STORMS AND TWISTS

CHAPTER TWELVE

Casey was so worried. He paced up and down in the living room. It was 8:00p.m and she was nowhere to be found. It was raining outside and he was scared. He began to have ominous feelings about the whole situation. “What was if she was molested?”

He gasped in fright. He thought the unthinkable. “What if she was r***d?”

“No, no, no. This can’t be”. He said and exhaled deeply. He decided to cool down. “Cool down Casey. Chill”

It was going to be fine. He wasn’t going freak out over an unrealistic situation. He heaved a sigh of relief for a moment. The movies he had been watching had really gotten into him lately. He hoped it was just an unrealistic premonition and nothing else.

Just then, he heard a knock on the door. He became terrified. He gained courage to open the door. He opened the door and to his amazement, he saw Clara. She looked pathetic, weak, helpless and drenched. He took her in immediately. She caught cold and her eyes were red. She sneezed to that effect.

“Sorry” He said, holding her hands. He went inside and came back few minutes later with a towel.

”Take this”. He said, wrapping the towel on her neck.

“Thanks”. She said in a shaky voice. She was shivering and she finally sat down. She wiped her hair with the towel.

After a few minutes, he got her some hot tea. He waited till she regained some strength.

“So, what were you doing in the rain?” He asked.

“It’s a long, long story. I even lost my phone in the process. By the way, I need to check something on your phone.” She said, stretching her hands to demand for the phone.

“Okay sis. It’s all yours”. She said, handing the phone over to him.

…

Cody found himself in the usual dark realm. He saw the heavily bearded old man and exhaled. The dreams didn’t bring terror to him again. They had become a constant presence in his life. “These dreams and the whole lot of ‘em. They are killing me”. He thought to himself in the dream. That was somehow funny.

In this scenario, the man emerged out of thick flames. He had an indifferent look. The man approached him.

“My son, welcome back”. The man said, extending his scepter to him.

Cody refused to take it. He frowned and booed every attempt the old man was making to talk to him.

“You have to listen to me”. The man said.

“Why do I keep coming here almost every time I sleep? I need an answer”.

“Now is not the time for you to know, my son.” The man persuaded him.

“So now I’m doomed to always see the cursed place for the rest of my life?”

“Not exactly because there are times and seasons and it’s not yet the time”.

“Then when will it be the time?” Cody roared.

“Okay, spare me the details. Can I just know who Alexander the Great is? That same one is Alexander Morris.” He said in such a whisper that it was almost impossible to hear.

“Well, I am he that you ask for. I was the greatest wizard in my time and in fact, your great-great grandfather.”

“What! You are my ancestor?”

“Yes son, I am”.

“But I think I’m the only one you bother among your descendants. Sorry, I don’t mean it that way”.

“You’d know later”.

The next morning Cody didn’t wake up until it was 10:00 in the morning and even though Melissa came back home in the morning she slept till afternoon due to the clubbing she did the previous night.

Meanwhile, Carl didn’t take it lightly with the report he heard about Casey on Friday. That could get into the way of ruining his plans but he was lucky Melissa was too blind and foolish to see the trap he had set for her. She was even the one that whisked him out of her sight before he came into the scene.

“Anyone who tries to hinder Carl Robinson gets hurt at the end of the day”. He had said to himself.

He was determined to give Casey a visit with his friends. He would consider it peaceful because he would just threaten him not to cross his way again.

The sun rose on the horizon. It was the end of another weekend and work had to begin for the new week. The morning looked bright and nothing would deter that for Casey. The weekend was a bit rough. Clara’s phone fell into the trench and he had to follow her to buy another one. Clara couldn’t pick a phone on time because they were all catchy.

He got bored and he swung into action by selecting a phone for her.

“Take this is the one”. He said, handing a phone over to her.

“Thanks. I was having difficulties at making a choice”.

“You are welcome”. He knew Clara could be like that sometimes but he loved it that way because that was the only way he made decisions for her.

Well, that was the weekend. He was ready for the new week ahead. As he got to the turning that led to his classroom block, someone pulled him. He turned back and became aware that it was Cody’s doing.

“Good morning but why did you pull me so hard?” Cased queried.

“You will soon know”. That was Cody’s response.

Cody took him to a secluded area. That left him to wonder what the heck he was up to.

“What in the Mariana Trench are you up to? This place is so quiet.” Casey said, finally releasing hand from Cody’s firm grip.

“That man appeared to me again”.

“Those visions will be the death of you”. He said, trying to stifle his laughter but he ended up laughing.

“And you listen to me for once. This visit was different.”

“Ooh! Tell me everything about it.”Casey said with fervor.

Cody told him everything that transpired without withholding a single mite from him.

“Wow, the mystery was with us all the time and we couldn’t feel it”.

“Well, let’s get to class. I don’t want to be late for Mr. McMillan’s Geometry class.” Cody said, taking a glance at his wrist-watch.

“Yeah it’s so interesting”.

…

The day’s work had already come to an end. Cody was finally able to do the after-school review with Casey but he was not able to stay for long. He left at 3:30- just thirty minutes before the normal time.

Meanwhile, Car and his urchins had lay in wait for Casey.

“When is he supposed to be here?” Jeff asked.

“Right about now”. Carl replied after checking his phone. He unzipped his bag and put the phone there.

Just then, Casey emerged out of the hallway.

“Speak of the devil”. Harry added his cynical comment.

Carl stood on his way.

“Look who’s here?” Carl said in n hostile manner. The trio had barricaded the hallway.

“I would be glad if I could pass through”. He said in a polite manner.

“Shut your trap and listen up”. Harry shrieked.

“And I would be gladder if I got to skip your sermons”. Casey said.

“We don’t care if you are glad or not. You’ve been biting more than you can chew and we came to warn you”. Carl said, leaning on the wall and stamping his feet on the ground repeatedly.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, stay away from Melissa or else you would have us to contend with”. Carl threatened.

“I know you’ve been contending with me since I stepped foot in here.”

“Then you are going to get more than that if you stay adamant”. Harry added.

“Okay. You guys must have been keeping my sister waiting. I value her so much and I know better than to waste her precious time”. Casey said and walked out on them without batting an eyelid.

Jeff wanted to attack him but Carl bunged him.

“Give me the chance upon that fool”. Jeff said, fuming with anger.

“Not now”.

“Then when will we teach the pipsqueak some morals?” Harry queried.

“Not today, not today, but very soon”. Carl said and cackled loudly.