Episode 3
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There were big, tall and strong trees that resisted the total crashing of
the chopper, thus, leaving all who were inside alive. But several essential
parts destroyed beyond repair thereby generating smoke from the damaged
helicopter. Already, Fred and co had come out from it standing like animals
that missed road. Charles stood beside his father, Regina beside her father
and the two pilots stood differently. They were in black and white atire
which had torn from the stomach to the chest as a result of the crash.
โI guess we have to move away from here coz this helicopter gonna explode
at anytimeโ Lucky suggested.
โNo, not until we communicate with.. โ Agatha, the female pilot objected
but was interrupted by the explosion of the helicopter whose force drove
all to a distant and fell them on the ground. The ray of the fire reflected
on their faces as they stood up reluctantly.
โI told you!โ Lucky said aloud then looked at his daughter. โAre you okay,
Regina?โ
โIโm fine, Dadโ she replied then glanced at Charles whose father made sure
he was okay too.
โOkay, we are doomed in the forest of Hoomโ Agatha said.
โAnybody with a cell phone?โ Sam, the male pilot asked. They all searched
their pockets but only Fred brought out a cell phone .
โI have mineโ he said stretching it out for Sam to take, but before he
could get his hand on it, the phone exploded too.
โWhatโs happening? How can a phone explode just like that? โ Agatha
approached. None answered the question rather gazed at one another in the
forest.
โThis proves that there is something behind our predicamentโ Sam replied.
He bravely turned looking at the burning chopper and directed his eyes back
to them. โListen, we must find a way out of hereโ
โOut?โ Fred stepped forward leaving his son. โWe canโt be talking about
going out of here without getting my wife!โ
โThat isnโt our business. Our job was to fly you guys to your destination
and returnโ
โNow that weโve crashed on the way, what next?โ
โThen we find a way back homeโ Agatha interfered.
โIโm not going back without my wife too!โ Lucky also stepped forward.
โThen good luck with thatโ Sam concluded and looked at his partner. โLetโs
find away out of here, Agathaโ As they wanted to leave, Reginaโs voice
interrupted them.
โPlease, donโt go away. Help us find my mum!โ she positioned an innocent
and cute face that could not be resisted by any good person.
Sam and Agatha looked at each other after much plead by the opposite
people. They requested for the map which Fred handed it to them, Lucky also
handed his before they traced the image on the map.
โThis is where we are heading to, it gonna take us days journeyโ Sam said
before the journey began fully.
All knew where they were going and why they were going there. Lucky kept
the secret of killing his own mother from his daughter unlike Fred to his
son. Therefore, Charles had much knowledge about the journey than Regina.
They walked through the woods to a dead end where they had to cross a river
without a boat or raft. The current of the river was fast enough to be
heard from several metres away. At the other side of it was a coconut tree
and another forest. Already, Fred and co looked exhausted and hungry. As
they tried to figure out a way to cross the river, Charles ran to the river
bank then began to drink from it. Regina wanted to join him, but the father
pulled her .
โDad, Iโm thirstyโ she looked up at him.
โWait, let Charles returnโ he replied staring at the river strangely.
Charles began to wash his face after drinking from the water. He could see
his image through it which suddenly turned to the image of a man who called
him, โMy sonโ
โJesus!โ Charles shouted and fell back. Others didnโt hear him but saw him
standing up quickly thinking he slipped. In order not to scare others,
Charles kept his experience to himself when he returned. He looked at his
father then glanced at the river again. The image of the man who appeared
from the river was totally different from his fatherโs. At that point,
Lucky allowed his daughter to go drink too.
โWe need to cross this riverโ Sam said looking at the map. โThen another
journey awaits us after thenโ he added.
โAnd how are we gonna cross it?โ Lucky queried.
โI guess the question should be what are we gonna eat now coz Iโm so
hungry!โ Agatha sat down hopelessly on the sandy soil. โCome to think of
it, this is a hopeless journey. How are we sure we gonna see your wives
after this journey?โ she added.
โI strongly believe that we will see them coz my parents talked about this
forest especially my mother before she diedโ Lucky replied.
โHow did she die?โ Sam asked.
They stared at him to speak even Charles because all knew that he killed
the mother but donโt know why and how he did it. However, he was not ready
to tell them. So as they drowned in the atmosphere of tranquility, Regina
came running to them as if pursued by unseen spirit. Agatha stood up
immediately when she saw her running.
โWhatโs it, Regina!โ the father asked.
โLook!โ she pointed at the river.
All directed their eyes there to see a boat floating towards them. The boat
paddler was covered in black robe and her face was barely seen. They stared
at her until she got to the shore of the river.
โCโmon, letโs goโ Fred said.
They hurried to the boat and were able to see the face of the woman
clearly. She was quite old with a rumple face. Only a few teeth could be
found in her mouth.
โPlease, can you take us across the river?โ Fred requested.
โWhy do you think Iโm here?โ the old woman replied. โGet inโ she added.
โWait, how do you know we were here?โ Charles queried her.
โBecause I saw you from the other side of the river, clever boyโ the woman
smiled at him.
Nevertheless, they entered and began to sail across the water. Just then,
the cloud changed as if a heavy rain was about to fall accompanied by a
storm which began to change the direction of the boat. The old woman
occasionally glanced at Charles, and he noticed that severally too. When it
happened again, he said boldly, โYouโre freaking me out, quit looking at
me!โ
Immediately, thunder stroke the boat in a way it broke into two and all
fell inside the water shouting.
โDad!โ Regina shouted as the water was carrying her away. Others witnessed
the same thing to the extent none was able to talk due to presence of water
in their mouths.
Several minutes later, Charles found himself at the shore of the river
looking wet and stained with soil. He managed to stand on his feet then
looked round to see nobody but forest. โDad!โ he shouted, yet, nobody
answered him. He directed his eyes to another side of the shore to see
Regina lying lifeless. โRegina?โ He ran to her, pulled her out and
unbuttoned her shirt around the neck region to her chest. He saw the tip of
her b****t in her white bra but didnโt care before pressing her chest with
his two hands and breathing through her mouth. He couldnโt believe that he
would find himself doing that one day because he was just practicing what
he normally watch on the movies. Sooner did Regina coughed out water and
opened her eyes.
โRegina?โ Charles called smiling and feeling like a hero. โCan you hear me?โ
โCharles?โ Regina called too in a broken voice, she couldnโt see clearly
until a few seconds later. She stood up with the help of Charles and looked
around too. โWhere are others?โ she asked.
โI donโt knowโ he replied with two hands on his waist.
Regina wore a trouser and a shirt which she found to be opened around the
chest, so she glanced at Charles as she buttoned it. โWhy is my shirt open?โ
โI did. I was trying to wake up from unconsciousness to consciousness just
like the way they do it in the moviesโ he spread his hands as he explained.
โI had to press your chest andโฆ and..โ
โJust forget it. Thank you any waysโ Regina began to walk away. โLetโs go
find othersโ she added.
โWhere!โ Charles ran after herโฆ.
******
On the other hand, at another far area, Fred, Lucky and Agatha found
themselves at the shore of the river. They were as wet and dirty as an
aquatic organisms struggling on dried land. Agatha looked around if she
would see Sam but he was no where to be found. Fred and Lucky also shouted
their childrenโs names but heard nothing.
โWhere could they be?โ Fred asked.
โTheyโll be okayโ a voice came from behind. They turned to see the old
woman who paddled them on the boat standing with a staff and looking dried.
โHow did you survive, old woman?โ Agatha asked as they all approached her.
โAnd why arenโt you wet?โ she added.
โMy name is Ryanie, we have to continue the journey before it gets wearyโ
the old woman said turning around.
โWas that a poem?โ Fred asked. โAnd Iโm not going until I see my son!โ he
added.
โYour son?โ she turned again. โWho said is your son? Charles isnโt your son
Mr manโ
Fred became confused. โYou must be joking, right? My wife gave birth to
him. By the way, how do you know his name?โ
โThat your wife gave birth to him doesnโt mean he was formed in the womb by
your spermโ Ryanie clarified.
Fred became dumbfounded thinking wether the wife was in any way cheating on
him. He didnโt believe it, therefore, he said boldly, โListen Ryanie or
whatever you call yourself, I love my wife and she loves me too, sheโs the
reason why Iโm here, sheโs the reason why my parents donโt want to see me,
sheโs the reason why I killed, so there is no way she can cheat on me!โ
โFine, can we go now?โ Ryanie said.
โWhat about my partner, Sam?โ Agatha asked.
โAnd what about Regina my daughter?โ Lucky added.
Ryanie left them without replying. They also followed her except Fred who
sat down on the floor thinking critically and feeling heartbrokenโฆ
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TO BE CONTINUED.
