The aroma was really mouthwatering and Amara smiled as she put the fire out. The groundnut soup was finally ready and she just needed to wake Joy who had fallen asleep in the parlour.
The kind of drugs she had been given at the hospital made her drowsy and sleep deeply but the thought of the meal would surely get her up.
"Joy wake up, dinner is ready, although it's quite early"
The time read: 6:15pm.
"Actually this is the proper time for dinner so the food can digest properly before sleeping" Dé Nwachukwu added as he took his spot on a couch and dragged a small table before him in anticipation of the meal.
Amara decided it was the hunger that was talking. Her father had never mentioned anything like that before.
She dished the food, only two plates...she wasn't hungry yet and to tell the truth her mind was far away. She was thinking, thinking about who attacked her sister. Could it be Paul, Stevenson, or somebody else they failed to consider?
There was a knock on the gate and her father called out: "don't worry...I'd get it"
He hurried outside and Amara could hear voices from the gate as she set the meal on the table.
She shook Joy gently.
"Joy...sister, wake up come and eat"
Her sister's eyes fluttered open and Joy smiled as she sat up.
"Wow...you're the best Amara, I love you"
"I love you too, promise me you'd finish the food so you can rest well"
Dé Nwachukwu returned to the parlour.
"Amara have you eaten yet?"
"No I'm not yet hungry. Who was at the gate Dé?"
"It was our pastor"
"Osi?"
Her father smiled "Oh, Osi is now our pastor abi? I meant pastor Bartholomew"
"Oh...what did he want?" she slapped her face "I totally forgot about the meeting"
"He requested your presence, he said he is setting up a special youth group to raise awareness and says you are going to be one of the leaders. He said Oluchi is already in the church as well as mama and some others"
"Ohh...it's about time, that's a very good move"
"Why didn't he come since?" Joy frowned "it's now late at night he wants you to start going to church"
"He said Maama has been here severally today but no one was home" Dé Nwachukwu explained "He said he'd bring you back himself but I agree with Joy. Enjoy your meal and rest, leave it till tomorrow"
"No papa, it's okay...I'm so in love with this plan, I'm sure it was Osi that gave him the idea. I'd go with him...it shouldn't take time"

.·.·.·.·.·
Osi turned up at Sofiri's doorstep ten minutes to 7.
He held a bottle of wine in his hand and he returned Mabel's smile as she opened the door.
"Oh...welcome, dinner is almost ready...how are you doing"
He stepped inside and handed her the bottle of wine.
"Oh you shouldn't have" she squealed in delight. But she took the bottle and placed it on a nearby table.
"Once more happy birthday pastor, I forgot to ask you your favourite dish earlier but I made white soup and I pounded yam I'm sure you'd enjoy it"
"White soup? I've never had it before"
Osi admired the house. He decided pastor Batholomew would have been very comfortable here after all. The house was spacious and beautiful not to mention the benefit of having someone like Mabel as an occupant. The woman was simply wonderful.
"Where's Sofiri?" He wasn't sure the man was in, or maybe he was in one of the rooms.
"Oh...Sofi went out but he'd be back very soon" Osi had a feeling Sofiri hadn't been pleased when she had invited him and they had a minor fall out. On a normal day he would have turned down the invitation politely but for some strange reason, he had accepted it and even forced it tonight.
Mabel directed him to the parlour. "Please make yourself comfortable, let me just round up in the kitchen."
Osi settled into a leather seat and sighed. It was very comfortable and he was only aware now that he hadn't really rested in the past few days. Even the few hours he slept were either hunted by the unknown killer or thoughts of Amara.
He observed the parlour. A television stood in one corner with a CD player and wine shaped speakers. He wondered idly if it would be appropriate if he switched on the television. He thought Mabel was a very free and open minded person and one didn't have to pretend with her but he decided to wait till she returned.
So he feasted his eyes, taking in everything.
He admired a wedding photograph of Sofiri and Mabel. She even looked fatter in the picture and he smiled as he wondered how many years ago it was.
"Pastor so you said you're going back on Saturday?" Mabel called out from the kitchen
"Yes"
"But you'd visit us every now and then?"
"Yes I will" her voice sounded distant and he wondered how many rooms were in the house.
Out of curiosity he got to his feet.

.·.·.·.·.·
Amara smiled at Pastor Bartholomew.
"I'm really sorry to disturb. I came earlier but no one was around"
"It's alright pastor, I'm glad with what you're starting up and I'm pleased to be a part of it"
"How is Joy, I heard what happened to her"
"She's fine...she's eating now, I love this new idea of yours. I'm in 100%"
He smiled apparently relieved. "Wow, thank God...let's head to the church quickly then...we have a brief meeting. The new leaders have been in church and even Benedict the butcher accepted my invite"
"Really...that's good, the butcher has a lot of influence on people"
"Exactly...I'd bring you and Oluchi home after the meeting"
He offered her his hand and she took it. She slid the gate shut and followed him.

.·.·.·.·.·
The bungalow had about four rooms. Osi made this deduction after checking out the doors. The kitchen was at the other end and there was another door which he took to be the rest room. Probably the visitor's toilet.
He could hear the sound of plates being set on the counter and knew Mabel was probably dishing the food.
He returned to the parlour, licking his lips but then he decided to relieve himself first before the meal. He planned to demolish that pounded yam very well. He whistled softly and headed to the toilet.
He opened the door and gasped.

.·.·.·.·.·
A knock sounded again and Dé Nwachukwu swore angrily. He was just midway through the meal and he was enjoying it immensely. He hated disturbances especially at this crucial time when he was feeding his belly. He hadn't eaten all day as he had been in the hospital and he had been too worried then to eat.
Joy stood but he held his hand up. "Baby don't disturb yourself..eat your food I'd answer the gate"
So for the second time that night he opened the gate.
It was Oluchi.
"Dé good evening" she greeted him.
He looked past her and didn't see anybody else.
"Evening dear...wait don't tell me you came alone?"
"Yes Dé I did. Paul escorted me most of the way although. I just came to see Amara and Joy one more time"
"Okay come in please....wait aren't you supposed to be in church for the meeting?" Dé Nwachukwu suddenly remembered.
"Church...? which meeting? Oh the youth awareness rogram...we've had it already.....it wasn't even as I expected it to be, the pastor just rushed through it" Oluchi was clearly dissappointed.
"Oh...you mean it just finished? That was really quick" De' Nwachukwu glanced at his wrist reflexively even though he didn't have a watch.
"No sir...it ended like an hour ago"

.·.·.·.·.·
Row after row after row of clothes stared back at Osi. On the bed, on wooden rails, on hangers, folded on drawers and spilling out of dozens of boxes round the small room.
They were Okrika clothes.
"Jesus!" Osi whispered as he entered the room fully.
He must have shouted the name because Mabel came running to the room.
"Pastor what happened? Are you okay?"
No, he wasn't okay.

Sofiri....Sofiri....Sofiri....!!!

"Pastor..?" Mabel asked him again worriedly.
"Who...who is the owner of all these clothes?"
"Oh..." She smiled.
"The current church building once used to be a shopping complex and Batholomew formerly used to sell clothes in a tiny shop before he received the divine call and now look at the church today, expanding every second..God is indeed faithful!"
But Osi heard only one thing: Pastor Batholomew used to sell clothes before!
Okrika clothes.
He rolled his eyes and suddenly felt very weak.
"Oh my God...oh my God...oh no..."
"What, what is it pastor...you're scaring me"

.·.·.·.·.·
They talked about the plans for the youth group as they walked to church. Pastor Batholomew said she could come up with a name for the youth ministry and she suggested several as they walked to church.
When she finally noticed they were on another path. She looked round her surroundings surprised.
"Pastor...where are we going? The church is the other way"
She looked at him but his eyes were unreadable
"Pastor what are you doing? What's happening?" Amara asked pastor Batholomew. She was beginning to panic. She tried to remove her hand from his but he held on firmly.
"Pastor...let go of my hand!" She shouted
"No one can hear you Amara...we're deep into the woods" he gripped her hand tighter than ever.
"What's going on? What are you doing? What has come over you?" But she already knew and she feared the worst although she was in a state of denial.
"For so long I wanted you...I dreamt about you...you hunted my dreams...you pushed my buttons. Remember the day you and Ozioma came to church to see me, that was when it started....the both of you hunted my dreams since then, it started with her and it will end with you"
"What did I ever do to you? You're my pastor, I....I look up to you"
"I realize its over now but I can't help myself...when you turn up dead I may be exposed but I have a plan but it wouldn't change a thing...it doesn't matter anymore"
He drew her to him suddenly pressing her body to him and holding her waist.
Amara's first reaction was to scream. Her heart was pounding, hammering against her ribs. She knew she had to keep him talking until she could find a slight chance to escape. She could already feel the bulge in his trousers pressing against her pelvis.
"You were the one involved with Ozioma" she asked him desperate to keep him talking.
He grimaced "Ozioma...it's all her fault, she led me on...just like you she made me believe she wanted me at first, it was love, sweet love and I adored her. She promised me we would consummate our relationship after I pleaded with her and when she sent for me one weekend to meet her in the farm I happily went there...decked in one of my unsold shirts"
He laughed bitterly and shook his head then moved his hands lower, cupping her backside and squeezing roughly.
"But the bitch wanted to end it...I lost it, we quarrelled I grabbed her and when she slapped me...the rage took over....such blinding fury"
He pulled her even tighter and closer which seemed impossible.
"I knocked her unconscious, tore the sleeve of my shirt because I did love her, I loved Ozioma and I couldn't afford to watch her eyes, to see her pain...but that was a mistake then.."
Amara knew time was going. Any moment now pastor Batholomew was going to attack her. He was getting rougher by the minute and his voice was changing...the man wasn't fully balanced and with each passing second he was getting closer to the edge.
Amara knew she had to keep him talking. That was the best chance she had. "Wait...so you wrote the letter...I don't understand, what does P.O stand for?"
He loosened his hold for a second and Amara considered making a dash for it but she knew she wouldn't get far.
Batholomew smiled at the memory "she used to call me okrika pastor...later it became pastor okrika, and that became my alias"
His voice grew hard "fuck it I loved her but she's gone. Now it's you I want, I've waited too long for this"
"Please let me go, I won't tell anybody I swear"
"You know why I don't care if I'm caught?" He pushed her to the ground roughly and began fumbling with his belt. He unhooked his belt and began removing his trousers. Amara was too terrified and paralyzed to move.
"Aren't you going to ask me why?" He sneered as he rolled his trouser down fumbling with it at the ankles. Amara moved her hand around her and felt the grass for some kind of weapon. Her fingers brushed over a stone and she closed her hand over it.
"why....why are you doing this?" she stuttered as she tried to work her courage. The stone wasn't big but with the right force it could do enough damage.
Bartholomew had gotten one leg out of the trouser but he struggled with the other. He seemed to be too excited and the unbelievable bulge in his briefs was proof.
He was still talking: "It's who I am. For so long I've been trying to be someone I was not, but it's in my blood...I'm the son of my father after all" he began laughing like a maniac and took off the trouser finally and fell to his knees rubbing her legs greedily. "This is going to be rough but the pain wouldn't be much if you cooperate...you would even enjoy it...like the bitch Ozioma did" he ran his hands up her thigh. "Ooooh...I've dreamt about this for so long, sweet Amara..." He closed his eyes in ecstasy for a brief minute and Amara struck immediately. She closed her fist over the stone and brought it to the side of Bartholomew's head with all the force she could muster. He howled and fell to his side holding his ear and shouting in pain.
Amara scrambled to her feet and took off, running frantically through the woods. It wasn't long before she heard what sounded like an angry bull charging behind her. Batholomew was very angry!

She increased her pace, darting past trees in a zigzag way trying to lose the killer. Her foot caught on a tree stump and she fell to the ground, bruising her knees but she scrambled up immediately and continued running taking short frantic deep breaths.
She could hear the sound of twigs breaking behind her. The chase was on!

.·.·.·.·.·
"Mabel answer me...where's pastor Batholomew?" Osi demanded from the woman.
She was clearly puzzled "I don't understand...what's going on?"
"Where did you say Sofiri went to?" he barked. He couldn't keep his voice from rising
She didn't reply. She took a step back, his eyes were very wild that very minute and she felt confused "Pastor, why are you..."
He didn't wait for her to finish. He hurried out of the house.
I have to get to Amara! His spirit was deeply troubled and he ran towards her house. He had a bad feeling something terrible was happening this very moment.

He came across her father on the path to her house. Dé Nwachukwu was with joy and Oluchi and the trio were moving frantically in a worried half run.
"Dé! Where's Amara?" Osi called out as he hurried to his side.
"The pastor took her...Bartholomew!" His voice shook with fear and Osi almost collapsed as his legs became rubber all of a sudden.
"Where did he take her to?" He tried to keep his voice calm but failed woefully.
"I don't know...the church is empty...and no one is at the house too!"
Osi stopped moving. He was genuinely afraid. He had never been this scared in his entire life. He couldn't imagine Amara getting harmed like the rest...no way it wasn't possible.
But where was she?
Slowly his eyes focused on the trees. The woods were eerily quiet but he suddenly knew Amara was in there.
He broke into a run and he prayed....and prayed...and prayed....