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One day after Chidinma's abduction..

_Kelechi_

"I no wan go, Tobe."

"Guy, na seventeen years old you be and you still dey behave like small pikin!? Come this party na ehn?, So many chicks go dey there, you know say na club, the place go dey lit! Or you dey fear say your mama go flog you? Guy..." Tobe said laughing at me.

The honest truth was I didn't want to go, not because I had somewhere to go or something to do, but because parties and clubs weren't really my scene. To be frank, I hated them. I mean what do teenagers see in a wild gathering were all they'd do is smoke, get drunk and get laid? He was smart for trying to lure me with girls, but I was into good, smart and ravishingly beautiful ones and I highly doubt I would see and girl with those qualities at a club party.

I didn't want to go.

But, my friends were going to be there so what could go wrong? If I don't go to the most popular party of the school year, it would tarnish my rep as one of the coolest, most dopest guys in Stars International High School's final year students. No one wanted a tarnished reputation.

"Cluck, cluck, cluck... chicken Kel.." Tobe teased on the phone.

Heaving a heavy sigh of regret I answered him. " Fine. I go come the useless party. Guy, I swear if e dry.."

"Kel..you no know say na me, Tobe!? You no go forget this night for your entire life. I promise you."

°°°°°°

The party wasn't dry. It was wild and rad and noisy, all the things I hate about parties. I had spent like an hour here already and in that short time about twenty brawls had happened and about fifteen girls have thrown themselves at me. Fifteen girls I have ignored. Being handsome, cool and popular, is not a day job.

I stood bored and disinterested in a corner watching the party play out, a bottle of Smirnoff ice in my hand. I sipped it slowly. I looked at my diesel watch.

9:50

Twice, Tobe had tried to get me to binge drink, four times Harry had tried to get me to smoke dope. I said no to all of their offers.

I watched the green and purple strobe lights as I drowned out the music and thought about my sister. I had never seen her so sad. I couldn't blame her. Chioma was like a sister to her, to us. Now, being a major suspect even though she was obviously framed, she lived under house arrest. I won't see her for a long time.

To say I missed her was an understatement. One month had passed and still no headway, no Justice for Chioma. I prayed everyday for Chidinma's safety. I couldn't lose my sister.

I am drawn out of my thoughts by a small tap on my forearm. I look down to see big, black doe eyes staring up at me. Her eyes look sad, much like Chidinma's eyes these days. Maybe that's what drew me to her instantly.

"Hey." I said.

"Hi." She replied shyly in a shaky voice as she bit her lips and timidly drew the hem of her short gown down.  She didn't look like someone who'd fit into the party scene either.

Ordering a Smirnoff for herself also, we hit right off. She was fun to talk to, a relief from the choking atmosphere. She fidgeted less and her eyes brightened up a little, but the sadness was still there.

"Let's go out back." She said. "I don't know about you, but I am done with this party."

Pulling my arm, we pushed through the crowd. Crossing the threshold, her fidgety actions cameback. Bunching my shirt in her dainty fists, she pulled me to her and kissed me for a millisecond. Dragging her lips to my ear, she whispered,

"Run!."

I felt the dread before I registered the fear in her dark eyes as she looked at something behind me. Turning slowly to see what or who it could be, I was hit squarely on the face. I heard her whimper and scream before a bag was put over my head.

I did not even get to know her name.

~~~~~~

_Chidinma_

It's been three days.

Three days since Rex had taken me to the station to file a report of my abduction.

Three days since Bintu the man-woman had moved in with me-in my house arrest home, for my safety.

Three days since I knew the truth about him. Since I knew the truth about Rex, a truth I wish I never knew.

A truth that put him at number one in my list of possible suspects, a truth that questioned my feelings towards him.

Three days.

°°°°°°

Rex took me to the station that day and we filed a report. Officer Denzel had been caught in an accident and was still comatose. I couldn't help but feel guilty as it was all my fault. If I hadn't replied to that mail, he wouldn't have been in the hospital.

After the report had been filed, the DPO of the police force and Darina deemed it unsafe for me to live alone as per people were now after my life. Someone needed to stay with me, but since Denzel was invalid, I was assigned to a female police officer by the name of Bintu.

Rex had not gone scot-free. As I had suspected, he was a major suspect of who and what led to my disappearance that evening. He was interrogated. While he was being drilled, Bintu and Darina asked me questions about that night. I told them all of it. Records were taken.

Rex had come out after one hour of being drilled. When he did, his eyes looked hollow and empty. When he glanced my way, I saw remorse and countless emotions and apologies flit across his eyes.

"Lillian," he had whispered coming to kneel in front of me. "Lillian I..I have something to tell you."

At those words I immediately felt the feeling of dread and apprehension wash over me, a feeling I was becoming overly familiar with. It lodged my throat. I nodded to give him the go ahead.

"I..I"

I watched as he struggled to say the words. Words that I wish I had never heard. But he didn't say them. A burly police officer came and forcefully ripped him apart from me, giving him a blow across the face when he resisted. He pulled him out of the lobby. Tears came to my eyes when I heard Rex screaming back at me.

"You know me Lillian!! You know me! It wasn't me! It couldn't be me!! I would never hurt you! I..."

Darina had come to sit by me. Taking my hand in hers I saw tears in her eyes. My actions felt mechanical as I spoke to her.

"What is Rex shouting about?" I whispered.

"Dinma, I..I..Rex.." she started stammering.

"Tell me." I deadpanned.

I watched her take a deep breath as she wiped her tears and slipped her professional mask on.

"Rex..Rex is an ex-convict."

°°°°°°

I didn't stay to listen to the rest of her words. I didn't want to know how long he had stayed in prison or what crime he had committed. He was an ex-convict. He could have murdered Chioma.

He could have.

I had trusted an ex-convict. An ex-convict. Rex, my Rex. My saviour.

I curled up into a ball and reminisced as I had been doing for the past two days. I thought of everything. From meeting him a damaged and sad boy in SS1 till the kiss we shared three days ago.

I was wallowing in memories when I received a call. I wanted to ignore. I didn't want to talk to Darina or him.

The incessant ringing disturbed my ears. Picking up my phone to put it on silent, I caught wind of the caller ID. It was my mom. I picked it immediately. I missed her so badly. I needed to talk to her. But I hadn't even uttered a syllable when I heard her crying. The dread came back, stronger than ever.

"Mom, mom what's wrong? Why are you crying? What happened!?"

"Chidinma..Chi..your brother...my son!..I can't find my son oo!!"

Kelechi was missing.

~~~~~~

Okay..

I've been dropping hints about Rex's past. Everything will add up. Promise.

Chidinma..I just pity you. Double wahala.

I just want to say thank you to all my readers so far. You all make it possible.