CHAPTER 24

At the shocked look on Ogadi and Phillip's faces, Julius Eke rushed to add, “Ejike texted me. It's nothing magical.”

“Oh!” Ogadi and Phillip exclaimed simultaneously before Ogadi added, “Yes. We're here for the amulet.”

Julius nodded and clasped his hands on the table in front of him, “Why did Ejike send you to get it for him?”

“Because he couldn't do it himself.” Phillip replied.

“Really?” Julius asked, “Why? Is he sick or something?”

“No. He's just on his way back to Owerri from one remote village.” Ogadi replied dismissively.

“Okay. Why are you two working for Ejike?” Julius asked without making a move to show them the amulet.

“We aren't working for Ejike. We're working with him.” Phillip replied.

“Same difference.” Julius replied, shrugging.

“Take this from someone who's been in your shoes: leave Ejike. He might seem like a good mentor, but things aren't always as they seem with him.” Julius warned.

Ogadi didn't hesitate to reply “Thank you for your warn—”

“Wait.” Phillip cut her off. To Julius, he asked, “What do you mean?”

“I don't have to tell you of Ejike's fall from glory. Believe it or not, I lived it too. At the time, I thought the man could do no wrong. I was wrong. A man died because of Ejike and it still hurts me that I helped him kill that man.” Julius said, his eyes watering.

Ogadi sighed, “Ejike's a changed man.”

“Do we really change?” Julius asked rhetorically.

“If you're so against Ejike, why are you still helping us?” Ogadi asked as she folded her arms over her chest.

“Old habits die hard.” Julius replied, trying to pack a sheaf of papers scattered all over his desk. “I once worshipped the ground that man walked upon. I still find it hard to deny him anything. I hope for our sakes that doing this won't result in anything bad.”

“Quite the opposite.” Phillip assured.

“Good. Let's go.” Julius said, standing up. He tried straightening his rumpled button-down shirt and trousers but it was no use. Shrugging, he gave up and led them out of his office.

As they passed the hallways, he explained various artifacts to them.

“This is the idol of Ahiajoku, who is also called—”

“Ifejioku in certain Igbo communities.” Phillip finished.

Julius stared at him, surprised. “Not many people know that.”

Phillip shrugged modestly, “I'm an enthusiast of the Igbo culture.”

Julius smiled at him, “That's good to know. Most young people these days want nothing to do with our culture and traditions.”

“That's true. And sad.” Phillip replied.

“I know. You know, if you wanted, you could work here with me. The pay isn't good but there are things more gratifying than money.” Julius offered.

“Like doing what you love.” Phillip said with a smile.

“Among other things.” Julius said, giving Phillip a long stare.

Ogadi felt the bromance moment had gone on for too long and interjected, “I'm sorry but Phillip can't work for you, at least not until we complete our mission.”

Julius gazed at Phillip to ascertain if Ogadi's words were true and Phillip nodded.

Julius sighed in disappointment, “Well, if you change your mind, the exhibit is always open.”

They walked up to a small ornate box sitting on a table. The box was open and a brass amulet with intricate designs sat on a cushion inside the box.

“Behold the sacred amulet of Ikala.” Julius said in a guide's voice.

Ogadi and Phillip peered at the amulet.

“Wow!” Phillip exclaimed, “It's beautiful.”

Ogadi didn't share his sentiment. To her, the amulet looked poorly crafted and she said so.

“This amulet was made when our people had no refined tools. No, the beauty isn't in its craftsmanship, it's in its value, its existence.” Phillip chided.

“Well said,” Julius lauded Phillip. He was about to pat the younger man on his back when they heard a shrill cry.

Soon, they heard heavy footfalls coming their way.

“What's that?” Ogadi asked warily.

Julius shrugged and was about to reply that he didn't know what was going on when they saw Maggie running towards them, her heavy breasts heaving with exertion.

“Maggie! What's going on?” Julius asked concernedly as he held the woman by her shoulders.

“Sir, sir, they're...” She couldn't complete her sentence because she was panting.

“They're what?” Ogadi snapped impatiently.

Maggie didn't have to complete her statement. In the next moment, they heard many footsteps heading their way.

Within a blink of an eye, what looked to be dozens of random individuals from all works of life swarmed towards them.

“What the hell?” Phillip voiced what was everyone was thinking.

Ogadi looked into the eyes of some of the intruders and saw they were possessed by demons.

“We have to get out of here with that amulet now.” Ogadi said.

“Are they demons?” Phillip asked fearfully.

“Yes.” Julius replied. “It's been a while since I encountered them but I still remember a thing or two about them. You two, take the amulet and run!”

Phillip and Ogadi nodded. Phillip closed the small box containing the amulet and tugged Ogadi's arm. They ran off in the opposite direction.

“Sir, what about me?” Maggie asked, on the verge of tears.

“Make yourself scarce too.” Julius ordered before he ran straight into the advancing mob, muttering incantations.

* * *

Phillip and Ogadi panted as they managed to escape the exhibit undetected, or so they thought. While they stopped to catch their breaths, a spry demon-possessed young man who was dressed in a football kit hopped onto Phillip's back, taking him by surprise and forcing the box to dislodge from his hands.

The box clattered to the floor but didn't open.

Ogadi ran to it and was about to pick it up when she felt someone yank her hair forcefully.

She gave a cry of pain as she still tried to get the box in her grasp. The force with which her hair was being yanked intensified and she was forced to jerk her head up.

It turned out it was an old woman pulling her by hair. Not an innocuous old woman, Ogadi noted irritably. No this one was possessed by a demon and was uttering gibberish.

Ogadi hit the hand grabbing her hair but the hand didn't budge. She repeated the action, this time with more force. She hoped she wouldn't break the old lady's bones.

The woman left her hair and Ogadi went for the box again. This time, she received a mighty shove from behind and forcefully landed on the ground with her butt high up in the air.

From that angle, she was able to see the statues grinning at her as if they found her misfortune funny. She shook her head and brought herself back up just in time to see the old woman reach out her wrinkled fingers to take the box.

Ogadi stomped on those fingers, causing the old woman to howl in pain.

“Sorry,” She apologized to the old woman and began to mutter an incantation that would exorcise the demon in the woman.

The woman who was having none of that, swung her surprisingly strong fist and made contact with Ogadi's open mouth.

The force of the punch caused Ogadi to halt her chant and stagger back.

* * *

Meanwhile, Phillip was having a hard time getting the football player to leave him alone. The man grabbed Phillip's shirt and it ripped into two.

Phillip got annoyed and grabbed the man's sweaty hand. Before he could think twice, he lodged his teeth in the man's hand. The man screamed out in pain and gave Phillip a punch to the ear with his free hand. Phillip heard loud pounding in his ears as he left the man's hand alone. The man punched him again and Phillip fell to the ground in a heap. His last thought before he lost consciousness was that he needed to work out more often.

The football player left Phillip and bounded to where Ogadi and the old woman were still in a scuffle for the box.

* * *

Ogadi was about to grab the box from the old woman for what had to be the tenth time when she felt strong muscular arms circle her waist so tightly she felt she couldn't breathe.

She found herself heaved into the air and then released like she was a baby. Unlike a baby, there was no pair of arms to halt her descent back to the ground. She landed on her back and gave a yelp of pain.

Through watery eyes, she saw the old woman and the football player run away and knew she'd failed her mission.

She turned her head with much difficulty and saw Phillip laying prone on the ground.

He doesn't look like he's breathing, she thought frantically as she managed to crawl over to where he was.

She groaned with pain as she managed to sit up and turn him around gently.

“Phillip, Phillip.” Ogadi called, slapping his cheek gently.

When he didn't respond, she slapped him a bit harder.

Phillip didn't open his eyes.

Ogadi took in the bruises already forming on his pale face as she prayed to Chukwu not to let him die.

To her consternation, she noticed tears were flowing freely down her cheeks. She angrily wiped them away and shook Phillip once again.

“What do I do now?” Ogadi wailed.

“Give CPR.” A weak voice replied.

“CPR? Great idea.” Ogadi replied. She opened Phillip's mouth and bent down to breathe into him when she realized something.

“Wait a minute! You're the one that talked to me!” She said, hitting Phillip's arm.

His gray eyes opened and although they were filled with pain, he started to laugh before he gave up and grabbed his head.

“Laughing hurts.” Phillip croaked.

“You're alright! You're alright!” Ogadi said with as much delight as she could muster although her back had begun to hurt in earnest.

“Of course, I'm alright.” Phillip asserted and studied her face carefully, “Were you crying for me?”

“No. Of course, not.” Ogadi said firmly, “The football player dropped me on my back.”

“Ouch!” Phillip said as he tried to get more comfortable on the ground.

“We need to find those two demons.” Ogadi said, trying to draw him up.

Phillip didn't budge as he asked, “Why?”

“Because they took the box containing the amulet!” Ogadi explained.

“Yes. But we don't want the box, do we?” Phillip asked with a smirk.

“We want the amulet. The amulet is inside the box. Stop being obtuse.” Ogadi said frustratedly.

“Who said the amulet is in the box?” Phillip asked yet again.

“What is wrong with you? Why did we try to run away with that box in the first place then?” Ogadi asked, shouting.

Phillip quietly chuckled, “The amulet was in the box but I took it out because I had a premonition Julius wouldn't be able to take care of all the demons after the box.”

Ogadi let out a wondrous gasp as she regarded Phillip in new light. The man was forever surprising her with his resourcefulness.

“Where is it?” She asked excitedly.

Phillip put his hand inside his trouser pocket and brought out the sacred amulet of Ikala.

Ogadi took it reverently, running her fingers over the amulet to assure herself it was safe.

“You're a genius.” Ogadi said to Phillip.

“What? I can't hear you.” Phillip joked.

Ogadi rolled her eyes and repeated loudly, “You, Phillip Anyanwu are a world-class genius.”

Phillip looked pleased, “Thank you for the compliment. Now that we don't have to chase those awful demons, can I just lay here for a few minutes? My head aches.”

Ogadi nodded, “Sure. My back aches too.”

Phillip patted the ground beside him, “You're welcome to join me.”

Ogadi put the amulet in her own jeans pocket and nodded. She lay next to him and he brought her head to rest on his arm.

Together, they looked at the stars in the afternoon.