"You guys have to stop crying." I whispered to the other two girls when the van started moving. One of the men had entered another car so we were left now with just two of them who sat in front.
Both girls ignored me holding unto each other, already finding comforts in themselves. I felt sad but I understood that they did had a lot in common. They were both scared.
Ignoring the slight pain in my chest I tried to check for my phone but I just then realized that I had left it in the bus. Police here was dead anyway when it came to gangs, White Lion was law in this town. My only hope was simple let this be another gang. If they were from 'White Lion' then I was gone for.
I saw a rope on the ground of the car and out of instinct and sheer desperation I picked it up and tried to strangle the driver. I put the rope around his neck and pulled on it with as much force as I could muster.
He was thrown of balance and the car moved in different directions. The other guy tried to shoot but was kicked by one of the girls the one who sat by me. The other took the gun when it fell and hit his head. The driver started losing his breath and stopped struggling.
With no one handling the steering wheel the car started to move fast before it Summersaulted.
My head hit the glass window and there was a lot of smoke. I had a cut on my forehead and my arm but other than that I was fine. I quickly unlocked the door hitting the two girls in the process.
There was smoke all around us as we got out of the car. We coughed sporadically as we ran away from the car and smoke.
"So what do we do now." The girl who had been sitting by my side asked after we had reached a safe distance. She used her left hand to support her right because she was bleeding profusely on the right. Her breathing was hitched but she looked better than she did before.
I looked at her and exhaled, trying to get as much air into my lungs as possible. "We run and never look back because if they find us." I paused. "Well let me just say they shouldn't. I'm Mirabel. You can call me Mira."
"Justine." The girl replied. She looked like someone who would answer Justine. She was small and petite. Like a little tanned doll, everything about her was so small and cute.
"Fola. The other girl introduced licking blood from the side of her mouth. Fola on the other hand was thick on all the right places. Her face was round and she was quite tall, even taller than I was.
We nodded in understanding of a common goal which was to run as fast as we could.
There were no further pleasantries as the three of us started to run for our lives. The road was lonely, very lonely and there was no one in sight but we didn't give up even though we didn't know where we were.
All I hoped for was to leave the lonely street to
the main road.
"Does any of you have your phone here?" I asked, when we stopped to catch our breaths.
We were getting closer to town and I could feel hope swirl in my chest.
Fola was about dipping her hands in her pocket when a Hilux driving in full speed stopped by us and pushed us into the back seat. We struggled but we were defeated and bound.
***
TIME PASSES SLOWLY WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE.
After about thirty minutes or so the van came to a halt and I was thrown out of the car along with the others and we were led into a room.
The polythene bag that covered my face was removed after we stopped moving. But my hands were still bound tightly behind my back. There was no escaping this for me.
I could tell that after that stunt we pulled we would be watched more closely now.
I was lifted off the ground by one of the men who had kidnapped me.
"Open your eyes." He instructed.
My heart pounded hard against my chest as I opened my eyes to see a man standing in front of me. He was as white as snow. He towered over me at a height that I had hardly seen in any man except from one very tall man that was taller than everyone in my church.
His hair was as white as his skin. In contrast to his skin colour he had on a black shirt, jeans and boots. He had on his arm the tattoo of a white lion. 'Was this the white lion?' I thought, taking in deep breaths.
I always wondered why he was called white lion. No one really knew why. Some said it was his father who had given him the name and it stuck to him others said it was just a name he fancied now I knew why_he was albino. I realized I was staring.
"Let us go please." Justine begged. I looked over at them by my side. The guy holding me held me tighter.
"She seems like the rebellious one boss. Fucking Slut thinks she's a fighter." He chuckled, slapping my ass. I struggled to remove my arm from his firm grip.
"Let me go, please." I begged.
White lion watched us keenly without saying a word. He was standing a few inches close to me now. He raised my chin up and smiled.
"I like her spirit. It is always fun breaking her likes. Leave this one for me." He laughed. "You are mine." He said to me. A shiver ran down my spine and tears followed. I was beginning to feel intense fear. The fear that had been buried by shock was finding it's way out and it was consuming me in every flavour.
"Boss you should leave her to us." The man standing by him laughed evily, "We will teach her lessons. Simone don't you agree?" He questioned the man holding me, winking at him. In reply Simone laughed and grabbed my ass. "Of course boss I agree."
His reply didn't go well with his boss. In a flash White lion brought out a gun from his pocket and shot him point blank on the head. The man died instantly.
"Jesus Christ! what the fucking blood of Christ!" I shouted. The man fell down at my feet and I screamed.
"When something is mine it shouldn't be touched." White Lion spoke. He put his gun back into his pocket acting so casually like he had not just killed a man. That was the type of man white Lion was, a killer.
The man standing by him fell to his knees immediately. "Boss please forgive. I swear I'll never ever say anything about her again, I promise." He begged. He was shaking so much. It was scary to see a grown man with his muscles and height bow to a thiner man in fear.
"Jide I'll let you go today. We all die but you won't today at least not by my gun. Clean this mess and make sure those two failures have no other Chance to fail." White Lion instructed.
"I'll do that boss. Thanks for sparing my life boss." He laughed, nervously standing up.
White Lion nodded patting Jide's arm. Jide thought that all was forgiven, but it wasn't.
White Lion hit him hard on the head with his gun. I gasped in shock as Jide fell down to the ground his nose bleeding. "Just something to remind you of what will happen if you touch her. Take the girls in and bring her to me."
"No no no. Please let me go with them please." I protested, but my cries fell on deaf ears. I was dragged out amidst my tears and struggle.
"Mirabel!" I heard Justine scream as they were carried to God knows where. I was pushed into another car. My hands remained tied.
They were not going to make the mistake of letting my hands free again I could tell. Immediately the car started Jide blindfolded me and taped my mouth.
I said the hail Mary and our father in my mind while tears continued to fall down my eyes. 'I'll find a way to leave this place or die trying.' I swore.
"Jesus I really need your help now. If you can see me from heaven I think this is the best time for you to help me please." I prayed silently.