Rita’s POV

Words couldn’t describe how I was feeling at that moment: shocked, scared, and utterly confused. First, it felt like I was being kidnapped by some terrifying men then I met one of the country’s most respected figures Mr. Noel. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined meeting him and now it sounded like I was being threatened, my life hanging by a thread.

I stepped into the room and nearly lost my mind. It was a fully equipped operation theater complete with medical kits and surgical instruments. This definitely wasn’t the first time these men had done something like this.

A man lay on the table, his body and the floor soaked with blood. My mind spun with questions that threatened to explode inside me. How did these people even get access to all these medical supplies? Then again, I thought, they were the Ezugwus one of the wealthiest families in the country. They could afford anything… except life itself. Still, no amount of wealth could make it legal to perform such a procedure outside a hospital.

I wondered who the man on the table was, and what connection he had to the Ezugwus. My fear slowly morphed into worry, not for them but for myself. These men could do anything and get away with it. But what about me? What if I got dragged into whatever this was, and my career ended before it even began?

I was shaking literally trembling as regret hit me like a wave. I shouldn’t have come here. I shouldn’t have let money drag me into this pit.

“If you keep standing there, I’m afraid we are going to lose him,” one of the men said urgently, snapping on gloves. “The bullet has been lodged in his abdomen for five hours. He has lost a lot of blood, so we need to act fast. I will assist you ; I was once a military nurse trainee.”

His tone was calm yet commanding. Without thinking, I joined him. I was already knee-deep in this mess, and keeping the man alive seemed like my only way out.

I scrubbed in quickly, and we began. They had prepared everything: blood for transfusion, anesthesia, instruments, even antibiotics.

The surgery dragged on for four exhausting hours. The patient coded four times. I thought we lost him on the fourth, but somehow, he pulled through. By the time we were done, it was already dark. I was barely standing, my knees weak. As I stepped out, I slumped to the floor in exhaustion.

“Good work, doctor,” Mr. Noel said coolly from where he stood outside, arms folded. “Now let’s hope he wakes up.”

He had been waiting all along. I wondered briefly if the man inside was a relative — another member of his powerful family I didn’t know about.

“As a doctor, I have done my very best,” I replied wearily. “Now we can only rely on God’s mercy and the patient’s willingness to wake up. Please, can I have my phone and my bag now? I would like to go home.”

My voice cracked with fatigue. My siblings must have been worried sick by now and so would Clifford. Tomorrow is his birthday. I had promised to spend the night with him, to watch the stars until midnight and celebrate the start of a new year together. He must be frantic by now. If I stayed here any longer without at least informing them of my whereabouts, it wouldn’t surprise me if a search had already been launched for me.

I looked at Mr. Noel hopefully, praying for a chance to reunite with my family soon. But what he said next froze me to the bone.

“Not so fast, doctor,” he said casually, as if we were discussing the weather. “We need to make sure he wakes up. Only then can I let you go.”

Fear and anger surged through me, but I bit them back. Negotiating calmly was my best option.

“Sir, I understand you are worried,” I began softly, “but believe me, your friend will wake up once the effects of the drugs wear off. I have given him the best care possible. Whether I’m here or not, it won’t change anything. Please, just be patient and... ”

“I wasn’t suggesting, doctor,” he interrupted coldly, his voice cutting through mine like a blade. “I was ordering you. You will stay here until he wakes up.”

“That was not our bargain!” I burst out, my voice trembling. “You promised to let me go once I treated the patient, so please... let me leave now!”

He smiled, almost mockingly. “Little girl,” he said slowly, “I never made any such deal with you. I only asked you to save the man. Whatever I decide to do with you afterward depends entirely on me.”

“My life doesn’t depend on you or anyone!” I shouted, tears burning my eyes. “You may be rich, but you are not above the law. If anything happens to me, my boyfriend won’t spare you. He is a prosecutor, he will find you, drag you and your whole family through the mud!”

I ran after him as he turned to leave, still shouting, “Please, just let me go! I won’t mention this to anyone, I swear...”

“Lock her up until I say otherwise,” he ordered coldly.

His men seized me. I kicked, screamed, and fought with every ounce of strength in me, but they overpowered me easily. They were all men, I didn’t stand a chance.

They dragged me to a different building and threw me into a cell. The heavy door clanged shut behind me. I cried and screamed until my voice cracked, until exhaustion drowned me. My eyelids grew heavy, and my world faded into darkness. It had truly been a hell of a day.

------------------------

The floor was cold beneath me when I woke, my skin sore from lying there for God knows how long. My head pounded. I must have fallen asleep in the cell still in my sweat-soaked scrubs, unwashed, unfed, and dehydrated. No wonder I felt like my skull was splitting.

I opened my eyes slowly. Morning light leaked through the cracks. Judging from the brightness, I had been asleep for at least twelve hours. Panic gripped me. My siblings must be terrified by now, with no word from me. Tears filled my eyes as the thought hit me: what if I die here, and no one ever finds me? The idea of leaving Loveth and Stanley alone with no one to care for them crushed me. I couldn’t let that happen.

I rushed to the door and began pushing with all my strength. The metal groaned. One side loosened slightly, a crack. Hope surged through me. I pushed harder, adrenaline flooding my veins, until the door budged enough to leave a slit.

I had always hated being petite, but today it worked in my favor. I squeezed through the narrow gap and slipped into the open.

The place was eerily silent, no guards in sight. Suspicious, but lucky for me. I started toward the exit, but a sound stopped me cold.

A man’s cry. Deep. Painful. Agonized.

It was rare to hear a grown man cry like that. I froze, torn between running and checking it out. My conscience battled my fear but curiosity won. I crept toward the source, each step careful, heart pounding.

The cries led me to the theater. I peeked inside and my knees went weak.

The man I had operated on yesterday was curled up on the floor, drenched in blood. Mr. Noel stood over him, a bloody hockey stick in hand.

They all stood there, his men watching silently, like spectators to a show.

Before my brain could process it, Mr. Noel struck again. The stick came down hard, smashing into the man’s already broken body. He hit him again… and again. The final blow landed on the man’s head, splitting it open. Blood splattered across Noel’s face, the floor, the walls.

A strangled cry escaped my throat before I could stop it. They all turned, eyes locking onto me.

I bolted, dragging my weak legs behind me but I didn’t make it to the gate before they caught me. They dragged me back, throwing me at Noel’s feet.

“What have you done?” I screamed, tears streaming down my face. “You are a devil! Why save him if you were just going to kill him? What kind of person beats a helpless man to death? You’re a monster!”

He sighed, clearly irritated, as if my cries were an inconvenience.

“It’s unfortunate,” he muttered, wiping blood from his face. “I have already had my fill, torturing you would’ve been fun.” He turned slightly. “Shedrack, take care of her. I don’t like noise-makers.”

My heart stopped. “No, please! You can’t do this! My siblings, they’re alone! My parents are dead, and there’s no one else to take care of them. Please! Let me go!” I screamed, kicking and thrashing.

But it was useless. They overpowered me again, dragging me back to the same cell I had just escaped.

They threw me in roughly and locked the door behind them.

I collapsed to my knees, tears spilling down my cheeks as I whispered my last prayers. The thought of my siblings alone and helpless tore at my heart.

I guess… I was going to die here. With no trace at all.