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.
Slow long gasps followed her stare while her body jerked all over. "I'm sorry." She mouthed weakly.
Tears filled my eyes while trickles of blood rolled off my mouth. Another startling scream came on again, and it was Ifediora standing over Mama and putting another bullet in her chest.
"Die in pieces!"
"Ife..." I stuttered, raising my hand, waving her over. "Ife..diora, don't!" But the deed was already done. Mama was more dead than me. Her turmoil was over and her journey just ended. Whether she was at peace now, no one would know.
My sister, still with tears cascading down her face, rushed towards me, placing her hands in mine. My mom was busing cry-praying, while Dima had magically materialized before me and doing everything to stop the bleeding.
But I knew it was a wasted effort. Even if she managed to succeed, it was still
meaningless. I'd already lost the will to fight.
In spite of that, my mind was still functional, determined for justice. Although this was an easy way out for Mama and my father, I still so desperately wanted to prove that these killings, kidnappings and traffickings were not just some faceless group or gang.
The culprits were not ghosts, instead they were and had been people who had sworn to serve and protect us. Those in the higher ups, those whom we voluntarily voted for. And if in the long run, my mother committed any of these alleged crimes, I so willingly wanted her to pay for it.
It was no longer my call. Someone else had to do it for me because tomorrow is infinite and more young women like me would become victims and people like Mama will continue to thrive.
I passed in and out of consciousness. One minute everything was blurry and in another minute, it seemed as though I had a twenty- twenty vision.
If I didn't know, I thought dying was painful but all along I'd also been in and out of it, it really was a choice, to feel or not feel pain. Of course there was pain, but I choose not to acknowledge it.
So I mustered courage and held my sister's hand, stealing that minute when my mind and vision seemed intact to speak. "Promise me..." My eyes searched hers which was filled with tears. "Promise me you'll keep fighting, helping people like me."
Ifediora nodded. "But nothing will happen to you. "Her shaky fingers wiped her face and tamed her quivering lips. " Nurse Dima and the medics are trying their best."
Tears walled my eyes and I nodded. "Promise me." I insisted.
A hovering Carlos had joined the meeting. "Ifediora is a good recruit. She exceeded expectations when Nigerians' secret teens enforcement hired her." He patted her on the back. "I'm sure she won't disappoint you."
My eyes dimly widened in unbelief, but it was too late to ask questions. Everything suddenly began to burn and hurt. My eyes dizzied over, and blurry images of different shapes of moving objects danced in my vision.
I shuddered at the chill and warmth that coursed through my system. A sharp pain sipped through my body and continued to seat on my abdomen, back and legs.
My right hand comforted my tummy, wishing the dull ache away. That whole region was wet, sticky and warm. Soon, it slowly dispelled and I shut my eyes and whispered my name.
Linda, you came and you conquered.
"Stay...." A sober voice said. An image hovered over my face but I couldn't make out what it was, but the voice came again. "Stay with me."
"I'm tired." I confessed.
Warm hands ran over my face gently. "Please, stay."
"Mercy?" I half opened my eyes, recognizing her voice. The shape of her head nodded and a sniffle followed.
