ONE RED NIGHT (I)

      Community Boys college is a small public secondary school with a couple hundred students. Its red brick structures is resplendent within the verdant and lush ambiance. It is surrounded and guarded by hills, trees and the rising and falling topography of Enugu state in southeastern Nigeria. Despite the location of the school and inadequate social amenities in the small town where it is situated, the school never failed to win lawn mowers, cutlasses and other cleaning implements every year- the prize for the annual 'most clean and beautiful school' competition. But with the beauty and brilliance of the school comes complaints and grumbles of students and even some teachers of the poor state of facilities and most disturbing, the terribly poor telephone signal in the area.
   They crept out of the dormitory and into the night with only one thing on their minds - It's been months since the last "all night" party. Girls from neighboring schools were invited but the party will also be attended by some uninvited guests who crave for the fun of city life which they miss through out the school year.

He knew the bush path like the back of his hands. Effortlessly, he led the other four to a place were the students refer to as the golden gate, a small opening created on the part of the school fence right behind the hostels used for nefarious activities outside the school.
       "What's wrong with that torch?" asked Paul as he almost slipped trying to crawl through the small opening the size of an entrance into a local poultry house.
       "It's the batteries," Emeka replied as he hit the torch continuously on his palm in a bid to revive it.
       "No need to worry anyway, I know the way to the 'flat hill' like the back of my hand" he added.
       "Flat hill?" Taiwo, the oldest whispered from behind referring to a small plateau a hill outside the school. Students had previously precariously used the plateau to organize clandestine meetings and parties away from the prying eyes of teachers who live nearby.
       "is that the venue for the party?" he pressed on as a low rumble of laughter erupted from the twins. He knew better than to fool himself any further, else he might turn to the topic after the alcohol starts talking through his friends.
      
       Emeka walked on as the familiar voices which had troubled him since he was "marked" returned. A cacophony would seem to morph into what sounded like a monotonous stream of music repeatedly. It almost drove him insane the first time the voices paid him a visit. He stopped short and bent over with his hands over both ears as he winced in pain.
       "wetin happen?" Paul inquired in pidgin English.
       "It's my toothache again, I think." he lied and kept moving.
       "Forget the kisses tonight, friend." Joshua teased.
       "I thought that tooth was removed", Caleb asked his elder brother who replied with a shrug of his thin shoulders. They continued in silence through the bush only broken by the snapping of dry twigs and rustle of dry leaves by their feet.