Ebube Anochili's blog

Chika had woken up with an awkward feeling. The Saturday was going by pretty fast but the feeling kept creeping into everything she did. Easter was tomorrow, she should be happy, instead, she was restless. All she could think of was her cousin, Daberechi. She tried calling her all day but couldn’t reach her, Daby wasn’t one to be unavailable. “Chika, if you are going to buy that chicken for tomorrow, jee gote anu ahu kita, it’s getting late”, her mother called from the kitchen. “Yes ma, I’m on it”, she replied. She said a little prayer for her cousin before leaving the house. She hoped to eat the chicken in peace.                                                 *** Daby couldn’t stop feeling chills moving up and down her spine as she continued cutting the rope with the broken piece of ceramic. It felt like she had been cutting for eternity, her entire hand was sor...

He was taking a shot of tequila when Jake called to say he had the girl. He was ecstatic, he knew he could count on Jake. Now, he wanted the little brat to suffer a little before he had his way with her. Then he’d personally end her miserable life. He’ll rape her till she died, he dreamed of the pleasures awaiting him. Two days, just two days and know one will even find her corpse to bury.                                               *** “Alright, just keep me posted…thank you”, Kaycee hung up the phone. The ambulance had taken Hassan to the hospital, he was still in bad shape. He parked his car beside the security post at Daby’s estate and approached one of the security guards. He greeted and politely started interrogating them. “Did you see Miss Daberechi Ekeh leave the estate today?” The guard said no. “Did any non-resident come in this morning?” “Yes, non-resi...

The day started well enough. It was a beautiful Saturday morning, the air was chilly from the rain the previous night. The sky, the mirror image of the sea surrounding the island, with puffs of white here and there like waves splashing. Daberechi decided to exercise that morning. She left home at 6:45 am to the estate gym, not too far from her house. She had her earphones on as she worked out and the music filtered into her thoughts, making her feel calm. She had been careful with Mr. Johnson the past week, not letting him take major decisions concerning the business, stripping him of some tasks, while being affable about everything. She also consulted another surveyor instead of Kanyisola. So far, none of them noticed anything different about her. If they did, they didn’t make it known. After her little rendezvous with Kaycee and the sparks of passion she felt around him, she made a mental note not to be alone behind closed doors with him again. She finished her workouts and pack...

He was desperate. The useless boys he had sent to take care of Somto Ekeh had failed. They were just two, so he decided to take care of them himself, just to be sure they don’t rat him out. As if that wasn’t enough, the little miss perfect daughter of Chief had been snooping around, asking questions. Couldn’t she just let sleeping dogs lie? She even asked Kanyisola about the meeting with Chief and Ahmed the driver had unknowingly told him about her inquisition. Well, it was a pity, he actually liked her. He even dreamt of taking her to bed and getting high with pleasure, he touched himself as he saw images of her perfect body. But right now, she’d be more useful lying in a coffin than lying in his bed. He thought to himself, it would be easier to get her father’s company once she’s dead. He smiled to himself as he picked up his phone and made a call. “You already know what to do”, he spoke to the person at the other end of the line, “don’t fail”, he hung up and continued touching ...

Chikanyima was having fun. She was so glad that Daberechi noticed she was bored in the house. Initially, she had liked staying indoors, helping to cook and to do some chores, seeing movies, but it became monotonous. She didn’t know anyone in the estate and even when she decided to stroll, she hardly saw anyone. The place was as quiet as a grave yard. All she heard were the distant sounds of vehicles moving on the third mainland bridge, to show how quiet the estate was. Daby asked a lot of questions during their outings, Chika felt she was just trying to know her better, she wasn’t bothered by them. Daberechi couldn’t deny the fact that she was having fun with Chika, something she hadn’t felt in a long time. She only hoped it wasn’t a waste. One day, after their movie in the cinema, they went to KFC to eat. Daby started asking her questions in a coded way. “When did your school go on break?” “End of July”, Chika answered. “So, that means you were at home when my dad died”, Daby said...

The usual Lagos traffic bothered her a lot today. She had to be at Ojuelegba by 10am. “Why didn’t he just stay on the island?” Daberechi said out loud. These were days when she hated coming to the mainland. To distract herself, she decided to think of pleasant things, like how she loved living on the island. She smiled at the fact that water surrounded her and she could see the ocean whenever she felt like. She paid the beach frequent visits that the waters would have accepted her as one of their own, if it were possible. The island was also quiet, yeah, she loved her peace. She checked her watch, it was 9:45am. “Damn it, I’m going to be late!” The events that followed her return to Lagos after her father’s burial had been enormous. She frequently contacted Bar. Ike who told her that her father’s will will be read when the family was together. That wouldn’t be difficult, once Uncle Somto was free, he’d come to Lagos with his family. She was always at the office, attending meetings...

The day was unnecessarily hot. The black dress she wore for the occasion was making matters worse. She felt she was being baked. The occasion, the thought of it made her shudder. She was standing in her grandfather’s compound in the village with a lot of people, half or probably more than half she didn’t know. She didn’t like the village so much, she hardly came back. This time, she had no choice but to come. She still couldn’t believe Chief Echezona Ekeh was lying in a box ready to be put six feet under the ground. “This can’t happening”, she thought. That was exactly what she said when she received a call from her father’s lawyer saying he had been involved in a car accident. A hit and run, but the driver hit her father’s car in this case. She fled to the hospital but he didn’t make it. She was angry and hurt but she didn’t cry. Her father’s lawyer, Bar. Ikechukwu had been surprised, but not too surprised. The girl was like ice that couldn’t crack. She listened as the Priest said...