Chapter 2: I don't want to come to your world either

"Let...Let me go."I say trying to get out of his hold. Why does he keep grabbing my waist? I hope this isn't like one of those novels where he would ask me to sleep with him? Or...Oh Jesus, I don't even want to think about it. This is reality, he could ask me to dle instead I presume.

He lets go of my waist and bursts into laughter, "I haven't even said anything and you're already looking pale." He turns serious again and dips his hands into his pocket before continuing, "You will have to come with me darling, to pay the price."

Wait, what?? Come with him to where?

"Please.... Please don't take our daughter, I beg of you. Take me instead, please. My mummy pleads in tears. Tears starts to form in my eyes as I watch her crawl on her kneels to where I am standing with the man.

"Stay where you are woman..." The man says turning to her, "Or I will kill her." He threatens. My mummy stops crawling immediately and covers her mouth with her hands as she continues crying.

Different emotions run through me as I try to understand what is happening right now. Where would he take me to? What will he do to me? He has grabbed my waist twice now, could it be that he wants me to pay by.....no no no no. I shake my head to get the thought that he would force me to have sex with him out of my head.

"Where am I going with you?"I ask him looking at the ground.

He smiles, "Somewhere you can pay for the money in place of your family."

"Where...where is that?" I raise my head to look at him.

"Tsk tsk tsk..." He shakes his head and lifts my chin up with his index finger, "Stop asking questions now darling, Just prepare yourself, I will send someone to come and get you tomorrow."

"Please... Please don't take my daughter, I am the one who owes the money, you can take me instead, please..." My daddy pleads shaking as he sniffles.

The man groans in annoyance and suddenly walks to where my daddy is kneeling. Right before our eyes, he slaps him hard on the face making my daddy to fall on his side. I gasps in shock and quickly move over to my daddy's side to help him get up from the floor.

"Daddy, daddy, are you okay?" I ask holding his cheek which has become red from the hard slap. If I had been the one slapped like that, ľm sure I would have been admitted to the hospital already.

I stand up to my feet and glare to the man.

"Why did you hit him?"

I know we owe him money but he's going too far. He looks at me in shock and before I know it, he suddenly grips me by the neck. My eyes widen in shock and I struggle to drag his hand off but he's too strong.

"Don't you f**king raise your voice on me you wench!'"

I couldn't breathe; I could feel my body go weak as I struggle to get free from

his grip.

"Let go of my daughter! Let her go!" I hear my mother's Scream as she grips the man's legs.

He tightens his grip around my neck the more and it starts to feel like I am near death. I can't see clearly, I couldn't struggle anymore because I have become too weak. Then suddenly, he lets go of me and pushes me to the floor hard.

I cough out profusely, breathing heavily as tears whelm up in my eyes. My hand reaches my neck and I slump on the floor bursting into tears.

I hear him sigh heavily, "Listen, you all shouldn't make this hard for yourselves. I'm not very patient you see, so kindly cooperate.

He walks back to the sofa and sits down, crossing his right leg over the

other. "Now let's wrap this up quickly. I don't have all day, I'm a very busy person you know. You..." He points at me before saying, "Get ready, they will come for you tomorrow but if you refuse the offer, I have another proposal though."

I sniffle and look downwards. "I don't need to take your old man to jail. I have my own jail for him, there.." He stops and I slightly raise my head to see why but quickly look away when I see him walking towards me.

He stands in front of me, "There, he would wish for death but wouldn't get it, how about that?"

I turn to him in shock. Does he mean, torture?

"What?"

"Yes darling. You see, I find it fun when I punish people for crossing me. I hate it when people get ahead of themselves, especially when they're claiming to be someone they're not." He glances at my father before continuing. " Your father knew very well that he would get in trouble if he kept playing at the casino, but he didn't stop. He continued, claiming he had money when he didn't. Well my brother knew clearly that your father was just a wretched gambler, but you know, it'll spoil the fun if he sent him away..." He pauses before adding on.

"You see darling, your father did not understand that gambling isn't for the poor and wretched but only for the rich who have enough money to lose. You poor people should stop getting hopes that you'll make it big from the rich, nah, it doesn't work that way. You don't get to have it easy; you have to strive and suffer for it."

He grins, "It's fun to see them run around and hide after they fall in depts. The reason they get poorer and poorer each day is because they think they're no different from the rich, just because were all humans but you know what? You poor people have your own world, while we have ours, so you should know not to cross your boundary."

I manage to raise my head and look at him, "I may blame my daddy for bringing this problem to us but you see Mr. Creditor, I do not want to come to your world either. Why would we leave a peaceful world and come over to yours? Is it because of money?" I scoff before continuing, "I will rather suffer till I die, than become rich and live like you who only finds happiness in others sufferings."

He stares at me in shock and just when I thought I'm about to receive a slap, he grins, "Wow, darling, you really have some guts. But you see darling, there are so many people who wish to live like me. If your father didn't want to be rich, he would not come to my casino to gamble."

I sigh, "I will go with you, but first, can I at least know where you are taking me? I should at least know what I would be doing there right?" I ask hoping he would tell me. I should at least know that right?

He scoffs, "You should be grateful that you even have a chance to make a choice. Someone will come for you tomorrow, make sure you don't come with your phone, you should cut contact with your family."

I turn to him in shock, "What? I can't communicate with my family?"

"No" He answered curtly.

He walks away from me to where my daddy kneels and pulls out a gun from his pocket. I gasp in shock as fear grips me.

"Please don't shoot him! I said I will go, I won't ask any more questions, please." I try to run to him but the men stop me.

He points the gun at my daddy's neck and my eyes grow wide as my body tremble in panic.

"Your daughter will be with me until she covers up the money that you owe. It's a pity that she has to suffer for your sin though but don't worry, she'll be well taken care of." He smirks as he says to my daddy.

"Isn't it same if I suffer it instead? Please take me in her place." My daddy manages to say as he shivers in fear.

"It's my choice who I want old man, you're even suppose to be thanking me. He groans before turning to me.

"See you soon darling, he would be very glad to see you." He dips the gun back into his pocket and leaves the house while the men follow suit immediately.

As soon as the leaves, I slump on the ground and holds my neck which still hurts from the man's grip earlier. How on earth did things come to this? One minute I was in the kitchen making food, the next minute I am going to be taken by a total stranger? And who would be glad to see me? His brother that daddy gambled with?

"Kemi!" My mummy screams my name amidst tears as she walks over to where I am sitting.

"My daughter, are you okay?" She reaches for my neck and starts checking it moving my head to the sides. "It must have hurt a lot right?" She asks me with tears rolling down her cheeks.

I smile weakly at her, "I'm fine mummy. What about you, are you okay?"

She smiles slightly at me and nods. "I'm fine my dear, come let me rub something on it." She says gesturing to my neck.

I nod and stand up to follow her.

"Honey, Im sorry. This is my entire fault, I'll fix it." My daddy says walking towards mummy and I.

Mummy scoffs and turn to him, "Are you not ashamed of yourself? At your age you're still gambling. The money meant for your own daughter's study, you gambled it and now, you have put us in dept. as well." Mummy hisses at him and turns away but daddy grabs her by the wrist. Mummy drags her hand away angrily.

"I'm sorry...." He then turns to me. "I'm sorry Kemi; I didn't mean to hurt you my dear, I..."

Mummy rolls her eyes and cut him off. "This isn't the time to be apologizing. My daughter is about to be taken away by a total stranger, what do we do? You had better go to him now and make him change his mind; I don't care about what it would result to."

"Who wants to take sister Kemi away, mummy?"

My eyes widen as I recognize the voice, that's my younger sister, Shola. I turn quickly and see her standing in close to the door, alongside Ayo.

I quickly walk towards them and pull them inside before hugging them tightly.

"How were classes today?" I ask them as I release them from my arms.

"Class was fine sister kemi." Ayo replies, his eyes focusing on my neck.

"Sister Kemi, who wants to take you away, where are going?" Shola asks again and I sigh recalling how persistent she is when she wants something.

"Oh that? No one is taking me away Shola, mummy was just..em..She..."

"But I heard mummy saying that a stranger wants to take you away." Shola persisted.

She may be young but she isn't easy to deceive at all. She won't stop until she gets the answer she wants. She already sensed something was wrong, so it won't be easy to make her let it go.

Mummy quickly joins us to help me out "Shola, take your brother inside. You two should go and have your bath; Kemi will come and serve you food, no one is taking your sister away."

Shola looks reluctant for a moment but slowly she nods in obedience. I know well that's not the end, the Shola I know will still bring up that question later.

"Sister Kemi, what happened to your neck? I can see marks on it." Ayo is the one to ask this time, no wonder he was staring at my neck since.

I feign a smile, "It's nothing serious Ayo, well em.. Something bit me."

Ayo immediately gives me a look like 'Are you expecting me to believe that?'

"Sister Kemi, but it doesn't look like you were bitten o." Ayo presses on and I am about saying something else before mummy saves me again.

"Ayo, your sister is fine, don't you worry. Go on now with Shola to eat."

Ayo nods and reluctantly follows Shola into the room.

"You know very well that they will ask again mummy.° I sigh and sits down on the sofa. My mum sighs as well and moves to sit beside me.

"Don't worry, you're not going anywhere with that man okay?" My mummy says as tears whelm up in her eyes. I reach for her face and wipe her tears with my thumbs.

"Stop crying mummy, it's not like I'm going to get killed."I smile slightly before continuing. "You know very well we cannot do anything but simply cooperate with that man. I don't want anything to happen to my family because of daddy's behavior, everything will be fine."

My mummy shakes her head abruptly, " No Kemi. I cannot bear to see you leave this house with someone I don't know. We don't even know where he's taking you to nor what he will do to you..."

I cut in, "You saw the situation just now mummy. That man won't hesitate to hurt you guys if I don't follow him and I can't bear seeing any of you get hurt, you know that."

"You're always like this Kemi...." Tears roll down her cheeks as she looks away from me. "You're willing to carry the cross for the family all the time and I can't do anything, always."

Tears flow down my cheeks as I watch mummy cry. I hate this, I hate to see her helpless and in pain when all I can do is watch her. She is always the type to act strong despite any condition and is usually the one that comforts me whenever I needed it and now, watching her cry and unable to do anything, breaks my heart.

Despite daddy's acts, he's still myfather but sometimes, I just wish he isn't. Maybe then, the problems would be lesser for the family. I can remember vividly the time mummy was very ill, he wasn't even there for us. He was out there gambling and drinking and getting into fights. I told him to his face that day that I wished he wasn't my father. The broken look on his face that day when I told him that, would make one think he was going to change but he didn't. Even after all that, I still forgave him and even mummy did. I had once asked my mummy if she wanted to divorce him but she said no. I guess despite everything he does, she still loves him and forgives him all the time. She says only a fool falls in love. She also calls herself a fool because despite daddy's nonsense, she has been putting up with all of it hoping he would change.

I turn to look at my daddy, he is on his kneels with his head facing the ground.

"If Kemi is taken away from me Peter, I will never forgive you..." My mummy says to daddy, she adds on. "The Peter I know years ago, is no more, I have been living with a total stranger all this while. Now, I don't think I can live with this stranger anymore. No matter how hard I try to bear with you, you just make it impossible for me."

"Honey I'm sorry..." Daddy starts to say.

Mummy cuts in, "Please do not say anything, I don't want to hear from you at all! Do you even care about us at all?" She stands up in anger and moves closer to him. "Our daughter is about to be taken by a man who nearly strangled her to death in front of us, and all you have to say is sorry? How much longer should we put up with your stupid behaviors? If that man can do that too her in front of us, who only knows what he would do to her in our absence!"

She points her finger at him, "You had better come up with how we are goingto get that money tomorrow because l don't know what I would do if anything happens to Kemi! If it's to rob a bank, better go and do it o!"

I walk to her and place my right hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay mummy, all this will not solve the problem. What has happened, has happened. My only hope is that he allows me keep in touch with you guys, there's no use in fighting mummy."

My mummy burst into tears and slumps on the ground from the sofa.

"Why is this happening to me? Just.. just why? I.... can't.. can't even do anything.....I married a useless thing... Instead of a man...Ah God...."

I bend down to her and pull her into my arms as she keeps crying and lamenting. "It would be fine mummy, I will be fine."

But would it? I have a feeling that my life is about to turn upside down.

Xoxo