Worth Of Wrath

Am I Curse?!

[Scene six]

Few days passed away as Victor remains in the house as he sits alone in the dining table while meditating and at same time, watching his mum preparing herself for work without having any affectionate concern with him. Victor thinks so deeply about his terrible nightmares with his alternate version of his image and his freaking behaviour against his school period and himself.

VICTOR: -“This curse in me had made my mum so tired already. While unknowing how I have always battle to get back to being normal and free. It’s been two days and we didn’t even have a banter chat or smile at eachother. What will I do...? Everytime I tried fighting the darkside of me, I did always lose. Is it that am not strong enough or what...? And now, my countdown begins with the fading of a sun. (Sighs) I need to get rid of this in the easy way…-” (Victor’s mum paused her preparation to work as she hangs her handbag in her arm while looking at Victor thinking in depressions)

VICTOR’S MUM: (Walks to Victor and touched his chin) You do not need to be depressed, sweetie. If you want to school in another place, it’s your choice. And if you still want your recent school, then…you can wait and return in one piece. With that, you can make up with your friends and the teachers.

VICTOR: (Smiles faintly) I… I will see about that, mum.

VICTOR’S MUM: (Smiles) Just take care my dear. (Pecks his forehead and leaves as Victor calls to her immediate attention)

VICTOR: Mum, wait.

VICTOR’S MUM: (Turns to Victor) Anything?

VICTOR: No…, It’s just that…I… I just want to ask… (Victor’s mum anxious to hear his last word) I just want to know if you are ever…tired of me... (Victor’s mum surprise)

VICTOR’S MUM: What...? No. Don’t ever say such a thing. I’m never tired of you. I will never be tired of you…, Okay?

VICTOR: Okay. (Victor’s mum kissed Victor’s forehead once more and takes her walk to her office. During the noon time, Kolade passed by at Abigail’s church after school hour as Abigail sighted him a far and rushed to call him to her present)

ABIGAIL: (Rushing slowly to Kolade) Hey! Uhm…, Kola!

KOLADE: (Turns to Abigail) Uh, hi.

ABIGAIL: You’re Kola, right?

KOLADE: Yes, Kolade.

ABIGAIL: You still…, remember me?

KOLADE: Yes, off course. Who doesn’t remember a white dove like you. Abigail, isn’t it?

ABIGAIL: Uh, yes.

KOLADE: Well, I am quite surprise you still remember me or my name. So…, any problem?

ABIGAIL: Uhm, no. I just wanted to know how Victor is doing that’s all.

KOLADE: (Sighs) Yea, Victor… He is doing fine.

ABIGAIL: (Suspected something) Why are you saying it like there is something not fine between you two?

KOLADE: Oh, nothing.

ABIGAIL: You two had a fight or something? I mean, if it was a fight you guys had, I can be of help to console the both of you to finally get together in one piece. Moreover, you two shouldn’t be fighting or angry at one another because you both are like branches in a tree. You know they get separated until they are cut off by something else.

KOLADE: (Smiles faintly) Are you planning on becoming a consoling therapist now? Anyways, it’s not that simple and we’re not having a fight.

ABIGAIL: Then what’s wrong? Come on, please tell me. I just want to know the main reason why he isn’t passing here any longer and why you sounded so sorry for him. (kolade sighs so deeply and takes some while explained everything to Abigail at the church entrance)

KOLADE: …Since then, he wasn’t allowed in school, Abigail.

ABIGAIL: (Amazed from the conversations she heard so far) Wow. I… I… (Stammering)

KOLADE: You didn’t expect that kind of character in him, right? (Scoff) We all have a caged beast somewhere in our heart.

ABIGAIL: (Thinking) –“At least, he should have come by in the church to see me and I could try speaking to him on how his days had been going. Or, we can just have more zobos if he still thinks of it and liked it but,…I just wonder why he couldn’t show up to me or,…does he feel that ashamed or does he even care?-” (Talks) Is that why,… he didn’t come to see me all these while? Or, is he being so regretful and irritated from his actions that he didn’t want to see any of us again?

KOLADE: Wait o. You mean, Victor didn’t come to your place at all?

ABIGAIL: (Answers directly) Yes, Kolade.

KOLADE: (Scoffs) Maybe that happened because he thinks you have a boyfriend.

ABIGAIL: No. Is that still in his mind? I told him already that I did not have a boyfriend. (Changes expression) Wait. Did you think that was what is bothering him?

KOLADE: No, no o. Me am joking ni o.

ABIGAIL: It’s a good thing you are. (Both kept silent for a while as kolade adds in)

KOLADE: I have always been wondering what is behind that boy. I mean…, I just felt like he is lacking something so convenient in his life.

ABIGAIL: Maybe it is love.

KOLADE: Love?! Pft. You should see his mum. She is the definition and the summary of love itself.

ABIGAIL: I didn’t mean that kind of common love. What I meant is a love that sets people free whenever they walk towards it. A kind of love that is always opened for everyone around the world. (Demonstrating)

KOLADE: (Clueless) Still…, his mum, right?

ABIGAIL: I believe you are a Christian, right?

KOLADE: Yep. (Remembers something) Oh...! Oh, oh, oh.

ABIGAIL: Jesus Christ promise to set us free from bondages if we seek for his love and accept him in our heart as the personal lord and savior. That is exactly what he is. He is sent down to us to save our lost souls. What do you think, Kolade?

KOLADE: Well…, Victor never goes to church or any religious places but this situation might be something unprovoking. If he is willingly accept what you suggest he should do. (Looks up to the sky with his hands crossed to his chest) Father lord, please accept us with your infinite mercy… (Abigail smiling faintly at Kolade’s submission)

ABIGAIL: So, uhm. How can I get to meet him?

KOLADE: Victor doesn’t accept my phone calls at times because I use to change my sim cards frequently but whenever I meet him at home, I will inform him that you asked. (Kolade setting to leave) Okay, then. I will be taking my leave now. Later, Abigail.

ABIGAIL: Alright. Tell him urgently, you hear?

KOLADE: Okay, yea. (Abigail and Kolade departed to their path as Abigail slowly walks in to her church entrance with a franked face concerning Victor’s present situation. Meanwhile, Victor begins his dream with a tough fight with Dark victor as the sun fades slowly. While Dark victor tries hitting Victor’s face as he quickly guides it with his arm and lands a powerful blow on Dark victor’s jaw making him fall uncontrollably to the ground. Victor stoops to his combat skill as he rushed to Dark victor and swiftly kicks him while making him flying a feet in the air and slams on the ground)

VICTOR: (Panting heavily) Before the sun finally fades, I will definitely destroy you myself!

DARK VICTOR: (Gaining balance to stand on his feet) So…, you are just going to destroy me without thinking of our indistinguishable likeness?

VICTOR: I do not care who you are or what you are, you imposter. I just always feel this verge of anger anytime I witness your presence. And for the record, I do always want to end you no matter what you are to me… (Dark victor smiling broadly) Whether you are some kind of my twin in this alternate world or you are truly me, just know that I will never hesitate to take you off my life. You hear me?! (Yells) I will never hesitate to kill you! (Yells loudly as tears filled his eyes)

DARK VICTOR: (Scoffs) Then, lets finish this! (Victor annoyingly glanced at Dark victor in an irritating way as he charges to Dark victor with his fist ranging in the air. Dark victor immediately weaves the upcoming blow and kicked him to the ground)

VICTOR: (Bowing to the ground) Is that all what you got?!... (Stands up with swift and lands three rash punches at Dark victor. While trying to land to the fourth blow, dark Victor caught the fist making Victor unable to gain control on the grip)

DARK VICTOR: Your strength is just the same as when we first met, Victor. (Twisting Victor’s wrist as he tries using his second hand to punch Dark victor which it has already been sighted as he immediately land a devastating blow at Victor’s face making him fall unconscious to the ground) Try harder next time. (Dark victor takes his last look at the dream world’s fading sun as he makes a manic broad smile)

Light fades till the next day at a wide long bridge with three lane highways and a great view of the sea and marine boards on it. Victor stands at the bridge walkway while staring at the sparkling sea currents as Abigail walks along with some passersby to the direction of where Victor is standing.

ABIGAIL: (Sighted Victor) Victor...? Victor! (Abigail surprise as Victor glanced at her rushing to him in excitement) Victor.

VICTOR: (Excited) Abigail. Where were you coming from?

ABIGAIL: I was just coming from my aunt’s house. And you…, what are you doing here all by yourself, huh?

VICTOR: I was just…taking a view of the sea.

ABIGAIL: Hm. (Comes nearer to Victor) It sure looks pretty nice, right?

VICTOR: Yes. (Turns at Abigail) It does looks very nice and beautiful. (Both looking at the sea currents and marines) I… I am really sorry I didn’t come to see you these days, Abigail. (Looked at her again) You are pretty angry, right?

ABIGAIL: Very, very angry. Not pretty.

VICTOR: When I meant pretty, I really meant that you look pretty while being angry.

ABIGAIL: (Laughs with blushes) Kidding me? I know you just made that up.

VICTOR: Am serious. (Both laughing as Victor paused while looking at Abigail’s dressing designed with touches of red flowers) You…, you look gorgeous in that dress.

ABIGAIL: (Poking her cheek while blushing) Thanks. (Victor smiles faintly as he prepares to leave)

VICTOR: I need to take my leave now.

ABIGAIL: Wait. (Holds Victor’s arm) Let’s talk a little longer.

VICTOR: What is left for us to talk about, Abigail?

ABIGAIL: I… I met Kolade yesterday. I asked him for your where about and he told me about your suspension in school.

VICTOR: (Hissed) Kolade…

ABIGAIL: Remember, he didn’t come to meet me telling me all those past statements. I came to know because I was quite worried.

VICTOR: You do not need to put that in your mind and start to be worried.

ABIGAIL: Yes, I don’t. And it’s because I knew it wasn’t your fault to get suspended.

VICTOR: No, Abigail. It was all my fault for beating up the girl and a teacher without even thinking through. I should have… (Feeling disappointed) I should have just run away. From…, from everything.

ABIGAIL: Remember life brought you here for a reason.

VICTOR: Life…? (Scoffs) I might be some kind of a rich guy with lots of fancy toys but life has prevented me from making use of it. (Turns to the sea view) I just love this view because it draws me to freedom of what I’m facing on this earth, right now.

ABIGAIL: And what kind of freedom do you mean?

VICTOR: (Went mute for some seconds and smile) A freedom that would definitely take me away from everything including the life I live in, Abigail.

ABIGAIL: (Calmly touching Victor’s shoulder) The life you are trying to give away isn’t your decision to make, Victor. God gave us this precious life for a purpose on earth. Destroying it, by your own hands isn’t part of it.

VICTOR: God? Pft. Does he really knows what I am going through right now?

ABIGAIL: Off course he does. The only thing He wants from you is to accept Him as your personal lord and savior through His beloving son, Jesus Christ. Once you do that, I assure that you will be free without executing your life.

VICTOR: (Sighs and cleans his tears) Alright. Now I’m going to see through our personal lord and savior by reading the uhm… Bible.

ABIGAIL: (Smiles) Good. So, when can we meeting again?

VICTOR: Uhmm. Am not pretty sure. You have a phone with you?

ABIGAIL: Yea (Hand her phone to Victor as he saves his number to her phone)

VICTOR: (Gives Abigail her phone) Here. That’s my number.

ABIGAIL: Okay. (Dials Victor’s number as he cuts it and saved her number)

VICTOR: So, I’ll call whenever I’m coming.

ABIGAIL: (Pointing her finger to Victor) Do not forget o. And if you don’t call in the next three days, I will personally disturb you with my calls till you start hearing it your dreams. (Victor and Abigail burst into laughter as they both take their journey off the bridge) Are you…, going home straight?

VICTOR: No, am heading to Kolade’s house. I want to pay him a surprise visit. (Turns to Abigail) You want to come along?

ABIGAIL: Oh, no. And well, that’s a good thing you’re both getting along.

VICTOR: We are always getting along with each other. I am just the one not giving in so much as he ever wanted… (Changes to a whiny expression) I’m also thinking of bringing you to my house, someday. So with that, you’ll surely know me and my mum so well.

ABIGAIL: Kidding? Would she be glad to accept a girl like me to come in to her house?

VICTOR: Do not worry. You look pretty nice for approaches. (Abigail looking satisfied with Victor’s flirting words as he continues) Besides, she won’t be just glad. She would be absolutely delighted to have a girl-friend in the house.

ABIGAIL: Girl-friend…? (Scoffs) Jeez. (Night falls as Victor arrives at his house after meeting with Kolade)

VICTOR: (Coming in to the living room) Mum. Am back… uh? (Sighing uncle Laide and his mother standing) What… What’s wrong? Are you all worried I came late, again?

VICTOR’S MUM: No, Victor. We were not worried at all. We were just waiting for your arrival.

UNCLE LAIDE: Your mummy told me everything and that is why I have come to sort some unaccepted matters out.

VICTOR: Wha… What matter are you talking about?

UNCLE LAIDE: (Moves closer to Victor) Your mental matters, Victor.

VICTOR: (Surprise) What?

VICTOR’S MUM: Victor. You need to hear your Uncle for once. Why can’t you just accept the fact that all these efforts are made for your own good.

VICTOR: Like I have said before, mum. I do not need a psychologist. (Walks pass Uncle Laide as he grips Victor’s arm)

UNCLE LAIDE: Not on my watch.

VICTOR: What now?! Let go!

UNCLE LAIDE: (Yells) I won’t let go till you follow me to the psychologist hospital!

VICTOR: (Releases his arm from uncle Laide) And what if I won’t?!

UNCLE LAIDE: Then I will take you by force!

VICTOR: Did you think I do not know your plans? You are trying to push me away from this house; from my life. All because of what it worth in your greedy interest! You want to have my wealth as your own once I am left behind in the psychiatrist field! All you just wanted is my mother’s money! (Yells)

VICTOR’S MUM: (Adds in) Enough, Victor!

UNCLE LAIDE: (Kept mute and opens his nylon bag laid on the couch and brings out a long tiny silver chain) Now, you have proven me dat ur sense don dey c***k small, small.

VICTOR’S MUM: Are those chains? (Surprise in confusions)

UNCLE LAIDE: Trust me, sis. It’s really going to be handy at situations like this.

VICTOR: (Folds his arms) So, you are just going to use chains on me, now? Pft. You must be crazier than me, Uncle. (Walks away as uncle Laide roughly grabs Victor to the stairways and quickly ties him around the stair handle with the chains)

UNCLE LAIDE: You will know what I am truly capable of when it comes to your stubbornness!

VICTOR: Uncle Laide! Untie me now! Mum! Tell uncle Laide to untie me, now!

VICTOR’S MUM: Ehm, Brother… Brother.

UNCLE LAIDE: Don’t even Brother me at all! If you truly love your son so well, will you still continue to sit back and watch him hurt everybody after what he had done so far in the past?!

VICTOR: (Trying to release himself) Untie me uncle Laide, please!

VICTOR’S MUM: This… This is child a***e.

UNCLE LAIDE: Child a***e?! (Pointing at Victor) Him his self is the a***e! (Turns to Victor) If you calm down, I will definitely release you from the chains and take you to the psychiatrist.

VICTOR’S MUM: But…but he has reached the psychiatrist some years back and the doctor told me he is negative. Why can’t we just try something else…other than this commotion.

UNCLE LAIDE: Ehhn… It has come back again. And this time, it’s positive.

VICTOR: Uncle Laide. Please, release me already. Let me be free… (Struggling so hard to untie himself as he cries) Release Me! (Yells so loudly in an angry voice as it triggers fear to the hears of uncle Laide and Victor’s mum) Release me, Now! Ahh! Aaah! (Struggling so hard)

VICTOR’S MUM: (Frightened from Victor’s action) Victor?

UNCLE LAIDE: Yaahy (Putting his hands on his head) finally, dat his string don cut o! (Turns to Victor’s mum) Have you seen your son now?! He is not normal at all! (Victor continued to yell with vigor while struggling to untie himself as the chains slowly cracks and breaks. Uncle Laide and his mum becomes surprise and mute as Victor flittered himself from the house after pushing his uncle to the ground)

VICTOR’S MUM: Victor! Victor! (Runs after him)

UNCLE LAIDE: (Gaining balance to stand) That stupid boy. He almost killed me. (Victor’s mum rushed outside in the dark with no signs of Victor around as she continues to scream at his name)

VICTOR’S MUM: Victor! Victor, please come back! Uncle won’t hurt you anymore! Victor…! (Sits on the ground with a faint fall as she starts to sob)

UNCLE LAIDE: (Rushed to Victor’s mum) Where…where is he? (Looking around)

VICTOR’S MUM: He’s… He’s not answering…

UNCLE LAIDE: Then, let’s look around maybe he’s hiding somewhere. (Uncle Laide flitters off in search of Victor’s where about as his mother continues to sob)

VICTOR’S MUM: (Mourning) No…my son… (Very late at night, Victor continues to run without looking back as he stumbled to the ground and goes unconscious to his dream world)

VICTOR: (Looking at the fading sun) Oh, no. I obviously do not have much time anymore.

DARK VICTOR: (Sitting faraway on the ground) The sun fades pretty fast don’t you think, Victor. (Victor sighted his dark side with ranging fury) Your time is running to total destruction, don’t you think? (Victor rushed to Dark victor as he also takes his charge to Victor as they both punch each other’s faces making Dark victor sliding backward as he immediately gains balance and Victor stumbling a few times on the ground) The coming darkness has make me grow much stronger, Victor! I am invincible, now!

VICTOR: (Standing up to his feet while holding his wrist) Greh! Before that darkness finally comes…, I will destroy you!

DARK VICTOR: Then, prove it. (Gesturing his hand to Victor as he runs to Dark victor and gives him a rolling steady kick while Dark victor guides with his arms crossed to his face. Victor reactivated his fists and starts to punch Dark victor’s belly. Dark victor grabs Victor’s two hands and gives him an head to head hit making Victor fall to the ground in dizziness as Dark Victor carries his leg and swings him off to the air while he slams uncontrollably to the ground. Victor tries standing straight on the ground as he begins to groan in pains) What’s the matter, Victor? (Dark victor walking closer to Victor) Aren’t you going to continue this fight?! (Kicks Victor in the jaw as he falls flat to the ground while facing both Dark victor and the fading sun in the sky above) Everything you ever owned in your life will surely be mine, Victor. And once you insist on coming back here again, I will for sure, put you to the ground… Just like always. (Matched Victor in the face as light suddenly fades. Victor immediately recovers from his unconscious slumbers in the early morning while in the street, few people gathered at where Victor lays as they murmured in confusions)

WOMAN1: Is he drunk…?

WOMAN2: No o. I think he’s dead or something…

WOMAN1: But he’s still breathing… (While the murmuring continues, a man tries waking Victor from his road sleep as Victor swiftly turns to the man and grip his neck so tightly while making the people shocked and surprised. The man instantly releases himself from Victor and quickly stepped aside in fright. Victor stood up and roars at everyone with an act of an uncontrollable anger and immediately takes his race off the street.)

Meanwhile, Victor’s mum and uncle Laide continues their search in the vehicle. Unknowingly for them, Victor rushed out from the other junction of the street after the vehicle passed.

VICTOR’S MUM: Brother Laide. You see what you have caused now. I won’t be able to forgive myself if we can’t find Victor around o! (Feeling guilty)

UNCLE LAIDE: What did you think I cause? I didn’t tell your son to run away!

VICTOR’S MUM: How won’t he run away, eh. You threatened him with a chain. How would someone like him tolerate that. Tell me?!

UNCLE LAIDE: I… I don’t just like the attitude Victor has been doing all these days, now. And most importantly, you two didn’t even know I was just trying to help.

VICTOR’S MUM: No, brother. You went too far o. All because of this, my son is now missing. (Uncle Laide looking elsewhere) You really went too far. I… I just hope we will see him save before dawn.

UNCLE LAIDE: Do not worry. We will find him save. Just be calm.

Victor mother’s car passed by as they continue their search after it crossed to the next street. In the late afternoon, Victor continues his run from the unknown fear of his past events as he stopped by at an uncompleted building located near a grassy area for some rest. Victor enters the building and lays his back below the window of lined blocks and dried crusty cements as he begins to pant in distresses while sweating rapidly after a long run.

VICTOR: Why…? Why, why…? (Bends his head above to the ground while crying) Why me… Why? (Meanwhile, Abigail stands at her church entrance with her phone in her hand as she sighted Daniel coming to her from behind)

DANIEL: What’s the matter, Abigail? (Holds her shoulders) Feeling…, lonely?

ABIGAIL: (Walks a few steps away) No, am fine. Am just tired that’s all.

DANIEL: Would you like to go for outing?

ABIGAIL: No, thanks Daniel. Am good.

DANIEL: Come on, Abigal. You can’t continue staying here without having fun in the outer society while pretending to be fine. (Holds Abigal’s arm) Let’s just cheer up for some while. At list, having fun isn’t a sin in the bible.

ABIGAIL: (Laughs) It isn’t a sin, yes. But it would surely be at some extent.

DANIEL: Whatever. Come on now. Let’s go. (Drags Abigail as they both took their leave) Trust me, Abigail. It would be more entertaining as long as I’m with you. (Abigail smiles) Yea. Most times I do go out with my friends, or anyone so close to me, they do enjoy my company. (Looks at Abigail with a charming face) I hope you do too.

While they both go out, Victor remains in the uncompleted building while bending his head to his knees as he rashly raised his head and takes his leave. Meanwhile, Abigail and Daniel stopped by at a mall after a short walk from the third street as Daniel takes out his wallet from his pocket and removes his ATM card while Abigail watches him in slight amazement)

ABIGAIL: Why are you bringing out your ATM and why are we stopping at the mall?

DANIEL: Remember I told you I’m so good at accompany special people like you. And since we have walked quite far to this place, I am just going to get some things to drink or eat.

ABIGAIL: Hm. Special people. Tell me o. How am I part of the special people?

DANIEL: Hmm… Let’s just say that you are the next linage to your grandma and a chosen daughter in care for her church programs… Oh, and also that…, you make me happy. (Abigail smiling faintly from Daniel’s charming ridicule)

ABIGAIL: Alright quit the whining.

DANIEL: Jeez, Abigail. I’m not whining.

ABIGAIL: I know you well, Daniel. You are always whiny; even at me, most especially. Moreover, do you need to spend so much by taking out your ATM just to accompany me? I do not need that. You have already given me much fun due to your ridiculous jokes and that of your whiny charming cheeks (Stretching Daniel’s cheeks with fingers)

DANIEL: (Smiles) Be gentle. Daniel’s cheek is quite fragile. (Touching his cheeks after removing Abigail’s hands as they both burst into laughter)

Meanwhile, Victor emerge to the street while appearing dirty and sweaty as he sighted Abigail and Daniel teasing each other with a broad smile in their faces while walking slowly to the mall.

VICTOR: Abigail!

ABIGAIL: (Glanced at Victor with surprise) Victor?

DANIEL: Who is that? (Pointing)

ABIGAIL: It’s Victor. The friend I introduced you with. (Abigail rushing to Victor as Daniel continues to stare at him) Victor. What… what happened to you? (Looking at his stained shirt and body)

VICTOR: I… I was just… (Glanced at Daniel with range of furies and walks straight to him)

ABIGAIL: (Amazed) Victor? Am talking to you… Wait! (Victor continuing to walk straight at Daniel with an uncontrollable anger)

DANIEL: (Coming closer to Victor) Hey, man. Are you…, Okay…? (Immediately, Daniel received a shocking blow in the face as he falls to the ground) Oh God! (Daniel stopping his bleeding nose)

ABIGAIL: (Shocked) Victor! (Rushed to Victor while trying to calm him from whatever annoys him as he pushed Abigail off and carries Daniel by his shirt and drags him to a nearby building balcony and continues to belt his face so hard while bringing fear to Abigail as she cries) Victor, stop this! Victor! Victor, please let go of him! (Abigail tries to drag Victor off the fight as he turns to Abigail and grips her neck to a building wall)

DANIEL: (Feeling dizzy as blood gushes out from his mouth) Let… Let go of her… (Stretching his hand while staggering on the ground as Victor begins to choke Abigail)

ABIGAIL: This…this isn’t you…Vic…Victor… I…never knew you…this…this way… (Abigail coughs as Victor releases his hand after coming back to his senses. Abigail seats helplessly on the ground while trying to catch her breath with Victor standing pointing by the actions taken by him)

VICTOR: (Disappointed) Am… Am so, so sorry… (Victor sighted Daniel standing up as he immediately picks his race to the open area)

DANIEL: (Rushed to Abigail) Abigail! Are you okay?

ABIGAIL: (Touching her neck while trying to get up) Am okay, Daniel…

DANIEL: (Helps in lifting Abigail up) Did you actually introduced me to a friend or a monster? (Abigail playing mute in disappointment as Daniel speaks) Let’s just get out of here. It looks like we’re going to head back home for safety. (Meanwhile at Victor’s house)

VICTOR’S MUM: (Calling uncle Laide) Hello, brother. Any news yet?

UNCLE LAIDE: (Driving his car while receiving the call) No, my sister. I haven’t seen or hear anything about Victor for now.

VICTOR’S MUM: Ah (Puts her hand on her head) What if something bad happens to him?!

UNCLE LAIDE: Something like what?

VICTOR’S MUM: What if he had an accident somewhere…? Or someone evil took him…, My poor son might be out there in the den of wildlings feeling cold and ill. (Being paranoid)

UNCLE LAIDE: Mama Victor. Nothing bad is going to happen to your son. You just need to stay calm and relaxed. Please do not try feeding yourself with worries and depressions.

VICTOR’S MUM: It’s been a day now, brother Laide. I… I can’t bear to stand this any longer. (Mourns)

UNCLE LAIDE: You know what? I am going to the police station so I can report this case after I patrol once more in search of him. So, please, calm down.

VICTOR’S MUM: Okay…, Bye. (Ends call as she soliloquize) Where could he have been…? (Remembers something) Victor has a friend. Yes. I need to get to him. (Rushed to take her car keys and boarded her Land Rover jeep as she heads out to Victor’s school)

KOLADE: (Coming outside the school gate with his friends after closing hour as he sighted Victor’s mum coming out from the jeep) Is that?... (Amazed)

VICTOR’S MUM: (Rushing to Kolade) Oh, thank goodness you showed up.

KOLADE: Good afternoon ma. Please, allow me to ask; any problem?

VICTOR’S MUM: Yes. There is a big problem.

KOLADE: (Turns to his friends) I will be back soon. (Moves privately to Victor mother’s jeep) What is going on?

VICTOR’S MUM: You are Victor’s friend, right?

KOLADE: (Answers directly) Yes…, (Confused)

VICTOR’S MUM: Ehm, what’s your name again?

KOLADE: Kolade. What is it ma’am?

VICTOR’S MUM: Okay, Kolade. I use to see you with Victor most of the time I use to pick him or drop him at school but now…, the problem is…, I can’t find Victor anywhere.

KOLADE: (Surprise) Victor is missing?!

VICTOR’S MUM: Uhm…no, he only ran away from home. And since the day before yesterday, I couldn’t find him anywhere. Did…did you know where he might be?

KOLADE: (Sighs) Am afraid I do not know that, ma’am. Besides, I last saw him after he left my house a day ago.

VICTOR’S MUM: (Depressed and worried) No, no.

KOLADE: But ma. Did he really run away from home? As in…, from what? And why?

VICTOR’S MUM: I… I will explain that to you, later… Let me just take my leave, okay?

KOLADE: Okay. (Thinks) “-Why would Victor run away from his home? Why could he have done that rough action so quickly without thinking through…? Well I guess Abigail and I were both right about his mental emotions-” (Talks) Ma! (Calls to Victor’s mum attention) I could be of help to look for him in my street or anywhere around the area beyond.

VICTOR’S MUM: Oh, thank you kolade. Please, let me give this. (Opens her jeep and takes out her card for Kolade) Here, take this. Once you ever set your eyes on Victor anywhere, just call me immediately, okay?

KOLADE: Okay, ma’am. (Victor’s mum rushed back to the jeep and drives off as Kolade soliloquized) May be I should get to Abigail. I hope he would be there with her in the church.

Night falls as Victor roams about while tiredly stopping by at a sawmill workshop. Victor bent down resting his arms on his knees with exhaustion as he sees his uncle coming out from a small canteen to while picking his teeth with a toothpick and walking down to board his car.

UNCLE LAIDE: Now…, let’s head straight to the police station… (Paused) Hm. That Victor is one of a kind o. In fact that boy is a rare specie to me (Soliloquizing) Well, I just have to live with it because I can take it.

VICTOR: Uncle Laide! (Yells angrily as uncle Laide sighted Victor standing some kilometers away with a stick in his hand)

UNCLE LAIDE: Eh, Victor! (Victor coming closer to him) Victor, stop o. Stop whatever is coming out of your mind o… Ehy, Victor… (Frightened)

VICTOR: I have been waiting so long for this. (Smiles in a manic way as he rushed to his uncle and slams the stick on him while making the toothpick in his mouth fall to the ground as uncle Laide begins to shout in pains and distresses during the scolding)

The next day, Victor’s mum rushed to an hospital as she meets a doctor for her brother’s ward. Immediately after, Victor’s mum rushed in to uncle Laide’s ward room and sees him laying on the bed with bandages tied around his head, neck, arm and legs.

VICTOR’S MUM: Brother Laide. (Surprised)

UNCLE LAIDE: Ah, mama Victor. Look what your son had done to me o.

VICTOR’S MUM: My son? I thought you told the doctors that you were robbed.

UNCLE LAIDE: (Hissed) I just use dat one cover the real matter.

VICTOR’S MUM: But…but how is this possible?

UNCLE LAIDE: It is already possible o. I was about to reach the police station yesterday evening before your son, Victor ambushed me and beat me with a 2 by 2 stick from a sawmill workshop. (Victor’s mum confused and depressed) Your son has become a monster with no affection o. He is now a monster o…

VICTOR’S MUM: (Sits on a chair with depression as she begins to sob) Why is all these happening to me? I never ever dreamt of having a child like this… Never… (Turns to uncle Laide) Did you know where he might have gone to?

UNCLE LAIDE: I went unconscious for some minute. So, when I stood up for help, I couldn’t find him anywhere. Am sorry.

VICTOR’S MUM: (Continues to sob so hardly while looking to the building ceiling) No, Victor… Where are you? Please come back to me… (Meanwhile, kolade arrived at Abigail’s church as her grandmother sighted Kolade coming in to the church)

ABIGAIL’S GRANDMA: Any problem, young man?

KOLADE: Oh, my apologies ma. I only came here to see Abigail. Please, is she in?

ABIGAIL’S GRANDMA: Yes, she is but… Who are you to her?

KOLADE: Uhm. Well, I mean no threat here and I am just a mere friend who just wanted to see her urgently, that’s all…

ABIGAIL’S GRANDMA: Alright, you may leave, now.

KOLADE: Thank you, ma. (Walks straight to meet Abigail in the church)

ABIGAIL: (Reading her bible as she sees Kolade coming) Hey, Kola.

KOLADE: Hey, Abigail.

ABIGAIL: What a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?

KOLADE: I came in search for Victor. (Abigail amazed) Is he here?

ABIGAIL: Victor…? No, he isn’t. Wha…what happened? (Confused)

KOLADE: Victor’s mother came to me yesterday at school closing hour and told me that Victor ran away from home. She said she hadn’t seen him for the past two days now so, I thought he would be here with you in the church.

ABIGAIL: No…, Victor didn’t show up here and besides…

KOLADE: And besides what? (Adds in)

ABIGAIL: I… I saw him that same yesterday. (Kolade surprised) He was quite dirty and…he looks like he wasn’t himself at all…

KOLADE: Yes, o. Remember the time we both talked about the strange attitude that comes out from his feelings and the things that might be bothering him which prevents him from expressing it…and so on like that. I think we were finally right about him, somehow.

ABIGAIL: How I just wished we were wrong. (Looking depressed)

KOLADE: Why do you sound like that?

ABIGAIL: (Sighs) That same yesterday, my senior choir, Daniel and I ran into Victor, he was looking raged and insane. Then suddenly, he rushed to Daniel and punched his face without pulling back… (Turns to Kolade) Absurd, isn’t it?

KOLADE: What did your senior choir do to deserve that?

ABIGAIL: Nothing, I believe. However, Victor attacked me when I tried to stop him but he choked my neck to the verge of death.

KOLADE: (Surprise) But…he didn’t kill you, right? (Abigail disappointingly looking at Kolade with his odd question) I mean…, (Itching his head) How did you manage to escape from him? Oh, did your choir master save you?!

ABIGAIL: No, no he didn’t. (Looking down) He just…stopped. (Looks at Kolade) Maybe after coming back to his senses and he also told me how sorry he was as I imagined that he wasn’t totally himself when everything occurred. But still, he felt guilty all the same and ran away. He has always been running away from everything since when I knew him. He might be so free and opened by he has cobwebs and thorns all over his emotional feelings. I just can’t… (Shaking her head negatively as tears falls from her eyes)

KOLADE: No, Abigail. We need to find Victor. Yes, he is always a coward but he needs to be found and saved from wherever he is planning on going to or staying. His mother is really dying to see him alive in her arms right now. Please, did you have any clue of where he might be?

ABIGAIL: (Cleaning her tears) No. No, I didn’t. Am sorry.

KOLADE: (Sighs) I searched my street and waited in my house thinking he might show up. (Robs his forehead) Damn it, Victor. Why are you always that lonely whenever I tried cheering you up? (Disappointed as Abigail immediately flashed back at time when her and Victor sits together on the while talking)

-“ Abigail: …What about you? Which church do you attend?

Victor: Me? I… I do not attend any church.

Abigail: Oh. But you are a Christian right?

Victor: Christian; muslim. I do not attend any of them. It’s just me and my mum in this world.

Abigail: So…, you haven’t read a bible or qur’an or… know God and Jesus Christ…?

Victor: We just live our live, that’s all.

Abigail: Wow…, I really thought the spirit pushed you to get to know church or Christ through me.

Victor: Well, I wish that was possible…-” (Present day after flashback)

KOLADE: I would like to take my leave but anytime you want to start the search, just call. (Gesturing his fingers to his ear and mouth)

ABIGAIL: O. Okay.

KOLADE: Alright, bye. (kolade takes his leave as Abigail remains in the church alter while thinking in depression)