The Faintest Dawn

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 14

---

It was getting dark. Victoria sat on the bed staring at the pestle in the mortar by the cupboard. The cupboard which was very close to where Felix took a seat. She looked at Felix sitting opposite her holding the gun. She wasn’t sure if he would hurt her or not, if she made a move but, she still had to do something.

Victoria: So, how long are you gonna stay with me.

Felix: Till I a notification from my partner.

Victoria: The notification of where my daughter is, right?

Felix: (sighed) Yes.

Victoria: Am I allowed to come with you?

Felix: No, you’re not.

Victoria stood up and walked towards the chair.

Victoria: Why?

Felix: If we don’t wanted you, we would have all gone together.

Victoria came closer.

Felix: What are you trying to do?

Victoria: Make a deal.

Felix stood up immediately, holding the gun firmly.

Victoria: (softly) No relax.

Felix showed the gun to her

Felix: You’ve forgotten I’m with a gun.

Victoria: No I haven’t.

Victoria pushed him towards the chair and started unbuttoning her shirt.

Felix: (Stunned) Oh my God! What are you trying to do?

Victoria: What do you think I’m doing?

Felix pointed the gun at her.

Victoria was scared but, refused to let it show but, she ceased unbuttoning her shirt leaving part of her cleavage exposed.

Victoria: You would really shoot me?

Felix: Uhm, you’re married and if it’s what I’m thinking, it won’t work because I won’t betray Ola.

Victoria: Oh, that’s his name?…..hmmmmm, see Ola, I know I’m married but, I can do anything to get my daughter back. When I say anything, I mean anything. My daughter is my life, if anything happens to her, I would never forgive myself. Of course, you wouldn’t understand. You don’t have a kid.

Felix: I assure you, nothing will happen to your daughter. Now go back to the bed.

Victoria: I’m not done talking.

Felix: I’m serious, go back.

Victoria ignored him and took a seat beside him very close to the pistle.

Victoria: So, let’s talk. What made you go into the business of kidnapping people’s kids?

Felix: it’s none of your business and besides, we don’t kidnap children.

Victoria: But, you kidnapped mine.

Felix: Because of your husband.

Victoria: (angry) What does that have to do with taking my daughter?

Felix: Everything.

Victoria stretched her right to the pestle gripping it firmly but not very visible enough for Felix to see. Felix noticed her hand movement but, he choose to ignore it.

Victoria: You know, I meant it when I said, I can do anything for my daughter.

Felix: (chuckled) what exactly can you do?

Victoria: Believe me, you don’t wanna know but, anyways, we can still talk about that deal.

Felix: What deal?

Victoria: (straight face) I know you.

Felix: You don’t know me.

Victoria: Okay, maybe, I don’t know you but, I have compared your character to that of Ola’s and it’s different. See, I can live without my daughter. It’s killing me right now, to know she’s in the hands of a total dangerous stranger. Please, that girl is just six years old, she’s probably crying by now.

Felix: I wish, I could help but, I value my life. Ola will hunt me down.

Victoria: We’ll go to the police.

Felix: (laughed loudly) Police?, did you just say that?

Victoria: Yes, I’m serious. I know, they are corrupt but, there are still a few good ones.

Felix: I’m not talking about them being corrupt or not, I’m talking about me. Even if you assure me safety, I know, I will still end up in their custody. Ola and I are wanted criminals. I have killed people and I won’t hesitate to kill you if you don’t move back to the bed.

Victoria: (raised eyebrow) Please. Okay, I just need the location of my daughter’s whereabouts. When, he texts the address, please just tell me and then, you can go.

Felix didn’t want to touch her but, he wanted her to believe he was heartless, he also wanted to avoid putting himself in trouble, if not, he understood a little of how she felt seeing and hearing how desperate she was. Hence, he slapped her before she said anything else.

Victoria held her face in pain from the thunderous slap. Anger had engulfed her. She gripped the pestle firmer, lifted it up with one pull and swinger it towards the direction of Felix’s head. She was sitting beside him so, the effect was so adverse, it sent Felix sprawling to the floor in a kneeling position. He was so weak, his hand couldn’t carry his gun, it fell to the ground. Victoria stood up immediately, dropped the pestle and picked up the gun with fear in case, he recovered from his fall and tried to retaliate.

Felix stretched out his right hand towards her in a bid to probably hurt her but, he noticed liquid by the side of his ears, he tried to feel it but, as he took up his left hand, he felt exceptionally dizzy and he fell facing the old carpet on the floor.

Victoria only saw the blood on his head when he had fallen to the ground. She only got close enough, when she realized, he had passed out. Victoria knew hitting him with a pestle would probably cause him to pass out but, she didn’t know that a pestle was not just capable of causing someone to pass out, it could also bring about someone’s demise.

---

Tina left the kitchen after slicing the tomatoes for the noodles, she was curious about Idowu’s conversation with the client. She didn’t find anyone in the living room, she went to the room.

Idowu: I have called the client.

Tina: What did he say?

Idowu: We would meet him in two days at the club opposite my house.

Tina: You mean, Gbenga’s new house.

Idowu: It’s still my house. I bought that house with my hard earned money from that malevolent Mr. Johnson. Now, he has the effontery to give my house to my boy. Gbenga should just wait, when I collect the money from that client, I will get new guys and I will hunt him down.

Tina: Get the money first. By the way, how do you plan to get close to a club close to your enemy’s house, if Gbenga sees you, you’re dead.

Idowu: Gbenga wouldn’t be searching for me in that club. He knows I will never come close to that environment. So the club is the best place to make the transaction and yes, you’re going with me.

Tina: Me? Go with you? You don’t even have bodyguards. What if something happens?

Idowu: Nothing will happen, I promise.

Tina: that was how you promised to give me a million naira, if I would keep shut about you killing my boyfriend. I loved him, you know?

Idowu: (laughed) you loved him and you betrayed him for money. Is that why you killed one of my men?

Tina: Yes, that’s why I killed one of your men.

Idowu: Fine, you have taken revenge.

Tina: Maybe for me but, for Ola, he hasn’t and God help me, if he finds out, I was involved.

Idowu: He definitely won’t, except you tell him.

Tina: Now, your mistake has put an innocent man and his family in danger.

Idowu: James’ family might be innocent but, James is not. When, he joined me knowing fully well what I do, he stopped being innocent.

Tina: Whatever. Anyways, where is he?

Idowu: He said, he needed to think so, he went to the living room.

Tina: I just passed the living room, James isn’t there.

Idowu: No, he’s there, where else could he have……..

Idowu stopped talking, when he observed, his wallet was not on the shelf where he kept it.

Idowu: Where is my wallet?

Tina: I don’t know, where did you keep it?

Idowu: it was on this shelf.

Tina: (shrugged) James has probably taken it. He must have left.

Idowu: Left to where?

Tina: Where else?, his house, to his family…

Idowu: I told him to wait.

Tina: Well, he didn’t listen.

Idowu: we have to stop him.

Tina: Stop him how?, we don’t even know when he left.

Idowu: Well, your gateman should know when he left.

Tina: Besides opening the gate for cars to come in and go out, that man stays indoors. He only opens the small gate, when a stranger Knocks from outside but, anyone leaving this house without a car, is none of his business. He doesn’t care so, I can’t ask him about James’ whereabouts, remember, he doesn’t even want you guys here?

Idowu: So, we will just sit and wait for James?

Tina: Yes, he’s a grown up man afterall. Let’s just hope, they don’t kill them all……..