Heads!
Born into a middle-class home, Jane never had too much, but never went without.
She was a natural charmer and a taste of her cakes was even more charming. Not too long, calls for orders began to roll in, especially for events and gatherings. Within the space of three years, she had savings, online presence and delivery routes to other cities. Life was steady until it was no longer.
Jane had a boyfriend, Michael. They've been lovers for almost four years. They met during their university’s final-year dinner: she in a flowing red gown and he in a black suit. They became inseparable since then.
With a first class degree in Banking and Finance, she applied for every job she could find, including those outside her field of study. When no company called her for an employment offer, she opened her own bakery shop. She backed it up with a bold plan: knocking on every door within her reach.
“Hi, I’m Jane Badagry, your not-so-far-away neighbour. I'd like to bring some sweet delights to your home if you don't mind,” she would say with a warm smile.
She was a natural charmer and a taste of her cakes was even more charming. Not too long, calls for orders began to roll in, especially for events and gatherings. Within the space of three years, she had savings, online presence and delivery routes to other cities. Life was steady until it was no longer.
Jane had a boyfriend, Michael. They've been lovers for almost four years. They met during their university’s final-year dinner: she in a flowing red gown and he in a black suit. They became inseparable since then.
When Michael offered to help her secure a better apartment, she entrusted him with all her savings. A few days later, Michael changed contacts, moved out of town and disappeared. His colleagues at his former workplace narrated how he’s been involved in series of fraudulent activities against the company until he was relieved of duty some months back.
And just like that, Jane's savings and relationship were gone in one sweep.
She rebuilt from scratch, but the income wasn’t enough. The hope of securing a good paying job remained elusive, while every interview ended with “We'll get back to you", which they never did.
On June 2nd, during the company's general meeting, Mercy arrived with her eldest brother Maxwell. He was tall, slender, with fixed dimples that made his smile seem permanent. Mercy introduced Jane to Maxwell and they exchanged pleasantries. He reached and touched her shoulder with his left hand. His touch lingered on her longer than expected.
After the meeting, Jane was summoned to the conference room as though she had done something wrong. On getting there, she met Maxwell standing by the door. He was holding the same kind of flowers she’d been receiving.
“Have you been stalking me?” she asked.
He smiled “No, but Mercy has been on my behalf.” He told her how his sister had shown him pictures of her at the wedding party and how he'd fallen in love with her on the spot. He asked her out on a date which she accepted. He was charming, attentive and consistent with gifts.
And just like that, Jane's savings and relationship were gone in one sweep.
She rebuilt from scratch, but the income wasn’t enough. The hope of securing a good paying job remained elusive, while every interview ended with “We'll get back to you", which they never did.
But then there was Mercy, her new friendship.
They met at a wedding party where Jane was the cake designer. Mercy, the daughter of a wealthy oil magnate, worked in one of her father’s companies, 'Streams'. She told Jane about an urgent opening for the position of a receptionist at the company because the last lady just died. Jane was curious and wanted to ask about the cause of her death but couldn't risk ruining her chances of getting the job.
They met at a wedding party where Jane was the cake designer. Mercy, the daughter of a wealthy oil magnate, worked in one of her father’s companies, 'Streams'. She told Jane about an urgent opening for the position of a receptionist at the company because the last lady just died. Jane was curious and wanted to ask about the cause of her death but couldn't risk ruining her chances of getting the job.
The following week on a Monday morning, Jane was set for an interview at the company. She was accorded to the manager’s office. There was no interview, but a congratulatory handshake and a directive to resume office immediately. The pay was too good to be true for the position of a receptionist. "Oh dear! I believe luck has finally found my address", she said to herself.
Months later, she began to receive beautiful flowers on her desk before she arrived at work. She was curious to know who it was that dropped the flowers. She began to go to the office earlier than the normal resumption hours. But no matter how early she was, the flowers were always there before her arrival.
Months later, she began to receive beautiful flowers on her desk before she arrived at work. She was curious to know who it was that dropped the flowers. She began to go to the office earlier than the normal resumption hours. But no matter how early she was, the flowers were always there before her arrival.
On June 2nd, during the company's general meeting, Mercy arrived with her eldest brother Maxwell. He was tall, slender, with fixed dimples that made his smile seem permanent. Mercy introduced Jane to Maxwell and they exchanged pleasantries. He reached and touched her shoulder with his left hand. His touch lingered on her longer than expected.
After the meeting, Jane was summoned to the conference room as though she had done something wrong. On getting there, she met Maxwell standing by the door. He was holding the same kind of flowers she’d been receiving.
“Have you been stalking me?” she asked.
He smiled “No, but Mercy has been on my behalf.” He told her how his sister had shown him pictures of her at the wedding party and how he'd fallen in love with her on the spot. He asked her out on a date which she accepted. He was charming, attentive and consistent with gifts.
One Saturday evening, he invited her over to one of the family's restaurants that he was the manager. “Baby, close your eyes for me would you? I'd like to show you something” he said to her with a grin.
He led her into a room lined up with industrial freezers and asked her to point to any of the freezers that she'd like him to open first. She picked the first on the row. Maxwell gave her a wider grin as he opened the freezer.
He led her into a room lined up with industrial freezers and asked her to point to any of the freezers that she'd like him to open first. She picked the first on the row. Maxwell gave her a wider grin as he opened the freezer.
Jane was clouded by the smoky vapour that poured out. Next, she was standing face to face with the unalived heads of different ladies staring at her in silence. They were wrapped in transparent nylon bags with each having their names tagged on their foreheads.
Jane recognised one of the heads. It was the head of the receptionist whom she'd had to replace after her demise.
“Contained in these freezers” Maxwell whispered to her, “are the heads of all the women who attempted to leave the relationship after they discovered that I was not capable of mating with a woman". He caressed her chin forcefully with a fixed smile still.
Jane’s scream never made it past her throat.
Now, she lies in a hospital bed. Beside her, Mercy and Maxwell sit, smiling those same fixed smiles.
Jane recognised one of the heads. It was the head of the receptionist whom she'd had to replace after her demise.
“Contained in these freezers” Maxwell whispered to her, “are the heads of all the women who attempted to leave the relationship after they discovered that I was not capable of mating with a woman". He caressed her chin forcefully with a fixed smile still.
Jane’s scream never made it past her throat.
Now, she lies in a hospital bed. Beside her, Mercy and Maxwell sit, smiling those same fixed smiles.
Comments
Post a Comment