DARKNESS AND LIGHT

Most bad things happens for good reasons.

Most bad things happen for good reasons.

Prof Akande nodded in agreement to this saying as he coughed and wiped his mouth on a white handkerchief.

He took a sharp left and entered a wide hallway adorned with awards and commendations.

Here scientists produce miracles almost daily.

He approached the end of the hall, pressed a button, a door opened and he strolled into the lift.

His eyes, the look of a man who'd been to hell and stayed there, burned to the bone.

Akande looked like a confused battered cat, he had no idea how many floors he had ascended, he didn't care.

Later, he was happy to be out of the elevator.

With movement lacking alacrity, he walked down another series of corridors, past several large rooms filled with blinking mainframe computers.

Opening a steel door, he stepped into another world.

The small room before him looked like a lavish sitting room at a fine hotel, Bukhara rugs, dark oak furniture, and the best of all homes appliances.

On the broad desk in the middle of the room, a pewter pot of coffee steamed beside it.

He walked to the far wall where a wide conveyor belt entered the room in a graceful curve, vaguely resembling an ATM. Akande brought out a key and inserted it into the large electronic machine that had a triangular hole with a keypad similar to the one of the bank terminal.

The screen displayed the certification logo of the brotherhood of the figurine.

The screen refreshed instantly, asking for the decoding number, the cursor blinked waiting.

Prof Akande reluctantly calculated the cryptographic odds, ten billion possibilities.

Even if he brings in the most powerful parallel processing computer, he still would need weeks to break the code, he doesn't have weeks, he has hours. Confusion and despair settling in, Prof Akande looked beaten.

He hates to be beaten.

Well, he will need to wait for his friend's granddaughter to be here, who knows, she may have an idea of the code to unlock this machine. He broke into another coughing fit and knew this may be one of his last.

It was not an entirely unwelcome thought.

Death was a price he is willing to pay, He had endured too much, suffered too much, and shamed too much.

Yet old age had come like thief in the night, stealing away his strength and health.

What else does a man need?

All this he lacked.

This operation could have brought back all his lost youth and health. Make him a man he can never be. An immortal!

Akande coughed louder for the tenth time tonight.

Was he making a mistake? Yet the longing brimmed stronger, making it worthy of tonight's trial. His weakness, his falling strength, and wrinkling skins.

Akande stared a moment into his own Stony eyes. This is a chance he can never miss.

For a fleeting second, he remembered his friend's treachery.

Awodigba may claim saint to those who don't know him, but to him, a snake it's always a snake no matter how harmless and beautiful it may look.

Awodigba was a snake, one that needs to be crushed.

Yet he wished it hasn't gotten to this, wish there are lesser ways to treat treachery. unfortunately, there isn't. When a handshake has gone beyond the elbow then it has become an embrace.

What else can he do but wait?

The time they say unravel the most of all puzzle.

Akande knew when the research started, had committed all his life and resources for it, simply because he believed in the course. Awodigba had done his part and now fate has put him in control of this mission.

Soon, he will be immortal and be in control of armies of immortal souls.

Soon, the prophecy will come to pass and he will raise the ones that once lived but are now dead.

With this, he will control Africa and the whole world.

Both the bible and the holy book of figurine had prophecies about a dragon that once live now dead but will be brought back alive at the end of time, now the prophecy is about to come to pass, fate had chosen in to be the dragon and his armies lies in Esie village.

But first, he needs to get hold of Awodigba's book. A book of spell on immortality, with this he will able to achieve his dreams and many more.

Akande greatly felt sorry for Awodigba's death, collateral damage.

They were best of friends since childhood and went to the same schools from creche to university.

While Awodigba had always been the best in everything he ever wish for. Brilliant, sharp with the best charisma.

Since childhood, he had tamed his ego and swallowed his pride to serve his mate.

Then Awodigba had a revelation, confide in him as a friend.

Together they started the ritual.

For years they tried and failed, but filled with dedication and determination they forge on.

For twenty-two years they had worked together trying to perfect a ritual of immortality and raising immortal souls for the battles to follow.

He was ready to continue swallowing his pride and ego. Ready to serve his friend till eternity. Knowing without him, he probably won't amount to anything.

It's better to be the second-best than being nothing.

Then Awodigba like a chameleon changed his color.

He betrayed him and invited a third party as his subordinate, cutting and ignoring him off completely.

The truth hit him too late, he was just a pawn!

He was shamed, pained, and abused.

Disoriented to the point of madness.

Awodigba had driven him to desperation.

Now the pawn is about to be crowned as the king is already knocked off.

Tonight, he will become the first immortal man and start his journey of ruling the world.

All he need is to think fast, a bit of luck, and the favor of some benevolent gods he had stopped believing in.

"Much needed to be done." He muttered as he await Fatima, sitting alone inside Awodigba's study room.