Chapter six

Victoria grinned widely " so it all started two days ago....."

Two days ago

The members of the supreme Vikings confraternity all dressed in black white and red stood in different angles in an open clearing waiting for the skull executioner (Capone) to arrive.
The dark sky above their heads and the sounds of the midnight insects could be heard even the midst of the loud song they were singing.

Mama no dey ooo

Papa no dey ooo

If you want to killi us

Killi us make we die

We will never follow you to that station

Jagaban walked in dressed in a black trouser tucked inside a red pair of socks with white shirts and boots to match, he's also putting on a black beret with red ribbons tied around it behind him was Don Pedro dressed in a similar attire as the rest of the people present.

He held his hands up signalling the end of the song. Silence fell in their midst that even the crickets could be heard clearly. He stood in front of them and by his right hand side stood Njashi, the intelligent officer and to his left stood Don Pedro, the strike chief also known as the Hitman.

"Arrow!" Jagaban hailed

"Bagger you!!" they chorused

"Arrow Norsemen!"

"Bagger rugged!!! Rugged you!!!" they replied and everywhere became quiet as they awaited Jagaban to speak.  

"Where dem dey?( Where are they?)" Jagaban asked in a throaty voice

Don Pedro signalled for Bigi to lead them in. Seven boys all Stark naked walked in, in a straight line. They all had blind folds on so that incase they don't survive the initiation they won't be able to find their way back.

"I say do you remember" Jagaban sang in a deep scratched tone.

"I remember" the sang in unison

"My brother do you remember?" He sang as he stepped down from the high top picking up the axe that lay on the floor clashing it wit one of the members own.

"I remember" they chorused

"Njashi do you remember? Don Pedro do you remember?" He tilted his head side ways as he watched them with content in his heart but with an expressionless face.

He remembered when he was just like this seven guys, when he was a Noron( one yet to be fully initiated) that was two years ago when he was in three hundred level. He remembered Chinko bringing him here, he remembered the pain he felt, he remembered when he lost his innocence.

"I remember"

He silenced them with his hands raised up.

"Shey una won bam, you go bam ( you want to get initiated, you will be initiated)" he spoke with authority dripping in his tone.

"Njashi!" He called and Njashi stepped forward " over" then he stepped back to stand in the same spot as Don Pedro.

"File out!"Njashi ordered. As the intelligent officer, he is in charge of every rituals and fortifications, including the initiation of new members.

They all began to move, still with the blind fold on, this was the first stage of the initiation...treasure hunting. They are blindfolded and asked to search for hidden treasures under torture which is inflicted by the members and you are not expected to cry or scream. Bicycle chains, matchets are used on them.

The second stage, there is more torture and drilling.

"Jazz down!" Njashi ordered

They all laid down except one who looked like he was about to pee on his body.

"Jazz down! or persine go help you do am(lie down or someone will help you do it) " he said in an irritated voice.

The trembling guy was not even given an opportunity to decide or obey when Kidder quacked  him kicking him in the ribs.

"Enof! (enough)" Jagaban commanded and gave Njashi the floor.

Njashi started the initiation. He walked up to the first one who lay on the floor without any top and blindfolded

"Who bring you come here?" He asked as that was part of the process. If the person who introduced you is of a higher status in the cult, your punishment would be less.

"Don Pedro" the guy answer with a strong and determined voice.

Don Pedro's heart swelled with pride at the reply, he taught the guy exactly how to answer the question but he didn't know if this guy could take the punishment.

Njashi collected the cutlass Kidder held out to him and began beating him making sure there are openings in his skin. The guy tried after the first five rounds to hold his scream but he couldn't during the sixth one. He screamed loudly but then there was someone there to close his mouth. That was just the first rites to the initiation not jus six beatings thirty five and that's the lesser punishment, the second was a cane on that same injured place from the cutlass and the third was alcohol poured on the injury then you'll be left to see if you'll be able to survive

The circle continued until they got to the last person same guy that disrespected them.

"Who bring you?"

"Uche"

His answer got him a kick to his ribs

"I say who bring you( I said. who brought you)"

"I...I Dodo"

Njashi got on with the initiation, when he was on his seventh, the guy was already bleeding profusely but then he couldn't stop, he wouldn't that is the price you pay in getting in.

"Abeg! Abeg!!(please! Please!! ))" He pleaded as he lay on his side wincing in pain "I no do again (I don't want to be part of it again)" he cried out. "Please! Please!!" He turned his pleading eyes to the Capone and chief executioner but that did nothing to them.

When he noticed no one was going to help and the people he came with were all on the floor fighting for their lifes from the loss of blood and the severe pains they felt. He had one resolute, to run and that he did.

Big mistake.

He hadn't gone far when a gun shot sounded and he fell flat. Don Pedro had taken care of it.

"Dispose the body" Jagaban ordered, of course disposing of the body means burying it there in the bush.

The initiation continues, their blood is collected and mixed with red wine and hard drug after that an oat is taken before a real human skull. During this initiation, heavy gunshots and shouts fill the air, same chant. The noise is to instill fear.

"Shoot him" Don Pedro shouts and gunshots rained close to their ears giving impression that someone have been shot dead while in actual sense nothing happened.

It sends fear to the new initiate not to misbehave during or after initiation.

By the time the reached the last stage it was already 1am

"Arrow!" they replied and he walked away with Don Pedro trailing behind as a watch dog.

___________________________________

Yesterday evening

Njashi walked inside the palour wearing a very solemn expression on his face.

"Dodorima(peace)" he greeted and did their hand greeting, that is his hand in a fist almost like he wants to give someone a side blow.

"Wetin hapun( what happened)" Sovereign asked. He knew Njashi wasn't on a friendly visit.

"Kidder don kpai (Kidder is dead)"

Jagaban squeezed his eyes shut tightly as he mourned Kidder.
"Wetin hapun? Wetin kill am? Who kill am ( what happened? What killed him? Who killed him)" his voice was strained

"That bagger, del kizzer " Njashi replied with clenched jaws. Njashi was more affected by this because he was training Kidder too hand over the chief priest position.

"Why?" Don Pedro spoke for the first time

"Dat guy wey no fit bam yesterday, the one wey you finish na del kizzer small brother( the guy that was not able to be initiated yesterday , the one you killed is del kizzer's small brother"

"E no go slide" Jagaban stated

__________________________________

Present

"How do you know all this " Munachi asked as she adjusted in her seat.

"Babes, Kidder dey my lodge before im die (Kidder was in my lodge) "

"Sha the main thing is that, del kizzer is pissed at Jagaban for killing his brother so he went for revenge and killed Kidder"
Chidera interjected.

"That's why eziobodo road was free last night. Gun shots and other, you know cultist stuff" Victoria said.

"So Vikings and KK fought?"

" No" Obinna replied" they did that in honour of Kidder"

She nodded her head. She was curious and her curiosity just reached the zenith. She wanted to see this Jagaban.

"Do you know Jagaban?"

Victoria and Dera nodded.

"I'll show him to you when I see him"

Munachi nodded eagerly. She couldn't wait to see the Jagaban, the one who has instilled fear on people.

Phew!😥 this chapter is as bit hard. I had to write the whole cult scene and I don't know how they do their meeting so bear with me. I just used the little knowledge I got of them.

What do you think of Jagaban?

And how does Victoria know so much?

Don't forget to vote and comment.