TAKEN

[33]

From the corner of my eye, I wondered why no one was bold enough to grab her and tear that gun off her hands, better still end it...kill her.

Although, I would have preferred if she was captured alive. Someone must answer for those crimes. Carlos was closer though, slowly moving his steps.

"Please," I heard my mother plead again.

But Mama's gaze was sudden blood shut, jaw clinched and hands tightly held around the gun. She washed her gaze over my mom in disgust. "That doesn't pay for the damages done to my business and family!"

"NneEze, bikozie! (Please)." Mom pleaded again. "We can settle this, please."

"Easy for you to say, when you have all your children standing with you and these vultures waiting to capture me and send me to jail!" But, it won't happen, it won't be me going down alone!"

Ifediora unceremoniously released a quick shot and everyone tensed. Even Mama shuddered at that sound. My head gazed back at my sister and I was about to give her a dress down when I caught Mama's gun swiftly aimed at my mother in absolute determination.

From the look on her face, plus her finger firmly placed on the trigger, I knew, my mother was next. Before my mind could comprehend what was happening in that split of a second, my body swiftly already tossed itself in front of my mom, shielding her.

Quickly, I took her and swung her around, my back facing Mama. I held my mom firmly in my hand, both of us staggering at the force of my sharp movement.

Suddenly, there was a burning, A sharp pain in my gut. A feeling as though something passed through me and pulled me away from myself.

My hands weakened around my mother's body. Slowly, I let her go and placed my hand where I'd felt the pain. My abdomen.

It was red.

Soaked in blood.

When I curiously lifted my fingers in my line of vision. It was copiously painted red.

"I...." I breathed, swallowing hard out of shock. Something regurgitated upwards to my mouth. I wondered what because, I'd not eaten that whole day and not even a sip of water.

"Linda!" The shock on her face mirrored mine.

"Mom?" I whispered. Knees were getting weak unable to carry me.

Almost immediately, my weight weighed heavily on my legs. "M....mo...mom?" I knew that any moment I'd be kissing the floor.

In few seconds, I heard my body thump the earth floor and the sky tumbled in confusion. "What.. is -- hap-pening?" words slurred out of my mouth in a daze.

Mom's face fell into mine and kisses filled my face. Her tears washed me too. "Linda, please, biko - don't do this!" Her hands ran over me, shaking me.

"Linda!" My sister let out a shrill scream that got me scared even in my condition.

"Linda!"

Her voice continued to call me, apprehensively.

Then something dropped like a wet heavy log. The screams from the camp forced me to manage to look around. But what fell wasn't far away from me. Matter of fact it stared at me from a bloodied head.

It was her.

My terror, My torment.

The grim reaper of my destiny.

The lone old woman who took away my innocence and sold it to the highest bidder. The one person who showed me a higher level of cruelty.

Mama's gaze stayed fixated on mine, full of streaming tears. Her sequenced black dress glittered in the night. Her hair disheveled and face full of fear.