DARKNESS AND LIGHT

A monster at loose.

The prostitute lied on the grounds with her neck twisted, facing backward, staring eerily with horrific wide eyes

CSO Tafa called the emergency services and ordered an ambulance.

Where is westsider? His mind unrest at the sudden disappearance of the lad who called him.

He knew without him, his hope of catching the Assassin is low. His call had given him hope, now why this.

"Boss, have a look." One of the officers said.

He came forward with a camera in his hand.

Tafa glanced through the pictures, he saw pictures of the murdered prostitute and groaned with contempt.

The last picture caught his attention: A strange creature, white like salt.

Tafa drooled with shocks.

"I guess they are still within, let's go and check around," Tafa commanded.

immediately, the policemen went in search of the missing discreet police officer.

Inspector kasali was tired and sleepy.

He always feels like this after many bottles of his favorite beer.

He wished he could return to his drink.

Vain wish.

Damn work. Why would he choose to spend the night inside a police Hilux truck exposed to mosquitoes?

The truck door had been broken for months and nobody deemed it fit to be repaired.

He preferred to spend this moment in his room, on his bed, with his bottles of beer.

Mararaba is one of the dirtiest areas in Nassarawa state and was infamous for its deadly mosquitoes and shady characters dwelling there.

As if to confirm the report, a mosquito chooses the unfortunate moment to pierce his nose, biting him and sending eerie pains through his body.

Insult upon injury!

With calculated speed, he raised his right hand, widen his palm, and descended with fury upon the mosquito. He felt a sharp pain as the blow sting him.

Heard a humming sound.

He just slapped himself and the mosquito had congratulated him for being a merry fool.

kasali was employed as a police driver ten years ago. The pay is good and the work easier.

Except for occasional night like this when he needs to drive through the whole night in pursuit of things unimportant to him.

Kasali stretched lazily and yarned, closed his eyes for a fleeting moment.

There was peace at last.

Suddenly, he heard the door of the truck forcefully open, saw a ghost peering down on him.

The training in him instantly reacted. Reaching for his AK 47 riffle...It was too late.

A wide hand covered his mouth making it unable for him to scream.

He saw a knife materialize.

The rest was a blur as darkness descended.

He taught it was raining as he noticed liquid substances everywhere.

Hardly did he know he was soaked in his blood.

The street is empty and all the houses are locked. Only an uncompleted building with shrubbery in its front seemed an ideal place to keep a prisoner.

The policemen ascended the step noiselessly, alerted with guns poised, they emerge at what will be a big parlor when fully completed. In the far corner lies Westsider, bounds with strips of clothes and

ropes. Dirt was also stuffed in his mouth to stop him from screaming.

He was untied and given water to drink and washed his urine-stained face.

"Where is your abductor?" Cso Tafa asked a minute later when the young discreet police is strong enough to answer his question. Denied of breathing air for minutes, the young man had spent his first five minutes gulping down airs through nose and mouth.

He narrated his experience so far, starting from the murdered prostitute to Onestar's crime, then where he believed the Albino is heading.

Immediately, the policemen raced downward towards their Hilux.

Blood flowing and forming an eerie puddle. A policeman with sliced throat lied in his puddle of blood. His gun and the Hilux were nowhere to be found. Probably stolen by his attacker.

The worst seemed to be In stock for CSO Tafa tonight.

This is a loss, Tafa bemoaned as he brought out his walkie-talkie and ordered another truck and a driver.

Secrecy is needed, for national security.

One star whistled happily, his lighted cigarette glowing in the night. Tonight, a night of change. In his pocket lies his source of joy; over six hundred thousand naira.

Changing the dollars to naira was an easy task, selling the briefcase afterward proved a bit difficult but he was able to convince the buyer to pay for it.

Onestar still wonders why a sane man will pay for something without seeing the content inside. He did not care though.

He danced along as he change the tunes of his whistling to one of his favorites, he couldn't be more fortunate, he thought.

He has done well and will surely pray for the departing soul of the murdered prostitute with every beer, food, and s*x this money can offer. With smiles on his ugly face, he walked towards an ambush.

Suddenly, His instinct felt a presence of a strange visitor, heard a low whirring sound carried by the wind, wary of a rattlesnake, he scanned the ground as he walked ahead.

Suddenly, two red eyes appeared beside him, with fear hammering in his heart, he looked into the eyes of an albino who produce a short gun immediately.

One star instinctively reacted, taking the albino by surprise as he kicked at the raised gun before the muzzle boomed pale red in the night. The gun flew into the bush.

Before he could recover, the albino had heaved him off the ground and smacked him down with full force, he crashed on the floor, slid headfirst down the dune, as pains burn in his chest.

The albino leaped high to land on his stomach with both feet, he brought out a sword, pinned him with his knees, raised the sword high, and grunted as he brought it down. The blade missed onestar's left eye an inch, crunching deeper into his cheek.

The albino rocked forward, putting all his weight on the sword handle to shove it through Onestar's head.

Onestar hand danced randomly on the floor, then he clutched something, a stick? No. It seemed harder and heavier. Rod. The rod whistled as it swung hard at the albino's face. The big rod sank solidly in his cheek and the albino screamed. Onestar drew back to strike again and again with his remaining strength.

The albino growled louder now, gripping at his face as the rod hit him continuously, leaving his opponent as he cry out from the pain.

Onestar rolled over, got to his knees, then his feet, eyes wide and choking blood, he ran as far as his strength could carry him which was just a for a second, He collapsed a few meters away from the albino.

He was vaguely aware of a voice asking for a briefcase, he gave the directions of Mallam Isa's shop, or thought he did. Felt a hand groping all over his body. He was disoriented and glad when the albino let go of his injured head.

Minutes later, he watched as darkness descended, absolute darkness. He knew he was dying and glad for this. Death seemed better than this excruciating pain.

He groaned over again at the remembrance of that moment.