!”

Mr. Adams pointed the gun at him. “Kill Lucy and have my daughter forever then you’ll still be alive or I shoot you dead right now.” The main conditioned…
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Lucy was on her way back from school when a van double crossed her and sped off. Later on, she found herself in an uncompleted building, crying seriously with a fabric tied on her mouth. She looked around to see two men with guns. One of them just answered a call then they freed her.

“Run!” they shouted.

On that tears, Lucy began to run out of the building. Just in the front, she saw Crucifix standing with a gun too. She stopped in slow motion.

“Crucifix?”

“I’m sorry, Lucy.” Crucifix raised the gun up.

“No, no, please!” The innocent girl pleaded, then received a bullet in her head. She fell down and dead instantly. Only then did Crucifix remember her words: “I really like you, Crucifix. I’m not your enemy. I was only happy to see you because you’ve not been in school for days.”

Remembering that, the boy bursted out in a thunderous cry. “God!!!!” she shouted dropping the gun. Sadly, a life he wished to get better was getting worst day by day…..
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TO BE CONTINUED