FEMME FATALE

Chapter 3: Dawn of a new day.

It was almost the end of the third month, a very hot and sunny October, but Vincent was still clinging to the idea of his estranged family calling him.
He had pawned his Samsung phone for a smaller more suitable one, a Nokia flip phone, his sister would have laughed at him with distaste while repeatedly telling him 'who uses this anymore, that's like archaic'. But she wasn't here, it was just in his head and he needed to give up the delusion that they would want him back.

He stared at the busy environment of mile 1, walking to his destination while continuously hearing the famous theme song of the market.

"Put your, put your, put your fingers in the air... Bonanza Bonanza Bonaza... come buy your original memory card here, your 2gigabyte memory card, your 8gigabyte memory card..., come here where this sound dey play..., come download your music here for cheap cheap price...".

It was never ending and Vincent felt like he knew the whole thing by heart as not a single day since he arrived at Port Harcourt went that he didn't hear the sound or chant as he walked passed there daily, he wondered if it was a gigantic speaker that was playing the sound or if every phone shop in the park had the exact same advertising sound.

"Oomph, I'm sorry". He had hit an elderly man unconsciously and after the apology he was on his way still gripping his phone with the fear that it could be stolen from his pocket as he had heard numerous stories on how easily it happened around.

Soon he got to the whole sale shop he had been sent to.

"Ah Vincent, how you dey Na". One of the shop workers hailed and he responded with a nod and a smile, he wasn't a big talker and they knew. He stretched his hands respectfully, handing over the list of items he needed and instantly they set to work.

Soon he had chartered a taxi to transport him and the goods back to the main shop.

Within an hour with sprinkles of traffic jams he was at Artillery bus stop and their shop was behind it. His boss saw him drop from the taxi and joined in offloading the products. He worked in an electronic shop, one of the biggest in the area with numerous branches scattered around the state, the one he was returning from was also his boss's, a customer had asked for some products and it was at that branch, he was tasked on bringing them.

The struggle was real and Vincent had never worked like this all his life until he left home, he had been living the wealthy lifestyle but he still preferred his current situation for the former and if opportuned to choose he would still follow the same path.

Sitting, after the offloading and drinking a sachet of water he thought of the Good Samaritan whom had given him a free ride to Rivers State after almost knocking him down with his car, he had tried taking him to the hospital with the fear of a hit and run case in his conscience, Vincent had told the man not to worry and the traumatized man wanted to do him a favour, after inquiring from him why he was walking under the rain, he played it cool and said he was going to the park. The man had urged Vincent to let him drive him to the park and on the way made small talks, at this point the man understood that the boys destination was undecided therefore he told him about Port Harcourt in Rivers State. Vincent was intrigued, he wanted to know more about the city so when the man told him that was his destination Vincent was up for the ride.

He had been scared for a while thinking maybe the man wanted to use him for money rituals but he was proven wrong, with every turn that was made Vincent checked for sign boards, he also took out his phone using the Google map he realized they were in the right direction. It took almost three hours before they arrived and it was very dark, he checked the time through his phone and it was almost ten pm.

Vincent smiled and shook his head, almost done with the sachet water he pressed the remaining liquid out and dumped it in the trash can as soon as a customer arrived.