The narrow path which the kidnappers led both of them finally linked to a bush path through which they walked and ended up in an underground bungalow. It was nearly impossible for a stranger to locate it except he or she is led there. Two hefty men stood at the entrance of the building with ammunition held firmly across their chest.
Glora and Chioma's fears were further ignited by what they beheld as soon as they entered the building. There were some people being tortured mercilessly by the kidnappers.
"You either pay fifty million Naira or you lose your mother and son" A kidnapper known as Raska said to a caller and banged the call on the recipient almost immediately without waiting to hear the pleas from the other end of the call.
"Omo, this one think say I dey joke! He no reach me one second to finish una for here! Raska threatened the old woman and her grandson who was probably ten years of age or a little younger. The young boy was in school uniform. It was obvious the little boy and his grandma were attacked on his way back to school with his grandma.
"Please, my son, I beg you in the name of Jesus. Please, don't kill us" the old woman pleaded tearfully. she might have been crying for long as she looked sorrowful and her eyes were swollen like someone suffering from sleeplessness.
"Who be your son? Abi you dey craze? See this woman o. Dem tell you say I dey too kind like that? See, I no send you o. I fit tear you slap o if you no shut your mouth! Skipo, con tell your mama for here o!" Another kidnapper who had been monitoring the woman and her grand son uttered angrily.
"Kay money, no trouble yourself too much. If her son refuse to settle us this week, we go kill them and sell their body to chief Kalango. You don see baba oga today? I been wan tell am say another fresh operation don land." Dragon turned to Kay money to ask as he found his way to settle down on a seat.
"Oga, never show but he talk say he don dey come. O boy, how una con escape those police on the way? Dem plenty today o. Kay money buttressed further.
"Omo, na God o. We nearly enter am today. But we thank God sha." Skipo replied.
Gloria and Chioma were still kept standing and already grief stricken. They were yet to know their fate in the lion's den. They still called God in this ungodly issue. Would God ever accept their prayers too? Maybe, God had truly saw them through as rightly said by Skipo. Chioma thought. If they could be treating the poor old woman like this, how much more them? Chioma sighted a man who had been beaten to stupor and now chained like goat about to be slaughtered. He was barely breathing. Definitely, he had been given a terrible treatment by the kidnapper.
Na there you go die. Dem never come bail you" Jaqusi, another kidnapper with a huge physique like that of heavy weight boxer noted.
Gloria and Chioma were so much scared this time. They wondered what would become of both of them. Gloria's heart beat more faster. She just can't imagine what is happening at the moment. She wished she could just jumped from her nightmare but it was a sad reality. Who was responsible for all these remained a mystery. Her mind traveled to her family. How worried they could have been. There was no means to reach Benard nor Ngozi as her phone had been smashed. Would she now end her life here alongside Chioma? She racked her brain for a way out. She imagined the possibility of the police tracking the kidnappers here or being led by someone who might have been familiar with the area. But who could that be? Maybe someone that had once escaped and now here for revenge. Gloria cried terribly within. She hoped rescuers found them alive that if they finally caught the kidnappers.
Chioma was mystified over who might have given the kidnappers information about them coming to Ngozi's house that very day. The person might have been watching the vicinity all the while. The estate was very secured which meant the attackers didn't enter the estate with them. They might have stayed outside and watched their car till it was driven out of the estate towards the express way. Her mind then traveled to Ngozi's in-laws. Could they have wanted them death? But why? Why would they have gone to such extreme? What have they done to warrant such? After all, Ngozi had handed over all her husband's property to them in peace. What else? They had finally succeeded in taking everything that belongs to their son. If their hands are on this current situation, then, they are not human beings but devil incarnates. They are evil. They.... "Wetin una dey look upandan? Skipo cut in her thought and she suddenly jerked from her heavy thought.
"Oya, move to your left hand side of the door and stop looking here and there like thieves. You get me?" Skipo asked with his eyes wide opened in an aggressive manner.
Yes sir. Yes sir. Gloria and Chioma said repeatedly. They walked fearfully towards the left hand side of the window as commanded awaiting the next action.
"How far, Alhaji Danjuma don come settle you?" Raska turned to Dragon.
"Yes. He sent five million naira into my account yesterday evening".
"O boy, you don eat am big o." Raska chipped in smiling.
"Which Kain big be that? E neva reaches the amount of car I be wan buy. I see one car online. Omo, that car baaaaad. That car was worth sixty million naira. Omo, na that car dey hungry me o. I swear! Skipo explained in detail to Raska.
"You mean am? No wahala na. As market don dey. Na wetin again?
"Nothing again o. Na money remains o. Abi you no understaaaaaaaaand?" Skipo stressed his words so that they could sink in his head.
Chioma felt no life within her as she listened to the kidnappers. They were not even speaking in low tones. What could have given them such boldness? It wasn't certain she would come out of here with her body intact. All of a sudden, another voice interrupted her thought. This time, it wasn't any of the kidnappers but a short man in his late fifties with a pot belly trying to gather his agbada properly.
"Kai! Walai, I go pay you for your money. Walahitalai, I go do you well well" The man a Hausa man spoke to Dragon who had escorted him into the building.
"Alhaji, I want my money today o. Na cash and carry this time around. No, be the one you do last time o." The dragon pressed further.
"Alhaji, I know say you go drop money for the boys today because as I see you, my stomach don belleful," Kay said as he moved forth to greet Alhaji
"Trust me dis time. Money dey inside the car for outside. So, where are those women I tell you? Alhaji Danjuma asked.
"They are right there" Skipo said pointing his index finger in the direction of Chioma and Gloria.