That Mourning
That mourning.
The incident that took place in our lodge still held everyone in awe. The lodge had been unusually calm and gloomy for three days since the incident happened and everyone had been alone especially Chioma, My neighbour. The shout from her room that night was still fresh in my ear.
We heard news about the incessant attacks in different lodges around the school environment and before that day we were trying to get the school Anti cult and other security services to stay in our lodge but the process was so long and our lodge president and other excos decided to try again the next day,no one knew what that night held in stock for us.
It was past eleven when i heard foot steps and voices at the gate, I thought maybe they are students that came back late who were waiting for the lodge president to bring the key. I was awake preparing for the exam i had the next day when this noise started, soon it got worse as they broke down the gate and started moving into the rooms. That was when i knew they were criminals. I put off my light and switched off my phone as i ran into the toilet, my heart beating so fast.
"Open this door " i heard them scream as they banged on the door opposite mine, it was Chioma's door. Everywhere was quite and before i could say Jack Robinson, the door was broken and that was when Chioma screamed for the first time" Please " " Ple.... Before she could finish she earned a hefty slap... "For making us waste time here remove your cloth" One of the men said, Now! that was all i heard before Chioma started screaming, I knew she was being raped soon she kept calm but the men continued, They took turns, I heard the leader call out to the fifth one "Tosin, Your tu... I couldn't hear them again as they started banging on my own door.
I didn't know what to do, I could hear my heart beat loudly, I knew that i would be raped once they come in but before i could decide on what to do. I heard the police siren blaring from afar and at the same time they broke down my door. "Python" leave that one make we go, Police go catch us oh. I heard them saying as they ran off
I later got to learn that they were more than fifteen of them while some were stealing, the rest were in Chioma's room.
"It is ok dear, Please be safe "My sister, Ifeoma said to me from the other end of the phone. Also make sure you come back home tomorrow oh," Achokwam inu akuko, Inugo, Have you heard "She added " Yes", I said calmly. I could feel the fear in her voice.
Also, when last did you see Chioma? She asked, "I have not seen her since yesterday morning after she came back from the hospital" I said "Please check on her now and be safe, inugo" Ifeoma added before ending the call.
After dropping the phone, Olanna decided to heed to her sister's advice. She immediately went to Chioma's room and started knocking but there was no reply, it was strange so she called out to Steven, her neighbour and they knocked but still there was no reply and no one saw her leave after she came in yesterday. Steven decided to check the window to know if she was still around, the window was locked from inside just like the door so they kept pushing the door, it was weak already since the criminals had already spoilt the door, it opened after a while and they got in, Chioma was hanging on her fan. She took her life.
Udeoba, Chisom Onyinyechukwu.
#Somyblessed
Copyright © Chisom Udeoba | Year Posted 2018
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