Chapter 5 Redemption

Pa Onajite returned from Benin City more confused than ever. The whole situation perplexed him. His sister's story didn't make any sense to him but he had to return home. She had told him that Onome had run away with some man, Osadolor and that no one knew where they were. She had promised that she would keep making efforts to find her as the police were already on it. When he queried her on why she hadn't brought the girl to Oleh all these years she claimed Onome never wanted to make any such visit. He wondered if the poor girl had been influenced by peers.

Now that he knew Dora's abode, he planned to pay her a second visit soon. However, later developments meant he still had to go to Benin, but this time to bring home her corpse. Word came from Benin that she had been shot dead. Details of her nefarious business and lifestyle started to come out. He had long suspected her of being involved in illegality but never knew the extent. The stories were an abomination to his ears and finally he learnt the truth about Onome. He could not forgive himself. He had failed his sister and now his niece. What kind of man was he? First he never went for his sister when she came back from Italy. Secondly he had let Onome off his sight. He had betrayed his only brother's dying wish. The journey to Benin to bring back his sister's corpse was a painful one. He went to the Dolce Vita and asked questions about Onome. The girls told him that she had been taken to Italy but that she was now missing. He learnt that her disappearance was the cause of all the strife that had befallen his sister which ultimately led to her death. He wondered why Dora, after all she suffered on the streets will make her own niece suffer similar fate. She must have had some animosity towards her big brothers whom she felt abandoned her. He feared for Onome. Was she alive or had the monsters who she worked for killed her too? He had to think and act swiftly if there was any chance of saving his niece. He had to find a way of reaching the one man whose name he heard repeatedly, Osadolor.

From the moment Onome called Osadolor, he knew he would definitely see her alive again. The girl was special and seemed to have a guardian angel protecting her. She had been through a lot yet she kept coming out unscathed. He had immediately contacted the Nigerian embassy in Italy who advised Onome to come to the embassy immediately. Onome had done that and was now under diplomatic protection. After a few days she was deported back to Nigeria and Osadolor was on hand to receive her. He couldn't believe his eyes. Onome in flesh and blood stood right before him shedding tears of relief. He took her home and let her rest. He tried comforting her but she preferred to be left alone, spending hours in her room crying. Seeing her that way broke his heart. He felt very angry with her family for letting her suffer this way. This was why, when Father Femi informed him that her uncle had been asking after him he told him not to disclose anything to him. He couldn't trust him. For all he knew, the so called uncle could be in cohort with her Aunt Dora. His only desire now was to keep Onome safe. He wasn't letting her out of his sight again. Never.

After a few weeks, Onome started adjusting to life in Abuja. Most times she was alone at home as Osadolor usually left for work early returning late in the evening. She was grateful for the care he gave her. But her body and mind was not yet ready for him and even though he acted like he understood, she could feel his frustration building. She however knew that with time, the tension between them will ease. She thought of Father Angelo every day. In her mind he was a saint whom she would forever adore. She thought of Aunt Dora too. Despite all that had happened, she couldn't hate her. She knew that her disappearance will spell doom for her aunt. She was tempted to reach out to one of the girls but restrained herself. She could not risk it. Now that Osadolor said she would now live in Abuja, she wondered if she could further her education. Her friend Itohan would have graduated by now she thought. She imagined herself in the university going for lectures. She remembered her early days in Warri and tears came to her eyes again. But she had to be strong. Taking out her phone, she tried calling Itohan's number and surprisingly it rang. Itohan was shocked when she heard her friend's voice. "Is that really you Onome? Can't believe this." The two friends talked for a long time. Itohan told her about life in the University and that she had just graduated. She asked Onome where she had been. Onome told her story and her sojourn in Italy. Itohan couldn't believe what her friend had been through. She comforted her friend and assured her that she will guide her in her quest to continue her education. Luckily for Onome, she had passed her exams then. All she needed now was to pass her university entry exams. She had to make up her mind what course to study. She had previously wanted to study Theatre Arts but after her ordeal, she would now go for Law she thought.