Bury my sins ,12

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(AT THE POLICE STATION)

Mr. Paul arrived at the office early and assembled a team of investigators, as instructed by the superintendent. 

They gathered around a dashboard, and Paul began to speak, "Good morning, officers. We're reopening the case of Officer Abimbola. This time, we'll leave no stone unturned."

The officers exchanged quick glances and began to murmur among themselves. "Didn't he say she was dead? Finding a dead body is impossible. It would have decomposed or been buried by now."

Paul raised his hand to silence them. "I understand your concerns, but our mission is not to recover the body. Our objective is to identify the culprits, determine what they did with the body, and understand their motives. We'll review Officer Abimbola's files again, check nearby CCTV cameras for clues, and follow up on any leads. If anyone finds something, don't hesitate to inform the team."

He dismissed the officers, and they began their investigations, with the hope that they would find a lead soon.

Meanwhile, Officer Abimbola's ghost sat quietly in a corner of the police station unnoticed, watching as the officers dispersed after the meeting they just had with Paul. "I wish they knew Pastor Solomon was involved," Abimbola's ghost thought to herself, "but what's the point? Pastor Solomon is dead too, and they cannot see his ghost either."

Abimbola's ghost sighed with a sorrowful expression and took a long breath " But Is it true that my body is nowhere to be found? I didn't even get a proper burial. And now, I'm left to wonder where my body could be. Pastor Solomon said they threw it in the river... it's likely been consumed by fish by now after all these months."

Her ghost shook her head with her eyes filled with sadness. "What a tragic end to my life. I never thought it would come to this.”

(IN AN OLD HUT)

"Baba, baba, come and see the lady," the apprentice herbalist rushed to call the herbalist, who was busy mixing a portion of concoction for couples who had come to visit him for childbirth.

"Calm down," Baba instructed his apprentice, whose heart was racing with anxiety already. "Calm down and tell me what's happening."

"It's…it's the lady we found by the riverbank," the apprentice explained, "I mean the lady who has been in a vegetative state since we brought her in. She's suddenly gasping for air, and her chest is heaving rapidly. It's as if she's struggling to breathe, taking short gasps."

Baba quickly stood up and followed the boy into the old hut, and he saw Abimbola's chest heaving rapidly. 

He quickly dipped his hands into a pot of water, brought out wet leaves, and sprinkled them on Abimbola's body which immediately went back to her flat, vegetative state.

"What now, Baba? Is she dead?" the apprentice asked, looking up at Baba with curiosity.

Baba chuckled and began to explain, "You don't know who “Olubode” is, the guardian of life and death. He's the one who opens the gates of the underworld and closes them at will. If you know Olubode whom I have been telling you about before, you will not be asking me again if the lady is dead or not.

 

“Our ancestors had a direct connection with Olubode back then, and they made pacts with him. Some chose wealth for their families but at the cost of dying at 25 years old. Others chose a long life but without wealth, no matter how hard they worked."

The apprentice's eyes widened in confusion, looking from Abimbola's motionless body and back to staring at Baba. "You mean she'll live no matter what?" he asked, cluelessly.

Baba nodded. "Yes, my son. Entities like God Almighty and Olubode never break their covenants, no matter what.”

“Humans are the only creatures who vow and never fulfill them. Do not put your trust in the people of this world." 

Baba took a deep breath and continued, "If someone's life is cut short, they'll be reborn elsewhere, in a new place, to complete their days if their lineage is in covenant with an entity.”

“For the case of this lady here,” Baba said while pointing at Abimbola's motionless body. “Her forefathers are in covenant with Olubode, so she might remain in this vegetative state forever, but she won't die until her time is up."

The apprentice's confusion deepened. "But why won't she wake up,he asked, looking puzzled"

Baba's expression turned serious. "That's because she is interfering with her own healing process by possessing a living person. As long as she does that, she won't regain consciousness.”

“She will not die either, unless her time is up like I said earlier. Meaning that she can remain in this vegetative state for the next 100 years or more without dying or regain consciousness.”

 

“Olubode never breaks his promises with humans, he also does not care if you live the rest of your life in pain or sickness.”

“What is certain is that you will not die like he had promised. And if perhaps the person dies, you will go somewhere else to live the rest of your days on earth, away from everyone who once knew you before.”

The apprentice's eyes were wide with wonder and fear, struggling to comprehend the mystical forces behind this kind of covenant.

"But what about the ancestors who were given wealth by Olubode, yet their descendants still die at 25 years old?" the apprentice asked, seeking more clarification.

"They die, no matter what they do," Baba replied. "Their fathers took the oaths, and the consequences are passed down from one generation to another.”

“Olubode keeps his covenant firm and never fails. He gives them the wealth they ask for, but he also takes what he demands too in return.”

“Anyone generation under this covenant must die at age 25. Even if the whole world stops to pray for you, you will still die. Because a covenant is a covenant, vows are vows, and entities like God Almighty and  Olubode never break them."

The apprentice's eyes widened as understanding dawned on him. "I see," he said, holding his head with his hands and thanking his Creator. "What a powerful mystery a covenant is."

Baba nodded solemnly. "Yes, my son. Covenants are not to be taken lightly. Olubode is a god of his word, and his promises are binding. Remember, vows are vows, and entities like Olubode never joke about them.”

(AT AMINAT'S PLACE)

Aminat woke up the following day and dressed up. She was glad she would finally be able to help Mr. Olamide's children regain their property.

Before stepping out, she stared at her dashboard and canceled the previous days from it. She had about 73 days left now until she turned 25 years old and die afterward.

She picked up her bucket list, stared sadly at "die at age 25" that she had written before, and cleaned it. She rewrote "die at age 25 plus a day," cleaned it afterward again, and rewrote "die at age 26."

None of her family members had ever passed 12a.m on the day they turned 25—not even a second was added to it. And here she was, hoping to live until 26 years old and not even die anymore.

She stepped into the living room and saw Mr. Olamide's ghost already waiting for her. Then she called Gabriel, the driver, to come take them to Mr. Olamide's daughters' place, and then straight to the lawyer to get the original documents to Mr. Olamide's house.

(AT THE LAW FIRM)

"Miss Loveth Olamide, are you certain you know this lady and want to hand over your father's property to her?" the lawyer asked, peering at Aminat over his glasses.

"Yes, sir," Loveth replied, turning to her sister, who nodded in agreement.

"Are you under any threat or coercion that's making you want to give up your father's property?" the lawyer asked again.

Loveth shook her head. "No, sir."

Then Aminat spoke up, "Actually, there is a threat. Someone has illegally taken over their father's properties and forced them out of their home."

The lawyer's eyes widened in surprise. "That's impossible! I have the original documents right here with me."

Aminat continued, "In that case, we'd like to hire your services to help us retrieve the properties from one Mr. Chukwuma."

The lawyer nodded, extending his hand to Aminat. "I'm at your service. Let's get started."

To be continued…..

Title: “BURY MY SINS,NOT ME”

CHAPTER 12.

“So Aminat, Gabriel and Abimbola's forefathers were in covenant with the same entity. 

❗QUESTION: If you had the chance to choose one, will you choose to be rich and die at 25, or live long and had nothing tangible to show for your hard work?