THE MAZE

Her footsteps echo down the hallway, the hostel is silent. She turned left towards the doors praying it does not screech. She really didn’t need to drag the matron out of slumber, although that woman slept and snored like a dead horse. But she was taking no chances.
Adanma pushed the door gently, and it swung open slowly. She felt the fresh air of the night hit her face, and took in a deep breath. She shut the door carefully, and stretched out her tired bones which ached from hiding in a locker since after prep. She hoped her cover had not been blown in her own hostel, because being in a mess with her matron was not what she needed at this time.






Walking stealthily, in the shadows, she went towards the fence. It was pitch black, she felt her way by touching the fence, until she got to the place where the elephant grass was tallest and she heaved a sigh of relief. She crouched, and began removing a heap of stones by the fence. When she had created a hole big enough to fit her, she passed through the fence.




The next morning during roll call in SS3A, it was discovered that a student was missing. The form mistress Mrs Oniru sent out some of her classmates to search for her around the compound. Nobody seemed to know of her whereabouts, and the last time anyone had seen her was during night prep the previous night.

The school was put on high alert, and members of staff as well as senior students searched for her all over the large compound and its environs to no avail. Her friends and classmates were questioned, and finally the police were alerted.

“What do mean our daughter is missing?” Chief Obunze screamed, jumping up from her seat like a woman demented. “You must be joking….You must be” she continued. The principal shivered in her seat,.
“We need to know if you have any idea where she might be?” the police officer said, addressing the man who sat quietly deep in thought.
“What do you mean? I put my daughter in your care and you come here to tell me she is missing? With all the money we pay for her education, this is the thrash you are spewing?” Chief Obunze replied glaring at the principal. Her husband gestured, and she unwillingly sat back down.
“No detective, we have no idea,  all her friends, are in school with her, and if she is with any of our relatives, we would have been informed. Moreover, there is no reason why she would leave school. None whatsoever. “He answered slowly.”Madam I am very sorry, how Somto got out of the compound, still befuddles me. We have tight security measures in place, I am very sorry”
“We are not certain she left the compound yet” The policeman added.

“What do you mean by that?”the grieving father asked as his wife burst into tears.
“Sir we have been unable to rule out foul play, but we hope for the best…Only time would tell”
The mother cried even louder.



The news spread like wildfire. It is not every day that the only child of the business woman in the state goes missing. Chief Mrs Obunze was a stoic business woman and astute woman leader. She was known in business and political circles as lioness. A name she bore with pride. The pressure on the police to solve the mystery was intense. Time passed, and it seemed like the girl had vanished into thin air. Soon the hopeful messages to her parents, began to sound like condolence messages.



Three months after her disappearance, the first note was received. The principal resumed work one Monday morning, and the note was by her doorstep.
“THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH…blood must be used for atonement of sin…..BLOOD FOR BLOOD”




She struggled against the restraints that bound her. The ropes bit through her wrists and her nipples hardened due to the cold from the air conditioners. She heard the whip go through the air, before she felt it land on her bare buttocks. She screamed out in pain or pleasure, she didn’t know which.
“You have been a bad girl” he said



to be continued..



LIFE IS A CHOICE MY FRIENDS
SO CHOOSE WISELY
ENOUGH SAID



Ivy Brown





#iReadopustjkwrites