The other side 23

Day 22/23

“Nooooo!”

Julie charged at Bernice but it was of no use, Bernice was way too powerful; with a quick force field she sent Julie metres backwards. Jack suddenly bold, but it was of no use either, she held him against the wall and threw him towards the same direction.

Julie was not ready to give this up, she charged at Bernice again but Bernice had taken off, soon the apartment went silent with Jack and Julie  pacing breathlessly.

“Favour is gone?”

Julie asked like she needed someone to confirm what she just witnessed.

Jack didn’t have a favourable answer so he kept quiet.

“What can I do without her?”

Jack was still speechless, there was no word of encouragement popping up.

He sighed and tried to at least say something meaningful.

“Julie, we can still do this, we would think of something”
“Am sorry Jack but I am new to all this, Favour has been my backbone, without her I can do nothing”

Jack didn’t like the fact that she was giving up already.

“Come on Julie, are you giving this up? We can still do this with or without Favour”

She was quiet now. Jack assumed she saw reasons with him but it was far from it. Suddenly she fired back again.

“Jack I have 7days left, 7days, how do I accomplish everything before I am wiped off existence?”
“You are not going anywhere, I won’t let the gatekeeper take you”

Julie scoffed at that, what could he possibly do? 

“Oh Jack please, I’m guessing if she reappears here now you would pee on you pants”

Jack found her words a little insulting but she was right about one thing 

“You are right, I might pee on my pants because she is the ruler of the ghost whatever…and I am human, it’s not a fair fight… But that doesn’t mean I won’t fight, it doesn’t mean I won’t fight for you”

Julie was getting confused with his recent fight-for-you escapades.
“Why? Why would you fight for me?”

He didn’t hesitate to answer 

“Because you would do the same for me”

It was a great answer, but it wasn’t the one Julie had hoped for.

“Just that?”
“Yea what else?”

He had gone minutes into the silence that followed before he understood what she meant.

“Oh Julie I…”
“No it’s OK Jack”

All of a sudden it felt so embarrassing 

“It’s not like I can force you to love me…am not human, I am a ghost so….
“Julie?”

She didn’t wait for another word from him, she took off.

He stood for a while to ponder on where he went wrong.

“I didn’t say anything bad, did I?”

He dug his hands into his back pocket to dig out his car keys.

“Well it seems I would be seeing Tony alone”

***

Julie sat on a rock at a beach…she was both pissed and scared of what her fate would be now…Favour was everything to her, she saw Favour as someone would wouldn’t leave her side. Suddenly she resolved to meet with Bernice over the issue. Something has to be done.

***

Jack arrived at Tony’s apartment. His wife welcomed him warmly and urged him to wait for Tony who stepped out a minute ago. She persuaded him to eat her sumptuous meal and helped him relax with a movie. He was beginning to suspect her kind gesture, but later waved it off when Tony appeared.

“Jack? Come with me, quick”

Tony didn’t hesitate the moment he set eyes on Jack.

***

“If you want to see the gatekeeper, all you have to do is think of her”

Julie could still remember Favour’s word.

And the moment she did she appeared before the gatekeeper.

“What do you want Julie, you are supposed to be all over Jack now, your time is almost up and he doesn’t love you”

Bernice tone was of mockery and Julie sensed it.

“How could you? What did I ever do to you? Why do you hate me so much?”

Julie couldn’t understand why the Bernice was against her and all the efforts she made.

“You started it dear, you broke the rules of the other side. You can’t blame this on me”
“You would rather aid evil than support good?”

Julie needed to understand that part.

“I don’t support evil, neither do I support good, I am neutral, Siera would get her reward”

Julie was going to say something else when Bernice Interjected.

“If I were you Julie, I would be all Jack now, you don’t understand do you? Why would I request you fall in love with a person and he falls in love with you as a prize? Does it make sense?”

Julie got attentive now.

“I don’t Understand?”
“To come back to the land of the living, there has be a human sacrifice to make a balance. And so when I meant love, I meant this…would Jack love you enough to sacrifice is life so you could live again???

Continues…

Would Jack sacrifice his life for Julie?

The other side 22

Day 21

It was the words that he muttered before he passed out. Frank regained consciousness an hour later, he waited till dawn after lots of persuasion from Julie, and took to his heels at first cock crow.

Julie was worried he would go about spewing what he had seen, but there was obviously nothing she could do about it, she had alot on her plate now; she had just nine days left to finally disappear from existence for good. Although she had convinced herself that it didn’t matter, Saving Jack was of utmost priority… But right now, she couldn’t help but feel scared; what was it like to be wiped off existence? Does it hurt? 

“Jack, we have to get the original papers”

She muttered the moment he woke up. His vision was a little blur for a minute before he could visualize Julie.

“Julie, I am the sole owner of Prada designers”

She nodded in agreement.

“Yes you are…”

He was quiet, it was quite clear that he contemplated on something.

“But Julie, I feel my parents were murdered”
“I feel so too”

Jack was glad she felt the same way.

“The car had brake failure, it was perfect the night before…someone must have tangled with it”

She nodded again and sighed simultaneously.

“Yeah, I guess so”

It didn’t take a soothsayer to explain that all was not well.

“Are you OK Julie?”

She wasn’t, but she didn’t want to bother him with it, he had alot on his plate now.

“Emm, I am…I just feel bad for putting you through….”
“Sssshhh”

He hushed her, placing a finger on her lips…

“I asked for it, it wasn’t your fault…and if I had a chance to kiss you, trust me I would kiss you over and over again”

She scoffed in disbelief.

“You’re crazy Jack”
“Yeah I am…I don’t know if this is love but I am crazy about you…strange right? I’m actually saying this to a ghost”

He chuckled nervously.

She felt awkward, his eyes locked in hers were ridiculous. It didn’t make sense, yeah she wanted this guy to fall for her, but now that he his actually having a positive approach towards her wish, she feels awkward about it. It didn’t make sense, she felt he was acting the emotion because he knows he is supposed to fall for her.

“Jack, let’s focus on getting your family’s inheritance and on how to protect you from Siera, and the gate keeper…this can come afterwards”

He sensed her unbelief, he didn’t fight through, he was pretty sure that he’ll do more harm. So he simply smiled and chipped in.

“You see? You’ve put my needs before yours again, the more reason why I am crazy about you”

Somehow, she wasn’t satisfied with just *I am crazy about you*. She feigned a smile and made him stand up.

“Alright, it’s Mr Tony adekunle right? The man your dad entrusted the documents to?”

He nodded in affirmation.

“You know how to reach him?”
“Yeah, I know his place…funny thing is, he didn’t tell me anything about my inheritance, I don’t know why”

He took to his wardrobe to change into something light.

“Well there is one way to find out”

Julie felt the need to teleport him there but she didn’t know where so she had to follow.

“Where is Siera?”

Favour met Julie by the doorway…

“She is…”

Jack realised the rope used to tie her down was quite idle.

“She was just here…she was…”

Julie words got stuck… Favour’s skin turning grey was good distraction.

“Favour? Favour what’s…?”

It was clear now, the gate keeper appeared from behind them with her whip tied around Favour’s neck…

“Finally, I got now”

Bernice muttered amidst smiles of satisfaction.

“No! Let her go!”

To late, within seconds favour dissolved to dust.

©onyeneke Abel January 2018 all rights reserved

The other side

Continues

The other side 21

Day 20
“Come on Jack we can fix this. Now we need to continue, it’s past 1am already”

Favour stated bluntly and brought Jack to sit. He relied on her words, she is a ghost anyway, and when she says she would fix it, she actually means it.

He took the sit, quite ready for another voodoo trip, but halfway he made her pause and asked…there was something he wasn’t quite satisfied with.

“Emm, Favour? If you help me remember, would you see my past too?”

She nodded in affirmation, trying to fathom why he asked.

“Emm, sorry but can Julie perform the voodoo stuff? I’m sorry if it would…”

Favour was not ready to hear anything else.

“Alright Julie come over here”

Julie obliged and placed both her hands on both sides of his head as instructed.

“Close your eyes”

She did and was waiting for the next instruction for more than five minutes. She had to take a peek when nothing was said.

“Why are you opening your eyes?”

Favour’s freakish question was absurd.

“Emm, I’m waiting for an instruction”

Jack opened his eyes now.

“There is no other instruction, it’s an instant connection, you’ve not connected with his mind”

Julie released her hands on Jack’s head to question.

“And how do I do that?”
“You will all fail you bastards!”

It was Siera, and for a moment there they had actually forgotten they had her tied down.

“Will you please shut up?”

Julie was trying to understand what Favour had to pass across, and Siera was not an option now.

“Julie kiss him”

Favour was a bit astonished when Jack allowed a smile on his cornered lips.

Julie acted surprised at her request.

“Emm, it seems you both have been doing lots of the kiss thing huh?”

Favour questioned and urged Julie to go on with her finger signals.

She brought Jack on his feet, a little shy with Favour’s presence but it was nothing she couldn’t bypass. Slowly she reached for his lips and sent a whole new wave of energy down him that he shuddered and dropped to the torn cushion.

They were locked on and his mind was open.

The accident, the secret, the pain, the love; he remembered them all…

She held him tight and felt she was draining his life source, the passion she felt countered her reservations.

“Julie? Julie! He is bleeding! Let him go!”

Jack remembered it all, it wasn’t bad news until he came understand one fact.

Favour forced Julie to released him, his eyes were stone red. He gasped for air and Julie realised what she had put him through.

“Oh my God…I’m so sorry Jack”

She ran to him and placed his head on her thigh.

“I’m so sorry”

He was going to say something, perhaps he was going to scold her, and probably call her pure evil; instead he raised his weak hand and pointed at Siera’s direction, and with a weak tone he questioned.

“Wait.. That Devil is my cousin?”
The other side

Continues

The other side 20

Day 19
Jack was trying to tame the fear bubbling within, but it was not working this time…favour took front to try and convince the wild ghosts at Siera’s command but it wasn’t yielding results.

He was scared for Frank, scared for Julie and for himself.

“Stay behind me Julie”

Julie was scared but she couldn’t help the mild laugh that escaped her mouth.

“Jack, it’s best you stay behind me”

She whispered back and without hesitation he bought the idea.

“What did she promise you all huh?”

It was favour trying to negotiate.

“The gatekeeper would definitely slash you all to dust so why do her biddings?”

Siera chuckled and did the talking for the team.

She looked quite achieved with the few army around her, the whip within her grasp was another advantage.

“You see my dear Friend, these ghosts has been promised 3months to roam freely without interruptions. You know this is an opportunity every ghost would jump at”

Siera made perfect sense, it was obvious she didn’t come to be reasoned with, she came for War.

“Siera what did I ever do to you?”

Julie questioned from behind, she was trying to understand why Siera was hell-bent bent on seeing her wiped out of existence, maybe she had done something to hurt her. Although she knew that all her life, she has done everything within her power to see that Siera had the best.

“Nothing dear, I just hate you, hate your guts; I hated the fact that you were more successful than myself…that’s all”

Julie was going to charge at Siera but Favour was there to stop her.

“Alright Julie let’s think, and Jack it’s either you fight or die”

Jack joined the crew immediately.

“What we are after now is the hit spot”

Jack tightened his grip on the mop stick he found just beside the threshold leading to his bedroom.

“Sorry for butting in but what use will that mop stick do?”

Julie had to ask, although she felt it was inappropriate now that Favour was trying to come up with a plan

“Julie would you listen?”
“Ok sorry”
“Hit spot is the cause of death…look to the tall ugly one. You see that large scar on his forehead? That’s how he died. Hit that and he is gone”

Siera was done waiting now, she fathomed they were diversifying ways to beckon for leniency.

“You, get Julie”

She had 4ghosts at her disposal and fortunately for Favour, it was the ghost she needed as a sample. She snatched the mop stick from Jack’s shivering hands, broke it in two and smashed it against the hit spot; immediately he dissolved to dust.

“That’s how it’s done!”
“What the…kill them all!”

Siera gave the charge; immediately the room went dark, whirlwind took over and blew off the roof top, the lights went off, objects scattered to different directions… Jack was after the safety of his friend. He made sure Frank was in a safe corner before he tried to join the fight. Sadly one slap from an angry ghost sent him metres in the air and caused a blackout.

He took another hour to regain himself and noticed Siera tied up with strong rope.

“Where’s Julie? Where’s Julie?”
“I’m here. All good relax, I can see how you fought for me huh Jack”

She was making a fun of him now but he had another thought in mind. His eyes got to Frank first…(he was still unconscious) and then all around his torn apartment; with his hands on head he muttered.

“Jesus christ, what do I tell my landlord?”
The other side

Continues

The other side 19

Day 17/18

The objects floating on air spiced more fear that caused Frank to diffuse in hot sweat.

His eyes were protruding and wide open.

Julie was going to release her grip on the objects but her emotions were in full brim, she didn’t know a ghost could actually feel this until now.

“Julie put them down”

Jack whispered through his clenched teeth, his eyes still on Frank who tightened the frown on his face.

“Jack, who are you talking to?”

The cushion dropped to earth first and prompted Frank to leap in fear; next the dinning table, and then simultaneously every other object were calm to earth.

“Jack, you…you are into ritualism?”

Jack was getting fed up with all the ideas popping in Frank’s brain.

He rolled his eyes to heaven before he spoke out.

“Frank listen to me”

He stood up but Frank was quick to hold up his hands to halt him.

‘Stay back…don’t move”

He took the next minute before he voiced out.

“Jack you’ve gone mad”
“No Frank listen…”
“No no…Jack, are you telling me this is normal? objects! Objects were floating on air Jack! There were flying!”
The sound of his lips and wave of his hands were perfect demonstration.

Jack knew Julie had to show herself to Frank, it was the only way.

“Julie?”

Julie who sat watching both men shook her head in disagreement to his idea.

“No way Jack”
“Please, he has to see you, else he won’t believe me”

Frank slowly took his step backwards, trying to find the door with his hands swaying backwards.

“Jack, who are you talking too? Jesus…”

He was almost at the door when Julie became visible; and with a smile she called out.

“Hello Frank”

Frank froze for a minute or two before he stuttered out

“That’s… Thats Ju…Julie”

No one was giving a satisfactory reply so he fathomed it was actually her ghost.

“Oh, it’s…it’s her ghost”

Jack nodded now.

“I told you didn’t I? You didn’t believe me”
“Oh I do now bro”
“Frank you are shivering”

Jack couldn’t believe he was the one saying that now, he felt proud somehow.

“Or am I? Am not, am fine”

Jack laughed now.

“No bro, you are nowhere fine”
“Jack stop it am fine”

Frank wanted to prove strong now. He adjusted his polo and tightened the Jean. He thought wise to stand properly to face both human and ghost.

He was going to say something else when Favour appeared to grace the scene.

“Alright Jack, it’s time”

It was just as Jack had presumed, Frank lost balance and passed out.

“Oh come on Favour, not again, see what you’ve done”

Favour noticed Frank stretched out on the floor now.

“Who’s that?”
“My friend”
“What? Your friend? What is he doing here at this time?”

Favour was harsh because she knew what was about to happen.

“Hello? I didn’t bring him here, he came on his own, for a friendly visit, that’s what friends do, they…they see each other!”

Favour was not ready to waste another minute.

She mind controlled Jack to stand before her.

“What are you doing? He is gonna die if we do nothing!”

Jack was shouting on top of his voice while making his point. Julie was a little lost in the scene, but there was something she could do about it.

She took Frank in her arms and blew a mild breathe on his nostrils… He jerked back to life and resolved to his shell of fear the moment his vision became clear.

“Jack, Its time, the moon is full”

A chair was mind controlled and Jack was placed to sit, quickly Favour held his head with both hands, she was able to access Just a scene before Siera barged in with a force of a few ghost.

Favour was thrown off balance; Julie brushed off to the dinning; Jack was held up to the ceilings; objects in motion, Frank passed out again.

©onyeneke Abel .December 2017 all rights reserved.
The other side

Continues

What happens next?

The other side 18

Day 17

Jack was on his way back with dinner, he wasn’t sure what Julie might like so he just settled for a random selection of a quick snack and two plate of iced cream.
He was eager to see the glimmer in her eyes when he shows up…a quick thought popped up and he was quick to grab it.

Luckily a flower shop was close by, his exact thought… It was the first time he attempted this, he needed help in his selection. Luckily, a voice called from behind.

“Pick the pink, girls are suckers for those”

It was a middle aged woman, a little plumpy and fair. One look at her connoted that she was the viand to men’s eyes in her youthful days.

“Thank you ma”

He smiled in satisfaction and got back in his car. He felt the need to hum in rhythm with the track emanating from the radio receiver.

Minutes later he got to his apartment and called out immediately.

“Julie?”

The silence gave way for a chilly fear that crept through his veins.

“Julie?”
“I’m here”

She startled him again. He held his chest to breathe well before he spoke out, trying to scuffle with the loads of items he had.

“Emm Julie, first I want to thank you for choosing to save my life, even when you knew it would be at the expense of yours”

He timidly presented the Rose to her and avoided her eyes, the fear of rejection was one he feared.

When she was alive, she had alot of flowers from different kind of people with outstanding caliber. It didn’t matter to her then, she would end up throwing it in a trash can. But somehow, Jack’s Rose felt special.

“Thanks Jack, thank you for saving me too”

He felt her eyes linger on him, he clearly had nothing else to say. Quickly he tried to opt out of the moment when he revealed the snacks.

“Who is hungry?”

His grin met Julie’s frown.

“Jack? Who is going to eat these? I’m a ghost remember? I can’t eat?”

His Jaw dropped in disappointment. How could he forget such an important fact?

“Oh don’t be like this…OK set the table, I’ll feed you, how about that?”

He wasn’t too keen about the idea, it sounded ridiculous. He is not a baby, why would she feed him?

However, her persistence lured him to give in reluctantly.
“Open your mouth wide Jack, I’m gonna stuff you up…none of these would go to waste”

Her words triggered memories of his mother, it was the exact words she always say when she served him with any delicious dish.

She held a spoonful of iced cream and urged him with her eyes.

He wanted to act naughty and so he held the spoon with his lips and got her arm fairly stuck.

“Jack you know I can swing you like a piece of paper round this room”

She warned jokingly.

He chuckled but held it still.

“Yeah I can do that Jack”

He didn’t oblige so she realised her grip from the spoon and sat back to take another look at him.

“You know when I said I never loved a guy, I lied. I actually did…but”

She paused with her head bowed.

“But what?

He released the spoon from his mouth to voice out.

“what happened?”
“I was, I was too bitter with hate, he couldn’t take it, he broke up with me…”

She sighed and looked to observe his expression, he was blank and so she concluded.

“Jack I’m a bad person, I am not capable of love, I’ve hurt too many people Jack, too many people. Bernice knew the exact punishment for me. And it’s not the fact that I won’t be coming back to the land of the living, it’s love. Love is my punishment, because I would never know what it feels like, it’s a pain…its…”

Jack was touched that he felt the need to hush her.

“Julie, you’re too hard on yourself, it’s not your fault you were like that, situations and the cruel potholes of life made you a little harsh”

She wasn’t convinced, with her head bowed she muttered.

“Nice try Jack, but I know I am doomed, I’m just waiting for…”

She paused to look in his soulful eyes.

“I just want to make good use of the moment we would have and save your life before my time runs out”

His right hand touched her cheek, the other hand followed till he cupped both sides with his palm.

“You are going nowhere, I won’t let her take you, I promise”

She resolved that it was all talk, what could he possibly do to withstand Bernice? He is human. Although, she didn’t fail to thank him.

“Thank you Jack”

The moment was ripe and cozy, flares of emotions can be blamed to be the cause for Jack’s next move. His lips brushed against hers; it swept a full rush of passion down her, objects in the apartment began to elevate and float on air.

It was cut short when Frank walked in and called out in confusion.

“Jack? What are you doing?”
©onyeneke Abel .December 2017 all rights reserved.
The other side

Continues

What happens next?

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