Grabbing The Hot Gate - Episode 21

 

 Japheth watched Stella as she narrated her ordeal to the congregation that stared at her as if they were spectators watching the final penalty kick of their favorite team, and were afraid that any noise could let them lose the match.
Against his custom, he rescinded to the backseat of the church to catch people's reaction whenever she started her confession.
Upfront, Stella was shedding tears with a bowed head and tried hard to use to her shaky sweaty hands to hold the mic to her mouth. At that point, he understood how it was to escape from a powerful cage or person . It reminded him of a scene in the movie, the 100, where many of them were controlled by ALIE. Immediately Clarke Griffin drew the kill switch, everybody returned to their senses. It reminded him of himself, escaping the cage of Alexis.
When Stella left his place seven days ago, it took a while, but he tried to forgive her. Afterwards, he made sure he followed her progress as she stayed at a hotel. However, he couldn't bring himself to visit her. The pain of seeing her move forward with her plan still nudged his heart. Seeing her alone, could make him tie her down. He wasn't the forgiven type, but only a person that had been really forgiven can understand the true meaning of forgiveness. 
That morning before he left home for church, she drove to his place, and requested to go to church in his car because she wasn't sure she would be in a good state of mind to drive herself back.
Suddenly, Pastor Praise came up on stage, looking furious. He yanked a mic off the lectern, and had to steady the lectern because he took the mic with aggression.
'Church, this is why I always preach that we should check every spirit

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/grabbing-the-hot-gate

. Thank God that I and the bible study teacher, Sister Christiana and Sister Gladys did a series of prayers. Can you see how my God is bringing them out? The fire of the Holy Ghost is bringing them out one by one and she would rot in hell with the devil'.
 'Yes', the bible study secretary shouted from her seat.
 Japheth was surprised. That wasn't the reaction he expected from the Pastor of God, and even the bible study secretary. What he expected to see was the joy in their eyes that a sinner was bold enough to declare her new status in Christ. Pastor Praise jumped about the hall as if Stella had just stepped on his tail. His venom wasn't only pouring from his words, they poured from the redness of his eyes, and the way the vein of his neck throbbed, one would be so careful not to taunt him. 
He watched with disgust as some women made innuendos and sent insults to Stella. People kept exclaiming from the different corner of the church, railing curses at her. Many of them rambled off as if they weren't one of those that visited her for counseling and prayers. 
'We will not allow her to go scot-free. The bible says we should kill every witch'.
'Yes', some people shouted, their voice echoing his fear. He brought out his tablet, he was prepared for this. Hurriedly, he began to move to the altar, and was soon followed by an array of protocol officers.
'See my wife is down there with sickness and I kept inviting this witch to my house to join me in prayers. Not knowing, she was the cause of the sickness. My spirit was telling me, but I was disobedient. Oh! I was disobedient, I need to ask God for forgiveness'.
'Ah'
Stella kept turning from Pastor Praise to the church as people started rising one after the other to rail judgment at her. The women had begun to drop their bag and some of them had gone to the extent of loosing their head ties, and wrapping it around their waste.  
'Please I'm now a Christian', Stella pleaded. 'I love the lord'.
'You're a witch', Gladys shouted angrily, and threw her shoe at her.
He never saw that coming. The noise and bickers from the people of the church increased. The protocol officers, who were supposed to calm them down also joined them. The ministers rose and began to move towards Stella, where she was drowning herself in her own tears. Even men rose to be a part of the railing. Japheth was surprised. He knew Gladys was judgmental, but he never knew she could easily turn on the one whom she really adored. One man from the choir jumped too, the moment Gladys rose. 
Even if what he feared wouldn't happen, he would prepare for any eventualities. He flipped open his tab, and began to stream the live feed of the event in the church. As soon as someone got close enough to spit on her, he increased his pace, and changed it to race. The people had begun to march towards her like Zombies, who had just sighted a living being.
'If you touch her. If you dare touch her', he shouted. 'I'm streaming it live. Yes. If you dare touch her You that ugly fat woman, get back. Don't touch her. I said don't touch her. Yes. If any of you attack her or me. The camera is in 3d mode. Both sides. I can see you from the back'.
He guided her forward and people screamed at her. The protocol on his ways parted ways. He couldn't tell the source of his sudden confidence, but he had to help her out of there. There was nothing in the world that would make him a party to this barbaric, devilish, incorrigible act. 
'People, are you seeing me, Doctor Japheth Adeogun, of Black Town, Fortune City about to witness a mass murder at Wild Fire of God?' 
He wrapped his hand around her as he tried to capture their wicked faces.
'Everybody, can you see this? World, are you seeing this? The church that we rely on to shield us from our sin are the ones trying to kill us', he shouted, and led her out as she was still wallowing in her tears. 'No one. None of them to trust'.
Gladys screamed something incomprehensible, but he had to increase his speed because in a few seconds, the congregation had started shouting. 'Witch! Get out!'
They entered his car, and he drove off amidst his people's curses, his own rants, and Stella's cry.
'You're leaving town', he grumbled.
'I'm not leaving'.
'Why?'
'I need to fight her'.
'Who?'
'Gladys. She is the new priestess of Black Town. She would destroy the church. She would destroy us. There is a prophecy. She would give birth to the most dreadful thing that had ever been born since the days of the giants'.
On his way home, Mirabel called to tell him she saw the livestream on her way to her church, and tried to know if he was fine, which he replied in the alternative. She promised to come visiting as soon as she returned from church.
He turned to Stella, ' you know what, ma? Instead of going home to cry your eyes out, let's go to a church'.
She nodded and wiped her face. 'At least, I can still serve God with my remaining age and start in a place I'm not known'.
         That evening, when he was sure Stella was safe, when the tension had reduced, he asked Mirabel to be his girlfriend. Like every woman, she told him she would think about it. After their meeting, she agreed to go to his house with him to spend the rest of the evening, to watch a horror movie. Chuks was rude to her because she almost fell while typing into her phone as they walked into Japheth's house, but Japheth let it go because Chuks was drunk. He was free from Alexis, and Chuks would get over her. His life was becoming fresh, and as she marched into his house, trying hard not to get angry, he breathe-in fresh air. Freedom was beautiful.
Mirabel from the room shouted that his room was a disaster, that she would have to arrange it before she left for her house that evening.
 He smiled as he turned to Chuks, who was vomiting, and said, ' tonight, I won't sleep'.                            

***
Everybody accepted the lie and Mr. Akanni sold it well. Pastor Praise spearheaded the prayer session in their new house. She watched every one of them walk about and pray in tongues, trying to sanctify the house.
 After they sent Stella out of the church, she informed the pastor that Stella once occupied the house that belonged to her fiancé, that she needed them to come to pray for the sanctification of the house.
Available with her in the house was Pastor Praise, and his fat wife, who held hands like Fiona and Shrek. The prayer secretary and his assistant, the bible study secretary and her assistant, the fornicating assistant pastor, and his wife all moved about like scattered ants. Others prayed fervently, and she wished she could see their spiritual level like Stella could do. When they've all left, she would return to the power house to get more power. Mr. Akanni had immediately handed over the paper to her. She laughed at his foolishness because immediately after marriage, her demon had hinted that he must die in sacrifice for the great work ahead.
She meandered to Christiana's side and walked with her. 
'Stop pretending', Gladys said with clenched teeth.
Christiana sighed, and flashed her a big plastic smile. The line above her upper lips made her look ominous. ' Pretending in what way, my dear sister'.
'I'm not your sister'.
'What do you mean then, rookie?'
'I'm your royal highness. I'm the priestess'.
Christiana chuckled, and hit Gladys gently on the shoulder. 'What do you know? You're a baby'.
'There's no need to fight'.
'Are you for real? Are you afraid mummy is not here to save you?' Christiana replied as the two of them walked away from the others to the other end of the house. 'I should have suspected she was a witch, but at least I give her respect for her diplomacy'.
'Like I said, we don't need to fight'.
'Yes, we need to lap from the same bowl and sleep together as if we don't know you're trying to use another type of knowledge to take control of Black Town and Fortune City'.
'We can work together. I'm starting the Wicca school soon'.
Christiana grinned. 'She wants to start Wicca school, so we should jump. We're not taking your offer. We're fine on our own'.
'In your archaic ways that made you not see Stella'.
'She was older than any of us. Let's give her that. You should also give us the fact we are more experienced. See I have to leave you to your painful journey'.
'We will train young girls together', Gladys said and grabbed her hand. Christiana turned red as she glanced at her hand and glowered at Gladys, who released them immediately.
'We are not training'
'Your young girls too. I have the resources. Lucifer would accept me soon'.
Christiana smiled at her. 'Where's your coven? You need a coven before he can give you his crown. Mummy didn't tell you. No. She didn't. She ran away to the merciful, long suffering God.

Read " Purified Tomorrow: The Mad Awakening " by the same author ( Akíntayo Akinjide )

. So, as you can see that you're the Queen of your house, this accursed house'.
She petted Gladys' cheek, and flashed her a big smile. Gladys felt bad again. After getting power from the most powerful person in the whole of Nigeria, she still felt useless. She walked back dejectedly and had to control herself from crying. She had lost in all ways. She saw the way Japheth was rallying round Stella the other time.
She had lost Japheth and Elizabeth to Stella. She had lost control of the place to her inexperience and Christiana. She would find girls, a lot of them at that, and she would have the best school of witches in the world. They would excel and beat any witch that ever exist. She would show them her might. They would conquer the Christians also, anyone that came their way.