13:29

The sun was out before the cock crowed. The heat from the reflection of the sun through the window was what woke me. I rolled from one end of the bed to another. My mattress tired of being creased left the bed and found a space on the old rug.

The rug had given the house a new look since it was laid last week. It was all I could get from my uncle while he was relocating to Abuja. Apart from changing the look of the house, the ground felt warmer since I laid the rug. It was not an easy task laying it. I had to clear out the whole of my room. I had the help of a few friends. Thankfully, they were all guys or how else would I have stomached the shame when we uncovered unwashed plates and parched underwear.

The room looked so neat last week. If I was not deprived of love, last week would have been a perfect time to invite my lover for a movie night in my place. Netflix and the other chill activities that follow. But then waking up to reality, I opened one eye as I yawned and stretched my legs and my right arm, using the other arm to cover my smelly mouth. Even with my blurry vision, I could tell how much my room was in a state of disarray. It was only a matter of days, maybe weeks, and the room will become a muddle once again.

Afro Beats sounds from my neighbour's room diffused into my room dragging the smell of marijuana behind it. "These guys are playing music and smoking this early morning", I grumbled silently as I scattered myself on the bed. The heat from the sun's penetration through the window did not make matters any better. I sat on the bed and rubbed my hands against my face." The creator and his creatures have ruined my beautiful sleep", I thought as I shook my head and got up from the bed.

I stretched again and I walked slowly to the toilet to pee. Music continued from the next room and I moved my head following the rhythm of the music. That room was always filled with boys, sometimes a few ladies. I still had not been able to figure out what those guys do for a living. All I knew was they partied and made money from it. They were obviously into entertainment; singing, hyping, disc jockeying, and what have you. This explained why there was always noise from their room anytime they were around. Tired of complaining, every other tenant in the apartment had learned to either sing along with them or find something else to do.

I opened the lid of the toothpaste on the sink and applied some of the content to my toothbrush. I looked in the mirror as I glazed the brush over my teeth. "Looking so cute on a Saturday morning", I soliloquized and smiled in self-admiration.

I washed my face and stepped out to see check if my Twitter was still loading. I pressed the power button and I saw "13:29" on my home screen. "It's afternoon already?", I asked myself and replied almost immediately"No wonder the sun wanted to melt me". Knowing that I slept that long gave me a slight headache that ushered in the feeling of hunger. I began to think about what I would eat. The fact that I have to think of what to eat every time makes me exhausted. Sometimes, it's the reason why I skip meals. That afternoon, I was in no mood to cook. Even if I wanted to, there was nothing in my kitchen except garri, my favourite snack.

I had cold water in my fridge so I went out of the apartment in search of ingredients for a 3-course garri meal. I went in search of fried fish first. The woman who used to sell down the street was not around. Disappointed, I kicked the sand on the anfractuous road on my way back. I stopped at Mama Bendel's shop to get milk and groundnut. There were rumours here and there that the woman was a witch and she was blamed for any misfortune that happens in the area. But she had a special interest in me ever since the day she learned that we hailed from the same community in Edo state.

I picked two bottles of groundnut and one liquid milk. I opened one of the bottles and began to eat from its content as she searched for change for me in her purse. I told her I would come back for the change but she declined and asked me to wait to collect it. "God go dey protect you my son", she prayed in vernacular as she handed me my change. As I walked home still chewing the groundnut, I wondered why anyone would think that a woman who always prayed for me was a witch.

I was about to finish my meal when I heard a noise outside. It was the voices of the boys in the entertainment room no doubt and they seemed to be excited about something. I peeped through my window but I could not grasp the gist so I went outside to poke my nose in whatever was going on. They were talking about this celebrity that was the rave of the moment. With two tracks and a couple of Instagram freestyles, he already had a record label signing and an endorsement deal with a popular brand. Like many youths, I was fond of him, and hearing from these guys that Jamz was on his way to our area was very elating.

I doubted them on second thought and since they had no proof that he was coming, people discarded the information. They tried to make us believe that he was truly on his way but it didn't work so we continued talking about the music industry in general. The sun was already sinking into the clouds at this time and the weather was perfect for evening gists.

We were arguing about who released the best album in 2020 when a white Mercedes-Benz E300 sedan car pulled in front of our compound. The black tint that the glasses had prevented us from seeing its occupant (or occupants), but it did not stop us from hearing the sound of heavy music playing from the car's stereo. I took a glance at the body of the car; the fender, the rim, the lights, and everything about the Benz brand gives me serious orgasms. I love Benz cars so much and this particular car looked so much like my phone's wallpaper. The music playing from the car brought me back from ecstasy. It was Jamz's jam.

I didn't want to believe what my head was thinking until Jamz stepped out of the car. "Jamz in flesh and blood", I thought in excitement. The entertainment guys ran to meet and hug him. The way they exchanged pleasantries, it was obvious they had a connection that went beyond just clubbing together. Their handshakes looked like gang signs to me but I discarded the thought because Jamz to me was heaven-sent and he had no business being in a gang.

They told Jamz of how I and Daniel doubted that he was coming. He walked towards us and asked why we didn't believe it. Starstruck, we opened our hands to gesticulate that we had no answer. "naso some people sef no believe when Jesus resurrect be that", he joked and everyone laughed.

I think when a person is rich or influential, everything the person says is funny. Or maybe we just laugh not to get in the bad books of someone we're trying to please. Anyways, the fact that he referenced Jesus in his statement confirmed to me that he was heaven-sent.

He crossed his hands around our shoulders (I and Daniel, another student in the apartment) and said, "These Thomases are going clubbing with me". I was excited, so was Dan. With his arms still on our shoulders, he began to walk down the street. It was like he knew the place. I had been living on that street for a while and I didn't know there was a club there. When I asked, he explained that it was a private strip club and only people with invites were allowed in. It made me feel privileged.

Going to a strip club hinted I was going to see naked women and being a private strip club implied that more could happen. My moral self tried to preach a little gospel but I turned deaf ears and talked to Jamz. I confessed to Jamz how much I loved everything about him and his music. I also apologized for doubting that he was coming. He kept saying "Thanks, my gee" "No issue, my gee". Daniel was rather quiet throughout the journey.

We got to the club and he pressed the electric bell. The voice on the other end asked for a code word and he replied. In a matter of seconds, the gate opened. "Come in boys", Jamz said as he stepped into the compound. The compound was bigger than I imagined. I looked around as we approached the building, everywhere was colourful. The cars, the flowers, the light; everything made sense. I did not concentrate on the surrounding area, my focus was on the building. I didn't hear any music from inside and I was wondering if the building was soundproofed or the party had not started.

When we got inside, I felt like the party had ended. People were having live intercourse. I was shocked beyond explanation. It was my first time seeing an unclad lady and also my first time witnessing coitus. My moral being trembled, it begged me to run but I stood there, solid as a rock hiding my surprise under a smile and acting like I wasn't naive.

I looked at Jamz expecting his directive for me to join any of the duos losing calories on the poles. He told us that we were going to the exclusive section and I was more excited.

As we walked to the door that separated the regulars from the exclusive, I thought of what extra services I might find in the exclusive features. Relentless, my moral being tried again to stop me. "Remember, Victor, the bed should be undefiled". Many Bible references were quoted but I listened not.

We entered into the exclusive section and to my disappointment, they were holding a sermon in the exclusive section. The speaker welcomed us and Jamz went to sit at the front while Daniel and myself found a spot at the back. I didn't pay any attention to what the speaker was saying, I just kept looking at the ladies in the room to see if they were premium. We were not much in the room and there were more women than men. I did the maths and it was three women to one man. I jubilated in my spirit.

The sermon seemed endless so I stepped out to waste time and prepare myself for what was to come. On my way out, I noticed that the people in the regular section were still at it. I told myself they were on drugs as there was no other explanation for why they were taking so long.

By the time I was outside, I couldn't take my mind off the activities happening inside. "What if they have started without me?" "What if Jamz was already looking for me?" "What if they're sharing the ladies already?" I asked myself many questions but my moral being for the last tried to convince me that it was a perfect opportunity to run for my life.

I ignored it like other times and went inside where the speaker was already giving instructions. He asked us to move outside and follow subsequent information. We moved out and I noticed that one of the security locked the gate. "For protection", I guessed. The events that unfolded in the next 30 seconds revealed that we were getting fucked but not the kind of fuck that we expected.

Two men in local regalia came out from the security room with charms on their bodies and weapons in their hands. " Don't shout...", they began. "...if you cooperate with us, it will be painless and quick, if you don't we'll make you cry for death. Either way, no one is leaving here alive."

We all heard the instruction to not shout but this lady that I had been admiring kept beckoning on her mummy like the woman was within earshot. "Oga, better just die alone, if your mummy come here na all of us go die", I thought. I looked around, thinking of what to do. It was then that I noticed how high the fence was. With electric wire on the fence and the gate locked, there was no way out.

Like a bolt of lightning, three guys rushed to the gate. Two ladies joined them, then another two followed. The security men were outnumbered and three people were able to get the key from the security and open the locks. The men wearing charms on their bodies made for the gate and I wished I didn't see what happened next. One person was stabbed in the back, the other one was axed in the neck. They both screamed as they fell to the floor and were dragged away. Daniel was the last guy, he opened the door and ran out but it was an ambush.

Another security was stationed outside in case of something like this and Daniel ran right into his hands. I stood there lifeless, watching Daniel struggle with him but that was not all I saw. I saw a chance to escape. I saw freedom only a few metres away. It was a matter of risking death or dying and I took the risk.

I sprinted to the gate and made to go out. The security struggling with Daniel tried to hold me but I manoeuvred and took off. A security from inside followed and chased after me.

My whole life flashed in front of me as I paced. I remembered my upbringing, I remembered going to school and church. I remembered my friends. I remembered my ambitions. I remembered why I gained admission. An aeronautical engineer in the making now on a flight to save his life, I was snaking.

I ran to Mama Bendel's shop and screamed for help. The security made to capture me as I begged for my life. Mama Bendel kept mute, motionless, and unsurprised about the whole incident. She stared into space as I begged for her to intervene. "Abi this woman na witch true true?" The security was about to drag me away when she finally spoke. "This one don already escape, leave am", she told him and that was it. He left me and went back.

I thanked her but I did not wait to get a reply from her. I ran back to the hostel. I needed to mobilize people to save Daniel and any other person who wasn't already dead.

I got to the hostel and screamed for help. Few people came out and I tried to explain the situation as calmly as I could. They listened to me. I told some people to stay by the Benz in case Jamz tried to escape and asked the rest to pick whatever weapon they could find and follow me.

As we were about to disperse, one of the boys from the entertainment room said something. "Wo, God don save you, Daniel don go", he said nonchalantly.

I understood the whole situation from a new perspective. Were the guys in on the whole thing? Was that why they didn't follow us? Was that why Mama Bendel prayed for me today? Was that why the guys shook Jamz in gang signs? My neighbours were part of a kidnapping ring. Defeated, I thought about Daniel and said a prayer for his soul. I looked at Mama Bendel's shop and shook my head. Yes, she saved me, but she was in on it too.

Hot tears trickled down my face uncontrollably. My body was an inch close to being deflowered just as it was an inch close to being dismembered. I closed my eyes and cried so much on that spot. I cried for Daniel's parents. I cried for his future. I cried for my almost lost life. I cried that I was betrayed by the people I trusted.

My cloth was soaked in tears already when I heard my name. "...tor, Victor! Victor!!!!" Who could be calling me?

I opened my eyes and met myself on my bed. I had been dreaming. Before I could understand what was happening, I heard a knock on the door and my name followed. I got up to check the door. I was sweating profusely. It was one of the guys from the entertainment room who came to ask for my power bank. "E don die", I replied quickly and shut my door.

I had a deep sigh and walked back to the bed. I was shuddering so I tried to make myself comfortable at one corner of the bed. I picked my phone to call my pastor. The time was 13:29 and my screensaver was a Benz car. Scared to the teeth, I screamed " Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"