Ryker Neil Hartley, stood by the door to his room, dazed with terror.
This is a 'Do or Die!' Nothing more, nothing less. No means of evasion, if he would not accept the deal, then he is accepting the worse! His fine boy physiques meant nothing if a bullet would violate his manliness, his cute diamond-faced shape distorted by the Glocks and pistols threatening his sanity in the comfort of his home. The perspiration is becoming real embarrassing, "This has to stop now, he wants co-operation and I'll give it." He said in his mind, as he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.Hesitantly, "Okay. Deal." He said with closed teeth, forcing a smile to make Jude feel relaxed... That is him. The typical tyrannical Jude.Do not argue with his point of view, and never! He never entertains questions about his choices of action. Ryk, Ryker, Rye. Call him whichever you fancy, he dislike it when people sever his dearest name but he's learned to cope with it.He very much knew who he was dealing with, this is no time to prove kahuna, so he'd chosen to concur without further drama, at least, to regain his space. Dramas like this should be outdoors in his own understanding, on the streets, in a restaurant maybe, anywhere but here. No one else at home, and even if there is, these guys are armed! For Christ's sake!He beheld a lenient look on his face as he kept on nodding, though a bit slow but as steadily as he could to maintain his glance fixated on Ryker's, like he was searching for doubt in his perturbed, yet relaxed eyeballs. Because what Ryker is going to do is relaxed in his mind too. If there's one thing he is a whiz at; It is Reticence. Of course, no one will be demonstrative of it, If they have a hostile motive, but then, this is nothing connected with hostility this time because it is not going to be in respect of his safety either. But relatively speaking, it sure entails treachery. ** Hours ago **After several slaps concession from Ali; Mallam Kyari and his ruthless overbearing son in their religious attires, just reverted from the mosque,"Alright, you stand up now but don't do it again". "And you Ryker, when are you going to turn a new leaf, getting into trouble every time and now this? He insinuated, standing with his hands akimbo. You know your mother should never hear about this... Huh!"Mallam threatened, his right gnarly index finger pointed to the ground.Ryker stood up and dusted his knees, containing his feeling of exasperation. "Of course, I knew that." He murmured.(I just hope Mom never realizes this incident, as it will surely sadden her and she would probably scream out her lungs: "You're growing worse each day Ryker, why would you choose to leap from the frying pan into the fire? C'mon your father will never be proud of this oozing corrupted confidence of yours. Think! Ryker, think! And set a good example for your younger ones.") Ryker mused.Those words his ears have grown accustomed to within the period of the last six years.Even so, she will come to understand what transpired this time around.Nonetheless, a lot is bound to happen before then.The last thing he would hope for is the opening of new chasms that would rekindle his terrific pasts, as much as he'd love to keep the memories and retain the energy. He never wanted to be that awful pugnacious bully he'd switched to, in the course of masking a broken boy, fortifying himself with uncalled-for toughness. Unfortunately, it turns out he was causing his mom to grieve, and the world hates him but not only for that, generally, Ryker is a rascal! Or at least, that is the derogatory term designed for him in the neighborhood.Now, the whole scene, the whole involvement is proving incomprehensible. He wore a sinless look, "I am really sorry Mallam" He mumbled, holding his palms together, hoping his expressions convey his contrite message to the nonjudgmental and tolerant side of Mallam's heart, "I have never done this before, and never will. Theft? Over my dead body.""My friend tricked me into it. He said he already talked to you about it and you permitted him," He piped up, stretching his hands sideways in a manner that should portray his innocence.His eyes shot up in bewilderment."Look at you, kid, if I had; wouldn't my gate be opened in expectation of your... delinquent visit?" He queried with a tone of dismay. "Well, I never give it a thought. Guess nobody does head out of their home, with no reliable form of security. Perhaps a closed door at least..." Ryker replied nonchalantly, like he wasn't the one pleading to be pardoned seconds ago."As you can see, I'm too old for incessant rants. But with a fatherly reproach I shall tell you this; know well who you associate yourself with for this will be your last warning next time I will deal with you personally," Mallam scolded. Smiling, and he smiled back, The truth is Mallam wouldn't want to smile right back if he knew what was playing through Ryker's mind for those words sounded like funny whining to him: 'And what is this grumpy old man gonna do to me?' he mocked at heart.But in an instant the smile vanquished as Mallam continued, "I will be setting traps on my farm onward, and anyone caught on my property in this act will be dealt with accordingly. Be warned, lest you fall." They stood up, Kyle and Ryker had failed to escape when Mallam Kyari and his son had busted the intruders in their compound attempting to comb through his orchard with their sacks. They are going to take them down to the market and sell it off for some cool cash... Ryker is too smart to be not so amateurish when it comes to fleeing overpowering spiteful movements, but the meteoric change of the events and its scope caught him unaware, the hullabaloo came in handy with instinctive fear.He is not afraid at first, (Since Mallam permitted me, he permitted us all). He counted on Jude's words with which he had persuaded him so that he'd come with him.Ready to leave Mallam Kyari's Compound. They headed out, "Hey you", he called out to Kyle, damn his discreet attitude. "Did you know about that too?" "About what?" He questioned back, a bit unmannerly."Okay, can you tell me what just happened back there..." He demanded. Trying to meet up with Kyle's pace. "We're busted bruh! Is that what you wanna hear?" He blurted. "Of course, I knew that." He countered, "tell me something; what I want to hear, Kyle." He demanded. He was demanding the cognizable from Kyle, Ryker's provoking acerbity can render him foolish sometimes. "Look, Rye, I owe you no explanation, okay? You're the one who needed persuasion to do what should have been a benefit to you." "Huh?! Are you shitting me??!" "And in what way has this turned out to be a benefit?"He fired back at him."Every day ain't Christmas bruh..." Hissing and facing him this time, "It never ceases to amaze me, your intractable yet credulous mind. You know what? Rye, you look like an idiot blabbering. I haven't witnessed a sixteen-year-old brain, so daft cannot read between the lines.""Anyways, Rye save your questions for Jude, Do you get me?"With that, he strode faster.He halted on his track, "you are not at fault, maybe I was an idiot, pea-brained; but you never had a friend like Jude, who always had you on his hook." He soliloquized.Staring at the back of his head half-consciously, as he moved farther into the streets, and at the end of his soliloquy, he thought about what was to be his next move. "Oh my– I am more than a bit famished right now, do I go home straight away or…?" He asked himself but then, gave up the thought of food, hunting Jude down will soothe his ache. His nimble mind has concluded and he opted for the confrontation, perhaps a seemingly impulsive decision at the moment but never knew what to expect on getting home too. "Mom at work, siblings at school, the neighborhood is dry." Ryker reminds himself. He is one who enjoys being around activities and liveliness, unfortunately for him though, he's chosen the wrong type of involvements and he's dealing with the implications but won't accept facts."Hmph....! Jude you are going to give me a good reason for taking me through this!" He seethed under his breath. He turned, and headed towards their hideout, he took a shortcut through the alley that leads to the street straight-down out of the town, he saw some street-smarts gathered in pairs along the alley sharing cigarettes and some substances, spitting gibberish and obscenities. "Assholes!" He murmured, they dared not cross the lines with him, most of them had gotten their ass kicked many times over by him in the past and know to not penetrate in his personal space.He saw some of the emperor's boys on the street and met a few of them on getting there too, while most of them were gathered probably playing some sort of games- gambling, doing his thing. Their hideout was quite an insular from the Balltown eastwards, in the woods a couple miles away from Rings estate. Just across the lake was a beautiful field blessed by nature, on the far left was a thick forest, as usual, he endeavored to walk through it some meters away and found myself amidst these beautiful trees with endearing serenity. Even the chirping of birds makes it more fantastic and the natural air flooding the woods is good enough to relax you and spur on an exhilarating sensation, making you relieve some nerves you've strain and cheer up delightfully.Not him! Perhaps, not the time, he was quite worked up, set high by fury on a matter that could be addressed without necessarily getting all worked up. Stomping his way through, he saw him sitting on a stool beside a Teak, a few boys hanging around too. "Bunch of idiots!" He thought as he approached, they had deliberately chosen the site to escape to when they committed their goddamn crimes, hang on till the tension died down, silly souls, they really took their time to build a home down there,living like vagabonds! And they've got a considerable, perhaps good reason for that.Whenever they were hunted down to this spot, they would disperse farther into the woods, which makes it unfeasible for people to track them down. "Jude! What the hell just happened?"He yelled at a seventeen-years-old Jude, who looks way older than he had claimed to be, with the body of a bodybuilder (looks like it though, a lot is going on at their hideout) he measured about 6ft 3' in his straight fit jean and the sleeveless zip-up hoodie, with a cute gallas haircut. He sat in a relaxed position like nothing had happened, stretched out his legs, he stole a look at him,and squeeze vigorously on the orange he was sucking. "Jude, what did you tell me before we set out to pluck fruits in that old man's garden?"Trying to sound casual, remembering Jude is too big and gallant to chicken out on threats from people like him, regardless if they are eruptive or not. "Huh?!" He demanded from his friend furiously... Because that was never the plan, and he knew for sure Jude was not always an honest pal. But as avaricious as Jude could be; it never crossed his mind that he could try to fool him into his own foolery as he was too dumb to think everyone would be like his dad.Suppose someone seems to care, and always showed up to lend you a hand, rescue you by any means possible, and understood your plights are worth being your friend, best friend even. As much as Ryker needed a friend irrespective of gender, since he had been mending his heart for better sane stability, and repressing the weaknesses of his temperaments to enhance his tolerance to fit in with the society's standards, He knew making friends would be necessary because leaving his past life behind had encapsulated him with a detestable life of boredom: not like when someone is feared and respected like the king of slave-masters. And talking of keeping friends, only a space for one he's got and it has been confiscated. Thereafter, no longer cared to create another for a myriad of reasons.Considering this inexplicable friendship aspect, Ryker's take on it was making it a medium of expressing his gratitude and reciprocating Jude's altruism. The thing is, but he never thought he would be im
Ryker should be ashamed, but for some reasons, he was boiling with terrific vexation as he had kept enumerating endlessly, what should stay as friends' confidentiality."Broke rascal, I wonder why you shouldn't consider that living on someone else's expenses by this stage of your life is a shameful thing." Jude expounded. "Yeah. Very!" A boy added sharply. Ryker knew for sure, he could get all offended right now but he'd lost the energy to pick on anyone, as he could sense a current of derision flowing through the arena, causing the atmosphere to grow heavy with contempt. He was weakened with undue rigor as stars of unprecedented demeanor woefully flash before his eyes."Maybe you did not realize," Jude kept on piquing himself and slaughtering his sanity with sufficient verbiage."But I'm sorry for your actively struggling mom, relentlessly catering for all three kids, she deserves a well matured, self-driven young man for a first child, to help ease the unanticipated burden of sing
His face lit up with delight as he heard his stomach rumble. Moving more swiftly than he would have expect himself to, in a matter of seconds, he was in the room, stripping off any unnecessary adornments and devouring the poor burger. Oh well, it should be happy it has got a precise, simple and predictable fate.As if being born into an unfriendly society isn't enough, unending contentions, oppression, and hostility unrelentlessly clawed at you.As he ate, he reflected on his life- the past and the present, unsure of what the future holds, he ruminated more anxiously.(Now he sees me as nothing but a damn pebble in his shoes, I'm not bothered about far worse things I could be to the world, but it hurts real bad from a friend, or anyone you undoubtedly build trust on.Because I remained unmoved and unyielding, I am a goddamn pebble?) He shook his head and hissed out loud.(I can only imagine what could happen for him to see me as a boulder then.)As he thought through his ordeal with
(Goshhh! What the F***!!!)His eyes shot up, aghast at Jude's callousness; as he began to experience the sick feeling of uneasiness all over again. "Come on man, you know I can't do that. Moreover, I am a pebble in your shoe, so why won't you get rid of me, you complained this much and yet won't give up chasing after me.""Bro I am already avoiding you, I urge you to do the same, so we let each other be?""Perhaps you find it hard to do just that, I am already trying to relieve you of myself, yet, you won't allow it" he said in a petrified and confused tone. He felt tempered again as the boys laughed like he was some stand-up comedian. Ryker tends to react to mockery like one who has a whole secondary heart with which they reserve animosity solely for retaliation.His choleric outbursts ignite when hold up to ridicule. In his world, he believes that no one in their right senses should crave or welcome any sort of pillory.He almost, impulsively pounced on Will, one of Jude's most a
Indeed, a supermom she really is, her task of motherhood with no reliable partner to render due support must not be easy with that of work, yet, she was inclined to bear the cross fate had jettisoned upon her. Since Ryker's father had vanished from the face of the earth or so he thought then. His state of curiosity leveled with that of surprise, when his pregnant mom had come to pick him up, an unusual occurrence in those days, back from school.She looked horridly disturbed, and forlornly heartbroken, although, the then ten-years-old Ryker is no mind-reader, he sure knew the blithesome woman that mothered him.On that fateful day his mom brought him home to the news that his father was still nowhere to be found. (Like seriously? A whole grown-up dad?) He thought, "But he is not an object, can a man be lost?" He asked his physically and emotionally fatigued mother who had lost all might and appetite since two days her darling husband went missing.That was unbelievable! Ryker has h
She retracted her shoulder while removing a small neat towel from it,Picking up the ice pack, and wrapped it with the towel, she gently placed it on his afflicted knuckles, bringing him to do the pressuring himself."I've got to go prepare dinner before it's too late." She said, He nodded apprehensively.She made to leave but then, stopped by the door, looked back, "Ryker." "Mom?" He jerked up his head to meet her gaze."You can talk to me, okay?" "And remember, Mom always love you." She consoled him with a big assuring smile. Ryker nodded with a strong sense of reassurance, as the door reunited with its jambs. He never stopped brooding over the biggest problem he had at hand for a while.He was ruminating on the best tactic to get Jude off his block, totally Alone once again, Ryker is back to his thoughts, back to his plight. The past couple of years, he had grown up to squarely face his problems, even though most of it he further messed up, but he never bought the idea of te
He felt deprived. And had become so mad and toxic that he confronted law enforcers who dared stand in his way, Ryker believed he feared no one.And that has got him frequent forceful free rides to the police station and occasions of detention. Twice have he been apprehended by Mr. Fred himself who was the most lenient on him, for he did nothing other than talk, talked, and talked so much that it would bore him. But what Ryker found most annoying, is that he would not realize his ears no longer retain voices he didn't utter; not that he'd tell him. No, he wouldn't even look at him, just sat there, staring blankly on the table that demarcated them, as he patiently waited for his departing hour to come. Though he had been excited when a text popped up on his screen, almost a year ago.It was from an unknown sender, which read, "Hi, it's Jane." "Jane Maureen?" He had texted back... Hoping he didn't guess wrong."Yes, got your contact from Robert, a week ago when I was home to prepar
He noticed about two to three officers were in dutiful mode as they care less about anything else but held onto a pen as they buried their faces in a blotter, taking notes attentively. As he related."Jude was my friend." "Just recently though," He clarified."But I never knew he bears firearms, and all of his gang members.""Until recently they were threatening me with it, because I refuse to consent to be an accomplice with their crime organization…"He continued almost in a strangled voice,"And they had vowed I am going to get killed if I would not join the operation they would be carrying out on Mallam Kyari's, tonight." "That would be the subsequent event prior to a failed attempt, as I have learnt."He meticulously elucidates their plans to hit on Mallam Kyari's household. Trying as much as possible to not implicate himself in any misinformation. He needed not much to know he had done well to fill them in, as he received a 'good, you've done well', from Sergeant Oswald, and a