The hostel master

Chapter 10

 The rims of the rear tyres of the Mercedes sparked against the asphalt as the car drifted side to side. The deflated tires had worn off completely but that didn't deter Lucas who struggled to keep the car steady. He looked into his rear mirror and cursed as he saw the headlight of the motorcycle approaching. Edem accelerated, coming fast behind the car till he caught up and pulled up to its side with Mr. Bako behind him, one arm around his torso and his pistol in the other, aiming at the driver of the car. Lucas caught sight of them and swerved the car sharply in their direction. The bike veered off the asphalt into the bushes by the side and he chuckled. Edem held tightly onto the bike as it tore through the bushes, jerking up and down on the bumpy ground. "Jesus, slow down. You are going to get us killed," Bako cried from behind him, both hands now clutched tightly around the boy. The motorcycle emerged from the bushes, pulling up next to the Mercedes again and this time Bako fired, shattering the front passenger window. Lucas growled, swerving the car again towards them. This time, he made contact. The car knocked the bike out of the road and Edem lost control. The front tire of the motorcycle wobbled awkwardly before crashing into a tree, sending it's occupants in separate directions. Edem went flying into the bushes, colliding with another tree while Bako fell off next to the road, rolling across the dirt till he came to a stop. The Mercedes also lost control, spinning around and screeching loudly as it left the asphalt and rammed sideways into a huge tree at the other side of the road. It had not rained in almost a week and that night, in the midst of the wreckage, drops of rain began to shower down. Bako woke up to the rain drops against his face. His entire body ached terribly. He lifted his head up just in time to see Lucas emerge from the wrecked car. He walked across the road towards him, one hand still clutched around his neck while the other wielded a crowbar. Edem's screams of pain emanated from the bushes causing Lucas to pause and change direction towards the cries of agony. "Leave him alone you demon," Bako struggled to yell. He touched himself in search of his weapon but couldn't find it around him. It must have dropped when he fell off the bike. The beaming headlights of the car brought some visibility to the night as Lucas walked into the bush where he found the lad, laying on his back and holding on to his left arm which was fractured. He grinned, lifting the crow bar into the air to bludgeon the student. Suddenly a bright light beamed against him and he heard a voice behind him. "Drop the weapon and turn around with your hands up," the voice commanded. He turned around to see a police truck parked, facing him but the bright light in his eyes hindered him from spotting the officers beside the car, pointing their guns at him. "I repeat, drop the weapon in your hands and exit the bushes slowly," the voice behind the light called again. Lucas obeyed, dropping the crowbar. He raised his hands in the air and stepped out to the side of the road. The policemen were upon him in no time, pinning him to the ground and cuffing his hands behind him. They rushed to get Edem out of the bush as another police vehicle arrived at the scene. "He did something to my sister," Edem cried as the police men led him past the hostel master who was being shoved into the backseat of the Hilux. Bako was supported to meet up with Edem and he tried to calm him down. The boy knew his sister was no more and wept bitterly, cursing at the hostel master while the Police held him back. "You two are in need of urgent medical attention and will be taken to the hospital immediately," the officer in charge spoke to Bako and Edem. "You need to get to that address I sent you," Bako said, pulling the policeman to the side. "Check the basement, it's a massacre. And beware of that man, he's an animal," he added. "Don't worry sir, we appreciate your effort and we'll take it from here. I'm going with a team to the house while another team will take him to a holding cell in Calabar tonight," the policeman replied, pointing to the Hilux containing Lucas. "You don't understand, the man isn't human. I shot at him several times and stabbed his neck and he's still kicking," Bako explained. "Thanks for your help. He's in our custody now and I assure you, the holding cell has all it takes to contain him," the policeman replied. Bako nodded as the officer returned to instructing his men. He limped towards the Hilux and looked through the window, staring at Lucas who was seated humbly with his hands behind him. "I know what you are, a bloodthirsty demon masked with a pretty face," he spoke coldly to Lucas who looked ahead. "This is not over, I assure you," Bako added. "You bet it isn't," Lucas replied, turning to him with a smirk on his face. "Motherfucker!" Bako snapped, sending a fist through the window. The blow struck Lucas against his chin and he laughed in response as the policemen around the car pulled Bako away. "I'll be seeing you soon in Calabar," Bako said as he was dragged away. The place was now crawling with police vehicles and they led Bako and Edem into a tinted SUV, driving them away for treatment while the Hilux conveying the criminal headed for the city.