There was a sharp knock on the door and the devil almost jumped out of his skin. When his father had left that morning, he had instructed him to bolt the door and assured him he would knock in a particular pattern.
Now the knock sounded again and Batholomew desperately wished Pa Kenneth had locked the door from outside.
Bartholomew grew worried, he sneaked to the door, careful not to make a sound but he was dismayed to find out the door didn't have any peephole.
The knock sounded again, louder and sharper and finally a voice: "Pa Kenneth...papa...Bartho...Dede' are you there?"
Bartholomew gave a sigh of relief and leaned against the door as his pulse returned to normal: it was his younger brother!
"Are you alone?" He finally asked
"Yes please let me in before someone sees me and decides to come visiting"
Bartholomew unlocked the door and carefully stood to the side. Sofiri stumbled in immediately and he shut the door.
"Oh brother, the youths suspect me, papa saved me last night they would have killed me. They believe I'm conniving with you as an accomplice."
Bartholomew gritted his teeth in fury "Then you shouldn't have come...it's a stupid risk you took, one of them could easily be following you and wonder who opened up for you especially if papa has been seen in the market square this morning!"
He paused to take a deep breath and as if on cue he was interrupted by a knock.

.·.·.·.·.·
Reverend Okorie had been silencing his phone since he arrived at the hospital but whoever was at the other end of the line was very determined. The phone kept ringing and finally he excused himself and answered it.
"Hello....Ovie?....yes....yes he's fine.....no..no no....you and Bukky and Deacon Oforbuike plus evangelist Tomori are in charge for the time being....the main church and the youth church....yes...I'm trusting you...okay, hmmm.... (he stroked his jaw thoughtfully) maybe later later this week...yes of course he'll follow us...okay Ovie I'm busy now" he ended the call.
"Ovie is worried about tomorrow's service?" Gregory guessed correctly.
"Yes but evangelist Tomori is around and the deacon also, the service should go well" the reverend replied in high spirits.
"I won't really count on the deacon" said a barely audible voice from the bed and everybody in the room was immediately on their feet happily, talking to Osi and touching him.
Osi felt a strange kind of numbness in his chest region but the blinding pain the knife had inflicted was gone or maybe it just reduced drastically. However he felt lightheaded and had the sensation that his head could fall off if he moved it too much. He also wanted badly to get to his feet and stretch his joints but for now he was stuck horizontally besides he wasn't sure he could stand yet without his knees giving out under him. He noticed Amara sitting on the bed opposite him and his face broke into a wide smile. He was very pleased to see her.
"Amara..." His voice trailed off when he saw the young boy sitting next to her.
"Jelemba...you came to see me" he said slowly.
"Yes pastor, I'm glad you're fine" the young boy replied happily.
Amara remembered something suddenly "I saw Jelemba this morning in the market square he was searching for you, he said he wanted to tell you something"
"Re-really" Osi said. He tried to sit up but he couldn't.
Jelemba looked uncertainly at the faces watching him earnestly.
"Its okay boy, we are your friends" Reverend Okorie assured him.
He nodded earnestly and opened his mouth to speak. "Last week I was with the dibia and we were...."
The curtain parted again and Dé John entered the room accompanied by Pa Kenneth.
"Our hero needs to rest, we shouldn't stress him" Pa Kenneth said hurriedly cutting short Jelemba who had just started speaking freely.
Dé John shook hands with reverend Okorie. His eyes drifted to Jelemba and he turned to Pa Kenneth "this is the young boy? The medium? He looks so much better now...much better that before"
Osi had been watching the young boy eagerly and he noticed how his face seemed to close up when the elders entered the room.
De' John was speaking "Pa Kenneth has agreed to take the young boy as his ward and look after him. We need to endeavour to give the young lad a normal childhood"
No one said anything for a while but the atmosphere in the room was one of agreement.
The silence stretched for some seconds until Jelemba said in a low voice "No I don't want to go"
"Jelemba what did you say?" Amara asked him in a surprised voice
"I want to go with pastor Osi, I don't want Pa Kenneth"
"What nonsense!" Pa Kenneth was quite livid "Boy you can't just dump that kind of responsibility on his shoulders the pastor has duties back in...."
"Actually sir it won't be a problem" Reverend Okorie interrupted him politely. "It would be a pleasure to take him under our wing, there's nothing I'd like more than to supervise and help his spiritual growth"
Before Pa Kenneth could reply, and he looked like he was about to protest, nurse Nkiru parted the curtain and walked in cheerfully.
"My! We have a full house...there's our hero, you're up" she observed the IV bag which was almost finished. She fiddled with the valve a little and observed Osi. "I'm sure you'd like to sit up may be even use the toilet...ease your self?"
He nodded gratefully. He was tired of lying down on his back. He gratefully swung his feet to the side as she helped him in a sitting position. He felt blood rush and reach stiff parts of his body.

.·.·.·.·.·
The knock sounded again sharper and impatiently and Batholomew began to shake "Oh God...you were followed, someone followed you here!" the hair at the back of his neck stood on its end. Sofiri's eyes grew wide as he also began to panic. "I'm sure no one followed me here...no one saw me, I was careful" he whispered furiously although he sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
The knock sounded again, sharp and impatient.
"Quick hide somewhere....I have to see who is at the door!"
He waited till Bartholomew ran into one of the rooms before he walked briskly to the door and opened it half expecting to see the butcher and a dozen youths at the other end but it was Dé Nwachukwu.
"What took you so long? Why did you waste time?" He asked crossly. His eyes narrowed suddenly "wait...what are you doing here?!"
"Pa Kenneth brought me to his place early this morning, the youths were behaving extremely violent towards me and he concluded this was the safest place for me right now. My wife too....oh God!" He let his voice break. Sofiri was a very good actor and he played a scared and helpless character perfectly.
Dé Nwachukwu looked at him blankly and simply said "Hmmmm" he took a step inside forcing Sofiri backwards "so where is the elder now?"
"Errm...he left early this morning" Sofiri replied.
Dr Nwachukwu strolled into the living room, his eyes idly scanning everywhere as he moved about.
"You mean he left you alone in his house?" He paused and looked directly at Sofiri with unreadable eyes.
Sofiri's heart bounced about his chest and he looked away, unable to maintain eye contact. "Yes sir, he said I'd be safe in his house for now and I totally agree. Sir the youths really want to harm me especially the butcher"
"Hmmm....I can't blame them, your brother is a devil, he almost harmed my daughter last night" as he spoke he moved round the small apartment, his eyes roaming around.
Sofiri held his breath when Dé Nwachukwu opened one of the room doors and peered inside.
Dé Nwachukwu looked at him and his expression was unreadable.
"You know what I find strange...Pa Kenneth was always conscious about his security...his home especially, I find it strange that he'd leave you just like that in his place..."
As he spoke he moved to the other door.
He stopped with his hand on the door knob
"Come to think of it..." He frowned "Pa Kenneth....no it can't be"
Sofiri was watching the door with wide eyes but he suddenly seemed to focus on what the elder was saying.
Dé Nwachukwu was staring at him as if he was just seeing him for the first time. Sofiri was suddenly scared he knew what was coming.
"There used to be a rumour that Pa Kenneth once had boys in another village....we were made to believe the mother took the boys back to the North but...." He removed his hand from the door knob and scratched his jaw deep in thought. "The strange thing is you and the pastor would fit the age perfectly"
The minute the words were out of his mouth the door opened behind him and Batholomew grabbed him with forcefully from behind.

.·.·.·.·.·
"What were you saying young lad?" Reverend Okorie had not forgotten that Jelemba had been about to tell them something important before the old men had interrupted them and he reminded the young boy.
But Jelemba seemed hesitant.
He began to stutter and Osi noticed a look of fear had entered his eyes.
"errm...actually....errm..."
"Talk to me boy...everything is alright...no one is going to hurt you" Reverend Okorie urged

.·.·.·.·.·
Dé Nwachukwu was no match for the force of sheer youth that gripped him from behind. He was still experiencing symptoms of the cold he had caught early that morning from running around the woods half naked and getting grabbed from behind in such a way made him feel like his bones could easily be turned to liquid.
"What do you know about Pa Kenneth and his sons? What do you know?!" Bartholomew was shouting in his ear and gripping him roughly, crushing his wind pipe.
Even if the old man tried to talk and explain himself, he couldn't. His face became red...purple...red again.
"Please reduce your voice...someone can hear you" Sofiri cautioned his brother with a little fear in his eyes.
"I don't care...I'm going to kill this man!" Bartholomew seemed to have lost it suddenly. The pressure of the past 24 hours finally seemed to have pulled him under. He looked and sounded crazy and couldn't seem to keep his voice down.
"I've never had a man before...maybe I'm going to rip this old fool apart...violate his fragile rectum, since I couldn't have any of his daughters...he might as well take their place" he gave a crazy laugh and even Sofiri took an involuntary step back. His big brother had gone bananas!

Dé Nwachukwu had never been a good Christian. He was more of a pagan...he didn't have any belief in a sovereign and divine God like his daughters.
He didn't really lean towards the science of the land...also known as the way of the dibia.
He was simply indifferent when it came to spiritual matters and preferred to exist without paying homage to any being for his life.
But hearing Bartholomew speak about the unholy and wicked plans he had in store for him, the elder of Amaife found a little space and a little wind to gasp out: "Jesus Christ! Save me from this devil!"
Someone knocked on the door...

.·.·.·.·.·
Outside Pa Kenneth's house, Oluchi asked Joy "Are you sure Dé is inside this house...I don't think anyone is home"
Joy frowned "he told me he was coming here to see Pa Kenneth, that they were going to talk and plan about the general meeting and discuss what next to do....he called it damage control"
"He's not here...please can we go to the hospital now, I need to see Amara" Paul said rather sullenly. He had followed the girls simply because he wanted to see Amara and talk to her.
"Wait let me at least knock...I think I heard something" Joy said wondering why Paul still disturbed himself over Amara when she was clearly in love with someone else.
She knocked on the door.

.·.·.·.·.·
The knock froze every one in their tracks. At first it sounded like a sound from far away and not from the door leading to the living room and after some seconds of silence Bartholomew resumed applying pressure on the old man's throat.
By this point Dé Nwachukwu was about to give up the ghost. But then the knock sounded again, sharp and longer.
The sound caused Batholomew to jerk in shock. He obviously thought whoever had been at the door had left. The sudden movement freed a little space and Dé Nwachukwu tried to shout although it was almost impossible. His throat was raw and it came out as a hoarse whisper.
"H-elp! Help!"

.·.·.·.·.·
Did you hear that?" Joy asked
"Hear what?" Oluchi asked clearly confused.
"Look can we get the hell out of-" Paul whined
"Shhhhhsh" Joy interrupted him rudely, raising her hand sharply.
The trio fell silent as their ears perked up.
surely they heard a faint voice. A voice Joy recognised immediately as Dé nwachukwu's her father!
"He...lep me..please..."
There was a sudden silence as though he had been shut up via violence.
"That's my father!" Joy screamed.
She attacked the door, hitting with her fists and palms, trying to force it open
They heard raised voices...from inside, or a raised voice, a voice that sounded very crazy and frustrated.
"Oh my God...Paul break down this door!" Oluchi yelled at her brother.

.·.·.·.·.·
Dé Nwachukwu felt his throat burning. It was literally on fire yet he somehow managed to speak out. It was an intended shout yet it was just a little louder than his first whisper. The result was a blinding pain in his throat that made him feel like he forced a ball of fire down his throat.
Bartholomew grew more enraged. He hit Dé Nwachukwu on the back of his head with his elbow causing the elder to collapse on the floor.
"I'm going to beat you to death! You old bastard!" he yelled
"Bart-" Sofiri began worriedly
"Stay out of it!" Bartholomew barked. He kicked the elder in his midriff.
"Old son of a bitch...what do you know about pa Kenneth and his sons?!"
"Bart, I think someone is at the-"
THUD!
There was a loud crash on the door. Someone was trying to force it open.

.·.·.·.·.·
"I think we should all leave the pastor to rest well and recover" Pa Kenneth interrupted Jelemba for the second time that afternoon.
"I agree...we have to be on our way also...De' Nwachukwu must be searching for us, there's so much to be done" Dé John added.
"Actually I'm okay...and I really want to hear what Jelemba came to tell me" Osi said hastily.
"What exactly is it you have to say?" Dé john asked the boy irritably.
Something in his voice (maybe the irritation) seemed to get to the young boy and a spark suddenly entered his eyes and he found his voice.
"After the dibia was summoned, that night Papa Kenneth visited his hut, he brought a satchel of tobacco and while they smoked it I overhead him instruct the dibia to declare Okudili as the man behind the crimes!" He rushed the words out, as if scared that he would run out of courage if he spoke slowly. However the only thing he ran out of was steam and he panted with his tongue out while a stunned silence enveloped the room.
Dé john was the first to speak after some seconds. He blinked rapidly and looked at his leader.
"Elder...Papa what is he saying? What does he mean?"
Pa Kenneth was silent. But there was a movement in his cheek as he worked his jaw.
Osi began to feel like Sherlock Holmes...he could suddenly see the light.
He could fit all pieces of the puzzle together....
At least he hoped he could...
But one thing was sure...if he could see the full picture his 'resolution' was going to be messed up.

.·.·.·.·.·
At first Paul rammed his shoulder into the door with as much force as he could muster. He went again, and again, and again...
But the door was too sturdy and he realised his shoulder was more likely to shift from the hinges of its socket first before the door.
He moved back and kicked the door...hard.
It was firmly bolted and apart from making a loud noise he wasn't really making much progress.
Joy was on fire, she emerged from wherever she had disappeared to earlier with a thick stick in her hand. She ran to the window near the door which had to be the kitchen window although she didn't care.
She swung the stick with much force and the glass cracked open immediately and she proceeded to climb in through the window but strong arms hefted her back. It was Paul. He held her back and handed her to Oluchi who soothed her while she kicked in resistance.
Paul took off his beloved leather jacket and wrapped it round his hand.
He hit the edge of the window frame, breaking off the remaining shards of glass that stuck out. He then proceeded to climb through the window.
"Stay here!" He shouted over his shoulder at the two girls.
"Be careful!"Oluchi replied.
"Over my dead body...I'm coming in...that's my father in there!" Joy shouted with much venom.

.·.·.·.·.·
Bartholomew was waiting to the side of the window with a pestle in his hand. The moment the jerk crawled through he was going to split his skull open.
Sofiri was tasked with holding the semi conscious elder still across the room.
He called out to his brother. "Please don't hurt him...he's my very good friend...he's a good guy"
Bartholomew scoffed "you better wake up and behave yourself"
When he heard young joy swear that she was coming in, he almost whistled out in pleasure.
He was really a lucky bastard....
He was going to enjoy this fiery beauty....he could feel it in his cursed loins.