Roses And Thorns – Episode 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

It was late in the night, Melody walked home tired, if there was one person she hated working for in the neighborhood, it was Mrs Obaseke, the Edo woman, she would stress her (Melody), give her extra workloads and even make her go home late but she wouldn’t still add a penny to their agreed payment.

Earlier that day, she made her (Melody) empty her trashcan at the dump site and even told her to bring the kids back from school. she sighed, if only the country was how it was supposed to be, a second class upper graduate shouldn’t suffer like that. She walked on home deciding not to cry again.

Just few metres to the metro bus stop, she felt she was being followed, she stopped, turned around but didn’t see anyone, she continued walking and concluded that she was just assuming things because she was tired. Then a strong male cologne wafted through her nostrils and the hairs at the back of her neck stood, goosebumps appeared on her body, she got scared and then she hastened her steps. If only she could get into her area, she wouldn’t be scared anymore because she knew she would be safe.

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He was about leaving when he finally saw her coming home looking dejected. He followed her quickly keeping a quality distance. He didn’t have plans of attacking her that night, he only wanted to see her to calm his raging hormones, he had been thinking about her all through the day even when he was at the phsychiatric hospital to visit his brother. All of a sudden, she stopped and looked around, he stopped too and hid behind a kiosk. She continued her journey home and he followed suit again, the next moment, she was walking as fast as her legs could carry her, he hastened his steps too.

She entered the ghetto area and slowed down her pace walking normally, he slowed down too but continued following her, he would surely know where she lived at least.

“Mama Kola ekale ooo” (Good evening) she greeted an elderly woman in the first house she saw.

“Ekale omo mi, bawoni?” (Good evening my child, how are you?)

“mo wa pa, Kola da?” (am fine, where is Kola?)

“He is inside the house. ehen my child, i have been waiting for you to come home, i have something i want to tell you” the elderly woman said switching to English language.

“Okay Mama Kola, am all ears” Melody replied.

“My friend came here earlier today, and she said that someone told someone that told someone that told someone she knows about a burial ceremony of a senators daughter and they need young ladies to serve food and drinks there” she said.

“aaahh Mama Kola Dem go pay us? mi need owo ooo” she said.

“of course na, 20k dey involved na why i say make i tell you, you know say you be better pikin” she said with a smile.

“20k for just a day?, mi dey interested abeg, when is the date?”

“She didn’t tell me, but i will ask her and get back to you” she replied.

“Ehen Mama Kola come abeg, i get this feeling say person dey follow me, you fit just shine your torch for that place?” she whispered nudging at the entrance of the ghetto.

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The stalker paid attention as she conversed with the woman in different languages. He smiled, another quality that attracted him to his victims were their brains, he loved intelligent ladies. He heard them talk about a burial ceremony, he concluded to do his findings and know when and where the burial would take place, he wouldn’t mind attending because of her. Just then, he noticed they were talking in hushed tones, he dragged his hoodie and covered his head very well. The hoodie partly covered his face.

It happened suddenly, someone flashed a Torchlight at him, the light blinded him partially and then he took to his heels wondering if they had seen his face.