Chapter 3

After a while, my mother stops crying and urges me to go get something to eat. I hesitate for a moment but eventually stand up as she insists.

"Please, go and eat something, Kemi, please," she pleads.

"Alright, Mummy," I reply, making my way to the kitchen. I notice that everything is still as I left it, which means that Shola and Ayo haven't had their meal yet.

These children, why haven't they eaten?

I serve a small portion for myself and also prepare two more plates for Shola and Ayo. Placing them on a tray, I exit the kitchen. The three of us share a room since there are only two bedrooms in the house, so they must be in there.

"Shola! Are you inside? Please open the door for me," I call out loudly in front of the door since I can't open it while holding the tray.

"Okay, sister!" I hear Shola's voice from inside, and the door opens slightly.

Shola pops her head out a little and gives me a skeptical look as she asks, "Are you coming in to tell us the truth now?" Her expression seems to convey, "Don't you dare lie again, or you'll be eating elsewhere."

I sigh and nod, conceding to her demand. Her face lights up with a broad smile as she opens the door wider and rushes to the bed. Ayo is sitting on the bed, holding a crayon in his hand and engrossed in drawing. I walk over to the bed and place the tray of food beside me before turning my attention to Ayo.

"Ayo, what are you drawing? Let me see," I say, reaching out my hand toward him. However, he doesn't move or respond, fully focused on his artwork.

"Sister Kemi, leave him alone. He's been like that since and won't even allow me to see because he thinks he's a great artist," Shola says, and Ayo gives her a stern look before resuming his drawing.

"Ayo, my boy, will you show me when you're done?" I persist, hoping to get a response from him.

Ayo nods but remains silent, seemingly focused on his drawing. I wonder if he's upset with me for not answering his question earlier. Ayo has a true passion for drawing, and he's remarkably talented for his age. I recall the time he drew a lifelike portrait of our mother; it was so perfect that we added it to our family photo album. I sigh and take out the food from the tray.

"Why didn't you serve food for yourself and Ayo, Shola?" I inquire.

"I was about to serve it before you brought it," Shola replies as she takes the food from me.

I hand the other plate to Ayo. "Eat first, Ayomide."

He shakes his head, "I'll eat, Sister Kemi, let me finish."

I nod, "If you say so."

"Who is taking you away, Sister Kemi?" Shola suddenly asks me, just as I expected she would.

"No one, Shola. Although I'm going somewhere tomorrow, I'll be back after some time..."

"Where?" Ayo interjects, pausing his drawing.

I offer a slight smile, "Somewhere... not too far, just around."

"Will you come to visit?" Ayo asks me, his innocent eyes filled with hope.

I look at him, feeling a lump in my throat, and bite my bottom lip to keep from crying. "Yes, my love, I will."

Ayo suddenly says, "I'm done," and stretches the drawing paper toward me.

I reach for it and take a look at the drawing. My eyes widen as I recognize a familiar figure on the paper. Is it possible, or am I seeing things?

"Who is that man? I saw him today, do you know him?" Ayo asks.

I stare at the drawing in shock and confusion; it looks like the creditor from earlier, or is it not?

"This... This person you drew, where did you meet him?" I turn to Ayo, my heart pounding.

"He was passing by in a big black car. He stopped and called me by my name, then he said he would take care of you, and I shouldn't worry."

Oh my goodness.

"I don't understand, Ayo; he called you by your name?"

Ayo nods.

"This man here? Or did you not draw it correctly?" I ask, trying to make sure.

"I drew it exactly as I saw it, Sister Kemi," Ayo insists, his brow furrowed.

"Say it in the same way he said it, Ayo," I urge.

Ayo looks at me for a moment and then complies, "He said, 'Hello Ayomide, don't worry at all, I will take good care of your big sister, Kemi.' That's what he said."

"But..." I pause and turn to Shola. "And where were you when that happened?"

Shola gazes at me and then at Ayo, her eyes reflecting innocence. "I don't know anything, Sister Kemi. I don't know what Ayo is talking about. Maybe it happened when we both stopped walking together. He was annoying me, so I left him behind on the way."

My mind races with questions. How did this man know our names? Did he carry out an investigation on us? Or did my father tell him?

"Do you know him, Sister Kemi? He seemed nice," Ayo asks, his eyes filled with curiosity.

I sigh and place my hand on my head. Where is all of this going? My head is about to explode with all these questions and uncertainties.

"Um...well... don't mind Ayo," I stammer, trying to come up with an explanation. "He was a friend of mine from school, and he recently came to visit."

Shola narrows her eyes suspiciously. "I don't know, Sister Kemi, but I just don't believe you." She shakes her head.

I feign a smile, trying to ease their suspicions. "I'm serious, Shola, that's the truth."

They continue to scrutinize me for a moment before finally relenting.

"Okay then. Is he the one you're going to visit?" Shola asks.

"Yes, Shola, he's the one."

Ayo offers me the drawing he made. "You can keep the drawing, Sister Kemi. I drew it for you anyway." He shrugs before starting to eat.

I smile warmly at him and take the drawing. As they finish their food, I instruct them to go have their baths. After some time, they both drift off to sleep. I sit down on the floor with my back against the wall, lost in thought.

I'm about to be taken away by a total stranger who knows everything about my family, while I know nothing about him. What will he ask me to do? Will he hand me over to his brother, the creditor, since he's the one we owe? So many questions whirl in my mind, and anxiety tightens its grip on me.

"Oh, goodness! What's going to happen to me now? Tears roll down my cheeks, and I cover my mouth with my hands to silence the sobs.

I know I'll regret this, but my family's safety is more important than my own. They mean everything to me, so I have to endure this.

"Sister Kemi?" Ayo's voice startles me, and I hastily wipe away my tears. I can't see him clearly because the room is dark; there's no power."

"Ayo? Why are you awake?"

"Sister Kemi, are you crying?" He asks me in a sleepy voice.

"Me? No! Go back to sleep, Ayo."

"Your voice says otherwise, Sister Kemi. Are you crying, right?"

This child!

I clear my throat, "Seriously, Ayo, I'm not crying, please go back to sleep."

"The Lord is your strength, Sister Kemi," Ayo says.

I smile at his words and nod, "Amen, my boy, amen."

He didn't say anything afterward, so I assume he has returned to sleep again. Yes, the Lord is my strength, so I'll be fine. I try to close my eyes to get some sleep, but I hear muffled sounds coming from outside the room. I don't need to go and check to know that it's Mommy. I'm sure she hasn't been able to fall asleep either. I'm not in a good state to console her, so I remain seated and shut my eyes as tears roll down my cheeks. I wonder what is going through Daddy's mind right now. Does he regret this, or is he thinking of gambling some more?

The night found me here, and all through it, I kept thinking about numerous things and didn't get a wink of sleep. My stomach growls loudly, reminding me that I haven't eaten anything at all.

I rub my stomach, "Sorry, buddy, I couldn't find any appetite to feed you."

It's a new day, and as I look through the window, I can hear the birds chirping happily, and the sun is shining brightly, but it appears dull to me. I turn to the bed and see that Shola and Ayo are still sleeping soundly. It's Saturday, so they don't have to go to school today.

"Kemi?" I hear my mother's voice calling my name, and I turn to the door.

"Yes, mummy?"

"I'm sure you didn't get any sleep," my mother says in a hushed tone from the other side of the door.

I sighed and stood up to open the door.

I forced a smile and said, "Good morning, mummy."

My mother stared at me with sad eyes and said, "I was right; you have dark circles under your eyes," pointing it out.

"You have them too, mummy" I pointed out as well.

She shook her head, and we both chuckled sadly before my mother pulled me into a tight hug.

"Should we run away? It's not too late, Kemi."

"And where would we go, mummy? Do you think he wouldn't find us?" I pulled out of the embrace slightly and placed my hand on her right shoulder. "I'm sure I will get through this; I just need you to be strong for me, mummy, please."

My mother smiled lightly and nodded. "Yes, my dear, I will."

"Where is Dad?" I asked her after we pulled away from the hug.

"Why do you still ask about the man who put you in this situation?" My mother asked, frowning deeply.

"Where is he mummy?" I press on.

"I don't know! And I don't even care, I sent him out last night."

My eyes grow wide in shock. "Why did you do that mummy?"

"Because seeing his face makes me mad the more."

"I get that mummy but you know it's not safe outside. What if something bad happens to him?"

"Do I look like I care? Stop talking about him and come with me. I know you didn't eat anything yesterday, so I've already served your food in the sitting room."

I sigh and nod before following her. I sit down and slowly reach for the food mummy has served for me. I still have no appetite, but I will need strength for what awaits me, so I have to eat. A few minutes later, we hear a knock on the door. I and my mummy look at each other before looking at the door. I can see the fear in my mummy's face as she turns pale.

I think it's them; they have come to take me away.

"I will get the door," I say as I set to move, but mummy stops me.

"No, let me get it instead." She moves past me and walks to the door. With a heavy sigh, she reaches for the door and opens it.

Seeing the look on her face, I confirm that it's them. Do they have to come so early though?

A tall, young dark-skinned man wearing a black suit walks into the sitting room. His beard is smoothly shaved, and he has a piercing on his right ear. His dark eyeballs show a blank expression. If not for the deep frown on his face, I might have considered him handsome.

Ugh! I can't believe I'm thinking about looks right now.

"I have been sent to get Kemi," he says plainly, dipping his hand into his pocket. Did he come alone? No armed men? I bet he did not.

"That's me," I say in a low voice.

"Shall we then?" he asks.

"Can I at least say goodbye to my family and get my things?"

"I was told you do not need to bring any belongings with you. You can say goodbye to your family, but be quick; I don't have time. Meet me outside," he says before leaving the sitting room.

My mummy moves closer to me. "Go... Go em... Go and have..." She's not able to say what she wants to say before bursting into tears and slumping on the floor.

I bend down and pull her into my arms, patting her back.

"Don't cry mummy, you will make me cry too."

"Mummy, why are you crying?" I pull away from the hug and turn in the direction of the voice. I see Shola and Ayo standing close to the wall opposite us. They move closer to us, and Ayo bends down beside mummy.

"Mummy, Shola asked why you're crying," Ayo says, trying to look at mummy's face, but she is staring at the floor.

"Mummy is just very sad that I'm leaving, that's why," I say, telling a half-truth.

"Are you really leaving, sister Kemi? So early?" Shola asks me.

"Yes, my love, but I will be back really soon, I promise."

"Then why is mummy crying like you're never coming back?" Ayo asks.

I smile slightly. He's always the smartest, despite his age.

"She's just going to miss me a lot, that's why."

"I will miss you too, sister Kemi. You're leaving too suddenly," Shola says, tears forming in her eyes.

This is exactly what I have been avoiding. I don't want to see them cry.

"Don't cry Shola, I will be back soon."

"Don't forget to call us when you get there okay?" Ayo says his eyes already clouded as well.

I wish I could my boy, I wish I could.

"I will my boy, now give me a hug?" I widen my arms and he rush into my arms now crying loudly. Shola also joins and I hug them both tightly crying with them.

"Let's...Let's stop crying now. It's not like I'm going to die." I say patting them both on their backs.

"Kemi, it's time to go. We have to get there in the next four hours, at least," I hear the voice of the man who had come to get me say behind us.

My siblings pull away from our embrace and turn to the man.

"Is our sister going with you?" Ayo asks. I quickly stand up and place my hand on Ayo's shoulder.

"He's taking me there; he's a friend of mine," I say to him.

He frowns at the man before turning back to me.

"I don't like your friend; he doesn't even smile."

I smile and pinch his cheeks.

"That's how he is. I'm going now; I will be back soon, okay?"

"Please come soon, sister," Shola says, looking at me with sad eyes.

"I will, my love." I turn to mummy, who is still sitting on the floor with her hand on her jaw. "At least give me your blessing, mummy, so no evil eyes shall see me."

She looks up at me with teary eyes before standing up and moving close to me.

"You'll be fine, my darling. You're a strong girl, and I believe you can overcome anything. Olorun (God) will never allow any evil to come to you." With that, she pulls me into a tight hug and kisses my cheek.

"Wrap this up quickly; we really need to go," the man says, annoyance evident in his voice.

"Mr. Black Suit, don't be mean! Don't you know it's sad to leave your family behind? Or don't you have one?" Ayo blurts out, and I quickly pull away from the embrace, guiding Ayo closer to me.

"Don't... don't say that, Ayo, hmm?"

Ayo frowns but nods. "But I still don't like him," he says.

I smile. "I know."

I turn to the man and see him staring at Ayo with a deep frown on his face, as if wishing he could strangle him.

I step away from my family, waving at them. "Bye-bye!" I look at Ayo and add, "Ayo, tell Daddy to stop blaming himself and change for the better instead, okay?"

Ayo nods and waves at me. I'll miss him the most. I wave back at them before leaving the house with the man Ayo called 'Mr. Black Suit.'

As I walk out of the house, I turn around and see Shola and Ayo standing by the door, still waving at me.

I smile and wave back at them.

"Get in," Mr. Black Suit says, or rather commands, and I turn around to see that he has opened the door to the back seat of the white limousine.

I wonder how rich these people are to use cars like this. I should be grateful that he didn't ask them to bring me in a sack.

I stare at the car, dreading to enter inside.

"Do I also have to carry you in?" Mr. Black Suit asks, and this time he is scowling deeply. I slide into the car and sit down with a heavy heart. I am waiting for him to close the door, but he doesn't, so I reach for it, but he stops me.

"Did you think I opened the door for you? Move inside; I'm sitting beside you," he frowns at me.

Goodness, does he have to be so rude?

I move inside, and he slides into the car before shutting the door. The glass is tinted, so my family wouldn't see anymore, but nevertheless, I still wave at them. The car starts, and here we go, to a place I have no idea about.

As the car drives through the streets, slowly making its way out of Ajegunle, tears roll down my cheeks, and I burst into tears as I couldn't hold it in any longer.

"You should wait a little longer; there would be enough time and reasons to cry when you get there," I hear Mr. Black Suit say beside me, and I raise my head and turn to him.

"Could you tell me where we're going?" I ask him.

He doesn't say anything in return and simply crosses his right leg over the other.

"Drive faster," he says to the driver at the far end of the driving seat.

I stand up from where I'm sitting and move over to the long seat on the right side. He stares at me in puzzlement before shaking his head and then he reaches for a bottle of wine on the side and pours a small quantity into a glass.

He sips from it. "Care for?"

I look away from him and shut my eyes.

I hear him chuckle softly.

"You are a strange one; others are usually scared."

Others? Wait, what?

Xoxo