THE TATTOO

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CHAPTER 13

THE ATTACK


Uju heard the shuffling of footsteps behind her. At first, she ignored it, assuming it was another student heading back from night class. But when the steps quickened, something in her stomach tightened.

She turned slightly.

Five figures, Walking too fast.

Heart pounding, she gripped her books tighter and increased her pace.

A voice called out behind her. “Fine girl, where you dey go?”


She ignored it.


Another voice, closer this time. “We dey follow you talk na.”


Panic surged through her veins. She started walking faster, almost running.


Suddenly, a rough hand grabbed her arm.

"Leave me alone!" She screamed helplessly


Uju’s heartbeat pounded in her ears, drowning out every other sound. The rough hand on her arm tightened, yanking her off the path. Her books tumbled to the ground, pages fluttering as they landed in the dirt.


She opened her mouth to scream—


A second hand clamped over her lips.


The night swallowed her voice.


Terror surged through her body as she kicked wildly, twisting in their grip, but they were too many, too strong. Their laughter rang in her ears, slurred and cruel.


“Quiet,” one of them hissed, his breath reeking of alcohol.


Another voice—deep and mocking—murmured, “Welcome to the real world, baby.”


They dragged her into the shadows of an uncompleted building. Cold cement scraped against her skin as they forced her to the ground.


Uju thrashed, desperate, but hands pinned her down. A heavy weight pressed against her chest, stealing the breath from her lungs.


Tears streamed down her face. "Please... please don't..."


Her words meant nothing.


The younger boy- the new initiate was on top of her, yanking her clothes off and forcing himself inside her.

In one last attempt, Uju tore off his shirt, dipping her nails into his chest.

There was a tattoo on his chest, it looked like it was done to cover up a scar, it was unique... and ugly, quite frightening. 

Out of pain from Uju's nails on his chest, her hit her hard on the head with a rock nearby.

Uju screamed and laid still

The night swallowed her whole.

         

                       CHAPTER FOURTEEN



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THE TATTOO

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Chapter one Nightmare  Kasie ran to her mother’s room as soon as she heard her scream. She knew it was the nightmare, again. She met her sitting upright on her bed clutching the pillow a little bit too tight to her chest, with sweat dripping down and soaking her silk floral nightie. The AC was on, Kasie noticed and the room was a little bit chilly. She sat down close to her mother hugged her tight and continued whispering, “It’s alright mum, I’m here now”. Uju woke up with a jolt, her daughter, Kasie cuddled up at the other side of the bed sleeping. She looked at the table clock close to her side of the bed “11:32am, God!” she exclaimed under her breath cautious enough not to wake her daughter. The events of the night kept replaying in her head. The nightmare, the same nightmare that had tortured her for the past 16 years. This time, she had clearer images of the only memory she had of the man that raped her 16 years ago. She remembered he had what seemed to be a scar and a badly d...
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Chapter Three Wahala Uju felt like a million years had been added to her life the moment the ‘manly figure’ got closer to her car with security  boldly written on his T-shirt. Kasie heaved a heavy sigh of relief and sank into the car seat. “Hello Ma’am, sorry there has been a general power outage in the estate. We are trying to fix this. I am just here to see how the electrician is going about it,” the security man said. Uju still catching her breath from her initial panic replied, “that’s...that's all right, take your time.”  THE NEXT DAY It was a cool Sunday afternoon with Jon Bellion's simple and sweet playing in Uju's room. She was doing a final check on the presentation she had prepared for her company. Her company or rather her passive aggressive boss desperately needed to be awarded a contract from a multi-national and internationally recognized Motor oil producing firm in the country.   “This would be the biggest gig of the company so far, if we can grab...
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CHAPTER TWO The strange man "Kasie," Uju called as she glanced at the wall clock, "let's go, we are running late already". She perused the list she was holding making sure everything they needed to get from the shopping mall was written. Kasie walked frantically to the living room. She looked tensed. “What’s the matter?”, Uju asked standing up immediately.  Kasie stammered, "I...I saw him." “The strange guy?”  “Yes, through the bathroom window. He was hovering in the backyard but I do not think he is still there. I made a sound and he ran off to the other side of the compound," Kasie replied while trying to catch her breath.  They had been seeing this strange man longer than they could remember. Uju had reported the case to the estate security a couple of times but nothing seemed to be done about it. She hugged Kasie, promising to report to the police this time. She just needed a picture of him on their property as evidence. Uju sighed. “Do you st...
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