THE HERO WE NEED.

Lecturer; You're late again Ria (rolling her eyes) Ria; I'm sorry ma. (Sitting besides her coursemate) What's up? how many pages? Lecturer; You would know if you came earlier. You're always late, at times you don't show up at all. You have a rough look, you walk improper. Ria you are a lady, you need to learn to look more presentable and ladylike. Don't even get me started on your grades. Can a girl like you ever make it in life? Class; (laughs) Ria; I will ma. (smiling) Just watch. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Later that evening Nancy; (on a video call with ria) You're smoking again (Frowning) Ria; (smiles) I am. Nancy; I'd rather you smoked weed instead of cigarettes. They kill you know? Ria; Oh wow (playfully mocks her) why haven't i thought of that? (laughs) Nancy; (Dimming her eyes) I hate you. Ria; No you don't (grins) Nancy; (smiles) if you didn't have such a nice smile I'd hate you. Ria; (puffing) So it's my smile and not me you love? Nancy; yes. you are an asshole. Ria; I've been called worse. How's school? Nancy; School is great. lectures are amazing. Ria; That's my nancy, always excited towards education. Nancy; I wish you'd pick up that habit. Ria; (puffing) well I don't believe that my whole life gets to revolve around my grades. Look around you, the world is changing... Talent and innovation gets the paycheck. Nancy; can we not get into this argument please? Ria; I miss you. You're so far away.. Nancy; Still in Nigeria though. Ria; Enugu and Sokoto state are worlds apart. (Looking away) it gets lonely you know.. Nancy; I miss us too babe..I miss the smell of your cigarettes Ria; (laughs) so you do like it.. Nancy; Duhhh (rolls eyes) I miss how lit up your eyes get when you say my name..I miss cuddling up with you listening to the sound of the rain on our roof. I miss talking about everything, the neck kisses, the quarrels..in all sincerity darling I do miss you. Ria; Even the bad? (puffing) Nancy; (scaling) A little (laughs) Ria; I love you. So much. Nancy; Always and forever? Ria; Honey even the gates of hell couldn't keep us apart. Nancy; Talk to you soon Zaddy. (blowing a kiss) Ria; Later love. (Ends the call) f**k. look at the time. (throwing away the cigarette) $$$$$$$$$_$$$$$$$$$$$ There was a war between India and Nigeria. India and their many gods. In the course of the war a Nigerian soldier went into a temple in search of resources. He came across an Orb, right in front of a goddess statue. The Nigerian picked it up, in doing so a darkness erupted from the orb and into him. The orb fufilled it's purpose before he could get rid of it. It created deadly sores all over his body and he ran out in fear. @@@@@ The war came to an impromptu end as peace treaties were signed, both parties went home satisfied. Some nights later that inflicted soldier turned into a walking dead. He's soul had left him but his body still moved, arching to find more companions and dominate the world, one after the other it feasted on the other soldiers who had just returned to the country from the war. The ones that didn't die were turned into Zombies... And so it began, the spread of the flu, into nigeria and into india darkness lurked! &&&&&&&&&&&&& Some days later Ria; (Coming into the base) Hey guys Donald; You're back. (keeping his gun aside) Ria; yep. (searching for a gun) Donald; (Turning back to practice) I don't get it. Ria; Get what (picking up a gun and gloves) Donald; You have a nice life, you're a civilian, enrolled in a nice school, almost out with a bright future. Why do you care for guns so much? (shooting) Ria; It makes me feel safe (Aiming) Donal; No. Shift your hands to the side a bit. Stare at the target with your eyes, not the gun. Ria; (shooting a bulls eye) Thanks. (Reloading) Donald; Safe from what? (shooting) Ria; Life! (Aiming) My whole life I've been running. Running away from everything. I'm always scared, insecure. A friend was shot dead in front of me, alls I did was run, got me thinking..if I had a gun I'd be telling a different story today. I want to be in control. I want to be feared too (shooting) I want bad people to run away from me. Donald; How then would you protect the ones you love if they are all scared of you? Ria; (missing her shot) Donald; You're not God. you shouldn't be feared, you should be loved and accepted. (keeping down his gun) Ria; Teach me to be strong like you. Donald; Strength comes from within. You're much more capable than you give yourself credit for. Just search deep, find your purpose. Ria; {thinking "Nancy, Nancy's my purpose"} (closing her eyes and taking a shot) ___________________ Later on she went out with an old friend of her mom. Mr John; (playing snooker) I loved your mother very much Ria; And how did my dad feel about that? (Taking her turn) Mr John; He didn't like it..but I was no threat, She chose him (drinking his beer) To think if she hadn't, she'd have never had you and I'd have never had the opportunity to have you as a dear friend. Ria; Well you'd would have been my dad. Mr John; we'd have hated ourselves Both; (laughs) Mr John; when we were younger, your mother and i, I always got this feeling whenever I was around her. All she had to do was look at me or smile just right and I'd light up, no one else could do that to me... Ria; (patting his back) Yeah. we all got that one love. (Drinking) John; How can it still hurt this much? it was so long ago. (looking into space) Ria; I worry about you john, you've been hurting for a really long time. John; yeah. (drinking) life's f****d. Ria; Well I heard that if you're going through hell keep going because you might just make it to heaven. John; Nah. if you're going through hell stop. Because you've arrived at your destination. Ria; (lighting up a cigarette) How did the world get to this point? There's so much hurt and sadness.. John; kick a goal Ria, for all of us. We're counting on you Ria; you know me better than that. I don't thrive under pressure. John; But you still get the work done. Ria; (looking away) Sometimes.. Hey turn up the news. Bartender; (Increasing the volume) Reporter; Nigeria has been infested with a virus, the past one week it has spread like wild fire. The streets are infested with dead bodies and zombies, yes zombies, this is not a movie kids, this is not the government playing any tricks on you..Protect your loved ones, run, get into hiding, this is not a drill. Once bitten you are turned. The president extends his...(voice fades up as commotion break out at the bar) John; you believe this s**t? Ria; calling nancy. Babe Nancy; I just heard it..It's reached here Ria (panting) Ria; How bad is it? Nancy; Not close to my school but we heard they are all over the highway and airport..There's no leaving this state alive Ria; Don't say things like that, if there's life there's still hope. I'm coming to get you. Nancy; You can't, save yourself. Who do you think you are super man? Ria; I'm the girl that loves you. And I'm coming to get you. Stay where you are, don't try to be brave, I can't loose you. I'll be there (ends the call) John; (looking at the tv and seeing the disaster) It's the end of the world. Ria; I don't believe that. (Rushing out) John; (Drinking) we're f****d either ways. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Ria headed straight to Base and saw the soldiers packing up. Donald; You shouldn't be here. Head to the airport, find your loved ones and run Ria; What would you guys do? Donald; We'd fight to get back our country Ria; It's spreading fast. Many won't make it to the airport. Donald; some will.. Ria; Are we counting on that? Donald; (Packing up guns) Ria; Is there a headquarters we can regroup? Save people? Donald; There's one at Abuja. Ria; How big? Donald; Two thousand people Ria; Two thousand? that's small. Donald; big enough to start a new world. We can't save everyone Ria Ria; Those things die? Donald; A shot straight to the head or chest. Ria; I'd need guns..Guns and bullets..A truck load of them. Donald; For what? (scoffs) Ria; I'd raise an army. Donald; Ria you've got nothing to prove. Ria; You don't get it donald. The girl of my dreams? The reason I'm alive, my purpose is stuck in a state where the airport and highway has been compromised..I'm going for her captain, and I'd save as many as I can in the process. Donald; (scoffs) You're attracted to girls? Ria; I'm attracted to Nancy! Donald; And you'd risk it all to save one girl when you can have a thousand if you survive? Ria; Tell you what. Here's a better deal. personally I'd save a hundred lives and when I do Donald; If you do.. Ria; When I do..You'd let me use your equipments to go out and save her. Donald; would she be alive for that long? Ria; She will. She has alot to live for. Donald; then we have ourselves a deal Ria; (shaking him) Donald; can you drive a costal bus? Ria; yes. Donald; Good. You're in charge of one. It has GPS installed, it'll take you to our headquarters at abuja. When you get there you'd meet other soldiers. A room will be given to you and whatever team you're bringing. Soldiers load up the bus with arms. (Talking to ria) Do you need a soldier? Ria! I'd raise mine. Donald; (Giving her a short gun) I hope to see you in camp. Alive. Ria; you can count on it. (going into the vehicle) INTERMISSION Ria; (pulling up to the bar and seeing it empty except for Me John who was all packed up and waiting out front) You know how to shoot one of these things? (holding up a gun) John; Point, aim and shoot Ria; yeah but hit the target. (throwing him a gun) John; (catching it) I plan to. Ria; get in. let's go save the woman of your dreams.. John; (Going in) we'd need snacks..Lots of them if we're saving kids too. they get hungry. Ria; yeah. We'd hit up a mall. But I need to make two stops first. John; Damn. Ria; what? John; It's gotten to Enugu. The people that can run out have all started heading to the airport. Many have gone into hiding, common men that can't are stuck, running around for their lives. Ria; I thought the planes were for everyone? John; Remember what happened in titanic? Ria; Damn. (still driving) John; The rich class and dignities first, and if they ever decide to come back after that because the virus is spreading fast, then they would make a business out of it from common men like us. Ria; What other nations were affected? John; India. More than half of india is gone. Ria; and America? John; Well the virus got to great britain and England. Currently the US is undergoing a quadrome Sanitaire, nothing leaves and nothing comes in. In fear of getting the virus. Ria; America, always looking out for number one. John; exactly. Ria; Then where are our people being sent to? John; The US borders. America is the safest place on earth Right now and they'd like to keep it that way. Although our politicians are still trying to bribe their way in. Ria; US should hold their stand. John; So Nigerians should be left at the border with who knows if there are already infected ones there? Ria; they ran away john. They left the peasants to die off instead of helping out with their infastrustures to contain the virus. John; I hear you. Where are we headed to anyway? Ria; to pick up an old friend. John; (drinking) Ria; There's gonna be a fight ahead. Sure you need that? John; It's because of the fight ahead i need it. Ria; Do what works for you. John; You need a cigarette? Ria; (Excited) you packed some? John; (lighting one and passing it to her) I've got you. Ria; (Making a call) Yo! Favor; Been waiting for you. Ria; I'm at your street. Favor; You brought guns? They're everywhere. Ria; You seen them? Favor; I've killed some... Ria; watch your back. I'm close to you. (offs) Buckle up. there's a fight coming. They saw some zombies ahead, while Ria drove john shot at them killing some whilst ria knocked others out of the way... They finally got to favor, saw her with a short-gun and a little kid. Favor; (Going in) About Goddamned time. Ria; I wasn't invited for the naming ceremony (referring to the kid). Favor; Oh the kid? I found him wandering the streets.. looks like his mother got bitten or something. Ria; (while driving) what's your name boy? Kid; Emeka Ria; and how old are you? Boy; Eight Ria; where's your family? Emeka; Mummy started scratching and ran away. (With tears in his eyes) She leave me go. Ria; Mummy saved you. John; Got any other family? Emeka; (Shaking his head) John; Hungry? Emeka; (nods) Ria; I got it. ######################## Ria; Where's Esther? Favor; (looking away) She got infected. Went to the market, came back with rashes and black sores..Tied her up..All night I watched her loose her mind and soul as she turned slowly. Ria; You shot her.. Favor; With the very first bullet. (looking into space) I couldn't watch her turn into a monster. John; killing the love of your life wasn't an easy thing either. Favor; But it was necessary. Ria; Wherever she is, she's at peace now.. Favor; I couldn't you know? (holding back the tears) I couldn't watch her turn into a souless beast, she was too precious to be remembered as such. Ria; (patting her) they all were. Favor; How about your family? are they still sane? Ria; We'd find out soon. John; her number isn't connecting. Favor; I'm sure she's fine. Mummy peace is a strong woman, a fighter. John; I pray you're right. (sitting) Ria; We'd find them. we'd find them all.. *********************************** Mary; (running) Your phone has been ringing Tobi; (still running) who the f**k is that? Mary; Someone named Ria. Tobi; (Stretching his hands) Bad timing Ria Ria; I'm glad you're still alive. Tobi; Where the f**k are you? I'm being chased by a horde of zombies Ria; I happen to be just around the corner. Tobi; What corner? Ria; Look ahead. Tobi; (looking forward and seeing the bus) Run towards that bus as fast as you can. Mary; (picking up the pace) Ria; (coming down) Favor; (coming down and loading her gun) You guys ready? John; (finishing his drink) Say go. Ria; John stay besides the van and watch for us..Favor let's go. John assisted mary and tobi into the vehicle while Ria and favor went forward and shot at the zombies John; (driving the bus towards them) there's too many of them, don't waste your bullets let's go. Ria; (going in) Drive drive drive. John; (zooming off) Tobi; (Still panting) you saved my life. Ria; (patting him) Stay alive so you'd repay the favor John; We're clear. Favor; Alright take us to a mall let's get food. ************************************** They packed at a far distance. John; So what's the plan here Favor; There are about 5 of them out front who knows how many would be inside. Once we get close enough they would start perceiving our smell. We're food. Mary; How do you know this? Favor; I was around one long enough. Ria; (holding her hand) We have five minutes to go in and come out. So go in, get a basket, get your hands on whatever you can that would be useful on the journey ahead. Cameras, knives, power banks, chargers, solars, phones, batteries, blankets, you name it. Get as many supplies as you can, food drinks, look out for each other. Don't wander alone. Go in pairs. Shoot whatever that isnt us. Try to be quiet guys. (c*****g her gun) John; How about the kid and girl? Emeka; (looking at them) I don't want to go there Ria; I promise I will protect you or die trying. Favor; can you shoot young lady? Mary; I've never thought about it Favor; Don't think. Do. Pull the trigger, aim for their heads or chest. (giving her a gun) can you do that? Mary; I can try Favor; You try you die. Don't try. Survive! Ria; Tobi you're with her, protect each other at all costs, john you're with favor. I'll go with the kid. John; Who will watch your back? Ria; I'll be fine. Just gather supplies. John; Are we ready for this? Ria; One last thing. (holding Emeka) Can you stay quiet? Emeka; I'm scared. I miss mummy. Ria; I know. (holding him close) You've got us now. Emeka; (hugging her) Ria; let's go. They got down and close. The zombies out front started charging towards them, they s**t at them...in the process of shooting other zombies got wind of the noise and ran towards the environment. Mary; They are too many, we have to get in. John; Alright gang, run into the mall. They ran in and locked the place. Favor; Be careful, if there's anyone in here the've sensed us already. Spread out and stay sharp. *********** Ria; Here take this (giving him a troller) Quietly get any food you like Emeka; (taking it) Ria; (following him with her troller and gun aimed) *************** John; See any cigarette? Favor; I need some of those too. John; you know we also need cloths. Everyone does. Favor; Really it's the end of the world and you're thinking about cloths? John; I really hate body odors. And I'm paranoid right now. Favor; here drink this. (giving him gin) I'm sure she's alright. John; Thanks. (taking it) I'm sorry for your loss. Favor; It is what it is. ******************** Mary; you're as scared as I am? Tobi; I can't think about fear right now. All I wanna do is survive. Mary; Thanks for picking me up. You gave me a chance at survival. Tobi; Don't let it waste. Mary; yeah. Tobi; Let's get what we can and get the hell out of this place. (picking up a troller) They packed up a lot of things and all met and the counter. Ria; looks like the mall was clear. Mary; we have a problem guys. (looking forward) How do we get past them to the car. Ria; (looking front and seeing a horde of zombies) Here's the plan. I'd run out towards another direction. you'll all run as fast as you can with the supplies to the car. Favor; You don't have to make yourself a bait we can figure something out. Ria; We're loosing daylight. John; What if we don't get to you on time? (worried) Ria; Then keep driving Emeka; (holding her back) Ria; Go with them. I'll be fine....