ACT TWO
Raphael: "I said terminate her!"
Man in the Black Hat: "No! Please don't kill her!" His statement surprised Sekinat, and she raised her shivering gaze at him. "Please! Don't kill her."
Raphael: "Hmm, for the very first time in my life, after a decade of knowing you as mean and evil, this is unexpected. But sorry, I'll grant your wish. She needs to die so she can rest in peace. She's already in this mess, and she can never find peace unless she dies. So, let me make that quick for her."
As Raphael attempted to raise his finger for a signal, the man in the black hat got up and punched him in the face. Raphael's men were ready to retaliate, but Raphael halted them with a signal.
Raphael: "Well, well, well. Are you ready to risk your life over a woman in a masquerade attire?"
Sekinat, still unable to believe her eyes, whispered, "Please, don't kill him."
Raphael: "You'd better shut up before I shut you off. He just punched me in the face because of you. I won't hesitate to silence you. Hey you! Take your shot!"
Immediately, the man in the black hat was injected and paralyzed instantly, leaving Sekinat in fear as they beat her relentlessly. The man in the black hat tried to fight back, but he was too weak to get up.
Sekinat: "Noooooo! Pleaseeeee!! Ya Allah!!!" She was finally injected too and fell on her face, paralyzed.
[The scene transitions.]
LIGHT FADE
Sekinat regained consciousness in a very dark room filled with dangerous weapons. Next to her, the man in the black hat was being brutally assaulted by some unknown, menacing figures despite his injuries and the gunshot wound in his arm. Sekinat couldn't hold back her tears as she watched him suffer, feeling helpless.
She pleaded with her captors to spare him, but the man in the black hat continued to endure, offering only a faint smile whenever he had a moment to catch his breath. His resilience left Sekinat in awe and confusion.
Desperate and in pain, Sekinat cried out for help until she received a sudden punch from behind, silencing her momentarily. She begged for mercy, and it was at that moment that the man in the black hat finally retaliated, witnessing Sekinat's suffering.
Man in the Black Hat: "Please, don't hurt her! Let her be!"
One of the gang members, named Danger, sneered and struck the man in the black hat with the back of his AK47, causing him to groan in pain and bleed profusely from his face.
Sekinat: "No!!!" She couldn't hold back her tears, seeing him in pain because of her. It was then that she realized he had been trying to protect her all along. "Please, you can hurt me, but please don't hurt him."
The gang members burst into laughter, finding her words hilariously futile. Their cruel amusement filled the dimly lit room, intensifying the sense of dread.
Man in the Black Hat: (Finally, he pressed a hidden button behind his ear.)
[Scene break]
Later In the night
Later that night, in Sekinat's family home:
Hajia Selimat was growing increasingly worried as she continued dialing Sekinat's number without success.
Hajia Selimat: "Eehhh! Her number isn't going for over an hour now. This is getting me worried. It's after eight, and still, I can't reach her."
Alhaji Sulaiman paced around the house, also continuously dialing Sekinat's number.
Alhaji Sulaiman: "You know what? I will go check on her at the hospital."
Sultan, a visitor, barged into their house.
Sultan: "As-salamu alaykum, sir. I'm coming from the hospital, but they said she left 4 hours ago."
Hajia Selimat jumped to her feet, panic evident in her eyes.
Hajia Selimat: "Subhanallah! This isn't funny anymore. Where is my child?"
Alhaji Sulaiman attempted to reassure her.
Alhaji Sulaiman: "Relax, dear! I'm sure she is somewhere relaxing. Maybe she needed some fresh air away from her emotional trauma."
Hajia Selimat was not convinced.
Hajia Selimat: "What are you talking about? You and I know Sekinat isn't that type of woman who associates outside. She is an introvert, and we all know that. I know my child more than any of you. Even if we despise her so much, all she does is lock herself in to avoid having contact with others. So, what are you saying?"
Sultan, concerned, asked:
Sultan: "Should I report to the police?"
Alhaji Sulaiman had another idea.
Alhaji Sulaiman: "Don't worry; I have the D.P.O.'s number! He is my cousin. I will just give him a call."
Summayah, Sekinat's sister, barged into the room with her family in tow, seemingly oblivious to the situation.
Summayah: "As-salamu alaykum, everyone! What's for dinner? I'm starving! Shauib, go get Mom her pills."
Shauib, Summayah's son, tapped his mom on the shoulder, noticing the worried expressions on his grandparents' faces.
Shauib: "Mum!"
Suraj, Summayah's husband, addressed Alhaji Sulaiman.
Suraj: "Alhaji, I hope all is well, sir?"
Alhaji Sulaiman's voice trembled as he responded:
Alhaji Sulaiman: "Nothing is well, oh. We can't find Sekinat! She hasn't come back home yet."
Summayah, seemingly unfazed by the situation, made a nonchalant comment:
Summayah: "Oh please, Dad! Is that why you guys are worried? You know she is a doctor! Maybe she is still at the hospital, performing surgeries. Did I say something wrong? You go get my pills!"
Hajia Selimat couldn't contain her frustration:
Hajia Selimat: "Your sister went missing, and this is all you would say? Your own
blood?"
Summayah rolled her eyes dismissively.
Summayah: "Mum! You know darn well she is out there chilling with her friends and all. There's nothing to be worried about."
Hajia Selimat was exasperated but had other priorities.
Hajia Selimat: "I guess you know nothing about your sister at all. But I don't have your time now. All I know is I want my daughter to be home tonight, or else! No one is sleeping peacefully tonight."
She picked up her phone and headed into her room.
Suraj stared at his wife with disbelief.
Suraj: "I can't believe this!"
Summayah, still unconcerned, took a sip of juice.
Summayah: "Believe what, honey?"
Suraj sighed heavily and joined her at the dining table as Hajia Habibah served them dinner.
Suraj: "I can't believe you could stay calm despite your sister being missing." Summayah rolled her eyes again.
Summayah: "Oh, I should have been crying, right? I've told you guys she is inside resting! And if she isn't indoors, maybe she is spending a night at a hotel, trying to get some fresh air due to what happened between us this morning. So, she is fine."
Suraj sighed again and joined his wife at the dining table.
Suraj: "Thank you, Hajia Habibah. Kindly add more beef, please."
Hajia Habibah nodded and went to the kitchen to fulfill the request.
***************************
10:45pm
They were finally left alone in the dark room. Sekinat was weakened, her body aching, and her eyes swollen from crying. Despite her pain, she continued to recite her adhkar for Allah's protection, tears streaming down her face. In the dimly lit room, the man in the hat groaned in agony as he attempted to remove the bullet lodged in his arm, his body weak and bleeding.
Sekinat raised her head to see what he was doing to himself, struggling to utter a word as her torn khimar was tightly tied around her neck, making it difficult to breathe.
Sekinat: "Psssss! Don't... don't do that... you'll introduce an infection into your arm."
Hat Man: pauses for a moment but then resumes his self-surgery, groaning in pain
Sekinat: "I wish I could help you, but I'm tied up."
Hat Man: does not respond to her
Sekinat: "Thank you for risking your life to save mine. I'm sorry for getting you into this mess."
Hat Man: pauses again, then resumes his work
Sekinat waited for his response, but when none came, she broke down in tears, continuously reciting Ayatul Kursi.
Hat Man raised his gaze at her, wondering what she was saying.
Sekinat: "Ya Allah, please protect me. I don't want to die, and my parents must be worried about me. I just want to go back home."
Hat Man: "There is no home for you anymore. You can only go home with your corpse, but not with your soul."
Sekinat: her voice trembles as she restarts her adhkar, tears flowing
Hat Man chuckled as he gently reached into his pocket and pulled out a small knife, attempting to conclude the self-surgery.
Sekinat: "You're not doing it right! You're just digging deeper. That's not how it's done."
Hat Man ignored her as they suddenly heard the exchange of gunfire between the killers and unknown intruders. Sekinat began to recite the Kalimat Shahada in fear.
Sekinat: "La ilaha illallah... Ya Allah, help me today!"
Hat Man chuckled again as he tied his injured arm with his shirt. Despite his weakened state, he stood up, broke the chair he had been tied to, and moved toward Sekinat to untie her.
Sekinat: "Okay, sir."
Suddenly, a group of men in black hats burst through the door, surrounding them. Sekinat trembled in fear, but the Hat Man remained resolute. One of the men approached him.
T.K: "Sorry we're late, boss!"
Hat Man, speaking in a low tone: "Where is the case?"
Taiwo: "It's all secured, sir. He's injured. Guys, help me get him into the car." Notices Sekinat "Shoot her!"
Sekinat fell to her knees instantly, crying out, "Noooo!"
Hat Man: "Don't you dare!"
The men stood still instantly, respecting his authority and orders.
Hat Man: "She is to be protected at all costs. If she dies, you all die!"
The men: "Yes, sir!" One of them moved to assist him
Hat Man: "No, I'm fine. Let me see the case." Taiwo, kneeling, opened the suitcase: "Here, boss!"
Hat Man nodded weakly.
Sekinat, relieved: "Alhamdulillah, I'm safe!" Sadly stares at the Hat Man "He's hurt, please help him."
Hat Man, feeling dizzy, then passed out instantly.
**************
12:02am
Alhaji Sulaiman: Please, calm down. She will be okay. The police are out there searching for her; they're doing their job.
Alhaja Selimat: Don't ever tell me to calm down in this situation. You know I don't have much control over this. My daughter is out there, nowhere to be found, and you expect me to calm down? What kind of a father are you?
Summayah (bursts into their room): What happened?
Alhaji Sulaiman: It's your mother, Summayah.
Summayah: Mum, you need to calm down, okay? Nothing has happened to your daughter. I know she's your favorite, but she's just resting somewhere while you can't sleep. I've tried calling her several times, but her phone is switched off.
Alhaja Selimat: I can't believe you would say this. Your sister is missing, and you can utter such a statement? Just because you two fight all the time, does that mean you'd wish her dead?
Summayah: Mum! What are you saying?
Alhaja Selimat: When I'm talking to you, don't talk back to me. I am your mother, and your sister is missing. Is this all you can say?
Suraj (bursts into the room): Honey, what's going on? Why all the noise?
Alhaji Sulaiman: Please excuse us, Suraj. Take your wife away and excuse us for now.
Suraj: Okay, sir. Baby, let's go.
Summayah: Don't you dare touch me.
Alhaja Selimat: You want to talk back to me? Then go ahead! If you truly know I'm your mother, speak up.
Summayah (panting heavily).
*************************
Beneath the cover of a moonless night, the forest lay cloaked in darkness. The tall, gnarled trees stretched towards the sky, their branches swaying heavily in the frigid, biting cold. The air was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves in the chilling breeze.
Amidst this foreboding setting, a group of shadowy figures lurked. Hidden behind the dense underbrush and trees, they remained concealed from prying eyes. These men were not here by chance; they were here on a mission, their presence marked by the cold glint of weapons and the weight of anticipation.
Some of them leaned against the massive tree trunks, their faces obscured by dark balaclavas. Others crouched low, almost merging with the shadows themselves. But it was their leader who stood boldly on the desolate road that cut through the heart of the forest. He wore an air of unwavering confidence, accentuated by the twin AK-47 rifles slung casually over his shoulder.
With calculated precision, he extended his hand, wristwatch glinting in the faint moonlight, and issued silent signals to his comrades. Their collective focus was unwavering, the tension palpable in the frigid night air.
As the seconds ticked away, they remained poised, ready to spring into action at the precise moment, their dark intentions hidden beneath the canopy of trees and the shroud of night.
*******************************
The black-hatted men were in a jeep, speeding toward their destination. Their leader lay unconscious, and Sekinat, despite her own injuries, was performing a makeshift surgery on his wounded arm. The tension inside the vehicle was palpable, with the rest of the men keeping their eyes on her as she worked, their guns trained on her.
One of the black-hatted men warned Sekinat, "If anything goes wrong during that surgery, consider yourself dead!"
Sekinat, panting heavily as she focused on her task, retorted, "That's precisely what
I'm trying to prevent! Stop threatening me! I'm injured too."
The driver suddenly alerted the group, "Guys? I think we've got company!" All eyes turned to the front as they spotted an unexpected obstacle in their path. Panic swept over them as they realized they were facing a formidable adversary known as the "Red Bull." The driver attempted to make a U-turn, but before they could react, the intruder aimed a bomb in their direction.
"We need to bail out of the car!" one of the black-hatted men shouted urgently.
Sekinat cried out in fear, "Ya Salam!" as she hastily applied a plaster to her unconscious patient. "Please, no!"
Another of the black-hatted men barked, "Do you want to die? Stay in the car!" Despite the danger, they opened the car doors and leaped out, carrying their unconscious boss. Sekinat screamed with her last ounce of strength. The remaining man in the car dragged her out, and together they rolled into the nearby forest.
To Sekinat's astonishment, all the black-hatted men from the other vehicles also abandoned their cars just in time before the explosions rippled through the night air.
Sekinat, still rolling uncontrollably inside the forest, finally managed to stop herself. She was badly injured and crying out in pain. She struggled to her feet, desperately seeking a hiding spot as gunshots erupted around her. Before her eyes, she saw young men among the black-hatted group, and she couldn't believe that lives were being wasted right in front of her.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she tried to control her emotions amidst the chaos, feeling helpless and overwhelmed by the violence unfolding around her.
**********************
4am
Sekinat's family couldn't find solace in sleep as Alhaja Selimat's anguished cries filled the house over her daughter's disappearance. The home was crowded with concerned people, and an air of tension hung heavy as investigators asked questions and conducted their inquiries. Alhaja Selimat seized the opportunity to perform Tahajjud, the late-night prayer, as she poured out her heart to her Creator, tears streaming down her face.
Alhaja Selimat: "Ya Allah, please protect my child. I believe in You alone, and none is worthy of worship except You, Ya Allah. Protect my daughter from the hands of killers. She is all I have got. Please..." (she cried out bitterly)
Her cries caught the attention of her family members who peeked in and felt deep sympathy for her, except for Summayah, who remained unmoved.
Alhaja Selimat: "Ya Allah, please protect my hand from the evil hands."
Shuaib, her grandson, walked into her room, concerned for his grandmother.
Shuaib: "Grandma, can I come in?"
Alhaja Selimat responded with a gesture, her eyes filled with tears.
Shuaib: (in a hushed voice) "Are you okay?"
Alhaja Selimat nodded, but tears continued to flow down her cheeks.
Shuaib: "No, you're not! Don't worry, Aunt Sekinat will come back home, very soon. Just stop crying, okay?" (he gently wiped her tears) "Stop crying, Grandma. She will be home soon. I will also go and perform Tahajjud and supplicate to Allah for her safety."
Alhaja Selimat managed a smile, her heart touched by Shuaib's wise and caring words.
Shuaib: (rising to his feet and waving at her) "I'll go pray for Aunt Sekinat, Grandma. Don't worry."
As Shuaib left her room, Alhaja Selimat couldn't help but break down in tears again.
Alhaja Selimat: "Ya Allah, protect my daughter from the evil hands."
**********************
In the forest
5:10am
Sekinat slowly woke from her fitful doze, her entire body aching. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. Faint voices surrounded her, but everything appeared blurry, and she couldn't see anyone clearly. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she struggled to get up, her movements unsteady. She attempted to roam around the forest but stumbled and fell to the ground.
Sekinat: "Uhhahhhh! My leg!" (she quickly covered her mouth, not wanting to be heard by anyone nearby)
As she examined her leg, she noticed another body nearby. With trepidation, she reached out to touch it and felt the gentle rise and fall of breath.
Sekinat: "He is alive!" (she checked his pulse, kneeling beside him) "You are alive... but I hope he is not the enemy?"
Suddenly, the man grabbed her hand as he attempted to get up, causing Sekinat to scream in fear.
Sekinat: "Yaaheeeyyyeeeh!"
Hat Man: (groaning in pain) "You... are... alive! Calm down! Lower your voice!"
Sekinat, recognizing his voice, spoke in a hushed tone.
Sekinat: "You!! You are alive? I thought you were dead!"
Hat Man: "Well, I'm not!" (he struggled to move towards the roadside and saw passersby, cars, and lorries on the road)
He spotted their burnt jeep and moved towards it, despite the intense heat and damage. Sekinat followed him, curious about what he was searching for, as all the corpses had been removed.
Sekinat: "What are you looking for? You are hurt, and I'm starving." (she struggled to move)
Hat Man: "Got it!" (he finally retrieved the suitcase and rushed back into the forest with his weak arm)
He moved closer to Sekinat and whispered to her.
Hat Man: "Thank you." (a smile appeared on his face)
Sekinat's strength waned, and she collapsed to her knees, her body trembling from hunger and the cold.
Hat Man: (sitting next to her and pressing a button behind his neck) "Just hang in there. We will get out of here soon."
Sekinat remained seated, her body shaking from a combination of hunger and the chilling forest night.