Must Read: Paradox Of Abel - Season 1 - Episode 18

7 years ago

Must Read: Paradox Of Abel - Season 1 - Episode 18

Remi’s father literally slapped the gate a couple of times with his large hand. The gate was very high and made of steel; heavy and hard to knock. The fence, which surrounded the compound, was stretched in an ever-longing style by the road. And on top of this row of blocks were barbed wires which glistened in the afternoon sun. Some few feathers could still be seen tangled in the mest of the wires. Birds had tried to perch on the wires and they’d been instantly electrocuted. The owner of the building, however, evidently took every precaution to make sure that the bandit that might want to pay them a visit remained outside the gate. An inconspicuous surveillance camera had been installed at a corner on top of the gate. Because of all these, Jamal Malik had decided against employing the service of a gate-keeper.

Before Tunde could slap the gate one more time it swung open without assistance. The gate was being electronically controlled from within.

Mr. Johnson smiled at Daniel and said, “My father-in-law is full of surprises. He should expect some from me.”

Daniel did not know what comment to reward such statement. He only grinned, the shape of his mouth resembling a banana.

When they stepped inside, the gate closed behind them. For a moment, Daniel was scared the gate might not open for him anymore. Perhaps, luckily, he would exit the compound alive, but absent his right arm. He knew very well the danger inherent in following a stranger into another stranger’s den. Many had done it before but did not live to narrate their ordeals. He was helplessly stirring up endless hideous possibilities in the pot of paranoia that was ever boiling on his mental stove.

He knew that back in Port Harcourt, he could easily have refused the man’s request to travel with him down here. Even with the threat of the severance of his limb. But he did not back out, he had agreed to follow his tormentor because he was consumed totally with the possibility of having to see Remi once again.

The lady had promised him marriage. He was excited. The excitement had evaporated as soon as the gate closed behind them. His glee had been replaced with dread – a fear of what could happen in this secluded compound. And the grin plastered on the face of Mr. Johnson wasn’t helping any situation at all.

Considering his current state of mind, Daniel wasn’t suited for work in a graveyard, a mortuary, a morgue, or a cryogenics facility where gaggle of dead people frozen in expectation that one day they could be thawed and returned to life.
“You look scared.” Johnson said.
“Shouldn’t I?” asked Daniel in reply.
“Don’t be scared, the house is safe.”
Safe like Titanic. Safe like Hiroshima 1945. Safe like Hell. For Daniel – a man who had slept with only three women in his entire life, who had never really experienced one-night stands even in the days when there were fashionable or ostensibly disease-free, who had never had s*x purely for the physical s£nsat!on and without the anchors of love or commitment – the decision to flee felt surprisingly right.

Daniel was immediately filled with wonder when he noticed the ambience of his surroundings. The property was an estate; Daniel could count as much as eight buildings therein. And far before them stood the largest architectural edifice of all. It stood tall and proud; it could as well be used as a hangar while all around the fence could be the location for an airport. But the property wasn’t an airport in the least; it was a residential estate which was owned by only one wealthy man – the one and only Jamal, even though, truly, the man had an airline business going. The biggest building of all, the one Mr. Johnson and Daniel were approaching, would be considered to be capable of accommodating about fifty to a hundred guests. The windows went on and on, and the shadow it cast on the concrete ground beneath was huge. At each side of the building were uncemented grounds; one side was a garden used in growing series of vegetables and root crops, while the other side, considerably farther off the massive house, were young coconut trees which grew not beyond arm’s reach. The soles of their feet which beat the pavement made some noise like the flapping of a beach. If there was ever going to be a zoo in the state of Lagos, this area should be ideal for the tourist attractions. Daniel noticed the dustbin can was without lid and there were litters everywhere. He retrieved the dustbin lid and meticulously gathered up all the litters: three empty beer cans, a receipt of purchase, noodles wrappers and damaged DVDs.

They reached the door.

The door itself was painted brown, like the entrance of a courtroom. It was made of oak; as heavy as a rock and as hard as armour. Daniel’s jaw was dangling at the sight.

Tunde knock on the heavy door, physically wincing with pain at every contact his knuckle made with the locked door. He knocked three times before the door was being opened from behind.

The figure that emerged from behind the heavy door was so striking in appearance that Daniel’s heart nearly stopped. She was not more than nineteen or twenty, Daniel thought.

She was dressed in a black gown with an embroidery that extended from the swell of her b0s0m down to the hem of her garment which draped almost to her feet. Covering her legs was a pair of black heelless footwears. From each shoe, a polished nail poked. Daniel looked at the lady’s face. It was as smooth as a bald man’s pate. Her jet-black hair, which heightened the curves and softness of her face, fell across the right side of her face. Her complexion was fair and her black eyes glittered like diamonds; very luminous searching eyes under arched brows.
Her nose was slightly turned up and her lips slightly too full for the rest of her countenance.

But all these things made for beauty against a fair skin where the blood showed easily. Her eyes especially caught Daniel’s attention; they were so beautiful, so glorious, the lashes black and shiny, the eyebrows graciously outlined.

Yet, behind the eyes lurked something dangerous. Her stare carried a flicker of desperation, and this worried Daniel. He also noticed her lissome svelte. All in all, the lady gave the impression of beauty at its peak, whether she was actually beautiful or not, she retained that impression of fragility and a certain hesitant air which went with both. The lady looked from one to the other of them, Lot and Daniel, that is.

Daniel expected the man who had brought him over here to talk, but when the older man seemed not ready to say anything, he spoke:
“Good afternoon, young lady.” He greeted.
“Good afternoon, sir. How may I help you?” the lady demanded pleasantly.
Daniel, anxious to go to his family, did not waste time in asking his question. “My name is Daniel Famous, and this is Mr. Johnson.” The girl did not show any sign of knowing either of them.
“Okay,” she said, apparently expecting Daniel to continue.
“Okay,” Daniel mimicked her, he was trying very hard to find his tongue. “We need to see someone by the name Remi. Is she around?”
The pretty girl frowned, “Remi?” she asked.
“Yes, Remi.”
“I’m sorry,” she replied, “We have no one by that name here.”
Daniel’s heart flew off. He opened his eyes wide, not believing his own ears. He looked up at the large man beside him, the man was not smiling.

Daniel knew that he was not going to come out of this trouble unscathed any more than he was likely to escape Mr. Johnson in a flying carpet with a magic lamp and a helpful genie.