3

The Den as we named it had two opposite windows that gave excess ventilation on the breezy sea irrespective of the fact that we had no thick clothes on. On the shelves above us were packages wrapped in brown papers neatly arranged in rows. Two dim bulbs lightened the place a detachable toilet was at one extreme end. There was no chair or table just a stool at the extreme end where a first aid box was rolled under and a twenty five liter keg was beside filled with water. Nurse Vivian as she introduced herself was the care taker kept to watch us. She was an average sized ladies probably in her thirties. She was dressed in a while nurse uniform and had a cream cardigan on. She was pretty with a bright smile, gap teeth and very soft spoken. To me she was practically the only person that knew how what we were going through at that moment
‘Trust me; I know how you girls feel. Most of you are scared and confused if not all’ she said walking round ‘Most of you have been injured while on your way here because you refused to comply or you asked too many questions or you tried to run or save the day’ she continued
‘I bet you got that knee injury from a fall’ she asked a mixed race girl the girl nodded timidly ‘and you; where did you get that black eye from’ she asked walking up to an ebony slim girl that was two people away from me and stooping in front of her
‘Was rude to Uju if you know who that is’ she said plainly. Vivian smiled
‘What’s your name?’ the girl paused
‘None of your concern’ the girl replied rudely looking straight at Vivian. Vivian smiled and stood up
‘You’ll need each other’ she continued ignoring the girI’s comment as she stood back up ‘I’m sure the bus trip gave some of you a little bonding moment so I want you to reshuffle; sit beside that girl you bonded with. This trip isn’t easy it’s gonna get colder, uncomfortable and harder. Some of you will fall sick and a few of it might not last these two weeks’ as she talked; everyone reshuffled. I couldn’t stand up because Asher held on to me but Muna came to sit beside me, Ejiro sat beside Asher and Ebun sat beside Ejiro. All except Chastity who remained where she was 
 ‘Excuse me ma’ someone called; Vivian turned to the dorky looking girl in glasses ‘You haven’t told us your name’ she continued. 
‘Vivian’ Vivian answered. The girl nodded and went back to picking her toe nails
‘And you are’
‘Oh! ...Kike…..or just call me Kiki’ the girl replied in between giggles. We all looked at her surprised. Who dared to laugh in this kind of situation? Vivian laughed back.
‘Tonia’ Asher called me diverting my attention. Her eyes looked tired and sunken. I looked at her worried
‘Are you okay’ I whispered
‘Put your hand on my neck; do you think I’m developing a temperature’ she asked. I obeyed. Yes she was
‘No… I think you’re okay’
‘Well I don’t feel okay. My shoulder hurts so badly’ ‘And I’m feeling dizzy’ she continued breathing out hot air on me.
‘Well…. I’m sure Vivian can handle that’
‘Excuse me’ I called to Vivian, she looked towards me ‘Asher…..My friend here isn’t feeling too good’ a worried frown came on her face as she approached us
‘What’s the problem dear’ she asked as Asher’s shoulder attracted her attention
‘My shoulder and I’m feeling tired and weak’
‘We all are’ a girl from the other end said. Asher sighed
‘No this one’s different’ Asher continued. Vivian stooped in front of her and put her hand on her neck.
‘You’re running temperature sweetheart’ she said. Asher nodded. She pulled down the hand of Asher’s clothe and looked closely at her wound.
‘Wow… this must be deep. How did you get this’ she asked in a concerned sad but angry voice.
‘The lady we came with. Her hair pin’
‘Uju?’
‘No; Valerie’
‘Valerie did this?’ she asked removing the dressing on the wound and signaling to the girl beside her stool to move the first aid box over ‘This isn’t Valerie’
‘Well she did’ Asher mumbled
‘Christ’ she sighed as she picked up some cotton woll and dipped it into spirit ‘Valerie should have known better’ she moved her shoulder making Asher sigh in pain
‘Stop! My hand hurts’ Asher said crying
‘I know… just trying to confirm. How big was the pin?’
‘It was kind of fat and spiral ish’ Ebun said ‘I saw it’ she continued. Asher nodded
‘There’s a possibility your bone might have been affected so stitching it won’t be advisable’
‘So……what are we going to do’ Muna asked
‘We’ll tie it and redress it and hope it doesn’t get infected’
‘Infected?’
‘It’s an open wound Asher. There’s a possibility’ She put the cotton wool on the wound making Asher growl in pain
‘Shhh… shhh’ she commanded ‘It’s just a wound you’re not in labor’ she scolded. Asher cried out but nodded in submission nevertheless. She removed the cotton wool and put fresh ones on the wound
‘you’ll be okay’ she encouraged as she dressed the wound 
‘Asher right’
‘Yeah’ Asher sobbed
‘I’m gonna tell you this point blank. To this people outside you’re an investment, a source of income. You’re like chickens that lay eggs; anybody that dies is just mortality, a number nothing more. No burial no God be with you till we meet again. The minimum amount of time we spend on sea is a week after which take another transportation. In my time there’s no time when we’ve ever taken in the exact number of girls that go on. There’s always a lesser number but if you survive it to camp you’ll be given the best treatment you just have to survive it there’ she said in a low clear tone to Asher. With that she stood up
‘Anyone else with any injury’ she announced
‘I haven’t eaten’ a girl said
‘I’m sorry sweetie; the only thing I can offer you is water. Is that okay’
‘Not for long. My ulcer attack isn’t pretty’
‘What of the food they offered us’ a girl asked
‘Didn’t have a spoon out of it. Had the impression that it was poisoned’ Vivian giggled
‘What’s your name’ Vivian asked 
‘Boma’ she replied
‘Well Boma, if they wanted to kill you, they would’ve. I’m coming let me ask them if they can help’ Vivian said picking out a walkie-talkie 
‘Muna’ I called. Muna looked towards me
‘I don’t know where we are going to or what they are going to use us for but if I ever get out of here; neither Fola nor Slim will see the next daylight’ 
‘Same here. Let’s just try to survive whatever they plan on doing to us. do you think Asher will be okay’
‘I don’t know Munachi. She’s getting weak’
‘Nothing can happen to her. Lets all stick together through this horror’ Muna encouraged. The padlock was heard and all of us looked towards the door
‘I’m coming girls’ she said leaving the door and shutting beside her. Her exit welcomed silence into the cargo. We all just kept quiet and looked round while some girls whispered discretely to themselves. My head was empty; didn’t know what else to think. One thing was confirmed I wasn’t dreaming. This was very real even though I hoped it wasn’t. a girl laughed out scornfully attracting all of our attention. It was the young lady that had the black eye and was rude to Vivian
‘You all have gotten relaxed haven’t you. We are all in this cow dung being shipped to wherever God knows if its Nederland or Peru and you seem all relaxed and okay with it. Let’s even try to escape this bullshit at least we’ll know we tried and didn’t just sit there. Not less than ten people are in this cargo and we’re fifty girls. We can take them out with a good plan’
‘How many shades of stupid are you’ Kike asked rudely
‘Excuse me!’
‘Abigail no’ the girl beside her cautioned ‘No fights or arguments’ she continued
‘Thomasine please’ Abigail interrupted
‘We’re in the middle of the sea. Where the hell are we gonna run to even if somehow many one out of zillion case we escape’ Kike continued
‘My father has a boat; I know how to control one’ a girl said
‘This is a bad idea’ Muna said. I covered her mouth.
‘Good, I don’t expect everyone to go with the plan. There are always failures in a class’
‘This is not freaking real life classroom drama don’t you get it!’ a girl said. Loud murmuring started in the boat. 
‘We’ll any plan of escaping this cargo I’m in’ someone said
‘Same here’ another girl said
‘Here too’ Chastity volunteered followed by the girl who claimed her father had a boat.
‘When Nurse Vivian comes; we’ll knock her down’ Abigail said standing up and walking to the first aid box
‘I can’t live in whatever shithole they are planning to throw us in. only a fool agrees to endure crap’ she said bringing out the pedicure set that was in it and pulling out the scissors, forceps and other instrument. They handing them over to the girls that agreed
‘These girls think this people are stupid’ Ebun said. ‘wasn’t it just food Nurse Vivian went to get. I’m sure she waited and they are watching us to see what stunt we’ll try to pull’ she continued
‘We try to act normal’ Abigail said sitting down. I looked towards her and in my head I kept on laughing as the thought of what might happen went through my head………………….TO BE CONTINUED

2 CONTINUATION

I looked at Muna as she slowly woke up. Her left eye had turned black from the hit she got and I could tell that she was hurting. She groaned in pain as she opened her eyes attracting everyone’s attention

‘Shhh….’ I cautioned ‘Muna its okay’ I whispered. She opened her eyes and sighed

‘We’re still on the road?’

‘Yeah. But I think they stopped twice to refill the tank. God we should get some ice for your eyes; it’s swollen and black’ I said with a squeeze on my face

‘Ice is the least of our problems Tonia’ she mumbled. I moved closer to her and rested my head of her shoulder

‘I know that Tonia; but we’ll be okay, we always are’ Muna looked up as if she could find some answers there

‘What time do you think it is at this moment?’

‘Its one’ a girl said pointing at Sparrow’s wristwatch. I looked at her, so did Muna and Asher and the other girl whose name I hadn’t gotten yet

‘Hi… I’m Ejiro’ she said with a tomato smile on her face. She was chocolate skinned and obviously tall judging from her long legs. Her smile showed she had a sweet, reserved personality. I smiled at her

‘Are you okay?’ she asked Muna with a concerned look on her face

‘Yes I am…. I guess’ Muna said with a smile. She looked over at Valerie, Sparrow and Job who were fast asleep

‘I wonder where we are now’ Ejiro said

‘Same here’ Muna added and let out a loud sigh after. I looked at the girl opposite me at the last side. Her head was down and she had been awake since but hadn’t said anything since. She just had a sad and confused look on her face

‘Hey’ I called to her. She didn’t answer at the first attempt. I looked away wondering if I should try again ‘Excuse me’ I continued in an unsure voice. She looked at me

‘What’s your name’ I asked. She laughed and looked away

‘My name’ she repeated and looked at me scornfully. ‘You girls don’t realize it do you? We are locked up in a van; maltreated and tied up and you’re here having an introduction party. You don’t know where we are heading to nor where we are at this moment doesn’t that bother you?’ she asked. Asher sighed; she looked towards Asher and then carried her face away

‘I’m Chastity if you must know’ she said turning to me ‘Now it’s my turn to ask you a question; how were you two taken?’ she asked. I looked at Muna

‘Our friends sold us’ Muna said looking straight at Chastity

‘They came to you at home and_:

‘No…. we were going out and well……….the rest happened’ I interrupted. She scoffed

‘My home was ransacked and I was kidnap. I never went out or looked for trouble but I was taken anyway and my dad’s leg was shot’ she said ‘did you even ask the question why me… why you in particular’ Chastity continued pointing at me.

‘Chastity; we all have all those questions in our head but we cant do anything’ Ejiro said in between laughter ‘We can dream about what we could have been eating or where we could have been but that wont change the situation’ Ejiro continued

The bus came to a halt waking Job up. He woke Sparrow and Valerie

‘It looks like we are finally there’ he said to them. Valerie opened the door for the first time in almost twelve hours; it was like we had been imprisoned and had just been released but this time we knew this was the beginning of our imprisonment. I stretched my head to see more of where we are; all I could tell from my chained position was that we were at a port; a sea port to be precise and we were going to be shipped away.

‘Okay’ Valerie started unchaining me first ‘Do not move till I tell you do and when I do form a straight line and walk down like well behaved girls like you are’ she pulled my legs roughly as she removed the shackles  then started with Muna and then the rest of the girls

‘You’ she said unchaining Asher ‘Survive’ she said with a smile. Asher nodded, for the first time I saw Asher agree with Valerie. Valerie looked at us with a sad look on her face then came down

‘Come on! Straight line!’ she commanded in a loud voice. We stood up worn out and weak and obeyed she irrespective of the fact that we were all tired, thirsty and hungry. She stood beside the door and observed us all as we walked down; Job behind Muna who was the last person. As I passed her she looked at me

 ‘She never got hit Sparrow’ she said in between laughter

‘I know, she’s the submissive one’ Sparrow answered

‘It’s really not bad out there’ she told us as we looked at the cargos lined up at the bank of the rivers. we were goods now to this people. where we going to be sold? trafficked? I had watched this in movies where girls were captured and shipped for slavery but I never imagined it happening in real life worst of all to me; We were going to be shipped but the question was to where. I looked round and found out that we were the only one. Over at different points were queues like the one we were in; all young girls probably my age. I pinched myself to wake up from the horror I was in but this wasn’t a dream; this was pure reality and I was in it. I was in this horror reality.

‘Veevee!’ someone shouted from behind turning all our heads ‘Where have you been’ continued the young lady in a bold feminine voice as she ran towards Valerie ‘The white witch of Oz has been calling and asking when the ships gonna leave. I couldn’t tell her you were the one delaying us’

‘I’m sorry Uju. We stopped for fuel and this batch of girls weren’t easy to get’ Uju looked as us with a straight face.

‘Looks like you got all of them though’ she said. Valerie nodded in agreement. They continued their discussion a little more discreetly leaving us wondering what next we were going to do; maybe just stand there. This continued for fifteen minutes till Sparrow directed us away to where a group of girls were gathered at the bank of the river seated and having a meal of rice and water. I looked back and took one more look at Valerie; she didn’t turn to look at us but walked away with Uju, what did she mean when she told Asher to survive? I wish I asked her more questions like where we were or were going to but it was too late.

We joined them and were given our own park and water bottle. On a normal day after being starved for up to twelve hours, any food placed in front of me was eaten with no hesitation but today was different. As I took every spoon of the boiled unseasoned rice, I felt like I was being forced to take down every spoon. I didn’t want their food or water or hospitality, I wanted my home. I didn’t care if it was about to be shattered and I lived with twisted malfunctioned parents. This was no suitable alternative

‘You girls think you’re in some kind of fancy restaurant having some pasta di due salmon or some fancy food!’ a fat huge extremely light woman shouted coming out of one of the cargos ‘Eat up you bastards!’ she shouted. No one told us to hurry our food. Even if we didn’t want to, we all ate quicker

‘You are not seeing any food for the next twenty four hours!’ she roared ‘So I’m going to count to ten and by the last number; I want to see you girls in a long queue with no food or water being rushed and after ten if you aren’t on the queue. Why don’t you stay out of the queue and see what happens to you’ she continued in a sharp uppity voice. We rushed our food faster as she counted by eight; I dropped the half of my rice I hadn’t eaten and my unopened water and ran to the line. My throat was stuck as I tried my best to swallow without water. By ten we were all on the queue. I looked round to locate Muna but I couldn’t find her at the middle of the line where I was. She was probably in front of behind. In front of me was Asher and behind me was a girl I had never seen before. The cargo opened and we were directed into the container lightened with two weak bulbs and ordered to sit down on the floor after which the doors were jammed and a loud padlock jammed behind the door. You know when they say between the devil and the deep blue sea? Meaning someone is confused and indecisive; well there I was seated with the devil on the deep blue sea. There was no confusion with where I stood or what was going to happen. I knew no argument was to be made on what the future held for me because of all I could consider I knew one thing; for me, Muna, Asher, Chastity and Ejiro. The future from that day was no butterflies in eden red rose beautiful experience for us. it was going to be brimstone and molten magma hell; and we weren’t ready for it………………………………TO BE CONTINUED

DROP YOUR COMMENTS RATING THIS STORY ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN. THANKS FOR READING

2

‘Tonia’ someone echoed. ‘Antonia’ the echoing continued. I looked up and found myself in the middle of a palm kernel vegetation whose beginning or end I couldn’t determine

‘Antonia’ the echoing continued now more desperately than before. I stood up and began walking to the east side trying to locate the origin of the voice. I was lost; that was the obvious fact but I didn’t understand why, why was I lost? How did I get here?

‘Who are you’ I asked in a bold voice trying to hide my fear but there was no reply just the continuation of the echoing of my name. I turned round at a spot confused. The voice seemed to be coming from nowhere and everywhere

‘What do you want from me?’ I asked ‘Please let me know who you are’ I begged tears rolling down my eyes ‘I’m lost’ I continued. But there was no response; jut my name. finally the voice came to a halt. I stood at a position; totally confused and lost. I decided to start climbing a tree realizing that maybe I could see someone from the top. I started climbing going higher and higher. The tree seemed to just keep going up with no peak but I continued. Soon I became tired and started missing my step. I finally missed a step that sent me straight to the ground. I opened my eyes and shook in fear as I was about to land on the ground

‘Bad dream?’ a woman beside me asked. I looked sideways and found the woman supposed to be Valerie. It all came to clarity; last night I was kidnapped with Muna or sold to be precise. I looked to my other side and there was Muna soaked in her own tears; her hands chained up to a static rod just like mine and her legs too. Looking round, I realized I wasn’t the only girl in that situation. A light skinned girl was opposite me; wounded seriously on her left shoulder. Though the wound was dressed; I could determine how deep it was. And then three other girls. I remembered the look on all our faces that night. We were simply terrified kids. None of us was more than seventeen. I looked at Muna; she was beginning to seem weak. I tried to jerk the chain off but it just seemed to make the pain of my present situation off

‘Easy Tonia’ she cautioned in a caring voice ‘You’ve been out for close to ten hours now’ she continued. Ten hours? The last time I checked it was around thirty minutes past nine. I looked at Muna; she didn’t seem bold enough to look at me

‘I’m sorry Tonia’ she finally said in tears ‘I know this was all my fault and’

‘Shhh…’ I interrupted in a tiny whisper ‘No…. none of us saw this coming. We would get out of here I promise you’

‘There’s no getting out’ the woman said walking to me. I could tell the car was moving. I looked up at her and sighed; how did she hear me

‘What do you guys want from us!’ Muna yelled rudely ‘If its money; my dad has it. What’s your number; ten million, twenty please just let us go’

‘Mr. Osita Nzeribe right. Yes I know; CEO of Louise and Co Nigerian PLC, one of Nigerian’s biggest entrepreneurs, married to two wives; your mom being the second.  He has being away at Italy for close to three months’ Muna looked at her astonished

‘How did you know my father’

‘Oh I know all of your fathers and mother’ she said in between a mocking laughter. Muna rolled her eyes

‘Yes that’s him’ Muna continued. Muna rolled her eyes

‘Yes that’s him’ Muna continued

‘Well Muna; daddy can’t help you’ Muna looked at her perplexed

‘He died a month two weeks ago and the EFCC just dug out a dirty deal your dad was involved in. your house and everything your father ever built will soon be on lockdown’ she said without any sympathy in her voice. One of the men in the bus with us; the one that grabbed me laughed. I looked in front to locate the driver but couldn’t. we were obviously in a distribution bus and the drivers were always blocked. Muna looked at her in both disbelief and horror. I could imagine what was going on in her head; as if her life just came crushing. She started sobbing louder than before. I wished I could pat her but my hands were chained up. The woman looked up in anger and signaled with her head to the second guy in the bus

‘Job; shut this one up’ she said. Job walked up to Muna and used his elbow to hit her on her head which led her straight to unconsciousness. I opened my eyes in horror. This was happening. My life was over

‘Miss Valerie right’ I called in a shaky voice. She looked at me and let out a small smile

‘Yes…..just Valerie. I’m twenty four not fifty’ she laughed. She seemed to be the only one relaxed in the bus. The girl beside me hit my legs with hers. I looked at her and she gave me a stern look; something like a warning.

‘Oh your fellow recruit is trying to pass a signal. I advise you to listen to her’ Valerie said laughing

‘Are you traffickers, drug pushers… what are you guys’ I pushed out ignoring the girl’s warning

‘Antonia’ she called looking at me sternly. I looked at her. Her eyes were tired and sunken ‘Give up the interrogation or you’ll be the next person to be knocked out’ she warned firmly looking sideways at Valerie in a bad way. Valerie stood up and walked up to her

‘Come on Asher’ she said stooping beside her eyes ‘Owoade right?....tell Antonia how you got that wound on your shoulder’ she continued. Asha carried her head away in disgust

‘Oh………….okay’ Valerie said standing up ‘Job!’

‘I tried to fight Valerie’ Asher snapped in fear. Swallowing as tears try to come down from her eyes. ‘That’s how I got the wound on my shoulder’

 ‘I was just coming out of my school. We had just finished arranging the hall for the valedictory service that’s sure to go on today. As the acting senior prefect, I had to stay late to help. As I left the school around seven in the evening. I saw Valerie, Job and….’ She paused ‘The other guy. Job tried to grab me and I resisted that when Valerie came to help’

‘To cut to the crap; she was stabbed with my hair pin. It’s a defense weapon’ Valerie interrupted.

‘Someone’s waking up’ The second guy interrupted

‘How long has she been out Sparrow’ Valerie asked

‘Precisely fifteen hours now. She just needed an excuse to sleep’ Valerie laughed

‘Poor girl was tired’ the girl jumped up. She had a frightened look on her face. I remembered the first time I saw Ebun. She was nothing like all of us. Unique was the best word to describe her. She was very petite and could be mistaken for a twelve years old kid anywhere. Her big curious eyes and small mouth gave her a squeaky look. Immediately she sat up; the first thing she asked wasn’t where am I or what do you want from me. She asked what the time was

Valerie laughed; so did Job and Sparrow. Ebun didn’t seem to get what was funny but we all did though we didn’t laugh

‘I know what you guys are expecting me to ask; but I asked that question last night and you told me I’ll know with time. I’m waiting for time to tell me but for now I just want to know what hour of the day it is’ she rushed out in a fast smart voice that made me look at her in admiration. She didn’t seem relaxed none of us did but with the way she handled herself in a situation like the one we were in made me wonder  

‘It’s eight’ Valerie finally answered. Ebun looked up at her chained hands and sighed

‘I wasn’t chained before’ she observed ‘My back itches’ she continued. Job laughed again and Sparrow likewise

‘She’s the smart one isn’t she’ Sparrow asked in between laughters

‘Yes… But there’s another like her’

‘In whose Cargo’ Job asked opening a bottle of water

‘Ju’s’ Valerie said plainly. Sparrow nodded

‘Job… help Ebun itch her back’

‘No please no…….’ Ebun resisted but it was too late. Job grabbed her roughly and tore the cloth that covered her back and began scratching her, injuring her seriously. I carried my face away so did Asher. Why? I asked myself. Why the wickedness and the display of ruthlessness

‘That’s enough!’ Valerie finally commanded which made Job stop. He stood up and kicked her aside then walked back to where he was seated. Ebun sobbed for the next fifteen minutes. I cried with her imagining what she might have gone through. I looked at Valerie; she was reading a copy of Genevieve Magazine with no interest of the present situation in her face. ‘I’m dead’ I thought. My final judgment was that they were ritualist. How was I going to get out…… that was a question I knew no answer to………….TO BE CONTINUED