Chapter Three - The Red Hat Cult
The crowd that still lingered screamed and scattered as ten dark figures emerged, each one clad in black jeans, red bandanas tied around their heads the notorious Red Hat Cult. They were legends of fear in Mushin and Oshodi. Each man held a weapon: machetes, pump-action rifles, double-barrel guns, chains, iron rods, even charms dangling from their necks.
The names alone sent chills down spines:
Atom - the cold strategist.
Viper - his voice was like venom.
Cyber - twisted, always muttering like a machine.
AK-47 - never without his beloved rifle.
Kana - slim, dark-skinned, eyes always darting like a fox.
Afefe - fast as the wind, restless, unpredictable.
Eruku - huge, towering, his body like a wall of muscle.
Damager - wicked, his scars told stories of slaughter.
Ganger - always smiling, but his smile meant death.
Danger - their cruel mouthpiece, feared most for his ruthless threats.
The street went silent except for Pablo's groans.
Then - tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!!! Gunfire split the air. Damager and AK-47 shot rounds into the sky. The deafening blasts shook the ground. Drivers abandoned buses, private car owners reversed blindly, some smashing into gutters in panic. Hawkers scattered their goods, mothers screamed "Jesu o!" as they dragged their children away. Shopkeepers locked up mid-rush, leaving stalls half-open. The entire Oshodi froze in terror.
Now, it was only Samuel, Pablo, and the Red Hats.
The Circle of Death
The gang circled Pablo like vultures, eyes burning with fury.
Atom (calm but deadly):
"So na here una wan disgrace Pablo? Our Pablo wey dey carry Red Hat for head? Who do this thing?"
Viper (spitting to the ground):
"Na dem Cobra boys o! Dem don stab am. Dem tink say Pablo fit die just like chicken? Na blood go flow today!"
Cyber (twitching, his voice erratic):
"Delete dem! Delete dem all! System crash! Blood for blood, byte for byte!"
AK-47 (rubbing his rifle):
"No be warning shot again. Anybody we catch go drop. I swear by dis machine, I go finish ten men tonight!"
Kana (hissing through clenched teeth):
"Dem wan reduce Red Hat number? Lai-lai. Dem go smell pepper. Omo, na Ogun go judge dis matter."
Afefe (darting his eyes around, pacing):
"Where dem dey? Just show me one Cobra man. I go run him down sharp-sharp. No escape."
Eruku (voice like thunder):
"If Pablo die, na war! Dis area go burn. Bodies go plenty for ground. Na swear I swear!"
Damager (loading bullets, grinning wickedly):
"Dem tink say we dey joke? I go damage this whole Oshodi. Wallahi, today go bloody!"
Ganger (smiling, licking his lips):
"Make e die, make e no die, war go happen. Hehe… me I dey enjoy wahala."
Danger (stepping forward, face twisted in rage):
"Anybody wey no be Red Hat, make dem clear road now! We dey take life tonight. Blood must answer blood!"
Gunfire ripped again into the sky, louder, longer. Samuel trembled but refused to move.
He fell on his knees beside Pablo, sobbing, his voice hoarse but burning with holy fire:
"Pablo! Listen to me! The truth is this: God is not interested in the death of a sinner but that the sinner should repent! Pablo, confess Jesus now before it is too late!"
Blood gushed from Pablo's ruined eye, his back convulsing from the stab of Dragon of the Cobra cult. His breathing was ragged, each gasp dragging him closer to eternity.
Samuel shook him desperately.
"Pablo! If you die like this, you will end up in hell! Please, confess Him! Say it! Jesus is Lord! He is the only one that can save you!"
The Red Hats tightened the circle, their weapons clanging, their eyes glowing with wrath. Yet Samuel's voice rose above the chaos, trembling, tear-soaked, but firm.
"Pablo! Jesus loves you! Even now, He loves you. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus! Please, Pablo… don't go without Him!"
The gang glared at Samuel, confused by his boldness.
Danger snarled, stepping close, his machete raised:
"Pastor pikin, you dey mad? Na here blood dey flow, and you dey preach? You wan die with am?!"
But Samuel did not flinch. He held Pablo's bloodied hand, weeping openly.
The entire bus stop empty now except for echoes of fleeing feet and distant horns had become a battlefield between darkness and light.
And Pablo's soul hung in the balance.