Chapter 4 UNPREDICTED

As the blindfold was gently lifted from my eyes, a blinding light flooded the room, causing me to squint, I blinked rapidly, it took a few seconds to adjust to the light, and I recognized we were at his house.

He led me to the chair and made sure I was comfortable before sitting beside me and taking my swollen leg on his lap to gently massage my ankle.

Something I never expected to happen. Here I was, held captive by this person, and yet, he was showing me kindness. It was confusing, to say the least. Part of me wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was a shred of humanity left in him. But another part of me couldn't help but question his motive.

I didn't understand why he was being nice, He was meant to be harsh and mean but he wasn't, he treated me better than I expected, it didn't feel like a kidnapper and captive situation, if anyone should walked in, they'll get the wrong idea of what is going on. I tried to convince myself this was just him being human, just him genuinely showing me kindness.

A smile crept on my face as I looked at how seriously he massaged my ankle, he was gentle enough that I could barely feel the pain I would've imagined I'd feel. Even with the smile on my face, I had the strongest push to ask why, it felt like I couldn't bring myself to accept the kind gesture, and out of curiosity, I blurted out "Why are you being nice to me" Just to clarify my doubts

"I need you better" his reply didn't clear my doubts at all instead I had more questions, why did he need me to be better, he shouldn't be concerned about my well-being at all even if it felt comforting that he cared

He finished with my ankle and proceeded to clean my wound, it hurt badly that I had to squeeze the life out of the pillow beside me till he was done, I let out a sigh of relief seeing my wound all patched up "Thank you" I muttered but instead of you're welcome "I didn't do this for you" was his response

I immediately felt irritated by his rude reply" Then why are you doing it" I didn't know when the question left my mouth but I'm glad it did

"because I have a job for you"

A job? What kind of job is he talking about?

He removed my leg from his and stood up to leave but I needed answers, he wasn't speaking in a way I'd understand, everything wasn't adding up. I held his arm as he tried to walk past me"What exactly do you mean" he pushed my hand away and turned to face me"You won't touch me like that again?" he didn't sound as calm as usual "I'm sorry" I whispered not caring if he heard me or not

"I need you to get me what I want"

"and if I don't want to?" I asked with so much confidence even if I already felt fear from the inside with the way he looked at me

"do want to remain alive?" he had a dead serious look on his face

Of course, I wanted to remain alive, why would I run from him if I didn't want to live?

"I would've killed you that night but you looked useful to me and if you want to prove me right, you'll get what I want and if you do it right" he paused "I'll let you go"

I couldn't believe he said he'll let me go like that "And why would you want a girl you know nothing about, to help you get what you want? Aren't you scared she'll betray you"

"cause her life depends on it and you seriously think I'll make this offer if I knew nothing about you?" he leaned closer to me"Vanessa Adam,21, graduated with a 2:2 in estate management from Lagos State University, comes from a middle-class family, has no social life, low social media interaction, works two jobs, a salesperson at a mall during the day and a bartender at a clubhouse at night, has a little sister around the age of seven, mother is a nurse at a general hospital and dad a retired lecturer and evangelist, am I right?" It sent a chill down my spine, and suddenly, the stakes felt even higher. I got lost in different emotions as I wondered how much he knew and what he could do with that information

He could see the shock written all over my face "Don't be surprised sweetheart" he said and turned to leave again, I couldn't watch my opportunity to leave this place without going through what I had just gone through leave like that, not now that he knows a lot about me already "how am I suppose to get what you want?", the faster I get what he wants the better for me but he didn't respond, he just left like that. Such a rude asshole.

I finally got to the last step of the stairs, I didn't feel happy that I was about to enter the same room that I thought I left for good, the cozy room, the room I never imagined coming back to. I opened the door to meet It in the same way I left it, the scattered sheet, the bag of clothes he gave me lying by the side of the bed, the clothes I low-key regretted leaving behind, and the air filled with the fresh scent of the tangerine-flavored air freshener. I looked around, I never thought I'd be standing here again but here I am.

After a few minutes of looking at every detail in the room as if I'd never seen it, I went to the bathroom for a bath, hating him wasn't an excuse to smell.

Realizing I had nothing to wear except the dirty clothes I just took off pissed me, I had no other choice than wear one of the previous ones he gave me even if I didn't want to.

I got into bed, even if it was still early, the sun was shining hard outside. The sun was always hot especially this time of the year but thank God for the air conditioners, I didn't feel hot at all, that one I was grateful for.

I curled myself in the duvet just to feel warm for a while, I kept turning continuously, and I felt restless, I knew thinking of another escape route could go bad not just for me but for everyone I knew but I still couldn't agree within me to become this man's worker, not like I knew what he wanted me to do, the thought of him wanting me to kill a person or persons on his behalf gave me chills, I can't stop thinking about him wanting me to join his murder business, that's not a job for me, I couldn't see my self killing an animal let alone, a human.

As I lay wondering what he wanted me to do and a safe means to escape again, I heard him open the door without knocking, I wanted to scold him for that but remembering it wasn't my right to scold, I swallowed my words

"I came to give you lunch" he walked in properly with a tray of covered food and stood beside the bed.

"I'm not hungry" I lied, I could feel my tummy rumbling and squeezing inside already, I didn't feel like eating with him or eating what he prepared.

Without saying a word he turned with the tray in his hand still and left the room, the hungry part of me wanted to chase him and forcefully take the tray from him but the prideful and angry side of me, made me sit on the bed watching him leave.