TAKEN

[15]

"Will she make it?"

"We don't know yet. We have to wait till she wakes up."

"Ah! She must wake up o! She must!" The voice oozed more desperation than genuine empathy.

My eyes were still shut but there were lots of movements around me. There were even announcements through loudspeakers At this point, I concluded we were in some sort of church. But I listened for songs or a preacher's voice talking about God, yet nothing.

"Where did you say you picked her from?" A calm voice asked.

"Like I said before...." That voice was hesitant before continuing. "She's my daughter.  And she'd been missing for over three months now but as my sons and I were returning  from church we saw her dumped a street close to my house." She breathed deeply and sighed loudly almost falling into a cry. "So I asked her brothers to pick her up."

"According to this report, this lady was not only beaten but she had been repeatedly raped....viciously." Those words fell off that mouth like venom like he wanted someone to pay for my current state.

Serious wailing ensued and loud cries and sniffing swallowed the silence I was hoping to enjoy. "Who could have done this?" Who could have done this to my precious daughter?" The female voice cried more, even with clattering teeth.

I continued to play dead while listening to the conversation.

"And even if you picked her off the streets, why didn't you report to the police?" Asked a feminine voice.

"Haba na, How can you ask this kind of question when you know the kidnapping rate in this country." She paused. Then, I heard scratching and rustling, as though someone was sifting through a bag.

"Yes, this is it. We found this sheet of paper on her. We were warmed on that note never to report this to the police or they would come for me and the rest of my children."

"When they took her three months ago like you stated, did you report to the police?" The same voice pushed, refusing to give up.

Another rustling, then words followed. "Look, this is the first statement and the second one. We reported to the police and as usual 'they were doing everything they could'. The woman sighed. "Well, that was the end of the investigation and the matter died there but my daughter became a statistic for kidnapped victims."

The room went silent as words filtered the air and simmered in minds. But Mama didn't stop sniffling and sighing.

"And your story is that you picked up three days ago?" The lady's voice asked.

I didn't get a response from Mama. Instead, a phone started ringing and I heard her say "Excuse me, I have to take this."

The rest of the group continued their discussion, some even cast doubt on Mama's story. While outlining my cuts bruises and how long it'd been there.  I silently prayed that whoever they were would stand strong and save me.

After laying there for so long, I decided to change my position and open my eyes when I felt that the coast was clear, but I was mistaken,  A lady in all white clothes was sitting on a small desk right opposite me.

She stood as soon as our eyes met. Her smile gravitated towards me before she made it to bed. Quickly, I scanned the room, it was so bright that it kinda blinded me for a second.

With the white walls, white beds, white bedspreads, and fluorescent lights, I just thought maybe I was finally in the judgment room where all my enemies would be brought to justice.

"Dina?" She called, reaching out for me. "Can you hear me?"

I peeled my eyes off the multiple wires and tubes all over my body. I had one of those tubes in my right hand, left rib, and one across my nose. I needed to pull the one in my nose off for it was quite uncomfortable. My hands were almost pulling at it when she gently pulled my hand down.