I was running. Were I was running and where I was running to, I couldn't begin to fathom. I heard a scream. The scream got to me as if it was uttered through a megaphone, it sounded as shrill as a whistle.
I was panting. Sweat was dropping down in rivulets from my forehead, and then I was transported. I saw her. A tall, dark, menacing figure was towering above her, his hands on her neck.
The gash on her forehead was prominent blood flowing down her face. The figure squeezed harder. She gasped, her hands trying to pry away his.
And then, she turned to me. With dead calm eyes.
"Avenge me" she whispered.
~~~~~~~
I woke up with a start. Beads of sweat had crowded my forehead, I was sweating all over, my heart racing like a locomotive.
"Avenge me."
I curled up into a ball and started to cry, rocking myself back and forth. Where would I start from? Who would I ask? She should have just told me. And then, I heard a voice at the back of my mind saying;
"Look at you! Tufia kwa! Act first!. Would Chioma have reacted to your death this way? Ehn? Would she have just sat on her bed like you are doing now, and cried? Or would she be doing everything in her power to find justice?"
And with that, I wiped my tears furiously and got out my laptop from the bag of my belongings my parents had brought over from my apartment.
The screen beamed 11:35.
I got to work. I opened a blank document on my Word as asked myself; 'what do I know?' I stared at the blinking bar on my screen. Tears threatened to spill again, but I berated myself and proceeded.
First things first, the first witness.
I typed. I decided to find the lady who had seen Chioma.
I went to my Facebook Messenger, and opened a group that was formed for our set. Fortunately, she was the type who posted pictures of herself often. Her name was Fega. I added her number to my contacts and video called her using Duo.
This way, I would be able to read her facial expressions.
She picked on the second ring. Her eyes were red. Is that how mine looked or was it worse?
"Hey, Fega." I said. My voice sounded foreign. Her eyes widened as she realized who it was.
"Oh my God, Chidinma! I'm sorry! Is there anything I can do to help?"
I smiled.
"It's..it's okay. I just wanted to ask you a few questions about..That night."
A shadow flickered over her features. "Oh..okay. The police have already questioned me, but..but if you want, I'll be glad to help."
"Thank you." "Soo.. how did you come across her that night?" I cleared all images off my mind to avoid breaking down in front of Fega. I needed to be strong.
She swallowed hard. And hesitated. It shouldn't take her so long to answer, should it?
"I was just going to the patio to receive some fresh air and maybe talk with her and Samuel.."
"Wait..her and Samuel?"
"Umm.. yeah, I saw the two of them head together in that direction like maybe an hour or so before I wanted to go and join them."
Her and Samuel. Could it be? No.
"Okay.."
"Yeah, so I opened the door and..and" she paused swallowing and blinking back tears.
"Are you sure you want me to continue?" She asked.
I nodded. I needed to face this head on. She is gone. She isn't coming back.
"Yes." I said defiantly.
"I saw Chioma. Her eyes were wide open and her dress was torn at the lap region. Jesus! Blood was pouring out of her head. It was too much, I just started shouting."
She blew her nose into her sleeve.
"Thank you Fega. Take care of yourself okay?"
"You too, if you need anything.."
"I'll ring you. I'll find out who did this okay?" I said reassuring myself more than I was reassuring her. "Goodnight." She nodded and I ended the call.
Her and Samuel.
I needed to contact him. All the fingers were pointing to him. But he couldn't have done it. He loved Chioma too much. But yet again, there were different kinds of love. I composed a message to him:
"Hey Samuel. Could we meet tomorrow at Kilimanjaro? We need to talk."
Brusque, but that is how it needed to be. I needed to clear my doubt. Tomorrow, I would see him. Just as I was getting ready to go back to bed a message popped up on my screen. It read:
"Hey Chidinma. It's Rex...how are you doing? Can I see you tomorrow?"
It was Rex. Tommorow would be a busy day for me. My job could wait.
~~~~~~
'Tufia kwa!' means Abomination!