Don't be afraid to bleed on paper, for it is through vulnerability that we create our best work. So go ahead, let your pen flow and see where it takes you.
Welcome to a world of imagination, where every tale is a journey into the unknown. With each turn of the page, you'll be transported to a new realm of mystery, beauty, and wonder. Let your mind wander and your heart be captivated by the power of storytelling.
The Lost Shimmer
Chapter 1
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A beautiful young lady in her early 20s comes out from one of the small and old houses in the neighborhood. Slaying in her gorgeous attire which portrait her in resemblance to the neighborhood. I looked at her clothes, she wears super Holland Ankara which is sew in a pitted gown that exposes half of her breast. The gown is very tight. I can even see her body structure. Of course she's damp a gorgeous girl. She doesn't care to put her veil as she just holds it in her left hand.
She holds her latest iPhone with her right hand which I saw an expensive I watch on her wrist. From her look, it seems she comes from a rich family, but the house she comes out from doesn't looks like a rich man house, instead a poor man that was struggling for what to eat every single day. Not only the house the whole area looks very local and messy, as many dirty things scattered on the ground including a dry pulpy material that remains after crushing sugar cane, the small kids playing in the area are all covered with dirty clothes all looks helpless as a result of malnutrition.
It seems like she's somehow terrified as she keeps turning back. As i notice she's checking to make sure no one is following her.
She enters one black Mercedes Benz that was park not too far from her area. The car engine started the moment she enters and they start to exchange greetings with a fat black ugly guy sitting at the owner’s corner, while a driver was driving them smoothly.
The fear on her face just fades and cover with smile the moment she starts talking with the man.
He looks at her and smile which shows all his 36 set of teeth which was full of gaps in between.
What's up babe? He asks while adjusting his "Babban Riga”. She just rolled her eyes and smile then fixes her eyes to the road as if she's not going to say anything. Then, she said almost in a murmuring tone. Where are we heading to? she asks facing him.
To the supermarket. I thought you said you want to go out for shopping. But we will stop at my house to drop something, if you agree it won't take time, but your choice is always my command he said now facing her. It's okay, she said pressing her phone.
She stops pressing the phone staring at the window, " don't ever made a mistake of following a man to his house, wherever you go make show it's a public place as people are not that trustworthy nowadays" it was her mother’s word that echo in her mind. She sight and looks at the man beside her, why not the driver go alone to drop whatever it is and join us at the supermarket. "No" he said, "I also want to check on something besides I want to show you the house we will live in when we later get married.
She smiled hearing about marriage, and just nods her head which means she agree with him. The man smirk wickedly turning his head to the window.
Only God knows what is in this guy's mind.
After few minutes of drive they arrive at a one big luxurious apartment, the girl was trying to maintain herself because she was awestruck for the house sight, but yet, she's a bit loss looking at the building that she thought only exist in drama, but now she's seeing it in before her eyes.
"God be the glory" that's what she keep saying in her mind while looking at the building through the window.
It was the opening of the door beside her that brings her back to sense. She looks at him surprisingly and raises her eyebrows, what! we've arrived, let's get in he said.
She comes out from the car as they walk shoulder to shoulder and get inside the main flat. huhh! Oh my god this is beautiful, she said looking around the sitting room,you mean this is were i'm going to live when we get married she said turning to him. Ofcourse. Do you want to look around? She nods as she follows him to the room without giving it a thought, it's when she is about to enter the room when something pops in her brain and she stop.
"I'm okay" she said stepping back. "Why? Then have a look at this room and we will just leave since you don't want to".
Now the girl is lost in her thoughts, at first she was overwhelmed with happiness seeing the house, but now she is scared, why did she even followed him to his house, what if he plays a mischievous act to her, that's what keep roaming around at her head.
She starts nodding her head quickly, I said am not going in, am okay with it, we should just leave. The man just drag her in and throw her on the bed which was cover with red bedsheet, now she's really horrified, she looks up at him and to her surprise he’s frowning at her, the man himself looks scary.
She start turning her head side by side to see what exactly is going on. The room doesn't look like an ordinary bedroom, everything in the room was red which makes it looks scarier.
"Who are you?" she asks looking straight in his eyes.
He smirks, "knowing me is not important now girl, as you can see I'm using you for something. Ah I forgot to tell you, I'm a ritualist. I'm going to rape you and cut your body into pieces, you know every single part of the body is very important to us".
She's now sheading tears, right now she doesn't even know what to think of. She just hope this is a dream and she's willing to wakeup right now.
"Hey!" He said almost shouting which frighten her and makes her move to the wall.
"I don't have much time in hand so you should just stay still or else he smirks".
He opens a box and bring out some red cloth and change into it, she closed her eyes uttering any kind of prayer that comes to her mind, even though she isn't that literate. In that late moment, she starts regretting some of the things she does in the past including not minding her Islamic school which their Affah enrolled them to. Now she's in trouble yarning for any prayer to pop her mind to recite.
The man gets done in changing his clothes, he calls out a name shouting, "Odudu!" He keeps calling the name until one short ugly creature appear in the room. They start talking in a language she does not understand, and after few minutes the creature leaves. Now it's her and the man alone in the room.
The man approaches her without a sign of mercy, she's now begging him not to harm her and crying out pitifully.
In all her life she has never experienced something like this. In all she's done, she has never give men chance to take undue advantage of her, she used to be very wise in all she does.
A heavy thing she felt on her brings her back to reality, she tries with all her strength to push the man away, but it just seems like she's doing nothing. The man was bigger than her thrice that she can't escape from his hold.
He is trying to wear off her with clothes, “from God we're and to him we shall return" that's what she keeps reciting.
The man shouted, "can you keep your mouth shut!
When you were receiving the money I was sending to you do you remember the existence of god, or it’s now you remember your religion".
She is entirely ssrunning out of words, so she continues the recitation in her mind. The man tore her attire and desperately fighting to take her pride.
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She's crying begging but all at vain. At that instant she shouted oh my god! she started seeing dark, from that moment she doesn’t know what's going on again.
Written by Sophie Amen
Chapter 2
A gentleman whom by mere looking will may be in his late 20s is sitting at the compound enjoying the fresh air, and time to time checking his phone. He doesn't seems to be part of the workers as he is the only one not wearing the uniform. I've seen the remaining workers had on them Instead he is dressed in a long shirt and pants of kaftan. Alh Garba came in with one beautiful young lady, as from the look the two have a close relationship.
He is looking at the girl pitifully, wondering what makes a young girl like this follows this man, he is his one and only cousin brother that is like a father to him, because he's the one taking care of him since he lost his parents. But for all his stays with Alh Garba, he knows the man was very wicked when it comes to young lady's, he always brings girl's to the house raping them and cutting their body into pieces, he doesn't know what he use the body parts for, but he never interfere as he is good at minding his own business.
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But the girl looks familiar he uttered, as he kept looking at them. He continues to use his phone where he popped into a picture that was posted few hours ago. It was the girl certainly she's on social media, no wonder he knew he have seen her face at somewhere before, so it's here. What! He stood up from the chair he is sitting at, it was that tiktoker, he says opening his eyes widely like a king approaching his masses.
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He is a bit shock, he never thought he will meet this girl in such kind of place. He knows there's no enough time in hand, so he quickly follow them to see where they are heading to. They're already out of his sight so he doesn't no where exactly they entered, he just stood at the front of the flat thinking of how to save this young girl.
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He is lost in his thought when his Alh Garba came out from the flat which makes him quickly turn.
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Abdulrahman, Alh Garba calls him. He answered and go to him respectfully. I'm here sir,he said lowering his gaze.
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I'm going out something just came up, i want you to guard this place and don't allow any workers in, because i have some bussiness to deal with inside the red room.
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Ok sir, I will by the God grace.
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Alh Garba entered his car,and his driver drove him out of the house. Abdulrahman took a heavy sight and enter inside the flat quickly almost running. He knows what the red room is ment for, hearing she's there makes him quick at his action.
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As he entered the room, he is shock seeing her in this kind of situation, the girl was already raped by Alh Garba. Tears of pity have already full his eyes, he knows this girl have already lost it, since she's already raped by Alh Garba who he's assure is HIV negative.​
He rapidly goes out of the room and come back after some few minutes, together with one of the men working in the house. The guy help him by taking her out of the house and put her inside a balance leveled vehicle. He thank the guy and the vehicle man drove them to the nearest hospital.
At first the hospital refused to admit her as they see her covered with blood, they ask him to get a police first before they touch the girl. He doesn't have time for that so he call one of his friend who works at the hospital. And with his friend's help the hospital admitted her.
He's holding her phone hoping someone from her relatives will call, but unfortunately the phone went out of battery. He doesn't know where to plug the phone, there's no even a trace of socket at the theater area, so he just put the phone in his pants pocket and keep rambling at the theater area hoping everything will go smoothly, the way he sees the girl's situation, she doesn't seems alive.
After about 5hours one female doctor came out from the theater room, he swiftly approach her asking about the girl's condition.Are you together with the girl? She ask looking worried. Yes he said looking at her.We're done with the theater, and she will now be taken to the rest room. Follow me to my office we need to talk she says walking straight to her office as he followed her in.
She wrote on a paper and then look at him, what is your relationship with the patient? She ask with a serious tone. Seriously we're not related she is just someone i know. What is her name? I don't know her name I'm also waiting for her relatives to call so that i will inform them what is happening, but unfortunately her phone run out of charge, he said as he brought the phone out from his pants pocket.
You can plug the phone here in my office, Dr Jidda said as she gave him her charger. He took the charger and try to plug it in the phone but the charger doesn't match. This charger won't do for this phone it's using type C, he said keeping the charger at her desk. What are we going to do then, I don't know who to ask for charger right now as you can see we're a little bit busy with our patients, Dr Jidda said standing up from her seat. It's okay am greatful with your help,i will just go out and charge it before morning since it's already mid night, Abdurrahmn said making his way out of the office. Okay but let me know when you're contacted with her guardian Dr Jidda said as she also come out of the office.
He goes to the rest room at the female ward and check on the girl, who is still unconscious before he find his way out of the hospital.
He get a leveled balance vehicle to take him to the nearest hotel, because he can't face Alh Garba right now, he knows he's there waiting for him. He plug her phone on charge the moment he get inside the room and goes straight to the bed to have some sleep. It's around 5 in the morning when he woke up from his heavy sleeping, he goes straight to the bathroom and perform ablution, get back to the room and pray "raka'a tanul fajir" before going out of the moque for subh prayer. He comes back to his hotel room at 6:30 so he on the phone before taking his bath. He is about to enter the bathroom when the phone started ringing. Affah, that's what he sees on the screen, so he pick the phone hoping it's one of her relatives.
Peace be upon you, he said calmly. The man from the other side who sound old answers peace upon you too, where is the owner of the phone. Abdulrahman was lost a bit, he closed his eyes and open it, before he replied the man. She is unconscious right now. She is admitted at Aminu kano teaching hospital. Whi...ch ward... is sh..e the old man asked his voice breaking. She's at the theater area female ward Abdurrahman answer. Okay.....we wi..ll be right there... by the grace of God the man answers and ended the call.
At 8 o'clock in the morning Abdurrahmn arrived at Aminu kano teaching hospital. He branched at his friends office before going to the girl since her parents haven't arrive yet.
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Peace be upon you he said as he swang the office door. Peace be upon you too the guy who's sitting at the office desk answer with a smile. Dr nasir you can't be kind,you know i'm at this hospital throughout yesterday but you refuse to come and check my patients. No Abdul it wasn't intentional, i was really busy yesterday you won't understand, the person who was called by Dr nasir said. By the way who was the girl , I know you don't have a sister. Abdurrahman shook his head and said, my friend the thing is very complicated, he narrate what happens at his house yesterday to Dr Nasir. Oh my God, this is so heartbreaking said Dr Nasir, let's go together to the female ward i will like to see this young lady he said getting off from his seat, and together they walked out of the office chit chatting on their way until they arrived at the ward. Abdulrahman enters first, followed by Dr Nasir.
Abdulrahman goes straight to the bed she's lying on, she's still not awake, did you think this is a normal sleep? He said turning to Dr Nasir, but to his surprise he see him standing there like a statue staring at the girl with tear all over his face. Dr Nasir! Dr Nasir called his name shooking him. It's Ramlat Dr nasir said still staring at her, what surprise him the most I the way her look change in just a single day, so she's the girl that was raped by that wicked man he said to himself. What is going on Dr Nasir do you know the girl? Abdurrahmn ask a bit confuse by his friends reaction. Abdull i don't know how to explain this, should i say she's my cousin or my ex girlfriend, but she's both he said facing Abdulrahman with his eyes that already turn in to red.
There are at this situation when the phone in Abdurrahman's hand began to ring, he picks the call and went out of the ward. After few minutes he came back together with an elderly man who's atleast at his late 60s, with him there were two women whom from the looks are his wife's. And a girl that can be of same age with Ramlat.
Dr Nasir turn his head looking at them as they approach the bed. It's Alh Muhammad Mamman, a father of Ramlat, Hajiya Juwairiyya her mother, and her stepmother Hajiya Maryam.
Chapter 3
Alhaji Muhammad Mamman who was happen to be a rich millionaire, a well-educated and thoughtful man. Live with his one and only wife Maryam in Kano state.
As we all know in the olden days Hausa's have that tradition of marrying of their children to their relatives, as they said it helps the family bond to be strong. It also happens to Maryam and Mamman who were also cousins, got into this arrange marriage which was their parents' choice. Them as obedient children didn't hesitate and accept with two hands as they said maybe that was what God has planned for them.
At first, Mamman wasn't happy with the marriage, but later on when he stays at the same roof with Maryam, he realized how lucky he is to have such a beautiful, kind and soft-hearted lady as his wife. And in Maryam side it's also the same as she always thanks God in her five daily prayers for blessing her with such a lovely husband. They fell deeply in love and become a wall for each other to lain on.
The couples were living a contented marriage life. And that makes their other cousins admires them.
They lived for a good five years of marriage but Maryam haven't give birth or miscarriage. Mamman is a children lover that he couldn't endure it and decided to see a doctor with her to find a solution. and at that time they were informed that she will not be able to give birth. Maryam becomes so sorrowful after she heard of the news, seeing that Mamman hide his own sadness and tries to comfort her.
One Saturday afternoon Mamman was sitting in his study room when Maryam enter with salaam, he replied as he looks of at her face.
“My beautiful wife, it seems like you have some words in your mouth better spit it out”, he said jokingly.
Maryam reduce her gaze and take a deep breath ,” my dear husband there's something I want to suggest but I don't know how you will look at it” she said.
“What is that thing wife? feel free and say everything you like” he said with a smile on his face.
“My dear I just said why not you just add a second wife since I can't be able to give birth, I know you really like children, and I don't want to make your life sorrowful, please my husband marry another wife”, she said with a serious tone.
He just stares at her with a surprise, how can a lady seek for a co-wife,
“are you okay? are you sure you're not sick? ” he said taking his hand to her forehead to check for her temperature.
” I'm fine and I mean what I just said my dear, I want you to see your children too like other marriage men”.
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“Maryam” he said holding her two hands, “I love you more than you think, and even if I’m to marry another wife I knows that I can't do justice between you. I'm not that desperate to have kids, so keep your mind at ease, it wasn't your deed that you can't give birth, it was what God destined for us so we should just keep praying. Come on i don't like seeing tears at this pretty face, he said as he took the tears off her cheeks. Let's go and have our lunch i can't resist this wonderful aroma that is coming from the dining, it just keeps knocking at my door”, he said teasingly and that makes her smile to the extend her white set of teeth shows.
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He sits at the dining table and she went to the kitchen and came back with a serving spoon.
“What did you cook for us wifey? It is making me so impatient“ He ask looking into her eyes.
“Your favorite food” she said as she opens the food warmers and start serving him, she serves herself and sit back on her seat.
It was semovita swallow with luru soup which is made with powdered baobab leave.
He takes his first bite and looks at her, “do you know why I'm always falling for you”, she nod her head meaning no.
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“it's because of this your wonderful cooking skill” he said taking another bite.
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She frowns her face “so you love me because of food”.
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” Of course I love you even if you can't cook my beautiful wife”. They both boost out laugh.
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The month of Ramadan is approaching and all families were preparing for the upcoming months. At Mamman house he bought all their needs for the month and payed for their 'umrah' [ visit to the Holy Kaaba] as they always spend their last two weeks of the month in Saudi Arabia. His wife gave an advice why not them invite their cousins for ''ifter'' [the meal eaten after sunset during Ramadan] in the blessfull month before they leave for their 'umrah', he was happy with the advice and agree at that instant.
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It is on the 10th day of Ramadan they invite all their cousins the married and the single ones for ''eftar'' to their house. Maryam prepare a wonderful meal with the help of her house help. She took the men's food to the dining room, and brought the lady's one to their main parlor. After few minutes their cousins arrive, they chat for a while before the "Azaan" call out to sunset prayer. They eat, drink and pray.
She is at her room with some of her cousin sisters Laura, Juwaira, Aisha and Fatima having some chat as they're both in the same click.
“Maryam you're really lucky to have Mamman as your husband”, says Fatima as she rolls her eyes.
“Hmmmm I know that's why I'm always grateful to God for the best choice”, now it's Maryam's turn to roll her eyes.
“A man like Mamman are really few in this world, just look at the way he's treating you with care even though you're infertile says Juwaira”.
Maryam just smile though she felt attack by Juwaira's speech.
“Ohh! daughter of my mother how could you say such a thing to her” says Aisha who was sitting beside Maryam.
“I didn't mean to offend anyone but am sorry if what I said hurt you”, Juwaira says patting Maryam on her back.
“Of course it's nothing daughter of my mother”, Maryam Says to her with a smile that doesn't reach her eyes.
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After "Taraweeh" prayer they all left and now it remains the couples alone. Maryam calls her house help to pack everything and they packed them all and organize the house back to its normal state.
Chapter 4
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Coming Soon...
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About the Author
Safiyya Aminu Adam, popularly known as Sophieamin, is a 21 year old budden poet who started writing at a tender age of 13. Her writing sprung out of the interest she had for creating and telling folklores to her younger siblings before she later started documenting the stories.
Inspired by the works of Kaduna based international poet Maryam Bukar (Alhan Islam), her works are devoted to telling stories about the cultures and traditions of her people in the Northern part of Nigeria and by extension across the country.
She is currently a 300 level undergraduate student of the Yusuf Maitama Sule University in the ancient pyramid city of Kano.
