Betty
                         "I hate police stations."
                     
                          The station was dull and gloomy and the moodiness made her sad. A stout policeman sat behind a counter listening to a woman who narrated something.  A couple of other people sat on the worn-out chairs in the small reception room.  Aware of the eyes that followed the movement of her feet, she walked towards the counter.
                        "Excuse me, sir." She whispered timidly. 
                         "Go and sit down. Wait for ya turn." The man replied dismissively.
                          She glanced at the people in the reception. Eli would be long dead before the man attended to every one of them.
                          "I can't sir. I'm in a hurry."
                         The man laughed harshly. "Na all of them dey hurry."
                         "N..No sir. I need to speak with Inspector Oladayo. He... His daughter-"
                        "My friend go and sit down!" The policeman bellowed and Betty's lips trembled. "Oloshi."
                        Her face flamed up at the insult.  Big fat droplets of tears rolled down her face.
                          "I need to see him!" She shouted. "Tokunbo needs her father! We need him!"
                          "Shut up!" The man hissed.
                         "Tokunbo is in danger! Do you hear me? Danger!"
                          "Tokunbo?!" A familiar voice roared from within the station. Huge footsteps shook the building until the terrifying specimen that was Tokunbo's father stood before her. "Where is Tokunbo?"
                         Through the curtain of tears, Betty could see the fear in his eyes. His chest heaved and his scar threatened to open up.
                        ...tell him I'm in danger...
                           "She's in trouble. You have to come sir. She said I had to come and get you." Betty related and reached for his hand. "Please."
                           "What trouble?" He demanded.
                            She sniffed. "She... She said you would know what to do."
                            She saw his eyes close and his shoulders shake. "No. Not again. Not my Tokunbo." He muttered and ran into the building.
                          It happened so fast. Tokunbo's father marched out with three of his colleagues. One of them grabbed Betty and hoisted her into the backseat of a police van outside the police station. Mr Oladayo sat in the front passenger's seat and another policeman took the wheels.
                           "Where to?" The driver asked.
                            Tokunbo's father turned to look at her. "Where is my daughter?"
                             With shaky hands, she opened up Enoch's text on her phone and handed it over to the scary-looking man.
                            Don't worry Eli. Help is coming. Please hang on. Please.
                           "What is my daughter doing at a warehouse?"
                           Oh boy.
                            As if on cue, she burst into tears again. "This...This is what happened..."
***
Vicky.
                          Crossroads. They always somehow found their way to her. She had been at crossroads when the Judge had looked her dead in the eye and asked why she selfishly wanted to live with Rhoda instead of her very own mother. She had been at crossroads when Demi had called a few hours before. When she had to choose between her life and Eli's.
                               The warehouse was surrounded by trees, one reason she, Demi and Enoch had been able to play freely in it. No one would suspect a rusty old thing hidden in the woods held a bunch of kids who roamed around and played in the trees.
                          Happy times.
                           She had climbed on a tree to survey the area. The warehouse had a wide entrance which had made it easy for her to see through. Eli was tied up and a gun to his head. Ten menacing-looking dudes and Demi. Where all she had was a fruit knife. The choice had to be made; Run away or Step in and surrender.  
                         When she made her choice, she was by the main road in the middle of a crying session when a black car parked beside her and Enoch stepped out looking frantic...
    "                    "What are you doing here?" She sniffed, wiping the tears from her eyes.
                         Enoch gave her a long look and leaned against the car. "You were going to leave, weren't you?"
                         Her stomach dropped. "I'm not like you." She bit out.
                         "Right. That's why you're shedding regret tears." He rolled his eyes.
                          "Go away, Enoch."
                           "Really? And what's your plan Victoria? Surrendering? You'll just walk in there and you think Demi won't hack you to pieces?"
                            "This is none of your business!" She fumed.
                            Enoch shook his head and pulled out something from the driver's seat. "It is my business. My best friend is in there and his life depends on whatever you do. I'm not taking chances."
                         Vicky let out a shrill cry when her eyes beheld the firearm in his hands. "What the hell are you doing with that?!"
                         "Saving you." He stated. "And if it matters, it's my dad's. Come on, let's go do something we both won't regret."
                        She cocked a brow his way. "So we're just going to walk in there?"
                       "Yes, Vicky. We need to stall until Betty comes over with the police and Tokunbo finds the diary."
                            She gasped. "Police? I can't believe she went ahead with that stupid plan. What if the police don't come?"
                             Enoch sighed. "What if they do? Come on, here's the plan..."  "
                        And there they were. At another crossroad. Ten guys circled the three of them and the arch nemesis struggled in Enoch's grasp. She stood beside him while Eli stood behind them, facing the other side.  Everyone watched each other warily.
                              "How long before the police come?" Vicky whispered.
                             "I don't know," Enoch replied.
                             "Thanks, Enoch. Thanks a lot. That's ing." Eli scowled.
                              "You guys calm down. They will come." Enoch defended weakly.
                              "Will they now? The big guy is getting impatient." She nodded towards Emma who looked like he was considering if the risk was worth Demi. "I know you won't shoot Enoch. Do you even know how to use that thing?"
                             "Yes, do. Trust me. This witch has messed with my life too much, that I won't think twice to bury a bullet in her. But we need to stall. The police are likely on their way."
                            No. No, they're not. If we don't act soon, we'll hell as hell die here. I need to cause a distraction.
                          "He,y Demi." She called out loud enough for everyone to hear.
                          "I'm right beside you idiot," Demi said darkly, twisting angrily under Enoch's grip.
                          She shrugged. "Where's that sweet little diary of yours eh?"
                          Demi froze and a smile played on Vicky's lips.
 
                          "And where do you think Tokunbo is right now?"
                          Demi exploded in gasps. "Emma! They're going to get my diary." She screeched.
                          Emma groaned and shook his head tiredly. "Where is it?"
                          "I left it. I left it at home! You have to send someone to retrieve it before that filthy skinny fowl gets it."
                          "Do not talk about Tokunbo that way!" Eli snapped taking everyone aback.
                           "What was the need to keep a stupid journal anyways?" Emma grumbled and pointed to one of his goons. "You heard her, fetch the stupid book. We'll handle matters-"
                          A siren cut his words short. Vicky, Enoch and Eli exchanged knowing looks.
                        And Pandora's box was opened.