I Never Left You

16. Strange

I slowly try to wake up with a headache. I try to lift my hands but they seem to be made of concrete. I try to find my pillow but in vain. Slowly I fully gain consciousness and realize am not on my bed. My hands felt heavy because they are numb from using them as a pillow , the same applies to my legs,they are numb from lying on the cold floor . The events of the day start coming back to me. I didn't hand in the proposal, someone I considered my close friend abducted me. My Christa,I need to get out of here. I try to take in my surroundings but I can't see anything. I scream for help in vain my throat is so dry, the pain soaring through my head all the way down the body is unbearable. Every muscle is on fire so I stand to stretch my numb body.
On standing up, I quickly hold my nose trying not to inhale the stench of urine in the room. The walls are cold and the space under the door is not only the source of light in the room but it also brings in the cold breeze. I stumble towards the door, one hand supporting my head as I groan from the throbbing in my head. I reach the door and fumble with the handle and pull but nothing happens. I give up on the third attempt and start shouting for help while pounding on the door.
"Somebody help me", I yell out. I continue to scream, yell and pound on the door, the only response I get is my echo. Soon I give up and accept that am trapped, caged in like a bird. I keep praying that nothing happens to my daughter, and that Leah soon realizes am missing. I slowly move back to my corner, I curl up holding my head inside my knees and sob silently praying to God to enable me escape this nightmare.
***
Leah is on her desk trying to draw her demand and supply curves when someone knocks on their door. On opening the door she sees no one and is about to close the door when she sees Azra's bag on the side. She picks it up and enters back in the room closing the door behind her. On checking inside the bag, Everything she went with this morning is in here including her phone.
Leah puts the bag on Azra's bed and goes back to her economics. Shortly there's another knock on the door. Leah this time gets up very pissed. This time it's Ray on the door.
"Where's Azra?" Leah asks Ray.
"Am here to ask you the same question "  Ray asks entering the room not comprehending what Leah is talking about
"That's strange cause before you knocked on the door, somebody knocked earlier and when I opened, no one was there but Azra's bag was lying on the side, So I picked and when I checked all her belongings are in . I had just dropped it on the bed and gone back to my work when you interrupted again." Leah says slumping back into her chair.
"Strange indeed, cause I last saw her at lunch leaving campus with her boyfriend. I thought she would be back for her afternoon lecture but she didn't, Her phone was off so I decided to come and check and see if all is well with her." Ray finishes his side of the story.
"I think something is not right Ray from the way your telling me. Give me the full details cause as far as am concerned Azra doesn't have a boyfriend ." Leah paces around the room scratching her head with a pen.
Raymond's heart leaps up with excitement on hearing it from Azra's bestie that she doesn't have a boyfriend. He narrates the whole day up-to when he last saw Azra.
Leah informs Ray that the guy she was with must have been Trevis cause that's the only dark skinned friend Azra has that Leah knows of. She also tells him that Azra had a presentation at the orphanage she volunteers maybe she delayed there, or quickly dropped her stuff and went back to hanging out with Trevis. Leah promises to inform Azra to call Ray as soon as she's back and Ray leaves with a dissatisfied smile.