"Yes, he has been involved in some operations, but none as important as this one. Just trust me, he is good"
"Okay, if you say so. Now, who is our guy?"
"Mr Pius, a branch manager of the United Bank for Africa. We know where he lives and when he comes back from work each day. Apparently, we are good to go," James stated confidently as a broad smile ran across his lips.
"Hmm, so what time is it then?" Lady V asked further.
"12:30a.m., we are in," James replied again.
"Well, l will do the usual; you guys should do what you do best. l' m out."
"My boys have done their homework. They are ready, l guess," Uncle Philip said.
l watched Lady V throughout the entire conversation. The way she smiled and talked made me think of nothing else than to be in bed with her.
My legs moved back to the wall behind me, my body convulsed with horror. My mouth continued to tremble at what l saw. I could feel sweat trickling down my laps as my eyes widened.
James came in, his eyes grew round, taking more space; so enlarged that they looked black, mirroring my own.
Suddenly, the body which l thought was lifeless at the time lifted up it's hands. The dark coldness in his eyes had disappeared; all l saw was a face of a slave, begging immensely for his life.
"What happened?" James asked.
"I don't know, I'm not sure, I....." The words hung in my throat as l felt my stomach tighten.
"They knew we are coming; it was all a bluff.
Damn! Lady V set us up, man. We need to leave immediately."
"What about Uncle Philip?" I heard myself ask. I didn't know if l wanted him dead or alive.
"He is dead already, can't you see that. The boss has gone down; we need to move now."
Uncle Philip muttered something as blood poured out from his mouth. Uncle Philip was gone; I wasn't sure what to do next. I quickly followed James to leave.
"What about the others?" l asked still panting as we tiptoed through the corridor.
"Probably dead, you should be concerned about your own life now; so, focus."
"Hmm..... do you know if we are going to get out of here alive." I couldn't help talking, considering how scared l was.
"Shh....."James hushed me as l wanted to speak some more.
"What is the matter?" l asked, shaking.
"I think we are trapped in here. The police cars are everywhere, l don't think....."
Before he could have complete what he was saying, a voice was heard almost immediately. "Stop there! And don't move," the strange voice spoke in a loud tone.
Immediately, James made reach for his gun in his pocket and a dynamic gunshot was heard. "My leg, my leg oh, God!" James cried out painfully.
My heart slid into my stomach, my brain was suffused with heat and my lips quivered uncontrollably. I swallowed hard and raised my hands upwards as a sign of surrender. It was all over and l knew it. All l had now was my miserable life and nothing else. I looked down at James, blood dripped down his leg. He covered it with one hand and lifted his head to me, shaking it slowly as a parent would when a child wants to do something wrong. I frowned slightly and glanced at the policeman who had already approached me. I wished l had some of the fighting skills as l had seen in the movies, but it was all a wish. James and l were handcuffed and the policemen struck me with the rod he was holding, when l tried resisting, and l fainted.
I woke up in an abstract world. A raging fire had erupted, and l hadn't realised that l was in a cage.
I ran to the other end but it was locked. A strong wird fanned and spread the fire. Pop sounds, like gunfire, raged in the air. Suddenly, the wind ceased, fear and other emotions seemed to have frozen in me. The sky was now white with rage and then l found myself in the village. A burial ceremony was going on. l peered from a distance and l saw Mum; her eyes were swollen and tiny beads of tears dropped down her cheeks as she wept. A muscle twitched in my jaw at the sight of her state. "Why was mother crying?" l wondered. Then l walked closely towards her position. As l walked gradually, my pulse throbbed and my heart raced in my chest.
I looked into the grave and l saw a coffin in it. Some men were already pouring sand to close the grave. l glanced at a poster at my right and trembled. Father's picture was there. l was at Dad's burial ceremony.
"Mum, Dad is fine, right?" l asked mum hopefully.
She kept mute and then l rushed into the house and saw Blessing weeping at one corner of the bed. Then Mum began to laugh wildly. Her laughter floated into the room and l stood still, confused at why Mum should be laughing.
"Young man," a voice caught my attention. l turned backwards only to see Mum. Her head had become enlarged and her eyes popped out of their sockets like they were stuck in there.
"You will be the next to die," She growled and then let out a cackle.
My legs pinned to the ground and my mouth flopped open.
"Of course, you have been destined for untimely death," Mum's voice re-echoed and her laughter didn't seem to cease.
"Welcome to the brotherhood," l heard a bizarre voice as l woke up frightfully.
"Where every responsible young man should be," The man further said, others laughing mischievously with him.
"And that is?"
"Home, sweet home." l was bewildered at the response he had given me.
After few seconds, l didn't need a prophet to tell me that l was in prison. The reeking smell wafting around the congested room, with some policmen who stood outside muttering to themselves was enough to convince me and saw five young men struggling and fighting for a miserable piece of bread.