Arrested by love

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