Wednesday, 20 September 2017

Life and times of Freda Balogun (chapters 42-53)

Written by Dunsin Olaniyan (@shizzy_chase)

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Chapter 42;
It was roughly a 4hour journey or maybe more..there was always a checkpoint at almost every 15minutes..for each checkpoint, I was shackled in fear of being interrogated... Their checks were quite thorough and I was smart enough to have kept the safe in an unattractive nylon bag that was with me in the bus...we got to seme border and went ahead with another routine check before we finally made way into the country...the nation was quite small..I got to dantokpa market where was regarded as the major food market..I was directed by a Nigerian dude I met in the bus to Erevan supermache which was a well renowned supermarket in the whole of the country or..state..Cuz their population density is not up to lagos,neither is their land mass...it was a well organised place,it had more organization than Lagos..their branding as a whole will add value to their service..I got few toiletries and clothing.. My adventure as a boy just begun..how long would I keep up??the purpose for the male appearances had been conquered.. I'll just stick to being a tom boy..I grabbed something to quiet my stomach grumbling, some baguette and lait caillé(fresh dry bread with fermented milk)...it was filling,..I looked around for a place to stay,and got confused at the similarities of a residential house and a hotel..I later got an affirmation from a beninois on the hotel I could stay,his name was Nurudeen...it was a Muslim dominated place,so I had more tendencies to meet with more Muslims than any other religion..
  He showed me to this crispy hotel.."ibis hotel"..the streets were interlocked and this particular hotel was marble constructed..I had already changed some cefas at the boarder, so I was financially able to afford the hotel suites ten times over..I had a little arrogance to my voice,I saw the relevance of money at its peak..its like the whole world bows at your feet..I booked the suite and made way to the bar with Nurudeen after securing the room..my orientation about life,existence, survival,belief and ego changed at the moment..

Chapter 43;
Itwas a French speaking country(pays francophone).. And had to do some signaling to get the appropriate message across to whoever I communicated with buh Nuru was my saviour in every of my dealings, he made things easy for me,I just tell him my wants and he makes them a most..he told me bout Obama beach where I could cool off the concentration of the scorching sun..from the first Time I met him,we just gelled as buddies..he was an "okay kinda guy"buh not "dream type of guy"...he was jovial and a very devout Muslim..he taught me about Islam and the quaran..we had constructive arguments and mind opening discussions but we never thought of a mind blowing sex..I had spent 3days in Cotonou and it looked like I was there like forever..I met more people and made more friends..the money started becoming a spirit that urged me to spend even when not necessary.. I ignored the initiatives of investment..I went for ante Natal's and tried my best at concealing the pregnancy, but its like smoke that you can't hide.. I was living lavish in the hotel..I needed that luxury and power..money became my motivation but on a negative aspect,I was doing more spending than earning..
  One particular day,the sun was burning like hell..I took a trip to eldorado Beach.. That was one thing I cherished bout this place,the beaches and the views were a must watch.. I was relaxing without Nurudeen Cuz of the urge for privacy..he had already started to freak me out,and besides he was just an ambitious guy that was looking for what was in it for him..time revealed the truth that he reaped me off from errands that he ran for me..I was too quick to judge him without letting time unravel the mysteries, now I found fault at every slight thing he did..in thoughts angry with myself??,I turned to my side to take a quick stare..my eyes went out by the sight of whom I saw...

Chapter 44;

It took me a while to recuperate at the recognition of the identity of the fellow..were my eyes blurr??am I dreaming??is my sight failing me??..it was the stranger that killed Kelvin!!!..I was trembling went he sent his stare at me,it caused a scare to my composure.. I looked around for any other thing more shocking that what I had seen..two men were approaching me from 90degree South,I glanced at my Kels killer,he had already grabbed a piece(pistol) all those time I was surveying those men..
   That moment in my life was a divine moment because I was face to face with death buh survived..I looked in the face if death,and took its mask out..he intended to shoot me but I dodged from my subconscious and went yo the ground while the bullet hit one of those two men approaching me...there was confusion and disarray.. People took to their heels to an unknown direction without being sure where the hit was from...fear!!!...but I was scared once,at that moment the pistol got to its designation..then I lost my fear and embraced my boldness...the strong will and intellect was required to survive..kels killer didn't want to cause more pandemonium after killing his gang member accidentally, so he ceased making use of the weapon and asked the other man to man hunt me at all cost..I overheard as he was screaming for a life or death warrant for me while I took the race of my life to another level..I was never an athlete in school but I surely passed my quota of a sprints lady..I kept on running as I was gasing  out..I didn't move straight,I ensured I sped into corners leading to other bends...I got to the stage I could run no more,I fell to the ground panting and I fainted on the bare floor at the corner of the road..

Chapter 45;
  They say sleep is the cousin to death,what do we call coma??,the brother??.. I was in a sub conscious state..my eyes closed Cuz this dream was keen to my last breathe.. I blanked out and lost details on scenes that played,that brought me inside this thick forest, I was bound with chains and many of my kind that had fallen prey to my type of circumstances.. I could I.d close to a thousand people in this under ground like cave,I was numb when we arrived the place..my instinct was sharp enough to pick a lady who seemed to be a body butcher and cook..there was a head of this sacrilegious cult,that whatever he uttered, stood as a word that was bond..the uniformity of this group was what tickled my fancy.. Every body had a role to play..as men were bringing captives like me,others were performing their duty,..some were jailed and others were killed at the spot..
  I saw my captors discussing with the head in a negotiated manner to assume they were pricing me out for execution...I saw dissected body parts into different buckets,there was a person for that,that sorted out body organs into different folds..it was a human sacrificial market...my eyes were blur and I struggled to stay conscious, it was a race against the chains of death..there were buyers too,ones that purchased cadavers and body parts..I realised that people bought more of heart and kidney than any other..I had been through a lot in my entire life but this???this was so unbelievable for my comprehension..this was the height of mystery in reality,it WS like being in the realm of the underworld..every thing in there was not of this world!!!...I noticed the head pointing to my direction...within short notice,the lady that looked like she was in charge of the butchery,approached me;as she looked into my eyes,she placed her thumb on my stomach..

Chapter 46;
  I was hearing indistinctive voices arguing over what seemed to be the report the lady brought back to the head ..she came back to me in a short while with a substance,forced my mouth open with her hands choking my throat ..I gulped the bitter substance involuntarily, as soon as the liquid slid to my stomach,I blanked out....I lost sight of the basis of reality and life ..everything seemed like a dream to me"is my brain being fingered or tampered with??"..questions that went without answer,in this realm, I found myself in a rocky boat with waters of fire below...the waves were calm and tricky,the thickness in darkness was vision less.. The fire of the waters were my only way of sight,the boat was in a dicey state and needed skill,zeal,patience and tenacity to deal with.. I couldn't enter the fire,the water seemed hoter than the fire,the heat emitting from both substances pierced my skin hurtfully.. There were unfriendlies,distraction and laws of attraction working to my destruction..I was hungry for death but suffering came in abundance...I finally saw light at the end of the tunnel,I felt more determined to approach the light regardless of the dark that clouded me..I wheeled in everything I had in me to get to the light,the water and fire seemed fiercely fiery but I got burnt,was wounded,had trials and tribulations but scampered to get to the light..but..that was when I was made conscious by the butcher lady...I saw her eating a heart,with blood all over her hand..."you!!u get belle ba??"....I was quite affluent with my indigenous native dialect and .."yes ma,where we dey madame"...she laughed and ended it with a grin.."omode n  se  é(you are being a child)".."where you dey so,person no dy come and go back alive".."na becuz u geh Belle,na y I never kill you"..."I go first comot your baby,na market".//what!!! I yelled with the little power I had left in me but it only brought the attention of others

Chapter 47;
My hands,feet and ankle had been shackled in chains that it started beginning to feel like a bracelet..I felt the lady's hands on my Virginia as she narrated stories of how she got here...she had been in this place since she was 8,and has killed countless numbers of people in which they fry,boil or eat raw...there were cooks that specialized in using human liver for pepper soup, human legs and heads..she stated that they have their own sort of Christmas and a different calendar from that of the real world..it was like I was hearing the unheard.. She continued,saying the head is a fearless and revered man that doesn't speak twice..I was dead in real life,she was removing my  baby and it felt painless..I was hung and it was easy for her to get the baby out unto a bucket beneath me..she was happy at the dead child's removal,she told me it was her favourite human meat..she loved them raw..I looked at Mr Baloguns last product with tears in my eyes with little I could do..she hurriedly took them to the kitchen department for cooking..
  I was spared for a few more moments because I was pregnant,there were so many not so lucky people that were stripped off their heart with a blade..in particular, there was a batch that was brought,that had a pastor like person in there..he was with the Torah and was dressed like a man if God.. He was the easiest to kill. His death was less than 10secs..he was split into two at the first time of asking...the head made commands with little stress,the once I saw his word disputed, he hit the staff in his hand unto the ground, and the person was struck dead...as unbelievable as it looked,it was the truth I saw...I never felt sun in this place ...it was a place of damnations and destruction.. It was the hell promised in the holy book of Revelation..only that this was hell on earth...
 




Chapter 48;
  The number of persons slaughtered daily was unimaginable,the manhood and Virginia of victims were taken strictly to the shrine...I saw so many dignitaries and important personalities over different strata's and facets of life..people of high influence and affluence... Things I saw were abominable to speak about putting in consideration the discreetness of my identity..During the time I spent in the hell!!!,they were celebrating their own kind of Xmas..it was a merriment that displayed human body parts at its peak...I realised that I was their "Xmas scapegoat"... I was afforded little freedom by the butcher WOman by unshackling me a bit to free some space on my joints,she seemed motherly and affectionate but this devils home must have brain washed her..
  She reminded me of my mum,that " I don't care attitude ",with little of compassion in it.. She seemed sorry that I was going to die,she wanted my life preserved but she was the supposed person to take it.. She made herself feel like the mother I'll never have and treated me preferentially from others that were up for execution..
  The time of my execution was drawing as close as ever..my child gone,all I could do was remain reminiscent of the little good time I had in life.. I stayed faithful and religious during these dying days..I didn't need to think about death because death a shadow close to me..I had seen death on many occasions and I somehow managed to survive in each tale..buh dis...,this was the beginning of the end for me,I have fulfilled my mission and passion to my best knowledge.. I believed in heaven, and needed to make heaven above death..I got to realise through the stories of the lady butcher,that people get that get missing for no reason come to fulfil their reason on this realm of the world..this were strong devil re in carinated individuals that believed in evil and wickedness... Death and strive dined on their tables,they drank and wined like one big family..

Chapter 49;
  It was time for me!!..they were observing their normal ritual rites when the lady fed me in on my death status.."Lord,forgive my sins and transgressions, put my name in the book of life(amen)"..she slid me a potion.."e go make you die quick quick,without pain "..I took it from her,I was going to die anyways..the question was how and when..well,the when was now..I later on,changed my mind on the potion as I was brought forward..I wanted to die like a sacrifice to the cruelty of humanity to life.. I had seen it all,this realm was a" second Heaven" as they named it..I was going to be slit with a dagger and thrown into fire..I had seen couple if others death. How horrific, it was mine for me to witness..I made a last look at the lady butcher as she was sharpening her knife,I felt her reluctance in ending me but she had no other choice.. Just as I shut my eyes,to receive the sword of death,it didn't come,the lady had a pause of emotion in the moment,and it costed her her life..I just felt blood splash from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet,I opened my eyes wide,tasted the blood in my tongue..I found a dissected lady..what!!!I wailed in tears and pains..the head of the 2nd heaven punished her for her emotions and care she showered on me..there was a moment of silent from other observers... It was evil portrayed by a devil!!!..he showed no mercy for her to negotiate her way back to life..she was left with a lifeless soul and a divided body.."you next"...the head screamed..death was here and I had no reason for fear...

Chapter 50;
As he raised his two edged sword to feast on my flesh..I felt a pause of reality..it felt like I was making a passage into the real Heaven..I was expecting it Cuz I saw when he raised his sword .....buh...wait a minute????...I heard a gun sound,as I felt the heavy body of the head land on my back..it was a raid!!!,it was scary and crazy..people lost lives in the process due to pandemonium,confusion and diversions..the feisty battle lasted for 20minutes in my imagination, I laid still with my head to the ground,I resign to faith about my life..as there was little calm in the vicinity, I felt a warm hand over my shoulder..in a familiar voice"are you okay"he said... I didn't care to look up as he left to ensure stability in their mission.. I wasn't encouraged to face up,..I just wanted whatever happens to my life to be over with..there was calm and little serenity,I felt..that same familiar voice that ensured my safety..
For the first time I looked up..Mr Tuoyo??..."yes...Tuoyo Williams"..I sighed as he continued.. "I'm with the Special Anti robbery squad and we v been on this case for 3months,Mr kels gang members went after you after they bribed their way to be released on bail by the police....he unshackled me as he continued.."I was to protect you at the hotel when you fled,we were looking for you to offer witness protection..'"..
I found all he said hard to digest, you mean I inflicted being a fugitive upon myself??does it mean that the gateman didn't spill??the money was not detected??.. I sat on the floor as I watched arrests made in the workers,I saw the lifeless butcher lady that deserved my respect..Mr Tuoyo helped me on my feet as he made further explanations./" we need to get you to an hospital to run tests on your health status and well being...he paused...and held my hand in a comforting way and said.."I'm sorry to break this to you,but kels gang came for Mandy and the family..and???...I clinched to his arm as he continued... "They are all dead!!..you are our only witness that can testify against the gang still at large".. Mandy is gone!!!!!!!

Show quoted text

Chapter 51;
  As I was escorted out of the caves to the real world;I realized I was in ibadan,and I spent 2weeks of normal days in the second heaven..I was offered a safe house and witness protection.. I looked back at the cave and drifted off to thoughts on how many people had died in my stead.. How many lives were lost for knowing me..I kept sobbing about Mandy and the innocent family.. Her good intentions led to her death,." Miss Freda?? "..Tuoyo said.." We need to get you to our safe house in Lagos Asap..we can't afford to loose you"...loose me???,I thought..I have been missing from life since the death of Kel..no fulfilment or accomplishments could replace the sacrifice of the beautiful individuals that lost their lives.."can I see Mandy and her family's morgue?? "..." Yes yes..of course...you can"..Mr Tuoyo replied..I immediately remembered the fact that I had valuables locked up in my hotel room in Cotonou... Buh that was not my bother..I was so sure within myself that as long as there was life,there was hope. I was never a sucker for riches Nd fancy things..I defined success by making prospects become success.. I wanted my impact To be felt on humanity, so I took an instant decision to leave all I had in Cotonou, I let it live and die there..I got to ikoyi cemetery as a mark of honor for Mandy and her family.. It was the first rite I performed as I touched down Lagos..it was more difficult than I anticipated, emotions bruised my soul..not only did Mandy and her family die for me,I could count Kel,Mr Balogun,the butcher lady..what kind of purpose was I destined to fulfil that made them experience death at their expense..my spit was a bitter pill to swallow as I watched their grave on my knees weeping...

Chapter 52;
  Detective Tuoyo came in handy to comfort my soul..he was very homely and tendered to my healing wounds..he was appointed my personal body guard with other 3operatives that kept me safe...they provided me with supplies of whatever I wanted..I was too bruised to be attracted to him..my imagination was not human...I reasoned like a ghost..I ate less,drank more,slept less,observed more,wrote less,read more...my mind was thoughtless..my time was priceless.. I began to think like Hymen.. Eyes on the price,I was later allowed to move as I please knowing they monitored me discreetly..
Detective Tuoyo came in handy when it came to tutoring me about gathering Intel's,mounting of surveillance and target practise..he gave me a magnum 10 pistol as a gift..I knew he meant as a protection.. I always was with me in my instincts and awareness..my 6th sense was on point like a decimal..
I was enrolled for jamb,and the whole bill was on detective Tuoyo in which he claimed was a Federal government initiative.. I worked per time as the p.a to an editor in the dailys magazine... I waited for The next year to enrol into Unilag and I needed to keep body and soul together... I learnt art and craft from my bosses,my humility was my trademark... She gave me chances and opportunities in which I made good use of..One night,I was at my apartment at magodo area when I heard breaking and entering of some miscreants.. I tried numbers I was given for emergencies and none came to avail..I dashed to my shelve beside my bed,I cocked the pistol and tip toed to the entrance..u had never tasted life action of gun battles..only practised with dumy dolls..I took a hidden part of my house where I could sight the intruders on masks ...I squizzed the gat like I lost my sanity,I dropped two while The rest fled...I ran to where the ones I got down were situated..I unmasked them and....???...found one to be Kels murderer, the other one was shot on the chest and was already on the road to hell!!!

Chapter 53;
"You!!,many days for the thief but now your day as come".." Abeg ma,its the devil.....no...."...shut up,I replied... I started picturing Kels face,how the trigger was pulled up on him, he was perforated on his stomach..I had the gun,therefore I had d power.. I used my middle finger to squiz the trigger as I joyously enjoyed the as I took vengeance on Kels murderer, I shot him 9times as he was yelling in pain..as I shot the last pallet of bullet into his body,the police came in.."drop your weapon"...I didn't hesitate to do what was required..I point my gun on the floor as I slid it to the cops..that was when Tuoyo came in..he was speechless as I was wheeled away by the cops..it was glaring I was arrested for man slaughter..if I was going to counter it,I had to wait for a court date...I was taken to SARS Ikeja..
  Mr Tuoyo was going from detectives to inspectors to plead a case on my behalf..he solicited for me like no mans business.. I was remanded in the cell for 2weeks during which I came to behold another type of life whereby they had a ruling President in the cell..the newest comer had the obligations to clean the shit hole,fan the head through out the night for 30prison days..I was eventually charged to court in which I pleaded innocent, I was eventually discharged and acquitted on the basis of self defense..
After Two years I became the youngest female CEO of a magazine company, I married Tuoyo and my asset tripled all I have ever had in total...kels remaining killers at large were caught and killed with death by hanging..I now live life like super human...I write,publish and read till now..thats what got me wealth,and I gave back to the communities by running NGOs and giving financial projects like social amenities and infrastructure... I have been wounded and scarred but I still exist to fulfil my existence and less I forget,??I'm 7months pregnant...
The End

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