THE HORSEMEN [3]

The following is based on events articulated in Revelations VI...

Akani Salvador stood on the deserted Prisons Street, the Saturday sun breathing down his nape. All he had was a black polythene bag which held his belongings, a Bible and a dirty t-shirt. He still hadn’t accepted the fact that he’d been freed from prison – Somto’s prophecy had been fulfilled.

After the execution had been suspended, it took the prison services about three hours to process his pardon and release. 

He had no idea where he would go from here – there was no family before he entered prison, none would be waiting now. The only friends he had before prison were renowned criminals; he wasn’t ready to go back to that scum. The voice that spoke to him while he was still bound at the squad had said that he would be waiting outside – but there was no one in sight. 

He turned left and trudged on towards Apapa – his shadow leading him. 

Out of nowhere, a shadow appeared beside his. Akani’s heart faltered and he stopped in midstride. The shadow was at least three times his, in girth and height and it had wings. The shadow shimmered in translucence. Akani turned to his left and saw light dusts swirl around Ariel. He dropped to his knees is fear. 

“Jesus… Jesus… Jesus…” He kept muttering in fear. His heart quaked as he inhaled the dusty road, limbs trembling. 

“He’s in Zion,” Ariel said and touched Akani’s back. Electric bolts surged through Akani’s body but he didn’t raise his head. 

“What do you want with me?” Akani asked. 

“I don’t want anything from you, just here to make sure you fulfill purpose.” Ariel responded. 

“What purpose is that?” 

“For the last fifteen months, you’ve been faithful in little – tending the prisons fellowship,” Ariel said. “Now, you’ve been given a great mandate.” 

“Which is?” Akani asked, still trembling. 

“Warn the world about the imminence of the end.” Ariel responded. “And don’t ask me why YHWH chose an ex-convict like you. I don’t know why. You’ll have to ask him yourself. For now, I’m here to ensure you do his will.” 

“How do I go about doing this?” “Well, address, elders of the seven churches,” Ariel said. “Before you ask, the seven churches are the church in Africa, Rome, England, North America, South America, Middle East, and Asia.” 

“I am just an ex-convict… how…?” Akani stuttered. 

“You have a lot of doubts for someone who just walked out of an execution.” Ariel replied. 

*** 

Aigbe Badejo, President of the Nigerian Association of Pentecostals (NAP), watched the whiskey swirl in the glass in front of him. His palms were sweaty and his tongue thick. The whiskey hadn’t helped. The heart palpitations had come again, third time this week. His doctor had recommended rest. But rest wasn’t an option now; NAP elections were around the corner and he had to retain the office. The office opened doors world over. 

The door to his office opened. Sylvia, his secretary, poked her head in. He motioned for her to come in and shut the door behind her. She did as he returned his gaze to the glass. 

“Sir,” She curtseyed, “he’s still waiting.” 

“Tell him I’m out.” He said without taking his eyes off the glass. Sylvia hesitated, not sure how the haggard-looking guest outside would feel. He’d been waiting at the reception for over an hour. And he knew Badejo was in. 

“Stop thinking and do what you are told.” Badejo jarred her thoughts. As she turned to go, the door opened and in walked Akani. Sylvia stopped dead in her tracks. This guy wasn’t just patient, he had temerity. Badejo snuck the glass of whiskey off his oakwood desk. 

“Sir, please--" She attempted to ask him out but—

“—Mr Badejo, you need to hear me out.” Akani beat her attempt. “YHWH sent me to you.” 

“Get out of my office!” Badejo barked. Akani stared astounded. Was this the NAP president? 

“Sir, the church--" Akani found his voice “--I said get out!” Badejo slammed his desk with his left palm, sending a receptacle of stationery skittering. “How dare you barge into my office and claim to have a message from YHWH? Am I deaf? Can’t he talk to me directly?” 

The transformation from calm pastor to tyrant shocked even Sylvia. The only time the NAP president had gotten this violent was when she mistakenly walked in on him making out with a church member. 

“And what are you still waiting for?” Badejo turned to Sylvia. “Get the guards!” 

She didn’t need to, because two guards rushed into the office. 

Akani kept staring. This wasn’t how Ariel had said this would go. Unknown to him, Ariel and his team were battling the hundreds of demons that cloaked the climate around Badejo’s office. Ariel’s team was losing.

To be continued...

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