THE LAST SURVIVORS
Episode 21
Austin and his company were still on the road wondering were to spend the night. They knew it would only be a matter of time before the scorpion would return, looking for another host to attach itself to so it can attack them. Osoba who was driving pulled up the vehicle by the roadside and asked Austin to take over. He needed to make a call, there was someone he believed could unravel the mystery of the scorpion to them and how to stop it once and for all. After his call Osoba announced to them all, “We are going to BADAGRY, we have to see a man at ANCIENT WAWU KINGDOM. He can help us with answers”. With no better idea or option about what to do, all of them acquiesced to Osoba’s ideas and they headed off to Badagry that night. Austin drove like a crazy man; it took him only one hour and thirty minutes to get to Badagry. When they arrived at Wawu Kingdom, the man they had come to see, HUNGBO SEWEDO was already waiting for them. Osoba stooped and greeted the man in Egun tongue, “Ogboni mi karo ro o!” The others stooped in respect and Hungbo Sewedo led them to his living room. The man’s face was taut, something in his eyes gave him the impression he didn’t like their visit. Melinda leaned on Austin’s shoulder and whispered, “I don’t like this man. I hope he won’t sell us out”. “You are right something is wrong, the look of his face says it all. Be on your guard, stay close to me and be ready to fight”, replied Austin. Melinda and Austin were the last to step into Hungbo’s living room, before she entered the house, she cast her eyes about Hungbo’s compound for anything unusual; for a moment she thought she saw a shadow moving through the wall of Hungbo’s compound and heading towards the backyard.
When they sat down in Hungbo’s living room, Melinda pinched Austin and whispered, “I think I saw something outside; it looked like the shadow that dragged me into the valley of the dead some weeks ago. I think we should tell the others and get out of here”. Hungbo fixed his eyes on Austin and Melinda and said, “No one is going to hurt you while you are here, but you must do your business here quickly and leave. This is one place you shouldn’t have brought them Osoba. There are more enemies here than friends. What you saw outside followed you to this place, as I speak; it rallies its like to capture you all. In a matter of hours all of you will die………..” Hungbo raised his hand and pointed at Melinda and said, “Except you!” “What would happened to her? Tell me old man!” Austin asked. “She shall be forced into an unholy matrimony with the one who is dead and yet lives now. That is what I see”. “Who do you speak of sir? Who is the one who is dead and is alive now?” asked Osoba. “The one whose grave you dug up and destoryed with fire. He has returned in the body of another. He wants blood”.
There was silence in the room. No one could speak a word. Seeing how despondent his guest were, Hungbo tried to offer them some hope, “The shadow scorpion which you have battled all day long is called AYARI. It never returns to its abode until it has taken the soul of the one whom it was sent to kill, it is a stubborn spirit, but it can be trapped or even turned against those who unleashed it against you”. “How can we do that?” asked Austin. “You must lure it to the grave of the one who seeks your death, to the grave you dug up, but that is, if you all will survive the next few hours’. “That grave is in Eku-Obhiosa, Edo state. It is too far”, said Melinda. “Even if the grave was in Jamaica, you must go there to send the scorpion back to the sender”. Hungbo pointed at Verah and said, “You have faith, but you often doubt yourself. If you would exercise your faith in the most High, your faith would save your friends. When the shadow scorpion enters the grave, command it to return death to the sender in the name of God’s Holy Son. It will obey you! You have the faith my child”.
To be continued
