Chapter 3 Depravity

Onome instantly fell in love with Benin City. Staring through the window as their chartered vehicle made its way into the heart of Benin, she could feel the bustling spirit of the ancient city. She could sense the great cultural history of the beautiful city as they drove around. Aunt Dora had so far paid her little attention. She seemed preoccupied as she was constantly answering phone calls. Aunt Dora had a modelling agency Pa Onajite had said.

When she was much younger she had gone to Europe to enhance her modelling career and when she came back to Nigeria she had settled in Benin visiting Oleh only during festive seasons. Aunt Dora's house was located along the Airport road axis. It was a decent house and the neighbourhood was serene and lush similar to where Onome had lived in Warri. Her face brightened as she felt relieved. "Get your bags quickly Onome let me show you to your room. I have a lot to attend to in town" said Aunt Dora still engrossed with her phone. Her room was small but well laid out. She liked it. Onome was quite surprised to see two luxury cars in her aunt's compound. She had never driven any to Oleh or Warri before. She also noticed that there were different girls in the house. Four of them. They didn't pay her much attention and all four wore skimpy clothes. She slowly unpacked and imagined what her new school would look like. The university examinations were fast approaching and she couldn't wait to resume studies.

Aunt Dora came back home around 7.30 pm. Onome quickly rushed to welcome her. "I can see you have settled fast. Am glad you like here". She said smiling at her niece. Onome noticed that she looked at her in a funny way. It felt like she was assessing her body. "Go freshen up and wear something nice. We going out" Aunt Dora said. Onome smiled. She was beginning to like her aunt after all. Sitting at the rear of her aunt's Lexus, she wondered who the other girls were. They were all in the car and one, Jennifer seemed like an assistant to her aunt. She sat beside her in front and they kept talking in pidgin language. They drove to the city centre, around ring road. This area was totally different from her aunt's environs. She could see lots of pubs and outlets with funny coloured lights. Parking in front of a pub they all got down. Walking into the pub she could hear everyone calling her aunt "madam". She wondered why. At the entrance of the bar was this bold signage which read "Dolce Vita". Aunt Dora asked her to follow her as they went to the rear of the pub. There she saw what shattered her innocence. She saw girls and more girls. Some smoking, some dancing. Some were so scantily clad that she could see their privates. Some she could see frolicking with men old enough to be their fathers. She almost shut her eyes. She had only seen scenes like this in movies. She still followed her aunt as she observed proceedings. Finally she sat and beckoned on Onome to do same. Looking Onome in the eye she said "don't look too surprised. Welcome to the world you have been so shielded from but fate has forced it upon you. Welcome to my world. I have been in this life since I was a teenager like you. This is what your uncle said was a modelling agency. At fifteen I came to live with an aunt here in Benin. I was introduced into this and later found myself in Europe. Luckily I survived and today am a madam running my own ring. You are a beautiful girl. You remind me of myself years back. You will go to school and you will write your examinations. But after school, every night you will be here with me. The rest will come to you naturally." With that she walked away leaving Onome with a myriad of unanswered questions.

Her new school was a public school in Ikpoba hill area of Benin City. The teachers were good and dedicated but facilities were poor. The buildings were dilapidated. It was an only girl's school and she soon made friends. At first she felt like a misfit as she couldn't speak Pidgin English like them and could not really relate to their stories. But as time went by, she began to flow with her classmates. Her best friend, Itohan was the finest thing that happened to her in Benin. She taught her all she needed to know about Benin. Going to school every morning on her own gave a liberty she never had in her life before and she loved it. But every night she had to be at the Dolce Vita. Aunt Dora made sure she too started wearing skimpy fine dresses. Every night she was there taking it all in. Girls dancing, men lurking around and paying them for sex in the chalets behind. Some took the girls home after approval from Jennifer who acted as Aunt Dora's manager. Like Aunt Dora, Jennifer had been to Italy where she spent a couple of years. Though in her twenties, you could tell from her eyes that she been through hell and back. Yet she had this elegance about her. Every evening, she took her time to have a thorough bath. After which she creamed her body gracefully. Her hair was immaculately made. She was always dressed in short, beautiful gowns with seductive perfumes to match. Her sexual appeal and aura was second to none. A beauty to behold, Onome found herself admiring her every passing day. The more she came to Dolce Vita, the more she accepted the life. Aunt Dora didn't pressure her, but made sure she saw everything. Friday nights were usually exceptional. Strippers danced, men flirted and a lot of sex happened. So far Onome had been just a spectator, helping out occasionally to serve drinks. But then men started noticing her. Some started making passes and giving her money. She could see that the girls made money daily and she began to wonder what it would be like for her to start making her own money. The more absorbed she became with Dolce Vita, the less interested she was in school. Her friend Itohan noticed and wondered what was distracting her. Their examinations were close and Onome was not ready. Itohan tried to encourage her but hanging out every night at Dolce Vita ensured she couldn't read or be prepared. But Itohan did not relent. She had a stable home and invited Onome over sometimes. The exams finally came. Aunt Dora gave her permission to stay with Itohan and this helped her a great deal. When the results came out, Onome passed. And so did Itohan. But even that didn't matter much to her. Dolce Vita was now her world.

To Onome Umukoro, her days in Warri as a child now seemed a distant past. She only remembered those times in her dreams where she would always see her mum playing with her. She had not seen Pa Onajite in years. She wondered how he fared knowing how much he loved her. She knew he would be heartbroken. But her life now centred on Dolce Vita and the amorous appeal it had. She had since lost her innocence and modelled her life after Jennifer. Aunt Dora was no longer an aunt to her but now her madam. She had taken to the life and accepted her fate. Despite her good results she didn't proceed to the university. She didn't bother though and Aunt Dora never cared. She only felt bad each time Itohan spoke with her on the phone. Itohan was now a student of Microbiology in the University of Benin. Itohan had finally come to know the cause of Onome's distraction. One day after they had finished from secondary school, she trailed Onome home. At night she followed her to Dolce Vita. There she saw first-hand the life her bosom friend was into. The obscenity revolted her and she left quickly without Onome observing. From that day, Itohan never asked Onome why she had refused to further her education. She only felt pity for her and prayed every day that the good lord will save her.

Onome was now deep into the sex for money lifestyle. Some of the men she could tolerate, some she felt like strangling when they met her. But in all, she was earning money. There was this young man, in his early thirties who seemed to have taken a liking to her. Osadolor was a handsome, tall banker who seemed to be content with bachelorhood. Most times he sat alone at Dolce Vita, drinking and smoking, watching the girls dance. He seemed lost in his own world only seeking worldly desires as a distraction. The first time he saw Onome, he immediately observed a stint of shyness in her. She seemed to avoid eye contact and looked like an outsider in her environment. And of course she was beautiful. The first day he met her, he revelled in the softness of her body and the way her body reacted to his touches. From that day he only longed for her. He got her gifts and gave her money generously. Onome had noticed that Osadolor had eyes for her only and saw the jealousy in his eyes when she attended to other men. She liked him too but not in that way. She couldn't let her emotions get in the way of business. She could not afford to offend her madam, Aunt Dora with low returns. Sometimes she deliberately snubbed him, to get her off his mind. But all these were not working and he was now calling her regularly on phone. Osadolor was actually asking her out! A call girl! How was that even possible she told herself? He promised to take her out of Dolce Vita and give her a new life. Sponsor her tertiary education and all. But she couldn't fall for his antics. She knew he was just obsessed with her and would definitely change when it wears out. Osadolor persuaded her to visit him at his abode in the Government Reserved Area. She went on a Saturday morning. His apartment was well furnished and he impressed her by cooking a nice meal of jollof rice. "Onome tell me, how did an angel like you end up in Dolce Vita? I can't wrap my head around it" he asked sitting beside her on the couch. Onome quietly told him her story. Osadolor felt sorry for her and even resolved more to help her. But he wondered if she would have the courage to go against her aunt. That day she stayed over for the night. Osadolor took her into his room. Slowly removing her dress, he fondled her breasts firmly, pushing her onto his bed in a manner which made her crave him the more. Slowly taking of her undies, he stroked her body gently which made her shudder in delight. He could feel her wet juice on his fingers, her mouth seeking his in utmost desire. Though he had previously had sex with her, tonight felt special. Now naked, she reached out for his body feeling his hard manhood. Drawing him closer to herself, she felt him enter her. Her body quaked as his big self filled her with pure bliss. Holding her down, he started thrusting, hitting her deeper than ever. Tears welled in her eyes as she realised that he had fully possessed her body and soul. She was in love with him. Osadolor watched her as she slept naked on his bed. He still longed for her. He could see the innocence still in her as she slept like the teenager she was. With her he felt something he never had before with other girls. It was like she was made particularly for him. He had to keep her. He couldn't let her continue in the sex for money lifestyle. She was all he wanted.

Aunt Dora knew about Osadolor and his advances towards Onome. She had seen him patiently wait severally for her to finish short-time services to men and then take her home for the night. She could also tell that Onome was getting distracted by his constant show of affection. Sitting down in her exclusive corner at Dolce Vita, she poured herself a cold glass of beer and reflected. Onome was just like her in the early 2000s. Same height and complexion with the brains to match. She was also reserved saying less than required. She reminisced on her first night in Ugbague Street. She could perceive the raw stench of sex everywhere. Her aunt, Nosakhare had heartlessly pimped her to men, keeping all the money made to herself. She met all sorts of men, some kind others ruthless. Some of the girls on the street always talked about travelling to Europe especially Italy. She liked the sound of leaving Benin for greener pastures abroad. She started saving money and got connected to Osas, an agent for the traffickers in Europe. Dora felt nothing could be worse than the streets of Benin had offered her. Diligently she finally raised the money required by Osas. In all these her aunt Nosakhare was in the dark. Osas first took her and the other girls to a shrine where they took oaths of loyalty. They swore to pay the required amount to their bosses when they get to Europe. Italy turned out to be meaner than the streets of Benin City. The sex trade was totally controlled by daredevil crime bosses who dealt with the girls like animals. But she kept her nerves and worked her body to a point where it only bled money. She succeeded in paying off her bosses and thus became free. She then started recruiting her own girls from the home country. Coming back to Nigeria, she settled in Benin City and set up her own network with Dolce Vita as her front. Looking at Onome as she left a chalet, guilt ran through her mind as she remembered how innocent her niece was just a few years ago. More so, she felt bad that she had to abandon her education for the street life. She had really done terrible things to Onome even lying to Pa Ejiri about her father's properties in Warri which she sold and kept the proceeds for herself. After Onome passed her exams, she had told her that she would have to help out for a few years at Dolce Vita before going to the university. Onome had only nodded and quietly went to her room. But then Aunt Dora felt she had no choice. This was the only way she knew in life. Her thoughts drifted to other pressing matters. For some time now, she had not been meeting up with her quota for girls and her contacts in Italy were not happy at all. She knew better not to disappoint them as they could be ruthless. She was short by five girls and couldn't see a way of getting that number soon. But then she had an idea. If she could give them a bella bambina, a speciale, it would make up for the shortfall. She too had been a speciale, earning premium money for the bosses. At that moment Onome walked up to her and sat beside her, quiet as ever. Maybe Onome would have to be that bella who will save her aunt from the wrath of the bosses.

When Aunt Dora told Onome she would be going to Italy, she felt indifferent. She already knew about the business in Italy and some of the girls there were constantly chatting her and sending her pictures. She liked what she saw although she heard that their men were taken to wild fantasies especially with African girls. She heard stories of them treating African girls like some exotic species. But she was not deterred. At this point, there was nothing she felt she could not handle. She also knew about the fetish oaths and rites she would have to undertake. Onome already was beyond broken. Nothing could surprise her again. She had only one worry, Osadolor. He had refused to go away and was also willing to send her abroad. But she feared for his safety knowing that Aunt Dora and her associates could be ruthless. She tried to make him understand but he was stubborn. And that stubbornness was why she liked him so much. She however kept the Italy affair away from him. She prepared for her trip carefully. Aunt Dora gave her extra money to get new clothes, perfumes and other personal effects. The day arrived for their oath taking and fortification. They went some distance from Benin City to an eerie shrine. It was a horrible experience for Onome and the other girls. They were made to take some concoctions and swear an oath of loyalty to their sponsors. Onome wondered if she would ever be free of the bondage.