HOUSE OF CHO

This life's dim windows of the soul
Distorts the heavens from pole to pole
And leads you to believe a lie
When you see with, not through, the eye."

― William Blake

                                                                             

                                                                                PROLOGUE

"Here you go"

Chinedu received the tray and proceeded out of the room. Though he tried to appear steady, his heart was quaked with fear. He dared not mess this up, the consequences could be fatal. He just got this job and this was one guest no one ever prayed to serve.

Pulling aside a curtain, he stepped into the main cinema hall. On a normal day, this place could seat up to five hundred guests. However tonight, it wasn't the case. Tonight, it was sitting only one.

Chief Manasseh Mbaya.

The most powerful man in Kane City.

No one ever rose to power in the city without bowing to him one way or another.

Here he was, in this cinema.

Passing through the curtains that opened into the cinema, he entered the viewing Hall and proceeded to where the man sat. On both sides of him sat two girls in seductive dresses. "Small girls with big God," he thought to himself as he drew near and placed the tray on the table before them. All around the hall stood armed men who served as bodyguards. The man gave no acknowledgment but continued playing with the girl on his right. As Chinedu slowly backed away, he heard the man announce he was going to the bathroom to take a leak. As he walked to the toilet, one of the armed men moved and took his place at the door to the restroom.

.........

Manasseh stumped each foot as he made his way to one of the stalls in the restroom. Taking his position over the bowl, he held his right hand against the wall to hold his balance as the other helped in taking aim. He groaned in satisfaction and closed his eyes as the stream of urine began its movement from body to toilet.

Yeah! that's the stuff!

Relieved, he proceeded to pull his zipper back up and turned to go wash his hands.

That was when he saw him. Standing only a few feet from him.

He opened his mouth to shout, but the man's hand reached him before any sound could be made. His hand now firmly sealing his mouth, the man pushed him against the wall.

"I would advise against you doing such."

Manasseh knew he could not really raise any alarm; His eyes, now looking at the man, showed the terror that was now invading his heart.

The Raven had gotten to him!

The very hands that had claimed the life of the Siyyid were holding him down at this very moment.

The eyes of the man were trained on him.

"I will let my hand off your mouth in a couple of seconds. If you desire to remain breathing, I'll need you to answer one question the moment you are able to speak;