"Emma! Take the Doctor inside and get me the cash!" Scorpion who is the leader commanded.

Two of the guys went in with the Doctor. They were both armed with guns so Doctor Azeezah didn't waste time or think twice about cooperating with the armed robbers.

"You and you!" Scorpion pointed with the cutlass in his right hand, "bring her with me."

"But oga! The Alhaji say make we no touch the small girl na!" One of them muttered. He was the skinniest one among them and seemed to be a J.J.C (Jolly Just Come), well, that was his nickname.

"If I fire you for there ehn? No be your fault, na me being you come!" Scorpion answered him in disgust.
J.J.C just kept quiet. It was as if he wasn't used to the system yet.

"Aboi!" He called another. "You follow me." He ordered as they seized Zainab at both arms and dragged her along like their new puppet.

"Please, don't hurt me.. I beg of you!" Zainab cried but they threw her into a dark room. It was the store room where they usually keep spoilt stuffs; cloths, bags, and others. The store was located beside the kitchen. The two hefty men that brought her in threw her to the ground as if she meant nothing. They went to stay outside. One by the doorway while the other stood by the entrance.

Whatever Scorpion does was final. He gave orders so his words were law. As they all know, anyone that opposed his order would either lost his life or his family. That was their path and watchword the gang keeps; to work together and never betray.

"Please, don't hurt me… I'm only a child!" Zainab cried once again, her whole body shivering like a wet chick.

"I already know that you're a child, I'm not blind." He moved closer to where she was and squat, close enough to whisper in her ears.
"Don't worry, what I'm going to do isn't going to hurt. Just lie down and close your eyes. It might be a nightmare but I'll be fast about it."

"Please sir!" She held his legs in the darkness. "Just let me go, please." Her heartbeat raced in fear.

"Shhhh!" He placed his index finger on her small lips and wipes away her tears.
"Just do as I say, I don't have time to waste." Placing the Cutlass to her neck. Zainab shivered, in fear. It felt as if she was already dead.

"Okay…" She muttered and quickly took off her wrapper.

Happy to see that she was cooperating, he dropped the cutlass and wanted to take off his belt when she hit and iron bucket on his head and ran out. And because it was dark, he couldn't see clearly but Zainab know everything in the store so well.

About to run out, she met Aboi by the entrance. He didn't hesitate to clutch her by the wrist but she managed to kick him at his balls. He let he go immediately and just at the entrance to the living room, she met the other guy. He was holding a knife so he slit her by the right shoulder.

Zainab fell to the ground, and let out a yell. Crying to the pain that overwhelmed her whole body. Her flesh was wide open and as she was about to push him but he grabbed her by the neck, punching her quite hard and leaving her with a bloody nose.

Not giving up, Zainab tried to lift her hand up to smack him back but she suddenly felt weak and dizzy.

Tobi, the guy that slit her, carried her on his shoulders like a bag of rice. He took her back into the store room. And there she was again, with the gang leader, Scorpion.

Zainab couldn't even move or speak. She only speak incoherently. "Please, don't hurt me." Was what she could say, as her heart was buried in fear of what would happen next.

***

Meanwhile, Humaira was having a nightmare this very minute. It was a very deep forest and it was also dark as well. Doctor Azeezah and Zainab missed roads as terrible cultists rushed in and wanted to kill them… To use them for ritual or something. Both of them were scared and bleeding. Just about when one of them wanted to catch Zainab, Humaira screamed from the dream into reality. She was sweaty and shivering as well, it looked so real.

"Auzubillahi mina shaitanni rajim!" She mumbled and  jumped out of bed. And looked around her, others were still sleeping. It was just 12:45 a.m.
Humaira decided to perform ta'ajud and do special prayers for both of them.

***

Enjoy reading  and please, don't forget to press the tiny orange star ★ at the end of each chapter to notify me you've actually read it… So! What are we waiting for! Get ready for this story of family, adventure, mystery and plot twists.