KILLING HELEN

THE SAILORS

Charles, Robbin, Bobby, and Laycon had never been friends. Something brought them together. In character, they were opposite as well as their thoughts. Charles, the darkest and slight slim figure of them all was a gambler, though nobody knew about it, it was the only side of him he kept secrets. He could do anything for gambling whether he won or not. Charles was not a fan of drinking or smoking but enjoyed winning in gambling.

Robbin never gambled but loved smoking. Though it never showed in his appearance, it always showed in his outdoor friends. A packet of cigarettes was too small for Robbin, only when he was too tired he have the one packet in his system. He kept to himself, he was the definition of a slow poison.

Bobby's weakness was women but a selective one at that. He had eyes only for the big-sized endowments, he hated skinny and so would ignore them. Bobby was the most popular, not only was he handsome but he was loved by the women.

Laycon above all was the simplest, though gay which made it a little complicated but he was more soft and understanding. Laycon hated argument and so hides from whatever occurrences. They were gangs in one and where you see one you see the other, though different in characteristics, they shared one goal, "Money", they needed to make more of it as quickly as possible. Seeing Helen as a possible prey they decided to pounce on her, they saw her as nothing but a depressed soul who was so desperate for a suitor and took it as a veil against her.

Just as Caleb was a planned suitor for Helen, so were Felix, Castro, Ben, and Eddy. Though the breakup between Eddy and Helen was not planned it still ended in disappointment like the rest and they were still convinced their plans were going according to plan. They just needed a good shot to kill the whole birds in that area. They were getting impatient, the only blockade they had was Laycon.

Laycon had been their leader since they came together. He was the most understanding and above all authoritative.

                  ****

He knew his next action was not right but he had to do it, as soon as this new guy made the one-click needed he had to run as fast as possible. He would kill them all, leaving no trace that will link to him, he would have to burn their bodies. They were losers and had to be dealt with by only him.

                  ****

"Turn the beer well, today is my birthday", Robbin instructed the Waiter. He was going to have the whole money in this world, what does he have to think about. Robbin owed Savage fun club close to a million naira but they could not throw him out, he was their regular customer and people felt he was rich seeing him with Helen Paul, whose father was a shareholder in the clubhouse.

"Sir is there any other thing you would like to take", the Waiter politely asked. " No, for now", he grotesquely said. " But be alert", he added.

After an hour of drinking, he stood up to join some group of girls who he had been watching dancing and twerking in their seats.  "Can I?" He asked. When he saw they were paying little attention to him, he sat to watch them, and just before he could speak up, Bobby had joined them.

"Hello little birds", Bobby shouted aloud while sliding in. Noticing the ladies smiling at him seductively he added, "May I know your lovely names?". "Cindy", "Mary ", and " Becky", they answered respectively. Just then he noticed Robbin and clapped.

"Man are you stalking me",

"I should be asking you that Bobby, king of all skirts".

" You just here enjoying yourself, man. Why didn't you holla your boy?"

" No quarrels, my eye won't let me carry my phone".

" But you can carry your drink, you mad man". Bobby jokingly raised a fist at him.

" At least, I'm better than you".

"How?"

"Not when you love women with your eyes till they kill you".

" Ehnnn, let them kill me".

" So leave me with my drink as well, let it kill me".

While Robbin drank, Bobby flirted with the girls. Robbin caught him at some point using both hands to work underneath the skirts of the girls. After some minutes, the two girls whispered something to Bobby's ear, which immediately made him stand up and held the bottom of his trousers. Robbin could sense he had a hard-on and smiled while he waved to them.

             "Enjoy ya self" he shouted while they left.

***

The sound of the bell woke Charles up. He was still trying to know how he got back home and who drove him, his environment sensed strangely. Still wide awake seated on the bed, he realized that the knock on the door was becoming loud.

"Who is there?" There was no response, he wondered who would have the mind to disturb his sleep.

"Tell me you are born deaf?" Still, there was no answer.

The moment he opened the door, he sighted nobody, he angrily closed the door. He knew he had lost everything, he knew he had lost the money. Going back to his bed he heard the knock again which got him shaken this time around. Immediately he rushed to the room and brought out his penknife which he had hidden in his locked drawer. Charles didn't have time to wear anything apart from his shorts, he hurriedly left the room. On getting to the parlor, he reached for the door after unlocking it, with his knife at the front. He didn't see anything at first.

"Show yourself, who is there?" Still no answer, suddenly he felt a hard blow on his nose, which pushed him back into his house.

The person behind it was all covered up in a black mask, it was obvious he didn't want Charles to point out his identity.

"Fuck!!! What the hell do you want from me?" Charles shouted aloud.

"You took my fucking share of money and gambled it again, do you think you are smart?" He kicked Charles on his side and bent to raise him ignoring his struggles pressing his neck in an attempt to kill him.

Charles tried to struggle free but he was only wasting his little strength, the man behind the mask was way stronger and tougher than him. This was how he was going to perish, it was so soon. He prayed silently that this man pities him.

"How much do I owe you".

" You can't pay me, just die"

Charles was seeing blackness.

"Please just give me today.....pl...ea....se..." Charles saw a blackout as he fell to the ground.