Chapter 27

The next day at school, during the training at lunch break as usual, Uncle Robinson read the rules to us like he always did before going into the lesson:

Be punctual to training (It's either you eat your lunch earlier or eat it after the training). Coming late to training lessons attracts punishment

Training lasts for two hours everyday. 30 minutes during lunch break, and one hour, thirty minutes after closing hour between the hours of 1:30pm-3:00pm. On no account should you leave the school premises except the training lessons are over for the day

When you're asked a question, you're mandated to respond as soon as you can.

Do not eat during the training hours

These were the rules for the time being. I decided to break all of them, and so when Uncle Robinson asked me a question, I acted like I didn't hear him. I also brought some of my leftover food to the hall and ate so openly. My other competitors warned me but I was hell-bent on getting disqualified. Uncle Robinson and the other two teachers that supervised us were mad at me, and I was so happy within me.

"You have to apologise or you'll be disqualified" one of them barked at me. I was just smiling. It infuriated him and he tugged at my shoulders. But I said instead, "Please disqualify me" The teacher, Mr Emmanuel pulled me towards Uncle Robinson's office and reported me to him. Uncle Robinson asked him to leave, that he would handle it. So, when he left, he pointed a finger at me and whispered so fearfully: "Ariana, what the hell is wrong with you?? You've been scoring lower grades than these other students, what has come over you? You know what, I'll give you a second chance. If you misuse it, I'll have to dismiss you"

"I told you already that I do not want to do this" i said, staring at the floor. "I do not even want to attend the camp this year"

"It's a command, you're going to do it. You have no other choice, and I tell you, it's a very good choice to make" he said and half laughed. Or half coughed.

"And I promise to tame that sharp tongue of yours soon, you rude, little pumpkin" he said, changing his tone all of a sudden. My mind jolted.

He sounded so furious, so I didn't look at his face, because I knew I'd see his Wolf this time, like before. The way he said that last sentence sent cold shivers down my spine. And all I wanted to do was run, and never come back. But, I stood transfixed to the spot because I was mortified by his threat. No other teacher knew he threatened me like this. Or maybe they knew and didn't act upon it, maybe it looked normal to them, since they all knew I was smart and intelligent. It seemed to me there was something more to this than meets the eye. Why must I be the chosen one to represent the school, and why is it being imposed on me?

It didn't occur to me that I was already blurting out my thoughts until Uncle Robinson repeated my question with what seemed like mockery and irritation in his voice.

"Why must it be you?" I lifted my head and looked straight into his eyeballs, and to be honest, I saw a bright blue flame in both of them.

"Isn't it obvious? If you don't represent us, who will? You have the most influential father in the whole school, and you're the most intelligent as at present, you're going to buy this school a name and make us popular and rich. So, it has to be you. " He said, and kept marking something on his table. I was still standing and staring at him like he was a devil from hell. Actually he was about the same.

"But Anita's father was not rich. I don't know about Joe's father but Anita's?" I quizzed. I didn't understand all of it but it felt like I was about to be used.

"Little girl, Anita's case is different. We used her intelligence. But you, you right here have two privileges that can make us big. Influence and brain. All the teachers have all agreed that it has to be you. I don't know why you don't want to represent your school; you should be proud of the fact that you were chosen" he said, shaking his head.

"Okay sir. I have heard you" i said and turned to take my leave.

Suddenly, I stopped short in my tracks. Because what I heard next shocked me to the marrow.

"When you're coming to the Annual camp, make sure you come with Joe's white pouch because I need it. I gave it to him"

I turned to face him and shot him a deathful glare. "What is it? Did you hear me,Ariana?" He asked, stupefied at my reaction. His expression made me realize he might not know that I knew his secrets after all

"Joe does not have any pouch in my possession, sir" I said, to hear his response

"Okay, but he told me yesterday that he left it with you. The thing is, that bag was inherited and I can not lose it for anything. So, if you have it, just...

"I already told you I don't!" I yelled. I was surprised at my voice even. And I wasn't scared until those words with the intensity with which they came, tumbled out of my mouth. He stood up and left his desk, trying to come closer to me. I was near the door. Immediately I realize he was getting closer, I targeted the entrance and turned the lock immediately with calculated speed, and then ran out of his office. I passed by the back, the place where I had watched Anita's cold-blooded murder, and kept running until I was out of the school compound. My bag and my lunch box were left behind. I didn't care that much as long as I was safe. I kept looking back to see if he was chasing me but no one was behind me. I ran, and ran across the streets without looking out that much for vehicles. Most men at the wheel yelled at me and everyone wondered what mad little girl I was.

When I got to the end of the road, that particular place where a cab had stopped to pick me up, many months ago, that cab that turned out to be a kidnapper's, I stood there , held my chest and tried to breathe. I pulled out my phone from my pocket and tried to call Mike, (thanks Goodness it was always in my skirt's pockets), but unfortunately, I realized my battery was down. I had to charge it. I started looking round for where I could find a charger.

Just then, four men walked up to me, I was about running when they pulled me gently by my shoulders and tried to calm me. I saw that they looked harmless, and were dressed in the same uniform. It seemed like they were Road safety officers.

They asked me if I was okay. They asked me where I was running to, and how they could help me. I didn't say anything, except: "I need my uncle to come pick me up. I need to call him, please give me a charger for my phone"

So they did, and after a while I called Mike. He said I sounded afraid. Within few minutes, he was there at the corner where I was with these four men. The men didn't let him take me away until they were sure I really recognized him. Mike thanked them and assured them that I was safe, after providing some information about himself and me.

As soon as I was seated safely at the backseat of Mike's truck, I heaved a sigh of relief.

All the time we drove home, Mike kept talking to me but I didn't respond. He soon stopped talking and stared at me occasionally instead. He wondered what was wrong with me as the men didn't give him details about what happened. I mean, as soon as he came, I was quick to tell him to get us out of there. He was struggling with the men and I was struggling with his hands.

I already accepted my fate--i was going to attend the camp, and represent my school. If I didn't do that, Uncle Robinson would punish me in a way that'd harm me , and no one would be able to trace it to him because I would not tell anyone about it, or be able to tell them.

That day as Mike drove on the road with me in the seat beside him, I started to feel sleepy and bored. The weather was cool and it felt so good to be free, even if temporary. All I wanted to do was relax and have fun somewhere far from home, and not go home until the next day. I felt like having a hangover but there were no close friends to hang over with. I just needed some fun out of town, and some time out of my room, and away from Dr Brown's--Away from the regular routines of life.

That moment, the memory of one of the things that happened when I was four became fresh. I was only four, and mom and Cameron and I had gone swimming. That was the only time all of us ever went out together,and it was a disaster. It was mom's idea; she wanted us to have fun because it was her birthday. So, we went swimming. After a while that Mom and I were swimming in a corner where she held me because I was not so good at swimming, Cameron came over to us and held both mom and i, and we played and swam. Mom took some pictures of us too.

After a while when it looked like I was safe with him, Mom left Cameron and I at the beach and went to get us some drinks from the nearest seafood restaurant. I almost got drowned that day, I remember swallowing so much water and struggling to get a grip because Cameron left me with the other kids in the water and went after some hot chick--A young woman swimming on her own in another corner of the pool, a bit far from us. The other kids were laughing at me as I splattered water and tried to keep my head above water level; I was sinking already but I kept running back up with all of my strength. The kids probably thought I was just being a clown possibly because it didn't look like I was actually crying. They clapped for me and laughed.

There were about five kids in there and they were in the far end, the shallow part of the pool, while I was in the deeper part because that's where Cameron was swimming, holding my arms before he left me, and I don't think there was any life coach around, it seemed to me that it was a somewhat private pool. There were not many people around; it was a quiet place

I really don't know what brought mom back so quick because she should have at least spent five more minutes there because it was a long queue at the entrance of the open bar, and I'd have drowned. But she soon returned looking for Cameron and her daughter, it was then she saw me drowning. She dived into the pool after me and pulled me out quickly. She looked so scared. She was actually crying when she saw my state. I was coughing and sneezing and crying, and I hugged her tightly for saving me. It was that moment I started to really loathe Cameron. If he didn't care that I drowned or died, why would I call him 'father'?

Mom and I immediately returned home after that incident and mom cried throughout the night. He, Cameron didn't return home until past 7pm in the night, about three hours after we left the pool. He rejected mom's calls when she tried calling him. Or he wouldn't pick. I can't remember. When he returned, he started to say something about him getting carried away and he started to act like it wasn't his fault and tried to place the blame on mom for waiting too long at the bar. He even accused mom of meeting up with another man at the bar. He didn't deny that what got him carried away was a woman swimming alone at the other side of the pool, he even tried rubbing it in mom's face. That night, I heard all the demeaning words he uttered, and they were painfully unbelievable to my ears. All mom did was yell at him, pointing accusing fingers and afterwards, she just stopped, left his presence and started to cry. I was in my room and there was nothing I could do. He ruined mom's birthday, and he gave me a phobia for swimming

How can any man do that to his wife on her birthday? I really don't know what else he wanted; mom was extremely beautiful and submissive.

"Ariana" i hadn't realized I was lost in my own thoughts until Mike nudged me on my shoulders. I opened my eyes to scrutinize my environment. He was already slowing down his truck and smiling at me.

"So, do you like this place?" He said and finally parked under a tree that had only few leaves. It was already drying up. Where he was parked was neither home nor Dr Brown's. It was a beach somehow. There was a lot of open land with tall trees that had almost no branches. There were very many birds chirping above our heads and the soil was so smooth. The sky above was starting to darken but it was still beautiful. Beautiful, deep blue sky. There was also a pool, some metres away from us that rippled from time to time, it was a very clean and large body of water. There were some old tent houses on the bare land with fine soil. That area was a very quiet, peaceful place. Not a soul was there. It looked to me like my dream environment, I was so relieved at once that I just wanted to scream. I wondered how Mike discovered this place. What did he mean by did I like this place? No, I love this place! I didn't want to leave! I almost resorted to settling there. I wondered if we were going to swim. Swimming invited bad happenstances.

I ran up to Mike and hugged him tight. He picked me up and rubbed my hair. "Thank you for not taking me home or to Dr Brown's" I mumbled, with so much excitement and relief in my voice.

"Of course. You needed a break. I don't know if you'll like to swim. I was indecisive about bringing you here or taking you to the cinema" he said. I just stared at the water and smiled. "Shall we?" He said and put my feet back on the ground

"Do you like this place?" He asked again as I took in the beauty and serenity of my environment.

"I love it!" I yelled, held his hands as we walked towards the water. In my mind, I was going to have a very good, fun-filled day with Mike. Little did I know what fate had in store for me.

As soon as we got to the water, he released my hands, stood with his hands akimbo and quizzed: "Wanna give it a try?" I looked at him and looked back at the water. I was unsure of what we were about to do. I still feared swimming, and although that place looked safe and peaceful and with Mike right by my side, I still hesitated.

"What? You don't want to swim or you don't know how to swim?" He asked me, slowly lowering his weight on a jagged rock that had a smooth surface. I remained standing, staring at the water. Staring at it alone was therapeutic for me. It let me think of good things and gave me a hope of a bright future. As much as I relished the imagination of swimming in this water for as long as I wanted, with Mike and with no intrusion from anywhere, anxiety stood at the back of my thoughts withholding me.

"Huh?" Mike asked again. "I thought swimming would make you feel better, you know you have not been in a good mood since the drive down here" he said. "Whatcha think?" I shook my head, uncertain.

"Can I touch the water?" I asked. I wanted to see how deep and how warm it was. He said "Of course. It's very safe. I've been here like thrice myself" , So, I bent down and touched the water. It was cool, neither too cold nor too warm. It was just perfect for the weather. I then slowly put my right feet in it, it was not so deep although it was not shallow either. I put my other feet in it and the water swallowed my ankle.

I laughed and threw my hair back, my long, black thick hair. Then I raised my two hands towards the heavens. Mike laughed out loud at my reaction.

"It's just perfect. I think I'll give it a try, Mike" i said. As soon as I said that, he did three things at once-- he stood up immediately, clapped for me, and took off his vest revealing his toned abs

"Wait, Mark, what will I tell Mom about my uniform getting wet?" I asked him.

"Don't worry, mom won't know we came here. It's a secret outing" he said and laughed.

"What?"

"I mean, mom won't have to worry about your uniform getting wet because you're not gonna swim in it" he said and then stretched forth his hand to me. He was giving me his vest. I was shocked, it was intriguing. I took the vest from his hands and put it on my nose. It smelt of his cologne. It felt weird for me to wear it but it wasn't so bad to do, so I took it.

"Wear it and join me in the water" he said and dived into the water. I turned away from him and took off my uniform quickly but I left my inners on. I also made sure I took off my socks and shoes. Then I slipped into his vest. It was like a gown on me but it didn't look so big. Then I stepped into the water and joined him.

It was so much fun because of the temperature of the water and because it eased my mind. We were there until 6pm. I wondered if mom was already worried about me.

"Your mom won't be back until 7, so we have to take you home before 7pm" it was about to rain. Just one of those sparse rainfalls in summer. At a point, I started to feel uncomfortable in the water because Mike's body was too close to mine. As a matter of fact, I struggled to breathe but he'd not stop holding me tight. It felt weird because I was wet and my body was sticking to his.

He held my waist from behind and immersed me into the water and then pulled me out again. Laughing as he did so. After a while, rain splatters began to fall on us. I told him that it was time to go but he held on to me and urged us to wait a bit more.

I've never felt more uncomfortable in my life. Imagine feeling good and comfortable for a long while and then all of a sudden, the person who made you feel this way started to make you feel otherwise again.

I struggled to free myself from his grasp but he would not let me go, claiming that we only just started relaxing in the water. At a point, we were so deep in the water that only his shoulders and head were visible and he lifted me so I'd not sink because I was obviously much shorter than he was.

Then, I felt his hands slipping into my panties. I didn't think too much about it because I thought it was a mistake. But then he started to stick his fingers into my private part. He did it so roughly that it hurt me so much. It hurt so much I cried. At a point, I couldn't take it anymore, so, I turned towards him quickly to stop him, but that let him lose his grip on my waist and I began to sink. I screamed but it only caused more water to rush into my mouth. I didn't sink so much before his hands fetched my arms and he lifted me onto the surface again. Water was dripping from my nose and eyes. But I was okay.

"Sorry" he said. "Sorry" he said again, pulling my hair back, so he'd see my face properly.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his voice full of concern. I just wanted to run away, because I could not look at his face. I felt defiled. So, I left him and swam to the shore, then walked swiftly towards where his truck was parked. There, I hurriedly changed into my uniform and entered the back of the truck, hiding my face from the side mirror. Mike was shouting my name but I didn't answer him. I needed to let him know I didn't like what he did, and that what I felt was shame and not ecstasy like he felt. He probably thought I was running away on foot. Well, that was my plan initially but it'd cause me more harm than good because I didn't know how to find my way around there. I'd be lost and probably get into more trouble.

So, I went into his truck instead but didn't sit in the passenger seat. He soon came up to me, panting. He came into the truck beside me, holding my socks and shoes with one hand, and with the other, he grabbed my own hands. I let him because I wanted him to tell me it was a mistake. I was so disappointed in him and so I looked out of the window. I still felt the pain down there even though his fingers were no longer poking me.

"I'm so sorry" he said silently, like a repentant sinner. "Ariana, are you mad at me?" He asked. I started to sob, still looking out the window. Was that even a question? He must have probably thought I'd find it normal. He didn't know mom taught me about this stuff everytime

"Please just drive me home" I pleaded, refusing to look at him. "i want to go home" i repeated.

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry" He kept saying over and over, without moving an inch and still holding my fingers. Those filthy fingers.

"Stop telling me that" I told him. My voice was breaking. If anyone told me Mike would do something like this to me, I'd hit whoever said so.

"It was a mistake. You know I'd never hurt you" he said. In a way, I warmed up to that but I was not totally convinced. It was true--Mike was a kind of person that'd never hurt you on purpose. Everyone knew him to be a good, kind gentleman. I've known him as at then, for eight years, so I knew that was true. But this? I was not sure anymore. He made me scared of him the moment he held me tight in the water.

"I want to go home please" I begged.

"Please look at me, Ariana. I won't do it again, I promise. The pain will go, don't worry and I won't try it again. Please"

I kept looking out the car. "Mom will be waiting. Drive me home" i said instead, still looking outside.

So, he got out and went to start the truck. On our way home, he kept saying sorry. Only God knows how many times he said it. If I was counting right, maybe a hundred and seventeen times. He looked so remorseful and he only stopped saying sorry when I told him "It's okay. I'll take it as a mistake"

When we got very near home, he slowed down and made me promise not to tell my mom about it. He was so persuasive that I had to agree to his wish. I wasn't going to tell Mom anyway. I wasn't planning to.