CONCEIVED IN DARKNESS

Chapter 19

Claire thought hard of what to do, then opted to call Adanna's mum. She picked up her phone which was lying by the bed stead and dialled Mrs Moses  who picked up after the third ring.

"Good morning ma, happy new month. How have you been?" Claire asked Mrs Moses.

"Good my dear, how about you and the family?" she asked in return.

"We are great, thank you ma. I just want to ask if Adanna is home. I haven't heard from her in almost a week."

Mrs. Moses paused before responding "Not yet, I thought she was in your place or somewhere nearby."

Somewhere nearby? No exact location? In alarm, Claire jerked "No ma, I haven't heard from her since. She was quite angry the last time we spoke."

"Okay, I will check around for her. Thanks and bye"

Claire still had other questions like, where should they start from? Should they go to the police and many more; but hearing Adanna's mother's curt response silenced her and her questions.

"Goodbye ma" she responded meekly.

Claire started trying to put the pieces together, wondering if all Adanna had been saying about her was true. It sure did seem like it now, she thought aloud. How can a mother not seem bothered about her child's absence for over a week? It was unheard of. Claire voiced her thoughts and worries to her mother who during the weekend dropped by to see Mrs Moses.

They spoke and she concluded she would file a missing person's report which she didn't do until much later.

That following evening, Derek also came by to check up on Adanna after trying her number all week long and left several messages on her phone. He was worried and his heart sank when he was told by her mother, that she wasn't available to talk now and he would be informed when she was ready.

"Ohh, thank you ma." He had replied her sounding disappointed.

Derek thought Adanna was avoiding him and the realization made him sad with guilt. He deserved it. He just needed to talk to her, he was ready to explain it all now, he murmured to himself as he rubbed his swollen eyes with his hands.

So much had happened within a few days. Mrs Moses has been caught in the unrelenting grip of nightmares. Since Adanna left, they plagued her more often, coming at her fiercely until she woke up alone. A part of her missed her daughter and another still hated her and liked her gone.

Things were getting tense for Mrs Moses, as she couldn't be lackadaisical no more, people were starting to ask after Adanna. Frankly, she didn't think she had that many friends. Her husband was returning next week and she knew the house would be hot if she wasn't back home by then.

So she started searching, the first place was the church. The security men there confirmed having seen her a couple of days ago sad and in tears, but she left not too long after the same day. Mrs Rice continued her ultimate search and tried at the school, asking David, her classmates and a few lecturers. She did so as discreetly as she could, because she didn't want it blown out of proportion in case Adanna was just hiding somewhere.

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Adanna roamed the streets of Kaduna, like a tourist admiring the traditional houses and the general way of life. She observed the way they dressed, most men in caftans while the women were adorned in hijabs of different colours despite the heat. Adanna had just passed a mosque where children were reciting a part of the Quran, when she saw a sign board with Tudun-wada boldly written. Wandering aimlessly, she later asked a woman wearing Hijab at around past noon, where she was and was told she was now in Kasuwa Barchi market. It was also referred to as the sleeping market and looked quite busy. By then, she was hungry and her insides had started to scream for food but she had no money left on her, as she didn't have her wallet or any of her luggage. Adanna thought of what to eat and considered begging then scrapped it off her mind 'God will do it' she reminded herself as she continued her walk. She prayed a short prayer silently in her heart