THE WITNESS

Chapter 11

In order to find the killer, Ben decided the only way to do that was to make them talk.
He decided to ask them all a question.
He didn't know if it will work.
He hoped it will.
"what are your names?" he asked
"why do you want to know our names?" someone other than their leader spoke.

Listening to the voice he concluded that this wasn't who he was looking for.
"just wanted to know"
"there is no ne......" the second guy was saying when a third person spoke.
"My name is Olu." he said.
The rest of the gang looked at him in shock.

"what?" he asked.
The voice! I have found him.
"he doesn't have to know!" the second guy that spoke shouted.
"what is the use in hiding it, Wale?" he asked.
He just glared at him.
Ben didn't think it would work but it did perfectly.
What he did was very lousy.

The next step would be how to escape from there. His identifying the killer wasn't enough. He needed something tangible.
"take him away!" their boss commanded.
Ben knew he was the one he was referring to.
He also realised that after all he didn't know his name. So he asked.

"what is your name?"
"pardon?!"
"I mean your name."
He sighed before answering.
"knowing my name isn't what you should be worried about."
"then what should I be worried about?"
"yourself. What is going to happen to you? Things like that"
He realised that he momentary forgot about that while trying find the killer.

"what will you do to me?" he asked.
"I don't know yet. I will decide later." he was told
"take him back to the room!" he ordered again.
And Ben was led back.
Back at the room, Ben thought of what would be done to him. If he would be freed or killed. And he didn't want to die. He hadn't lived life the way it was meant to; he believed. Thoughts of Adriana invaded his mind and he became very sad.

***
Adriana had been trying to get some sleep in preparation for the next day. But she couldn't sleep. She had thoughts of Ben in her mind. It was funny that now she had actually found her true love, problems had to arise.
She looked up at the ceiling.
"Is this a test?" she asked no one in particular "if it is what kind?"

She cuddled herself on the bed thinking of the little time they've spent together. The happy moments they had shared. Thoughts of that only made her more sad than she already was.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at it but ignored it.
It rang out.
It rang for the second time.

Adriana reluctantly moved to answer the call. She picked up the phone and saw that it was her friend Miriam.
"hello sis" she said
"Hello back" her friend said almost enthusiastically
Adriana tried to not cry but she couldn't.
Her friend noticed this but ignored it.

"what are you doing?"
"Nothing. Trying to get some sleep."
"it isn't the time for that."
"what do you mean by it isn't?" she asked perplexed.
"it's eight p.m. Come on it isn't time for bed."
Adriana tried to laugh but ended up scoffing.
"let's have a sleepover. Me and you."
"Sleepover? We aren't kids anymore."

If there was anyone who was grown but still acts like a child? It was Miriam. And Adriana knew that.
And she also knew that she wouldn't give up until she got what she wants.
"we are never too old to have fun." she told her friend.
This time Adriana laughed.
When Miriam heard the laugh she was relieved.

"okay I accept. Where will it be?"
"your place. I am already on my way."
"I will be expecting you."
They said their byes and hung up.

***
"What do we do with him?" Wale asked as they were gathered discussing.
This was a question on all of their minds.
What to do with ben? was a question even their boss was pondering about.
"What we do to anyone who discovers our secret." Olu said.

"And what is that?" They asked him
He looked at all them confused and amazed at what they were asking.
"Kill him" he said showing this by moving his hand across his neck.
"Are you crazy?"
"What? Did I say anything wrong?"
"Is that how we operate now?" Wale asked their boss.

From the way he looked at him, he knew he was alone.
But they decided to put it to a vote.
From the vote, it was decided.
Ben would be eliminated.
Wale knew there was nothing he could do. Majority carried the vote.
But was there really nothing to be done. He wondered.

***
Ben was sleeping when someone tapped him. He woke up but as usual saw nothing. Every where was dark.
He felt the person untying him. He wondered what it was this time. Was he being taken to be killed. He probably would be taken to somewhere quiet;he guessed so.

By the time he had been untied, he thought of making a run for it right there and then. But the fear in him wouldn't let him. So he didn't do anything but sat still.
"I am going to leave the door open" the person said.
Ben was confused at what he heard.
"This is your chance to escape." giving Ben his phone.
Hearing that the adrenaline in him rushed abruptly to all parts of his body.

His heart was beating very hard.
"This is all I can do. The rest is up to you."
"Thank you." Ben said almost whispering.
His 'saviour' went out and like he promised leaving the door unlocked.
Ben hoped that that wasn't the only door that was unlocked.
He waited for a few minutes before getting up to move.

He said a silent prayer then got up and ran out.
He ran out not looking back.
But something stopped him.
He needed proof of the killer's identity.
He decided not to leave yet.
He would there and get all the evidence needed.
He was a reporter after all.
That was what he did. Finding the truth.