0 comments/ 17343 views/ 2 favorites The Desires of the Heart By: Ikay When the first shots shattered the nervous silence of the cold, crispy night, Samantha didn't realize they were gunfire. In fact she practically continued to hack at her pharmacy textbook with her mind on automatic before realizing that students in the library had jumped to their feet in agitation. Still acting like a moron, she slowly packed up her books while the rest screamed for the door amidst books flying in every direction. Two more sharp reports and the sounds of glass shattering added fuel to the pandemonium. Everybody knew what was going on: exam season was in the air and cultists allergic to academics were doing what they know best -- making mayhem. Samantha started for the exit with her heart hammering violently in her chest. She was terrified to say the least. It was pitch dark outside and the closest female hostel could only be reached by sprinting across an empty square. Which, considering her present predicament, was fool hardy. The cultists would grab her before she even went halfway. And only God knew what they would do to her. By now the previously jam--packed library had been emptied, except for the books. She was alone and scared senseless. Screams ricocheted of the walls outside as students scampering down the staircase in a mad rush for safety. She knew a lot of people were going to be hurt by the stampede and she didn't want to be among them. She stood still by the door and tried to calm herself down. Maybe if she just stayed put the danger might pass. Or it might rather find her and devour her on the spot. She wanted to get back to her room. Only her room! She began to move towards the staircase, desperation made her chuck common sense to the four winds. As she reached the landing she suddenly bumped into a tall figure, dressed entirely in black. "Jesus!" she screamed in terror. She started to back away but long arms encircled her waist and held her tight with the authority of a hangman's noose. Her knees gave away and she sagged. Fear like an ice cold wave washed over her and sapped all the strength from her body. The arms held her up. "Please..." she pleaded weakly, "Please don't hurt me." The arms hoisted her upright and her face drew close to her captor's dark, chiseled features. She caught a faint whiff of alcohol and nicotine. Then she stared into the scariest pair of eyes she had ever seen. They were the eyes of a wild animal. Samantha thought she was going to faint. "I'm not Jesus" the stranger drawled "Maybe you should go further upstairs." "What?" She asked confused. "Never mind. Where are you off too?" "Back to my room" she answered wondering whether this was the customary chitchat before he ripped her cloths off and possibly her heart after he must have had his way with her. "Tired of reading? Don't blame you. I've reached saturation point myself" Samantha didn't think he had been reading but she kept her opinions to herself. Anyway she was beginning to think she was in the middle of a very bad dream. And she could not look away from those eyes. They had her frozen on the spot, they way a cobra hypnotizes its prey before striking. "Don't you know a pretty girl like you should not be outside at this time?" "I'm very sorry, sir" she gibbered desperately, "I'll never do it again". Samantha suddenly became aware that his fingers stroking her gently. "Please don't" she pleaded weakly. He suddenly laughed. It sounded surprisingly good-natured. "Let me take you home" he said softly, "If I don't go with you, you'll never reach there safely." And so he did. Even though he had an arm round her waist through out, he never did more than stroke her occasionally with detached interest. They met some sinister characters on the way but they greeted him instead of challenging him. Soon they were outside the entrance to Awolowo Hall. "I'll advice you to read in your room from now on" he said with a smile, "This is not a safe period. Okay?" "Yes. Thanks" He bent down suddenly and kissed her full on the lips. Samantha was too shocked to react. 'Nice meeting you" he whispered huskily, "I can't tell you my name for obvious reasons. Maybe one day I will. Bye-bye". And he was gone. "Bye" she said to empty air. The dark figure had already receded into the shadows. She shivered violently and staggered into the hall. *** Michael walked briskly up to the wrought iron gates of the registrars Lodge. It was late evening and the setting sun cast a warm red glow over the houses on the street where the vice chancellor and other top brass of the University of Nigeria resided in comfort. The street was quiet. Apart from the fact that honking of horns was prohibited along the street, no cars moved on the road. Michael pressed the bell on the wall and waited for response. Ten seconds later a scruffy looking security guard emerged from the guardhouse and peered malevolently at him. Michael wasn't surprised by his frosty reception. Most male students of the University were held in a suspicious light because it was more than likely that any one of them belonged to a secret cult. As for Michael he was the poster child for dyed in the wool cultists. Clocking nearly seven feet and massively built he did not present a picture of a genteel character. His shaven head and satanic goatee did not help to soften his looks either. "I am here to see the Registrar" he announced loudly as if the guard was deaf. "Who are you?" was the curt, rude response. "Tell him it's the delivery boy". "What are you delivering?" The guard stared curiously at the package under Michael's arm. "None of your fucking business, he's expecting me so hurry up". The guard attempted to set him ablaze with his bloodshot eyes but when that didn't work he turned around and walked stiffly to the house. Michael waited with the air of a man who was confident he would be received. The guard returned with a different expression on his face, Michael wondered whether he had swallowed a bee. Maybe he had. After all there were some beautiful flowers growing in the compound. "Go straight inside" the guard said as he unlocked and opened the gate for him. His tone sounded as if the invitation was drawing quarts of blood from his body. Michael didn't bother to reply and shouldered past him. He sauntered up the gravel path to the front door and went inside. The plush living room was empty. The big screen TV was on and tuned to CNN. Michael sat down and watched televised reports of strife around the world until the Registrar came down the staircase and into the living room. The Registrar was a large balding man with a potbelly of astronomical proportions and a behind of similar dimensions. A thick pair of spectacles perched precariously on his fat, bulbous nose. His casual get-up of T-shirt and shorts showed off his unenviable contours. All these attributes gave him no concern. What he was concerned with was what Michael was carrying. "Did you bring it?" he asked, unable to keep the eagerness from his voice. "It's right here." The registrar settled his bulk into a long-suffering sofa while Michael opened the package and retrieved a photo album from it. He handed it over to him. The album contained glossy photos of young, beautiful ladies in various stages of undress. Their skimpy attires showed of dangerous curves and smooth, glowing skin. The pictures were so hot that the registrar nearly dropped them as his eyes greedily fed on them. Michael stood at his shoulder but he wasn't watching the photos. No, he was watching the Registrar's reactions with a mixture of amusement and contempt. The ladies did not interest him. Finally, the man's roving eyes settled on a particular photo which Michael noticed had the adverse effect of stretching the Registrar's ridiculous pair of boxer shorts to beyond its elastic limit. He wasn't surprised. Janet normally elicited such response from males and even females. When you saw her, your first impulse was to pin her down and devour her. Dressed in an outrageous bikini she was a perfect picture of sin that no one could resist, not even a Buddhist monk. "Bring her to me" the man ordered huskily, his large pink tongue darting out to moisten his thick black lips. "With pleasure". *** "Samantha!" exclaimed her sister Janet as they hugged each other affectionately, "How nice of you to visit me. Please sit down, I' m about to take my bath." Samantha obeyed and went to sit on her senior sister's bed. She watched with a mixture of awe and envy as Janet shed her clothes and draped a ridiculously tiny towel that could barely conceal her voluptuous curves around her body. The soft pink colour of the towel marched the butter mint glow of her skin and accentuated her jet black, shoulder length, real hair. Janet was to put it mildly a goddess. Men gladly worshiped at her feet with dreams of one day tasting her nectar. Men without means that is. Samantha however was the more severe version of her sister, darker, moodier but no less ravishing. She just didn't know it yet. Janet was rambling on about some cute guy she met in some lecture hall while her sister was barely listening. Janet was always rambling about cute guys. They were her bread and butter. Samantha didn't have much interest in men. She did have a few male friends but hardly any were close enough to be intimate. Anyway most boys tendered to avoid her. She radiated a kind of cold hostility that kept them away like a repellant. She liked it that way. Janet was the opposite. She attracted men like bees to a rose and craved the attention she was getting. But she was too gullible. Samantha felt wiser than her and sometimes felt inclined to protect her. This made her feel older than her senior sister, psychologically she probably was. Janet would never grow up. Janet was about to exit the room with her steaming bucket of water, shower cap and sponge when Toni, her next door neighbour entered the room. Immediately Samantha tensed up. Toni was a bit advanced in age with close cropped hair and a firm muscular body. If not for her particularly large hips she would have been mistaken for a man. Her face was plain and masculine with a prominent nose, thin, cruel lips and a square jaw. Her eyes belonged to a fish. The reason for Samantha's discomfort was because Toni seemed to fancy her. Immediately Tony's cod fish eyes settled on her, the pinched lips bent into what she probably considered a warm smile. Instead a chill ran up Samantha's spine. "Samantha!" she cooed with hedonistic glee after giving Janet a lingering pat on her supple rear, "How are you today?" "Hey, leave her alone" warned Janet with a knowing smile as she left the room. Samantha looked helplessly around her for an escape route as Toni made a beeline for her. Next thing she knew, Toni was sitting pressed up against her with a long muscular arm around her shoulder and a hand on her knee. "Samantha, you look ravishing tonight" Toni whispered huskily, as her eyes bored into hers with hypnotic intensity, "what's the secret?' "If I told you it wouldn't be a secret anymore, would it?" She replied with a fixed grin, closing her thighs tightly to halt Toni's advancing fingers. "Oh come on, you can tell me. I want to be pretty like you." "You're sure you want that?" She asked as she deftly caught Toni's hand before it descended down her shirt front, "Boys would start chasing you." "Like they chase you?" "Not really. I seem to scare them off." "Good, men are hopeless creatures. They make so much noise, yet they can never be able to satisfy you. Women are so much superior." "Yes" agreed Samantha nervously as she gently tried to unlatch herself but Toni had no intention of letting her go. "Samantha, you never come to see me in my room" Toni said accusingly, "What's the matter? You don't like me?" "But of course I like you" protested Samantha with a brilliant smile, "It's just that I'm not good at visiting people. How many times do I come to see my own sister?" "I know. But just try very hard to see me, even if it's just once. You'll never regret it." Samantha shuddered. As Toni was speaking, she never blinked once. "I'll think about it." Janet re-entered the room and gave Toni an accusing look. "I hope you haven't been hitting on my baby sis?" "The thought never crossed my mind." "Indeed." There was a knock on the door. They automatically stiffened. The way the knuckles rapped on the wood they knew they belonged to a male. "Wait!" ordered Janet, "I'm changing." "Tell him to get lost" hissed Toni. Samantha smiled but for once she agreed with Toni. She was in no mood for the sons of Adam. "Come in" called out Janet after pulling on a half-top and a pair of shorts that made Samantha wonder whether the towel was more decent. Michael entered the room. To say the atmosphere cooled would be an understatement. It froze over. Michael didn't need a hostility meter to know that he was not wanted. But how did that concern him? He looked pointedly at Janet and made a sign for her to follow him outside. She obeyed instantly to the chagrin of the other two girls. When they were in the corridor, Michael immediately went down to business. "You have an appointment with the registrar by eight o'clock. All expenses have been paid. Don't fail to go." "Okay." Michael walked off without another word. Janet walked back into the room aware of the way her sister and Toni were staring at her. "What was that all about?" demanded Samantha. "He asked me about a General Studies assignment. I haven't done it yet". Samantha glared at her in plain disbelief. Toni smiled coldly to herself. She knew exactly what Michael had come for. *** The Registrar waited impatiently for Janet to arrive. He felt hot and bothered and he could not get her sultry image out of his head. She was driving him nuts. His wife and kids were abroad. He was happy about that. It meant he could play as much as he wanted to without worrying about being told off. He was sure he loved his wife and kids but playtime was playtime and sex was separate from love. He would normally suffer about of guilt but that would probably last ten seconds, Max. There was knock on the door and the randy old man rushed to open it. It was Janet, the object of his masturbatory fantasies and she was looking sexier in the flesh. She had on a black silk, slip dress that wrapped lovingly round her delicious contours. The Registrar thought his eyes would fall out of his head. "Please, come in" he said in a voice that dripped of oily charm. The tall girl walked boldly into his house as if she owned it and he derived pleasure in watching her move. He first treated her to dinner. He was an excellent cook and even she was impressed. Wine was served later. When the Registrar was sure the girl was tipsy enough, he invited her upstairs to his bedroom. She followed him without resistance. He couldn't believe it was that easy. When she had drifted into the impressively spacious bedroom, his pseudo-gentleman approach to her changed. He grabbed her from behind and pulled her close to him. She was ware of something hard pressing against the cleft of her buttocks. His hands climbed up her body and each settled on a large breast. His stubby fingers kneaded her nipples through the light fabric. "I've wanted you, since I first saw you" he grunted "let me show you how much I want to fuck you". The man pushed her roughly and she fell ungraciously on the bed. She turned round to face him, slightly alarmed, and was just in time to see him pull his shorts down. His organ was short and fat. "How's this? He asked leeringly. "Nice" she replied professionally though she was revolted. "Take that dress off so I can stick this into you. Hold on! Slowly. I want to watch you strip." Janet took her dress off with deliberate movements that stirred his blood. Once the man saw her naked he could not control himself again. He immediately attacked her breasts with his slobbering mouth, kissing and sucking them with noisy abandon. Janet closed her eyes and tried to ignore him. Jeeze! What a perverted bastard. Next he began to kiss her like he was Romeo. He practically tried to chew and swallow her tongue like it was Salami while she looked on in revulsion. Finally his face drew away, a blob of saliva dribbling down the corner of his mouth. He licked it up. Next he demanded for a blow job but that was the least of her worries. She could give blowjobs in her sleep, though his short, fat dick was no incentive. He came noisy and far too quickly and that annoyed her especially since he came in her face. But the fun wasn't over yet. He made her wear his absent wife's underwear and prance round the bedroom with it. He insisted that she lather herself in the bathtub while he watched and worked on himself with his right hand. He wanted to sip Irish Cream from between her thighs. He didn't want to get down to business. Finally she snapped. She picked up an ashtray and let him have it over the head with it. There was a stunned look on his face before his eyeballs turned inwards and he slid off the bed unto the floor. Janet struggled into her dress, her mind in a whirl. She had committed a terrible deed. She had assaulted the Registrar of her school! Her days as a student were finished unless she left the country. She glanced pensively at the Registrar's inert body and wondered whether she should she call for help. The man seemed to be bleeding badly. However the instinct of self-preservation was stronger than her concern. Janet was about to leave the bedroom when she spied a trinket box on top of the dressing table. She halted, the spirit of greed filtering through the fear into her heart. Anyhow, she thought, she was going to need money if she was to get as far away from this place as possible. She stepped over the body on the floor and went straight to the dressing table. She opened the trinket box and was pleasantly surprised to see it stacked with costly necklaces and earnings. She stuffed them into her handbag and made her exit. She fled down the staircase and out the front door. She hoped that the gate man hadn't heard anything suspicious. The old fool was barely awake and she had to rouse him before he could open the gate for her. The street was quiet and empty. Even though it was brightly lit it still looked dark and foreboding. She hurried along, her heels clacking in the silence. Soon she heard the sound she was praying to hear: the growl of the machine of a commercial motor cyclist. As the circle of light drew nearer she flagged it down. The motor cycle stopped next to her, the young driver peering at her with interest. "Baby" he drawled, "Where can I take you?" On a normal day she would have reprimanded him for calling her "Baby" but in her agitated state she didn't hear it. "Awolowo Hall" she said breathlessly, "And you better step on it". The young man did step on it, breaking sharply anytime he came to uneven parts of the road and accelerating again very sharply. He was probably enjoying himself: Janet's tits kept bouncing off his back. The bike eventually stopped in the car park of Awolowo Hall and the rider seemed sorry to see her disembark. "Stay right here" she said hastily "I'll be right back". The leer on his face showed he was more then happy to wait. That's why commercial motor cyclists hate carrying guys; they're too bony, they didn't tip and they could beat you up instead of paying. Janet got to her room and opened the door carefully. She was relieved to find the room empty. Very hastily she shoved her clothes into a traveling bag then quickly scrawled a note that said: "Samantha darling, please forgive me for leaving like this but I am in very big trouble and I have to go. I'll get back to you as soon as possible. The Desires of the Heart Bye. Your dearest sister, Janet." She dropped a note where she was sure her sister would see it and then zoomed off. The cyclist was waiting patiently. "Take me to Nsukka Mass Transit" she ordered. Nsukka Mass Transit was outside the campus and quite far. If she had been a guy the rider would have told her to go jump in a lake. But on the contrary he beamed with happiness, possibly with the thought of being acquainted with her boobs for another quarter of an hour. "Sure, let's go" The ride was smooth, with icy breeze whipping against her hot face. She reached the park in no time flat. She paid off the driver and ran into the park. The rider stayed long enough to watch her retreating ass. She was lucky to see that a car heading for Onitsha had almost finished loading with passengers and she would soon be off. The registrar was on the phone as soon as he came round and was screaming at Michael in such a furious, gibberish pace that the young man had difficulty in following what he was saying. Eventually he learnt that 'the bitch you sent me' had tried to kill him with his own ashtray and robbed him blind as well. Michael was alarmed, as he knew Janet to be fairly wild but not even remotely violent. The old fool must have really pissed her off. "I'll look into it, Sir" he promised though he couldn't help smiling as he conjured up an image of the registrar in his present predicament. He left his room and went to find his boys. Janet had screwed up big time and needed to be punished. *** The Agric farm was the nickname for the vast hectares of land that belonged to the Department of Agriculture for cultivation and research. In the bright world of academics, students were sent there to do their practical work. In the dark world students went there for entirely different reasons. The Agric farm is a very lonely place, even during the day. At night it was a sinister sanctuary for cultists. It was a favourite spot for torture and rape. Many female students had had the misfortune of visiting the lonely spot against their will. No one apart from their tormentors could ever hear them scream. The Honda Prelude came to a halt in the center of an abandoned cornfield. The six occupants disembarked and briefly scanned the area. They knew they were alone but they didn't want to take chances. Michael glanced appreciatively at the jet back sky. No moon, no stars, no sources of illumination whatsoever, except for their own dimmed flashlights. A perfect night for evil. "Bring her out" he ordered. The boot was opened and Janet was bundled out and thrown on the ground. She was sobbing uncontrollably. "Please don't rape me" she begged, "I'll do anything you want". Michael and his boys found her pleas amusing. "You'll do anything we want?" he asked amidst guffaws from all round, "Are you sure?" "Yes" Janet squawked. "Alright then" he said in a kind voice, "We want you to fuck all of us. Can you do that?' "No, please..." "You see? I know you couldn't do what we want". As he spoke he unfastened the buckle of his belt and slid it out of his belt holder. The rest did the same. The rasps of leather rubbing against fabric sounded like angry snakes. Janet continued to scream for mercy and her terrified voice only served to arouse her tormentors. "Man," commented one of the boys wistfully "This bitch can really scream." "She's got a big mouth" agreed another, "Let's see if my dick can go all the way in". "Please, please, please don't" she squeaked, "Spare me!" "But Janet Darling, we can't spare you," Michael continued in the same kindly tone, "You've been a bad girl and you must be punished. We had to practically run down your bus before we could catch you. You've really been a pain in the ass." He let his jeans collapse round his ankles. "Now come to papa" he cooed, his eyes reddening and dilating at the same time. "Daddy wants to give you a banana." The boys circled Janet's kneeling figure. Tears were streaking down her face and she was shaking badly. Her clothes were soaked with sweat. She was unaware of her stiff nipples that could clearly be seen through her wet skimpy blouse and bra. That sight only seemed to make her an even more enticing object for hedonistic destruction. They stood all around her, their grotesque organs pointing at her like firearms. She had never been more afraid in her life. Michael percieved her fear and his heart guzzled it greedily like a spider on a moth. He grinned sadistically and his face seemed to shine. God! How much he enjoyed doing this! This was the only way he could get his kicks, by making them suffer. The terror in their eyes, the pleading tone in their voices, this was what turned him on. It gave him power, made him transcend mere humanity. It made him a god. But that wasn't the best part. The ultimate satisfaction was from making them bleed. "Suck me, baby" he ordered gruffly. "I can't..." The slap sounded like a pistol shot and Janet sprawled out on the ground. She moaned softly and blood dribbled out of her mouth. Someone grabbed her by the hair and yanked her back to her knees making her yelp in pain. "Alright bitch, it seems you want it the hard way" continued Michael conversationally, "Take her clothes off." What he meant was rip her clothes off and his boys did exactly that. Janet knelt with her head bowed, naked as a newborn baby awaiting her fate, silent as the lamb that heading for slaughter. She had at last realized that begging was not going to save her. There was a whooshing noise in the air and Michael's leather belt struck across her breasts. She screamed in pain as she covered herself with her arms. "Hold her arms" Michael said coldly. Someone behind her grabbed her wrists and forced them skywards. Michael hit her chest again and again. "Nice tits" he breathed. He walked to the back of her. "Let me ask you something, Janet darling" he said to the weeping girl, "When you were being flogged back then in secondary school, was it on the hand or on the ass? No answer? Well in my school they flogged girls on the hand while we boys were flogged on the ass. I saw no reason for that kind of sexual discrimination. Now I'm going to make things even." Michael's hand rose and descended. The belt whacked viciously across her naked behind, leaving an ugly red welt. Janet cried out as she tried to twist around but the hands held her immobilized. The belt struck again and again, twenty four times. By that time she was in so much pain she seemed to be floating in it. The other boys struck her. Then she was pushed to the ground and her legs pushed wide open. They entered her, one by one, taking turns to hold her arms and legs while they tore into her. It was the longest and most terrifying night of her life. *** Samantha could not believe her eyes. Her beloved sister was admitted in the University Medical Center on the critical list after being gang raped by cultists! For what reason should that happen? Samantha had rushed to the Medical Center after she had heard the news. Janet's battered, bleeding body was dumped in the car park of a female hostel, as a warning to other erring merchants of her trade. The scene had started a pandemonium that night. Samantha got the news quickly since Janet was a popular girl. She found her sister in the private ward. She was connected to tubes! Her once flawless body was crisscrossed with ugly red welts, her face swollen and bruised. "Janet, who did this to you?" she wailed, tears streaming down her face. Janet couldn't speak. Her eyes and lips were almost swollen shut. The pathetic heap Samantha saw on the hospital bed could not be her sweet, beautiful sister. Rage took over her. Pure, hot white fury coursed through her veins like liquid fire. It was so potent that she thought she would faint. Unaware to her she had already begun her descent into the Dark World. She knew who was responsible for her sister's pitiable condition. It must be that Michael. She would make him pay dearly for what he did to Janet. Samantha knew from that moment onwards that she would not know peace until vengeance was hers. *** Michael had just sat through an early morning lecture and was on his way out of the hall when he spied a delicious looking lady hurrying to leave. He caught up with her and tried to chat her up. The brush off that the girl wanted to deliver to him died on her lips when she saw his sheer size and the brutality of his looks. She immediately became more receptive though nervously. Michael didn't see Samantha coming at him from the side like a torpedo. She struck him in the face with enough force to stun an OX. Michael was completely taken off--guard and nearly toppled over. The girl he had been chatting up immediately bolted to safety. "YOU BASTARD!" screamed Samantha hysterically, her face contorted with hate, "I'll tear your heart out. How dare you touch my sister!" Some male students managed to pull her off Michael before she succeeded in clawing his eyes out. As they dragged her, screaming and kicking, out of the hall, others tried to help him up. The place was in an uproar. Michael's eyes blazed furiously. Though he did not speak everyone knew this could only mean murder. *** That evening, Michael met his leader Harlequin in a bar up school. To his disbelief his boss did not give him approval to hit Samantha. "You know the rules, Michael," said Harlequin also known as Number One with infuriating calm, "we do not strike civilians unless it is absolutely necessary." "Well I think it's absolutely necessary, my P.R is at stake here." "No it isn't. A girl attacking you is no big deal. Females do not warrant any kind of reprisal attack unless they work for us." "She disgraced me in front of dozens of people!" Michael almost choked in rage. "I said forget it. They are more important issues at hand. By the way you didn't get approval from me before hitting that other girl, I'm going to sanction you for that. Dismissed." Michael left Harlequin's presence, his blood boiling. No way was he going to let it pass. No way. *** Samantha went to report the incident to the campus security. After being kept waiting for nearly an hour she was told that they would 'look' into the matter. She was also given a stern warning not to involve the police since it was strictly a campus affair. As if the insult was not bad enough she was told that the security experts would have to have proof that Janet was raped before further action could be taken. That meant them personally 'inspecting' her private parts to confirm that that there was actually forced penetration. No adjectives in the English vocabulary could describe the fury that burned in Samantha's heart. Later in the evening she was plotting yet another course of action when a knock sounded on her door. Since it was still quite early in the evening for male visitors she didn't think twice before opening the door. When she saw who the visitor was she stepped back quickly, all the blood drained from her face. It was the mysterious young man that had escorted her home on that crazy night: the man with tiger eyes. Those eyes swept over her now, taking in her lush body that was barely clad in a tight sky -- blue half top and a very brief pair of Jean shorts. She wasn't even wearing a bra. She knew the tops of her nipples were showing over the low -- neck line of her half -- top. She thought to slam the door but he had already filled the door way. "Can I come in?" he asked gently "I need to talk to you." Samantha's mind was asunder. She wondered whether to scream for help. This guy probably had plans of breaking her right in her own room with or without her consent. She eventually decided that if he wanted to do that he would have done it that night. "Er... okay" she stammered, "Please sit down." She hurriedly tied a large cloth round herself while she watched him perch on a bed. He was dressed entirely in black: t-shirt, leather jacket, trousers and ankle -- high boots. He was no less imposing in the daylight. He was ruggedly handsome, well muscled with a quiet ruthlessness that just oozed out of him. She was in no doubt that he was a very, very, dangerous man. "Let me get to the point" he said, watching her with predatory eyes, "I want you to stop your mad quest justice. It's too dangerous." Samantha stared at him in disbelief. "What?" "I think you heard me." Anger like boiling liquid rose to the lip of the jug of her senses, washing away the fear she felt initially. "Who do you think you are?" she rasped nastily, "You think you can just barge in here and tell me crap?" "Hey, take it easy. What I'm telling you is for your own good. These are very dangerous people you are dealing with. They are connected right up to the top in this school. If you continue messing around, they will kill you." Samantha folded her arms and glared at him. Her eyes held him in utter contempt. "Thanks for your friendly advice" she said quietly, icicles dripping from her voice, "Now please kindly leave before I tell the entire hostel that I'm being raped." The young man might be macho but he wasn't stupid. He rose to his feet and stared at her. Her eyes were sad. "I'm trying to help you" he said softly "You don't have any chance against the people you are fucking with. Just back off and leave vengeance for God." Samantha's eyebrows shot up. "God? That's very pious coming from someone like you." "You dont know me. If you did you won't treat me with such disrespect and more importantly you would heed my warning." "Then it's a good thing I don't know you. Get out, please." The young man left without another word. Samantha slammed the door in his wake. *** There is nothing Samantha did not do over the past couple of days. She even managed to incite a riot that had female students carrying placards and tree branches, marching throughout the whole campus, chanting slogans and harassing male students. Most female hostels banned boys from entering inside for the rest of the week. The situation was appalling and embarrassing to the University authorities. The Vice Chancellor summoned Harlequin to his lodge. The meeting was brief and held in the utmost secrecy. "What's this I'm hearing about protests over a raped girl?" The V.C asked testily. "One of our girls misbehaved and got punished. Michael might have been overzealous but he acted according to our rules. Apparently, the victim's sister is not taking it lightly." "You're damn right she is not taking it lightly! She is raising hell on this campus. Do you have any idea how this affects the image of this University? "Well, Sir..." "Listen very well. You are the Number one. You came to that position because of the help that I gave you. I might be the Grand Patron of the Complalanches but that does not mean I support senseless violence". "That's strange coming from you especially after the things I did for you in the past. Remember two years ago when you sent me to kill your political opponent who also happened to be the Grand patron of the Captains Confraternity? Back then I was the Apache, the Chief Executioner. I killed him in front of his wife and kids. You didn't mind that. The Captains sent their hit squad after me. In the end I had to kill my own blood cousin and security agents would have killed me too." "You were amply paid for your task and you know the risks involved." "There is no amount of money that is enough to ransom a man's soul, or his sanity." "Enough talk! Handle this situation before it goes out of control. If that girl is the fly in the ointment then I want her squashed." *** Toni came to visit Samantha one Sunday evening after she had returned from the Medical Centre. Janet was doing okay but she was still not talking much. Samantha couldn't blame her. Her psyche was probably shattered for life. When Samantha saw Toni entering the room she expected her to start coming on to her while using sympathy as an excuse. However it seemed that she had something serious to discuss. "Samantha I want us to be frank with each other. Is that okay with you?" "Yes" she replied laconically, watching her warily. "You really want justice don't you? "Yes I do." 'Or to be more specific you want revenge." "Yes." "Well, I can help you avenge Janet". "How?" "Have you heard of the Cleopatra Club?" Immediately Samantha's blood chilled. She had heard of them alright. Who hadn't? A tight knit organization that recruited young ladies for specific purposes, rumoured to be deeply involved in sorcery and witchcraft. And they were all lesbians. Samantha shuddered. "Yeah, I've heard of them" "Join us and you will have your revenge". "Oh dear" Samantha's fears were confirmed. Not only was Toni a lesbian she was also a cultist. "I know this is not an easy decision for you to make but think about it. No one else can help you get revenge. The cult you are up against is extremely powerful and only ours can match them. You might think that a female cult is no match for a male cult but you are wrong. Our power is in our secrecy. Nobody knows who our members are but male cultists actually flaunt their memberships. This makes them an easy target. Relax, I have already fashioned out a plan of attack against Michael. Just say yes and the plan will go into action. You will never regret it." "How can I trust you?" "There is no way for me to prove to you that you can trust me. But what other option do you have?" Samantha found herself between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. If she joined the Cleopatra Club she knew her life would never be the same again. She would become what she never thought she would be even in her worst nightmares. An Angel of Darkness. But if she turned down her offer then what else could she do? The thought of Michael getting away with what he did to Janet was unthinkable. How far was she ready to go for revenge? "Okay, I except." *** The next day when Samantha went to see Janet it was as if she had sensed the discussion her sister had had with Toni. "Samantha" Janet said weakly, "I want you to drop this crazy crusade you are on." "What?!?" Samantha whispered in disbelief. "Please drop it. I know what is going on. What you are doing is extremely dangerous. Look what happened to me!" "Exactly," Samantha seethed, "That's why I am doing it for you." "No, stop it. I deserved what I got. But you don't deserve what they will do to you. Please back off. And don't ever listen to what Toni tells you. I know what she is." "Janet, how can you say you deserve what you got? How can you? I know it is Michael that is responsible for what happened to you and I am going to get him. I'm going to get all of them." "Samantha, please..." "No stop it!" her sister screamed angrily, "Don't try and convince me. I am going after him and nothing is going to stop me!" Janet, battered and bandaged, lay quiet, staring hard at her beloved junior sister as she breathed deeply in suppressed rage. "This is not really about me, is it Samantha?" Janet whispered softly. "It's all about you. It has always been about you." "Yes" Samantha agreed coldly as she stood up to leave, "It's about me". *** That night on her way back to the Hostel from the Medical Centre, some dark figures accosted her as she walked past some dilapidated buildings that were submerged in darkness. They surrounded her and backed her up against a wall. Samantha felt fear, like an ice-cold hand, seize her heart. "Remember me, Bitch?" asked a familiar voice. God. It was Michael. She froze as a pair of hands, touched her breasts. "I think you do remember me. Why don't you try and hit me again?" The Desires of the Heart Samantha could not speak. She couldn't. She was terrified even though she struggled to maintain an air of calm. Something flashed in the moonlight and she felt cold steel against her throat. It was a knife. "I would very much like to slit your throat like a chicken" he said, his voice soft and seductive, "would you like that?' Samantha remained silent. "What's the matter? Cat caught your tongue?" Silence. The other boys with Michael were becoming uncomfortable. They were expecting her to be screaming and begging for mercy like her whore of a sister but she wasn't obliging. Her quiet façade was beginning to spook them. Michael put away the knife and his hands slipped under her blouse. She gritted her teeth but she still gave no reaction. "You've got nice tits you know" he drawled, "They're actually bigger than your sister's but you've got harder nipples." Samantha considered kicking him in the balls but she felt it would be a rash decision. "This is your first and last warning, Darling. If you continue to make yourself a nuisance then I will have no other option but to cut off your clitoris. Understand?" No answer. "Bitch." They left her and melted away into the darkness. Samantha felt herself slide down the wall and crumple into a heap on the ground. She began to sob uncontrollably from fear and humiliation. *** The next day the initiation was carried out in a flat outside the campus, which a rich member of the Cleopatra Club had rented. The curtains were drawn, the front door locked and bolted. In the bedroom only a weak bulb covered with red tape gave off any illumination. It cast an eerie red glow over the large bed. Samantha was stripped and placed on the bed, her wrists and ankles tied to the posts. A handkerchief was stuffed into her mouth and they gagged her. Then all the girls too stripped themselves naked while their unblinking eyes never once left her. Then the gang sex began. *** Michael and his boys met a young man called Felony in a seedy bar uptown. Felony was the Head of the Captains Confraternity and one of the most evil souls known to man. Though Michael's crew looked menacing enough they were quite nervous of this slightly built character that looked nerdy with his glasses and youthful good looks. Only his eyes betrayed the fact that he had no trace of humanity. They were as blank and as empty as those of the dead. "We have a proposal to make" Michael said carefully. "Yes, go on" Felony said cheerfully as he drank a plate of pepper soup while sipping on a bottle of malt. He didn't drink or smoke because he felt they were unclean acts. Michael wondered how a known mass murderer could be fussy about 'unclean' acts. "Give us two hundred thousand and some logistic support and we will give you Harlequin." "Ah, Harlequin, my beloved cousin." "We know that the Captains have been hunting him ever since he murdered your Grand Patron. We'll bring him to you. Alive if you wish." "Preferably alive. I would like to dissect him myself.' The others squirmed in their seats. *** Michael was not to know what was in store for him. On that fateful night, he had been staggering home after a drinking spree with his boys when some figures sprang from the bushes that bordered the path leading to his Boy's Quarters. Before he could bat an eyelid a hand with a damp cloth clamped over his nose and the first whiff of chloroform was the last thing he perceived before passing out. His unconscious body was stuffed in the boot of a car and he was immediately hauled to the Agric farm. He was pulled out and dropped on the exact spot where Janet had been raped. He was bound and gagged and expertly revived. What followed was some of the worst minutes in his life. He could only watch and mumble helplessly as the six females tortured him ceaselessly. They flogged him with whips fixed with razor blades and salt was poured into the wounds. If a man could be gang raped by a group of crazy females then he surely was. Then they drugged him out again and carried him to the Freedom Square -- the largest and most popular field on the campus. They laid him out stark naked for the entire world to see. He was still unconscious the next day when students on their way to lectures found him in his unenviable position. When he finally opened his eyes, an impressive crowd of onlookers were talking excitedly and staring at him like he was a monkey in a zoo. Michael was furious beyond words. He had been humiliated beyond even his worst imagination. Even his own boys sniggered behind his own back. At the next gathering he raised the issue. He ranted and raved while the other present members tried to keep their faces straight. "This time" he growled angrily, "I demand approval to retaliate against the girls that did this. If this is allowed to pass even our own brotherhood would be despised." Harlequin for once had to agree. "Yes, you are right. The people responsible are members of the Cleopatra Club. They think their identities are hidden but I have my informants even within their cult." "Yes, you have my approval. Find the girls responsible for this and punish them with extreme prejudice." "Yes, my KommandComplalanche." "Find them, torture them and kill them.' *** Toni was about rounding of her dinner of hot Eba and Ogbono soup at a refectory up-school when she spied two young men lurking by the doorway. Her cod fish eyes observed them coldly as she gulped down a glass of water. They were trying hard to be inconspicuous. Toni knew cultists on sight. She did not need a soothsayer to know that they had come for her. She went to the counter to pay and bent to whisper to Nkolinka, the waitress. "I'd like to leave through your back door" she said in her ear. "Follow me." Making sure her watchers had their backs to her for a brief moment; she followed Nkolinka behind the counter. Soon she was outside. "Thanks, N-Kay, I owe you a hug." "Ha -- ha! You owe me much more than that." They brushed lips briefly and Toni set off in the direction of the female hostels. She wanted to warn Samantha not to leave her room for any reason whatsoever. When she got there, there was a crowd outside her doorway. Nneka, Samantha's roommate was in tears, blood streaming down her face. "Samantha's been kidnapped" she wailed, "Some masked men broke into our room and snatched her. They hit me when I tried to stop them! *** Samantha was dragged out from the back of the ear and tossed to the ground. She was almost paralyzed with fear. None to gently her kidnappers began to strip her off her clothes. When they had finished she lay completely bare on the grass. Her clothes were thrown back into the boot of the car. "You've had this coming for a long time, bitch!" spat one of them. She could only stare helplessly at them and pray for the ordeal to be over quickly. They picked her up and began to push her around. She received a hot slap or two and got thrown to the ground again. "Get it over, damn you all!" she screamed silently, as she waited for them to rape her. The boys continued jeering at her for a while then abruptly turned around, entered their vehicle and drove off. Samantha lay on the red clay soil for a long time in a confused state wondering what was going on. Someone was coming towards her from the bushes as she lay there stunned and she watched petrified. The figure loomed above her and she saw it was the mysterious cultist whom had escorted her that night and had warned her not to continue her quest for revenge. She gazed up at him with frightened eyes. His hand stretched towards her. "Take my hand" he said gently. She did so and he helped her up. Holding her wrist he pulled her along. Soon she saw a car by the road. She was put in the front passenger seat, while the young man took the wheel. She curled up on the seat, her will shattered and not caring where she was going. In fact she did not care about anything anymore. She was broken. The drive was not a long one and soon they stopped outside a Boys Quarters. She was taken inside and placed on the bed. The young man left for a while and came back to collect her. He took her to a bathroom where he gave her a thorough wash. After drying her he carried her back to the room as she was suddenly too weak to walk. He forced her to take some food and some hot beverage and then tucked her into bed. Throughout all this Samantha was in a daze and when her head finally touched the pillow, it wasn't long before she fell asleep. *** Michael was pissed off. Even though Harlequin had given him approval to attack the girls he and his boys were not allowed to go for the hit themselves. "I have designated some of the other lieutenants to carry out the hit. I have more important things for you guys to do. I have information on Felony's whereabouts. We are going to hit them tonight. You guys will go and tool up for the attack while I go and sort out other logistic matters. I will join you boys at midnight. Michael immediately became interested. *** Midnight Harlequin, Michael and the boys rode in the car in silence. The tension in the car was palpable. They were tooled up: all had automatic weapons and a sack load of ammunition with the purpose of liquidating Felony and his crew. A cult war was brewing and Harlequin said he wanted to draw first blood. But Michael had other plans. He planned to take Harlequin for a long ride into the most remote part of Nsukka town. He would never see sunlight again. Machetes, gasoline and a can of acid were what he would be administered with. Michael would make sure that Harlequin was wiped from the face of the earth. He glanced at his leader to see if he had any idea that he was on his way to his doom. His face was calm, his eyes closed as if dozing; seemingly oblivious to the danger that he was in. Was he that daft? thought Michael. Didn't he sense that all was not well? Or was he just so sure of this power? Despite himself he couldn't help but admire his boss. Harlequin was probably one of the greatest cultists that ever lived. But tonight the most dangerous man on the campus would be overthrown and he would take over. Michael would make sure his own name was written in blood. He would take the cult back to the glorious days. His train of thought was interrupted as the car came to a stop just before a police checkpoint that had never been in that part of town before. Even more unusually there were six policemen instead of just two or three. They were all armed with shiny automatic rifles that looked they had just come out from wrapping foil. "Everybody out! Shit, thought Michael, they were fucked. They all came out of the car protesting loudly but with their hands in the air. Their guns had been hurriedly stuffed under the seats. But there was nothing they could do about the weapons in the boot. Christ! What a screw up. "You" one of the policemen pointed at Harlequin, "Come with us." He followed them without a word. He was placed in the back of a police jeep and driven away. Michael saw him turn and give him a strange look that he couldn't decipher. They were shepherded into another jeep and they too were driven off. It didn't take long for Michael to realize that they were at the spot where he and his boys planned to liquidate Harlequin. The jeep stopped and they were hustled out into the open field surrounded completely by bushes. "Run!" the commander ordered and he and his men began to cock their rifles. Then Michael understood. The pure, cold terror that washed over him seemed to give him rebirth. He turned and ran. His boys also took off. They were crying out in fear and disbelief, running as fast as possible, trying to reach the woods before the policemen opened fire. No such luck. Michael heard the bark of the rifles that shattered the silence of the night. His legs gave out under him and he cried out in pain and terror as he fell on the rough grass. He tried to crawl to safety but he could hear approaching army boots closing on him. A shadow covered him and he knew he was finished. The boot kicked him over on his back. He stared up at the face of the man who was pointing the muzzle at him. He wanted to plead for his life but he couldn't bear to give him that satisfaction. He started helplessly and waited for the coup de grace. "Harlequin sends his regards", said the man. And with that he pulled the trigger. *** Two weeks later the Complalanche Confraternity performed last rites for Michael and his crew. Their bodies were burnt to ashes, mixed with blood and given to all the members to drink. Harlequin gave a moving eulogy. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, we are all one." *** Samantha lay in bed with her mysterious friend and they talked a long time. They had been going out for sometime in a strange manner. He had refused to tell her his name. Janet was out of the hospital but immediately went home. She was considering changing school. Samantha was considering the idea as well. "So was it worth it?" he asked her, "I mean all you went through?" "I don't know" she said after thinking for a while. "Are you happy Michael was killed?" "I don't know" I didn't think so. I've been there before." "Why did you help me?" "I don't know." They both smiled. "Well" he continued, "I guess since I first saw you that night I couldn't get you out of my mind. You remind me of my late auntie whom I loved very much." "Are you not going to tell me your name?" There was a brief silence. "Call me Patrick." He said at last. Samantha smiled. "Okay." She guessed she liked him. END