Hushed Echoes

It happened while he was standing beside a billboard reading a vacancy advertisement when all of a sudden, he heard some people screaming and shouting;

“Thief! Thief!” He was not bothered until he saw somebody flinging a portfolio on him, He stood there confused and became cold with fear.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Before he knew what was happening, hostile mob had apprehended him, beating kicking and thrashing him with whatever object they could lay hands on, he tried to defend himself but nobody was ready to listen to him.

“He must be burnt alive” declared the man who was identified as the owner of the portfolio that was found on him.

He paused and clenched his fist to punch marco’s head, ” I won’t listen to anybody, this thief won’t go Scott free he must be burnt today” he continued.

A large number of people had gathered within a very short time, looking for any available object to use as a way of contributing their own quota towards the crucifixion.

“He must die! nothing will save him today, all these armed robbers have threatened our lives and properties too much. Just yesterday, they burgled my shop and made away with all the goods i have, thank God, Goodness Nemesis has caught up with one of them at last. Everyday is reserved for the thief, but only one day is for the owner” one of the mob jeered at Marco with bloodshot eyes.

“Burn him! Burn him alive!” the whole crowd shouted.

“Someone should go and get a keg of fuel fast” ordered one of them.

A gallon of fuel and four used tyres were brought, marco appealed to them and pleaded his innocence, but the mob remained adamant, yet he did not relent, His voice became resoundingly audible.

“I am innocent! I am innocent. I swear I know nothing about this. Please, let me go in the name of God. I am not a thief. let me go” he shouted on top of his lungs.

” Shut up! You thief! After you have steal, you want to prove innocent? You will fit in hell na for hell” said one fat woman as she hit Marco’s head with a rod.

By a twist of fate, Fred was riding toward the same location to deliver some letters, he sighted the crowd and became curious.

He was completely bewildered by the coldblooded treatment meted out to his friend.

“Stop it please! Stop it, Let’s give him a chance for an explanation. I can’t believe what i am hearing”. Fred screamed on top of his voice, after he had jumped down from the bike, He pushed himself toward through the crowd.

His appeal was strengthened by the fact that the man whose portfolio was alleged snatched happened to be his boss in the office.

The man beckoned on the crowd to stop the thrashings and quickly turned around to face Fred.

” What do you mean by that? ” the man asked.

“I’m sorry Sir, but he is my friend. He just came to Lagos five days ago. I am surprised. I can hardly believe the allegations levelled on him. That is why I’m insisting that he is allowed to explain”

Marco prompted seized that opportunity to vindicate himself.

” I swear in the name of God, I did not snatch any portfolio from anybody, I was standing there trying to read through that billboard, when somebody ran passed and threw the portfolio on me. Honestly, I did not do it, I am completely innocent” Marco said with misty eyes.

“Well, I think he is telling the truth, beside i was wondering because the person who snatched my portfolio got a tattoo on his hands, indeed, I feel deeply sorry for him” the man apologized profusely and offered some money as reparation and also to enable him take care of his medical expense.

Fred took him to a nearby chemist immediately, and he was given some treatment together with some drugs to help relieve his pains.

From the chemist, he drove with him straight home, however fred was not able to keep him company because he needed to report back to work.

As Marco lay helplessly on the bed, he felt his entire body engulfed in agonizing pains.

And as the pain grew intense, his mind afflicted with the most traumatic imagination, had Fred not arrived there at that point in time, he would have been burnt to ashes for a crime he knew nothing about.