Chapter Two: Ordered by letters

Chapter Two

Ordered by letters 

Desperate to clear himself of whatever mess he just got into, Grey returned to The Fiery Serpent church—eager to return the contents of the letter (the gun hidden in his dress), and go back to his normal way of living, which could involve prison time. The gate man directed Grey to the pastor's office inside the church. 

Grey spotted the pastor come out through a door he assumed was his office, then ran up to him. 

"Sir! Excuse me, sir." 

The pastor turned to face him. 

"Someone made a mistake," Grey came to a stop, trying to explain. "I am a first timer in your church, and I was given this creepy envelope. Somehow, I think someone's tithe was given to me." 

Grey showed him the contents. 

The pastor looked at him with keen interest, then said, "I think you're mistaken son. I personally oversaw the arrangement of each envelope. I know what I put in there. The church bulletin, and a daily guide was all we put in there with some invite fliers for your friends. We don't conceal money and all these in envelopes. We can't afford such." 

"You see pastor, I thought the same thing. Just check—ask a member—official—anyone may have tampered with something." 

The pastor shook his head. "The Lord is your strength, son." 

"I killed a man," Grey said, slightly raising his voice. "I killed someone, sir. Look at the contents." He opened the envelope. "This watch spoke to me. A lady spoke through this wristwatch."

The pastor refused to look into the envelope, but simply stared at Grey, took both his hands which were shaky as he still clutched the envelope.

Hoping the pastor provides him comfort by saying it was all a joke, then he'll wake. Instead, the pastor said to Grey, "Killers don't tell anyone they are murderers. And ladies don't speak through watches. Stop day drinking, son. Stop it." The pastor released his hands, Grey watched him leave. 

This man thought he was only imagining things, huh? He wondered whom he would tell that would believe him then. A better idea came to mind. Grey didn't want to scare the pastor with the gun which he hadn't brought out when he explained. Instead, Grey ran to the altar, deposited the envelope, got out the silencer he dropped close to it, then left the church. Grey thanked the gate man on his way out, flagged a taxi, and was happy to leave this environment thankful he had deposited the envelope back there. 

When he arrived at his lodge, Grey noticed his dead neighbour's room was slightly opened. Grey thought to close it before he'd be discovered, but something caught his eyes. His neighbour's body was no longer there, neither were there blood stains on the floor. Was he losing his mind? Was something playing tricks with him? Someone passed him, he turned…it was one of the guys living in the lodge. Grey thought to ask, thought against it, then finally concluded. 

"Hey!" 

The boy turned. 

"Did you see Anthony today?" 

The boy shook his head. "I thought you knew." 

"Knew what?" Grey knew he was busted. This boy was about to say he just saw him shoot Anthony. 

"Anthony moved out yesterday." 

"What?" 

"Ah. He told my guys. Most of us wished him goodbye and all." 

Grey didn't know where this was going. He had called his name, Anthony had opened to him, even more, Grey had shot him. All these was just an hour ago...could he really be losing his mind? Something definitely seemed off. 

Grey simply nodded, thanked the guy who turned to leave, opened his door and got in. He closed his eyes, processed all that had happened, then began undressing. He passed something on the table, Grey walked back, turned...it was another envelope, brown as the first. 

Grey stood rooted on the spot for some seconds, his joints gently quivering. He walked up to the table, ignored the fact he was perspiring heavily. He rubbed his eyes, face, cleaned moist hand on his dress, then took up the envelope...his hands still shaky, leaving wet prints on the envelope. It must have arrived when they came to clean up Anthony's body. How had they gotten into his room? He never shared keys with anyone, not that his padlock could be trusted. 

Grey tore the envelope open, it carried the contents of the first envelope, but this letter seemed different, and untouched. He took it out, then straightened it to read: 

Dear Mr. Garrett, 

You were told to stay in your room and await your next mission. For your violation, your assignment begins now. You're to take the gun in your drawer, walk out to the road, and just keep on walking. 

Should you refuse to do as told, someone is on their way to kill you. Choose wisely.  

Yours faithfully, 

The Secret. 

The watch began to tick. Grey's soul left him. He could do as told, but then he thought it through. He was a Christian, taught never to murder as all killers would go to hell. Grey had done what he would never conceive even for his worst enemy, and he had killed his neighbour when he was told to love his neighbour as himself. He refused to kill anyone, and he would never believe whoever was trying to mess with his life.

Grey went down on his knees. "This is not the life you promised me, Jesus. I am sorry for sinning against you. I come to you asking for your forgiveness. I killed a—"

He stopped praying on noticing someone was picking on the lock. He rose with serious focus, walked to his drawer, there was another silencer, he took it out and rolled under his bed, the person came in. 

Grey watched the person's footsteps, saw the door close, then a click sound, indicating the door had been locked.

This was probably a professional, and Grey was going to die. He made a silent prayer as the person stepped into his bathroom. He heard the kitchen door open, then the voice of a man say, "Ah, under the bed."

Grey quickly aimed the silencer at both legs, fired, the man fell in pain, moved the gun in hand to face Grey who aimed and shot his head, the man fell silent...blood sprayed through the ground. 

The bed lifted as Grey rose with his back to it. He looked round the room to be sure he was alone. He returned his gaze to the body. Two in one day. This wasn't right. This wasn't so right. Tears began streaming down his eyes, he removed his shirt for he was drenched in sweat. Grey pulled the bed down, sat on it, stared at the body through blurry eyes, cried a bit more, then began searching his body. 

Grey found a letter, took it out of the man's pocket, and read. 

Dear Mr. Garrett, 

If you're reading this, it means you're still alive. Do not violate our orders next time. Take a long shower, arrange your bed and sleep. We'll be in touch. 

Yours faithfully,

The Secret. 

Grey deposited the gun on the bed, undressed, walked into the bathroom in tears. Today was just Sunday, and he had already killed two people. Just who was doing this to him and why? Why was he the object of whatever real life practical this was? Were they trying to prove a point, or were they just trying to get him killed? He wasn't sure if he would know. 

Grey inhaled something sharp, he fell on the bath floor with water dripping all over him. 

When Grey woke, he was naked on the floor of his bathroom with the shower still running…it was already dark through the bathroom window. Grey took to his feet, turned off the shower, walked out the bathroom, then paused. The body was no longer there, neither were there blood stains…no trace that anyone had been killed today in his room, or in his neighbour’s. The person doing this, was he possibly in this building? 

Grey took his Bible, read the law of Moses, read the Beatitude of Jesus, read about Peter cutting the ear of a man and what Jesus said, he fell asleep without noticing. 

The next morning, he had dispensed with his morning devotion, had his bath, deliberately overlooking the items on the table, he took his credentials, then left the apartment to do his normal weekly job hunt.

Grey walked tiredly to the road…usual customers wished him good luck on spotting the file in hand—he told them thank you. 

He got into a taxi which dropped him at an electronic company. Grey walked in, moved to the waiting room hoping it would get to his turn so he could submit his credentials.  

When it was his turn, he gave the man all his papers, he loved it.

The man said, "You are going to do great here. You just need to sign—" 

The office phone rang, the man picked it up. 

Grey saw the smile on the man's face vanish, as he kept saying, “Okay, okay sir,” to whomever was on the other end of the phone. 

The man replaced the phone to the table, looked at Grey and said, "I'm sorry. We just can't take you." 

Grey was shocked, and devastated. "But you said I could do great here. What happened? You were about telling me to—" 

"Sir! I'm sorry, I made a mistake. I don't own this company. The CEO personally told me not to accept you. You're Grey Garrett, right?" 

Grey wanted to say no, but his credentials proved otherwise so he nodded, taking his eyes off the manager for a moment. 

"Exactly, we are not to accept you." 

Grey couldn't believe what he just heard. We? What was going on? This was turning out to be worse than last week when they had simply rejected him. This silly man had raised his hopes high, only to smash it before it had reached the ground with—he didn't even know what.

Grey left the company, then began heading for another in a taxi. When he arrived, he paid the cab driver, then waited for his balance. The driver delayed, later he brought more than his balance, saying, "It's for you.” Then drove off. 

Grey straightened each note the driver had given him, there was a penned message on each one. 

"Return to your apartment." 

"Await your next mission." 

"Do not test us." 

"We could kill you." 

"Register with thumbprint device." 

"This is not a drill." 

"We would take care of your family." 

His mind went immediately to his family. He couldn't tell any of them what was happening at the moment...they could get killed. He had no idea what he was doing, who these people were, or why he had gone to that church on Sunday.

Tired, and without options, Grey boarded a taxi and set for home. He fell asleep almost immediately, woke up towards evening, stared round the room, walked up to the window, then sat by the table.

Grey counted the money before him, it was enough to pay his rent, feed himself for the next few weeks, and also pay off his debts. 

Grey took out the thumbprint device, held it in his hands, stared at it like one possessed, then returned it to the table. He placed his right thumb on it, he felt the heat of the purple light, then something pricked his thumb. Grey quickly removed his thumb, then licked it. He heard something pushed through beneath his door...another letter. He stood, ran to the door, opened it with eagerness to get a face or someone to explain—there was nothing. 

The door closed, Grey picked up the letter, walked back to his table, then sat to read. 

Dear Mr. Garrett, 

Thank you for approving your identity. You're now an assassin. Your assignments would be as directed, and try not to delay. 

The Bluetooth device is to listen to your wristwatch, you're not authorized to speak to it. The thumbprint device isn't to be used anyhow, only when instructed to. The phone is to dial contacts on the phone book. The car keys, address, and blank cheque, their uses would be revealed in due time. They are to be kept safe for the time being. 

Clothes for your assignment would be provided daily. 

Yours faithfully,

The Secret. 

Grey burst into laughter. He was actually seeking forgiveness for yesterday's kills, now he was to be an assassin…a servant to this Secret thing. Who was he kidding?

Grey moved to his bed, wondered how he had gotten here. Was this fated to happen? Would it have happened if he hadn't gone to The Fiery Serpent church on Sunday? He was scared, he had so much to tell, but he didn't want anyone he loved turning up dead. His father always told him he was the man of the house, the person who would represent the family when he was old, or dying. Now look at him, ordered by letters and a wristwatch. 

Grey was ready to give the world for this to just stop. He didn't understand it, he wanted to, but now, he didn't just care.

None of these made sense to him. He walked out of his house, eager to take a night stroll which he barely did. Grey covered certain distances before it dawned on him to go home—it was getting late. He began returning, bought suya from an Hausa man, ate it as he walked back to his street. 

Grey heard the scream of a lady in the bush, he ran in that direction. When he got there, four boys were undressing a young lady, another had his trouser down, he was stroking his cock. Grey didn't know what to do. Should he tell them to stop? He could attract the attention of more cultists for he believed them to be so and more lived in this area, or should he just leave? He won't be acting as a coward…he would be a coward. 

"Hey!" Grey found his courage. "Leave her alone." 

The boys turned to him, and laughed. Grey could tell the lady was scared from the way she murmured through the sheet tied around her mouth. Although he couldn't spot the faces of the boys, but he could tell bravery had made him do the most foolish thing ever. Though, if foolishness would get him killed tonight, God would record this deed as righteousness, and probably forgive he had already killed two people, helping this one life. 

The boy with his trouser down, slowly moved his waist, making his cock dance around. Two others pinned down the lady, the other two moved closer to Grey. 

"I don't want trouble," Grey said. 

"Then why interrupt me and my girlfriend?" 

"If she was your girlfriend, you wouldn't treat her like she's a rag." 

"How I treat her is my damn business. As for you, I'm gonna first fuck your ass, then make you bleed." 

Grey's heart was racing. He didn't know when he instinctively threw the peppery suya at one's eyes, then punched the other who shook his head, and came at him again. 

He slapped Grey, brushed him to the ground, both struggling, while the other whimpered from the pepper in his eyes. Grey felt a hard hit to his balls, it seemed someone had ripped his bottom open, and this made him give up the struggling to comfort himself with painful groaning. 

A kick to his stomach, then another to his ribcage, his face, Grey could feel blood trickling from his nose. 

"You were supposed to mind your goddamn business," the naked guy said, turning Grey over with the assistance of others. He pulled Grey's trouser down as he struggled to keep his ass. 

The naked guy began rubbing his dick over Grey's buttock—slapping his head to anger him. Grey felt the guy steady over his buttock, his dick about to get in, then a splash.

The naked guy dropped to the side. The other four guys holding Grey and the lady, were confused as to what just happened. Grey himself thought the boy had fallen from an orgasm due to the splash.

One of the guys holding the girl called to the fallen guy, "Emeka! Emeka! Stop this silly stunt and stand up."

Emeka didn't stand. 

The guy who had spoken signalled on one of the boys holding Grey to check Emeka out. When he did, he fell backwards saying Emeka's head had a hole in it. This rippled fear through them all, even Grey. They immediately let go of Grey and the girl, taking to their heels.

Grey took to his feet, pulled up his trouser and was about to run when he thought of the lady. Grey fearfully moved to the lady, then pulled her to a sitting position. He removed the pieces of cloth around her mouth, gathered her scattered cloths…giving it to her. Grey turned to let her dress, feeling awkward to be facing the body of the said dead Emeka, one he had no idea how he had been killed, but could spot the blood spreading through on the ground.

When she finished, Grey was about to leave then she begged him not to. He turned and asked her where she lived. 

"West Lake lodge," she said. 

That was far from here, he thought. "You don't have any friends around?"

She shook her head. 

Grey knew these cultists, and there was a probability they would come find them that night. Either way, he had other things to worry about. Grey took the lady to his room, pointed her to the bathroom, made the bed for her, then got out one of his free clothes for her to sleep in. He got out a sheet, kept it on the chair, took the dress he had gotten out for her to the bathroom, then left to get something outside for her to eat.

When he returned, she was already in his clothing, drying her damp hair with his towel, equally thanking him sincerely for taking her in. Grey gave the lady what he had gotten for her, she ate, then got into bed, while he sat going through his Bible on his seat. 

Grey read till the letters on the Bible began to have different meanings. He bent his head closer, each word seemed to be floating towards him in a dancing fashion, only then Grey knew he had to sleep.

He spread the sheet on the ground, checked if the door was locked, then went to sleep. 

Grey had a dream where he held this lady's hand, both sprinting through a bush like they were being pursued. Bullets flew past them marking trees as they ran. Grey didn't know the way to the road, till they fell into a pond, then the lady began drowning, even worse, he couldn't swim and he felt the water heavy around his chest. Suddenly, a replica of the lady appeared on land, telling Grey who was now beginning to drown, “Protect me.” 

Grey woke up, not sure what he just saw. He tried to recollect the dream, it wasn't very clear. It seemed they chased or were being chased by something and… He shook his head, looked round the room, and laid back to sleep.

He had bigger problems than this girl. Whatever she was, she was just a minor addition compared to what he was already dealing with. He believed she would go back to where she came from at the break of dawn. How wrong he was.