AYO'S POV

I took a drag of cocaine and moaned in delight. The white powder stuck to the tip of my nose and I inhaled it sharply. I wiped the substance off my black shirt, adjusting the creases that branded it. I squinted my eyes to look at the watch adorning my right hand and gasped, I shrieked on remembering Eniola.

"How did time fly so fast?" I mumbled, as I stood up from the couch.

I staggered in movement because I felt dizziness lurching and the intense pleasure that ran through my veins. I walked towards the stairs that led to my bedroom, taking dangerous steps.

I stopped abruptly at the foot of the stairs and groaned.

"I shouldn't have taken so much cocaine. Now I can't think straight."

I smacked my cheeks and made to walk towards the door. I stamped my slippers against the rug on the front porch and strolled to my backyard. I let out an involuntary yawn and stretched out my muscles, flexing them into locomotion.

The spot where I buried Eniola was still fresh and vivid. I picked up a shovel and began to evacuate the sand. It went on for several minutes and I stopped at the moment when the shovel hit the coffin. I beamed happily.

"Hope you enjoyed the three hours you spent in that coffin, Eniola." I smirked, folding my arms.

"I know you won't respond, you are always stubborn." I added, holding out my fist.

I made to open the coffin but it didn't bulge. I grunted desperately, sweat soaking into my black shirt. It opened with a loud thud and I stepped backward. As I advanced closer to the coffin, the air became warmer. I looked into the coffin to see an unconscious Eniola. I shivered in fear as I carried her body hastily in my arms. Her body felt limp and heavy, I set it down on the ground and began to contemplate on my next line of action.

I knelt down beside her body and slapped her across the face.

"Eniola, I am not joking anymore. Get up this instant and stop playing games." I yelled, engulfing her pale hands into mine.

Eniola didn't stir or move in any direction. I became alarmed at this development and nervousness creeped into my veins. I placed my ears on her chest to check if her heart beat was intact. I heard absolutely nothing and began to fret.

"Calm down Ayo, she might have fainted." I muttered, reassuring myself.

I punched Eniola with my fist repeatedly, refusing to believe that she was dead. Eniola's blood was smeared on my knuckles and I looked at it in shame. I cradled Eniola's face in my arms and wept.

"What have I done? I didn't expect you to die. I just wanted you to love and accept me." I whispered, crying uncontrollably as I buried my head in the crook of Eniola's lifeless neck and continued sobbing

"Eniola, please just wake up. I promise I'll be a good man. Please don't leave me." I begged, as I held her body to myself.

The night was dreadfully quiet but my voice cried out destroying it's silence.

"Eniola, please just open your eyes. I didn't mean for all this to happen." I pleaded, as I brushed a thumb across her bruised cheek.

"Eniola, please!" I yelled, as tears trickled down my face.

I hit the ground repeatedly, regret running through my nerves. I only wanted Eniola's affection and I took it too far,memories of Eniola's pleadings stabbed my soul. I stood up and looked at my image in the swimming pool that was sitting in the backyard. It was the face of a murderer.

I dialed a number repeatedly and nearly gave up at the tenth ring.

"Hello, Is this Officer Adams from Lekki District Police?" I asked, wiping the tears that settled on my cheeks.

"Yes!" Officer Adams replied, his hoarse and baritone voice booming across the phone.

I hesitated in voicing out the words my heart wanted my mouth to speak.

"What can I do for you?"  Officer Adams added.

"I....did something bad." I stuttered, bringing out each word with a trembling voice.

"I don't understand. Can you explain with further details?" Officer Adams replied with irritation dwelling in his lips.

"I did something bad." I repeated, raising my voice a bit higher.

"If you can't say anything tangible, then I am afraid I would have to cut this call."  Officer Adams grunted.

"I killed someone." I replied, as I tasted salty tears on my lips.

"Excuse me?" Inspector Adams gasped, his voice displaying amazement.

"My address is Road 24,  King's Estate, Lekki. Come and arrest me." I yelled, before hunging up the phone.

I thew my phone into the swimming pool and screamed. I looked at Eniola's body and cried louder. I was heartbroken and crushed. I walked to my gate and unlocked it.

I walked back to the backyard and sat on the ground beside Eniola's body waiting for the officers to whiske me away. I smiled bitterly remembering the first day I met Eniola. I remembered her beautiful smile that greeted me every morning in the law firm. I remembered her cranky jokes that lifted up my spirits. My heart thumped faster realizing the consequences of what I had done.

My thoughts were cut by the brisk movement of a group of people advancing towards the backyard holding large guns in their arms.

"Put your hands in the air and turn around." One of the officers ordered, holding an handcuff in his right hand.

I stood up slowly,shifting my gaze from Eniola's body and turned around. Handcuffs were placed on my hands seconds later. I was kicked in the leg by the same officer who kept shouting at me to keep walking. I turned to look at Eniola for the last time but her body was already covered with a white cloth.

My eyes were misty with tears. I felt embarrassed and agonized. I wept silent tears till I was pushed into the police van.

                                   **********

JAMES'S POV

I groaned into consciousness as I blinked my eyes repeatedly to access my surroundings. David was hovering over me wearing a sly grin. I was tied on the hands like an animal, I mustered all the energy in my veins and hit my head on David's forehead.

"You sleep quite well in harsh situation." David chuckled, dragging me with my legs out of the car.

"I can't wait to see the look on Tolani's face." David added, rubbing his forehead.

"What do you want from me? Haven't I suffered enough? "I yelled kicking my legs on his hard chest.

"You know what I want. Your suffering has barely began. " David sneered, as my upper body hit the sandy ground.I let out an agonizing moan from my lips.

David dragged me by my left leg and walked on ignoring my grunts. He opened the doors and flung my weak body inside, throwing me on a heap of sand. His face showed sheer happiness and contentment on his achievement but soon transformed into a state of shock on sighting Tolani's unconscious body sprawled on the floor. He walked briskly towards Tolani's body and shook it repeatedly.

"Tolani, wake up!" David screamed, grabbing Tolani by the shoulders.

He leaned over to check Tolani's pulse and heartbeat and shrieked.

"How did this happen?" David yelled and stopped on seeing Tolani's left knee. A syringe was popping out on her knee. David grabbed it and walked over to me.

"You did this, didn't you? This syringe was meant for you." David thundered, gripping the syringe by it's head harshly.

"I did it out of self defense." I muttered.

"Self defense? You have succeeded in killing Tolani, you are despicable." David spat, forming his right hand into a fist.

"Why are you so bothered about it? She was your brother's fiancee or did you have feelings for her?" I taunted, spreading out my legs.

"You still have the guts to tease me. I am going to make sure you regret this. I will torture you to the point that you would beg me to kill you eventually."

"I will break every bone in your body and grind it. I will make you wine and dine in your own blood. Killing you now is too kind." David finalized, banging the wall behind me.

I swallowed my saliva in agitation. David grabbed my neck and I whimpered at his harsh grip.

"Now where shall we begin, Your Honor." David whispered, his lips curving into a malicious grin.