Darkness covered everywhere in the land of Obioha. Not even a single star could be seen in the sky talk more of the moon. The screeching of bats from a nearby bush could be heard at this very late hour-12:00am. Daria, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Alfred stretched awake on her bed to the noise coming from a distant. Due to the darkness of the room, she located where the electric switch is and put it on. Light shone all over the room. One could see a typical local girl’s room; clothes hung on a rope while some on hanger. At another corner was a locker full of books and papers. Her bed was nothing to write home about. Obviously, the room indicated the poor background of her parents. Daria quietly moved towards the door, she wore a gown without a bra. She plate her hair in a local fashion but that didn’t remove an atom of her beauty rather it improved it to molecule added to the attractive fair body complexion. She could hear the noise and shout of a familiar voice then she held her chest. “Austine?” she soliloquized as she went back to her bed. Sooner did she hear the voice again loud and clear, “Please, don’t kill me!” “Austine!” Daria stood up with a speed. She quietly opened the door to avoid waking her parents up. When she got outside, she couldn’t believe the darkness of the atmosphere. Nevertheless, she hurried up into the darkness. Dogs barked, crickets chirp, frogs croaked and most of all, cats purred but Daria kept going. She hastened up and began to run because she couldn’t bear the cry of Austin. As she ran like a blind woman, she stumbled and fell seriously. “My God!” she exclaimed… ** On the other hand at the very resident of Austin, he laid flat on the floor wearing only a boxer and singlet. Before him was a man on mask and black. On his feet were Timber-land boots and on his palms were thick black hand-gloves. He had a sharp sward which he had used on Austin already. One could see blood gushing out from Austin’s arms. “They call me Red” Ebube, the man on mask began. “I guess you must have heard about me coz my fame bread like a bedshirt. Your stubbornness let you into this. You should have cooperated with me peacefully. Now, look at what you’ve done to yourself” he shuffled the sward into it’s shelf and turned. He had a power motorcycle which he climbed heroically and put the key in the ignition. The tyres of the motorcycle is as big as that of vehicles but had wider area. “Crooom, croom” it set on motion and blasted out. ** Daria struggled up without minding the injuries she sustained, so she began to run again. As she ran, she heard the hoot of Owls and croak of toads but these sounds suddenly overcame by the sound of Ebube’s power motorcycle. Hearing that, she hid beside a nearby bush. She could see the ray of light coming from the opposite direction. It drew closer and closer until it passed, then she began to run again. At the resident of Austin, as Austin staggered inside with his hands full of blood, Daria arrived. “Austin?” she called in a low voice standing few meters away. “Daria, what are you doing here?” Austin asked holding his arm. “I heard you shouting that’s why i came” Daria sighted the blood then rushed him. “Oh my God! You are bleeding! What happened?” “I was attacked but Red” “Red? Who’s Red?” “A criminal i guess” “Thank God he didn’t take your life. Let me clean you up” Daria sighted a bucket of water. Austin stared at her as she came back with the bucket and told him to sit down but he refused. “Austin, why? Let me clean you up” Daria stared into his eyes with a clean cloth in her hand. “No, Daria” Austin replied. “But why?” “I’m worried why you came all the way from your house to this place. Have you thought of what your parents will say if they get to know you left your house to my house at this hour of the night?” “But i came to save a life, especially for the person i love. I couldn’t bear hearing your shout then keep quiet. Please, allow me to clean the blood. You’re bleeding furiously” Daria concluded then both stared at each other silently… ** Mr Alfred, Daria’s father woke up to the sound of the motorcycle. He stood up toward the parlour door and found it open. With the same gesture, he checked on Daria but couldn’t find her. “Elizabeth!” he shouted his wife’s name. “Mama Daria!” he added before the wife came out adjusting her wrapper. “My husband, what is it?” “Where is your daughter?” “You mean Daria?” “Do we have another one?” “Hehy..” the wife entered Daria’s room but couldn’t find her. “My husband, where is she?” “I’m asking you and you are asking me back. Ihia anyi biara o gwam gwam gwam?” the husband spoke in igbo language. “I don’t know where she is” “If i don’t kill that girl with my hands, she won’t disappear by this time of the night!” “Heh! Chim oh!” the wife adjusted her wrapper again. Just then, Daria came back with blood stain on her gown.. To be continued……………..

There was a total tranquility in the parlour after Daria came back standing beside the door. “Daria, where are you coming from by this time of the night?” the father asked. “Father, i.. i went to save a life” Daria replied adjusting backword then the father glanced at his wife who began to dance in a bitter feelings. One could her fallen breats flinging up and down. “You went to save a life” the father repeated. “When did you become James Bond? Whose Life did you go to save by the way?” “Austin’s life” Daria replied again in fear. “You see your daughter?” Mr Alfred turned to his wife. “Just listen to what she’s saying. That same boy that nearly put her into trouble the other day is who she went to save tonight” “Hey, Daria!” the mother exclaimed. “Now listen to me Daria or Dairy, whatever you call yourself” the father began. “Any day you leave this house again at this time, I’ll send you packing. Now get inside!” Daria ran into her room immediately. “Life saver! James Bond! You have suddenly become actor!” Mr Alfred turned to his wife. “Warn your daughter” he concluded and went into his room while the wife met Daria in her room changing her cloth. “Daria, what has come over you?!” the mother moved closer. “Mother, I’m sorry, but i had to know Austin’s condition” Daria replied holding the cloth in her hand. One could see her in pant only. “This Austin will put u into trouble one day! Don’t say i didn’t warn you!” “I’m sorry, mother” “Sorry for yourself” the mother concluded as she left the room. ** THE NEXT DAY The news of what happened the previous night spread all over the land. It was in the lips of both young and old. One of the two men at a local joint playing draft suddenly folded his hands. “God, let it not be true” he said. “What is it?” the other partner asked. “Are you the only one who didn’t hear the motorcycle that drove last night?” “I heard it! It seems Red visited our land last night because only his motorcycle has that powerful sound” “That’s my fear! If at all Red has come into our land, there must be a big trouble!” “I fear the consequences” “Both of you shut up your mouths!” Odem, popularly known as the Wine interrupted them. He was the most drunkard in the village. One could see him with a bottle of wine and his trouser properly dragged up to his stomach. “You boys are bunch of lazy fools!” he added as he staggered towards the two men. “The Wine, what brought this insult this morning?” Kenneth, one of the men asked. “Close your trap! So you people heard everything that happened last night but never went to check! Heeii.. wicked people!” “Who would have come out that night to face Red?” Fred, the next guy asked. “You see your selfish life” Odem staggered forward again. “But someone came out that night to save life! Oh..!” he stared into the sky. “Who came out that night?” Kenneth asked curiously. “The one who love has eaten deep into her heart. Chai…” Odem replied. “The Wine, you are confusing us the more” “I never said anything” Odem concluded. “Don’t mind this man, let’s play our game” Fred told Kenneth. ** Prisca had a dark charming complexion. She dresses classic and sexy which explains the wealthy background of her parents. She walked briskly to Austin’s in jean trouser and a top which she tied with a bold belt across her stomach thereby giving her ‘A figure eight shape.’ She met Austin outside his house amending his wound. “Hey, Austin!” Prisca shouted and hurried up. “What happened to you?” “Hi, Prisca” Austin gently replied. “I was attacked by a criminal last night” he added. “I thought as much coz i heard you shouting but i couldn’t come out to help you” “Is okay, thanks anyway” Austin brought her a seat grinning widely and happily. “I heard is Red” Prisca sat down. “Yes, how did you know?” “Who doesn’t know the almighty Red who has done disastrous things in nearby towns and villages? Of course the sound of his motorcycle made his identify obvious” “I was surprise when he mentioned his name” Austin looked at her. “Thanks for coming” he added. “Welcome. Let me help you dress the wound” Prisca suggested. “No, don’t” Austin insisted. “Why?” “I don’t want you to stain your beautiful hands” Austin grinned again. The smiles on his face sent a signal to Prisca who smiled too. Just then, Daria walked in with her friend, Lana. Both in skirts. Seeing them, the smiles on Austin’s face stopped while that of Prisca lingered. “Good morning, Austin” Daria greeted as she walked briskly to him. She totally ignored Prisca’s presence. “How’s the wound?” “It’s getting better” Austin replied and glanced at Prisca while Lana stood aside observing them with her hands folded. “Sorry, you will get better” Daria stood up then look at Prisca. “Hi Prisca, what are u doing here?” “The same thing u are doing here” Prisca replied.. : TBC

Daria smiled unwillingly as she stared at Prisca. She had no negative mind but thought Prisca came for a good purpose. She looked at Austin again and said, “I guess i have to go so that you can entertain your guest” “Alright” Austin replied without looking up. “Daria, let’s get out of here!” Lana spoke up harshly. Daria couldn’t leave because the attention she needed from Austin wasn’t given to her. Therefore, she turned and glanced at Prisca and Austin again. “Let’s go!” Lana dragged her by the hand. After they left, Prisca asked Austin, “Why did you do that?” “Did what?” Austin finally looked up grinning broadly. “Why did you allow Daria to go just like that?” “She wanted to go, i didn’t force her” “Hmm…” Prisca averted her eyes from him. “May i offer you something?” Austin asked. “What do you have?” Prisca returned her eyes smiling. “Just wait and see” Austin stood up. ** Still on the road where Lana was still dragging Daria home. “Wait nah! Stop dragging me, what?!” Daria exclaimed before Lana disengaged her hand. “Can’t you see? Don’t you have eyes?!” Lana placed her hands on her waist. “What are you talking about?” “I saw how Austin was looking Prisca, it’s not ordinary. Now listen, did Austin give you his attention?” Daria shook her head negatively in reply, “He didn’t even ask me whether i went home successfully last night?” she added bitterly then her heartbeat increased thereby stimulating tears in her eyes. “That’s what I’m saying, Austin doesn’t love u. It’s obvious he’s interested in Prisca” “Please, stop saying that” Daria voice began to break. “I’m only telling u the truth. Someone you sustained an injury for last night and got shouted by your parents doesn’t even care or give you a little attention. He doesn’t love you!” Lana concluded. Her words finally brought tears in Daria’s eyes. “No, i can’t allow Austin do this to me. I’m going back to him” Daria said in tears and wanted to proceed but Lana held her hand. “Over my dead body! You can’t go back there, not while I’m here! Please, let’s go home” “Please, Lana” “I said no!” Daria went home with Lana broken hearted. ** At a nearby bank, away from the land of Obioha, one could see both security men and policemen with guns. They monitored every movement within and outside the bank. Of course banking was taking place. Sooner did they hear the sound of Ebube’s motorcycle and got ready. “Everybody get down!” the policemen shouted. Even before they gave the command, many people who heard the motorcycle laid down already. Finally, Ebube arrived in front of the bank still in a mask and heroic attire. He jumped down from the motorcycle and stared at the policemen and security men who pointed guns at him. “Not a step forward! Go back!” one of the policemen shouted. Ebube smiled as he touched his sword gently. “Have you not heard about me?” he asked. “They call me Red while I’m black. Imaging!” he smiled again and moved forward. Then the policemen began to shoot him, yet he kept going. It was obvious the bullets touched him but non hurt him. As he reached the gate, he jumped over it and brought out his sword. However, the policemen got tired of shooting. They only watched him grabbed one of the security men on the ear into the bank and collected a huge amount of money. They all watched him return to his motorcycle and said, “I guess you all know who Red is now. Continue your transaction” he put the key in the ignition. “Crooom, Crooom” the motorcycle blasted out. : Before Lana and Daria could get to their resident, they heard the sound of Ebube’s motorcycle. Others who heard it, either ran into a bush or totally laid flat on the ground. “I heard the same sound last night” Daria spoke up. “That must be Red” Lana said fearfully. “Who’s he and what does he want?” “He’s a known criminal” “Why can’t the police arrest him” Daria asked seriously. “He cannot be arrested. He’s even more powerful than the soldiers. I guess he’s heading to the village square” Lana replied and dragged Daria by the hand again to take another road to their house but she insisted. “Daria, what’s wrong with you?!” “I want to see this Red” Daria replied. “You must be crazy! This person is not a human being” “Do you think so?” “Please, let’s flee!” Lana held her hand and they began to run. ** Odem was staggering on the road when Ebube passed him with a speed thereby making him fall into a bush. “Hey! The gods of palm wine!” he shouted as he struggled up again. Nobody reminded him to run to his house instead of staggering because the air created by the motorcycle blew off the drunkenness from his eyes. On the other hand, Austin took cover when he also heard the motorcycle. He stood up and told Prisca to get inside the house. “Why should i enter into the house?” Prisca asked. “Because i don’t want you to be hurt” Austin replied. “Why do care so much about me?” Prisca looked into his eyes… : TBC