Chapter Twenty-Eight

Bianca eventually came in to the station, and when she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see that everything was bright. She overheard a television talking. She looked around and realised she was in an odd place. In a dim cubicle with red-painted walls, she saw herself sitting next to James Brin. Compared to what she was seeing here, the location was completely different. She fixed her gaze on the walls. The one she imagined was completely different because it was painted white. She turned her gaze upward. bright lights shimmered, into her eyes. She immediately closed her eyes and then opened them again, slowly. She continued to scan the area until she caught sight of a wall clock hanging next to a cabinet to the right of where she was sitting. She was shocked to see the time was 1:30 a.m. After she had recovered from her shock, she had doubts about the reliability of the wall clock. She scanned the area in search of a window but couldn't find one. She got up from her bed and began walking to the door. When she got there, she opened the door, just to be surprised to see a human being sleeping. he looked at the person very well. She discovered that it was a female officer. Fear gripped her immediately after the discovery. She closed the door very quickly but cautiously, making sure it never made any sound. She went back to her bed and laid down on it. Various thoughts ran through her mind as she tried to recall the events that had occurred to her while on the way to university. She pondered and pondered until she fell asleep.

"Hello," A female officer tapped Bianca's legs, trying to wake her from her deep sleep.

Bianca stretched her body and woke up immediately, she contemplated greeting her or not greeting.

"Morning Ma," she greeted unknowingly.

The woman answered with a nod.

"Please, where am I?" Bianca asked belatedly.

"You are in the police station," the female officer answered.

"Hope there is nothing wrong, ma," she asked.

"You were saved from the den of the kidnapper," said the female officer

"Please ma, can I know your name?" she requested.

"My name is Florence Michael," she said, "Do you remember vividly the place you stayed before seeing yourself at the station?"

"Yeah, I do," she hiccupped and held her stomach very tight.

"Oh, hunger." observed Florence.

Bianca nodded her head in agreement with what she said.

"Please Just manage for a while, while I get outside to get you food. Have you heard me?"

"Yes ma," Bianca murmured, still holding her stomach.

She left, leaving Bianca alone in the room. Bianca wondered how she got saved from James' trap; she thanked God for protecting her virginity from the evil ones who were ready to devour her at the time she was helpless. She remembered being nervous about getting on the bus and hearing the voice telling her to try another bus. When humans are led by the spirit, they see it as foolishness. And that was what happened to her. She ignored the voice that sounded so much like her father's in order to save a few naira; she wasn't going to spend after all. She imagined how tense she was while inside the vehicle on the journey to her university. She imagined how she sensed an offensive odour and was struggling to keep up. Her memories went blank from that time until she opened her eyes and saw herself in a cubicle that would have been very dark if not for the ray of torchlight that allowed her to see the painting on the wall. The way the chains were piled on top of each other sent a signal that she wasn't any longer in a safe place. Her fear pirouetted into uncertainty and doom when she discovered a tall man standing beside her.

The thought was interrupted abruptly by the creaking of the door that had slightly opened up. The other two female officers and Sergeant Florence Michael entered. Bianca greeted them while standing up. They greeted her warmly and joked with her as they got closer.

"How are you doing?" Florence asked.

"I'm alright, now," Bianca answered, smiling a little bit.

"Take this, and brush your teeth over there," she gave her a new brush and a toothpaste, also using her hands to direct her to the bathtub.

Bianca felt she was being treated differently and remembered her father telling her that she would be cherished like gold. All of this she was trying to remember in order to overcome the psychological trauma she had just experienced. She smiled to herself as she continued brushing her teeth. When she was done, she rinsed her mouth and went out of the bathtub to where the three police officers sat down on her bed and were in full discussion.

Bianca appreciated their special treatment of her. She had an evil thought about the police back in those days, when she was still developing as a girl.

Bianca was given a plate of jollof rice by Sergeant Florence to consume. She happily took it and sat down on a chair in the area to begin eating. Following Sergeant Florence, a policeman went outside and returned with a drink and some water for Bianca to sip after her meal. She was eating when she thought of Mary. She got to her feet and moved towards the female police officers.

"Please can I ask for a favour?" she said, shyly.

"Go on, Dear, we are listening."

"Please, I want to call my elder sister, I haven't heard from her since a day before," said Bianca

"Okay Dear, you may call her, Just, finish your food first."

"Thanks," she greeted and walked back to where her food was placed.

After eating for thirty minutes, Bianca made the decision not to call Mary once more. She was then asked to report her experience in the cubicle she stayed in at the DSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) office. The DSP was a white-skinned female officer. She had a comfortable pink lip, a round face, and a slightly small nose. She had a beret on, one side of which touched her forehead. She then implored Bianca to tell how her story resulted in her being taken to an unidentified location. Bianca never intended to tell such a terrible tale. However, the DSP badgered her into saying it so they could accuse the offender.

She acknowledged that the story was unpleasant to recall or tell, but she reassured Bianca that it would be used against the offender. Bianca felt resentful. She recalled Mary's comments regarding James Brin and how dangerous he was: How would she describe him if he were someone she knew from school? Given that it was on tape, how would she explain that they played with her delicate organs and that her full name was attached to the obscene tale that would somehow be broadcast to the entire nation?

"I am about turning on the recorder, please be frank with your details, do not miss any lines." The DSP instructed her, turning on the recorder.

"Alright Ma," she finally agreed.

"Let's go," she said.

Bianca smiled.

"So, there is a lady right here with me, who was being rescued from kidnappers. She is going to start telling us how it happened. Please, what is your name?"

"Bianca Ezla"

"So, which university do you attend?"

"I attended University of Ibadan."

"Which faculty are you under?"

"Accounting."

"Superb, can you tell us your story?"

Bianca smiled and began narrating the events in a frightened tone, but as she went on, the fear subsided and she was able to flow through the story flawlessly, missing no details at all. After all of this narration, she begged for complete protection for her life.

"Wow… what a tragic event. Really nice to hear all this. So, you were going to Ibadan and you found yourself in Delta state. 1000 or more miles if I am not mistaken," she said.

She turned off the recorder and gave a thumbs up on the air, signalling to Bianca that she did a good job. She brought a paper out of the drawer and told her to sign on it. Bianca signed it.