LIBERTY EPISODE SEVEN : GRACE DAVID'S CORNER

EPISODE SEVEN
Spurred on by rage she did the unthinkable, she spoke back, “If you so much as touch a hair on her I will finish what I started,”
The low chuckle was not only disarming but aggravating, “we will see about that, you think you are way too wise for me to trace your every step right? I can watch her from afar, waiting and watching for the right time to pounce!” the last part was delivered with loud laughter. Was it her or was Hagar louder and annoying than ever before?
Chide gasped, “I am warning you Hag, I will not hesitate to end it all once and for all,”
Where the guts had come from she couldn’t tell, but there is so much a person can take before snapping.
“I will hold you to that,”
Her husband’s firm hand on her shoulder made her heart beat faster. How much had he heard?
“Why are you on the floor?” He asked and to her relieve he sounded genuinely concerned and clueless.
She ended the call, hoping it won’t be the last for Liberty’s sake and turned to face him.
“Don’t mind me jore, I found the floor more inviting than the chair and the bed,” she said injecting as much life as possible into her voice.
She only succeeded in driving worry grooves over his face, “first the bath tub and now the floor,” he took her hand in his, “Chide I am sorry for the stress, for never been around, I will make it up to you I promise, we will go anywhere you want, just let me sort through this month’s schedule,”
Trying hard not to cry at the injustice of it all, she placed her free hand on his cheek and managed to hold his gaze, “Jeff I am fine, I will be, it’s not your fault that there are lost souls in the world that need saving, I am so proud of you,”
He hugged her tightly and she gulped in air through her lungs to stop the warm sensation burning its way down to her heart. She didn’t deserve this man.
***
“Silly girl, as if I would waste my bullet on you,” Hagar laughed loudly and Chinny’s eyes flew open. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or not, would death have served as a sort of escape from this hell of a life she lived?
Hagar turned to one of the goons, “take her to the dark room, do not let her out of your sight,”
Chinny was released from her ropy confinement and helped to her feet; they felt raw from her attempt at escape. Too numb and tired to fight she allowed them drag her out docilely. The dark room meant one thing – isolation. She had heard tales of the dark room from Uche, one of the girls who had tried to elope with one of the clients who had been besotted with her. Uche had had nightmares for months after that experience. Chinny was taken to the tiny cell like room with the only source of light – a naked electric bulb, switched off. There was nothing to lie or sit on just cold hard floor that was one with the darkness. She wept her heart out that night, but it did nothing to lessen the pain in her heart. Chinny had been sold into sexual slavery by her ignorant aunt after her mother’s death. She had only been ten and the betrayal still stung. Even her aunt’s tragic death a few months after the exchange felt inadequate for the torture and torment that characterised her existence. She was alone in the world and frightened by her own shadow. Her resolve to escape was so strong that seven years after she remained untamed. Every attempt failed woefully, until Mr. Lee, a young contractor with one of the construction companies arrived Enugu ready to sleep his way through half the prostitutes in the city. His quest led him to the doorsteps of Fair Wanderer, Hagar’s bar. The bar served as an obvious camouflage for what really went on behind the seedy bar’s doors. He had taken one look at Chinny and decided he would have no other. Chinny detested his staccato speech, short frame, yellowish complexion and sweaty odour that could not be masked with perfume. But he paid her madam well, which meant he had her every night. Then he started having romantic ideas and when he asked her to run away with him, she saw nothing more than an escape channel. She accepted his proposal, already seeing herself far away from Hagar and her colourful kaftans that didn’t match her dark twisted mind. But Lee had paid with his dear life, for as Hagar had stated she had eyes and ears everywhere. Now she was swelling with his seed, he had left her indelibly marked. She had undergone two abortions in her short life and this one would stay, because it was special. Even though she hadn’t loved Lee, she had started feeling something close before his death. He had painted a beautiful picture of the future with him, his large family back home and ancient China that she had began to see herself in the picture. Over the long dark months, the baby grew inside her and every subtle kick and movement filled her with hope and love for the tiny representation of him. She would talk to it until she ran out of words; the bleakness became inconsequential compared to the light she carried. And on the ninth month she felt water seeping down her grimy thighs and such pain that words could not describe. The midwife Hagar tossed into the cell, had frightened eyes and a compassionate heart. She took one look at Chinny and resolved to break her out of there. She called for Hagar and requested to have Chinny moved to her tiny private clinic. Hagar with great hesitation and much argument agreed, but the escort that followed her would shame the president’s security team. After her delivery and her crying red faced baby was placed in her arms, she wept uncontrollably. What kind of life did she have to offer her daughter, when hers was filled with horror?
“The guards don’t know you have delivered, take your child and run without turning back,” the midwife whispered fiercely casting frantic glances at the door.
Chinny’s eyes were wide with fright and concern, she couldn’t allow anyone sacrifice their live for her again. But the woman was insistent promising that she would take care of herself. Chinny needed no further persuasion as she took a backdoor into a dark cluttered alley. Her limbs ached but the adrenaline pumping in her veins kept her going. She ran and ran like a crazy person, ignoring the attention she was attracting. The night was darker than any she had ever experienced, the rain poured and her child cried so loudly her heart broke and she had to find shelter. She found it under the steeple of a cathedral that was surprisingly open. She walked in tentatively, her bare feet were bleeding and hurt but she trudged on. The lights were off but as soon as she got to the altar, a figure emerged with a lantern. The middle aged man was wearing a white robe and his kindness radiated towards her. She fell to her knees before him, with tears burning her eyes she did the most difficult thing she had ever being required to do – she abandoned her child before him and whispered, “Liberty, she is my liberty.” She turned and escaped the peace that pervaded that cathedral. Liberty was better off without her, Hagar had eyes and ears everywhere and would harm her child if she held unto her.
Post By : Grace David