And I changed the feature Image. Hope you like it 🙂

QUICK RECAP:

Pulling herself together, she dialed the police to report a robbery, faking a distorted scared voice. As soon as she was through with the call, she faced Janet.

“Use the broken bottles to cut yourself.”

“But Madam… why?”

“If you don’t want to die, just do as I say! And don’t say a word when they get here. Let me do the talking. Do you hear me?”

She nodded. They picked up the broken pieces of bottles and began to injure themselves with it, moaning in pain as they waited for the police to arrive.

Episode 3

Amina and the cook, Janet, were stretched out on the floor beside Jacob’s dead body. They were incredibly weak and losing blood, fast. The Police still hadn’t arrived. Typical Nigerian Police if you ask me.

“Madam why dem never come? Time dey go.” Janet whispered with all the strength she could muster.

Amina answered in an equally weak voice, “They will come. It’s only… a matter of time.”

“But we fit die for here. I fit die, shey na so I go leave my pikin? Yee!” Tear streaks lined her round face.

Amina turned and stared into her eyes, “You won’t die, I promise you. Just keep your mouth shut when they get here.”

Janet gazed in fear at the body lying next to them. Jacob’s eyes were wide open, looking directly at her.

“Shey we fit go lie down for another place? I dey fear”

“We need to look convincing. Stop being so dramatic.” Amina said, dismissing her.

Suddenly they could hear sirens approaching in the distance. Amina sighed in relief.

Janet raised a hand slowly in the air, “Ah thank you Jehovah. No be today I go die”

Armed police officers rushed in through the front door with flashlights. They found them lying in a pool of their own blood, just beside a young man’s unconscious body.

Immediately they contacted an ambulance. And as they waited, two officers asked them a few questions while Amina responded.

“Were they masked?” A bald headed light skinned Sergeant named Ali inquired.

“No.”

“Can you remember how they looked like?”

Amina hesitated for a second, “Dark, skinny men dressed like monks. Their leader was a short albino man wearing a… wearing a…” then she began to cry, “I don’t recall what he was putting on…he took my Chimezie away. He took him…” She broke down in tears.

“We are so sorry madam. We will catch these criminals, whoever they are, and bring them to justice. And we will find your husband…”

“Boyfriend.” She corrected, wiping the tears from her face with her palm.

“Got it. We will find him, I promise you that.”

Janet stared at Amina in bewilderment. Amina shot her a stony glance while the men weren’t looking. Just then, the ambulance arrived and drove them to the hospital.

The police officers surrounded the entire premises searching for clues to the identities or whereabouts of the robbers. Unfortunately they found none.

“What do we do now?” A chubby officer asked Sergeant Ali.

“I say we keep searching.” He responded.

***

Amina is asleep on a hospital bed. Suddenly there is a loud bang in the distance, causing her to jolt awake. Now, she is sweating profusely. She rises from the bed and heads slowly out of the room.

Outside the room is a dark hallway where the noise came from. She is about to bravely proceed down the hallway when she suddenly hears footsteps approaching. Whoever it is begins to run, terrifying her in the process.

Suddenly she sees his face; Alhaji Mustaphar. He is running directly towards her with a scornful look on his face. He aims for her neck and begins to strangle her while she struggles, but he is too strong.

Before she passes out, she hears a female voice calling her name in her subconscious, followed by a tap. She comes awake. She is lying on the hospital bed, it’s broad daylight. It was just a dream.

She sees her now, Tomiwa. They walked for BRITS back at the show where she first saw him. She discovers she is panting, out of breath.

“It was just a bad dream. Relax.” Tomiwa says, pushing her gently back on the bed.

“What are you doing here?” She asks when she finally catches her breath.

“What does it look like I’m doing here? To see you of course.”

“How did you know about it?”

“The police? Everyone knows about it.”

“Roselyn?”

“Yup”

“Oh shit.”

“It’s alright, just calm down. I knew something was up last night but I had no idea it was this serious.”

Amina sits up, “Yeah you shouldn’t. You shouldn’t even be here. Where is Janet? How on earth did I fall asleep?”

“You mean the cook? She is fast asleep in one of the rooms downstairs. What do you mean by I shouldn’t be here?”

“Nothing” She says as she pulls off the patient uniform.

“No it’s something. Cos I’m your friend and I came here to see how you are doing. That should mean something.”

Amina turns to her and says calmly, “Tomiwa I appreciate your concern. I really do. But as you can see, I’m fine now… Ouch…” she moans in pain from the knee injury she inflicted on herself.

Tomiwa approaches her with a worried look, “No you are not fine. You need to rest.”

Amina fires back, irritated, “I said I’m fine. Now, back off.” Before leaving the room to look for Janet.

***

Amina checked every room downstairs but couldn’t find Janet. She climbed the stairs back to the floor where her room was, and searched every other room. She even checked the restrooms. Yet no sign of Janet. She began to panic, feeling the world closing in on her. Suddenly she bumped into someone from behind, startling her. It was Tomiwa.

“Have you found her?” Tomiwa asked.

“No no no I couldn’t. Can you take me to the exact room you found her asleep?”

And she did, taking the lead as they walked past the rooms on that floor until they got to the last room by the left. The bed was empty. Tomiwa turned to look at Amina, with a bewildered look on her face.

“She was just here about thirty minutes ago before I came to your room.”

“Then where is she now? Did she suddenly disappear?”

“I don’t know. How do you expect me to know?”

Amina began to think, “Only one way to find out.”

She hurried out of the room, limping as a result of the injury on her left knee.

“Where are you going?”

“The doctor’s office.”

But by the time they spoke with him, he unashamedly admitted he had no idea of her whereabouts. Amina could not possibly believe her ears.

“Can you hear yourself? You have no idea where my cook is. Someone who was admitted into your hospital?”

“Madam, was there any sign of blood or rumpled sheets?”

“What does that have to do with…”

“No… there wasn’t.” Tomiwa answered on her behalf.

“Then she left on her own accord. That’s entirely not the management’s fault.”

Amina felt insulted, “Oh really. An injured middle aged woman who almost lost her life during an armed robbery… suddenly vanishes into thin air IN YOUR HOSPITAL. And you say that’s not the management’s fault?”

Tomiwa held her by the shoulder, “Maybe he is right, Amina.”

Amina jerked away, “Don’t touch me.” She turned back to the doctor, “Can I see your boss, the owner of this sham of a hospital?”

“I’m afraid you can’t. She is currently not in the country.” He said, unmoved.

“Then get me her assistant!” She was losing her patience.

“Madam, you are suffering from PTSD, you need to relax.”

Amina stared at the doctor like he had suddenly gone nuts, “PTSD? Relax? Janet could be DEAD. Do you understand the severity of what that implies?”

The doctor cleared his throat and began in a low calm voice, “But you said she is your cook. Why do you care so much if she is alive or dead? You equally almost lost your life, and your husband got kidnapped. Shouldn’t you be worried solely about that?”

Just then, her phone rang in the back pocket of her dress. She took it out and stared curiously at the screen. An unknown number. She hesitated, then answers without uttering a word.

“Miss Amina, I see you are awake… This is Detective Ali.”

She remembered the light skinned officer who had asked her a series of questions back at the house, “Yes I am awake.”

“Your cook came in not quite long. She had some things to say concerning the robbery.”

“Really?” She said, pretending to be surprised while her heart raced away.

“Yes. As a matter of fact, you are needed at the station for questioning. The sooner you get here, the better. We will send an officer right away to get you. Is that fine by you?”

“Yes. It’s fine.”

Click. She wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. She should have known that stupid girl would make a wrong move. She should have known!

“Madam, can you hear me?” The doctor called again, bringing her out of her thoughts.

“Are you okay?” He asked again.

“Yeah… You are right. Why should I care?” And she rose to her feet and left the office. Tomiwa exchanged glances with the doctor before rising to her feet and hurrying after Amina.