I had to think of what to do and fast.

"Mr. Dario is on the line." I heard an officer tell Mr. Akhila.

He collected the phone and spoke to Mr. Dario, I wonder what they are saying.

He hung up and faced Mrs. Amira's husband.

"He said he'll release her only if you and Mrs. Amira withdraw the case against him and you release Axymah for him, he also said he will leave Abuja with Axymah without the police holding him back. He wanted us to bring Axymah here for him." The officer explained.

"But Axymah is in a coma make him understand and tell him to release my wife for me." 

"Calm down Mr. Issah, I will speak to him again." 

The situation is getting out of control, I couldn't say anything to Mr. Akhila because of the two officers that were working for Mr. Dario but maybe I can speak to Mr. Hassan.

There are nine officers in total with Mr. Hassan making 12 men.

I will talk to Mr. Issah and both I and him along with two other officers all of us to go in through the back but how will I speak to Mr. Issah.

The officers working for Mr. Issah will not see me if I make a sign to Mr. Issah, I threw a stone at the car closest to Mr. Issah and he turned around, he looked around to find who threw the stone then he spotted me I quickly put my finger to my lips as a sign for him to keep quiet.

He told Mr. Akhila something and walked towards me, I looked around to make sure officer B is not looking.

He walked to me and I pulled him so we were hidden.

"What are you doing here? I thought I asked you to go home."

"Lower your voice, I am here to help you save Mrs. Amira."

"I will not allow you to get hurt, go home now." He was about to drag me but I stopped him.

"I am not going anywhere without Mrs. Amira, will you help me save her or not I have a plan."

"What is your plan." 

~~~~~~

"Are you ready?" I asked Mr. Hassan.

"This plan is very dangerous, but if it saves my wife I am willing to take the chance."

"You know what to do." We exchanged glances and he went to go meet Mr. Akhila

I threw a stone to the opposite of where I was, so officer A will think someone is there, when he moved I quickly rushed to the back and looked for the door when I found it, it was jammed, oh no. I tried pushing and pushing but it wouldn't budge, I saw officer A start walking back to stand guard, I kept pushing but then I decided to pull the door open, and voilà it opened, I went in and closed the door behind me.

I started walking around to try to look for Mrs. Amira, I didn't have to walk too far, I saw her tied in what was a living room but without couches and a center table, she was tied on a chair with tape over her mouth, Mr. Dario was standing in front of her. I wanted to take a good look at her to see if he had hurt her, I saw under her eye was swollen and her left eye was purple but her clothing was not torn.

I expected to see the pen on her shirt but it was not there so I decided to try to look for it but from where I was hiding, even if I move an inch forward I would be caught, so I just put my phone on silent and took some pictures but Mr. Dario's face was not showing properly and he could easily lie that it was not him. Where were Mr. Issah and the officers? They should be here already.

I spotted the pen, it was laying vertically against a crate and it is facing towards Mr. Dario and Mrs. Amira that meant it recording everything, that's good but it's quite far from me, how will I get my hands on it? Just then Mr. Issah and two officers arrived behind me, I stopped them from making noise.

"Where is Mr. Dario?" One of the officers asked.

"Speak softly, he is right there." I pointed to the living room and they tried to walk toward Mr. Dario and Mrs. Amira but I stopped them.

"You can't just march up to them, he is holding Mrs. Amira hostage what if he puts a gun to her head, what will you do then? Be patient and listen to the plan."

"You have done your part now it's time for us to do our part, move aside." These officers will ruin everything, I quickly hid so I won't be seen as the officers and Mr. Issah made their way to Mr. Dario.

"Put your hands where we could see them and step away from the woman." The officers commanded.

"How about I point a gun to Mrs. Amira's head instead." Mr. Dario responded and pointed his gun directly at Mrs. Amira's forehead from where he was standing, seeing how confident he is, I do not think he'll miss if he shoots at her.

"Drop your gun down or I'll shoot this woman." Mr. Dario said this was what I was saying now he will hold them all hostage.

"What do you want in exchange for my wife?" Mr. Issah asked looking defeated and extremely worried for his wife's life.

"I want Axymah, get me Axymah and I'll give you your wife." Mr. Dario bargained.

"Axymah is in a coma and she is in a critical condition, the doctors are giving her all the treatment they could to save her life." Mr. Hassan told him.

"So? Do I look like I care, bring me Axymah that is all I ask."

"Why do you want her? You want her dead that is why you did to her what you did." Mr. Issah told him.

Bang! Bang! I heard two gunshots, I looked at Mr. Dario and his gun was pointed at the officers that escorted Mr. Issah, but the thing was the officers were now on the floor bleeding from their foreheads, Mr. Dario shot them dead, he... Shot the officers dead.

There was a pool of blood surrounding both officers, I just stood there shaking, to say I was terrified was an understatement.

"That was completely unnecessary." Mr. Issah said.

"Then how else will you get the message, get back out there and tell them to go bring me Axymah or the next bullet will be found in your wife's chest."

"How do you want us to get you Axymah? The hospital will not release her she is in a critical condition."

"I am sure if the police asked the hospital to release her, they will."

"No they will not, do you not understand all that I have been saying, Axymah can't leave the hospital until she is feeling much better, what part of that do you not understand?"

Bang! Mr. Dario shot straight at Mr. Issah but he missed, now that I look at the scenario again, he missed on purpose.

"You are testing my patience Issah." He said and pointed the gun toward Mrs. Amira. "

"I will go tell the officers, please do not hurt my wife." Mr. Hassan begged.

"Do you know what this is?" Mr. Dario asked as he held something that looks like a pen in his hand.

"No, what is it?

"This is a laser." Mr. Dario said as he pressed down the bottom on top and a laser beam came out of the pen, it remained out of the pen, I do not even have words to describe it as I am shivering in fear, I do not want to regret coming here.

"You see this laser beam if I concentrate it on your wife's forehead her brain will fry or melt, either one she'll die. Amira if your lovely husband does not bring Axymah here in the next fifty minutes you will die by either of these three of your choice, the laser, my gun, or a grenade." He said as he held up a black ball with a hook at the top.

"His time starts now." Mr. Dario said that and Mr. Issah went back outside probably to go convince the police on bringing Axymah here.

"You should have never meddled in my business, you should have just stayed within your limits but no you just had to be the hero and try to save Axymah." He said as he walked towards me, I thought he saw me and was coming for me too but instead, he placed the laser and the grenade next to where I was hiding and then turned back.

I was so scared I thought he caught me, he walked to Mrs. Amira and removed the tape from her mouth. 

"Untie me this instant and leave Axymah the heck alone." Mrs. Amira demanded the moment the tape came off.

"This was why I taped your lips shut, your continuous yapping irritated my ear."

I don't think I will be able to get my hands on that video recorder pen, I think I should do something.

"Why were you treating Axymah like this? What do you have against her?"

"Axymah or your life?" Mr. Dario asked.

"What?!" Mrs. Amira asked confused even though I was confused.

"Ask me all the questions you jotted down for me and I will answer you, besides today is your last day on earth."

"You knew it would be impossible to get Axymah here that's why you said you want her here, you gave a reason to kill me."

"That's why I asked Axymah or your life? But only your husband can answer that question by bringing Axymah here and we all know that is almost impossible."

"You tricked my husband."

"Yes I did, what are you going to do about it? Forty-five minutes more I know you have loads of questions to ask me, ask and I'll answer truthfully, that's the last thing I could do for you seeing that I'll be taking your life."

"I will ask you but promise to tell me nothing but the truth."

"What will happen if I don't promise you that? Ask your first question."

"Why did you kill Axymah's mother?"

"Who told you I killed Axymah's mother, I did not kill her!" Mr. Dario said.

"You are lying, you killed her." Mrs. Amira argued.

"If you know then why ask me?"

"If you did not kill her then who did?"

"Cyril Deborah Aka Debby gold." As Mr. Dario said the name I felt my chest tighten, that is a lie Debby gold said Mr. Dario did it, now Mr. Dario is saying Debby gold did it, what exactly is the truth?

"Let me explain things to you, I'll break it down for you since your brain isn't capable of understanding what I mean, I sent Debby gold to kill Axymah's mother because I did not want to soil my hands by killing the woman he loved and that's Axymah's fault she should have kept her dirty mouth shut and enjoyed free fuck."

"She was a kid, you fucked an underaged girl and you're not ashamed of it, you're shameless, disgusting, and insane."

"I would have been behind bars if I didn't males that move, I couldn't let that happen so I had to do something about her besides she is not even dead yet."

"What do you mean Axymah's mother is not dead yet?"

"You'll know sooner or later, I choose later, that's a secret to be revealed later, all you have to know now is she is in a very deep sleep and there is only one way to wake her up."

"True love's kiss will wake her up." Mrs. Amira said hopefully.

"This is not a fairytale get your head out of the cloud someone will have to embark on a dangerous, life-threatening journey to bring her back to life but in the end, she will die."

"I don't understand be straightforward." 

"Next question."

"Please just answer me."

"Next question!"

"Why do you torture and maltreat Axymah?"

"It gave me joy and I hated her."

"Why?"

"Your husband has twenty more minutes afterward you'll meet your end, you better start saying your last prayers."

What do I do to help save Mrs. Amira? If only that officer had listened to me, Mrs. Amira would have been safe Mr. Dario would have been captured and he and his colleague will not be dead, I have an idea. The laser is right next to me, if I can concentrate on the rope it will break and Mrs. Amira will be free then she will rush towards me, if Mr. Dario tries to shoot at us I will use the grenade on him, and like that we will escape.

I mentally Pat myself on the back for the amazing plan but how will I execute it? I need to hurry and do something, Mr. Dario shot two officers dead so I know he will not hesitate to kill Mrs. Amira or me.

"Fifteen minutes more." Mr. Dario announced. Just then Mr. Issah walked in with another two officers, do these people have a death wish or something? Who am I to ask that? Me being here is already enough of a death wish.

"Back so soon that's good, I do not see Axymah anywhere, is she outside?"

"No, she is not, and do you know why?" Now that Mr. Dario is busy speaking to Mr. Hassan I can execute my plan, but I need to move a bit to a better angle, I grabbed the grenade and the laser pen and I moved as they spoke, none of them seemed to notice me which is a good thing.

"Why is Axymah not here with you?"

"Because the hospital refused to release her, let. My. Wife. Go."

"What if I don't? What will you do? Lecture me on manners and good heart and kindness and all of those sh*t?" I moved a bit towards Mrs. Amira's back so I could break the rope, Mrs. Amira spotted me and I put my fingers to my mouth, she got the message and went back to listening to what they were saying but throwing glances at me every second.

"Please release my wife, I beg of you."

"I knew you would not be able to provide Axymah that's why I told you to go bring her besides she had heard things that are not meant for her ears so I can't let her go." I aimed the pen on the rope tying Mrs. Amira to the chair from behind, I pressed the bottom on top and kept pressing, I moved the laser lower till I cut through all the ropes tying her to the chair she didn't move while I was at it I wondered how the men didn't notice all this, I should consider being a ninja or an assassin

I then moved to cut the rope tying her hands and legs but I have to be extremely careful so as not to hurt her. The ropes tying her legs came off and Mr. Dario turned around to look at Mrs. Amira, he saw the ropes have come loose and he lost them.

"You bitch!" He said as he aimed his gun at her, Mr. Issah quickly kicked Mr. Dario and he lost his footing missing Mrs. Amira's head by twenty inches, Mrs. Amira rushed towards me and we went to stand next to Mr. Hassan.

"Put your hands where we could see them." The officers said as they pointed their guns at Mr. Dario.

"I am not one to give up." He took his gun from the floor and was about to fire but the officers were quicker, they shot at his arm and he started to bleed, he dropped the gun and the officers arrested him.

Finally, Mr. Dario will be behind bars.

After the officers took Mr. Dario away Mrs. Amira gave me a tight hug.

"Thank you." She told me with tears in her eyes.

"I am sorry, we would have saved you earlier but the now two dead officers did not wait to hear the plan."

"You have nothing to apologize for." She said as we walked out of the building.

"Do not worry Mrs. Amira, we have Mr. Dario in our clutches, he will be behind bars for a very very long time."

"Thank you, Mr. Akhila." Mrs. Amira said.

"Just doing my job."

"Where did this young lady come from?" Mr. Akhila asked motioning to me.

"She was the one that saved me, she snuck inside and she saved me, without her help I'll still be tied up with Mr. Dario inside the building."

"Thank you." Mr. Akhila thanked me.

"I was happy to help besides Mrs. Amira and I are in this together, right?"

"Right."

"Come on, my husband and I will drop you off at home."

"Okay." We walked to Mr. Hassan's car and we got in.

"Where do you stay?" Mr. Hassan asked.

"Keep going I'll direct you."

"Okay."

I quickly texted Kally, one of my other friends, and at the same time give directions.

Me: Sup girl, how have you been?

Kally: Fine and you, it's been a while since I heard from you👂👎.

Me: Yeah I have been really busy will come by your place tomorrow.

Kally: "Okay."

Me: Could you do me a favor? 

Kally: Yeah sure, what is it?

Me: If my parents call to ask if I was at your place please tell them yes.

Kally: Okay girl, but why?🙀

Me: I am supposed to be grounded 🙄 but I went out because I was mad at my mom, I do not want her to feel bad if I tell her that I was all alone in the park wallowing in hurt, she will feel really bad and I do not want that, whatever she did, she is still my mom😪.

Kally: Oh dear😫, sure no problem I'll do that🤓 I got you.

Me: Thanks, bae😘😘

Kally: I'll go tell my mom now, later😝

Me: bye ❤

Kally and I like to add emojis in our chat, it's a way of expressing how we feel. I could have just called her but if Mrs. Amira hears our conversion she'll ask why I lied to Kally and she will question if my mom knows I am helping Azyma, I can assure you it won't go down well.

"We are here." Mr. Issah announced.

"Thank you, please take care of Mrs. Amira," I told Mr. Issah and then got out of the car.

"I will." He replied.

"Do have a nice night."

"You too Alero." With that I walked into my house ready to face the wrath of my parents head-on, Mr. Dario was behind bars, he will not be able to terrorize Azyma anymore, I am so happy nothing can ruin tonight not even my parent's overprotectiveness and wrath.

I got in and met my mom and dad in the living room on the couch.

"I am back," I announced from where I stood just to get their attention, my mom stood from the couch and walked towards me, we are now five feet apart.

"Oh welcome, welcome please come in." My mom said in a sarcastic tone and I resisted the urge to roll my eye, I do not want to add fuel to the fire.

"Where were you? Your mother and I were worried sick about you."

"Mom pissed me off, I couldn't breathe in the house so I went to the park afterward I went to Kally's house."

"You are grounded for the rest of your life go to your room." My mom said as she broke into sobs.

End of flashback

"Wow, you did that for Azyma?"

"Of course and also I'm grounded till I'm eighteen."

"I even made a video of Mr. Dario confessing everything."

"So you did that for Azyma, does your parent know about that?" I heard Dinela ask.

"So what if they don't know? It's none of your business."

"It's my business, your mom asked me to keep tabs on you so you see it's my business."

"My mom asked you to keep tabs on me? Why would she do that?"

"Can I see the video?" Austin asked just to ease the tension."

"Okay." Then I realized I wasn't holding my cellphone and it was not in my pocket either.

"I can't find it."

"What! Check harder." Austin said.

"Is it that you can't find the cellphone or you don't have any video."

"You think I am making this up? Wait and see I'll prove it to you, I'll check my seat for my phone."

*****

I hope you are enjoying my novel, it's nearing the end of about eight or ten more chapters, stay with Better Days Ahead to find out what will happen to Axymah, would she ever get out of the coma? Don't forget to drop votes and comments, thank you.

Bjay_love