Emotional Tingle episode 24

EMOTIONAL TINGLE
(The Mind Reader)
Episode 24 😢
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Written by Author Math
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Character is not a commodity that can be purchased. It is built by the decisions you permanently chisel in your heart. Strive for a reputation that will cause people to say, ‘He means what he says.’ Crucifix overnight became the very personal. His life changed along-side with his character.

At sun rise, he stood in the shower naked, allowing the water shower down from his head to his toes. His black ass reflected on the tube likewise his d–k that channeled out water as if he was urinating. The boy’s eyes were closed with his head bent to the floor as he meditated on his life. Raina’s voice repeatedly sounded in his head: “Please, stay with me, Cross. I beg of you. I feel like I’m not gonna see you again…”

Quickly, he raised his head after remembering that. It felt like Raina knew that someone would make an attempt to his life. “Or did she know about it?” Crucifix thought critically in the noisy shower then exhaled. Again, he remembered Obiageri’s words: “A man goes for where he obtains peace, and love is not totally peace… The only woman that will give you the peace of mind I talked about is the woman you can not read her mind…”

Crucifix breathing rate accelerated. The boy still couldn’t figure the meaning of the statement by Obiageri because if she was talking about ending up with Linda whom he couldn’t read her mind, he didn’t think that would work because Linda was far from the type of woman he wanted as an old teenager.

Furthermore, in the buzzing sound of the shower, his grandfather’s voice set him to Oblivion: “Stubbornness is like setting yourself on a path with your eyes closed. In other words, you are not seeing and listening for information that is available to help you make right decisions… If you feel you’ve become a man, you will do it somewhere else, not under my roof.. follow your path..” Crucifix put of the shower and everywhere became quiet. The boy never moved an inch as he stood bemused of the path of life he has followed.

Nevertheless, he stepped out from the bathroom with a white towel tied around his w–st. Sooner did he also step out from the bedroom to the living room well dressed in a corporate; a black plain trouser, a sky-blue longsleeve shirt and black Italian shoes. Suddenly, the apartment telephone rang and he picked it. “Yeah, let her up.” he replied on the phone and walked to the bar where he poured some wine in a glass cup. Just then, an elevator beeped and opened. Crucifix turned to see Margret coming out from it.

The girl dressed on a short skirt and a black tight elastic longsleeve top which augmented her shape. On her shoulder hung her school bag while her hair dangled around there too. She looked around the apartment to see Crucifix standing a few meter before her with a glass cup. He saw four huge gaurds at the four walls of the sanctum then became scared.

“Crucifix, what’s going on?” she whispered as she was walking to the boy.

Crucifix smiled, hugged her and k-sed her without replying the question. Again, Margret glanced at one of the men and said, “You called me here while I should be in school. Can you tell me what’s going on?”

Crucifix exhaled, sipped the wine and signalled the guards to give them some privacy. Margret watched the men use the elevator. Before she could turn, Crucifix has walked to the window, turning his back on her as the girl pinned at a s₱0t.

“Margret, someone wanted me dead last night.” Crucifix broke the silence without looking back.

“Jeez!” Margret exclaimed, walking towards him. “Crucifix, are you okay?” she added on her way. Before she got to the boy, Crucifix had already turned to face her.

“I’m not okay, Margret. A bullet nearly pierced my ass.” he replied.

“Was that why you couldn’t pick my calls on time?”

Crucifix nodded his head and sipped the drink again.

“But who would want you dead, Crucifix?” she asked curiously.

“I do not f–king know!” he raised his voice.

“Watch your language!” Margret rebuked him immediately and looked around the house for the third time. “Where were you last night, Crucifix? And what is this place for? Hmm, tell me. You now have body guards too? Tell me what I don’t know!”

Both became silent. Of course, Margret waited for an answer which Crucifix harboured in his mind. The truth still remains that he had not totally told Margret about a crucial part she had to play in his life by marrying him, but that wasn’t the issue at hand.

“Cross, I’m waiting!” Margret broke the silence.

His shoes echoed in the room as he walked to one of the executive cushion where he sat down. “Sit down, Margret.” he said. The girl sat down beside him while he continued. “If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Margret, my life is complicated. I’m a mind reader. My ability has given me more of what you see. Moreover, my old man kicked me out of the house!” He stood up angrily.

Margret swallowed hærd with a calmed voice. “What did you do with your ability?”

Crucifix glanced at her and shook his head as the glass cup felt his l-ips again. Margret stool up too, leaving her bag on the cushion and glaring closely at him to respond.

His breath unstable and his voice shaking and stuttering, he said, “I.. I.. I gambled.”

“You what?! Jeeez!!” Margret rubbed her forehead and stepped away from him. “So you now gamble, yet you’re asking who wanted to kill you last night?!”

“Whosoever that wanted me dead isn’t from the gambling club, Margret?!”

“How could you be so sure!”

“You need to trust me!”

“Okay, what about school now? Huh..”
Crucifix didn’t respond, so the girl glared closely at him again and said. “I do not know who you are anymore, Crucifix” she grabbed her bag to leave but Crucifix caught her right on the arm. She looked from the arm to his face which, obviously was pitiful. His voice became so tender like a child’s.

“For my whole life, Margret, I’ve tried to understand who I really am, I’ve tried to put my life straight but each time I do, more problems pop up. My life has been a f–kin… I mean it has been a mess and hell to me, so leaving me at this point in time will make things worst, please. You know I love you so much. You’re literally my life. That’s why I let you in, that’s why I told you what I told you, that’s why I’m black and white to you. I’m an open slate, baby girl.” he gently released her arm, rubbing it to her cheek where he began to slide her hair softly as both eyes never averted. r-mantically, they k-sed!

Margret quit. “I do not want anything to happen to you, Cross.” she began car–sing his cheek too.

“Nothing gonna happen to me or you. So school should lay low for now. I know I’ve changed but I do not want this to destroy my reputation at school.”

“Then quit the gambling so we can figure out who is after you.”

“I can’t quit, Margret.”

“Why?”

Crucifix exhaled and turned his back on her once again. How could he explain to her that if he quit, Ero would come for her life instead. No, puting such fear in Margret’s heart would ignite another problem. Notwithstanding, Margret walked to his front. “Why can’t you quit?” she repeated.

“I just can’t, period.” he replied and drank the last wine.

“Alright, I’m late for school.” Margret walked towards the elevator, watched by Crucifix. Suddenly, she stopped, turned and said, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” she proceeded and punched the elevator button.

“Margret!” Crucifix called her. Meanwhile the elevator had opened. “Our conversation is confidential.” he said in a hurry.

“I’m no snitch, Crucifix. You have more things to worry about than me snitching on you” she stepped into the elevator. Both kept staring at each other as the elevator was gradually closing.

“I love you, Margret.” Crucifix said with a hand in his pocket.

The girl smiled and the elevator finally closed. Crucifix grabbed the telephone. “Tell the driver to get the car ready. We’re leaving now to McDonald High School.” he spoke through the telephone…
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The morning sun reflected on the window of the warehouse where Kester paced around restlessly. He was totally on black like a mourner. Suddenly, multiple sound of shoes echoed in.

“Thank God, both of you are here.” Kester looked at the two men in suit. “You won’t believe the boy had body guards. They were two. I narrowly escaped the f–king place! I think the kid is more than what we think he is!”

“But you said on the phone that the kid’s house is just a mud house. How can someone with a car and body guards live in such a damn house?” Mr. Nelson analyzed.

“I don’t f–king know!” Kester spread his hands.

“We need to get another strategy to kill that kid.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Mr. Adams interrupted, stretching his hands forward. “Why don’t we bring the boy closer. You what they say, ‘keep your friends close and keep your enemies closer’. We don’t even know why the boy wants us dead at the first place. We should find out first.”

“It doesn’t matter!” Nelson objected. “Are you in anyway trying to neglect the words of the chief priest?”

“Boss, you aren’t listening.” Kester began. “What more prove do you need than the one we have at hand? The kid is an informant and he’s coming to both of you through your daughters’ pussies. The motherf–ker want it all; he want to f–k your daughters and f–k you both too”

“f–k me in the ass!” Mr. Nelson agreed obnoxiously. “Listen, we have to come up with plan B. Now the kid knows someone is after his life, he will suspend school and go into hiding or gone on a trip. But falling in love is always a pretty crazy thing. It might appear out of the blue and just grab you. Who knows — maybe even tomorrow.”

“Bingo!” Kester exclaimed.

“I don’t understand.” Mr. Adams narrowed his face.

“The mind reader is in love with your daughter. We gonna fake her kidnap and request for the kid’s presence alone. When he comes, we clip him and your daughter return home to you safely.” Kester explained.

“No no no, I can’t put my daughter in such dangerous situation.” Adams objected.

“But she’s dating the mind reader.” Nelson said.

“Well, he’s also a friend to your daughter. Why don’t we use her instead?” Adams retaliated.

“The kid may not show up because they’re not in love! But with Margret? He won’t think twice. Come on, man! It’s just a fake kidnapping. Nothing gonna happen to your daughter!”

“f–k!” Mr. Adams became restless, rubbing his hand on his head as he paced around the warehouse.
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McDonald High is Raina’s school. It was quite with no student outside when a black spider parked under a tree. Crucifix peeped from the back seat to see a security. He whistled for him to come. The young man approached.

“I want to see Raina Nelson. Tell her that her brother Crucifix wants to see her.” Crucifix narrated.

“Okay” the security left.

Shortly, Raina arrived. She met Crucifix outside the car where he stood under the tree with his hands crossed. The morning wind had the base of his suit flipping up occasionally. Raina glanced at him, the car and body guards then smiled.

“Did you rob a bank or something?” she jokingly asked.

“The last thing in my mind.” Crucifix replied.

Both stared while Raina’s voice became mean. “Crucifix, I do not know what this is.” she pointed at the car and the guards. “Whatever it is, I think is no good for you. I dropped by at your place and your Grandpa fed me with what happened. You shouldn’t have gone to the casino for any reason.”

“Which is why I came.” Crucifix released his hands. “I think you knew I was going to be killed, Raina.” he said.

“Wait, I don’t understand. Are you saying…”

“Yes, Raina, you need to tell me what you know about those that want me dead because I believe you know. You literally told me you felt like you were not gonna see me again. I think you had a clue.”

Oh, no, those words hurt Raina badly that she raised her hand to slap the boy. Of course she succeeded. The guards wanted to retaliate but Crucifix stopped them.

“How dare you, Cross?!” Raina began bitterly. “How dare you use my feelings against me?! It was nothing but a hunch of feeling that nearly came to pass because I love you! How dare you!?” tears engulfed her eyes while her voice began to break. “Do you really think that if I know what would take your life and wouldn’t tell you? You’re literally saying that I set you up?” She shook her head while the tears finally poured. “I don’t blame you, Crucifix. I blame myself for letting you into my house, to my window and into my heart. I do not really blame you. Good bye, bro-ther.” she called him what he told the security he was then bitterly walked out from his presence.

“Raina!” Crucifix tried to go after her but stopped on the way. “I’m sorry!” he added painfully too. Only then did he realize that he made the wrong approach. Frustratingly, he entered into the car and hit his hand on the seat aggressively. “f–k!” he shrieked.
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On the other hand, at Kenny High, Margret seated alone outside, thinking about Crucifix’s words to her. She just didn’t know what to do or who wanted the innocent boy dead. She folded her arms like a sick patient. Just then, Lucy arrived from behind.

“Hey, Maggie.” she sat beside her. “You’ve missed two classes today. What’s going on and why is Crucifix not in school?”

“Nothing is going on, Lucy.” she replied dizzily.

“I don’t believe that. You can trust me. Tell me.”

Margret glanced at her then stared at Caleb and Kenny who stood from afar. Lucy traced her eyes. “Is it about Caleb?” she asked.

“Someone tried to kill Crucifix yesterday.” Margret said.

“What?!”

“Ssshhh.. keep it down!” she warned. “You must not tell anybody about this.” she added.

“And you think Caleb tried to do it? Girl, Caleb can do many things but taking someone’s life isn’t his thing” Lucy assured.

“I just don’t know what to believe now.”

“Is okay.” Lucy thought for a while, remembering her brother’s attitude when she mentioned the mind reader. But what she could not explain was how Crucifix connected to her brother’s drug business. Of course she knew he was a drug dealer.
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The sun had begun to set when Margret returned to Crucifix’ new apartment with a pizza in her hands. “Hey, Crucifix.” she flung her butt out of the elevator.

Crucifix, who was on a play station dropped the pad, and stood up with a smile. “Hi, Margret.” she said.

Margret k-sed him. “I’m just coming back from school. I thought you might be hungry so I bought this.” She placed the pizza on the centre table.

“Thank you, baby girl.” Crucifix k-sed her again. They dragged the table to the cushion where Margret was all over the boy, relaxing her whole body in his arms like a baby in the mother arms.

“Crucifix?” her voice came softly. “I’ll go talk to your grandpa. You need to return home and leave this life behind.”

Crucifix bit a pizza. “Don’t you like this life?” he asked.

She looked up at him. “Hell no, I don’t like it! The money isn’t legit.”

“I understand.” He fed her with the pizza while both became quiet. “Do you think Caleb and Kenny planned to kill me, you know, judging from his metaphor.”

“I thought of that too but… I don’t think they can do it.” she replied.

“It gonna be fine.”

Silence creeped in again. As Crucifix chewed his mouth full of pizza, he heard Margaret’s voice down from his arms. “I love you so much, wood chopper.” she had said.

Crucifix smiled, sliding her hair with a hand. “I love you too, baby girl.” he replied. “Let me get a wine for you” he stood up. Before he returned with the wine, Margret had stood up with her bag. “Hey, I thought we’re drinking.”

“I know your plan. You want to get me drunk.” she replied and k-sed him with a smile. “Bye, Crucifix.” she approached the elevator, leaving the young boy standing and smiling.

Two hours later, Crucifix could be seen running into a mansion but guards stopped him on the wat, yet he struggled in their arms. “Ero!!” he kept shouting until the old man came out from the mansion.

“Let him go!” Ero ordered his guards.

Crucifix approached him angrily. “I accepted your deal! I’m still in the game! Why did you have to take her!!” He lamented.

“First of all, do not come to my house again unannounced. Secondly, what the f–k are you talking about, kid?”

He pointed a finger at him. “You’ve kidnapped Margret!”

“I’ve done no such thing!!”

“Then why are they requesting to see me. They do not want money. They just want me!!”

“You need to believe me, son. I didn’t do it. And why are they calling you instead of the girl’s parents?” Ero asked.

Just then, Crucifix’ phone rang. He looked at it and shouted. “Holy shit!” this call is from her home. He picked the call. “Alright, I’m on my way.” he hung up and began to run out of the mansion.

“Hey kid!” Ero called him back “I can give you some of my men to go with you.”

“No, they said they gonna f–king kill her if I come with anybody. I will go alone.” He rejected.

“That’s not a good idea.”

“You do not understand, Ero!! If Margret dies I’m dead too!!” His voice echoed on the walls of a swimming pool at the centre of the mansion. The poor boy entered into the spider that sped out immediately.
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Crucifix stood before Mr. Adams and his wife even Eda. Already, the mother of the house had started crying.

“Why do the kidnappers need you not money? Huh! Who the hell are you?!” Adams fired angrily.

“I don’t know why?!” Crucifix replied bitterly and frustratingly. “I promise to make this right, sir. I’ll bring her home safely, I swear with my life!” Just then, his phone rang again. He picked it immediately, breathing heavily. “…no no no, don’t touch her. I’m on my way… yes, I understand, no police, just me alone.” he hung up the call, looking at the parents with eyes full of engulfing tears. The poor boy swallowed hærd and left the house in a hurry. He took the driver’s seat of the spider. After fastening his seatbelt, the tears began to drop. Nevertheless, he started the car and sped off.

Oh, poor boy, his grief knew no bound. Just like he said, his life had been a mess. As he drove on the lonely road with his headlights on, he remembered his grandfather’s word’s again: “I wish you channelled your energy and love to that girl Raina instead of that Margret.”

“How is it a crime to love someone!?” He hit his hand on the steering wheel painfully. “It’s Margret I love. Why can’t anybody understand that?!!” he added just to realize he was talking to himself.

Nevertheless, Darkness had covered the atmosphere when Crucifix pulled over to the destination. It was a lonely bushy area with an uncompleted building situated at a corner. Crucifix approached the building where a torchlight shone on his face.

“Put your hands up!” A voice came from the direction of the torchlight. The boy couldn’t see the face as he raised his hands up. The unknown man searched him and dragged him into the building where Crucifix saw Margret tied on a chair. He also saw three more armed men.

“Who are you people? What do you want from me? Please, let her go.” Crucifix pleaded.

“So you’re the motherf–ker mind reader working with the police.” Kester’s voice came behind a torchlight. If Crucifix’ had the chance to see their eyes, he would have read their minds, but it was just torchlight and darkness.

“Police, what are you talking about?” he said sincerely. “I said released her! Please!” he repeated because ge couldn’t bear to see the girl struggle on the chair. Of course they released her and said to her, “Run!”

Margret hesitated and embraced Crucifix tightly.

“I said run!!” A hand pulled her away from the boy.

Margret blindly took on her heels. On her way she heard a gunshot then stopped, goosebumps pumped out from her body and tears rolled down her eyes. Again, she heard another gunshot.

“Crucifix!!!” She turned, running back to the uncompleted building. “Crooss!!” she kept shouting on her way back. It was a nightmare and tragedy for her to behold……..
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TO BE CONTINUED.
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