Chapter 2 Inside Manama, a place in the Isle of Grata...

Tom, domineering in posture, during a get-together with his school mates, took center stage in a manner that they became the cynosure of all eyes. Mike took him to Mania, an outskirt of Manama.

Tom had no idea of what it meant to attend parties because his obsession for 'diabolic' books was at its peak in his life-going to school in Manama's busiest attraction, Hama, few miles from where he lived, and coming back home where the two destinations Tom had ever known in his life! Still in the mood of dancing, the thought rolled in his mind; the need to get at the nearest bookstore a book that will soothe the craving of his inner self-The Book of Evils. Although he didn't have the money to make purchase and saw no need to ask for some money from his peers, he was head-bent on getting that soothing relief-the book. Unfortunately, Tom had no idea of the place he was! This would put him in a fix!

In an arrogant manner and amidst all the noise, he yelled: "I'm out of here! ... Will check on y'all soon!"

Perplexed his classmates were, Mike, one of the get-together attendees, yelled: "where are you going?! We agreed to spend all day here but you here you are walking out on us just like that!". Mike's statements didn't make sense to Tom as responded by his deaf ears. He was poised to go the extra-mile to ensure that the book gets to him.

Though he was obviously not familiar with the place, he mysteriously located a bookstore at the ebbing hours of the day after moving the length and breadth of the area. As he went right in, he met a female attendee, whom he later knew as Tasha. With no money in his pocket, Tom, using his baritone voice and garnishing it with words of poetic influences, mesmerized Tasha.

"My sweet pearl, how is love truly taking care of you? I strongly know that you'll have what I need the most-the Book of Evils. I'm talking through you to subconsciously hand over the book to me!"

"Yes, I will" replied the hypnotized Tasha.

Tasha had no idea of what she was doing. She was completely lost in the euphoria of the poetic in-filling of Tom's words in a soothing baritone voice. Unknown to her, she failed to fence what was left in her care, allowing Tom exercise his naturally sticky fingers and eventually disappear into thin air with the big fish he caught; The Book of Evils.

Succeeding in what he wanted, Tom, after a long aimless walk, somehow, managed his way to the venue of the get-together but found the absent presence of Mike and the rest of his level mates; friends inclusive. It was at this point Tom knew he was at a fix-he never knew the way to his house. Still, he was very satisfied parting away with the book. Now, the die is cast; will Tom swallow his ego and ask for the way to his house or decide to move from pillar to post aimlessly? After intense rumination about his current predicament, he got off the hook of being trapped between the devil and deep blue sea by turning himself to the nearest 'Missing Persons' station in the area, which he was lucky to accidentally find; thanks to his unrelenting quest to find his way home!

It took a Good Samaritan, in the person of Kyle, who happened to be his next-door neighbor, to come to his rescue and took him home. On getting home, Sarah, who was also a mother to his two younger siblings, rained brimstone and fire as both parties were busy trading words at each other. In what seemed to the height of altercation, close-door neigbours had to clear the air of rift that existed between Tom and his mum. Again, the only thing that mattered to Tom was the Book of Evils in his possession, nothing more. Normalcy returned as peace became the order of the day except for thing...Tom's obsession for the books he stole! This would affect him in a certain way...

It was a fateful Friday evening, at about 7:00p.m, when he decided to give room for extensive perusal of the book he took away without the official consent of the attendant at the bookstore. In no time, he got himself soaked in the potency of the book's communicated words. After eight long hours of reading between the pages in his private room, the wind of sleep blew him away. It was during his sleep, he had this disturbing dream...