Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Finally, the police woman takes down the statement and directed them to go to the back of the building. A tall man dressed in mufti was sitting, alone smoking cigarettes. Mr. Abdullahi went to him directly and informed him that he was directed by the lady inside. Imam was raged by the state he is.

"Law makers are law breakers. Just look at him. And he expects others to abide by law, he himself lack morals." He whispered to Mr Abdullahi but Mr. Abdullahi didn't reply him.

All in this mind that evening was how to get Idris. It was already getting late and Amina might soon be back...

"Good evening sir." Mr. Abdullahi greeted.

The man drew out another series of smoke from the straw and puffed it out on them through his nostrils.

The Iman conversed his nose with the right side of his elbow as if he was trying to avoid corona.

"The madam inside asked me to meet you."

"Okay, I'll need the boy's photos and money to send signal to all the surrounding divisions."

"How much do I have to pay sir?"

"It's #1,000 for every signal." He answered.

Mr. Abdullahi immediately put his hands into his pocket but there was only #150.

"I'm out of cash Imam. Mr. Abdullahi informed him. I left home in rush that's why. How do I do now?"

"Just come back tomorrow because I'll soon be going home. It's already 9:59 pm. I'll suggest you come very early tomorrow morning so I can start working on this case."

"Okay sir." Mr. Abdullahi answered and thanked the man as he sadly went home.

***

At Home...

The boys had eaten and slept. Only Zainab was still awake. Even though she was hurt and bruised by Mr. Abdullahi, her foster dad's beatings, all she did was to worry about Idris's whereabouts. She prayed and waited for their arrival as her mind was unsettled. Just then, she heard a knock and sallama. She quickly rushed to open the door.

"Welcome sir? Any news about his whereabouts?"

Mr Abdullahi got in, looking at her with a dirty look.?The only thing with him was Idris's cut slippers.

"It's all your fault, Zainab. Maybe you're who they say you are... Maybe you're cursed after all. You need prayer and special deliverance from all of these."

"It's all false, I'm not cursed sir... I'm normal. I pray everyday Mr. Abdullahi. I'm a Muslim... I'm your daughter."

"Hey! Don't ever call yourself my daughter again. You've been doing it Zainab, but today you pass your boundary. It's all because of you that Idris ran out of this house to only God knows where. It's all your fault, I regret ever bringing you to his house at first.

"Idris is fine sir, I'm sure he'll come back soon. Nothing would happen to him sir, have faith in God."

"What are you? An Angel? Or a witch! How do you know that he's in safe hands with all I've withnessed tonight! We met a dead girl by that riverside. Definitely, he must have been kidnapped! Idris has never left this house like this! It's only months since you came here and a lot has happened already! I'll only give you three days! If I don't see my son within three days, I'll hand you over to the police for torture!! And I can promise you that!" Mr. Abdullahi walked in without taking dinner that night.

He left Zainab speechless and heartbroken. She didn't know what to say, or do, or how to convince him not to hate her even more. Every single day, there were reasons for him to hate her even more... She cried and went inside to perform taajud. She cried in prayers and placed her head to the ground in prostration for almost an hour.

She prayed for Idris's protection and prays he gets home soon. All these was getting too much for her to bare and it was also going out of hand. Why would he leave home at the first place! Now, everyone is blaming her for everything.

She sat down to plead to God Almighty for his mercies and blessing son her and this family that took he in. The Bala's family.

I hope tomorrow would be better than today. She said to herself before sleep finally engulfs her tiny weak body.

***

Meanwhile, that evening. The set of ritualists took Idris to an harbalist's hut. It was a long drive. They had passed a very deep bush and drive through a thick forest before getting there.

Idris tired moving a couple of time but they hit and hard and warned him to stay quite else, they'll slaughter him without double thoughts. So, the poor boy obeyed.

They got to the Baba's hut. Finally. The old man was cooking some herbs and reciting some incantations to it. He was sitting on a red stool and in front of him as a big black moulded pot... Placed on the burning fire. Idris couldn't view the sight because he was tired in the big, bloody sack but he was already trembling to the sound of things.

"Good evening baba." One of them with a pot belly first greeted. He seems to be the leader of the gang.

Instead of replying, the old man continued his incantion as if he didn't hear anything.

"We brought another meat for you baba." He said again.

But the harbalist didn't reply him.

It took a while, he said the incantations slowly and slowly as if it affected his whole body and soul.

Then the took a white shawl from the elephant's husk, and placed it on his neck before turning to them. The huge husk was placed on the wall somewhere outside his hut...

"Haven't I told you to take off your shoes before entering my shrine?!"

"Sorry baba. So sorry baba..." They apologized and took off their shoes.

Then they bowed in and entered walking backwards.

"We're sorry once again baba. Forgive our manners."

"Yes! Where's the girl's body parts?" He asked with a bold frown on his face.

"Something happened baba..." The leader swallowed. "You said no one should ever catch us in the process that was why we went into the bush to do it but someone saw us sir."

'What?! That's an abomination!!"

"He's a boy baba. I think he'll be better off than that girl. Akin ni!"

"And who asked you to bring a boy?!" The harbalist fired. "A girl's blood and flesh is more powerful when it comes to making ritual!"

"But baba... The caught us red handed, we had no choice. The one with the scar across his face suggested

"Shut up idiot! Who asked you to talk?!"

"Ah! Parago!! Just because you're the leader doesn't mean you're the only one with rights here!! The other hissed.

"What?! How can you insult me like this in public. Is it because I accepted you in and feed you well. Just because I picked you up from the gutters, now you have the mouth and mind to speak to me in this manner?! See monkey banana o!"

"We for no leave that girl now, aswear! na you fault-"

"Hey! E.. e don do you ooo!" The third one finally talked. And it turns out that he's a stammerer.

"You guys should shut up else, I won't do any more charms for you yours again!"

"Spoiler! Spoiler Spoiler! How many times I call you?" Parago, the gang leader asked. But spoiler didn't reply him. He just hissed away.

"Okay now, Make we reach house first now, your own be kuli-kuli." He hissed at him and faced the harbalist.

"Ehen baba," Parago turned to the harbalist. "What's the way forward?"

"Let me see his face."

Mute, the stammerer and Spoiler, the stubborn one lose the sack and unveiled Idris's face.

"Audhubillahi Mina shaytani Rajim!" He screamed at the people, standing before him. It was so terrifying that he immediately closed his eyes with both palms.

"Hey... You.. bebebeeetter shut up now ooo. Before I f..fffire your head!" Mute threatened, pointing a gun to his head.

"Leave him now! Spoiler rolled his eyes at him."

The harbalist worked towards Idris.

"He seems like a unique child." She started at him for a while, then he held his teary face closer to his as if he was admiring something or studying it.

"Then he blushed him away as if it was poisonous."

"This boy has no luck! He's badluck and he's empty?!"

"But baba... We've suffered to even bring him here. Let's use him like that baba. I know you can do it."

"It's just three days left for you! If you don't perform the secred ritual before three day, you'll all die. One after another. You'll get caught for robbery and you'll be shot dead!"

"Buh I thought you purified us with the babys blood we first brought now. You assured us that no bullet would ever-"

"That has expired and you need another purification!"

He widened his yellowish bulgy eyeballs at them. "You better take him back to wherever you picked him from else.. if he dies here, his blood would be on your heads and it's another I'll luck so take him back and bring me a girl child!"

Tie him back! Parago commanded and left the shrine in anger, turning his back again before leaving. Others followed his the same way.

"Imagine! Stupid children! Bringing poison to my shrine! the habalist hissed and continued his reciting incantions.

***

They dropped Idris to the hard ground. It's clear that the tree of them where angry with the fact that they'd wasted their time bring him there, the first place.

"Wetinn we goo... goo do now?" Mute asked.

Spoiler quickly untied the sack and pointed his gun to him.

Idris shivered and begged the three of them to spare his life.

"Leave him alone, spoiler! The leader commanded. Spoiler immediately took away his gun."

Parago squart beside him and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.

"I'll have liked you this night your I'll luck to us anyways. Just get lost!"

"What? Sir... What did you mea-"

"I said get out of here!!" Parago shouted at him with fire in his eyes.

Idris quickly ran away, lost in the bush. The angrily entered their vehicle and zoomed away to get another prey for their sacrificed.

The poor boy was so scared. They stood alone, barefooted in the bush. He regretted ever leaving home at the first place. Only if Zainab was here with him, he might feel better.

He walked and walked through the bush till he finally got to the tailed road. It was so dark and scary. What he saw at the shrine that evening was frightening, and he seemed to hear voices of innocent baby cries as he walked through. Not knowing if they were true or not, realistic or not.

He cried alone as he walked through. Too tied of walking, he heard voiced of people calling his name but there weren't anybody.

As if it was a nightmare

***

Words and Translations

-Akin ni: He's a strong one.

-We for no leave that girl now, aswear! na you fault: we wouldn't have left that girl there. I swear, it's you fault.

-Audhubillahi Mina shaytani Rajim: I seek refuge with Allah against Satan the cursed

-Sallama: greetings

-Taajud: Night prayers or vigil

***