The Driver

It was raining heavily

This was more than showers of blessings, in this ungodly hour, it was more like a curse or wrath of the gods

The driver reduced pressure on the accelerator a little

Had to be careful driving on chaotic nights like these.

The last thing you’d want is to have your car skid off the road or crash

Through the windscreen he saw a shadow at the side of the road.

The person wore a black hood and was waving frantically

First impulse was to drive away, you never know who's who in this Lagos under the circumstances

Besides, where on earth is he coming from and where is he even going to that he couldn't wait for the rain to subside a bit

Something told him to keep driving, but he couldn't resist the urge to stop, so he did and pulled over.

The figure jumped in.

Relieved to be away from the rain

He closed the door, removed his hood, splashing water all over the car seat and without an apology or remorse, leaned back and sighed.

He was a young man, probably early thirties with full beard, awon beard gang and skull. No hair on his head.

‘Surprise rain this night, eh?’ the driver asked to start a conversation

The stranger locked eyes with him for a while. Cold water trickled down his face.

‘Oh, sure, yes it is officer.'

The driver nodded and drove in silence, the stranger looked behind him as if expecting someone to follow them

‘Everything fine?’ the driver asked careful to keep his eyes on the road

The stranger nodded.

Apparently, he wasn't in the mood for a conversation

The driver turned on the news on the radio stereo, 94.1, the news anchor was reading the news that night and making reference to the weather

‘Where are you going to?’ the driver asked

‘Oregun.’

‘Are you going home?’

‘Asking a lot of questions, officer, am I under arrest?'

The driver couldn’t tell if that was a joke or not. He knew it was sarcasm because of the reference to the word, Officer.

He adjusted his uniform nervously. The stranger stared at him in his security guard uniform

The stranger seemed elite in his looks and clothes, and even mannerisms

Why on earth will this man not own a car, is this a set-up already?

‘Do you work around here?’ the stranger asked

‘Yes.’ said the driver. ‘I was in night shift so I just got replaced at the office. You know how it is.’

‘No, I don't.' the stranger said smugly

Of course, you can't relate to a security guard. The driver thought

Again they drifted into silence.

The radio show carried on as they drove through the heavy downpour.

The stranger moved in his seat and stared out the window

‘You don't like music?’ the stranger asked.

‘Not all the time, I prefer peace and quiet?’

‘Is there no track we can vibe to?’

‘I prefer listening to the news, like knowing what's happening.’

The Stranger looked at him as if he was weird.

‘Only bad things happen in Nigeria and the news love reporting bad news. Me, I love music. It settles me and keeps me calm’

The driver said nothing.

Several minutes later the news came up on the radio.

‘We are getting reports that an inmate has escaped from prison. The man is said to be a serial killer and kidnapper with multiple body counts in his wake. Very dangerous and lethal, Please be vigilant and careful.

The stranger quickly changed the station without any word and Davido's music played out from the speakers.

The driver stared at him, surprised and amused at the same time.

‘I hate bad news, it gives me bad vibes’ as if he read the drivers mind. 'Don't you agree?'

The driver did not reply.

‘Don’t worry. I’m not the serial killer.’ the stranger said, smiling for the first time that night

‘I never thought you were.' the driver replied without emotions

They drove on listening to more music and the stranger kept nodding his head

The rain kept falling hard, making it even harder to see the road

‘Are you married?’ asked the driver.

The stranger closed his eyes for a moment. Then he nodded’

‘Oh, so where do you stay?’

‘Oregun’ I told you already. The Stranger replied

‘Where in Oregun, I'm taking that route too?’

'Oh, just the first street then your next right and I'll find my way.' the stranger said

"You work around where I picked you up from?' The driver asked, trying to keep the conversation going

"Something like that"

"Where do you work?" He asked

"The bank." The stranger said

"Banks close by 4pm, this is almost 11pm" the driver asked surprised

"Who says I must go home after I close from work?" The Stranger replied, irritated already

The driver did not speak. He stretched his fingers and turned the news on the radio station back on.

A woman was talking about the high rate of crime and murder in Nigeria

‘We are close to Oregun, Where again did you say I should drop you?’ asked the driver.

The stranger closed his eyes and just pointed south.

The sound of the raindrops reduced and visibility became normal, the driver increased the speed and then the news came up again on the radio.

‘We’re getting more information on the escaped convict. The killer and kidnapper is Julius Etuk. He escaped from the Surulere Prisons earlier this evening. He is extremely dangerous and armed. Julius Etuk escaped by killing a security guard and stealing his uniform, then he stole a car at the parking lot and drove off.’

Silence in the car

Then slowly, the stranger turned to the driver, and looked at his uniform

'Where did you say you worked again?' he asked

‘I didn't say.' the driver smiled

The stranger's eyes widened in shock as he stared in horror, The driver grinned. The headlights of an incoming car exposed the gun in his hands.

'Now, stranger, we're here, so let's go pay your wife a visit.'

The stranger screamed!

The End

The Authorpreneur