When I opened my eyes, every where was pitch black. I tried to move but my head hurt badly. I heard movements around me but I couldn’t see a thing. There was some kind of commotion going on. Movement here and there. Muffled sounds and cries from every corner. I was still trying to figure out where I was but I couldn’t.
Little by little I started to recollect what transpired at the party. I remember walking by the pool side with Makanaki and feeling on top of the world, he ordered drinks for us…The drink!! My eyes widened in shock. It was obvious that my drink had been spiked.
I felt cold breeze on my body and realized that I was naked, the only thing I had on me was my wrist watch.
By this time, I could see the light of day gradually seeping through the dark sky. I was able to see where I was..in a jungle, surrounded by large trees and naked people..I was afraid so I screamed… the loudest and biggest scream that my lungs could let out. I felt a blinding slap on my face followed by blows that landed on every part of my naked body.
An old man came out from behind a red curtain and asked, ‘Who dey shout for there?’
The response I heard from my beater made my skin crawl.
“Baba, na Makanaki meat dey disturb us”
The old man hissed and walked back through the red curtain.
My head was spinning. This was all Makani. So he lied when he said he liked me. He only got close to me for this purpose. Oh my doom!
I felt pains all over my body. I was beaten blue black. I thought I was blind in one eye. My lips were swollen and broken. Pain seeped through every pore in my skin.
Read Also: SunTrust’s N500m loan to benefit 100 female fashion entrepreneurs
We were over 20 people help captive in the jungle. I watched in horror as men and women were raped openly. I watched how people were taken behind the red curtain and they didn’t returned. I didn’t need to be told what went on behind those curtains. Two children were released to their families because the captors had been paid the ransom they demanded.
Before the end of that day, about five new people were brought in, maybe to replace the other five that went behind the curtain and didn’t return. At every opportunity I had, I begged them to let me go but I knew that my pleas fell on deaf ears.
I thought about my siblings, I thought about the way I have lived my life, I thought about my mom and all the trouble she had to go through because of me. I remembered her words of advise, her reproof, her instructions…I remembered her and I cried.
I used to be an average student in school. I could have done better if I put in more effort but school just wasn’t my thing. My parents were ok financially. I had everything I needed but I wanted more. I wanted lots of fun, more clothes and shoes. I wanted the good life and school couldn’t give me that so I dropped out in my third year in secondary. I lived on booze, sex and drugs. I met people who funded the lifestyle I lived. I was living the life.
My mom.. oh how I broke her heart. She warned me several times of how reckless my life had become but as far as I was concerned, she was just a religious old lady.
Speaking of religion, she was one praying woman though. She was never tired of praying. So I thought, since I was in deep sh*t, I could talk to my mother’s God and I hoped He could hear me and help me. I muttered a few words, I didn’t know what to say but I cried for His help. Oh how I cried!.
I looked at my broken wrist watch and it was 5pm. I had been in the jungle for hours, I knew my I family would be worried about me by now. Suddenly I felt a pain in my stomach. I had not given thought to food all day and I wasn’t hungry. I could do with some water but I didn’t see that coming. The pain continue for a while then I felt wetness between my thighs. This couldn’t be happening.. I took pills to delay my monthly period so there was no way I could be menstruating. No way!.
I signalled to one of the female abductors and told her what was happening to me. She screamed and ran off to call Baba and the other abductors. I became more scared than earlier. I saw my life flash before my eyes. Is this how I was going to die? Is this how my young teenage life will be cut short. My clothes, my shoes, the money I’ve been able to save as a commercial sex worker… What will happen to everything?
My life… What a waste.
To be continued.
Udy Osaro-Edobor
@udy’s_chapter
[email protected]
08131180541
