The Litany of Death

Chapter One

PART ONE

1

"The third sorrowful mystery: Jesus is crowned with thorns" The voice of the chapel prefect reverberated in Jordan High's chapel.

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..."

The rosary fell off from the hand of the dozing Richard. He was exhausted already. Richard jerked up. He rummaged for his rosary on the ground. He found it lying on the ground. He hissed and picked it up to continue praying.

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed..."

Richard peered at his reticent friend,Desmond who was sitting beside him on the second to the last pew at the left wing of the chapel. Desmond was deep asleep. He knelt on the knee cushion with his hand placed on the next pew. His hands served as a pillow to the uncomfortable head. The rosary was hanging on his left hand as his mind was oblivious to what was happening in the chapel. Richard thought of tapping him awake but decided against it.

He was already tired of the rosary prayer. He wanted it all to end. He yawned surreptitously and continued his prayer.

"The five sorrowful mysteries: The fourth: Jesus carries his cross" The prayer managed to find a way into Richard's consciousness. He could no longer concentrate in the prayer. Sleep was calling unto him and he is ever-willing to answer its call.

Wale, the devoted catholic stud ent who was sitting on Richard's right tapped him.

"Speak up" He mouthed to him

Richard hissed at him and looked away. He followed Desmond's way of escaping this moment of discomfort.H e made a pillow out of his arms on the pew before him. He placed his head on his improvised pillow. Ah, he thought, much better. He slept off.

***

The milky moon shone brightly on the thick fat mango tree where the incongruous year five clique took as their rendevous. The clique- which is formed by six intractable students- sat on the bare ground right under the mango tree in the thick bush of Jordan High.

Their leader, Desmond sat right under the tree with his back resting on its bulky stem while the others sat facing him. The bush was serene but for the ryhthmic chirping of the crickets and the interval hooting of the owls.

The clique went on with their business unperturbed by the ominous sounds in the forest. Desmond placed the distant end of the rolled-up burning paper on his lips. He sucked the flames from the paper in slowly until he could no longer take in more. Steadily, he exhaled the fumes through the burning paper into the atmosphere. The paper burned slowly.

The rest of the clique were either inhaling, exhaling or sniffing other substances. Kunle was immersed in the white substance he was sniffing from the white paper. He paused at intervals to shake his head violently and moan. Chukwudi exhaled smoke into the air as he held another rolled-up burning paper in between his second finger and middle finger. Rasheed smashed the white medicine tablet into the white paper placed on the floor with the round rock on his fist. He did it continually till the tablet has been totally crushed into white powder. He then packed the powder neatly on the paper. He rolled the paper up and then lit the paper up with his lighter. He passed the no burning folded paper to Richard who placed the paper on his lips and began smoking. Joshua ad Malik, the two rookies decided not to smoke but to watch and learn the act of euphoria.

"Do you believe in God?" Desmond asked in his husky voice to no one in particular.

Joshua and Malik were startled by Desmond's question. However, the rest of the clique who are already used to Desmond's impromptu questioning were unperturbed and carried on with their sacred act.

"Well, I believe there is a Big Guy that created me and always watch over me" Chukwudi answered as he replaced the paper back on his lips.

"God is just an illusion humans create to comfort themselves" Rasheed chipped in as he smashed another white tablet on a different paper.

"What the f**k do you mean?" Demond commented in an irritable voice.

"Let us all reason it" Rasheed began. "Whenever any bad thing happens to people, they would go and pray to God believing He will solve their problems"

"And does He not solve their problems?" Richard retorted.

"I don't know but he sure gives them hope" Rasheed replied.

"You see me; I've done too many s**t" Desmond announced in an aggressive voice. "I bet I'm going to hell. So I'm gonna enjoy my life here before death"

The clique bursted into a wild laughter. Their laughter echoed in a the thick bush.

"I'm gonna enjoy my life here too" Chukwudi chipped in. "The Devil's gat my soul"

"Hell yeah" Rasheed affirmed.

He was done wit another roll of paper. He passed it to Malik this time. Reluctantly, Malik collected it. He placed it between his lips ever so slightly. He inhaled the smoke feebly. The eyes of his friends were fixed on him.

"Nigga smoke that pot like done smoked it all your life" Desmond urged.

Encouraged by Desmond, Malik inhaled the smoe from the paper confidently. Suddenly, He took the rolled-up paper away from his mouth and coughed violently. The rest of the clique bursted into a voracious laughter.

"My guy's never learned" Kunle commented amidst the laughter.

"No wahala, you gonna learn. Gimme, lemme show you how it's smoked" Desmond ordered as he retrieved the roll of paper from Malik.

"You!" Desmond pointed at Joshua. "Can you climb?"

"Climb?" Joshua was lost for a second beofore realizing that Desmond meant climbing a tree.

"Yes! I can climb" Joshua replied willing to please.

"Climb this tree and tell me what is happening in the school building'' Desmond ordered.

***

She found another note in her locker. Samiat glared intensely at the red sticky note that was glued to her "Fundamental Economics for Senior Secondary School'' textbook. She was bewildered and alarmed at the same time. Her textbook was under her locker and she was certain she locked her locker before leaving class in the afternoon. She was also certain she had used the textbook that afternoon and there was no sticky note on it at that time. When she came for night prep, the locker was still locked. She had taken the textbook from the locker which she opened with her own key. How did the threat note appear on the textbook? Samiat wondered. The note was written with a black pen with a fine handwriting:

I would expose your secret to everyone.

everyone will know that you and Desmond banged in the ladies'. Meet me behind the senior school building after lights out.

-RED

Samiat was petrified. no one knew about the fling between Desmond and her. She doesn't want to be known with the school most dangerous miscreant. The first time she received an anonymous sticky note, she didn't take it seriously. The sticky note was also written in a fine had-writing like this one:

You are not who you claim

to be. I will expose you to the school. Be warned.

-RED

Someone was on her trail and she is bent on finding out who it was. She mapped out a plan on how to meet up with the person. After lights out, the entrance gate of the dormitory is usually locked. She cannot come out again after dark. She knows what she will do: she will hide in the toilet till everyone has gone to dormitory and wait for this mysterious RED guy.

Samiat found it impossible to read her Economics notebook which she had planned to read that night. However, her mind kept on roving on who this abstruse person might be. Could it be Precious who was envious of her? Or Tolani, the garrulous busybody in the class? Samiat felt insecure. She was threatened.