Dawn 5

And then, the dreams, better yet, nightmares started. Emenike would find himself in a dark unending tunnel, running as fast as his legs could carry him, yet strangely remaining on one spot. He would wake bathed in sweat even in the fully air conditioned room, his heart racing.

He would hold the rosary, praying to the Holy Mother for hours, before he felt better.

The dream was perplexing. The same dream, once every three days, never failing. He went for confession, but it didn’t get any better. The priest had asked if he was in a cult. Cult? Ofcourse not!

Eventually he sought for Chuks's advice. They met in a club  belonging to the Sherpherds.

Over drinks, Emenike explained all to Chuks who laughed heartily

‘You too dey fear! You no be woman oo' Chuks chided him

‘Easy for you to talk. I am not myself for hours after waking'

Chuks sipped his drink, ruminatively

‘Maybe it is time you meet our lead Shepherd here in Lagos'

Emenike looked blank

‘I mean our leader’

Emenike shook his head’ Which leader for Christsakes?! Chuks, you never told me there was a leader anywhere. You only told me you have business partners!’

Chuks laughed heartily as Emenike looked at him perplexed and obviously upset

‘I did ask you if you were ready to make sacrifices to become wealthy and what was your response?’

Emenike looked away truculently

‘Since you won’t answer, let me remind you of what you said barely a year ago. You, Emenike Christopher Orji, replied you would do anything to become wealthy. Are you not wealthy now?’

‘ Is that why I should be having night mares every three days?!’

‘For your information, there may be more to come….if you’re not careful'

Emenike looked at him, mouth agape, as Chuks unconcernedly started on the goat meat pepper soup in front of him.

Emenike tried to calm down as he told himself Chuks held the keys to his deliverance and it would do him no good to attract his ire.

‘See ehn… Chuks, I just need for the nightmares to stop…it’s driving me crazy. My blood pressure is shot to hell, I can’t concentrate on anything’

Chuks continued devouring the pepper soup, when he was done, he wiped his mouth with the paper towel on the table, belching softly

‘We might need to do a trade. And before you ask what kind of trade, it will be trade by barter. You give something to get something'

Emenike replied desperately 'I’ll give anything!’

‘Careful with your answer. You do not know what you might have to give'

‘ Chuks it’s like you don’t get, the incessant nightmare is making me go crazy!’

‘Alright…alright..keep your shirt on. I’ll get back to you by tomorrow. There will be a solution. And yes, Emenike, we do have a leader, our head Shepherd here in Lagos' Chuks said standing up and at the same time picking up his car keys from the table ‘Get used to it' he continued, heading for the exit.

Emenike stared moodily at his own plate of pepper sauce. He found he had suddenly lost appetite. After paying for the food and drinks including his untouched plate of pepper soup, he made his way out of the club, a very worried man.

The next day, he waited anxiously for Chuk's call which never came. Later in the day, he had to call him. Chuks phone rang and rang. Emenike was worried. How could someone that had promised to get back to him, suddenly become unavailable?

At a stage he had to confide in Nash, they had been sleeping in different rooms because of the baby and so she was unaware of the nightmares. Nash told him to hold on for Chuks. In Nash's eyes, Chuks their God sent benefactor could do no wrong, but, Emenike was beginning to think otherwise.

Few days later, Chuks called him and told him he had spoken to the lead sherpherd who told him he would appear to Emenike in his dream with a permanent solution. Dream kwa?! Was he God that he would appear in the dream to proffer solution were the thoughts running through Emenike's mind. 

A sneaking suspicion started growing in Emenike's mind, could he have been initiated into a cult of sorts? Without his consent?

Emenike that night dreamt and saw a shadowy figure holding two envelopes to him, urging him to pick one in an entreating tone. Emenike hesitated at first but was persuaded to pick one. He woke up immediately after picking the envelope to find his palm feeling very warm. He had to pick an ice pack from the fridge next to his bed to apply on it. 

Just then a call came in. His mother was very sick and needed him to come see her, said his young niece who lived with her in the village. Emenike was troubled. With an unsteady gait he  went in search of Nash.

The next day found him enroute Owerri via the first flight. Upon arrival, he got a cab to the house. As he was approaching the house, he heard wailings and saw people gathered on the verandah. With a sinking feeling, he knew his mother was gone.

To be continued….