I am now in grade7, yet I haven’t got something promising about my dream. My brother is not here to take me to that Old man`s laboratory.
Maybe my brother was right, maybe I am too young to be here.
Ever since I`ve been outside home I`ve done nothing good rather than bad. The power of the key became stronger than I could imagine. I`d kill to give it away, I just can’t hold it anymore.
No- one my age has been to jail or awaiting a rape and murder case. What have I got myself into?
Indeed I`m not responsible and mature, I should have listened. I wish I had never wanted the key, I wish I could return it back. But that will never happen because it`s too late, I can`t undo what`s already done.
As days went by, my Last- born brother came back from overseas, unannounced. At least, unlike others, he cared to ask about my dream.
He's a guy you can`t make a fool so when he asked, I told him everything; that I`m stuck in the middle of no- where, with no direction to take. I told him I was dreaming and far from waking. I was starting to doubt myself and I thought he was going to be arrogant, but he didn’t. Instead, he encouraged me to try harder.
My brother didn’t only tell me how to follow my dream, but he also made me create a perspective of seeing things differently and what life has ahead of me. And also reminded me of the consequences of accepting the key.
If only he knew I wanna return it back!
“Enough about my dream. I thought I said you shouldn’t be here until after I`ve killed your enemy. But since you are here, I think it`s about time you showed me who our target really is because clearly, it`s not who I thought it was.”
“You will meet soon, if not later. You will meet.”
Days past, while my brother and I enjoyed each other`s company. He was no way my friend, but I enjoyed his company.
He made me totally forget about the group. He had changed. Is it overseas that changed him, or maybe I never gave him a chance.
Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to befriend him, why didn’t I start looking for dreamers at home? I wouldn’t have been in such a mess.
But at last, the sun finally shone in my path. I could feel that I`m living my dream as I used to back in the days with the Clever- learner.
Almost every after school, my brother took me to the Old- man scientist laboratory since he couldn’t last year.
The Old man was cool to me and I learnt a lot from him. I just couldn’t bare the fact that his voice sounded familiar.
“To be a great scientist, you should be unique, patient, and aiming. That’s if you know what I mean.” said the Old man scientist.
“I am. My dream is one of a kind, that’s why I`m calm with the delay though it annoys me. I have a purpose for my dream after all.”
“Do you have friends?”
“I once did. But not anymore. To me, friends are bad influencers. All they know is to destroy one`s future claiming to be showing one a right path to take.”
“What did they do or say to you?”
“They told me that I`ll never achieve my dream because it`s just a fairy- tale, nothing more. What kind of friends are they? They should go to hell for all I care.”
“But not all friends are bad influencers, ever thought of that?" he said, "You need a friend, one needs a friend. Someone with the same interests as yours.”
“There is this guy, I never met him but I think I like him. How he does things, and there`s my brother.”
“What about him?”
“He's also a friend I`m looking for. I know and like him very much. He's been a good friend to me these past weeks but then he's too old to be my friend, I guess. Should I give him a chance?”
“What if he's playing you?”
“Mystery voice! It`s you!” I said it so sure, “How do you do it? How do you spiritually talk to me?”
He got shocked, lost. Everything I said was new to him, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
I got so disappointed, I thought I had found the answers to my life.
My brother then came and told me it was time to go home.
Instead of going home, he drove to this wasteland in the middle of the night. Why are we going there, I wondered.
“What are we doing here so late?”
“The world and its people are cruel and life itself is so unfair. To make it in this world, you have to look out for your blood and nothing else. Don’t ever trust a stranger because you don’t know how dangerous or venomous one can be.”
“Is it why you want to be my friend? Are you scared I might mix with the wrong crowd? Your rivals?”
“I had a similar vision of your dream, that’s why.” I was confused so he added by saying, “Ever wondered what will happen once you invented the pill of your dream?”
“Obviously people will be healing while I get honoured and millions until I die.”
“So you agree that even after you invented the pill, death would still occur?”
“Where are you going with this?”
“Forget about inventing the pill, they'll kill you. Focus your energy on the family legacy, instead." He said, "By that, the millions you gonna get until you die will turn into billions that will be eaten by your children until they die, and those billions will turn into trillions that will be eaten by your grandchildren until they die. Then…”
“Stop it! Can we go home now?”
“The truth will always be ignored, be glad when one recognizes and tell the best out of you. A friend will never encourage you to do good but will always support you to do bad. Only a true friend would be against what you think is right or wrong.”
“I hear you. But I think your opponent is a friend I need.” When he didn’t respond I reminded him that it's school tomorrow and I`m still in uniform. We then left.
On the way, he turned off the music and continued from where we left.
“That kid is a thug. He is what I am; a complete wise thug. You don’t want to live that life, do you?”
“That`s where you belong.” said the Mystery voice.
“Everyone is a thug out there. It won`t be a miracle to be one- to be you.”
“Over my dead body. Not when I`m still alive.”
“I might as well kill you then.”
He gave me a look and said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if you did, it's life. Those that you know well and like will leave or betray you when you least expected.”
At last, we arrived at home, “You are sweet, my brother.” I said, “Damn sweet!”
After the chat with my brother. I decided it was about time I spoke to my parents again.
This time it would be a pleasure to hear me tell good news about my dream. What a smile they will have on their faces for their child.
“Things may be promising but they say never count your chickens before they hitch.” Said the Mystery- voice.
“I sometimes forget how negative you can be.”
“That’s a friend, according to your brother`s words.”
What! He heard our conversation. What else does he know?
“What do you know about me?”
“Everything! From the cursed promise to the rape and murder case, never mind the accident- everything!”
“When are you going to reveal yourself to me?”
“Once you meet the kid.”
“Please show or describe to me the kid I have to kill.”
“That I can`t tell, it`s your task to find out. He just might kill your brother before you meet him; that’s how dangerous he can be.”
I had to do something, I had to act fast. I realized that I needed my brother now more than ever. I wondered if his anger might affect our plan to assassinate his threat.
“Don’t expect anyone to help you, save you or solve your problems. You have to figure out how to do that on your own.”
My phone rang; it was the Group- leader.
“What do you want?”
“What a way to greet an old friend.”
“Should I repeat myself?”
“I want you to come straight here tomorrow after school.”
“And what if I don’t come?”
He laughed, “The girl we raped and killed is reported missing and the reward is half a million. You don’t wanna see yourself in jail, do you?”
“I`ve been there. There`s nothing new about it except going down with you.”
“Try me, Mastermind. Try me!" he said, "Remember you are breathing because of me.” he then hang up.
I could sense something bad happening tomorrow. There`s no way they could just call me, something is going to happen.
In the morning I asked for a favour from my lastborn brother, but he refused.
It was now clear that I was on my own. I was in trouble, and alone, for helping him.
It was either I sell his soul or find his invisible opponent, ASAP; something that’s likely to happen.
I went to school and had a long boring day. I wanted myself near no one since their voices were irritating me. I had a lot to think about.
After school, I had made up my mind about not going there. Everything changed when I received this message, it made me change my mind and go.
When I got there, things weren’t the way I expected them to be. The Group- leader wasn’t there, and his lapdogs held me hostage.
I knew they`d keep me alive for as long as they wanted me to do their deed- sell my brother, so I was relaxed.
“Where is the Group- leader? He told me the big boss wants to meet me, where are they? Why am I even tied?”
“Do you think the person you almost killed would want to meet you?” asked a group member.
“I almost killed? Is it my D- Day?”
“Don’t rush to die, Mastermind." he said, "It`s been a while since we gave you a task but you still haven’t brought his head to us. I understand it`s not easy, but it would be easy to leading him to the corner store as we speak, wouldn’t it? There is the laptop, get on it- now!”
I stared at them as they told me time is going against my luck. I didn’t care since that was part of the plan.
By the time they lost sight, I sent my brother an email telling him to leave the country with immediate effect because his enemy is back from recovery and hungry for revenge.
“Look who got his sense back.” said a member.
They all laughed. Then the Mystery voice said, “Kill them!”
They all had guns except for me, but something told me that I can still do it.
“Guys, I`m starving, surely you do too." I said, "Who is going to buy some take- away, I`ll pay.”
Two volunteered to go and buy food- with their guns. And I was left with the main actor. What was I thinking?
“What the heck. Come and see this.” I said so stepping out of the chair for him to sit, and as he did I choked him then went for his gun.
“Tables have turned now, who`s the boss?.” I said, “My people are on their way here, just don’t try something funny.”
“You wouldn’t dare do it.”
“Try me! Just try.” shaking.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. I left the gun on purpose and went to open the door. I made sure that when I open it, I went behind it.
As I opened, the shoot-out began. The main actor became the first to shot while he and one of those who volunteered to go to buy food died.
The last one fled the scene, so did I.
As I was walking home, the streets were roaming, it was as if there was a big occasion in the neighbourhood.
I didn’t follow the lead as I wanted to see myself at home. Seeing people die in front of me made me feel sick- I felt like vomiting.
When I got home, I found the house empty. I tried calling mom but her phone took me to voicemail, so was everyone`s phone. Are they at the occasion or took my brother to the airport?
All of a sudden, I changed. This time it was getting worse, I felt dizzy and started vomiting. I then took a nap on a couch.
I was woken by the voices I heard in the house. I heard people crying and screaming like thunderstorms. Tears were falling like heavy rains, and the last time this happened was when my Aunt died.
“What`s going on, Mom?”
Mom replied crying, “It`s your brother, my son.”
“Come on, you should have cried enough at the airport. And besides, it`s not like he's gone forever; you can video call him every day.”
“No, he`s not coming back."
"Your brother is dead, my child.” said a neighbour, with a smile on her face.
I got a shock, then laughed. That can`t be happening, can it?
“Are you sure it`s your son, mom?”
Instead of answering me, she gave me a look.
I left home running, running like a bull without its head. I was going to the Old- man scientist to cough at him but when I got there, I found the place burnt.
When I saw it, I kneeled and cried.
I had a lot to cry for. My brother is dead and it`s all because of me. If only I had killed this kid long ago. The lab is also destroyed meaning I have nowhere and no one to visualize my dream with. I messed up, big time.
“Stop regretting and start acting. Do it for your brother and your dream.” said the Mystery- voice.
“I swear the day I meet my brother`s killer, I`d personally put a bullet in his forehead.”
It was about time I lived a life lived by all.
A life of deeds.
A life of crime.
During the mourning period, I decided to strategize a way around my brother`s killers.
Apparently, he was killed with his girlfriend by these 4thugs. Surely his girlfriend`s little brother wasn’t there; his sister wouldn’t have died too.
I wonder how he feels since his sister also died; he`ll make sure they regret the day they killed her. Maybe I should team up with him and do justice for our loved ones.
However, I didn’t care about these other 3thugs. All I wanted was the one who pulled a trigger and took my brother`s life along with my dream.
When the mourning period elapsed, after 3months, mom didn’t want me to go back to the streets which meant that I have been planning something that won`t happen again- like always.
I had to do something, I had to make a plan, I had to go back to the streets, I had to kill my brother`s killer- fast.
Maybe telling mom about the progress of my dream would change her mind. But what was my progression, again?
I mean my progress was like making eggs- millions of eggs, knowing that one day they will hitch and become chickens.
That’s what I told my parents, that the sun has shone in my path. This time, I had them eating on my palm. I so convinced them till they agreed to let me back to the streets.
If only they knew what I really wanted to do out in the streets, out in the dark world, a world with no friends nor dreamers, a world I desperately went to for revenge.
They say God created this world and its people. They say He wanted nothing but peace towards his people. But what was he thinking? How dare He create us, alone, without a mother? I mean how would we have peace amongst us in a place without a mother`s love? Only she knows what peace is, that’s why without her presence, peace became an unknown word and every human had to live for themselves, from their own sweat. After the era of segregation, I thought everyone born that year to infinity was called a ‘born free’. But to give it a closer look, there`s no such thing as ‘born frees’ in this world we live on. A wise man once said, “All `men are born frees put trapped in chains of life.” What the man literally implied was that at home, school, workplace, courtroom, and even worse on the streets, there are rules to obey yet, on the other hand, no- one wants to be ruled; unless you do it physically so. No wonder why out of a hundred percent drea
A few days later, on a Saturday noon- few hours before sunset, I decided to visit the Wise-thug at his house. I wanted to tell him about the incident, but as I was on my way to his place another thought told me not to. He was going to undermine me. When I got there, I found him playing play station 5, with his girlfriend, who was on the fridge grabbing some fruits. “I knew you`ll come back once you run out of cash!” he said, “I hope you used it wisely, did you?” “Let`s not go there, please!” “What happened?" he said, "I need to know.” “I met three of these guys on my way home. They demanded you from me- told me that I should show them where you are or I die. As always, I chose to die." I said, "Hell, they did beat me up, fortunately not to death. When I woke up a few seconds later, I found a gun on the scene, I then went after them. And killed them- all!” “WHAT! Who were they? Are you sure they are dead?”
It was those lonely days when the Cruel-man met me in the wasteland. By then I was used to the regular routine, the one my Last- born brother showed me when the warehouse was still the Old man scientist`s laboratory. He met me in a spot my brother once took me to. He caught me crying, crying because I couldn’t hold onto reality. The streets were full of blood, people were fighting for their needs and wants and I couldn’t do anything about it yet I wanted to save the world and its people. “Every time we meet, there should be tears on your face. What`s the matter, young man?” asked the Cruel-man. “Nothing I can`t handle, sir.” “Don’t act tough, young man." he said, "Talk to me.” “Says a person who left me to death when I was weak and unable to act tough”, I said with attitude. “I don’t care how you feel about me. What I know is that you currently need someone to talk to. You must thank God he brought you me.” He sai
A few weeks later, when I came back from the underground, I thought everything had been laid to rest. The first group I visited was the victorious Family. When I got there, I found them wasting money like dust yet I didn’t get my cut- that hurts, but I was cool with it, or so they thought. When I got to the notorious Autocracy, I found them still ire and ready for war. They knew who attacked and stole their money. And they knew how they were going to attack their opponents, it was all planned- through me; without my consent. “Is it necessary to retaliate though?” I asked. “We lost soldiers, Mastermind. Never mind our money, I almost died!” said the Wise-thug. “But how will we get our money back if we attack to kill? Unless you know where it`s kept, do you?” “Do you have a better plan?” “How about a fake alert? Instead of us attacking, the police will do”. “Try another one”, said a member. “When the police get th
As I was sleeping after I had tried to study when I got back from the safe house, I had this nightmare- a bad dream, if you may say.In this dream, it was after school on my way to the Corner- Store when I got a message from the group leader demanding an urgent meeting. I decided not to go and instead went to the Corner store as planned.When I was getting close to the store, I heard gunshots coming from the store. I ran to see who was doing the robbery, instead, it wasn’t a robbery but a gunfight. I saw my brother and his girlfriend lying on the ground- shot, and the Wise- thug crying out loud for his sister. Dead as my brother was, the Wise- thug shot him two more times then fled the scene.In the morning, I didn’t tell anyone about my dream. After eating breakfast, I went to school without saying “Goodbye”. I was stressed. The dream was all over my mind.I wonder how I even got to school with that sta
I went to the warehouse to check on my friend. I wanted to verify what the cruel man told me- that the book is cursed and once you read it you are in for good. “My friend, I know you once read this book, that’s if you don’t now. That’s why you are here, right? Because of the book.” “Get to the point, I don’t have all day.” “Please help me make sense of the book.” “I can do that in a condition, my friend.” Said the Wise- thug, “Let me handle the past alone, you can take control of the Family just until I`ve killed all those who killed our future.” I wonder what the past holds for me that my friend doesn’t want me to know off- it made him kill Black Jesus for no reason, now his sacrificing power for a secret. Clearly, there`s more than my brother`s death, no wonder why he took too long to admit that he killed him. I agreed to take control of The Family since the Cruel- man recommended I combine the 2
At school, my friend visited me in class during lunchtime. I thought our friendship had ended due to what I did to us. “How are you, my friend?” he asked, “It`s been a while since we last spoke, are we cool?” “If there is nothing to say, please leave my sight.” “I know it will take time for you to accept the situation.” “What are you?” I asked, “A therapist? Psychiatrist?” “No!” he said, “But you seem to forget that I also lost a sister and I was in this kind of a situation.” “Which situation?” I asked, “Being blamed for your sister`s death? Being convinced that you did something you didn’t do? I didn’t kill my brother, you killed him, you even killed your sister. I did nothing but to help you kill them because by then you didn’t have balls to face your opponents, your testosterone was weak.” “You are losing it, mastermind.” He said, “You were right, I should leave you alone.” “Can you leave me in peace now?” “A
A few days before I could do back to school, I got arrested for a murder that happened 2weeks ago. That’s when I saw that my mom really loves me. But I didn’t feel pity for her because it`s her responsibility to be there for me in everything I do. What I was worried about was that I would never set my feet out of prison this time; I once sued the state, they`ll make sure I go behind bars this time. What have you done, Mastermind! I was surprised to hear that my family didn’t get me a lawyer, even the Wise-thug didn’t. The case was of a murder that happened 2weeks ago at the Corner store. A murder that happened right in my eyes. I didn’t kill her, and I don’t know who did. It wasn’t even my friends for sure. I just didn’t see who pulled the trigger that night. If I say I wasn’t there when it all happened, who would I use as an alibi to back me up? I refused to take the state attorney and pleaded innocent at the bail hearing. I am not a f