The Dark Side Of The Moon.
Shonibare precious
Some teenagers never get the chance to escape the dark side of the moon, they never stopped being a victim of evil circumstances.
Prologue.
How could she have been so foolish?
Sitting on a slated bench amid the dense steamy atmosphere of the dimly lit street light on the roads of Ibadan. Tiwa glumly wiped the perspiration from her face.
If only she'd had the sense to have not followed her wayward friends to the birthday party, if only she had listened to her poor mother and respected the wishes of her father who happened to be a great person of pride in the small town they lived in, maybe things would have just been different, if she had thought about the consequences of going secretly to a coed sleep over her best friend organized and persuaded her to attend she would not have been stripped off her garment of honour and pride ruthlessly by a guy she knew nothing about, she would never have made the elementary mistake of taking alcohol and dancing shamelessly with guys twice her age.
Now it's all a total disaster, how is she going to face her father who struggled hard to give her education and shelter? How will her father uphold his face on the roads of Ibadan? Their family pride is lost and broken and her life is a complete mess.
To compound her mistake, she hadn't even bothered to make a research about the sleepover, her best friend turned out to be her greatest enemy. If only she had listened to the cry of her poor mother who told her friends could be deceitful sometimes and she should think twice before making decisions.
But what could a miserable teenager at thirteen years think about? She just got to senior secondary school one and was blinded by the beauty of the world only to realize now that it's all false and a destructive path. She looked at herself, her dress torn in pieces, blood stained all over her torn dress, the journey to a beauty life for her has just been cut short and now she is in this lonely streets regretting...
"What will I tell my father now?" She wept bitterly then slowly she drafted into an unconscious state, she had too much of alcohol.
Chapter One.
"I never want to see your face in my house again", Mr. Daniels roared with anger in the four walls of the hospital room.
"No honey, please don't do that, she is only a small child, she only made a small mistake by not trusting herself to make the right decision, you can't throw her out of the house because of that", Mrs. Daniels pleaded with tears dropping from her innocent eyes.
If only her husband will stop being stubborn; if only he could understand that parents also make mistakes; if only he will just listen to her and pity her poor child who has been blinded by the beauty of the world; if only... She thought in her head.
"Woman, I don't have time to listen to your cock and bull’s stories, this girl is not worthy to be called my daughter, this little witch you call a child is nothing but a disgrace to my family. This thing can never be my daughter!”, the tall hefty man with a bald head and well-built body for a man of forty-five years of age said with annoyance.
"Daddy, please just listen to me, I didn't do it intentionally, it was not my fault. I know have committed a great sin, I just want you to listen to me".Tiwa pleaded, a young girl in her early teenager age with long black hair and brown skin, lean and tall for a girl of her age.
"You this stupid girl, you are a curse to my family, a curse to me, just pack your things and go before you create more troubles for me, I can't even stand this shame anymore. I just hate you Tiwa, I hate you!!!" Her father yelled at her.
"But where do you want me to go in this lonely world? Where would a thirteen years old girl like me find comfort in this dangerous world?" She asked in anguish, her heart bleeds as if it has been pierced by a knife.
"You can find comfort in the bushes, on the streets but not in my home!" Her father said with bitterness then walked out of the hospital room, he didn't really know what was hurting him so much, maybe it was the pain of his daughter lost pride or the stubbornness of his daughter which brought great shame upon his family or that the principles he taught his daughter was all useless now.
"Mummy, do something, save me from this dangerous world daddy is sending me to", she wept bitterly.
"I wish there is something I could do but you know your dad, I cursed the day I married him. He will kill us both if he finds out I know about your whereabouts or hide you in a safe place", she said in tears, the pale looking helpless mother with a six months fetus in her womb, fair in complexion and elegant for a woman of forty years.
"Mum, so you are just going to send me out to the lions out there who are aching to consume my blood and tear me apart?" She asked in fear.
"Am sorry my child but am also helpless here", her mother said in tears.
Tiwa wiped her tears, she knew that was the limit.
"I will go but I assure you one thing, I will definitely come back". She said with pain.
"It's only going to be a moment you will never forget all your life, trust me". Tina had told her with a deceptive smile and indeed she will never forget, the video of her being raped is been watched on a crazy website all over the world.
"My daughter, the world is full of lies and deceitful people, you never know who is truly your friend so don't ever trust anyone in this wicked world to make the right decisions for you. The real hero in life is the one who make the right decisions even when he or she is in a difficult situation", Her mother had advised her.
Tiwa had barely listened to the dire warning of her mother and did as she pleased.
As always, when thinking about the happy family she had lived with and the bright side of the moon she had enjoyed, she felt a pang of deep sadness. In the past thirteen years she had lived with the love and care of a wonderful family of five, her mother, father, her two siblings and herself.
Her elder sister had always been an element of pride for her family but she was just the complete opposite.
Wandering aimlessly on the road of Ibadan she stumbled upon a block and fell.
"My daughter, where are you going? You look lost and forsaken, hope all is well?" A woman probably in her early fifties, tall, fair in complexion and plumpy said worried.
Tiwa wiped her tears and rose to her feet. "I have been disowned by my parents, I committed a costly mistake, a grave sin that cannot be forgiven and now am hopeless, homeless and starving. If only I could get a job I will be so glad", she told the total stranger standing in front of her the truth.
The woman sighed, "will you follow me and do the job am willing to offer you?"
"Yes ma, I will do it", Tiwa replied happily.
"Good girl, I have the prefect job just for you", the woman said with a crooked smile.
*********************
"Come in dear, this is just the right place", Madam Sade said laughing wryly.
Tiwa looked around, black calabash piled up on every corner of the room, red and black clothes tied over an idol, different kinds of fetish things laid all around the room.
She paused then realized she was really in a shrine.
"What are we doing here!" She gave a loud shriek.
"You wanted a job honey... You get one", Madam Sade laughed drastically.
"What do you mean?" Tiwa's asked with confusion.
"You are about to become a prostitude sweetheart and we are here to make an oath so the day you try to escape or sell me to the cops will be the day you die", the woman said firmly.
"No, no, no am not doing this", Tiwa screamed on the top of her voice and before she knew it she was plunged into a silent world and lost consciousness.
Chapter Two
The alarm clock rang and Tiwa woke up to the annoying sound that came from her bed clock before switching it off. She rose from her bed slowly and then yawned.
"Oh it's morning again", she said in a sweet voice, she walked straight to the window and pulled the curtains open, the cocking sounds of chickens birds chirping, distant noises and chattering in the background, the sun reflected and shone on her face.
"A new day and another day to work hard to survive", she said and picked up her diary.
"Dear diary, it's been exactly three years, four months, six weeks and ten days my father chased me out of my comfort Zone into the dangers of the world. Surviving has not been an easy task neither has feeding been a success, I now sell my body for money and my pride for shelter. If life has taught me one lesson, it is to never give up no matter what happens, but I am so so sure of one thing, I will never let go of that monster and the bitch who destroyed my life, the pains never left".
"Tiwa, get out of that stinking place you call a room, a new customer has just arrived", A woman screamed on the top of her voice with annoyance.
"Oh God, how I wish that woman will just disappear or end up dying from a heart attack by yelling", Dise said with a sleepy voice but audible enough and Tiwa smiled.
"You are up early today", she said.
"Abi na, since I don't get many customers as you do, I cannot be disturbing my life by waking up early, but honestly we really need to teach that woman a big lesson, all she sabi do na to scream, I go still show her one day that I be correct Igbo girl, make she no do her madness reach my side at all", Dise said with anger.
"Better take it easy, admit it or not, we can only eat two square meals daily because we work for her, even though she uses us like machines we have no choice but to comply. No matter how much I try to erase the thought of freedom from my head, it always keep coming but I know one day, I will really realize I’m stuck with her for life", Tiwa said calmly.
"Sweetheart, we are just sixteen years of age, we shouldn't give up on life now. Although I know one has to live ruggedly in Lagos to survive, I believe one day we will get out of this mess we found ourselves in", Dise told her.
"Amen oh, I really pray so".
"Now go dress up and go meet your first customer of the day before that incredible witch screams your name again", Dise smiled at her.
"Thanks, honey, I don't know what I would have done without you", she returned the kind gesture Dise gave her.
***********************
"Abi you are mad ni, Oga better give me my money before I design your face with this broken bottle now now", Tiwa said pulling a man probably in his thirties, who reeked of alcohol and cigarette.
"You no fit do me anything! 3k never do you? abi how many round I do sef?, with that your tiny hole you call a vagina", the man replied with a cigarette in his mouth trying to break loose out of Tiwa's grab.
"Madam no go hear story, I take God beg you, abeg, just give my money, I no want trouble ehn, just pay me my 5k in peace", Tiwa said with a broken voice about to cry.
"Just take your money, you miserable prostitute, Asewo!!!" The man said removing two thousand naira note from his pocket and threw it on her body.
"Just go ehn, I don't have your time. Madman Oshi". She said with anger after the man has left.
"Thank God he gave me my money or else I will be so dead" she added with a sigh of relief and collapsed on a sofa in front of her as she heard noises from the second house.
She walked to the window and pulled the curtains open.
"Wow, new neighbors!!!" She said amazed.
"You people should get ready to start hearing sexual voices daily", she added and was about to close the curtains when she saw a young guy about the age of seventeen to eighteen if she is not mistaken.
"Wow, a young new neighbor?" She said in disbelief.
"This is gonna get more interesting than I thought".
"And who are you talking to?" A woman probably in her fifties, tall and plumpy said with a harsh voice.
"Nothing madam, I was just talking to myself", she trembled in fear.
"Where is my money?" She asked chewing a gum indecently.
"This is it ma", Tiwa said giving the money to her.
"Good girl, you know you are one of the faithful girls I have working for me unlike that Dise girl who is so cunning", she said counting the money.
"Thank you madam", Tiwa said and walked out of the room.
"Guess what I just saw", Tiwa said barging into her and Dise's room.
"Tiwa what is it again?" Dise asked chewing a gum, she has a slender body, tall and fair in complexion.
"We have got new neighbors and he sure looks like a student, maybe if we could become close and get to hang out he may teach me more lessons so that I Will be able to obtain jamb form and gain admission into the university, get my daddy's love back, go back home and most especially get my revenge on that bitch who ruined my life". She said truthfully.
"You haven't given up huh? What's the assurance that your dad is even going to take you back after all that has happened?"
"He will if I can live a better life, he was just too harsh that I lost my pride and brought a disgrace upon our family. But honestly, to gain admission will be very difficult and I haven't been to school in three years!!" Tiwa let out her fears.
"See sweetheart, I know it's okay to dream but can't you just let the past go and forget about revenging on some girl and going back to a family that didn't even care about how you fared in three years.."
Tiwa cut in "Three years, four months, six weeks and ten miserable days".
"You see, you never forget".
"And I will never forget my home... Never" she said and rushed out in tears.
***************************
"Ouch!!!" Tiwa cried out in pain as her leg got caught by the door, she was peeping at her new neighbor dance steps again but this time, around she got caught.
"Hi, am Gift", the cool dashing handsome young guy with a well-built structure of an athlete for an eighteen years old guy stretched out his hands to raise the poor helpless girl lying on the floor suffering from the pain of a broken toe.
"Erm, I was just passing by, didn't know you were going to open the door", she said nicely deeply wishing he won't chase her off and give her an audience to talk.
"The last time I checked, that wasn't how to reply to an introduction", Gift said dipping his hands into his pocket.
"Oh sorry, I forgot my manners, I'm Tiwa... Tiwa Daniels", she said in her best way of being polite.
"Cool, nice meeting you though have been noticing you have been sneaking up on me for a couple of weeks now, you might please want to explain the reason why". He said nicely.
Holy crap!!! I’m screwed.
Silence.
"Or are you kinda hitting on me?" He asked with a dangerous gaze.
Double crap!!! He talks like a UK returnee, goodness Tiwa, he is a UK returnee!
Silence.
"Will you at least say something?"
"I was interested in your dance moves and I couldn't keep my eyes off them so I decided to peep daily so that I will be able to learn them", she said as fast as she could then took a deep breath after she was done. She was glad she finally found a lie to tell.
"Oh I see, but why are you so nervous? Do I look like I bite or something?" He asked worriedly.
"No o, not at all. I was just scared you might not want to talk to me", she said in a rush.
Triple crap!! She is really nervous.
"Why won't I want to talk to you?" He asked confused.
'Because am a low-class prostitute that has to sleep with numerous men when my mates are going to school'. She thought.
"I was just thinking you might just not like me", she cropped up a lie but it's partially true though.
He smiled, "I’m not jerk you know, although I will admit am one for not asking you in earlier, pardon my manners".
"Oh, no problem at all". She replied calmly but what can she do? He is as cute as ever.
He pulled her up and then ushered her in.
"So what do you care for, water or juice? " He asked politely.
"Err...why don't we start with moves now, am so eager to learn those dope steps of yours ", she said with a smile.
"Okay ma, as your lordship pleases", Gift said sweetly then picked up the T.V remote and turned on the music.
"We are gonna start with Afro dance steps first before moving to Trap, just stand on your toes and do the chopping movements with your hands, it's very simple trust me", he said demonstrating.
Chapter Three
"Tiwa, have been wondering, we really became real close this past few weeks but you never invited me to your house and introduced me to your boss, you said you work for her but never told me the nature of your job nor explain the reason why drunkards, smokers and men with less dignity and pride come in and out of your home". Gift said calmly.
"It's a dark side sweetie, you will come to know about it when the time is right", Tiwa told him.
"Or is it what am thinking", He raised an eyebrow.
"And what are you thinking?" She asked with a low voice trying to hide her fears.
"Though I spent most of my life in the state even though am a Nigerian but from the look of things, are you into prostitution?" He asked puzzled.
She sighed, "You're not far from the truth Gift, it's really a long story".
"Then share it with me, am willing to hear it all, you are a good girl so am sure there is a dark side to why you are in this mess".
"Then brace your ears sweetheart to hear the story of Tiwalade Daniels", she said firmly then narrated the whole story to Gift.
"Wow, you sure went through a lot dear", He said shocked.
"I know, I went through hard times and I survived", she gave a small smile that showed the curve of her lips.
"But didn't you take an oath? Are you not suppose to is after telling me all what happened between you and that wicked woman?" He paused then continued, "don't tell me you are gonna start vomiting blood and then die in my presence like in the movies". He said in fear.
Tiwa burst into laughter and Gift watched her with worry.
"The oath thing was just a facade, I found out last month when I mistakenly eavedropped into a conversation Madam Sade was having with her fake herbalist on how to trap another innocent girl, naturally no girl will be willing to go into prostitution so they set up the whole thing to create fear so that none of us will run away or rat her out to the cops for child abuse. All of us in the house doing prostitution are under eighteen".
"Wow, so why didn't you leave after you found out?"
"There was no where to go, she never gave us money. She collects all our money and only buys us things she considers we need and besides I want to get to this root of this matter and get her arrested so that all other helpless female teenagers won't get into her trap. I guess I have a lot of people I want to get my revenge on and put them just where they belong".
"Am willingly to help Tiwa", Gift told her taking her hands in his.
"It's quite dangerous Gift, you have a life, don't get yourself involved in all this fucked up lifestyle although the main reason why I kept sneaking up at you before we became friends was for you to teach me few lessons. I want to obtain a jamb form and probably gain admission into the university maybe if I could have a better life my parents will take me back. Trust me Gift you are too good to get yourself involved in this mess". She said with tears dropping from her innocent eyes.
"I want to do it Tiwa, I really wanna do this, my parents are influential, we can use some top connections to get to high rank police officers and get her arrested and then nab your friend who sells girls virginity and pride to guys twice their age because of some social media platform that pays her money when she uploads the videos of that evil act. This is not only for you, many helpless girls out there fall victims for these everyday and the only way to eradicate this is if we start nabbing those we know of, we change the world Tiwa, it's just one step at a time".
"Okay if you insist. Am really glad and grateful your supporting me in this".
"Anything for you cutie", He winked at her and she smiled.
"I must confess though I barely trust people after all what have happened but I don't know why I really trust you", She smiled like a child.
"Complements huh?" He blushed.
She smiled again but this time her smile was so innocent, "Yeah".
"Okay back to business, how much information do you have about Tina and her gang?" He asked with a serious tone.
"Have been following her movements on social media, she is currently in port hacourt. She just finished her W.A.E.C exam and preparing to go to the uni, she is fucking rich now. The bitch is having a smooth life".
Okay. You are gonna give me all the details about Tina, we will have to hack into her account on that crazy website and get a lot of evidence we are gonna use against her, what's the name of the website again?"
"w.w.w.sexgocrazy.com", she replied blankly.
"Okay I will start my work on that as soon as possible, am gonna go to the mall, get some tracking devices you will need to bug Madam Sade's room, track her mobile so we will be able to get more proof".
"Alright, am totally in though am a little bit scared", she said bitting her lower lip.
"Am here Tiwa. Are you ready to go through the dark side of the moon for the last time".
"Dark side of the moon?" She frowned then continued, "what do you mean by that?" She asked puzzled.
"It was probably a dark night when you got stripped off your comfort zone and now we are gonna send all those who made your life miserable to experience the dark side of the moon".
"Am so so gonna love this". She twisted her mouth in anger.
Chapter Four
"Tiwa, what have you been up to lately? You have been acting like a detective and paying close attention to Madam Sade's movement lately", Dise asked .
"It's a long story Dise, I promise to tell you all of it when am done", She replied calmly.
"Just be careful and don't put yourself in a mess you won't be able to fix" Dise adviced.
"I will dear, oh she is here", Tiwa straightened up as she saw the sight of Madam Sade.
"Am going out, you girls should take care of the house and don't try to do act funny by keeping any money you earn if any customer passed by. You people kuku know me, I will design your lives with beating if I find out". She said chewing a gum roughly.
"Yes ma!" Tiwa and Dise chorused and watched her leave.
"I need to see Gift quickly, I'll be right back". Tiwa said in a rush.
"Are you people sure you are not in a relationship bayii because I don tire for all this Gift, Gift, Gift talk for this house", Dise rolled her eyes at her.
"I will be back soon". Tiwa replied blankly.
**********************************
"Gift, she is on her way out. According to the information I got she is going to bring another helpless teenager into this evil act", Tiwa said with bitterness.
"Okay. Did you put the tracking device in her fone?"
"Yes I did".
"Good. Am gonna switch on my computer and track down her location, have spoken to the cops already I will just call them when I have concrete evidence that she is with that fake herbalist and they about to engage in their dirty business".
"Okay cool", Tiwa said with relieve.
"And about that website, I opened an account and have reported the website to the right authorities. Tina is so dumb to have put her location on Facebook now there are,possibilities of nabbing her soon". He told her with delight.
"Nice, thanks a lot fish am really so grateful I met you". She smiled at him.
"You know ya always welcomed. Now let's start with today's lesson, what subject should we start with today. Physics or chemistry?"
"Chemistry, am all done with the waec syllabus for physics".
"Nice one mate, am proud of ya". He said with a grin.
"Nice one teach, you are doing a great job". Tiwa said and they both burst into laughter. Gift felt his heart beat a little faster as he saw Tiwa smile and the curve of her lips, he felt a sound of happiness rushing inside his veins as the adrelanin increased he had not felt that way in his entire life, his heart is probably racing for the first time.
Tiwa coughed and broke the silence.
"So do we start with organic chemistry today?" Tiwa asked with a smile.
"Er_er_em, yes organic chemistry it is". Gift muttered, he was really lost in another world.
Gift woke up to the sound of his ringing phone and picked up the call.
"Morning sir". He said with respect.
"Morning son, we got all your evidence and proof. Madam Sade and her accomplice have been nabbed and they are gonna be charged to court on Monday. I really appreciate your efforts on the progress of our country", D.C.P Moses said with delight.
"That's great news, what about the case of Tina and her accomplice who trades innocent girls to the net?"
"She had also been nabbed, she confessed she uses charm to persuade teenager girls to go to coed sleepover she organizes twice a year and post the videos of them been raped on net. She had really earned lots of money, the sex go crazy website has been closed down and the owner of the website is gonna have to answer to the high Court".
"That's really great news sir, thank you so much". Gift said happily.
"No son, I should be the one thanking you. If teenagers of today have your type of discretion, Nigeria will definely progress".
"Am just doing my job as a proud Nigerian sir", He said with a grin.
"Am really proud of you son and am very sure your parents will be when they hear about the news".
"Thank you sir".
"I have to go now son, I will talk to you later".
"Alright sir, you just made my day". Gift said then hang up.
He jumped out of his bed and headed straight for Tiwa's house.
"Tiwa, Tiwa!!!" He barged into her house screaming her name and Tiwa came out of her room.
"Gift what's the update? You are looking so happy this morning".
He lifted her. "We did it baby, we did it and now you all are so free, Tina and her accomplice has been nabbed likewise Madam Sade and her accomplice all that is left is for you to go back to school and further your education".
"Finally!!! The tenure of the dark side of the moon is finally over and now the bright side is back. I am so free, I just wish my parents will forgive me".
"Oh about that..." He puts her down and went to open the door.
"Tiwa!!" Mr Daniels called out.
"Daddy". She shouted in joy, she couldn't believe her eyes.
"I am so sorry for everything My child", Her father said remorsefully.
"It's okay Dad, its all over now". She said and hugged him tightly.
"Come on child, your family awaits you". Her father said and Tiwa looked at Gift, looked at her father and at Gift again and went to hug him tightly. Finally the dark side of the moon is gone.
