The fight to live

It was raining very hard. The rain drops felt heavy. They fell on Marie hard. She struggled to see ahead of her as she dragged herself in pain. The main road shouldn't be far from where she was. Her left hand was pressing on the wound on her right arm. She had bled all over her white lace blouse. The pain was just unbearable but she knew if she stopped moving she would die. She turned around. She couldn't see much so she kept going. She slipped on a twig and fell straight into the mud. She cried as she forced herself up. Then she heard the sound of a car. She gained some energy all of a sudden and moved faster.

She got to the side of the road just in time to catch the car. She was just about to wave with her uninjured arm when she recognized the car. It was her father's Range Rover Evogue. She gasped and hid behind the bushes. The car stopped by the side of the road. She knew she was in trouble. What were her chances of survival now? She crawled around and headed back to her house. Maybe she wasn't thinking straight but she remembered the men were three. One got shot while wrestling with the guards in her house, the other followed her and the one driving the must have been the third one. There could be more she missed but she would take her chances. She heard the car door slam shut and increased her speed. The mud had blackened her blouse and with her black jeans it was hard to see her. The rain helped too.

As she moved towards her father's house she thought about a week ago. Her father suggested they go to Ghana for a holiday. She didn't like the idea because she had really gotten used to Abuja. They traveled so often that making and keeping friends was a problem. "Holiday? Dad, we travel enough. Last year we were in Singapore for 6 months oh and Germany before?" She complained. They still came anyway. She now realized why her father was in such a rush to leave Nigeria. He probably messed with the wrong people but they obviously caught up with him.

Marie was almost at the house when she heard the sound of a car behind her. She was doomed. With the headlights they would spot her! She gathered all the energy she could find and run. If she could make it to the trees on the side of the house she could hide. The speed of the car kept increasing. There were tears pouring harder than the rain as she run for her life. She pictured the last time she saw her father lying on the floor in a pool of blood with three bullets in his chest. She didn't see her mother die though. She just heard her pleading and after a gun shot her mothers voice was gone.

She fell flat when she got to the trees and watched the car lights pass by seconds later. The fact that the house was alone on a hill was the only thing that thrilled Marie when they first got here but now she wished they had neighbours. She was stuck at the top of the hill at night with 3 killers with guns! Then it hit her. Her father had 2 guns in almost every house they lived in. He would hide one in his room and the other in the garage. That was her only chance to protect herself. Marie waited till the men went into the house before she made her move. They were arguing and looking around.

Once they were gone she rushed to the garage. The men had left the door empty when they took out her father's car. She slipped in and looked around. She couldn't find it. "I'm going to die." She said to herself. Then she heard a sound. She cried and turned around. She saw a little boy. It was the cook's son. "What are you doing here?!" Marie asked shivering. The boy was shaking even more than her. "My, father send me. Say I bring bread. It start rain so I wait for rain stop at back of house. I hear gun I come hide here." He said. "Poor child." Marie thought. He was too young to be exposed to this but then again so was she. The boy went on crying. Marie felt the need to be strong. "Look we will be fine ok?" She whispered to him. Then she saw a long wooden box behind him. She moved him aside and opened it. It was a riffle.

 "Dad, what where you into?" She whispered to herself as she held the gun. The boy moved back. "Don't worry we will get out of here." She said to him again. He nodded. She loaded the riffle with bullets. She had never shot a real gun before but she would do anything to save her life and that of the cook's boy. After she fixed the last bullet she accidentally pulled the trigger. The boy screamed as the gun fired. This was bad. The men came rushing in. She held the gun up with her shaking hands and fired when she saw them. Her arm still hurt. She missed and they laughed. "Foolish girl!" One yelled. Marie fired again. She missed again but the bullet hit the hinge that held one side of the metallic garage gate back. The hinge broke and the door flung open hitting one of the men and knocking him unconscious. The other man looked at his partner in disbelief. Marie shot again. This time she didn't miss. She got him in the hip and he fell down in pain. She stood in silence for a few seconds and run out. The gun strapped around her and holding the hand of the boy. She saw her father's car keys and grabbed it. The second man was trying to get his gun but she pushed it away and kicked him in the side. She took his gun and shot holes in their tryes and the petrol tank. She opened the car and they both got in. She sparked the car and drove off leaving the terror behind them on a lonely hill.

He loved her

"What time is the flight?" Trix asked. "10pm. Would you need anything?" Ruth said putting a file on the table. He wasn't paying attention to her. He was busy on his PlayStation. She noticed this and walked out of the office. She was used to his occational rudeness. Trix's phone vibrated and he almost jumped. "The hell?" He said pausing the game and looking at his phone. It was his girl friend. He was about to answer when his manager walked into the office. "Trix ma man. How was the photoshoot?" He asked. He just shrugged and put his controller down. "I thought you said this month was free. I just got back from the last tour. Ruth told me about the peace concert just last night." Trix complained. "Yo, I know but didn't you see the contract? That's lots of money plus its a good look for you. Peace concerts are just what we need to put you in the good books." Selorm said. Selorm had been his manager for 3 years and had done an amazing job. Trix rubbed his eyes. "Look you fly to New York tomorrow night, relax for a bit. Do the 3 songs at the show and you are on a flight back to Ghana the next three days. Cool?" Selorm explained. "Oh Selorm that is a whole week!" Trix shot out. "Well you have a few interviews. A couple of magazines. Look, I'm doing all of this for you." Selorm said and grabbed the other controller.

It wasn't until Trix got home that he realized he hadn't returned Mina's call. He swore and looked for his phone. When he found it he saw a message from a girl he had a fling with once. "Hey devil, I heard you will be in New York for the Peace concert. Will be waiting for you with nothing on so we can make some peace all night." He read in a low voice. He felt a little shiver. "Dirty Diamond." He said. Diamond was so hard to turn down. She was drop dead gorgeous and so kinky. He decided not to reply even though it was tempting. There was another message. It was from Mina. His heart missed a beat. "Hey, you just made me look like a fool. Why do you keep doing that?" He read to himself. He felt bad. He called her immediately. "Mina I'm sorry. I should have returned your call earlier." He started unlocking the door and walking into his apartment. "Surprise!!!" He heard. There was a camera and about 10 people in the hall. He saw the microphone. It was MusicGh. A lady with the mic walked up to him and said. "Hi Trix. Did we surprise you?" "The hell you did." He said smiling. He didn't hear Mina saying a number of hellos. Later on he noticed, she had hung up. Immediately the tv program was done he drove as fast as he could to her house.

"Mina I can explain. It's been a crazy day..." he started. "Trix you are always apologizing." She interrupted. "Won't you at least let me in?" He asked looking around. Mina took in a deep breath and stood aside. He walked in and sat on the couch next to her. She moved a bit away from him. He understood. "Remember my friend Naa Norkor? She asked me to come to her party on Saturday. I told her I couldn't make it because we said we were going out on a date. She asked me if you had cancelled the concert you were going to perform at. I didn't know what to say." She said. A tear drop fell from her face. She looked away but it was too late. "I'm sorry I was going to tell you..." he tried to explain. "We spoke about this. Just tell me...is it so hard to text or call me?" She asked. Her voice was quivering. He didn't like to see her like this. He felt terrible. Then his phone rung. It was Diamond. He ignored it. "I leave tomorrow. Will be back the next Thursday. We could do something when I come back." He said. Things weren't always like this. He didn't know how they got there but he knew he loved her. His phone rang again. This time it was his trainer. He was late for his rehersal. "You have to go huh?" She said wiping her tears and putting herself together. He stood up. Maybe he should just end it but he couldn't. He let himself out.

"What's wrong with you?" His trainer asked. "I'm good. Are we done?" Trix asked. His trainer stopped and looked at him. "You are doing 3 songs. We just finished with one. You need to get yourself straight. Let's take a break." He said walking away. "Ben. You go on tour with me and a lot more artistes, right?" Trix asked. He stopped walking and turned around. "Yea why?" He asked, getting a bottle of water. "When do you spend time with your wife and son?" He asked again. Ben laughed. "So that's what this is about. Well all I can say is I make time when I can and they understand." He said. This didn't help Trix much. "Ayt thanks." He said and looked away.

On his way home Ruth, Selorm's PA called him. "Trix, Selorm said to remind you that you still have to go for the photoshoot tomorrow. He said you should pack the stuff you need tonight so I pick them up and bring them to the airport in time for your flight." She said. "I'm so tired and the shoot is at 8am! Come on Ruth." He complained. "I'm following orders. He doesn't want you to miss your flight like last year's MTV awards. I could come and help you pack now." She offered. "Thanks Ruth but I should be having my girl around for that." He said. "I'm sorry if that was inappropriate." She said shyly. "No, no it's ok I don't have her around much...wait that's it. Thanks Ruth you are amazing. Get another ticket for me for tomorrow. I'm taking my girlfriend along. I'll surprise her." He said excitedly. He called Selorm immediately and they made plans.

The next morning Trix got to Mina's house just in time. She was just about to go to work. He rushed over to her and literally dragged her into her place. "Before you yell at me let me talk ok?" He started. She looked surprised. "I havnt been a good boyfriend for a while now. I was totally and overly involved with my career. I'm sorry but I realized what the problem is. We used to be cool but since my career took off I have literally cut you out. I didn't tell you stuff because I don't like them. Mina I love you and I want this to work so I'm gonna get you involved. So involved you will be screaming to get out. Trust me it will work...we will work. Please give me a ..." before he could finish she grabbed him and kissed him. "Trix I love you too. I just wanted you to open up to me." She said. They both nodded and giggled. He took her car keys. "What, are you gonna drive me to work?" She asked smiling. "No, you wish." He teased and she smacked him. Her joy gave him joy automatically. "I got my manager to call your boss. I asked to have you for a week. It might come out of your leave though." He said. "What?" She asked. He took her hand and looked deep into her eyes. "Come to New York with me." He said. Mina's mouth opened. "What? Really? Yes, sure!" She said and hugged him. "So let's go pack up then." He said. She jumped and run up to her room. "Yo, don't take too much stuff oh. I'm not paying for an extra bag of shoes woman!" Trix teased behind her. He smiled and noticed he hadn't felt this good in a long while.    

The Trix Tape II, Love lived here : http://mp3twit.com/hxE ....my inspiration for this piece : )

His muse 9

Edem's recovery weeks were among the best in his life. Sandra drove him to class as often as she could and made sure he was eating well. He was much happier now that he knew she wasn't seeing anyone. One night he decided to make his move. They were in his room. She had brought him lunch. His roommates were all gone for lectures. "Sandra, what happened with you last boyfriend?" He asked. She seemed startled. She took in a deep breath. "He was cheating on me." She said, looking away. Edem felt sad. "Sorry I brought it up." He confessed. "It's ok. She assured. I'm sure you just asked to know my status right?" Edem froze. He let out a fake cough and she giggled. "It's ok. I'm very single. So you might as well..." she said. He sat up properly. "I might as well do what?" He enquired. She smiled and leaned forward. She put her hand on his cheek and gently kissed him. Edem's heart was pounding. "You might as well ask." She whispered. "Sandra will you..." he started but she cut himm short by kissing him again. "Yes I will be your girlfriend." She smiled. Edem was lost in space.

Edem's performance for the next gig was much more exciting. The crowd was laughing so hard he even had to take extra time. When he was done and was leaving the stage the crowd was chanting his name. He winked at Sandra in the front row as he walked off the stage. Dating Sandra made him even more popular. At a point he wasn't sure what people remembered him most for. Thanks to Dean's bargaining power, he had been able to make enough money for his 3rd semester fees with just two gigs. He was living his dream.

One night, before a show on campus Sandra drove him to the venue. "So Dean said they would pay me 250 cedis. It's not much but its better than nothing." Edem said, opening the door to get out of the car. "You didn't speak to the guys yourself?" Sandra asked. Edem shook his head. "You shouldn't let Dean handle these things." She said as they walked from the parking lot to the entrance. Edem turned to look at her. "Dean is my manager. He got me into comedy in the first place." He said. Sandra smiled and took his hand. "So do you pay him?" She asked. "No, he is just doing me a favour oh. I can't do these things myself." He replied. Sandra moved closer to him and put her head on his shoulder. "Of course you can. I believe in you." She said. They had gotten to the venue. Sandra straightened his collor, kissed him on the cheek and walked in. Edem went backstage to prepare for his performance.

"Yo. Sorry I'm late. Looking good." Dean said joining him backstage. He had just finished his performance and the crowd loved him. "Oh it's cool. I wanted to speak to the organizer to ask when I get paid." Edem said. "No need for that. I just spoke to him. He says your money will be ready right after the show." Dean replied. Edem looked at him for a moment. "So 250 right?" He asked. Dean nodded and turned around. "Sally wasn't allowed backstage. She was so angry. You can't imagine the look on her face." Dean said giggling. Edem didn't even smile. "Are you trying to change the subject?" He asked still staring at Dean. "What? No. I told you last time. The guy said because it was a charity thing they couldn't pay much." He explained. 

Before Edem could say a word he heard Sandra call him. She walked over to him and hugged him. "You were amazing. Wasn't he amazing?" She asked looking at Dean. "Definitely." Dean replied. He looked at her funny. "You had a pass to come backstage?" He asked. She smiled. "Of course, I did. I know the guys organising the event." She said, pulling her hair back. "So Ed can we go now?" She said. Edem paused. "The show isn't over yet. I get paid after." He said pointing. "Oh come on. You can pick the money up later." She said and whispered something into Edem's ear. Edem smiled broadly and turned to leave with her. "Ah Edem you are going? So should I collect the money for you?" Dean asked. Edem opened his mouth but Sandra was faster. "Dean its ok. We will come back for it. No worries." She said and they left.    

To be continued...for the last time

So close

"Close your eyes." Daniel said. I giggled and looked at him funny. "Are you serious?" I asked. He nodded and I stopped walking. We were under a tree by the road. It was half past midnight. Daniel suggested we walk home from our date. We went to a pub not too far from where I lived. Dan wanted to teach me to play pool. It was fun. I loved his spontaneity. I could hardly predict him and it was so much fun. I closed my eyes in the already dark road.

 The breeze was cold. It blew through my hair and then I felt his lips against mine. It almost felt like the first time we kissed. I felt like a feather. Then I heard a dog bark. I pulled away immediately. It was a stray dog. He was barking at something on the other side of the empty road. When he saw us he wagged his tail. "Aww Dan, look. He likes us." I said. He looked so skinny. "Ahh he should leave us alone." Daniel said. I giggled. Then I remembered I had a kebab in my bag. I planned to eat it with jollof the next day but I just decided to give it to the dog. I took the stick out and put it on the floor. "Oh Elinam what are you doing?" Dan asked. He didn't like animals like I did. I rushed off to Daniel who was walking on without me. I saw the dog race to the food.

"Do you really have to leave on Tuesday?" I asked, leaning on him as we walked on. "Yes oh. My boss wasn't even ok with me coming to Accra this week. I told him my very close relative was getting married." Dan said, turning around to see the dog eat the kebab. He worked in Takoradi on one of these offshore oil Companies. He just started off so he rarely came to Accra. So when he did it was so nice having him around. "You know what? Why don't you come visit me next weekend? I will pay for you to come. You will love it. I have a little apartment now remember? Just me and you. What do you say?" He proposed. I lit up immediately. I had always wanted to visit him but didn't know how to ask him to pay for the trip. "Yes, definitely!" I answered.

 I don't know if it was the excitement or what? We just didn't notice two men come out of the bushes and attack us. They were both dark and very tall. One held a cutlass and the other a gun. "Bring your money and phones!" One demanded. I was shivering so hard I couldn't find my phone from my bag. I handed the whole bag to him. "Please take them and go." Daniel said handing them his phone and wallet. They both laughed and one punched Dan so hard he fell. "Foolish guy." One said. "Daniel!" I cried and rushed to him. "Fine girl come." The other guy said pulling me by the arm. I could see from his expression what he wanted to do. "Please. I beg you. Please!" I begged as he dragged me into the bushes. I was crying and screaming as he threw me on the ground. I tried to kick him but he was just too strong. He took off his belt and I prayed to God to save me.

 Then I heard a very loud growl. We both turned and saw it. It was the stray dog. He started barking and charging at the guy. He stood up immediately and run with the dog chasing after him. Daniel came calling my name. His lip was bleeding and his shirt had blood on it. He was holding my bag. "Eli, Eli are you ok? I was able to beat the other guy. He got scared when he heard the dog bark." He asked. He fell right next to me. "Your dog saved us." He said holding me. I smiled. "Yes he did."