I stood on the roadside waiting for a taxi for more than 2 hours, I never knew I would stay so long at Florence’s house after visiting her after Sunday service.
“Arrghh! is already 10:30 pm oo…Ebute meta! Ebute meta!!!!
A car stopped as I ran to it, I just want to leave this vicinity because is now so quiet, and no many people around again.
“Good evening, Ebute meta.” I said as he told me to enter.
“while will you stay this late outside Young lady.” He asked as I entered.
I told him how I have been standing on the road for long not seeing bus or taxi going to Ebute Meta He then said to see cab at this time will be so difficult and moreover it’s really late.
“Thank you so much.” I said happily as he smirks while driving.
I called my mother that I’m already on my way. She continues to lament on why I would stay back at my friend’s house till that late hour.
“Mama, at least I said I’m already coming, so why the fuss na!!
“WhyI no go fuss? tell me, I told you not to stay out late because of the rate of kidnapping these days but you refused to listen to me abi Cynthia ehn!
“Mamaaaaa!!! I said I’m already coming ha! nothing will happen to me abeg!.” I said and hung up.
I don’t know why she’s always complaining on what is not necessary, Florence called me and I told her I’m on my way home already.
“I don’t know why it’s like this today ooo because normally there’s never a scarcity taxi or buses…..”
“I shall don enter one Sha and I go soon reach house.” I answered her.
“Is it taxi?.” She asked.
“Yes.” I answered.
“Abeg shey na real taxi ooo because a lot of kidnappers are outside with different tactics.” She said in which I laughed.
“Abeg you people should leave me jare, am I a baby that won’t know the difference between taxi and private car.” I answered while the driver roll up the glasses.
“Sha be careful because I told you to stay back since is late but you refused.” She said.
“I understand all these you have been saying since, is because you want me to sleep in your house but, you should know your boss won’t take it likely with me if I should not take the printed sales record I did during the weekend to work tomorrow.
“Well, I know Sha, Gabriel lover.” She sounded jokingly.
“Please you better stop it if is a joke, I don’t like him again abeg he his too arrogant for my liking.” I answered in harsh tone.
“I don hear you aunty, but in my own view the way he has been overacting with you, it clearly shows his type of attraction to you, remember what I told you when you were here, anyways sha call me when you get home.” She said and ended the call.
I don’t believe he could be having some admiration towards me with the way he do relate with me all the time and even if it’s so I don’t think I can date a rude person like him at all. I might like him ooo but I don’t know while I always feels hatred towards him whenever I see him. I looked at the driver beside me as he concentrated looking forward, I then decided to look at the back seat to see those that are seated there in a glance.
“How much sir? I didn’t even ask when I entered.” I said while opening my bag.
No response from him.
“Oga, I dey ask you question na?.” I said looking at him.
No response again.
“Okay, fine, stop let me get down here.” I said as he didn’t answer.
I looked behind me again to see those at the back very well and realized at that moment that I have entered one chance.
“Sir
“Sir…”. I called as non of them answered.
I looked at my bus stop where I’m supposed to alight and started calling on God for help.
“But this is a taxi na!”. I muttered looking scared. I tried rolling down the glass and opening of the door and realized they have been locked.
“Ha! Jesus! yeh! sir, sir! I beg you in the name of God, please and please I’m the only child of my parents and my father is late so I’m living with my mother alone.
As I was saying all these my phone rang and I quickly pressed the answer button without their awareness so that whoever might be calling, would know what is going on.
“DO IT!!
The driver said as I got knock on my head and fainted.
3 hours later
I opened my eyes looking around a room ceiling as I stand up immediately.
“Where’s this place?.”
I looked around and didn’t see my bag.
“Ha! Cynthia your own don done!!! am I dreaming or what? or will I say they decided to kidnap me purposely due to what they heard me saying to my mother.
“Is as if I’m the only one they kidnapped ooo should I shout or what, ha! Jesus! Jesus!! Jesus!!!
I went to the window side to check if I can open it and realized it’s locked. A hand tapped me from behind as I gripped in fear.
“I have been watching you ever since you woke.” A young lady said.
“Who are you?.I asked moving backward.
“You don’t need to be scared of me as I have also been kept here for days.” She said.
“Why? what happened? what did we do?.” I asked.
“Those are the questions I have been asking them ever since.” She said looking at me.
“Do they torture you?.” I asked going towards her.
“They didn’t but a ransom was requested.” She answered.
“Jesus! ransom? how much?.” I asked.
“10 million and….”
“Jesus!!!!!!!.” I screamed.
“You better don’t shout in other not to Alert them or else they might change their mind and kil l you. She said.
“huh!! God forbid, it will never happen in Jesus name!.
“Amen ooo.” She said.
“Have you then given the money to them?.” I asked.
“Yes, I have but…..”
“But what again? I asked surprisingly.
“I was told that the person who sent them told them that their task is to eliminate me after collecting the money.
“You mean after collecting such amount of money from you they are still going to eliminate you, why? you should have asked them who sent them.” I asked in awe.
“That’s just it, that’s the painful part of it.” She said and started crying.
“Come on tell me, what is painful?.” I asked.
She then said her friend was the one who set her up with the kidnappers and that while she was blindfolded she heard her telling them that she shouldn’t be kept alive since she has heard her voice. What baffles me most is when she said one of the kidnapper told her that they can’t eliminate her now because they will still need to use her to extort more money from her stepmother.
“Your friend? obara Jesus! why? what did you do to her?.” I asked exclaiming while imagining things.
“Ehn, could it be that…..no! let me not presume such hun’ hun! she can’t do such to me Never!
“Who is that?. She asked.
“Nevermind!.” I answered.
“I was so shocked because I never expected that from Vero at all. I cried and pleaded that she should tell me my offense but what she kept saying is that I’m an obstacle to her.
“Obstacle of what? abi she dey craze! which kind obstacle, shey you collect her boyfriend ni? abi did you steal her money? watin I dey talk sef? you wey get money already. But why would she want you kil led because of money, like your own money ooo.”
“I really don’t know, and I really wished to know.” She said in tears.
what is your name?.” I asked.
“Anita and you?.” She asked.
“Cynthia. So, what do we do now?.” I asked.
