Longest Shortcut

What you most cherish for what you most desire

” Nonso what kind of insane tasks are these? I can shed blood just because of a few pennies. ”

”Few pennies you say ” Nonso muttered to him. ”This is a life changing opportunity. It is a shortcut to success. ”

”Nonso, I have heard of spiritual dealings like this one and how they all turn out tragic in the end. ”

”What do you mean by turn out tragic? It is your own endeavours that will turn out tragic not mine. ”

”Nonso I have heard of things like this, it sounds easy and may look like a shortcut to wealth but in the end the shortcut becomes longer than expected. ”

Cyril had tried his best to talk his friend – Nonso – out of that dreadful idea he had stumbled upon. He even sighted the endings of great men – as it was rumoured – who had endeavoured into spiritualism and how they all ended. Men like Robert Johnson, Urban Grandier and Nicolo Paganini but Nonso would not give heed to his friends plea.

”Look Cyril, I don want to hear anything from you. Just keep your tragic thoughts to yourself, don inflict me with your negativity. Please!

I have set my mind on the prize and nothing will push me off track. If you like say it is the longest shortcut, I will still do what I must do. ”

”Nonso, you mean to tell me that this task given to us by the Oracle doesn faze you even a bit. ”

”Was that a question or a statement? If it was a question here is your answer. As I speak to you now, I do not have a single cent to my name. I am broke and hungry. I didn eat last night before I went to bed. So figure out for yourself what Ill be willing to do so I can eat three square meals or more everyday and have some left to help my family. ”

Cyril sighed in frustration and said.

”Fine then, we will do this but nothing should happen to Abiola. ”

Cyril finally gave in.

The two friends agreed to do what the Oracle had asked. The great Oracle – Akpara Ekpe – had demanded from Cyril the only one he loved – his girlfriend, Veronica. She was everything to him and though she did not feel the same way towards him, he loved her still – Yet he was willing to give her up in exchange for wealth.

It wasn an easy decision to take, he contemplated day and night to find another way o