NOTHING FOREVER

Chapter2: The uncanny encounter

"Bubu... Buike, wake up!!" Obinna's deep voice boomed through the hut, shaking off the slumber that had held Buike captive.

Buike slowly opened his eyes, rubbing off the sleep from his lids. He was met with the warm smile of his father who was already dressed in his worn but sturdy farming clothes.

“Good morning dad, said Buike” "Good morning, my son," Obinna replied, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "Today, we start the day early. We have a lot of work to do on the farm."

Buike stretched his arms and yawned, feeling the stiffness in his muscles . He quickly got out of bed and went to ease himself.

“Mama, did you see my farm clothes? I hung them on this chair last night”

“Bubu, you’re not serious o! Were you planning a homicide when you decided to suffocate us with that weapon of destruction in the form of clothes? Nwam, I did not kill my mother so you won’t kill me!” I washed and spread them last night as the pungent stench almost took my breath away and transitioned me to glory against my will and time” Nneoma replied.

“Chineke! Mama, you can exaggerate” Buike said and chuckled as he went to the backyard and found his clothes hung on a line, fresh and clean. He couldn’t help but smile feeling grateful for mom's hardwork. He quickly put them on feeling the cool morning breeze on his skin.

The sun beat down on the farm, casting a warm glow over the lush green crops. Buike and his father worked side by side, their hands moving in tandem as they tended to the vegetables.

As they worked, Obinna began to explain the importance of crop rotation. "You see, if we plant the same crop in the same spot every season, the soil will become depleted of its nutrients. But by rotating the crops, we allow the soil to replenish itself, making it fertile for the next season's planting."

Buike listened intently, his eyes wide with fascination. He loved learning from his father, and the hands-on approach made the lessons even more engaging. As they worked, Obinna pointed out different plants, explaining their unique characteristics and uses.

Meanwhile, back at home, Nneoma was busy preparing a delicious meal for her family. She was making ofeakwu made with bushmeat and white rice( ofeakwu, a delicacy sauce made from the extracted juice of palm nuts native to the tropical regions of the world like Africa, Southeast Asia and South America).

She had just brought down the white rice from fire with a feeling of accomplishment and pride. Just then, she caught sight of her husband and son heading back from the farm with their faces weary but content. Her excitement got the better of her, and she rushed into their arms, welcoming them home with a warm embrace.

After the joyful reunion, she headed to the kitchen cabinet to retrieve plates, which she used to generously serve the steaming hot meal to the two hungry men, who eagerly anticipated savoring the fruits of their labor.

“Bang…bang…boom!! The sudden report of firearms froze buike and his parents midway through eating the meal.

The ofeakwu stew and white rice, which had been savory and delicious just moments before, now seemed tasteless and forgotten.

Buike's eyes widened in alarm as he looked at his parents, his mind racing with thoughts of danger and uncertainty. His father, Obinna, slowly pushed back his chair, his face set in a firm expression.

"Stay here," he whispered to Buike and his mother, Nneoma. "I'll go check what's happening."

Nneoma's eyes flashed with worry as she held unto her son's arm.

With a deafening screech, the door splintered off its hinges. The noise; a jarring mix of splintering wood, tearing metal and crunching plaster.

Nneoma's grip on Buike's arm tightened as she pulled him closer, her eyes wide with fear. "Stay behind me," she whispered urgently, trying to shield him from the chaos.

The armed men, their faces obscured by masks, moved through with a sense of ruthless efficiency. They dragged young boys and men from their homes, tossing them into a waiting truck. The villagers, paralyzed by fear, could only watch in horror.

Buike's father, Obinna, was now beaten to a pulp . Nneoma's eyes frantically scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of him and gasped when she saw him. Tears now welling up in her eyes

The leader of the armed men, a tall, imposing figure with a scar above his left eyebrow, stepped forward. "We're taking all able-bodied men and boys," he barked, his voice dripping with malice. "You'll be joining whether you like it or not" he said as he pointed towards Buike.

Nneoma's heart sank as she realized the true nature of the invasion. They weren't just random bandits – they were slave traders And Buike, with his youth and strength, was exactly the kind of recruit they were looking for.

she had heard rumors about slave traders but was the least concerned as their village has never been perturbed and was always in peace.

But now, as she watched these men drag away her son and the youthful and vibrant teenagers, Nneoma realized that her village's peaceful existence had been a fragile illusion. The rumors she had dismissed as mere hearsay now seemed terrifyingly real.

She thought back to the whispers of slave traders who roamed the countryside, preying on unsuspecting villages and carting off their young people to be sold into b*****e. Nneoma had always believed that their village was safe, that its remote location and strong community would protect them from such dangers. All these events were sporadically taking place at once and Nneoma could only look in despair. She could see her husband's body lay limp and motionless on the floor, his limbs splayed at unnatural angles. His face bloodied, a swollen mess with cuts and bruises distributed unevenly on his body. His chest heaved slowly, the only sign of life in an otherwise still form. The air around her, heavy with the scent of blood and sweat.

Nneoma's POV:

As I struggled to maintain my footing, my surroundings became a blur. The cacophony of chaos and destruction that enveloped me was eerily muted, as if I was submerged underwater.

The screams, shouts, and crashing sounds that should have been deafening were instead reduced to a dull, incessant hum. I felt disconnected from reality, observing the mayhem from outside my own body.

I could feel my strength waning, my body succumbing to the overwhelming darkness that threatened to consume me. My vision began to blur, and I felt myself being pulled under by an inexorable tide of despair.

Buike'm… (Buike, my child)

Dim'oma… (My good husband)

Suddenly, everything went pitchblack.

Obinna's POV:

As I savored the hot meal my wife had lovingly prepared, a sudden, deafening bang shattered the peaceful atmosphere. My spoon hovered mid-air, forgotten, as a chill ran down my spine. My appetite vanished instantly.

I glanced at my wife and son, and my heart sank at the fear etched on their faces. "Stay here," I instructed firmly, trying to reassure them with a calm tone. "I'll go check what's happening outside."

With a deep breath, I pushed back my chair and stood up, my senses on high alert.

As I stepped outside, chaos erupted before my eyes. Teenage boys, and young vibrant men were running wildly in all directions, desperate to escape the clutches of their captors. I watched in horror as some were torn from the arms of their loved ones, their screams and pleas for help piercing the air.

Others were dragged away, kicking and struggling, as their families looked on in despair. The scene was one of utter pandemonium, with people running, screaming, and crying out for help. I felt a wave of fear and helplessness wash over me as I realized the gravity of what was happening.

As I glanced to my far right, my heart sank at the sight of Izu being brutally beaten by his captors. His attempts to fight back and break free were met with merciless blows. Something inside me snapped.

A surge of adrenaline and rage coursed through my veins, and I launched myself at Izu's captor. With a fierce determination, I unleashed a flurry of punches, striking his face and torso with all my might. My actions were driven by instinct, fueled by a desperate need to protect Izu and defend our village.

My bravery was short-lived. The barbarians, enraged by my intervention, turned on me with vicious ferocity. They descended upon me like a pack of wild animals, their blows raining down on me with relentless precision.

Each punch, each kick, each strike drained a little more life from my battered body. I felt my consciousness slipping away, my vision blurring, and my senses numbing. Just before my world around me grew darker, I caught a glimpse of my beautiful wife searching the crowds till her eyes found mine.

“Oh my wife, my beautiful wife” I thought to myself as I could see the tears well up in her eyes and just then, in an instant, everything went black. The sounds of chaos, the feeling of pain, the sensation of falling – all were extinguished, replaced by an eerie, oppressive silence. The world around me had been snuffed out, plunging me into a dark, formless void.