A life for a life

Tuesday, the day after the death of Makinde, Olori was in a meeting with his elders, discussing matters that needed his attention. When they mention the message Akin sent about his wish to leave the fraternity, Olori laughed derisively.

"Makinde was a one-way fool who only knew to go in one direction. Obviously, the fool also failed to raise his son as he had failed in life, otherwise his son would have been properly informed about the Black Fraternity...

The stupid boy would have known that you can only remove the skin from a dead animal, not a live one... He would have known that The Black Fraternity is like your skin that can never be removed alive unless you are dead!"

He laughed again, their discussion moved to how best they could use Akin to their advantage before they would finally get rid of him. Suddenly they all felt a surge of energy busted out and overshadowed everything in their vicinity. His elders did not recognize the source of the energy but he did

His facial expression immediately changed from one of mock that he had on to a bewildered look. Olori disappeared from the presence of his elders without warning and appeared inside a large room that looked like a slaughterhouse.

The walls were caked with both decayed and fresh blood which was also all over the different types of figurines placed all over the room. Different body parts of both humans and animals hung from the ceiling. Four teenagers that couldn't be more than fifteen years old knelt with their unseen eyes wide open and unblinking, calabashes that contained different kinds of elements placed on their heads

He furiously walked forward and stopped in the center of the room where a huge figurine that was more than seven feet tall was placed.

"How is that possible!?... She is just a woman! A girl for that matter!..." He shouted at the figurine which slowly began to transform into a ghoulish demon.

"Why didn't you warn me!? I am the most powerful in this city, how can a mere kid supersede me!?" He shouted at the ghoul. "I want her dead right now!" He demanded while the ghoul garbled something back in reply

"What!?... What do you mean you are not powerful enough to kill her?"

"He garbled back an answer"

"She's at her strongest right now, you'll need to catch her when she's weak or get her through a family member?" Olori repeated what he heard the ghoul garbled

"I don't care what you do, just do something! Do whatever you need to do and kill whoever needs to be killed. This city is too small for that girl and me, one person has to leave and the one leaving is her."

Make use of Makinde's son, Akin. Let him continue from where his father stopped, and as soon as you are done with him, kill him off.

***

Akin was at work as usual when he was visited by an unusual being known to the Black Fraternity members as the messenger of death. The messenger of death was a very tall, bony, and ghoulish creature, usually sent by Olori the fraternity leader to either kill a member who he thought was going astray or ask the member to redeem their life back with another life who Olori had marked to die.

Akin was with one of his directors when the creature suddenly appeared in a corner inside his office.

"Give me a moment, I'll call you back when I'm ready," Akin said firmly to the Director who immediately packed his files and left wondering what suddenly came over his boss.

"What do you want with me!?" He asked firmly, towards where the creature was standing. Mentally getting ready for what's coming next. The first mistake you could make in dealing with the messenger of death was showing fear.

The creature thrives on people's fear and it has been known to have killed people he was just supposed to deliver messages to just because they reeked of fear.

The ghoul garbled out some jargon Akin couldn't understand before its bony hands appeared from inside its robe to drop the items he carried with him on the floor, immediately disappearing into thin air as he appeared.

Akin let out the breath he had no idea he was holding in a whoosh when the creature left.

"It only brought ¹Aroko... Not a death sentence" He said loudly to himself, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes with relief. After some minutes, he stood up from his chair and bent to pick the aroko from where the creature dropped it on the floor, examining the items right there on the floor.

The aroko was in three parts, the first one was a cowrie shell on a string which translates to an unfavorable or unpleasant situation.

The second was an Oya ( a traditional comb). Oya is an indication that the relationship between the sender and the receiver can no longer keep up.

The third aroko was six cowrie shells tied together which means that the sender is hoping to see the receiver as soon as possible

Akin stood and moved back to his chair, carrying the aroko along with him... "So Olori wants to see me?... Why though, after acknowledging that the relationship between us can no longer hold?" He whispered worriedly to himself. "This is not good!"

Akin was never a man to show fear but now he was scared. He knew this was going to be difficult, that they would never let him go in peace but he wasn't expecting it to be this difficult. He thought they would demand livestock and landed properties, and was prepared to give them as many as they requests for... But seeing that Olori requested to see him, Akin knew properties and livestock were out of it. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he wondered what their demand would be.

The time was 4 pm but the day was already turning to darkness because of the sky that was heavy with rain. Akin hurried out of his office and into his car. It was a two hours drive to the Black fraternity's community of over two thousand acres of land that housed fraternity members from within and outside the country.

However long the meeting would take, Akin, prayed it didn't rain so he could be home by 10 pm. He didn't want his uncle to worry too much. He wondered if he should inform him about the summon he got from Olori but decided against it, since the aroko wasn't the one of death, he didn't want to worry the old man for nothing

All through the drive, Akin's mind was occupied by the thoughts of Olori... The being Makinde sacrificed his children and life to please and emulate. According to what Akin heard from his father who was a member of the fraternity elders.

Olori was the most powerful being on earth and they all believed that the one who can surpass his powers is yet to be born... Akin was lost in his thoughts when the black, bony figure of Olori's ghoul suddenly appeared in front of his moving car causing him to reflexively step hard on his break.

"Son of a bitch!" Akin swore loudly but the ghoul only dropped another envelope in front of his car and promptly disappeared after.

Akin was pretty shaken up, he sat in his car for a while to calm himself down before he came down to check the envelope the creature dropped on the floor.

¹Aroko is a form of Yoruba non-verbal communication using objects and materials in varied numbers, colors, or combinations with meanings understood only by members of the palace society or culturally educated members of the African society. Aroko could be regarded as Yoruba Hieroglyphics or African symbolic letters.