Emotional tingle episode 39
EMOTIONAL TINGLE
(The Mind Reader)
Episode 39
Written by Author Nath
FLASH BACK
Inside a bush, there was a woman, surveying a plot of land. She was plumpy and dark in complexion. In her hand was a big knife and a peg. Suddenly, she turned to voices from a nearby uncompleted building. Quietly, she walked towards it to see two men with guns and a girl tied down on a chair, crying seriously with a fabric tied on her mouth. One of the men just answered a call then they freed her, saying, “Run!”
On that tears, Lucy began to run out of the building. Just in the front of the house, she saw Crucifix standing with a gun too. She stopped in slow motion. The woman spy could see all that was happening from her hiding place.
“Crucifix?” Lucy called surprisingly.
“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 died instantly. The woman gasped silently, covering her mouth with her palm. She was a witness to the death of the young girl…
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CONTINUITY
Pass ten in the night, Raina had not returned from the airport. Already, Margret had become restless for her lingering absence in the house. She could be seen in her room, pacing and looking through the window occasionally. She was still on bomshort and a crop-top. She just wondered what she would tell Raina’s mother if she starts looking for her daughter. Just as she wondered, a knock came from her door. Briskly, she rushed it and opened it slightly to see Mrs. Nelson.
“Hi, Mrs Helen.” she said.
“Hi, Margret.” the woman suspected something from the way the girl greeted. “I’m just coming from Raina’s room, she’s not there, so…”
“She’s in my room. We’re working on mathematics assignment.” she interrupted.
“Wow, I’m happy both of you are in good terms now. Let me see her.” the woman pushed the door, but Margret’s weight restricted it from opening.
“Raina is actually sleeping.”
“But you just said you’re both working on…”
“She slept off while working. You know mathematics, very hectic and logical. She said no one should wake her up till morning. Good night Mrs Helen.” she closed the door sharply.
“O-kay, good night, Mar-gret” the woman stressed worrisomely to herself outside then walked out from the door.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Margret continued pacing restlessly until she heard a noice at the window, she turned to see Raina climbing up, so she held one of her hands and lifted her up. Both nearly fell down when she successfully entered into the room like a common thief.
“What took you so long?!” Margret began. “Did you kill the person?” she asked.
The question reminded Raina her encounter with Crucifix at the airport. Therefore, she hesitated to speak, walking towards the bed where she dropped her bag. Margret stood before her, waiting for her speak, yet she didn’t hear a word from her.
“Raina, talk me. Did you succeed?” she asked again.
“No, I didn’t.” she finally replied and stood up. “Why don’t you call Crucifix on the phone?” she began to walk towards the door.
“Okay, what is going on!” Margret’s voice stopped her. “What has Crucifix got to do with your mission tonight? Moreover, I’ve called him twice but didn’t get an answer.”
“Well, keep calling him until he answers because I saw him tonight. Margret, trust me, Crucifix is not himself.” She finally stepped out from the house, leaving the young girl in a state of woozy. Margret grabbed her phone once more and dialed Crucifix’s number for the third time, yet no answer. The poor girl became unease. She only wished she had Papa Geb’s phone number.
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The next morning, while others surged to school, Crucifix remained in bed. He had refused to stand up or pick his cell phone which had totally drained off the battery. He seated on the bed with his back laid on the wall. He wore no shirt neither was anything covering his body. Therefore, he could be seen on boxers alone. His afro looked tattered, while his jaw had started sprouting singly beards. Suddenly, Geb stepped inside.
“Cross, are you not going to school today?” he asked from the door.
The boy neither looked at him nor responded.
Geb exhaled. “I Know you’re suffering. To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering. Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. Worry not! Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor.” he paused, yet Crucifix neither looked at him nor said a word. He didn’t even shake on the bed as his eyes were fixed at a spot.
Geb continued, “I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness; I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too. I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more. Please, don’t be afraid. A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears. The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering. I believe you’re greater than what you pass through, Crucifix.” he walked out from the room. The boy could hear his footsteps fading away from the street.
Just as he remained motionless on the bed, Lucy appeared at the door. “I hate to see you like this, Crucifix.” she said.
“Then leave me alone.” Crucifix replied, yet, without looking at the door.
“You don’t want to kill Adams, I get it.”
“I can’t have another blood on my hands.”
Lucy stepped inside. “But you had my blood on your hands because of Margret, and you can’t have her father’s blood on your hands because of me? That’s cruelty, you know!” she sparked. “You brought this upon yourself, Crucifix.”
“Leave me alone!!” He shouted with his eyes closed. Before he opened them, Lucy had disappeared. Of course he knew the next step which was exposing him to the police. Yes, Crucifix was ready for that. He didn’t care what happens to him anymore. But what he never thought of doing was suicide….
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However, at Kenny High, Margret seemed restless, looking around if she could see Crucifix, coming to school or entering into the classroom. In jumpsuit, she frequently glanced at her wristwatch. Nothing any teacher taught that day entered into her head. They only entered into one ear and escaped through the other ear. She couldn’t wait for break period. Immediately the bell rang, she carried her bag, hurried out from school. She approached Crucifix’s house, knocked at the door then first entered into the living room.
“Crucifix!” she called, but didn’t receive a response. She dropped her bad on a local center table found in the living room, surged towards his door on the brown jumpsuit that made her look more matured like a lady in her early twenties. Slowly, she opened the door to see Crucifix still on the same posture with his hands folded. “Crucifix?” she called softly, approaching slowly. “Are you okay?’ she asked, yet no sign of motion from the boy. Margret sat down at the edge of the bed. “I’ve been calling since yesterday. Why couldn’t you pick my calls?”
“I needed to be alone.” Crucifix finally said without looking at her. “I still want to be alone.” he added.
“I know you’re still keeping me in the dark. But I do not like…”
“I said I want to be alone!” his voice increased harshly as he interrupted her with a frustrating glare.
“Crucifix…”
‘Get out!!” He shouted at her. His voice came like a bullet and startled the young girl out from the bed. Margret couldn’t believe it! She had never seen Crucifix in such a mood before, neither had she heard him shouting at her. That was the first time and it came with a delima. As she stood up in shock, Crucifix’ voice came for the second time like a striking thunder. “I said leave!!!” She startled again and didn’t know when she left the room in sprouting tears.
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Later that evening, the three families assembled again at Adams. They all could be seen seated silently at the dining table without food. Geb assumed the single seat at the extreme. The opposite seat was occupied by Mrs. Emily, Margret’s step mother. Raina and Margaret sat close to each other while only Crucifix seated opposite them with Mrs. Helen a seat away from him on the same side of the table. Anytime Margret glanced at Crucifix, the scenario of how he shouted at her would reply in her head. She had not really come out from the shock.
Nevertheless, Crucifix broke the silence, saying, “I called for this gathering to let everyone know that I have been questioned by the Police. I told them what they wanted to hear or how my grandfather explained it. I pushed everything to the dead. I guess I’m free likewise Mr. Adams who nobody is suspecting.” he swallowed hard and glanced at Margret in the silence. “But I want to also make it clear that I’ll be turning myself in for the murder of Lucy”
Hearing that, everybody began to look at one another except Geb who was already aware of the boy’s decision because he had explained to him how Lucy had been appearing to him.
“But why?” Margret spoke up. “Why do you want to turn yourself in when everything is already settled?” she added.
“Crucifix, what’s going on?” Mrs. Nelson asked. “What if you’re asked why you killed her, what will you say?” she added.
“Simple, the dead made me do it.” he replied and stood up. “It’s my decision. I don’t think I owe anybody any explanation.” he walked out from the dining room, moving towards the exit.
Margret roamed her eyes to everyone at the table. “Can’t any of us stop him?!” she lamented.
Already, Raina had been forcing herself not to let the tears that had circulated in her eyes to drop.
Margret stood up sharply. “Crucifix!” she called on him, standing behind a cushion in the living room while the boy had already opened the door to the exit. Hearing his name, he turned, staring at Margret who continued, “Why you killed Lucy is not yet clear to me but I do not care! I know you do not owe anybody any explanation for your decision, but have you considered how I will feel about it?! You’re literally eighteen and you’ll literally go to jail if you turn yourself in. Have you considered how I will feel about that or what will happen to me while you’re in jail?!”
“I’m sorry, Margret. If I do not go to jail I’ll have to kill your step father!!” Crucifix responded loudly to the hearing of all who became shocked by the statement. Nevertheless, he continued, “Lucy is tormenting me! I see her everywhere I go! She wants but only one thing; to kill Mr. Adams otherwise she would expose me to the police. I do not want to kill anybody anymore!!” he broke down in tears, breathing heavily.
Already, Margret had become speechless, shedding tears and breathing heavily too. Immediately, police siren wailed outside as tension, sadness and silence filled the whole house. All watched as Forster with other Policemen approached to the door. Geb never turned from his seat to witness the scenario. As he seated sadly, he heard, “Crucifix Odinakachukwu, you’re under arrest for the murder of Lucy Oman. We have an eye witness. You have the right to remain silence or anything you say will be used against you in the court of law.” the locking of the handcuffs on his wrist circulated the room. Raina bursted out in a cry, running inside her room while Margret sat on the floor, crying too as Crucifix was being taken away. Oh, the sad atmosphere in the house moved the old man, he let out a tear from one of his eyes.
“Isn’t this too much for a little boy?” he said, dried his tears and picked his staff….
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TO BE CONTINUED