Tiny's torment had awaited me the minute I'd closed my eyes. She met me at a dark bathroom stall with hysterical laughter and the bizarre action of raising her school skirt to flash me her gory gashes that lay underneath, mocking me with the words; love and hero. She'd showed me the equation on her arm, the wordings seemed slashed deeply into her skin with a sharp blade instead of the normal turquoise blue writing of a marker with a derisive smile on her bluish, chapped lips.

The smile had morphed into grim frown and her beady, lifeless eyes –that bore a striking semblance to the dying squirrel's– held mine captive when she breathed the words I was beginning to dread;

'find x my Elly. Find x'.

I shot up from my bed with terror, the glimmer of moonlight that'd seeped through the curtains landed on my sweat-glazed skin, the blanket had been long discarded due to my subconscious wrestle.

I desperately tapped around for the switch of my bedside lamp before slowly remembering I was on a couch in a room that wasn't mine.

Thankfully, I hadn't disturbed the cop's peaceful sleep.

I tapped around the couch once more for another, more discrete source of light and miraculously, with the aid of the thin slice of moonlight I'd been able to find the desired device and with the aid of the faint backlight of my phone, I'd found my way to the cop's bathroom.

I'd taken residence in the cop's tiny bathtub for the rest of the night, with the companion of the pellets of water descending from the shower and the haunting memory of my latest nightmare.

♣

I still thought thoroughly about the details of the gruesome dream as I dragged my feet towards the school's garden in exhaustion.

Meeting mother this Friday wasn't one of those things I wanted to deal with. But there was no getting around this one, it was a bitter pill that was compulsory that I swallow whenever she decided to put us before 'her busy schedule'

Sigh. 

I sighted her from afar, regardless of the crowd. She was looking dapper and young as ever in her custom made jumpsuit and impeccable makeup.

She and my twin –the loved one– had gotten down to their business of hugs, kisses and smiles when I finally dragged myself to the scene.

Mother's wide smiles made her less formidable and even alluring, it reminded me of the happy days when she used to spend time with both of us without having favorites. When we would play hide and seek and mother would give me a big hug when she discovered me behind my uncreative hiding place.

Mother's smile was like sunshine, just as bright and warm. A smile that froze when I fell into her line of sight.

Joy.

"Look who finally deemed us worthy of her priceless time." I sneered bitterly and stood a full metre away, making no further move to get closer to her and her dramatically gasping, beloved daughter.

"Ella!" My sister gasped in mock shock, expecting to be praised for the action. If I wasn't so exhausted, I would have been amused.

"What twinnie? I'm not allowed to say the truth because it's too bitter for certain bitches to swallow?" The artificial highlight on mother's face grew more ashen, I wondered if that was the latest effect the expensive product added to the faces clueless women nowadays. Sad. So sad.

"Where are your manners Ella? You shouldn't regard our mother in that way!" My twin berated in mock horror, still fishing for applause from mother.

"I didn't mention names Dera, but whoever the shoe fits might as well wear it." I shrugged and plopped down on the thick carpet grass the garden was lavished with.

Dera said something again, her voice sounding desperate more than ever but I was busy zoning out to catch whatever theatrical line she was performing in honour of mother's August visit. I stifled a yawn.

My mother was consoling the loved twin with several impressed pats on the shoulder when I zoned back in.

"Don't waste your breath on scum like her darling, she's just like her dic– father." Dera nodded in empathy and I barked a humourless laugh in reply.

"And you seem to forget over and over that we're twins dear sister. The same dickhole's seed fertilized the unfortunate egg that birthed us. I may not be a whiz but I know that much. And I'll dutifully remind you anytime you both decide to forget." I basked in the uniform morbid expression on both faces when I was done and reclined to the plush cushion of the artificial grass.

I knew I'd won the round when seconds of silence, heavy with tension tickled by.

I decided to relegate myself to the background afterwards and observe the loving mother and child catch up.

Mother couldn't stop yapping about the woes of being the wife to the most popular business man in town, how a potbellied politician proposed extramarital affairs because of her flawless beauty, how she encountered the first lady of the state at a function looking underdressed and outshone by none other than her and how she would have been a 'more - in - vogue' first Lady if her esteemed husband decided to try his hand at politics.

Dera, the poor, beloved daughter that she was could only ohh and ahh in over enthusiastic awe like she was listening to the adventures of Alexander the great from the man himself. I shook my head in pity, wishing meeting period was over already.

Today couldn't be any worse.

"Fancy seeing you here Adeoti."

Ugh! Why does he always appear whenever I say that?

He loomed over me in his aloof coolness, casting an intimidating shadow on my form. I felt a little bit of dread spread through me before quickly assuring myself that it was just Dave Coker.

Just him Ella, not some psycho mysterious killer that seemed to have taken interest in me.

I took deep and steady breaths in and out to curtail my wandering imaginations.

Before I could say Jack, Dera had already dragged Dave away to introduce him to mother –as a very close friend.

Then with a vicelike grip on the latter, they continued their chattering like a damaged radio.

Mother mentally wore her sceptical goggles and went full blast on her interrogation.

And what did she do when she learned Dave was the one and only son of the special adviser to the state governor on security issues?

She launched into top level chirp mode.

Oh dear.

I intertwined my fingers behind my head and witnessed the cool facade of senior Dave crack –literally.

Oh her God! Was Dave serious about being the only son of the charming Olaoye Coker?
How old was Dave?
Did he really like her daughter –obviously we know which one she was referring to– the way she perceived?
Did he believe in young love?
Did he know she got married at an age similar to his and was still happily married till date?
Did he know how lucky he was to have her daughter?
Is his father also coming to visit him?
Oh.
No?
She would have been so delighted to make his acquaintance.
But they could arrange dinner and meet up during midterm break, yes?
She couldn't wait to meet his father, she had a feeling they would get along just fine.

And she didn't stop. She just went on and on, asking questions at such a speed that even poor Dave could barely keep up with. At a point he turned to me with a perplexed expression and desperately mouthed the words; 'help me'.

But I laid back with feigned ignorance to the meaning behind his actions and enjoyed the show with a satisfied smirk.

That's what you get for being a stalker dear senior Dave.

Things were just about to take an interesting turn when a student ran over to inform me that the hag required my presence immediately. The scowl on my face as I stood up and dusted my jeans must have scared the messenger, for he ran away as soon as the words left his mouth.

Just great, now I'll have to relinquish my front row seat to such quality drama. Joy.

After being waved away like an annoying fly with a fat stash of cash in a white envelope, I journeyed through the garden filled to capacity with pompous kids and their showoffs of parents to the hag's office in deep thoughts.

Had something horrible happened because of me again? Why would the hag call for me in such urgency with full knowledge my mother was visiting?

I encountered the group of boys that called themselves 'the posh marlians' rehearsing garbage lyrics for some social media Marlian challenge as I made a turn behind the art's studio.

 I wondered what they needed the five hundred thousand naira cash reward for when they got more than enough from their respective moneybag parents.

And I wondered even more why they listened to such music that depicts the female gender as nothing but playthings and sex toys. Music that brags about the amount of money the artist had and advises that these monies should be squandered upon weed, women and a flashy lifestyle, it doesn't even matter anymore where you get the money from, just squander it on fake friends and loose bitches and you'll be hailed by these Marlians.

 Worse was that most of the fans of these so-called legends are from the lower class and very ignorant part of the society; so they misspend their money buying flashy jewelry and being –in one word– fake. Leaving them all broke and empty and desperate for ways to get more money. Hence, the birth of all kinds of criminal offences. Which by the way isn't frowned upon by these legends, they're encouraged even, and they thrive and make more money and drive the clueless crowd they're role models to, into the deeper and poisonous abyss of poverty, illiteracy, drug abuse and ultimately depression. 

How did I know? I was a blogger, remember?

 And these posh Marlians aren't going to like what my next blog was going to be about.

By the time I was done with my brooding, I was already in the presence of the old hag, who was in company of the hot cop. It made me wonder if he ever leaves her office, or if they had anything going on between them.

I couldn't put anything past the hag after what I'd witnessed between her and ….ugh! Never mind.

She cleared her throat mildly with a sheepish look on after I took my seat beside hot cop. I really should stop calling him that, but I couldn't for the life of me remember what Mrs. Lawrence said his name was.

"I heard about what you did for corper Jide." I turned towards the cop so fast that I thought my neck would snap. The tired looking cop searched my gaze with a placid expression.

"How could you?!" I asked, not being able to conceal the hurt my voice carried. I didn't even try to.

"I don't understand why you don't want all to know anything about your heroic action, miss Adeoti. You saved Jide's life." Another rapid turn, if I wasn't careful, I might be wearing a neck collar soon.

I saved Jide's life?

"I know you broke one of the school's rules but I'm grateful you were there at that moment, another death on the record isn't what I want to deal with. So thank you." My brain was still trying to understand what was happening.

She thought I'd saved Jide's life? Whatever gave her that ide– 

Oh.

I turned around –slowly this time– to catch the flash wink of the cop.

I tried my possible best to keep a face void of astonishment

"But I won't allow you wandering off on your own again. It's not safe for you to." I bit back the snide comeback on the tip of my tongue and nodded instead. The hag eyed me warily for a few seconds before giving a wave of dismissal. I bolted immediately.

I heard a faint "I'll walk her to class," before hearing advancing steps in my direction, I deliberately slowed down for him to catch up.

I had a lot to ask him.

"You lied." I stated the minute he stepped in beside me. There was no need to turn, I could feel the smirk radiating off him.

"Good morning to you too, and you're welcome." I located an empty class and walked into it.

"I sincerely am not well-bred enough for pleasantries sir. You should know that by now," I replied, after securing the latch to the door. I wanted a private, uninterrupted conversation.

"You like to think the worst about yourself." He took a step forward.

"In case you haven't noticed sir, I'm the worse of my kind." I didn't know why I suddenly felt angry.

Maybe because he liked to see me as some good person trying to hide behind a bad facade. I was anything but that!

He took another step forward, "you're not the worse Ella, you're one of the strongest person I've ever met."

What did I just say?

I took two steps and stood directly in front of him in frustration. "Wake up sir! I'm not the wonder woman you think I am. I'm scum and dirt and slime in it's true form. Stop thinking I'm anything more!" I was yelling but I didn't care. He had to stop thinking that I was more than the bitch I was.

I couldn't bear the look of disappointment on another person's face yet again.

Are you sure that is all?

What started all these in the first place? Yeah. Right.

"You lied." I repeated amidst heavy breaths.

"I did it to protect you." I flared up all over again.

"I. Do. Not. Need. Your. Protection!" I jabbed the white envelope mother had waved me off with. I had even forgotten that I was holding it until now. It made my anger escalate to a dangerous level.

I need to get away from here, fast.

I grabbed his palm and slapped the envelope on it  "here's payment for saving my ass back there mister, now stay away from me!" I whirled and made to get out. I was only successful in taking two steps.

He yanked me around with a force that would have plucked out my right arm from it's sockets if I was anything but human.

His hot rapid breaths that fanned my face informed me of his level of anger. It was safe were on the same page.

"Never. I repeat, never in your life offer me money in return for my emotions! You hear me?!" I could only slightly nod in response. I'd never witnessed a man blow up that much.

And I had to admit. It was intriguing.

With my anger long forgotten, I drank his features in.

At such a close proximity, I could see the dark circles become much more prominent and wickedly enticing. I could see the stub of hair on his chin, reminding me of how he left his room to offer me privacy before the day broke. I could see the embers of his dissipating anger in his eyes and a familiar emotion I knew too well. I could feel his eyes searching mine as well, looking for nothing but everything in the same manner as I.

I gasped in shock when he suddenly released his grip on me and pushed me away.

He muttered an apology before rushing off, leaving me in astonished wonder as to what had just happened.

My apologies for the wait, I discovered a lot of mistakes in the previous chapter I'd written in haste, I didn't want a repetition of that so I decided to chill and write this one –disregarding Ella's eagerness. My apologies once again🙏.
Writing this chapter was tasking, a lot happened in it and it's my longest chapter so far. I  hope you enjoyed it😊.
Vote, comment and recommend  if you did.
And thank you oshikemeh for the love, I hope you know I love you too❤ and every other reader of my humble work.
Till next chapter,
XX.
✌illusionistic.