Adéniké - Episode 3.

The door to one of the rooms had been left wide open. Adenike had peered into the roomwhose curtains hung loosely at the entrance.

She found two girls lay on the bed. One of them looked like she was in her late 20s. When Adenike saw the other girl, she could not look away. She looked so fragile and appeared not to be more than 8 years old.

The older girl's hand roamed over the little girl's body and that disgusted Adenike. 

What was she doing to the little girl? She thought. Tears filled her eyes.

Adenike, dumbstruck, followed the girls that were leading her. 

***

September, 2014.

Citadel had its usual morning calmness but the air that morning felt different. Although three years had passed since Adenike's arrival, she still wondered if she would ever get used to the place. 

Like some of the other girls, she hoped to be free someday. 

She stared through the glass window frame, surprised that it was dawn. She allowed herself to enjoy the beautiful sight of the ever blossoming flowers and green leaves that were directly opposite her window. Her heart leaped for joy.

Soon, there was a knock at the door. It was David who brought her breakfast as usual. 

"Bread and fish sauce." He uttered, before laying the tray carefully on the small wooden cup that lay still beside her bed. 

"Thanks." She had guessed what the food was. Her life as well as those of the other girls followed a strict routine there. 

As David arranged the room, Adenike drooled over him. The swift manner he moved his slim and muscular body caught her attention. She gazed at his dark complexioned body, a sudden wave of emotions gushing from her. She began to smack her lips. It took some restraint for her not to run her fingers through his dark and full hair which fascinated her so much. 

David pointed his hands to the pile of clothes he had gathered. "Nike you didn't take these clothes to the wash room." 

His voice jolted her back to life. Although she couldn't make out what he was saying, his deep voice made her heart flutter. 

Oh David! She imagined his hands roaming her body.

David stood there puzzled as she stared at him, lost. That wouldn't be the first time he was going to catch her gaping at him in that manner.

He stacked the clothes together and glanced at her one final time, before walking away.

***

Adenike prepared for her evening round.  

After three years, she had gotten used to her new life. At first she hated what she was doing, but after sometime, she found herself craving for it.

She couldn't believe that she, Adenike, now craved for men. 

Bob Morduck had set her to work, after spending one week in that chamber. On her first night, she had cried her eyes out when she was made to have sex with a man old enough to be her grand father. 

She sniffed in disgust as she remembered how the old man made his way with her.

She could still remember how Bob Murdock came the following night to have her. "I don't find pleasure in virgins. It's a good thing that the barrier has been taken away. Now, I can have you whenever and however I want." He said, laughing hysterically. 

She staggered as the words echoed in her ears again.

Oh how she hated him. How she hated this place. How she hated her life. She felt so helpless and worthless. 

She didn't like what she did but she just couldn't help it. She always desired to be touched. It was like a force that drew her to a dark place she had no control over.

As one of the butlers passed by, Nike caught herself, imagining him in bed with her. When she regained consciousness, she shook her head and continued walking. 

She knew she was worth more than that and wondered if it were ever possible for her to be free or she should better still resign to the portion life was offering her. After all Jesus allowed all that happened. So, who was she to prove otherwise.

***

David dropped the dirty clothes he had gathered into the washing machine and his mind wandered back to Nike. 

There was something about her. He thought. He knew when the Lord was directing him towards someone but he was finding it difficult to figure out what he was to do in Adenike's case.

He wondered aloud, his face furrowed. "But, what would you have me do, dear Lord?"

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand."

"Are you referring to me Lord? I do not understand?" 

David stood, wondering what that was all about. He sighed as he continued with what he was doing.

The following morning, Adenike sat in the large dining room with some other girls during breakfast. She listened to the little conversations made by the them, while she ate quietly. 

This time Ruth was the one talking. If she wanted to make friends with anyone, it would be Ruth. She was the perfect person. She was so sweet and kind. She thought.

Surprisingly, it appeared she looked up to her and she wondered why. She didn't think herself to be someone, anyone would want to look up to.

Suddenly, Leah, the known witch in the citadel shuts Ruth up while she ranted about what Nike didn't care to know about. 

She hoped she had the strength to continue avoiding Leah. The girl could be a pain in the neck. Sometimes, Adenike thought of when she would have the honour of truly strangling her one day.

Just then, David walked passed her with a tray of food in his hands, which she knew was for Murdock. She gazed at his buttocks, dreamily wondering how they would feel in her hands. 

Oh! She was at it again. She shook her head as she diverted her mind to something else.

Ruth drew one of the chairs beside Nike and sat on it. "Nike how are you? You are looking prettier today." She said, letting out a smile. "Did you hear that Bob is planning to move to Jos? I don't even know why he would think of that. I heard he is carrying only the girls he feels are valuable to him. while the rest would be left here to suffer. Nike, I'm so scared. I don't know any other life than this. I don't even know who I am. I can't remember anything from my childhood. The only identity I know is being a prostitute."

By then, tears had gathered in her eyes.

Adenike watched her quietly, wondering why she was telling her all of that. She had her own issues to worry about. 

"Something must be wrong with me." She thought as she began to feel pity for her. She pulled the girl to a hug since she had nothing to say, hoping it would give her the solace she sought.

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms".

Adenike abruptly turned back wondering where that came from. Which gifts? Serve who? She thought. She soon shove it away, keeping her focus on the warm hug.

***

David lay on his bed in his small room which was located at one corner of the citadel. A lit candle stood on a flat plate, on the floor. 

It's been a straneous day. He thought, as he picked his bible to study some psalms, before drifting off to sleep. 

When he decided he had read enough, he stretched his hand forward to put off the candle. 

Suddenly, there was a silent knock on the door. 

He frowned, wondering who it could be at that time of the night. He remained  on his bed, pretending to be asleep. When the knock became persistent, he grudgingly stood up to check whom it was.

By the time he approached the door, he was shocked at whom he saw at the door. 

What was Nike doing in front of his doorstep and why was she dressed like that? His jaw dropped as he swallowed his breath.

*****

Episode 4 comes up next week Monday.

***
Thank you for continuing this journey with me. Kindly comment your thoughts below.

*****

Click to read Episode 4