MY KILLER

CHAPTER 5

"Ah Nne, what is wrong with you?"

"My stomach o mummy. My stomach is paining me."

"How is it doing you?"

"I don't know. Under here," I pointed at my abdomen. "Is paining me too much. Ahhh."

"Nne stand up let me see." I stood up and turn and the sight of my blood terrified me.

"Jesus! What is this?" I exclaimed. My mother looked at the bed and smiled.

"Ehhh. My baby has now grown to a woman." She raised her hands and danced around.

"Mommy, what are you saying?"

"Nne. Today I will cook your favorite pepper soup and pounded yam. Ehh. Thank you Jesus. But before that, let me go and boil hot water for you to drink so that the pain will reduce. Ka m bia, I'm coming."

My mother, so typical.
All her years of staying in the North had done nothing to stop her eastern attitude from showing. My mother, my sweet mother.
Farewell.

I apologize for all the nonsense you had to put up with me. I hope the one in your stomach brings you more happiness. Farewell mama, I shall now join my other siblings wherever they are...

I opened my eyes. I didn't see the light, nor my siblings. They were supposed to be here to welcome me. Did they not get the information, or did I not make heaven with them; if that place existed at all.
I felt pain coming from my left hand. This was proof enough that I was in hell. This couldn't be heaven. There was no pain in heaven.

I turned and looked around me. The place was blurry, I saw nothing but darkness and a little light coming from a lantern. I let out a slight moan in pain before hearing a voice.
"Finally. You are awake. You must have really wanted death to have passed out for nearly three days."

"Three days?" I asked. I was utterly left in confusion. "Where am I?"

"Hell" he said before bursting into laughter. I recognized that laugh. It couldn't be.
I wasn't dead!!!

I suddenly became aware of my surroundings. I wasn't at that warehouse anymore. I was somewhere else, somewhere with a little more lighting, yet darkness still emitted. I wasn't not dead, and it wasn't a good thing.
I tried to sit up and fell back down. The pains in my body had tripled; the one in my hands however felt relatively new.

"Don't try to sit up. The pains in your hand can make you go insane."

"What are you talking about?" I tried to sound unscathed.

"I shot you there. Right there, just before you elbow."

My eyes went down to my hands and discovered that it had been bandaged. Then I shot my eyes at him in anger.
"Bastard." I said. "Bastard, Bastard, Bastard," I shouted. "Why would you do that. Why would you leave me alive. You killed Emmanuel just because he had a rosary on and you spared my life? Even after I told you so much about myself."

"You see that's the difference, he didn't tell me anything about himself."

"Bastard" I said. I was still speaking in Hausa. He laughed and walked up to me. Looking down at me, he said,
"Are you really comparing yourself to a boy. He has nothing. You however..." he proceeded to adjust my hair and to caress my face. "Have it all. At the last minute, I took a look at you and even with all your bruises, you are by far the most beautiful girl I have come across. And so, I can't waste this precious gift given to me by Allah. He who is all knowing will..."