Conjuring Silent Flames

Chapter 2: Arrested

Although it was a braless arrest; I didn’t feel comfortable sitting with those men. The van stunk of Androstenone. An offensive odour, which was like covered urine, made my body itch. A fission of surprise shot through me as turkey-pimples covered my obsidian flesh. The only thing on me was the blue hospital gown and a black lacey-pant. Even the wig I had on before I consumed the poisoned spiced meat-skewer wasn’t on me.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was as if I was dreaming and someone would just wake me up, saying all of this is a lie. It was so unbelievable that I tried to stop myself from sinking into the pit of darkness I was falling into. The mini-van halted aggressively in a volume of black-smoke from its exhaust pipe and red-dust from the bare, untitled ground polluted the atmosphere.

They dragged me like a stray dog, out of the van and like a bag of cement, my weak, sweaty body flung onto the red-clay floor. Pouring more dust into the air.

“Get up, witch!” The police man from earlier kicked me at the butt.

I gently raised my gaze to face him, seeing him clearly this time. They printed ‘Samuel Igboko’ above the right pocket of his shirt, so I wasn’t sure of his rank. He had a clean shaved haircut, beard and the full mustache, bridged between his thick lips and flat nose made him look more mature than he might be.

“Are you deaf now or you’re just playing dump?” Samuel snapped at me and his dark brown eyes flamed with fury. I cringed, scared to face him twice.

Quickly, I pulled my lazy bones up, and it creaked to the effect of standing. Looking upwards, my eyes narrowed to a signboard. It boldly read ‘Agilate Police Station’ on it. Wondering where exactly this was, someone pushed me from behind.

Bare feet, I walked into the faded yellow building, which had deeper blue, yellow and green, stripped in the middle. That is the way Nigeria police stations are usually designed. Looking back, there stood two flags by the crippled red gates. A green, white, green Nigerian flag and the Nigeria Police Flag which had blue, yellow and green. The yellow part held the logo of a grey elephant and a red eagle staging on an NPF crest on it. I once red somewhere that the blue stands for love and unity, yellow for discipline and resourcefulness and green for energy, but do they even portray these? Maybe some.

There I was, barefoot, bare haired. They made me look more miserable than I was, and all I had to do right now was to accept my fate. That I lose and they win. Who ever is behind these is definitely more powerful than I am.

Depressed and dejected, anyone I spurn at gave me an amused grin. As if this was all part of their plan or something.

Walking into the building, other police officers marched after me, fleeting into their various offices. I quietly bowed down with my eyes fixed on the floor. Tired of fighting when no one would even hear me out, I gave all the thoughts in my mind a rest. People understand me from their level of perception. It’s my responsibility to know exactly who I am and not get lost in what they're projecting onto me.

Lieutenant Kolawole and Samuel took me to the D.P.O’s office when I paused at the office entrance. My eyes locked with my parent’s. They sat on the bare floor, dropping in blood, tears, and sweat. Bruised, beaten, and almost out of breath. They had the same cloth I last remember them wearing, from last week when the incident happened.

“What is God’s name is this?!” My eyes widened as I rushed to them at once.

“Mum... Dad!” I cried out, almost going crazy. Tears busted out of my eyes, seeing them in such a state.

The only reply I got was their breaths, with half-opened eyes. Their silence said a lot as I lose all calm.

“What happened, mum, talk to me?!” My lips trembled while I held her face but she gave no reply.

I gazed up at Lieutenant Kolawole. His square-structured face, full of suspicion, lowered to mine in a glare.

“We needed the truth, and they were defensive at first. Until the hands of truth touched them.”

“What are you saying? Can you listen to yourself?” I fired, yet forced to keep my voice from shaking.

“Don’t be rude to me because my rude will out rude your rude and I’ll make you cry even more.” He warned.

I frowned at him with held breath.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t die, Mrs Fajuyi. Your parents might have taken your place.”

“Akande...” My mother gasped behind me.

“You’re unfair! All of you are unfair! Where is Akande? Where’s my brother?!” I held onto Samuel’s shirt and he pushed me to the wall.

My head banged into the force as I gently pulled up. More pain struck me hard, like a thunder. Invisible doodling clouded my gaze but I held myself back. Unable to to speak, or utter a word.

A weird silence reigned in the room as the three police officers watched me. After watching me pull up to my kneeling position, a mysterious smirk spread across the DPO’s dark lips.

I noticed little from him earlier, but he constantly twitched his left eye. The man was overweight and almost obese. A thick black belt sitting under his flabby stomach made me realize how average height he was. As I raised my head to see him, I felt the effect of his smirk through the silence room.

“Is this the guilty Mrs. Todun Fajuyi?” His thick, guttural voice raised.

“Yes, she’s the one, sir?” Samuel answered.

“She sure has an attitude.”

“No, DPO, you are mistaken, sir.” As I pleaded, a minor pain distracted me from saying more. Another tear threatened to fall, but I held it back.

“So you took law into your hands?” The DPO pointed his short index finger at me, agitated. “I don’t know how you kept Pearl under your wing, but you maltreated the president’s daughter in your own house to the point of death?” His warning eyes gawked at me.

“No, I didn’t. Don’t accuse me of things I didn’t do.” My voice came as a plea.

“Really? Because your daughter told us everything we had to know. We have enough evidence to prove you're guilty, Mrs Fajuyi, and you’ll definitely answer to the call of Justice!”

“Desire would never lie... Where’s my daughter, sir?” a drop of blood trickle down my head and an intense pain made me held unto it with shaky hands.

“I don’t know how you did it, whether by power or by charm! I just want you to know that your game is over! Just pray Pearl wakes up, else. You’ll spend the rest of your miserable life in imprisonment. Take her out of my sight!” He spat with disgust.

“Ugh!” A single tear squeezed out of my wild eyes, making me moan to the pain welling me up.

My eyes swam in the ocean of my ears as I took a brief gaze at my parents. Wet, hot tears filled up my eyes, knowing this might be the last time of seeing or touching them. My mum wanted to say something, but the words didn’t come. They dragged me out of his office before I had the chance to hear her out. Suddenly, I saw Deborah rushing in.

“Todun!” she called out to me and I faced her.

“Where’s Akande? Help me find my brother.... Take care of my parents, Debby!” I stammered and coughed amidst Samuel and Kolawole, shoving me out.

Tears filled up the brim of her eyes as she watched them force me away. Confused on what to do, Deborah hurried into the D.P.O’s office.

Everything was as fast as time, and I had no control. I didn’t know what was happening or what was going to happen next. All I knew was that I was in someone's plan. Hopefully Deborah will see me eventually and I’d find a way out of this.

“Debby!” My crackly voice echoed in the station till they finally threw me into the prison cell.

A grave for the living.