17/02/2021
__Bloody claws_🐾
Episode 2
♦Ada's POV♦
The scotching February sun has been brutalizing my already dark skin, turning it into a more darker complexion. How do I report this unruly creation to it's creator? Arrgh!!! I feel oppressed! I must have to make it to mother's shop before I collapse and never get to complete my gist. I know you need me alive, so I'll pass.
You know I'm a little bit impatient to tell you all about it. So maybe I can just get talking since I'm almost a stone throw to mothers shop.
Last night, I heard father telling the other neighbours about Ife's. He said she set off that morning as usual, dressed to kill. It was on a valentines day and the whole neighbourhood was rowdy and brewing with music. I remembered begging mother to allow me attend the little party holding down the street and she shut me up with an offensive 'no'. I never told you, mother can be a pain in the neck sometimes, but she was right for stopping me. At least I am only seventeen and I didn't know how horrifying life could be out there. I pretty much felt suffocated whenever she spread her wing if guidance. But now I know why.
Least I forget, I personally did not see Ife that morning, but father said she walked a little down the street before she was picked up by a man in Lexus 370. If it were before, I would be curious to know what kind of dress she wore for the outing and of course, how she looked on her makeover. I must have been crazy right? Yeah! I was, but just a little bit.
On that very day, she left and never returned. I sat in front of mothers provision shop as usual but this time with Ona. Sad to remember how she kept spewing nonsense about cakes, chocolates, flowers and love bla bla bla....I hated having to baby sit that kid whenever she missed school due to her illness. She knew exactly where to hit me and snap me back to reality when I'm loosing it and trying to escape from this planet.
The valentines day celebration ended with me having to clean up Ona's smelly vomits and shudder at her scary manifestation that night. As I was busy helping mother pack up so we could close for the day after the whole radda radda, Ife's mother dashed into our shop crying and pacing up and down. Mother dropped off all she had in her hands and went to question her.
"Mama Ife, what is the matter?" Mother asked.
"My sister, I'm finished!" She answered almost in a rush.
"Tell me, what happened?" Mother questioned further. At this point I was beginning to lose my cool. Why is she taking so much time to explain the reason for her sudden outburst.
"Mama Ada, my daughter is missing, no....I think she is in trouble! Oh God save my daughter..." She said and bursted into more tears. I literary held my jaw with both hands and stared at the woman in confusion. This isn't the first time Ife would be home late from her numerous outings, so why was she making a big deal out of it this time? I was getting irritated but decided to stay put and wait for mother to resume the packing since she had the only available torch light in her palm.
"Mama Ada, they want to harm my daughter,,,,, aarrr...aarrr...but my God will shame them"
"Amen! Nothing will happen to Ife. But can you tell me what is going on first?" Mother had suddenly become curious and wanted to get to the real matter.
"I got a call from Ife this evening, she called with a strange line. And only to hear her crying and pleading with a shaking voice that I should come and save her. She sounded scared, mama Ada. My Ife is in trouble"
By this time, mother was holding her with both hands with the torch light lying on a nearby table.
"Did she tell you where she is and what happened to her?" Mother asked.
"She couldn't even say much. She said she doesn't know where she is at the moment. And she was calling with a phone she found in the room where she is being locked up."
"Hei!....and you still have time to cry?" Mother shouted and rose up from the chair holding mama Ife. "We need to go to the police station" mother suggested.
"Thank you mama Ada, that is why I came. Please let's go"
Immediately they both made to leave my jaw dropped and my hands fell to my laps. I was so shocked that I didn't know when mother handed the torch light over to me. Her voice snapped me out of my reverie. "Pack the remaining goods and take Ona home. Tell your father that I'll be back soon" That was all I needed to be assured that I was still alive. I hurriedly packed up and headed home with Ona in great fear. I was beginning to get scared of this world and the things happening inside of it. What would be the fate of Ife by tomorrow, would she be lucky enough to come back safe? Oh! I'm as worried as you are but I'll keep my hopes high and believe she'll be back before day break.
~To be continued~
PS: I'll be dropping Ife's POV next. I know you're as curious as I am. Let's find out together in the next episode. 👁
Flashback picture: Those days as a teacher. 💓
©Deborah Udochukwu Obiorah
17/02/2021
@ Mymuse.com
