SACRED_OATHS

Author: Samuel Frederick

Episode 33: A PAINFUL EXIT.

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"Fifi I asked you a question. I said, what is this?" Boma thundered, jolting me out of my thoughts. I wanted to tell a lie. I had to be smart, and fast.

"Oh, you mean those? Those are just the t-tools w-we used!" I stuttered, even though it wasn't entirely a lie. But he didn't look convinced.

"Don't you freaking kid with me here, Fifi. You know what I mean! I'm talking about this test tool in my hand right now. What do these two green lines mean?" He raved, raising the test strip up. It was obvious that he knew the tool in his hand, and that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't lie to him anymore. It was pointless to complicate issues any further. He deserved to know the truth.

"I am pregnant, Boma." I spilled, fidgeting, dreading the consequences of that very statement.

Boma looked shocked, frozen, numb. His countenance turned grim, uninviting.

"What did you just say?" Boma's voice was mild now, like a whisper.

"I'm very sorry," I bowed my head to avoid his eyes, "I had no choice."

"Fifi you lied to me?" His voice was very low, to my discomfort. "Why?"

I felt a tear trickling down my right cheek as my eyes became saturated with tears.

"I'm very sorry," I raised my head and focused on him. "It wasn't my intention! I didn't know how you would feel if I'd told you! I was afraid you wouldn't accept it!"

Our eyes were locked, his gaze slicing through mine like a knife in a birthday cake. I had never seen Boma so disappointed and upset before.

All of a sudden, as though on impulse, Boma dropped the items on the floor, clenched his right fist and punched the wall very hard. He folded his other hand and punched again, harder.

I could see how pained he was right then. I wasn't sure what to say or do to calm his burning temper, lest he unleashes his entire anger on me.

If only I could rewind time . . . if only I could.

"Fifi how could you?" Boma's voice gained pitch now, his head down.

"Boma I'm sorry, believe me it wasn't my intention. I didn't want to be a burden on you; I didn't want to ruin your life! I didn't know how you would feel about it, that's why I lied. I know you aren't ready for this!" I explained despite the tears streaming down my face.

"Will you just shut up?!" He barked, turning to me with a fierce look. I flinched at the intensity of his voice and the authority it carried. "Fifi just hear yourself out. Are you even making any sense?"

I swallowed hard, feeling stupid.

"My God! What kind of human being are you?" He continued ranting, pointing at me. "I took an oath with you, for goodness' sake! Do you know what it means to take an oath with someone? I love and cherish you with all my heart and you know it! What makes you think I'll ever do anything to hurt you?"

I was in tears by the time he concluded his statement. I couldn't even look him in the eyes anymore.

"Fifi I am disappointed in you." He finalized and sat down on the bed, placing both hands on his face with his head down again. "How old is it now?"

"It's just one week old." I replied, sniffling. "Although I-"

Suddenly, loud gunshots from the compound cut me off. Boma bounced to his feet immediately he heard it.

About three or more gunshots were fired again, at the same time, and then we heard someone that screamed loudly like they'd just been shot. Almost immediately, Boma's door flung open and Rita, Nancy, Simon, Bauchi, Kingsley and a host of other guys trooped in hurriedly. I was more than shocked to see them holding weapons.

"What's going on out there?" Boma spared no time to ask, on seeing them all.

"Boss man kasala don burst o! Emface has just been shot dead," a guy among them answered quickly.

"They've got the whole place surrounded! Those bastards have found us at last. What do we do?" another guy asked, referring to Boma.

Almost immediately, another gunshot came from the compound, much louder than before, and then a wild blaze followed instantly!

"We've just set your car on fire!" A thick masculine voice shouted from the compound. "If dem born una well make una come outside come face us!" He added, and then loud gunshots followed.

"Boss man what do we do, naso we go dey look?" Bauchi questioned, sounding vexed. "Are we just going to stand here all night and watch them kill us all?"

All eyes were on Boma, waiting for his valued opinion. It seemed like all hope was placed on him.

"We will fight back, fire for fire, blood for blood!" He answered and walked to the cabinet beside his shelf, opened it and took out a black nylon and then returned to us. When he opened the nylon, a sleek white pistol greeted my eyes, sending a cold chill down my spine.

"Take this!" He said, handing it over to me.

My hands trembled as I reached for it without questioning. I knew he had a reason for giving it to me, because he'd always predicted that this day would come.

"Do you remember all I taught you about using a gun?"

I nodded, frightened.

"Good. Don't step out of here no matter what happens. If anybody tries to step foot in here, do not hesitate to shoot them at once. Understood?"

I nodded again, holding onto the gun real tight.

Without saying another word, Boma took his room's key and trooped out with the others. He locked me inside, leaving me super afraid of what was to come.

In a flash, I heard gunshots from outside in rapid successions. It seemed to be a crossfire from different directions, from both our side and our rivals.

I had never been that scared before in my life! I gripped the pistol with my eyes closed and my body trembling.

The crossfire went on for a very long time, shots upon shots and screams upon screams. But all of a sudden, it stopped! Everywhere became silent, like a graveyard. And just when I thought it was all over, I heard someone's footsteps, approaching the door.

Alarmed, I moved back and pointed the gun at the door.

"Who is there?" I called out fearfully, more than ready to pull the trigger.

Suddenly, the sounds of the footsteps ceased. The person had stopped moving, knowing that someone was inside the room, but their silence only heightened my cautiousness.

All of a sudden, with no resistance whatsoever, the door flung open due to the force of a swift kick from outside and I didn't hesitate to shoot-as Boma ordered-but I missed!

I was about to take a second shot when a guy ran inside and pushed me down. I hit my head on the floor, and the guy quickly kicked the pistol away from me, pointing a more advanced gun to my head.

"Fifi, I told you you would die in my hands!" He said, aiming and walking towards me. It was then I recognized him: his hideous face, his horrendous voice, and his horrific gait. The devil's incarnate himself, Big Tiny.

"But before I kill you," he continued speaking, licking his lips lustfully, "remove your clothes from head to toe now!"

He now aimed for my forehead, causing me to sweat profusely. In fact, almost everything I wore was drenched in sweat, and I couldn't even imagine stripping myself naked for this animal. I couldn't harbor the dreadful thoughts of him lying with me, right under Boma's roof, on Boma's very own bed.

"I said, remove your clothes, now!" He reiterated with a heavy slap on my face, forcing me to whimper, as he cocked his gun viciously. "Now!"

Afraid that I'd be shot next, I started pulling my top off, but suddenly, out of the blue, Boma swung in and ran to us. Boma pushed him down and pounced on him, striking blows upon blows on his face.

"Fifi get out of here!" He shouted as he punched the guy's face with every fiber of his being. "Go! Get out! Run!"

I didn't listen to him. Instead, I rushed over to where the white pistol had been kicked and picked it up. I tried to aim at the animal beneath Boma, but my aim wasn't clear enough; Boma just kept coming into my mental crosshairs, making it hard for me to focus.

The next thing I knew, Big Tiny managed to overpower Boma and pushed him aside. He grabbed his gun and... right before my very eyes... I screamed!

He had shot Boma in the chest and Boma groaned in pain, dropping on the floor. In my state of shock, I pulled the trigger and released two straight shots at the rival's head. He landed on the floor at once, dead.

The pistol fell off from my trembling hands as I stood still, traumatised, processing what just happened. With my mouth agape, I rushed over to Boma and knelt before him, despite the pool of his own blood that'd started to form around us.

"Boma hold on, stay with me!" I joined our hands affectionately, feeling beads of tears cascading down my cheeks. "Stay with me, please."

"I love you," he muttered with a smile, tightening his grip on our blood-stained hands. "I love you so much."

"I love you too! Please stay with me!" I broke into tears, fully. "Please!"

"Fifi," Boma managed to kiss the back of my hand amid his intense pain, "please, take care of our child..."