The Spirit Killer

CHAPTER FOUR NOT THIS TIME

“You should have been there to see it, dad. He came and stood up to those guys; even when one of them hit him; he still stood up without feeling any pain” She was speaking into the phone from her home at Ogba. It was long distances call her father, whom was away on a business trip in Europe.
“It all sounds quite amazing, my dear. Who did you say helped you again?” Came the reply from the other end of the line.
“One of the part-time teacher’s at the tutorial centre.”She replied
“Hmm! I would really like to meet him when I get back. Would that be possible?”He asked.
“I don’t know. He doesn’t really socialize much, but I’ll try. When will you be back?”She asked.
“Tomorrow or next. By the way, how’s your grandfather?
“Surprisingly he has recovered fully from his illness. The doctors don’t seem to understand how he recovered so quickly.”She replied.
“Strange yet wonderful news. I was beginning to worry. Just make sure he doesn’t do anything strenuous, okay pumpkin.”Her father said.
“Yes, sir!” she said throwing a mock salute.
“Have to go now. I have a meeting to attend. See you when I get back. Say hi to gramps. “He said.
They said their goodbyes and she hung up. As she turned, her grandfather was standing few feet from her.
“Hey! Gramps what’s up?” She asked jokingly.
He smiled. His blue eyes sparkled with brilliance and intelligence. His graying hair showed years of experience and acquired knowledge. He was tall and… white as opposed to his son and granddaughter who were light skinned. The reason being that, he, a foreigner, had married a fair skinned Nigerian woman. His son had taken his mother’s complexion while the granddaughter was almost a splitting image of his late wife, her grandmother.
“Was that your father?” He asked with little or no accent.
“Yes, he sends his regards and that he may be back tomorrow or the next.” Walking to his side and then interlocking her arm with his and proceeded to lead him to the large three sitter cushioned chair that was facing an also very large plasma television. When they were comfortably seated, she asked, “What would you like me to get you, gramps?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were attacked?”He asked without bothering to answer her question. She sighed then spoke. “I wasn’t attacked, gramps; they were just trying to harass me but I was saved by one of my teachers.”She replied and sunk into the chair.
“Yes, I heard that part and I too will very much like to meet the young man that delivered you from those oppressors.” He concluded with a smile.
She exclaimed in frustration before saying, “Like I told father… I’ll try.”

*                                 *                                  *                                    *

It was Saturday evening at the tutorial centre. Lectures were over for the day, and only a handful of students remained in the upper classes reading, amongst these students was the girl Mark had rescued earlier in the week. She was downstairs chatting with her boyfriend. She was narrating her experience with the hoodlums. She was about to tell him how she was saved when he got up.
“Hey! Where are you going?! I haven’t finished my story yet.” She said looking up at him. He was tall and dark with handsome features but he was one of those spoilt, pompous rich kid. He didn’t seem to care much about her story.
“Look, I sure all this is fascinating to you, but I’m starving” He started saying. “I just want to pop over to the fast food and get us something to eat.”
“Fascinating!” She exclaimed in surprise.” What if I was hurt?”
“But you weren’t and that’s good news. Now just relax and I’ll get us something.” With that he walked away.
“James!” She called out
“Don’t worry I’ll be back in a flash” he replied without turning. He was out of the gate and gone.
She sighed and relaxed her back on the wall. She was under the shade where Mark had sat the other day. She began to wonder how she was going to get him to come to her house. She thought back to that day when he had stood up to those hoodlums. Her intention, when she jumped off the window sill that day, was to walk up to him make friends with him. She had already planned everything; she would start by asking him questions on the topic he had thought that day, then move to other things. Eventually she would ask for his number. It would have worked out well if those idiots had not emerged and throw a monkey wrench into her well laid out plans. Ten minutes had passed when she heard the gate slam. She thought it was James but to her dismay it was the three hoodlums from the other day. She looked around her; there was no way to escape. She hoped they would not come in her direction but that was wishful thinking and she it. She hoped that James would come through the gates any moment but he didn’t. They were in front of her now. She tried to be bold as she spoke; “Can… can I help you” She said almost inaudibly.
It was light skin that answered. “You need to come with us.”
“Actually I’m waiting for my boyfriend and he’ll… he’ll be back very soon.” She said with a little more composure.
The three of them laughed before light skin spoke again. “That’s even better.” Then they laughed again. She glanced at the gate hoping he… or someone else would come to her aid.
“What do you want with me? I haven’t done anything to you” she said indignantly.
“Bring her.” Light skin ordered as he to walk away. The two thugs grabbed her by the arms and lifted her with considerable ease.
“Let go of me!”She screamed and struggled with her captors. Light skin raised his hand in an attempt to silence her when he was stopped by a voice behind him.
“You heard what the lady said.” The voice said. Heart raced for joy; she knew that voice, the voice that had taught her countless times in her class.
Light skin turned. Standing between the gate and them was Mark. He stood expressionless with his hands behind him.
“It appears that your first beating didn’t knock any sense into you.” Said light skin.
“Ah! That’s the problem you see, because…” Mark began as he took two gentle steps forward. “… technically, for you to beat me, there must first be a fight but there wasn’t any. You attacked me and caught me off guard and I assure you it won’t happen again.” His eyes were hard now.
“Whatever you say, killer; but rest assure you will not leave here in one piece.” Light skin retorted. Then he lurched at Mark, both arms outstretched. Mark side stepped to his right and stretched out a leg to trip light skin. He fell flat on the floor but quickly got up again. He was angry now. He started throwing punches that Mark easily and skillfully evaded. The other two watched, still holding their captive, as their leader tried in vain to land a successful punch. Suddenly Mark stopped. The two hoodlums holding the girl were to his left now while their leader was directly in front of him. He felt it was time to retaliate. Light skin whom believed that this was the perfect opportunity to strike, threw a straight punch meant for Mark’s face, quite unfortunate though, he missed. The punch had so much force that when Mark deflected it, to his right, it left him unbalanced and sprawling forward. Mark followed the counter attack with a knee to his stomach; without stopping, he allowed him to continue his journey by assisting him to collide, head first, with the wall behind him.  He lay on the floor unconscious. Mark faced the other two. With their leader unconscious, they seemed not to know what to do. He helped them make when he advanced towards them. They dropped their captive and prepared to fight. They attacked at the same time. Mark dodged and deflected as fast as he could and occasionally threw s punch or two. While fighting he noticed his attackers pupils had become red. He knew then that these guys weren’t really human. He could feel the dark force behind their every movement; the power behind every punch that he dodged and deflected. Had it not been for his martial arts training, he wouldn’t have been able to cope with them. From the corner of his eye, he could see the amazement on the girls face as she watched from where she stood. It was at that very moment that the two goons made a final desperate effort that scored them a massive point, so they thought. Mark was caught square in the chest and was propelled backwards, crashing into some wooden chairs arranged at the far end of the compound. He laid there motionless. The goons looked at each other contentedly. As they turned to face the reason they had come in the first place; she in turn started to move backwards; the gate was behind her; all she had to do was get to it. Her would be captors took two steps forward and froze as they heard a sound behind them. They turned only to see Mark on his feet. He just stood there, hands at his side and head bowed slightly. One rushed towards him picking up a rod lying nearby but before he could bring the rod down on Mark’s bowed head; he had moved forward and with incredible speed, his hands smashed into his attacker’s chest. That sent him flying backwards and landing beside his partner. He lay there for a while then began to get up slowly, with a little help from his partner. They both turned to face him; he had assumed his initial position. Slowly he raised his head and opened his eyes. Light skin recovered in time to catch a glimpse of Mark’s green eyes. All three scrambled for the gate, forgetting the purpose they had come in the first place. The girl, for fear of being recaptured, had jumped through the open window when the two goons had turned their attention back to Mark, fortunately for Mark; she had what made them run away. Mark walked to the open window, his eyes back to normal. “You can come out now; they’re gone.” He said dusting himself. She peeped before coming out of her hiding place, seeing that he was the only one there of course.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“Yes…Yes, thank you!” she replied looking at him with utter amazement. “Are YOU alright?” she asked finally.
“Yes, I believe so. Do you know what they wanted this time?”Mark said.
She thought for a while then said, “I’m not sure but I think it has something to do with my boyfriend.”
And may I inquire why you think so?” He asked perching himself on the window sill.
“Well …” She hesitated. “… It’s just that when I told them that my boyfriend would soon be here… they seemed pleased. The light one said that it was even better that way.” She rested her hands on the window sill as she concluded.
“Hmm!” he exclaimed. He appeared to be thinking. She, in turn, just stood there, staring at him. Intrigued and fascinated by the individual before her. He wasn’t what he appeared to be. She was still pondering this in her mind when he jumped off the sill and said, “I have to go. Catch you some other time.” With that he turned and walked away.
“Wait!” she exclaimed running to block his path.
He stopped and looked at her. “Is there a problem?” He asked looking concerned.
“Sandra, my name is Sandra; and thank you again.” She said feeling a little shy.
Mark smiled lightly and walked past her. She watched him as he walked away. She then smiled to herself. She was still smiling when the other students came downstairs to ask what all the commotion was about, James also walked through the gates at that point.
“What happened here?” He said noticing the scattered pile of chairs.
She contemplated whether to tell him or not; “nah, he wouldn’t be interested”. She thought but she also wanted to know what connected him to the guys. She decided.
“Oh! Nothing, it’s just the wind that blew them down.” She said finally. “I’ll find things out myself.”She thought.
“The wind?!” He repeated looking at the scattered pile. “Well, I’ve got snacks here; let’s hope the wind doesn’t blow them away.” he concluded as they both sat down to eat. Though she was hungry, her mind was still on Mark. She smiled and helped herself to some ice cream.