Entranced 18+

Prologue

If you are reading this, then I didn't make it. Ijo, I am sorry. I tried my best but it still came to this.

The Catholic Church already has instructions for my burial, just meet with the parish priest.

The rent has been paid for two years. My phone unlock pin is your birthday. If you check the notepad, you'll see my debit card details. The money there should last you about a year if you're frugal.

Ijo, don't waste time mourning me. I've gone to a better place. Write your jamb, get into a good school. Read the course of your choosing, you earned it.

Forget mama and papa. Don't invite them to my funeral. Let them remain strangers to you.

My dearest sister, please be happy. I will always love you.

Amara.

The letter was so like her sister, trust the woman to leave specific instructions while writing her suicide note. Ijeoma wiped the tears from her eyes and began reading the letter for the fourth time since the policemen dropped it off along with her sister's purse and phone. Amarachukwu was gone. It was still hard to believe. They hadn't seen in weeks, Amara had been so busy with work, but they'd talked frequently on WhatsApp and via video call. Her sister had been happy.

So why had she hung herself in a hotel room and taken her life? What was she missing? She unlocked the phone but was hesitant to go through it. What would she find?

After minutes of staring at the blank screen, she finally opened  WhatsApp. Three conversations were pinned; one was with Ijeoma, the other with Amara's best friend, and the last was a Madam Ini.

She went through the chats with the Madam Ini, finding it hard to understand. After scrolling through messages that were mostly phone numbers and locations, she exited and then opened the conversation with Sandra, her sister's bestie.

Amara:
If you don't hear from me in twenty four hours, call me. If you can't reach me I'm with this guy.
Azu is his name and we're meeting here.

Her sister had attached a phone number and a location. Sandra replied with a simple okay. Then there were strings of messages left by Sandra checking to see if Amara was fine. All of which had been unread till Ijeoma opened the phone. There were also missed video calls from Sandra. As she tried to make sense of what she'd seen, the phone rang in her hands. It was Sandra.

"Amy," Sandra said immediately she answered. "I've been worried sick! Where are you? Are you okay?"

Ijeoma couldn't hold back her sobs.

"Amara, what's wrong?"

"This is Ijeoma."

"Smallie, how naw? Give the phone to your sister abeg."

"Amara can't come to the phone, not anymore."

"What do you mean?" Sandra's voice was quiet as she listened.

"Amara is dead."

"Jesus!" Sandra must have dropped the phone because she heard a crash, followed by screaming.

Ijeoma was unsure what to do so she ended the call. The phone rang almost immediately after. "Where are you?" Sandra asked.

"I'm home."

"Stay there, I'm coming."

***

It was a week after the burial before she gathered the strength to go find Madam Ini. After much persuasion, Sandra had told her about what her sister did for a living and who Madam Ini was. She couldn't hate Amara, the woman sacrificed a lot for them. She knew the kind of family they came from and how much Amara had done to pull them away from the pain that was their family.

Madam Ini had pimped her sister out to rich men so they could afford to live. Madam Ini was the only one who knew about her sister's private life. She was also the only one who knew about this Azu person who'd been the last to see Amara alive. Sandra knew only the barest detail since she wasn't a sex worker. Only what Amara had seen fit to tell her.

Although Sandra had advised her not to pursue this any further and to just focus on her future, there was no way Ijeoma could move on without trying to find out just what had happened. What if this man had killed her sister then passed it off as a suicide? The hand writing on the letter was Amara's but it was possible the man had forced her to write it before killing her sister. She'd shared this theory with the policemen too but they'd said there was no evidence to suggest anything other than suicide. So she had to find out for herself.

After a deep breath, she looked left, right and then left again before crossing the road. The club looked like any regular one, many people would not know that there was a sex club hidden somewhere on the premises.

"O girl, stop dia!" A man she assumed was a bouncer yelled at her in pidgin English. "Where you know say you dey go? Invite only."

Madam Ini had told her to show the security their conversation. She was still surprised that the woman had actually agreed to meet with her.

"Madam Ini invited me. See." She showed him her phone and after a few seconds, he frowned and turned away. She watched him pull out his phone then dial a number. After a brief conversation, he opened the door for her.

"Just go up. She dey first office."

His directions weren't really detailed but she was able to find the place just fine. Madam Ini was a tall and beautiful lady, light skinned and slim. She looked to be in her late thirties, exactly as Ijeoma had imagined her to be. After exchanging pleasantries, Madam Ini motioned her to sit.

"As I was saying on WhatsApp, I need information about a certain man. There is something I must ask him."

"I can't just give out client information. Only my girls can get such details."

"So why did you ask me to come if you had no intention of helping me?"

"I didn't say I wouldn't help. I'm just wondering how much you will be willing to do to get this information." Madam Ini shrugged.

"I will do anything." This was her sister she was talking about. Amara had sacrificed everything to cater for them, there wasn't much she wouldn't do to find out the truth about her demise.

"You know what this place is right?" Ijeoma nodded and Madam Ini continued. "I want you to work for me. You'll get good pay along with the information you need."

"I'm not going to let you pimp me out," Ijeoma stated. She stood up ready to leave, there would be other ways to find her answers.

"You don't need to have sex with anyone. There are other things you can do," Madam Ini said. "You can be a paid escort to society functions. You're beautiful and look very innocent. Many men would do anything to have you on their arm. Once the evening is done, you get your money and go. For anything extra you choose to do, it will be solidly your choice."

She remained standing. "If I say no sex, then there's no sex?"

"Yes."

"Can I have that in writing?"

"Of course!" Madam Ini smiled. "How old are you?"

"Sixteen."

***

This book is not promoting sexual abuse of minors in any way. Bad things happen in life that just needs to be told. I hope survivors of any form of sexual abuse gets the help they need and can find happiness.

Do you think Azu had anything to do with Amara's death? Is he capable of such?

Let me know your thoughts about this book by leaving comments and voting!