Virus

by Ifedayo Akintomide

  A long silence followed her sad words.

  “So you think its be mere chance that you happened to be in this town at the time of the creatures awakening?”

  A heavy silence greeted his question. Baba Adora waited five minutes for them to speak. When no one did, he cleared his throat and continued talking.”

  “Nothing in life is chance. The universe does not believe in chance. We only have cause and effect. Let’s say for the sake of argument that it was chance, do you not think that that’s too big of a chance.

  “Anyway what you believe or not believe is irrelevant. What matters now is the truth. The words I speak to you are truth and not lies. The way I see it, we have two choices. We either stay here and keep debating about it until it’s too late to save anyone, or we can go and begin the process of putting the creature back into its prison. So what do you choose?”

  Silence greeted his grim words. He was on the verge of speaking again when Anike piped up.

  “Okay, let’s say for the sake of argument that what you are saying is the truth. When you say lure the creature with the descendants, what do you mean by that?”

  He sighed before he spoke. “Wole, Tunrayo and the three others I spoke of will have to accompany me to the shrine. The creature will sense our presence and come for us. I can already sense its fury. It will do all to punish those with the bloodline that imprisoned him. It knows only those with the right bloodline can put him back into his prison. So his first act of vengeance will be to destroy every single one of the descendants so he will forever roam the earth free.”

  The faces that surrounded him grew pale at his words. Another long silence followed before__

  “But there is something I still don’t get__” Tayo began swallowing. “If the spell that held it bound for over a century was that powerful, what or who released it?”

  Another sigh burst from Baba Adora’s lips. “That my dear friends, is what I do not know.”

  The silence that followed was cold and unnerving.

  Chapter Thirty – Three

  Taiwo took a deep breath and peered round the edge of the white concrete wall his back was pressed against. His eyes scoured the entire length of the long corridor. The shadows of several slurring shapes moved at the opposite end. That part of the corridor was dim and gloomy, making it impossible to make much out.

  He swallowed and nodded at his men, two of whom immediately stepped out with their weapons raised high. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out after them with his weapon held at the ready. Four others came out after him with their backs facing his. Their own weapons were aimed at the corridor they were just exiting.

  It was slow going because of their bid to be quiet. Taiwo desperately wanted to avoid a gun battle if he could help it. They could not afford to waste ammunition. The eyes of every man present including him were glazed with fright. Their bodies were rigid and stiff like a tightly coiled spring, ready to snap into action if released.

  They kept moving forward, their target another turning to their left. Unknown to them, this was the same corridor Wole and Tunrayo had passed many hours before. They eventually reached it, their eyes widening in shock when they saw more creatures standing with their backs to them at the opposite end.

  Beyond these creatures was another tee-junction. Terrified looks came upon all the men’s faces. How were they gong to get past them using what remained of their ammunition.

  Swallowing Taiwo quickly did a head count. There were five of them. Only God knew how many more might be lurking in the next corridor. Several moments passed as Taiwo and his men watched the creatures frozen in fright. Taiwo eventually reached a decision.

  Lowering his gun, he reached for the baton he had strapped to his belt. His men’s eyes widened at that.

  “We can’t afford to waste our ammunition.” He mouthed, with no sound coming from his mouth. He repeated this several times until he was sure they all understood. Still looking terrified, they holstered their weapons and crept forward armed with knives, batons and whatever else they had. Just before they struck, Taiwo raised his arm to halt them and mouthed.

  “Whatever you do, don’t get bitten.”

  They nodded and attacked. It was over in about a minute. The five creatures lay dead and bleeding on the terrazzo floor. Loud growls erupted from the corridor behind making fear steal into their hearts. They had made too much noise. Now the creatures behind were onto them.

  Springing into action, Taiwo and his men raced to the tee-junction. Reaching it they were alarmed to see more of the creatures racing towards them from the left. They tore towards the right.

  A scream made Taiwo turn in alarm. One of his men had been grabbed. The others, several paces in front stopped to help him. Before their horrified eyes two of the creatures sank their long fangs into his throat. In horror one of Taiwo’s men hurried back to try and help him.

  “LEAVE HIM!” Taiwo roared as he turned to run. “There is nothing we can do for him.”

  The man racing back to help reluctantly stopped and followed his superior officer, his eyes shining with unshed tears.

  Directly ahead was another door, opened, leading into a wide room. Five paces away from it, a slurring hulk of a man burst out. He was clad in the light blue uniform of the Geowich security.

  Taiwo pulled out his sidearm with a speed that astounded him and put two bullets in the man’s skull. The man’s eyes grew vacant and his body fell backwards hitting the ground with a dull thud.

  Leaping over the man’s body, Taiwo’s face fell when he came face to face with six more. He broke left firing the three rounds he still had in the chamber. Two rounds hit the one closest to him in the chest doing little harm. The last one caught him right between the eyes dropping him like a sack of meat.

  A fusillade of bullets burst from the corridor ripping into the six creatures bodies and shaking them like ragdolls. Taiwo rolled on the floor and came up wielding his rusty AK 47 rifle like a club since he had no more bullets for it.

  Several loud clicks rang out from the hall as the chambers of his men’s guns emptied. Before they all emptied however, the six of them were down. Faint roars still rang out from down the corridor but there was not pursuit. Their colleague had bought them some time with his life.

  “Sir__ we are totally out of ammo.” His tall bulky sergeant barked grimly.

  ‘Tell me something I don’t know__’ Taiwo thought as he headed to the staircase on his left.

  Elsewhere

  Tayo stood crouched in front of the door ready to pull it open when the order came. A weary somewhat fearful looking Baba Adora stood behind him waiting for Wole to extricate himself from his mother’s clutches.

  The rest of them were backed against the opposite wall, their eyes glued to the still closed door. The taste of fear hung heavy in the wide cafeteria. It was a tangible thing that gave you the sense that if you reached out you would be able to touch it.

  Wole and Anike’s had their eyes locked on each other. She held his hands in hers, gripping it so tight that she threatened to cut off his blood circulation.

  “You don’t have to go__” She said grimly. Her voice was dull and hollow. If he had not been watching her lips move, he would seriously doubt she was the one speaking to him.

  “I have to go mum. Did you not hear what Baba Adora said?” If we don’t put that creature back where it belongs, none of us will survive.”

  “How do we know he is telling the truth? I have already lost your father; I cannot afford to lose you too.”

  He paused considering her words before he spoke.

  “Then come with us.”

  She froze startled, searching his eyes for any trace of jest. Seeing none, a cold stillness flooded her insides.

  “What if we fail? What if we don’t come back?” She asked quietly. Her voice was so low he was barely able to hear what she was saying.

  “Then we will go and be with dad.”

  That very grown up statement made the unsh
ed tears brimming in her eyes stream down her face. She reached forward and embraced her son, hugging him very tight. If this was the last time she ever got to hold him, she was determined to make it count.

  She pulled away gently when he began to move restlessly in her arms. Once he freed himself from her clutches, he turned facing Baba Adora, nodding slowly as he did so.

  Baba Adora smiled and gave Tayo the go ahead to open the door. The door opened a couple of seconds later revealing the long dark corridor beyond it. Baba Adora raised the staff like stick in his hand and a shinning white glow burst from it lighting up the corridor.

  Several loud gasps erupted behind him at the strange sight. Not bothering to explain, he stepped into the corridor holding the staff high above his head. Wole and Tunrayo exchanged troubled glances and walked after him with Wole’s mum bringing up the rear. The cafeteria door slammed after them with loud clicks and clacks reverberating down the corridor as the locks slid into place.

  Baba Adora’s steps were brisk and long. The three others had to jog to keep up. He led them down a myriad of corridors, taking a much different route from the one that brought them to the cafeteria. They walked for almost thirty minutes before he spoke.

  “Just one more corridor to go and we will reach the exit.”

  Wole was about to ask him how he knew, when he remembered that he was a seer. A question niggled on his insides, but since he did not know how to put it into words yet, he decided to keep quiet. He could always ask later when it became clear to him.

  Another turning loomed up ahead. The turning headed to the right, reaching it, they were relieved to see it led into a wide waiting area. At the end of the waiting room was the sliding door of the back exit.

  They barely stepped into the waiting room when the sound of several running feet reached their ears. The sound came from a corridor on their right four paces ahead. Tunrayo, Wole and Anike were about to race back into the corridor they were coming from when Baba Adora’s amused voice stopped them.

  “Relax! The three others I spoke of approach.”

  Barely a second after he said this, Collins, Judith, Alaba and Joke burst out of the corridor. Both groups exchanged long wary glances.

  “You aren’t___” Judith asked searching for the word.

  “Undead?” Baba Adora supplied with one eyebrow raised.

  “Yes.”

  “No we aren’t.”

  There was silence for a bit before the sound of more running feet rang out, coming from the same corridor Collins and the others just exited. They all moved towards the opposing wall, their frightened eyes fixed on the entrance to the corridor. Taiwo Betiku and five weary looking men burst out of the corridor a couple of seconds later. Another long silence ensured as both groups examined each other.

  “You aren’t__” Taiwo began with his eyes narrowed.

  “No we aren’t undead.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Waiting for you.” Baba Adora replied staring unblinkingly at Taiwo’s face.

  “Why are you waiting for us?”

  “We are going to need the protection of you and your men if we are going to enter the shrine of the EVONSO spirit.”

  “The evo-what?” Taiwo asked surged forward and grabbing a fistful of Baba Adora shirt. He pulled him close until only a distance of six inches separated both of their faces.

  “Is that what the creature is called?” Wole asked looking at Adora with eyes that were wide with wonder.

  “How come you are just telling us what the creature is called?” Anike demanded, her eyes flashing with fury. She looked ready to tear Baba Adora into pieces with her bare hands.

  Before Baba Adora could answer, loud growling rang out from within the corridor Taiwo and his men had just come from.

  “Sir, Maybe we can pick this up later__” Taiwo’s sergeant began, looking at the corridor with terrified eyes.

  “__ if the text message we sent got through, Vector three could be waiting for us at Sunflower bakery with fresh supplies, ammunition and food. We are toast if we stay here.”

  It took less than a second for the wisdom of the sergeant’s words to sink in. Giving Baba Adora one last glance, Taiwo tore towards the exit with the others following. Alaba and Joke brought up the rear because Joke was finding it difficult to keep up.

  They slammed the glass door shut and headed for the back gate. Two of Taiwo’s men waited for Alaba and Joke to catch up.

  “No don’t wait for us__ GO! We will follow as quickly as we can.” Alaba cried at the waiting men.

  The two men exchanged troubled looks. Seeming to reach a decision, they surged forward and lifted Joke up till she was seated on their shoulders. They tore after the others leaving a surprised Alaba to bring up the rear.

  Chapter Thirty – Four

  They took a short cut through thick bushes surrounding the hospital. This path brought them twelve feet from where the battle in front of the hospital had taken place.

  They were shocked to discover only a couple of bodies remained on the floor. The rest had vanished. Most of the remaining bodies were undead creatures who had been shot in the head. A quarter of the few that remained were already twitching. It was clear that more undead creatures would soon awaken.

  Thirty paces ahead to their left were two police Hilux trucks. A feeling of relief surged through Taiwo before it was replaced by a sense of dread.

  “I hope one of you has the keys to these trucks.”

  There was silence for a couple of seconds before one of the men carrying Joke put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a bunch of keys. Another man also pulled out a bunch of keys. Heaving a sigh of relief, Taiwo started for the trucks keeping a wary eye on both sides of the road. They loaded themselves into both trucks, Taiwo’s men jumping on the back. The trucks started without a hitch and they were off speeding towards the outskirts of town.

  Despair filled them as the Hiluxes sped down half a dozen narrow streets. The whole town was in uproar. The sight of scores of smoldering houses and undead creatures met them as the driver navigated through the maze of tiny streets. The town was overrun with the undead. The EVONSO spirit it appeared, was moments away from succeeding at what it failed to do a century before.

  Taiwo’s eyes were grim as he watched the carnage unfolding around him. Anike shed quiet tears in the back seat of the truck. Anger suddenly surged on Taiwo’s insides and he turned glaring at a wary looking Baba Adora.

  “You said you were waiting for me and my men__ how could you possible know we were going to be in that corridor?”

  A heavy silence followed his words. Wole squashed between his mother and Baba Adora glanced at the faces of the adults waiting for one of them to respond. When they did not he decided to speak for them.

  “He is a seer.”

  “A seer? What the devil is a seer? Ki lo n je be*?” *What does that mean?

  Wole opened his mouth to respond when his mother shushed him. The frown on Taiwo’s face grew even harder.

  “Madam, I must insist you let the boy speak.”

  The hard glare he gave her made her lean back in her chair taking her hands off Wole’s arm. Wole searched his mother’s face for five seconds before he turned back to Taiwo and continued speaking.

  “He sees the future. He can tell what is going to happen before it does.”

  “You’re psychic?” Taiwo snorted in disbelief.

  “I don’t know anything about being psy__ or whatever you call it__” Wole said not noticing the exchange of wary looks between the adults.

  “__ all I know is he can tell what will happen before it happens. Not sure he is that good as a seer though.” He finished with a derisive snort.

  His last statement made all the adults freeze. The surprised look on Baba Adora’s face was instantly replaced by displeasure. He looked as if he was highly insulted by Wole’s comment.

  “Why do you say that boy?” Taiwo asked leaning closer. He did not like Baba Adora one bit.
And if anyone had info to discredit him, he was all ears to hear it.

  “Because if he is a good seer, why didn’t he warn us? I mean Tunrayo, chike and I about Eze. I always greeted him every evening after school. Why didn’t he say something to me? That is one, when Eze bit Chike, why did he not warn the town’s people of the danger. The only reason I can think of is, he didn’t know.”

  His piece said, he leaned back in his chair and lapsed into silence. The silence in the truck was long and heavy. Anike and Taiwo gave Baba Adora accusing looks daring him to respond.

  For a few long minutes, he did not. His eyes became distant, making it seem as if he was miles away in his thoughts and even in body. The minutes ticked by until Taiwo turned back with a disgusted snort facing the road once more. Two seconds later the old man began to speak.

  “Firstly, Wole I would appreciate if you did not talk about me as if I am not here. Its not polite and you should know better.”

  His words made Wole look a little shamefaced. Satisfied that he had struck a chord, he turned and faced Taiwo.

  “I made some mistakes with the way I handled the situation. I will be the first to admit that to anyone. However, before you judge me; I will like you all to put yourself into my shoes.

  “From the moment I could reason, my father called me aside and told me of Oraromi’s dark past. He said like his father before him, he had the sight and one day I would have it too. That the sight would keep the family of the seers one step ahead of the creature, so if there was ever a time the creature would awake, he could be put back into the permanent sleep.

  “Those stories frightened me so much that I had nightmares for months. I eventually came to terms with it when I convinced myself that the creature would never arise and it probably did not exist. I made myself believe that my father told me those tales to frighten me.

  “It was the morning of my twelfth birthday that the sight began to manifest. I just seemed to know things before they happened. I would look at a man and feel death around him. The next thing I would hear is that he passed a week or two afterwards.