Shadows Of The Past

Would you?

This chapter is dedicated to
@Waterdragon23
Thanks for the amazing comment and the vote. Love ya❣️

Please read my author's note at the end of the chapter
Enjoy!

One could begin with the beads of sweats that glistened on the skin of the cab drivers, the speed with which people walked and the books that the students placed on their heads, as if, shielding themselves from something above.. It was a very sunny afternoon

Martha had few more wares on the tray which she used to hawk.
Frustrated by the merciless scorch of the sun and the walks that seemed endless, she decided to sit under a shade to take a break. With a sachet of water which she had purchased earlier, she washed her face, and gulped the remaining contents thereafter.

Leaning further towards the wall, she started to doze..

One step..
Another step..
Silence*
Sound of paper crumpling...
Very rapid footsteps...

Martha got up as if pricked by a needle in her butt. Her eyes darting from side to side, she realized that the money from the proceeds was missing. Her suspicion was only confirmed when she looked forward and caught a glimpse of a short boy, running as fast as his legs could carry him.

And without thinking, she launched after him, shouting as she pursued him

"Ole"(Thief)

"Nibo??" (Where?), another man shouted as he joined in the chase. Two other men joined in the chase and soon enough, the boy was caught.

"What did he steal?" one tall and hefty man asked

Martha was still panting and struggling to breathe.

"I said, what did he steal?, are you deaf?", the man asked again in a deeper voice, anger evident in the manner he spoke.

"I... I.. I am so..sorry..sorry
Pant*
Si.. Sir
Money... He stole..."

" Where is the money? ", the man asked, cutting her short, his full attention now on the boy

" It is here, I'm sorry sir, it was the devil, I swear"

A slap landed on the boy's cheek before he could utter another word.
People had already started gathering at the scene
The man snatched the money from him and handed it over to Martha

"Check it, is it complete?", the man asked again

"Yes sir, thank you sir", Martha replied, grinning from ear to ear now

"This boy is a certified thief, we cannot allow him to go scot-free", one of the on-lookers commented

"We will burn him alive", another said

"yes, that's what they do, little rogues, let's erase this impending danger from our midst", another said

**Warning ⚠ ;violence

Then, people troops of people brought cutlass, old and useless tyres, kerosene and long sticks with thorns from the nearby bush. And they began to flog him
"Pleeeeeaseee, I will not do it again," the boy screamed repeatedly in anguish. The angry mob paid no attention to him as they continued flogging him mercilessly. His body was physically mutilated in no time filled with bruises and blood. Eventually, the boy lost strength and stopped screaming, but tears rolled freely from his eyes. The tyre was put on his neck, and kerosene was poured all over his body
"Matches oo, let's get rid of this nuisance" one said

**You can read now if you skipped

"Stooooooppppppppp"..., Martha screamed as she pushed past the mob and made her way to the front, sitting very close to the boy and raising her hands in defence

"What are you doing? Someone should get this bastard away", someone screamed

"Wait until I get matches, if you want to die with him, no problem", another said, menacingly

"Stop please, it was my money he stole, let him go. You all are just hypocrites. Everyday, those in position steal millions of naira, but what do you do?, you cheer them on anytime they embark on campaign projects and kiss their feets . Here is a boy who probably hasn't eaten anything today, you want to burn him because he stole peanuts to survive. But the real rogues in power, you do nothing about them. You are all bunch of HYPOCRITES", She screamed aloud

"Let he that has never stolen in his entire life strike the match", she spoke again, calmly this time

Silence**

And gradually, in ones and in twos, the crowd dispersed....

"THANK you", was all the poor boy could whisper
"Shhh.. I'll take you home".......

****************
Car slams*
"Hello, my name is David, I saw what happened yesterday with the boy that was almost got burnt and I need to talk to you, please"

Martha walked briskly, not paying attention to the man who was walking fast to catch up with her

"Hey, please spare me few minutes to hear me out, I promise not to take much of your time, please", he pleaded again, this time, grabbing her arm to gain her attention

"Oh God, kilode bayii? (what's wrong?), please with all due respect, comport yourself. I have to sell these wares before noon and I've not sold a single one of them. Besides, I have no time for meaningless engagements so early in the morning, so please, go your way sir.. Thank you ", she replied, anger laced in her voice

" Alright, young lady, I'm really sorry about being insensitive but I really need to speak to you, okay, let's do it this way, how about I buy all your wares and you listen? "

" All my wares??.. Everything is one thousand, five hundred naira, how then are you going to pay?

He reached out for the back pocket in his jean trousers and brought his wallet it. Fishing out notes from it, he brought three crisp, mint notes out

"Here, this is three thousand naira double the amount, can I get your attention now?"

She took the money slowly, staring at him, as if trying to make something out, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.
She nodded carefully after a while

" So, we talk in the car?, Common, let's go to the car"

"Thanks for your time, miss. Without wasting much of our time, I saw the way you stood up for that boy yesterday and I must say that I was quite impressed."

Silence *

Then he sighed and continued,
"Martha, I have a job for you"
.......................

Finally! (eye roll).
I'm really upset that there are still some very remote parts of Nigeria where they practice jungle justice. It's inhumane, barbaric and outdated and we should all kick against it.
Thanks for sticking with the story and I hope you all did enjoy the Easter break .
Vote and comment
Till next time guys, love you all...