Emotional tingle episode 35 – 36

EMOTIONAL TINGLE
(THE MIND READER)
EPISODE 35 & 36 🥺
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:Rated +
WRITTEN BY AUTHOR NATH
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Take it from me: love has all the lasting permanence of a rainbow- beautiful while it’s there, and just as likely to have disappeared by the time you blink. Love has a way of wilting or blossoming at the strangest, most unpredictable hour. This is how love is, an uncontrollable beast in the form of a flower. The sun does not always shine on it. Nor does the rain always pour on it. Nor should it always get beaten by a storm. Love does not always emit the sweetest scents, and sometimes it can sting with its thorns. Water it. Give it plenty of sunlight. Nurture it and the flower of love will outlive you. Neglect it or keep dissecting it, and its petals will quickly curl up and die. This is how love is, perfection is a delusional vision. So love the person who loves you unconditionally, and abandon the one who only loves you under favorable conditions.

One still need to find the answer to the big question mark in the love life of Crucifix and Margaret because the path through which the river of love flows in their lives may be predictable but critical especially now Tommy has come into the picture.

Nevertheless, the dinning room of Mr. Adams suddenly turned into a drama stage with tension and tranquility revolving around it after Crucifix let the cat out of the bag. Margret stood at her door, Crucifix was also on his feet while Raina and the three remaining adults watched silently from their seats. Though they were at the dinning table but none of them was eating.

“I killed Lucy to protect our love, Margret.” Crucifix broke the silence with a bitter tone. “I stepped into the Casino for you. When I wanted to quit, they threatened to kill you so i had to continue. All decisions I made both good and bad, I made it for us to be together, Margret. Please, you don’t have to turn your back on me. I never wanted any of this to happen.” he began to shed tears even though one secret was still withheld from her which is the meaning and implications of lovcilia.

As all waited for Margret to say something, her phone rang for the second time. Tommy was calling again. The girl glanced at it then put it on silence. She stepped away from the door, glaring at the only man she had ever known. Her voice softly trailed in the dinning room. “You killed Lucy to protect our love?” the voice suddenly became high and harsh. “Crucifix, you killed Lucy to protect our love! Protect it from what?!”

“I didn’t just do it, okay! Your father made me do it! He told me to kill Lucy!” Crucifix began to breath heavily.

Margret took another step closer to him. “My fa-ther told you to kill Lu-cy to pro-tect our lo-ve.” she stressed. “Isn’t that stupidity?! The story is not clear, Crucifix. I ask again, protect our love from what?”

“He told me that if I do not kill Lucy…” Crucifix paused then glanced at his grandfather who slightly shook his head as a way of telling him not to say the truth which is Lovcilia as the next thing he wanted to say.

You may be asking, why can’t he just tell Margret about the lovcilia and the consequences? It’s because the moment she has the knowledge, Crucifix must propose to her immediately, and her answer will determine Crucifix’ life. Now you’re seeing how everything is playing out. If Crucifix should let the last cat out of the bag and propose, will Margret accept to marry him? Everybody knows the answer especially the women, so keeping the knowledge of lovcilia from Margret was the best option and also the worst decision because Crucifix might lose her to another man yet will not marry her. So in any way, he must be the one hurt beyond repair and might even lose his life in the process when the time comes. Therefore, it was a critical and delicate matter that should be handled amicably.

Notwithstanding, as Margret waited for him to say the truth, he spoke up diligently, “Margret, I want you to calm down and listen to me. I do not only want you to listen to me, I also want you to reason with me, understand me, trust me and agree with me.” he swallowed hærd, staring at the angry face of the girl. “Yes, I killed Lucy which I will not forgive myself for. Lucy’s brother, Kester, was working for your father and Rraina’s father. Lucy knew about their business and the police wanted to bring her in for questioning. With the fear of snitching on them to the feds, your father had me kill her so they won’t have to kill me again as instructed by so called chief priest of theirs.”

“How does that have to do with protecting our love?” she asked.

“Aah… Ah..” Crucifix stammered and closed his mouth.

“You’re still lying to me ” Margret looked at others at the dinning table. “I’m sorry for my rudeness but this meeting is over to me. None of you want to be truthful.” she finally walked into her room and slammed the door. The sound was like a slap to Crucifix who startled at the wave. Quietly, he returned to his seat, placed his hands on the table. When he looked up, his eyes caught with Raina’s in the silence.

“What exactly are you hiding from my daughter?” Emily asked, looking at Crucifix.

“Trust me, it’s better you do not know.” Geb began. “Now we’ve heard from the horses mouth how Lucy died. To be on a safer side, when the feds come for Crucifix, he will tell them the truth in a different dimension.”

“How?” Mrs. Nelson asked.

“He was found on the crime scene, so they will like him to explain what happened there. He will say that late Nelson wanted him dead as being told by his chief priest. He couldn’t kill him but began to force him to join the drug business which he refused then Nelson shot him.”

“How about Lucy?” Raina asked.

Geb cleared his throat. “We know now who killed Lucy and who gave the order. But since the dead cannot talk, we gonna blame it on the dead.”

“You mean, Crucifix will tell the feds that my husband killed Lucy and Kester instead of Adams?” Mrs. Nelson wanted to be sure.

Geb nodded. “That’s the only way to keep my grandson and Adams out of prison.”

“So, we the Nelsons are paying the price of sins of the Adams?” Raina clarified then turned to Mrs. Adams. “Margret, your daughter should come and hear this now before she starts misbehaving.”

“Quiet, Raina!” Her mother rebuked her. “Both of you should settle your differences and get prepare to go back to school. You’ll be graduating next two months. Take your studies seriously and pretend like nothing happened.” She looked at Crucifix. “You too, you have to go back to school.”

“Alright!” Mrs Adams stood up. “Thank you all for honoring this invitation. With all due respect, when all this is over, I wouldn’t want to see Crucifix with my daughter again.” she walked out. Her last statement brought meditation and vast aspiration on the table. Crucifix’ eyes caught with Raina’s for the second time.

Geb stood up. “Let’s go, son.” he began to walk out followed by Crucifix who glanced at Margret’s room for the last time. Raina and her mother watched two of them leave the house.

Mrs. Nelson looked at her daughter. “Raina, we need a lawyer. We have to get our asset back from the government.” she concluded.

“That’s why I want to study law in the university, mum.” she replied.

“That’s my girl. Come here.” she opened her arms and embraced Raina happily.
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There had been none verbal communication between Crucifix and his grandfather from the Adams to the mud house. Both entered into the house. Geb sat down on one of the local cushions while Crucifix herded to his room from where he heard Geb’s staff dropping on the floor and his exhausting exhalation voice. The silence between both of them spoke louder than what was in their minds.

Crucifix couldn’t stop thinking about Margret’s attitude and who Tommy was. He looked at himself in the mirror, raised his shirt up to examine the healing bullet wound. Again, he heard his grandfather’s exhaling tone. He also exhaled, pulled down his shirt and walked out to the living room where he stood beside Geb.

“I’m sorry, papa.” he finally broke the silence between them.

Geb looked up at him and spoke up very tiring, “What exactly are you sorry for, Crucifix? For having blood in your hands or for getting yourself into trouble?”

“For everything, papa. Mind you, I don’t get into trouble, trouble gets to me.”

“You may be correct but in every trouble that gets to you, you invited them.”

Crucifix became quiet thereby returning silence in the living room. He sat down on a different local cushion which made a weak, rusty, whistling sound. He exhaled. “I’m losing Margret, papa.” he spoke up softly again.

“Yes, you are, Crucifix.” Geb sat up. “You don’t blame the girl because she will never understand why you did what you did. You kept her in the dark for so long. Anybody will react the same way she did today.”

Crucifix lowered his head and shook it sadly. “She will not understand.” he whispered.

“Yes, she will not.” Geb continued. “You put her in a situation that is greater than her. If you had waited for, at least, ten years before performing lovcilia on her, she would have been matured enough mentally to withstand the storm. But now, she’s still a kid as far as I’m concerned. How do you expect her to react?”

Crucifix raised his head. “The point is that, I don’t want Margret in my life because she’s the one with the key as regards to lovcilia. I don’t want to make it look as if I’m only begging to be with her because my life depends on it. Or when I propose, she will accept me out of pity or something. No, I want her to accept me base on what she feels for me not because it’s what she has to do to keep me alive.” he paused, tapping one of his feet on the floor. “That’s why she will never know about lovcilia until our wedding night.” he concluded.

Geb relaxed his back on the cushion which also made a rusty sound. “Well, good luck with that.” he said.

Another silence creeped in. Crucifix had to break it, so he said, “Papa, I want to ask you something. Do I have a sister?”

Hearing that, Geb sat up. He thought for some moments which in the process Crucifix read his mind and stood up aggressively. “So you knew all along?! You knew I have a sister, a twin sister for that matter, and you and Obiageri kept it from me! Why, papa?!”

“Because Cynthia is destined to destroy you! That’s why you were separated from her and never to meet or see her!!”

“Oh, there you go again! I should have known! Life is not fair to me, school is not fair to me, the person I love is hurting me, everybody and life itself is against me and you want to make me believe that my own twin sister is destined to destroy me too. Jeeez!!.” his voice began to break in tears. “Why is my life different? Why can’t I be happy? Why can’t I have the peace of mind I so much long for. Is unfair! From one problem to another. Where did I go wrong!?” he began to walk into his room.

“Crucifix, no matter what you do, stay away from your sister.” Geb warned.

Crucifix turned astonishingly. “You must be kidding me, papa.” he finally entered into his room, picked his phone and dialed Emmanuel’s number. “Hey, bro, can I see you..? Where..? Okay? On my way.” he spoke through the phone and hung up immediately. Walking out of the house, Crucifix found the police at his door step. He exhaled….
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On white sneakers, blue jean trouser, white polo and a digital wristwatch, Emmanuel briskly walked on the red floor of Greenville Hotel. He stopped at room 201, knocked on it then Cynthia opened. The girl who was on a fairy milky short gown, pulled him in,side, slammed the door and began to k×ss him passionately as if they had planned it, patiently waited with their thrubbing genitals. Now they had seen each other, they couldn’t wait to have their erogenous zone stimulated and satisfied. Therefore, Cynthia hurriedly pulled his shirt, unbuckled his belt and dragged down the jean to see his d××k longing to come out from his boxers. She looked up at him and chuckled sed×¢tively. Slowly, she released the dragon from the cage, felt it in her palm and gently placed it into her mouth.

Emmanuel took a deep breath with his neck bent backward as he felt the pleasure, rushing through his veins. “Haaaaa..” he let out a large air from his mouth.

Meanwhile, Cynthia had lubricated the d××k with her mouth, stroking it gently. With her tongue, she rolled around the cap of the d××k and had a quick k×ss on it that came with a sed×¢tive smile as she looked up at Emmanuel again. Quickly, she stood up to have him k×ssing her passionately again. Emmanuel pulled off her gown and pushed her to the bed to see the girl totally naked.

“Oh, you’re not even putting on underwear.” he met her on the bed.

“I had the food prepared for you. Now eat before it gets cold.” she replied, smiling.

“But I’m also hungry of the real food.”

“I had that one prepared too. You just have to eat before eating.”

Both laughed. Cynthia placed her hands across his neck and pulled him to her l¡ps which he began to k×ss again. Obviously, she enjoyed the way he k×ssed her. In the process, Emmanuel raised one of her legs up with a hand. Through the bushy p×$$y, he located her vagina with his d××k and pushed in immediately.

“Aaahh!!” she m0aπed, twisting her waist at the same time. “f×¢k me, you little bastard.” she spank him pleasurably…

After the passionate s××, both could be seen breathing heavily and staring at the ceiling stack naked.

“I’ve finally opened my legs for you. So tell me everything you know about Crucifix.” Cynthia broke the silence.

Emmanuel looked at her. “Come on, don’t make it sound like I agreed to tell you about your brother because you opened your legs. I want both of you to meet. May be he will have something to be happy for because he’s passing through a lot. Moreover, s×× is a mutual benefit; you enjoyed it and I enjoyed it. So stop sounding as if you did me a favour.”

“Fine, speak.”

Emmanuel told her everything ranging from how Raina loves Crucifix but Crucifix loves Margret thereby performing lovcilia on her to the part the two drug lords wanted him dead because of a chief priest said so. He also mentioned why Crucifix killed Lucy. “But I get it now. If the chief priest prophesied that Raina’s father and Margret’s father would be killed by a mind reader which they assumed to be Crucifix, I think they didn’t know that Crucifix isn’t the only mind reader. You killed Raina’s father. You were the one that opened fire in the warehouse, aren’t you, Cynthia?”

Cynthia stepped down from the bed without replying him. She picked her gown from the floor and wore it, spacing through the window.

“Cynthia, that’s why you’re here in the state. Who sent you to kill them? Why did you even choose the life of killing people?” Emmanuel was still asking from the bed, yet she never said a word. “You know, you’re nothing like your brother.”

“But he killed Lucy, too” Cynthia finally said without looking back.

“Yes, he did but he feels remorse about it unlike you. You’re a killing machine.”

Cynthia turned. She reached for her gun in a drawer and pointed it at Emmanuel, breathing sharply. “Crucifix has his own complications and I have mine. Now, get the hell out of my hotel room.” she warned.

Emmanuel quietly stepped down from the bed. “This is what I’m talking about. Crucifix is jovial, kind and want a good life. But you? You’re a murderer without conscience.”

“Get out!!” she shrieked.

Emmanuel put on his shirt then walked towards the door. He turned. “Your brother called. He wants to see you.”

“I do not want to see him.” she replied.

“What about the real food?”

Again, Cynthia showed him her middle finger. When Emmanuel left the room, she began to nurture some tears in her eyes. Swiftly, she located her phone, dialed a number and placed it on her ear. “Hello, Deyo, I want to come back. I can’t do this anymore.” she spoke on the phone.

“But you have only killed Nelson. Adams is still alive.” A male voice replied on the phone.

“Adams is nowhere to be found.”

There was a moment of silence on the phone. “Alright, stay put until I have Nelson’s territory and distros in my palm. After that, you can come back.” the male voice concluded.
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The road was as busy as a market place. One could see Emmanuel seated beside the road on a public seat-out with sunglasses on his eyes. As he waited, Crucifix arrived in a short, sneakers and jacket over a polo shirt. He sat down beside his friend.

“You kept me waiting.” Emmanuel said without looking at him through the sunglasses.

“The police took me.” he replied.

“Really?” he glanced at him. “What did you tell them?”

“I told them exactly what they needed to hear.” Crucifix looked around. “Where is she?” he asked.

“Who?”

“Cynthia, of course.”

Emmanuel swallowed hærd. “I’m sorry, Crucifix. I lied that I saw a mind reader which may be your sister.”

Crucifix chuckled. “Now I see the essence of this sunglasses you’re putting on. You don’t want me to read the truth from your mind because I know you’re lying. My grandfather confirmed it.”

Emmanuel removed the sunglasses. “Listen, Crucifix, it’s better you don’t meet your sister.” he said.

Hearing that, Crucifix stood up. “Why are you sounding like my grandpa?”

“Your sister is dangerous, okay! She might get you killed!”

“Why is everyone telling me the same thing?!!” Crucifix sparked.

“Listen, Cru…”

“You listen, Emmanuel!” he interrupted him, pointing a finger at him. “I rather die by my sister’s weapon and in her arms than stay alive knowing that I have one without seeing her.” he walked out angrily, still nurturing the bullet wound.
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The next morning at Adams, Eda could be found in the kitchen while Raina seated at the dinning table, drinking tea for breakfast. She was dressed for school, looking smart and beautiful just like Margret who came to the table too with her breakfast. Actually, she was on call with Tommy when she sat down opposite Raina who occasionally looked at her, listening to the phone conversation.

“You know, even as kids those days, I did admire you.” Tommy said on the phone.

Margret smiled. “I know. I did too.”

“So, going to school?”

“Yeah, just taking my breakfast.”

“Okay, I’ll give you a call later in the evening.”

“Alright, bye. Have a nice day.” she hung up the call. Without looking at Raina, she started eating the noodles prepared by her nanny.

Silence emerged between them. They could hear frying onions in an oil from the kitchen. Suddenly, Raina broke the silence saying, “You know if you gonna cheat on Crucifix, isn’t it better you break up with him?”

Margret quit eating and glared at her. “I should break up so you can have him all by yourself, right? You think I haven’t noticed the way you look at him? Just mind your business.”

“Crucifix doesn’t deserve what you’re doing with Tommy or whosoever.” Raina added but Margret ignored her until both were through and herded out with their school bags. As Margret stood by the road, waiting for a cab, Raina wanted to cross to get a cab too, going to another direction, but a speeding vehicle prevented her. Margret notice it.

“What do you want to do, Raina?” she asked her. “Cross the road to get a cab? The last time I checked McDonald High School is this direction not that direction.”

Raina glanced at her. “The last time I checked, you didn’t give a damn about me or what I do. Just mind your business too.” she said.

“Suite yourself.” A cab stopped in front of them, Margret entered while Raina crossed the road.
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In another warehouse, there was a long table surrounded by fifteen men and women. Those were Nelson’s distros in the drug business who had gathered to know the next step forward.

“We do not have a connect anymore. He’s dead. We need to find a new one.” A distro named Jake spoke up which brought everyone’s attention to him. “I know a connect who can be supplying drugs to us. His name is Deyo from outside state.” he suggested.

“I object to that.” Suzanna said while all directed their eyes to her. “Nelson might be dead, but his daughter is still alive.”

“That kid? she doesn’t even know how this shit works. All her father’s factory which use to be our camouflage in cooking this product are all closed by the government. Where will she cook the damn weight?” Jake challenged.

“Where i do it is none of your concern.” A female voice came from the entrance of the warehouse. All turned to see Raina, walking in boldly in a jean skirt and jacket with canvase. On her eyes were sunglasses too. She looked small but had the guts of a god. She walked straight the edge of the table where she could see everyone of them. Gently, she removed the eyeglasses as silence lingered. “I’ll officially introduce myself. I’m Raina Nelson and I’m your new connect. If you have a problem with that, indicate.”

Tension rose in the house. Some people began to look at others. Suddenly, Jake stepped aside saying, “I can’t be part of this.” Six more people joined him.

The remaining eight persons walked behind Raina and Suzanna. The house was divided. Those behind the new young connect, brought out their guns and armed them at Jake’ crew while the crew did the same. Raina looked at Suzanna who whispered to her, “Anyone against a connect has to die.”

“We’re killing nobody.” Raina whispered back. “What’s the leader’s name?” she asked.

“Jake” Suzanna replied.

Raina’s voice became high. “Nobody will die today. Not in my watch.” She began, walking to Jake, a huge black muscular man with a mustache. She stopped before him. “Jake, you know, I have a feeling that you know who killed my father. Any day I find out that you have a hand in it, I’ll kill you, myself. Now, get the hell out of here with your crew.” she commanded.

Backwardly, they left the warehouse. Raina turned to others who had also lowered their guns. “Give me time to get another location for the cooking of the product. A new sh¡pment will be ready for distribution in no time. Am I understood?”

“Yes, boss.” they chorused and left the house too, leaving Suzanna behind. The average woman met Raina saying, “Letting Jake and his crew go was a bad decision in this business.”

“I chose my father’s footsteps for a reason because only his footsteps will lead me to the person who killed him.”

Suzanna exhaled. “We’re running out of weight.”

“I know. What of the money from the sold ones since my father died?”

“Intact but not enough to get ingredients for cooking another products.”

“But do you think it will be enough after the remaining ones are sold?”

“Yes” she replied as an afterthought.

“Alright, complete it. Get the ingredients while I get a location where it will be cooked. We start afresh. Now, I have a school to go.” She placed back the eyeglasses and began to walk out. Her butt flung East and West in the process.
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Back to Kenny High School, students remained in their classrooms, leaning one subject or the other. One could see Margret seated with her friends; Rose and Alice. Their history teacher, miss Agatha, was present, explaining African history to them:

“Scientists believe that Africa was the birthplace of mankind. By 100,000 BC modern humans lived by hunting and gathering with stone tools. From Africa, they spread to Europe. By 5,000 farming had spread to North Africa. People herded cattle and they grew crops. At that time the Sahara Desert was not a desert. It was a green and fertile area. Gradually it grew drier and became a desert. Meanwhile about 3,200 BC writing was invented in Egypt. The Egyptians made tools….” the teacher’s voice faded in Margret’s ears when Crucifix stepped in with his bag. They both glanced at each other before he sat down. His presence distracted some other students too.

Sooner did the bell ring. Miss Agatha concluded and left, followed by some students. Crucifix also walked out from the classroom without looking back at Margret or anyone, knowing very well they must have been staring at him repugnantly.

“We heard all that happened, Margret?” Rose began. “The news says that Crucifix was forced to join drug gang but he refused, that brought about the bullet wound on his belly. He deserves it.” she rolled her eyes.

Alice ch¡pped in. “Are both of you not together anymore? So sad Crucifix knew who killed Lucy all along.” She glanced at the door and turned back to Margret. “You still love him. I can see the way you look at him.”

“Girl, you need to end it with this guy!” Rose warned. “That he opened your p×$$y doesn’t mean you should stick with him forever.”

“Hey, stop that!” Alice rebuked her. Yet, Margret never said a word.

On the other hand, Crucifix walked along the passage with hands in his pockets. He refused to talk to anyone and no one talked to him. All they could do was steal a suspicious glance at him. On the same passage, when Emmanuel saw him, he stopped, thinking he would stop too and talk to him as friends, but Crucifix never did as if he saw him. The poor boy walked outside, seated under a tree all alone. Where could he start thinking about his life? He didn’t even know the direction his life was going to. He didn’t just know what to do. He needed to be cool and be himself, trying not to think about anybody or talk to anyone. Suddenly, someone from behind sat close to him. He turned to see Margret. Both exchange eye contact but never said a word.

Margret brought out her phone as the boy watched her. She dialed Tommy’s number and put it on speaker. “Hi, Tommy.”

“Hey, girl. You should be in school.” Crucifix heard Tommy’s voice from the phone. “Oh, let me guess, you’re missing me already.” He added on the phone.

Margret smiled.

“Why don’t we see tomorrow. You know, like a date?” Tommy said.

Margret glanced at Crucifix. “Actually, Tommy. It’s part of why I called. You’re very nice but I don’t think I can give you what you want. I’m with someone already. We can continue to be just friends. Will talk to you later. Bye.” she hung up the call and glanced at Crucifix again who had not said anything. Margret put the phone in her bag and rested her head on Crucifix’ shoulder. That move alone activated the boy’s tears gland.

“I’m so sorry, Crucifix” Margret said from his shoulder. She raised her head up to see the boy shedding tears seriously. Even Crucifix didn’t know why he let out those tears. Everything was so heavy on him. “Come here.” Margret pulled his head to her chest like a mother where he hum the cry painfully, remembering Lucy. “Is okay. I believe you. I believe everything you said.” Margret couldn’t control her own tears too…
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On the other hand, Cynthia picked up her ringing cell phone in her hotel room. That was Deyo who said on the phone, “The information reaching me now is that Nelson’s daughter called Raina has taken her father’s position. You know what to do.” The call went dead.

Cynthia sluggishly brought down the phone, knowing that the very girl she was instructed to kill was the one in-love with Crucifix as told by Emmanuel. Nevertheless, she dressed up and reached a pistol which she put in,side her bag to carry out the instruction given to her….
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TO BE CONTINUED
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