The Devil lives among men

Cole opened his eyes slowly, it felt heavy and sunken red. His head ached and pounded with an headache as though it would rip off. He steadied his eyes but darkness stared back at him. He peered hopelessly into the darkness. He heard a click and lights flooded the room. He immediately closed his eyes as the brightness was too much for his eyes to absorb.

Minutes later, he opened them already conscious to his environment, he looked around the room.

What was this place?

The room was empty but dusty. No bed, no furniture except for a wooden chair which he was seated on. The room had no windows, no other entry nor exit points aside from the one situated at the front. He looked up at the high ceilings, he saw a small vent, it was probably what supplied air into the room. Then he saw a picture on the wall, a beautiful smiling woman. He looked closely, she looked familiar but he couldn't figure out where she knew her and who she really was. The door suddenly creaked open and a figure took shape.

"Hello detective"the voice said and Cole looked up . He blanched with utmost surprise.

***

Hours Earlier

Nora's stomach sang a melodious tune to her ear but not at all melodious. The worms were churning her stomach and she had grown old in a matter of weeks without food.

She stared at the food below her feet, fried rice garnished with assorted meats. It was such a delicacy she wouldn't want to miss but hell no!

She wasn't going to eat like she had been doing for the past few weeks refusing to eat different types of delicacies brought to her by the masked man. Her reason refusing to eat wasn't far fetched from the fact that the food might be poisoned but she knew better. It couldn't have been poisoned. More so, the masked man wouldn't be so blunt to use poison since there were many ways he could have used to kill her, thus eating was the least on her mind. Different thoughts had been throbbing her mind lately.

Reason why the masked man never showed her his face and there is the issue of Cole being an assassin, a dreaded killer at that.

Probably that was the reason why he never came looking for her.

She just couldn't believe it, Cole a killer?

Tears welled up in her eyes threatening to spill, just a blink and it came rushing like a flowing river. The hatred that engulfed her was way too much that she felt like strangling Cole herself if she ever set her eyes on him.

What a wicked soul? And he hid the truth from her all these while.

Nora was enflamed with immense hatred and it rekindled when the thought of suffering because of him flashed through her.

"Crying?"a voice said and Nora looked up. The tears continued to spill and couldn't clean it off as her hands were tied behind the chair.

She nodded with short gasps.

The masked man bent low in front of her looking into her teary eyes. He could see hatred in them and he smiled. He had just gotten what he wanted.

He would make Nora kill Cole herself and then, he would kill her.

***

Cole blanched with utmost surprise, he was stupefied and dazzled at the man standing before him. Not that the man was appealing in his black detective suit but was rather appalling because he was the least person Cole could ever imagine to be the dreaded killer.

Mr Akinola stood on his feet with a devilish grin on his face, he pocketed his hands and walked towards Cole who was stunned and gobsmacked beyond belief.

"Still surprised?"Mr Akinola said in a distinctive tone.

Cole blinked his eyes a million times.

Was he dreaming? Or rather hallucinating?

It all felt too real to be a dream and yes he wasn't dreaming. He had not suspected the DG. Not once, not even when Agent Bola figured it out that it could be one of the staff. He had only suspected the forensic man and yes, he was right. The forensic man also had a skeleton well hidden under his sleeve but his instincts never brought him near the DG.

Come to think of it, the Director General of the reputable CIB was the one behind all these?

"You?.."Cole voiced out with a confused look.

"You have questions?"Mr Akinola said and started whistling twisting his legs in a form of dance.

"Why did you …."

"No, stop right there!"Mr Akinola interrupted Cole with a wave of hand.

"Don'task any question, I'll provide the answers. Just allow me do the talking."

Cole nodded in approval, he really needed to know why he did it, how he pulled those stunt.

"Cole!"Mr Akinola started, stressing his name. "You caused this yourself..you made me do it"

"What? What did I do?"Cole looked confused.

"You killed her"Mr Akinola stared longingly at the picture hung up on the wall.

"What?"Cole gasped with his eyes widened.

Then the images flashed through his memory. He remembered very well, those pictures. He could now remember why the picture was familiar. He had seen one of the pictures in Mr Akinola's office hung conspicuously on the wall.

"She was beautiful until you took her away from me"Mr Akinola's voice was low pitched in a depressing way

"But, I didn't kill anyone!"Cole retorted angrily, he jerked but he was trapped.

A smile emitted from Mr Akin's face then suddenly, he started to laugh. Slowly, then the velocity of the laughter increased.

"Stop!"Cole shrieked.

Mr Akinola seemed to obey the command as the laughter subsided and his face changed to a serious one.

"You didn't kill anyone?"He mimicked Cole still sniggering quietly.

"Yes I didn't" his voice was defiant.

"You did!"Mr Akinola answered almost immediately as he bent low in front of Cole.

"killing was fun to you, you killed ruthlessly having no remorse for the deceased. You were once an assassin before you changed your identity and joined the CIB crib."

Cole glared long at him.

How possible?

Once an assassin?

"You killed her, you killed my wife"_Mr Akin said with pain and anguish in his voice. His voice resonated in Cole's ears and it angered him.

"I said, I didn't!"_Cole shouted as loud as his voice could carry him.

"The earlier you admit it, the better for you"

Cole clenched his teeth and struggled to free himself from the shackles that was used to tie him but he couldn't. He was trapped and there is no getting away.

Mr Akinola smirked when he saw this, he brought his face lower to Cole. "I will make you pay, Nora would die in your arms like mine did."

Cole spat in his face and Mr Akinola drew back, his face contorted in disgust and abhorrence. He stared at Cole for a while and then, he launched Cole a hefty blow on the face and his nose busted open.

Cole felt some liquid dripping off his nose. There was a moist in his mouth and he spat it out. It was damn bloody red! He looked up and stared at him with cold eyes. "You ain't getting away with this"Cole said amidst clenched teeth.

A crooked smile suddenly appeared on Mr Akinola's face subsiding his initial anger though he still had a fierce look.

"We shall see"with that, he stormed out of the room.

Cole heaved a sigh of frustration and worry immediately he was out.

He had never imagined Mr Akinola could go as far as this. He never thought he could be the one behind the voice threatening him. Yet, he acted like a friend and a boss who he was.

He should have seen it coming but it came rather too late.

Cole twisted his fingers trying to untie his hands but it wasn't working. He was well strapped to the chair with his hands tied behind. If he was going to escape or survive this, he would need a miracle.

He wasn't going to die, not yet. If he dies, that would likely mean Nora would die too.

Cole watched as Mr Akinola strode into the room, he was full of smiles. he wondered what was behind it .

"Look, I don't actually beg criminals. I would rather …."Cole had to stop when he saw Nora walked into the room accompanied with a gun at the back of her head. A figure took shape as they finally came into view. It was inspector Kunle, he was grinning mischievously. Cole was dumbfounded, another thing he least expected. His eyes darted to Mr Akinola, Inspector Kunle, and then Nora. He gazed at Nora in disbelief of what she had turned into. Her once glowing face had turned white flecked and pale, her hair sprouted over her face haggardly and she looked unkempt like she had been starved for years

"What did you do to her?"Cole's voice shrieked in an extreme pain.

"Welcome to hell detective"Inspector Kunle said smiling devilishly.

***

Emily wept for the umpteenth time in the day. She sneezed and then cleaned off the tears with the back of her palm.

What's happening?

Her life seemed to have turned upside down with the recent happenings. First, it was Nora her best friend being kidnapped and Cole is now missing too. Yet, her predicament got worsened by the good for nothing husband she had.

How cruel of him?

She should have known. Ben was a player and a cheater. To make matters worst, he was dating two sisters who never knew they were being played. She still hates to admit it, how would she be able to stay under the same roof with her cousin sharing the same husband?

Hell No!

It doesn't make any sense.

She would rather choose to be back in the single and searching game rather than choose to live with a man who had been lying to her for years.

***

"Welcome to hell detective"Inspector kunle said smiling devilishly.

Cole watched helplessly as Inspector kunle pushed Nora aggressively to the floor. She fell with no resistance and a loud groan escaped her lips. Cole could only imagine the kind of tortures she would have gone through. He was bent on finding her and here she was about to die? or about to be killed?

"What do you want?"Cole shouted with vigor directing the question to no one in particular as his eyes roamed the room.

"Good question"Mr Akinola said with a broad smile on his face. "just confess is all I want"

Confess?

"Confess what?"Cole looked surprised.

"Confess who you are to the world and I will let you go unhurt"Mr Akinola leaned on the wall, the smile still plastered on his face.

Looking at him now Cole could not believe he had not suspected him. It was obvious the devil himself lived inside of him..

"Confess who I am to the world?"

Mr Akinola nodded as he left the room leaving Cole all alone with Inspector kunle. Cole shook his head as he closed his eyes. He knew he had to do something. Something desperate to save him and Nora. He could not just let this happen. He had no idea what to do. His hands were tied and feet too. Even if he shouted, no one would hear him. He was sure no one would find him where he was. The DG had it all planned out. He had the CIB off the case and with the help of Inspector kunle the CID would be off too.

He could now figure it all out. That was why the DG insisted on him handling the case over to Inspector kunle just for them to carry out their nefarious activities. "Are you praying?"

He opened his eyes and saw Inspector kunle standing in front of him. The devilish grin never left his face for once. Cole only gazed back with cold bloodshot eyes.

Inspector kunle chuckled when he saw this. "You can pray all you want so you would make heaven"

"Go to hell!"Cole snapped.

"Hell?"inspector kunle chuckled again. "You can say hi to Lucifer when you get to hell"

Cole was tremendously irked by his pranks. He wished he was free, he would have dealt him with a blow on his chin.

Cole's blazing eyes darted to Nora who lay on the floor stiff and motionless. His expression and demeanor immediately changed to a sober one. He became scared as a question throbbed his mind.

Is she dead?

"She is not dead yet"

Cole looked up, Mr Akinola strode into the room with a camera stand embedded with the camera itself.

"What is that for?"

"To tape you live on all stations as you confess"

Cole knew it was getting serious, what was he going to confess?

To confess he was a coward assassin?

"Just to confess and I would be free?"Cole asked doubtingly.

Mr Akinola nodded in affirmation. "Just confess is all you have to do but.." Cole grinned, "I knew there is a but coming"

Mr Akinola ignored him as he proceeded on setting the camera stand and the voice emulator. He turned towards Cole when he was done. "Start now and don't leave any details"

Cole smiled, he had to buy time. "Am I going to confess with all these shackles?"

Mr Akinola shook his head, "That's the only option you've got"He gave Inspector kunle a wink which he immediately reciprocated as he rose Nora up to her feet and handed her a gun. The instruction given to her was simple. "blow off his brain if he tries anything funny."

Cole shook his head as he watched Nora pointing the gun at him, he was slightly petrified.

Would she do it?

He returned his gaze back to the camera, his hands were loosed and free but his legs wasn't. At least, that was enough. He couldn't confess live with shackles that would likely mean he was held hostage.

Cole cleared his throat and smiled widely. "Hello my fellow Nigerians. Don't be surprised .."

"Spare me those sh*ts and get to the main point"Mr Akinola yelled.

Cole smiled again, "I have some confessions to make."He looked at Nora, she was shaking vehemently with her fingers on the trigger. "I am Detective Cole"

Cole heard the gun cocked but there was no gun shot. He looked at Nora, the gun was now aimed at Mr Akinola but …

But there was no bullet and he wasn't taped live but were only tested.

Mr Akinola laughed, "I knew this would happen more reason why I had to put you two to a test to see who.. "the ringing of a phone interrupted him. He immediately reached for the phone in his pocket and walked out of the room to answer the call. Inspector Kunle smirked as he walked towards Cole, he bent low in front of Cole but that was his greatest mistake.

Cole threw a punch with his free hand which met him in his right eye. Inspector kunle doubled over and fell on the ground. He immediately recovered as he stood up and brought out a gun from his waist hostler. He aimed at Cole with a smirk on his face.

Cole knew the end is near but he never imagined he would die this way. He suddenly heard a gunshot. He was numb for a moment thinking he was shot but he was very much alive. He looked at Inspector Kunle, he had a shock expression on his face with his mouth slightly opened. He stood static for a moment and then, he suddenly dropped dead with a hole in his forehead.

Cole was dumbfounded. How did it happened? And who did it?

His questions were answered in a twinkle of an eye as a masked man came out of the blues. Apparently, he dropped down from the vent in the roof. The masked man stood in front of Cole.

Then slowly, he uncovered his face. Cole's face immediately grew pale, he had seen a ghost. It was the forensic man.

"Hello detective"He said amidst smiles. "We meet again"

Cole was surprised, he was dead. The forensic man was confirmed dead, how come he's alive?

Mr Akinola walked in but abruptly stopped in his tracks when he saw him but he wasn't surprised. The forensic man noticed his presence and he shot sporadically at him. Mr Akinola immediately ducked and ran over to Nora who cringed in fear. He held Nora up and used her as cover whilst pointing his gun at the forensic man.

"Don't use her as a cover"the forensic man grinned, "I only came to clear off all trails and tracks and am going to kill everyone here in this building"

"Lets see who gonna kill who"Mr Akinola fiercely pushed Nora to the front and shot twice at the forensic man who also retaliated and took a clean shot which caught Mr Akinola in the thighs and he yelped out loudly as he fell.

Mr Akinola didn't give up as he continued shooting sporadically which pierced the body of the forensic man and he fell face down. Cole only watched in horror as the scenario played on. His eyes darted to Nora. She was also on the floor but he couldn't tell whether she had been shot or not.

Cole fumed with rage as adrenaline rushed through him, he pushed himself down rolling on the floor but Mr Akinola stopped him with his gun pointed at him.

"You are not going to live, I have nothing to lose."

Cole felt a lump in his throat, he was going to die. He couldn't move, his legs were still tied.

Mr Akinola cocked the gun.

Cole closed his eyes and prayed silently, he knew the moment was now.

There was a loud bang, his ear rang and his head buzzed. He felt some wetness around his stomach and looked down. His shirt had gotten red; he was bleeding. He had been shot! There was another loud bang and everything became still.

There was a long silence.

A sob burst out, Nora crawled towards Cole with a gun in her hands. She had no idea on how to use guns or aim at a target . She had mistakenly shot Cole instead of Mr Akinola but the second time. She couldn't make the same mistake, she shot Mr Akinola squarely in the face and his skull splattered. She held Cole in her arms, blood saturated their clothes.

"Please, baby stay with me!"

Cole tried to steady his eyes, his head almost exploded with relief.

Nora was alive and that's all that matters. Pain surge through him as he tried to stand, he struggled to keep his eyes open but a dark mist enveloped him and with each second his eyes sank deeper into the darkness.

"Please baby stay with me!"Nora cried.

Cole smiled and mouthed the words "Am with you honey"

There was no point struggling, he closed his eyes and let go.