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Ghost of Dalmos

Copyright© 2019 by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

All rights Reserved. Copy, redistribution, or resale either in print or

Electronically is strictly prohibited.

https://omoruyiu.blogspot.com/

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 CHAPTER ONE

Alone in the Dark

The wind blew with vengeance and my heart sank. The ugly movement that

wrapped itself around the warm hands of the darkness wrote frustration on the face

of the old earth. I saw the dark. He was clumsy and taller than the pair of legs that

carried me. As I stared at the huge fright whose head was like an avocado pea, it

dawned on me that confronting him was equally extreme as the thought that a

Carmel would walk through the eyes of a needle. I could imagine his blow. It was

like a knife that pierced a chicken.

Moreover, causing any commotion would mean I had presented myself a

meal out of which he would sniff life. So, I left a yawn in the air and took cover

like a militia in the wood. Hiding behind the fence, saved my neck from the

supposed devilish zap because when the monster raised his ugly head and looked

about, he thought no eye was watching. Then he lowered his head again and

continued to munch noisily. The man that was as dark as the midnight had a little

nose, a strong square jaw and thin lips hidden under a heavy line of a mustache.

Dressed in a coat that has seen its better days, he was a medieval statue in a

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desolate city. He was the highway to hell and the trouble that a good soul must

avoid.

As I stared at him from the crack on the wall, the monster rose to his feet

and let go a yawn that took some time to mix with the air. He seemed to have put

what had kept him in the corner on the doorstep of the past and now it was time to

move onto the next agenda on his would do list. He began to wander into the wild.

My jaw dropped when I saw how much height the devil had to his advantage. His

head almost reached the high heavens. The sky and the wandering clouds were

within his reach. The night was already upon us. Have I become a victim of my

own exaggeration?

As the man covered a huge distance on foot, suddenly he paused and shot

his fiery eyes at my direction as if he suspected a meal was lurking. There was

much to the balls that sat in the sockets of his skull. They were daring and red like

crimson. Before I could blink, He pounced and his single blow shattered the walls

that I thought was a fortress no soul could ruin.

Before the tormentor could emit destructive powers that could have left a

trail of waste, I found my feet and made the best use of them to the old cottage on

the farm. Frustration almost embraced me as I race across the cornfield. He could

have snuff the life out of me, but the fireballs he threw could not humble my

languishing soul for they fell around and ravaged the farm.

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 I ran very fast. My legs were almost touching the back of my head, and I

could not count the number of times that they betrayed me as the monster chased.

The building welcomed me to her unholy interiors, to be pummeled by the cruel

hands of an unjust fate. Breathing like a terrified lizard, I had nothing better to do

than secured the door, which I doubt would serve her purpose few months to come.

After I had battled to stabilize my breath, I looked around the room whose

beauty was a deafening silence. There were images on the walls, inscriptions that I

could hardly decipher, furniture begging for renovation, rickety tables covered in

dust and cobwebs spread over them like pastures clothed with flocks. Out of the

belly of the cold night came a miserable rat, not comfortable with my presence, it

squeaked and disappeared into a hole.

There were six or more wooden doors before my large innocent eyes and on

them were inscriptions that I could hardly decipher. As the monster advanced, I

decided to hide in one of the rooms. But I did not know what would be my fate. I

was only two or more steps away from the door before me when one of the doors

at the extreme opened as if it was an invitation from a friendly creature to rescue

me from the belly of hell. Then I paused and offered the opened door a harmless

look. In the midst of the confusion, a thought flew into my head that I might be

secured over there. In addition, hiding in such a place that was a huge distance

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away from the monster would mean freedom from a predator whose filthy blows

have begun to torment the rickety wooden door. Before he could find his way into

the house, I changed direction and rode few steps to the extreme. And then I

disappeared into the room and shut the door behind me. As soon as I secured the

door, rivers of joy strolled into my heart, and I felt as if I had reached the promise

land! I stood like a majestic mountain and heaved a sigh of relief.

I looked in every direction. However, I was not impressed after my large

innocent eyes had travelled the length and breadth of the room. It was a creepy

kind of place, and dreadful as the fortress of a dangerous man whose belch could

kill a dove. There was a clay pot at the extreme and it was oozing out smoke. As

the smoke went up to the high heaven, it formed into a human that was as slim as a

beanpole. The ugly creature floating on the air flashed a menacing smile at me and

disappeared through a little opening on the window. The truckload of misfortune

was gone. As a gentle breeze sat on the wings of the evening, the creature that I

thought was gone, emerged from the evening shadows and landed a blow on my

head and mixed with thin air. My head was swollen and a great deal of darkness

wrapped itself around me. I yelled as if I had mistakenly crushed my thumb against

the anvil.

As I fell on my knees, languishing with my hands on my head, someone

coughed a bit and cleared his throat. My heart jumped into my mouth and then I

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hurried to my feet as if I had never fallen. I faced the direction that the disturbance

had come and was angry that the commotion was caused by a mere face on the

wall. Sodus was his name.

“What are you doing here?” the cold creature thundered. Before I could

respond, he came out of the wall and buried a slap on my face. I lost my balance

and nearly landed awkwardly on the floor. By the time I regained my footing, he

stood over me with clenched fists. I began to back step, going back the way I had

come. The atmosphere was not friendly. But just as it was eager to take my life, I

had the luxury of looking straight into the devil’s eyes. They could set a hundred

legs on the run. Apart from his long tail that had enchanted spikes that were six

inches long or more, he was horribly dressed and four arms stood out of his scaly

body. Dressed in a dark garment and his head like an egg, his shoulders were

almost reaching the head that sat on his neck. Shivering as I fought back tears, I

fell to my knees and begged for my life, “Please, don’t kill me. Someone was after

me!”

“That is not my business. Is that why you disturbed me?” He thundered

again, revealing his dark side. He crossed his arms over his body and threw out a

question, “Who is the fellow?” His raised eyebrow gave birth to furrow on his

forehead.

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 “I don’t know him,” I stammered and shook my head. “I think he’s a giant

troll. He’s a man mountain!”

He breathed deeply and chewed his lower lip.

“Please don’t kill me,” I fell on my knees, stretched out my hands with

palms up.

He fixed his gaze on me, perhaps pondering what to do with my unfortunate

soul.

Disturbing footsteps began to approach us. He flung a glance at the door.

And then he turned to me. “Whatever the case may be, my home is not a hideout

for sycophants.” As he raised his hand to strike me, the creature on my trail burst

in. “Don’t touch him! He’s mine, Sodus!” The giant yelled as he entered the room.

Red with rage, Sodus waved one of his hands at me. A wicked force carried

me to one end of the room where I fell on a heap of bones. Sodus swallowed hard

and rode two or more steps closer to the frightening interloper. “Sam, how many

times have I warned you never to break into my home?” Sodus fumed. He glared

his eyes at him.

Sam let out a long sigh. He replied, “Almost a million times, Sodus. But you

know I always have a reason to wander here.”

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 “It makes no difference. Even a fool also has a reason to smile. Let this be

the last time you will disturb me.”

“All right! I won’t disturb you again, Sodus,” Sam assured. He pointed at

me, “I chased that meal in here and I can’t wait to have him,” Sam disclosed. His

face broke into a gap toothed smile.

Sodus clenched his fist. He looked at me and turned to his fresh enemy.

“Sam, I know fortune smiles on the brave. But there is something unique about our

world. As great as we are, we cannot make things turn out the same way every day.

Leave this meal for me as a compensation for invading my privacy.”

Sam wore a frown. “NO! An opportunity like this does not present itself

every time. They come like the dutiful season that wrapped itself around the quiet

hands of the earth.”

“You are right. I know how painful it is to lose a good thing. But you have to

accept your fate and leave my house,” Sodus responded.

Sam groaned hard. Our eyes met. He coughed a bit and spat on the floor.

“Sodus, I see you want to deny me my spoil. I have nothing against you. You are a

man of peace. Don’t stand in my way. Let me have my meal. I cannot leave here

without him.”

“I have every reason to deny you!” Sodus charged him. He pounced and

unleashed a blow that swept Sam off his feet. Before the big man could regain his

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footing, Sodus grabbed hold of him by the neck and suspended Sam in the mid-air.

As the big man battled to free himself from the devilish grip, Sodus smashed him

against the walls, so much that part of the building collapsed and Sam was lost in

the rubbles. I was there. My knees knocked ferociously together.

As Sam battled with the cruel hands of fate in the rubbles, Sodus roared,

beating his chest vehemently. He mounted on the collapsed structure to fetch Sam

and unleash his terror. He had barely removed four stones or more when a

devastating blow landed on his jaw. He elicited an agonized cry and fell like packs

of cards. But the blow he dispensed was not enough to make Sodus crack. Standing

before him was Sam. Before Sam could snatch a breath from the wings of the

evening, Sodus turned to the clay pot on the extreme and made some incantations.

The smoke emanating from the pot began to form into vile creatures. Devils that

were about nine inches tall or more began to pour out of the pot. Chanting warfare

songs and brandishing their weapons like swords, spears and short-handled battle-

axes, and then the little devils attacked Sam.

As they punished the giant with their weapons, the big man smashed a

number of the creatures with his feet. Running out of patience, he drew a wood

from part of the collapsed house and began to use it on the little devils. As soon as

the little men fell stone dead, they would form into smoke and disappeared back

into the pot. Sodus, not satisfied with the turn of events, pounced and transformed

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into four giant wing creatures. As I watched from my corner, Sam could not

stomach the onslaught of the birds. They tormented his flesh with their talons, and

their evil beaks wrote frustration on his face. The giant was overwhelmed. Sensing

that he could be silenced and made Sodus’s slave forever, Sam began to retreat and

soon was in full flight with his legs almost touching the back of his head. As he ran

very fast, his legs betrayed him, because he stumbled on some furniture and was

received by the waiting hands of the old earth. He picked himself up immediately

and faced the exit with the speed of lightning, as voices of triumph that almost

brought down the apartment chased.

Immediately they disappeared into the darkness, I crawled into the next

room and slammed the door behind me. Not knowing what would be my fate; I

threw myself on my feet and looked about. I plucked up a spirit and threw two or

more steps forward. The house and all her miseries disappeared, and I found

myself in the middle of a graveyard. The sky was gloomy and the stars had rested

on the bosom of sudden death. The graveyard was bitterly cold and its beauty was

a trail of waste. I saw the darkness standing taller than the pair of legs that carried

me.

Before I could snatch a breath from the cruel hands of the night, a fiendish

owl on a gravestone called my name with a kindly brogue and disappeared into an

almond tree. The nightingales were there. Fruit bats were in the world of their own

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as if they had no business with me. I saw shadows lurking. But each time I focus

on them, they would mix with the air. I thought it was the presence of the trees that

caused the shadows. So I threw the confusion behind and sneaked on silent feet

forward. I was yet to come to terms with the realities around me when a mysterious

hand emerged from the ground and grabbed hold of my right leg. Initially, I

thought it was a crawling grass and tried to shake it off. But my effort hit a brick

wall. The dreadful grip became stronger as if a rope was fastened to my ankle.

When I looked closely and discovered it was a hand, my heart sank. The

dreadful creature seemed to be happy I was lost. As I battled to free my poor soul

from the evil grip, I lost my balance and found myself struggling to stay alive. The

enemy began to pull me into the ground. While he pulled me away, my hands

found a club that was not a burden to maneuver. I did not spare him a breath. I laid

the club five times or more on the cruel hand. The bones cracked and my freedom

came like a rushing wind. I jumped to my feet and raced as if my survival

depended upon how I could maneuver my legs.

Journeying to the unknown is as evil as a sorcerers spell. As misfortune

stared at me in the face, I had nothing to worry other than the safety of my poor

soul. An opened gate was ahead of me and I was few poles away from the gate

when it shut and a grievous whirlwind emerged from the ground and began to ruin

the yard. The boisterous wind blew as if the world would perish under its feet. I

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would have walked into silence and be happy with the comfort in demise if not for

one of the trees that I held for it prevented the wind from tearing my world apart.

The whirlwind left a trail of waste, trees were uprooted and gravestones were

turned, which of course, I expected would happen.

Now the air was still, and Lady Tranquility paraded itself in the creepy

place. Before I could blink, the ground began to crack as if an earthquake was

underway. I was yet to figure out what was going on when the ground began to

vomit horrible looking creatures. Zombies formed out of the ground, carrying

weapons like swords, long spears and short-handled battle-axes with heads as big

as the head of a four-fisted wrecking bull. I was dazed, not knowing what to do, the

creatures stood like an army of enlightened pastors in a sanctuary praying fervently

as if they were next to God. They began to approach me.

As I looked at every direction, pondering how to be freed from these

monsters, they brandished their weapons and made strange noises as if they wanted

to emit destructive powers. My knees knocked ferociously together. As they

approached me, I began to back step. Dazed, I stumbled on a tree and was trapped

by monstrous hands that emerged from the tree. I tried to fight myself out of the

devilish grip but could not prevail. The tree opened its mouth as a drudge makes a

short work of a slap up meal on a cold night, and it swallowed me!

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 CHAPTER TWO

Tales of Sorrow

Inside of the tree was the strangest place that I had ever been. I crashed

through the roof of a compartment deep in the abyss, groaning in pains and

gnashing my teeth as I rolled on the floor. Then I held myself to check for

fractures, for my body seemed to hurt everywhere. Catching a breath, I lifted my

head and looked around to see where I was. It was a little room and I could barely

see beyond my nose. There was a little opening on the wall to the left. I limped to

the place to see if there could be a way out of the bloody mess. But there was none,

and the light from the little opening almost blindfolded me. Immediately I touched

the wall, a door opened and I went in. There were cobwebs everywhere. They

seemed to have been there for ages. After going through the passage that led to

nowhere, I began to hear strange sounds and movements all around. I was panting

and my heartbeat hitting the roof of my chest.

It was dreadful. My feet carried me to the end of the passage where I ran into

some wolves feasting noisily on a meal. I withdrew before they could smell my

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presence. My death would have come like a rushing wind. By the time I had

turned toward the way that I was coming, things had changed. It was no more a

passage. There were six paths staring at me. None was befitting for a man’s legs to

maneuver. Confusion strolled in, and my breath came in short gasps. When I flung

a glance to the direction of the wolves to make sure they were not coming for my

neck, the wild creatures had disappeared. The environment had transformed into a

river littered with deadly crocodiles and monkeys swooped from tree to another.

Confusion made watching the monkey sports difficult.

Then I returned my gaze to the swampy old paths. Only one seemed

appropriate to tread upon. I was lost. I tasted frustration as my meal for that day.

As the old sun rampaged, the earth felt her cruelty. The earth wore a frown,

because she could not deliver her people from the sun’s old path. After covering a

huge distance under the watchful eyes of the scorching sun, the path seemed to

lead to nowhere. I was frustrated. It appeared that I had been walking in a circle all

day.

Going back and forth was evil enough. Were it not for the markings that I

decided to leave on some of the trees and bush paths when I discovered that

something was not right about the journey, I would have thought that I was making

progress. And that I was only some distance away from liberation. Life is tough!

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 Realizing that I was heading to nowhere in particular, I felt like a man who

carried the world alone on his shoulders and was drowning very fast. My shoulders

sagged and my pair of legs betrayed me. I could not count the number of times that

I staggered like a steam engine going through a deplorable road. I was occasionally

assisted to vertical by trees. When the sun was now retiring from its old path, my

stomach began to make its demand. So I pondered the idea of feasting on some

mango fruits. I reached for one. The bite was good because the fruit was like a

party in my mouth. As I chewed noisily, strange movement in my stomach

interrupted my pleasure. And, a terrible pain down there hit me with a dreadful

sting! I fell, writhing in agony beneath the tree as my bowels walked through the

wheels of fire. The mango fruit slipped from my hand before my eyes closed upon

the light of the world.

Then the fruit formed into a giant wing creature. It snatched him from the

bare chest of the earth. The creature flew all night across mountains and rivers

until they got to the abandoned building that had no roof. The big bird landed on

the floor inside of the building while he was still under the spell of sleep. As it

placed him in a corner, the bird transformed back to the mango fruit and rolled

into his palm. At daybreak, the morning walked briskly into brightness and he

opened his eyes.

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 CHAPTER THREE

The Fruit

By the time I stormed out of sleep, I was shocked to find myself in an

abandoned building that had no roof, but there was a door at the extreme. The

mango fruit that I ate a while ago was beside me, and footprints like that of a giant

wing creature were on the sand. I sat up and my eyes travelled round the room.

“How did I get here?” I asked myself. “I am supposed to be in a swamp. Yes, that

was where I ate this fruit. Ah! I remember. There was a movement in my stomach,

and I felt severe pains. I landed awkwardly on the floor and a huge darkness

wrapped me. Now I am here. What happened to me?” I just could not figure out

how I got there.

Then I looked carefully to every side again. The footprints on the floor

suggested a giant wing creature must have been here with me. “Maybe the giant

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bird brought me here!” I thought. I picked up the fruit and examined it. “What do I

do with this evil meal? I better dispose of it before it robs me of my place in the

congregation of men.” As I contemplated about disposing the fruit, another

thought flew into my head. “No need to let the fruit go! That’s not a good idea. If I

could find myself here after eating the fruit, then the fruit could be all that I need to

find my way home!” This appeared to have settled well with me. Then I placed the

fruit in my pocket, rose to my feet and made for the door.

By the time I got out of the abandoned building, I was shocked. I stumbled

on a market where men and women were trading all kinds of items from fruits to

meat. It was like a very busy market in the heart of a desert. I scratched my head,

sighed and walked to the market. My plan was to get someone who could show me

the way to the city where I can find my way home.

I was the only soul that wore a long face. All the other people were happily

doing their business. Then I was taken aback when I noticed that all the faces in the

market had a striking resemblance, and their heads were like an avocado pea!

Since I had more important issue hanging from my neck like an Olympic medal, I

brushed that aside. Let me get out of here first before worrying about the look on

their faces.

As I wanted to confront one of the traders, the sound of a trumpet blown by

a Town Crier that is bound by circumstance to be brevity drew our attention. As

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everyone turned to the man, he mounted a platform in the heart of the market.

There was deafening silence as everyone dropped what they were doing and turned

their attention to the man with a streak of meanness.

Satisfied that everyone had focused on him, he nodded gently. After

stabilizing his breath, the young man spoke in his dialect and pointed toward a

direction and then he disappeared into the thin air. Once he was out of sight, the

traders began to park their wares. Before I could blink, they had cleared their tables

and locked up their shops. Everyone began to run, facing a direction. Not knowing

what was chasing the people, I joined the party. We faced the mountains and made

the best use of our legs to yonder place.

As we raced very fast, I began to hear the snarling of wolves. We were being

chased by wolves. It appeared that was the news the Town Crier came to break.

But what seemed like a race for survival took a new turn. The traders began to

reduce. This prompted me to fling a glance behind at intervals. My heart sank

when I observed that the traders who were running with me dropped and formed

into sand. What would wolves do with mere sand? This activity continued until I

became the only man chased by pack of wolves. Then it dawned on me that I was

the person that the wolves were actually after. The people were just one of such

distractions in a small world. Without discerning spirit who will survive? I was the

problem. I was the reason the wolves had come out of their lair. I was foolish to

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think that we were all in the same boat. This predicament was my cross and I never

knew until it was almost too late.

Painfully, my pair of legs did not betray me. But no matter how fast I run,

the creatures seemed to be catching up with me. One of the wolves bared its fang

and pounced to rob me of my place in the scheme of things, but I ducked and the

creature landed at the other side. Suddenly, I remembered the fruit in my pocket.

Expecting a miracle as it was the case in the swamp; I went for it and sank my

teeth into the fruit and I ran into the mountain.

I was lost in the dark as I hid behind a rock in a dimly lighted room inside

the mountain. Now the wolves had also found their way into the mountain and

were hunting for me. Not long after, my stomach began to complain. While I

languished in pain in my corner, the wolves finally emerged, baring their fangs and

snarling at me. But before they charged at me, darkness descended.

By the time I regained consciousness, I was in the little room that I fell into

when I was swallowed by the mysterious tree. Then I took a deep breath and

leaned on the wall like a mogul that has lost his place in the scheme of things.

For a while, I was lost and could not figure out how to get myself out of the

misery. The atmosphere was tense as if an adversary was underway. As tears

gathered in my eyes, I lowered my head like a man that had succumbed to the

onslaught of a poverty-stricken life. I was lost in the pool of nothingness and fear

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stood like a pillar of inquiry in my heart. Suddenly, there was a movement behind

me and the walls cracked and I fell into a huge darkness. I crashed through the roof

of one compartment to another repeatedly. Groaning in pains and yelling as the

misery landed me on a steep cliff where I rolled down and finally regained my

footing at the foot of the slope.

The air was still. When I rose to my feet and looked around, I was troubled

to see myself in a forest. The deafening silence wrote frustration on my face and

my heart skipped almost a million times.

After wandering aimlessly in the doom, and our mutual friend, the sun, came

alive to her responsibilities and paraded the bare chest of the beautiful earth. Three

birds or more appeared from the quiet hands of the forest. They perched on a tree

and began to thrill me with beautiful renditions. I thought they were singing a

medieval ballad. The boughs of trees danced quietly and bowed carefully to the

sweet movement of the morning breeze. Spiders were in a world of their own,

hanging about on the warm hands of the beautiful bushes. Their fine nets of thin

threads spanned far and near in their fortress, waiting for fortune to smile on their

bravery. A fulfilled day will emerge after minutes of assault with wandering

insects. On the other hand, swallows dropped from the trees like stones to snatch a

bit of breakfast from the restaurant of the morning.

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 Finally, I stumbled on a bush path, which was narrow like the way to eternal

life. Then I mounted on it, hoping the path would lead to a better life or possibly

my home. After covering a huge distance with my pair of legs that were not at their

best and in time like this was my greatest asset, I began to faint. My shoulders

sagged as much as my legs that were already too difficult for me to maneuver. The

sun was up there, raging in vengeance but soon retired from the busy torment of

the world that she was ordered to serve since creation.

When a man is under a spell, it is difficult for him to tell the machination

against his soul. A man is not born to see everything. However, it is wise for him

to give attention to what is before him because he can never tell which will bring

him fortune.

All along a python was on my trail. I would have ended in the belly of the

leviathan if a man on the tree had not intervened. I was at a junction in the heart of

the jungle and it was a perfect place for the monstrous snake to strike me down. As

the python tried to strike the first blow, which would have been enough to send me

to the silent world, the man on the tree pounced on the ugly beast and did not spare

the snake a breath. The snake started to wind its long body around the little man to

crush him to the ground. While the man fought to find his feet, the leviathan struck

with its tail. The tail almost cut through the left hand of the man. The figure barely

had time to get out of the way and prepare for a new defense when a fierce new

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battle for survival erupted between them, and they shared blows that had both of

them falling in turn like packs of cards. Just as the python seemed it would make

good on its bid to crush the man to death, the little man dressed in an animal skin

coat transformed into a green boa and landed a devastating blow that cracked the

bones near the head of the python and it elicited an agonized cry. The python

fought back and wrestled the boa to the ground as the boa tried to push his

advantage and inflict more injuries.

They battled into the bush corners with rasping breaths, rolling on the

ground and lashing hard. All of a sudden, they fell into a pit. As they disappeared

into the abyss, I rushed to the place to see what would be the end of the creatures. I

could hardly see the bottom of the pit to ascertain who was winning or losing his

place in the game of life, for it was as dark as the midnight. As the death trap

emits smoke, I had the luxury to hear agonized roar repeatedly.

Not long after, the air was still and a strange fireball that almost blindfolded

me emerged from the pit and stood before me. Overwhelmed by the presence of

the light, I fell and sat on my elbow. Before I could blink, the beautiful piece like

the rising sun, formed into the old dwarf that saved me from the shackles of the

python. He beautified his face with a smile that was as good as gold and said,

“Yes, Dalmos welcome to our world!” he stretched forth his hand to fetch me.

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 I frowned and ignored him and threw myself on my feet. “Which world are

you talking about? I am not supposed to be here. I need to see my family.”

The old man took a deep breath and crossed his arms over his body and

looked straight into my confused eyes. “I see you don’t understand. Well, I won’t

blame you. When I first set foot here, I thought I was in the wrong place. Today,

all that is history. Dalmos, we have no time and it’s not safe here. Follow me!”

“Wait!” I said as he turned to go, “How do you know my name?”

The dwarf smiled like a fishwife that has rendered her husband to a toothless

bulldog, he said, “The world is a small place and things have changed.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t answer you now. You will see things for yourself.” Then he turned

swiftly, bade me to follow him and disappeared into the wooded forest. When I

pondered that the man could help me find my way home, I did not hesitate. I

followed the old man who walked as if unable to hurt a fly through winding paths

until we appeared before a cavern. As soon as we entered the cavern, he smiled

like a half-witted fellow and pushed me to one side. He turned to the entrance—the

way we came into the cave, said a few words I could hardly hear and waved his

tiny hands at it. All of a sudden, stones came out of the ground and sealed up the

entrance. We were cut off from the forest and the world around. And no one would

believe that humans lived there.

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 Then he held me by the hand. “I see you are worried and want to see your

family.”

“Absolutely! Please how did I get here?”

The man inhaled sharply, he said, “I thought you know.” He looked about as

if he wanted to be sure that no one was watching or listening to us and added,

“Things have changed.”

“What changed? Can’t you show me the way out of here? I want to go

home!”

The old man chuckled. He shook his head and revealed, “I would have done

so if it is possible. But as things are, I am not better than you. Sodus and others

who tried to kill you know they can’t.”

“Why can’t they kill me? Is it not better to be dead than wallow on the

highway to hell and be frustrated by bloodthirsty demons?”

“Whatever the case may be, it is our duty to bend circumstances to our

favor. What are we meant for if not for such a course? Dalmos, things have really

changed and you must forget about your past. It is gone forever and you don’t need

it here. Not anymore.”

I was transfixed. “So you mean I can’t find my wife and kid anymore?”

“Yes,” he sighed. “But like everyone here, you will overcome.”

A ray of hope flushed over my face. ”Good. How soon?”

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 The dwarf burst into laughter and fell on the floor. “I told you things have

changed and you still don’t understand?” All of a sudden, he paused and jumped to

his feet. As I stood confused and drowned in my misfortune, he rode few steps

nearer, drew his knife from his boot and stabbed me in the chest. I yelled up to the

high heaven and pushed him away. The dwarf fell on the floor. He sat on his elbow

and asked me to remove the knife, which I did and threw it away.

With a broad grin on his face, the old man jumped to his feet. “What do you

observe? What happened to you?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” he smiled, scratching his chin.

I rubbed my hand on my chest. “There is no injury. It is like I was never

stabbed,” I said.

“Maybe I didn’t do it right.” Then he rushed to the knife and stabbed me

below the ribs three or more times. Before I could make any move, he pushed me

to the wall and shouted. “You are dead!”

Immediately he let go of me and returned his knife to his boot, I looked at

my side and did not see any injury, no blood, and my pains were mere figment of

my imaginations. With my eyes flooded with tears, I asked, “What happened to

me?”

“Ah,” he chuckled and explained, “You were killed like every person here.”

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 “Who did this to me?” I enquired and began to sob gently.

“It’s a pity, but change has come. Follow me. When we get to the sacred

bowl we shall find out the devil behind your death.

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 CHAPTER FOUR

Mollech

Silence stood before us. As he could not figure out what was warring in my

confused mind, so I was lost in my ability to tell what the man has on his own

mind. We seemed to be satisfied the way things were going as we engaged our

pairs of legs in the enterprise that they were meant to fulfill upon creation. As for

me, I was worried about my present state but I could not figure out the way out of

the creepy world that I have found myself. So I raised my head and looked at the

dwarf who seemed to be content with what life had made out of him. Then I tapped

him on the shoulder and asked, “Who are you?” An exaggerated smile paraded my

face.

He looked straight into my eyes. He smiled and then replied, “That question

came a bit late. I expected it before now. Well, better to be late than never. My

friends call me Mollech but I don’t like it.”

“Ah, but it sounds nice. So how do you want to be addressed?”

“Good question. Call me Mollequenadicipus…”

I shook my head. Chuckled, I said, “What a name! It’s too long. What does

it mean?”

He straightened his chin and responded in a kindly brogue, “I am proud of

my name, Dalmos. Many say it’s too long, but it simply means a dwarf angel!

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Does it sound nice?” Our eyes met as he smiled like a man under the spell of

liquor.

“Of course, you have a good name. No doubt,” I remarked. “If I get back to

home and I have another child, I will consider that name if he’s a boy. Mollech

sounds nice.”

“Ah, thank you!” He turned to me and commented, “I am flattered. I will not

forget today. You wish to name your son after me?”

“Of course, yes. I love your name! Mollech is such a nice name!”

While he walked as if he was unable to hurt a fly, and I did everything

within my powers to keep up with his quick feet, he paused as if a thought flew

into his head and was left with no choice but to ponder.

After we had travelled a short distance, he exhaled sharply and said to me,

“It’s a good idea that you wish to name your son after me, Dalmos. I respect other

people’s opinion. But let’s see what happens once we arrive at the sacred bowl. In

the tribe where I come from, names are very important. There is a saying that a

child is named based on the circumstance surrounding his birth, but I don’t know

how true. The condition in a family at the time of birth plays a major role in the

kind of name that is given to a child. If you ask me, I will say it’s a terrible culture

and should be discontinued. How can a poor soul that just set foot on the world be

blamed for the misfortune of a man and his wife who had lived contrarily all their

29
lives? I don’t get that. I don’t know the rationale behind some of this old sayings

and traditions. They are pathetic. They just don’t make any sense.”

“You are right,” I nodded in agreement and then tried to change the subject.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

“Are you an angel?”

“I think I have answered that question. Your tragedy was my problem. Do

you understand?”

I nodded almost a million times and threw out another question, “How long

will it take to get to the sacred bowl?”

“Normally, it’s a two-week journey. But the way things are, we have to cut

corners.” Then he excused himself and rushed to a corner of the cavern. Before I

could blink, he was back to my side with a leaf in his hands. “With this, we shall

be there in a jiffy.”

“How? Are you serious? Just tell me you are joking.”

His old wrinkled face broke into a gap toothed smile. He said, “Watch me.”

He faced the direction that we were going and made some incantations and threw

the leaf on the ground. As soon as the leaf touched the bare chest of the earth, there

was a movement as if an earthquake was underway. My heart sank. So I cringed

unto Mollech who had become my providence for safety.

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 As we watched, a wooden bridge of about thirty meters long appeared before

us. It was wide enough for two people to walk side by side to the other side and the

other side of the bridge led to a forest. So, Mollech glanced up at me and said,

“You must get use to things like this. Let’s go!”

I let go of him. My eyes and mouth were widened in surprise. “How did you

do that? Only people with supernatural powers can perform such a feat. You,

Sodus and Sam, sure have something in common. You are higher beings. You are

angels, I must say.”

“Don’t flatter me. There is a drop of greatness in every man. All you have to

do is bend every circumstance to your favour. By the time you accept your fate,

you will understand. No man has monopoly of the supernatural. The ability to do

something extraordinary is in all of us, Dalmos,” he explained. “So, Sodus and I

are not better than you.”

“Yes, oh yes! Greatness is in all of us, Mollech,” I replied. We exchanged

glances and smiled. “But this is extraordinary.”

Immediately we were few poles away from the other end that leads to the

forest, he grabbed hold of my hand. The bridge grew smaller as we approached the

other side, and then it disappeared with us into the forest world.

We appeared in a room, which was poorly decorated. He pointed in a

direction and made me follow him. After going through two or more bends, we

31
found ourselves in a narrow passage where we heard the luxury of walking a huge

distance alone. As we approached the end of the passage, the wall opened. As

soon as we set foot at the other side, we were swallowed. The old man led the way

as we turned left and hurried down an old stairway he claimed would disappear

immediately we get to her foot.

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 CHAPTER FIVE

Wounded

Just as Mollech had said, the stairs disappeared and the old man scratched

his head. He smiled. He disclosed, “We are almost there.”

“Okay,” I nodded. “I just can’t wait to be out of here!”

He led me out of the building into a forest. Then he pulled me closer and

whispered, “This place is hell. If you are distracted by the powers that are resident

here, you will never find your killer, and you will never be yourself again. So don’t

get carried away. Stay glued to my side.”

I raised my head and glanced about. “Who are they? What are they?” I asked

in a voice that was as soft as whisper.

He coughed and replied, “They are demons who believe nothing is free.”

“Of course, there is nothing free,” I commented. “Even freedom is not free.”

“I know,” Mollech held me close. “You must be careful. This is not a place

to argue. This forest is not for the weak. Be focused and follow me. If you are

trapped, your captor becomes your god, and you will grovel at his feet forever!”

“Is there no other way apart from this forest?”

“There is, but the people there are similar to the once here. My grandfather

would say a devil is a devil.”

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 “Terrible creatures are everywhere. They are devil!” I remarked.

He smiled and then disclosed, “All these years, I have been able to create a

peaceful home for myself. My home is beautiful, and you will be free there.”

“If you have such a beautiful place, what did you come here to do? If I am in

your shoes, I won’t risk my life coming this far. I don’t see the reason why a man

will leave a peaceful home and come here. It’s silly!”

“You won’t understand,” he muttered. “Because you are not in my shoes,

you don’t see the things that I see and you don’t know where it pinches me.”

“I have seen enough to draw conclusions, Mollech.”

He took a deep breath. He swallowed hard, “Dalmos, it’s a long story. But

I’m happy now because what brought me out of my house is within my reach.

Come! I want to tell you a story. Let’s have a seat.”

He took me to one side and we made ourselves comfortable on a log of

wood. He rubbed his hands gleefully together and revealed, “For many years, I

have been disturbed by a strange noise beneath my house. So a few nights ago,

while I was meditating in one of my chambers, the disturbance struck with a

dreadful sting, and it was more horrible than what it used to be. I just could not

take it anymore. They were invading my privacy and I did not find it funny. As the

noise persisted, I threw myself on my feet and went for my digger and shovel.”

“What was the sound like?” I cut in, curiously.

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 “It was like hell!” He looked straight into my eyes. “It was a commotion and

I could not endure. So, I picked up a shovel and began to dig. The deeper I dug, the

louder the cry. Not long after, I was at a crossroad. It got to a point that my shovel

and digger could not perform their duty, and my effort was a hole that was four

times my height. Then I deserted the shovel and the digger and decided to use my

magical powers to unravel the mystery under my nose.

“I found something strange. Immediately the ground cracked and I heard my

breakthrough, a miserable human head popped up, wailing and shouting: ‘Let me

go! Let me go!!’ I was taken aback and the creature was pulled back into the earth.

What lies beneath the earth will leave us in penury or wealth. Depends on what we

do with it.

“All along I observed something. The more I dug into the hole, the stronger I

felt a strange heat of fire burning intensely down there. As the head disappeared

into the hole, I tried to rescue the human. I placed my palm on the ground and

made some incantations that soon resulted into calamity. The ground cracked, and

the man whose head I saw a while ago was in the midst of some horrible looking

creatures, and they were tormenting him.

“Then I shouted, ‘Let him go!’ But they ignored me and continued to

frustrate the poor soul. Angered by their wicked act, I engaged them in a fight. The

fight lasted for several hours and ruined some parts of my house. I have always

35
fought for justice.” Mollech paused and shook his head. Then he sighed and

added, “Things can only be normal again if I find the young man.”

Transfixed, I asked, “What happened to the man you rescued?”

“He escaped through my wall. And now I am condemned to find him and

return him to his tormentor.”

“What will happen if you don’t find him?”

“It’s been terrible. The last few weeks have been hell. I was asked to take

his place, which I have done for some time now. But how could I continue to

suffer for another man’s sin? I was stupid in the first place for trying to rescue a

man whose hands are stained with blood. The torture and the pains had been

unbearable for me. So I decided it was time to free myself,” he sighed and added,

“I have put the situation under control. I am in charge now!”

“Who is the man?”

He smiled faintly and asked, “Dalmos, do you think you are the person?

“I don’t know.”

He chewed his lower lips and said, “We have to go.” He rose to his feet.

I adjusted and glanced up at him, “Mollech, I don’t understand you.”

“How?” He turned to me.

“Tell me what is going on or else I won’t cross the forest with you.”

36
 He smiled warmly and responded, “You have known the world, Dalmos. I

can see that you have forgotten your past. Well, it is one of those things that

happen to people who travel from one world to another. I want you to know who

killed you and how you found yourself here. Have I not been kind enough to have

led you this far without any charges?” He coughed violently, “If you are still

interested in knowing how your misfortune began, there is no need wallowing on

that log. The sacred bowl is powerful. Your memories will be restored as soon as

you encounter the bowl! I am going. You can join me if you want!”

I had no choice but to follow him. My desire was to avenge my death as

soon as the bowl reveals my killer. So the dwarf led me into the evil forest whose

beauty was a trail of waste. We began to sneak on silent feet through the murky

forest. The authorities of the forest began to throw all their wickedness at us. Their

best was not good enough to reduce Mollech and I. Giant winged creatures with

evil beaks flew out to sink their talons into our bodies, and giant spiders with hairy

legs dropped out of the trees to pierce our skin with a devastating bite. But as soon

as they lay eyes upon Mollech, they would scream and burn to ashes. Not long

after, the dwarf ordered we should run.

We ran until we came to some steps in front of an entrance to a cave with

dreadful creatures standing like monuments on each side. They dashed at us like

old vampires that were dying to feed on blood. As soon as they came out of their

37
dark shadows, Mollech rose to the occasion and sent them to the grave with a mere

wave of his tiny hands. One by one, they yelled up to high heaven, fell and rolled

to the sides of the path. As they withered into dust, the warm hands of the gentle

breeze swept them away. Immediately we entered the cave, we began to hear the

cry of a child that reminded of my little boy. As we matched on, the cry persisted

and I could not cope with it. So I tapped Mollech on the shoulder. “That voice

sounds familiar. What’s going on there?” I inquired and lowered my head to hear

what the dwarf would say.

“Nothing, Dalmos! It’s just a distraction,” he replied nonchalantly. He faced

the way to our rest and breaks wind.

Not satisfied with the response, I stopped and reacted, “No! Enough of your

pranks, Mollech. I must go in there to see things for myself.” Before he could

snatch a breath from the wings of the morning, I had taken to the way of the noise

and burst into the room without knocking. I was angered to see a shadowy figure

hasting away through the back door with a child that looks like my little boy.

“John, I am coming for you!” I sounded and gave the devil a hot chase. After going

through three bends or more, I got to a passage where the devil dragged the little

boy that I thought was my son into a room and shut the door. No knowing what

will be my fate, I dashed in.

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 What I anticipated was not what I found in the room. The little boy that I

thought was my son almost robbed me of my soul! He hurled a javelin at me. Was

it not that I was alive to my responsibility; he would ended my party with Mollech.

I dodged and the spear struck the wall. Before I could make any move, the boy

pounced and formed into a smoke and flew into the man that stood before me.

When he turned toward me, I quickly recognized the man. It was Sodus, the man

whose face was like an owl that I met in a house a while ago. He smiled and said,

“Here you are, Dalmos!”

My heart of hearts died within me. As I turned to the door and made the use

of my pair of legs out of the hell, he pointed his magic wand at the door. Before I

could get to the door, a large concrete that was cut out of the wall behind Sodus

sealed the door. Trapped in the closet, I turned to him and opted to engage my

young fist in a fight.

As we clashed, Sodus had a good share of the fight, and he would spare me

not a breath. One of his ugly blows carried me to the wall where I landed

awkwardly and almost lost a vital part of me. Then he stood over me and flashed a

menacing smile at me. Sodus made incantations and began to torment me with his

hands. Every move he made with his hand, tossed me about from one end of the

room to another until I began to slip in and out of consciousness. Then he stood

over me and flashed a menacing smile at me.

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The entire story is fifteen chapters and I hope to publish it soon. I need a

traditional publisher or I will self publish it on my blog or website. Please,

visit my blog regularly for update about the book and other interesting news.

Thank you.

https://omoruyiu.blogspot.com/

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