The Wedding Night

*****

Prologue

Five years ago

Melody POV

“I love you franklin Aderemi, “I whispered to my newly wedded husband as we entered into our new home.

“I love you too melody Aderemi, “he replied and pulled me closer for a kiss.

After the kiss, I pondered on whether to break the news of my pregnancy to him. How was he going to take the news? I didn’t want to spoil our wedding night with the news even though, it was great news. I knew franklin was going to be happy when he heard the news but, I decided to tell him in the morning. I wanted my wedding night to be special like I had always dreamed of and I knew tonight was going to be great.

“Hey, babe… Would you like to join me for a shower?” franklin winked and offered his hand for me to take.

“No… Go in and I’ll join you later, “I replied to him. He nodded in agreement and walked into the bathroom.

I lay on the bed and smiled at my happiness. I was married to the best man in the world. We Were finally together and we we’re both going to be together forever. A knock sounded on the door and I wondered who was knocking at that time of the night. “no one is in the house ” I thought.

I walked to the door and opened the door for whosoever was at the door and it was the greatest mistake of life. Two masked men entered the room with guns in their hands. One had a red mask on while the other had a black mask on.

“Oh my God!!”I said as they walked into the room. “Franklin!!!! “I shouted for my husband to come to my aid.

The red masked man shushed me and pointed a gun at my head.

“Shut your mouth or I’ll blow your head off, “he threatened. The other man wearing a black mask kicked the bathroom door and pushed my husband out of the bathroom.

“Melody, “he shouted my name as he saw a gun pointed at my head.

“Franklin, “I sobbed.

“Who are you, people? What the hell are you doing with my wife? Let’s her go now!!.” franklin shouted and struggled to reach out to me but he was pulled away and hit on the head with a gun.

I covered my mouth with my hand to suppress the scream that was trying to escape my lips. “Please, don’t hurt my husband. What do you guys want?”I shouted… I didn’t know who the men were because I knew franklin wasn’t on anyone’s hit list. “Who could these men be?” I thought.

“Who send you guys to kill me? Who sent you?” franklin asked and shouted at them. The red masked man holding him down gave no reply but raised his gun to franklin’s face.

“Please…. Don’t kill my husband… Please”I begged but it was as if my begging was in vain. The gunshot rang twice and my heartbeat twice. Franklin dropped to the ground with a thump and whispered my name.

“Franklin!!!”I shouted and rushed to him but I was pulled back by the red masked man. “Let’s go! Let me go!!. Franklin, Franklin.”

The masked man signal to his second and they pulled me out of the room. I was pulled outside the house with force because I was struggling hard to get out of his grip. The masked man raised his hand and gave me a slap that resounded in my head. I stopped shouting for a while and then I continued again.

“Silence her wale, “the masked man said to the one holding me down.

The masked man holding me down bought out a handkerchief and placed it on my nose. whatever was on the handkerchief seemed to stop me from shouting but, before I lose consciousness, I saw the house on fire and then I blacked out.

***

The next time I woke up was inside a moving vehicle. I had no idea where I was or who I was with? The bright morning sun shone on my face and I found it hard to open my eyes and when I finally did, I looked around me and saw girls my age tied together.

My head was pounding hard like I was hit with something hard. I could hear the whispering of some men in the driver’s seat. They were whispering in an unknown language and when I tried to catch a glimpse of them, I was pulled back by a lady.

“Tieni la testa bassa altrimenti ti sparano (keep your head down else they shoot you.)”

I gave her a confused look cause I had no idea what she was saying. I’m a meciandian and the only language I knew was English and my local language.

“Can you speak English?”I asked and she nodded.

“Yeah. Keep your head down else they shoot you, “she informed.

“Where are we?”I asked.

“Italy. “Another woman replied and I blink my eye to see if I was dreaming or not.

“Italy!!!”I shouted and she nodded. “How long was I out?”

“Two days.” the Italian lady replied to me.

Two days. I’ve been unconscious for two days. I thought about franklin and how he has shot two nights ago. That night was supposed to be our wedding night. A night that was supposed to be memorable. They killed franklin and let him burn inside the house… I held my heart to stop the burning ache that was starting to tear me apart. Franklin was gone and I was never going to see him and now I’m in Italy. I stared at my wedding ring which had franklin initials engraved on it and cried silently as I thought about him. Who could have done this to us? Who was behind our predicament?

“You were bought here in your wedding dress. I’m Lorraine but you can call me Lorena.”The Italian lady introduced herself.

“What going on? What I’m I doing in Italy? I just got married and I’m… ”

“Pregnant. “Lorena interrupted. All the women in the room all shake their heads at me and I wondered why.

“How do you know?”I asked as I stare at all the women in the room.

“You were tested before you were bought here. They never make a mistake of bringing a pregnant woman but your case is different.”Lorena replied.

I bite my lips to stop the tears that threaten to fall. I didn’t deserve all of this and franklin didn’t deserve to die. Who was behind all of this? Who ordered franklin to be killed?

“Look lady, everyone here has a story and yours isn’t special, “one of the women said glaring at me.

“That’s enough Ruth. she is new to all of this.”Lorena scolded Ruth and turned to face me. She grabbed my hand and place it in hers. “Look, wherever they take us to I will always be by your side. Everything is going to be fine” she assured.

I nodded and wiped the face of the tears and smiled at her. “Thank you, Lorena. I’m melody. “I introduced myself and smiled again at her.

When the vehicle stopped, Lorena and I were sold off to some brothel house in Italy that belongs to a woman named madam samosa. Thanks to my pregnancy, I wasn’t used for prostitution instead I was used as a madam samosa servant. Lorena wasn’t lucky as she was used by different men every night. I wanted to die because I had no one to run to, I was an orphan and franklin was my only family and he was gone forever.

Lorena and My unborn baby kept me moving on and enduring all the pains, insults, and emotional trauma I went through at the hands of madam samosa who run the brothel. Sometimes, I was beaten and abused by madam samosa because I couldn’t get anything right and each time, Lorena was always around to help me

Eight months after, my baby girl was born and it was the happiest day of my life. Lorena and I named her Hope cause she was my hope when I thought I had lost everything.

For five years, I was in Italy and I was soon accustomed to their cultures and languages. I had to go through pains and suffering to make sure my daughter and I had a roof over our head; If only franklin was alive then we wouldn’t be in this situation.

Then, it all started one night after so many years of being a madam samosa servant. She wanted me to be more, to be a whore but that wasn’t the life I wanted for myself and I knew I had to break free.

Lorena and I planned our escape from the brothel by stealing a lot of money from madam samosa. we ran away and boarded a plane ticket to mecianda.

On March 21st, 2020, exactly five years since I was trafficked to Italy, I came back to my country mecianda, with Lorena and my daughter to start a new life. I hope my come back was going to yield something positive.

*****

Five Years Later,

Langose, mecianda.

Melody POV

“I’m here, mecianda welcome me”Those were my thoughts as I walked into the street of langose, the capital city of mecianda with my daughter and Lorraine.

“You have a beautiful country Amica(friend)”Lorena complimented as she stared at the beautiful skyscrapers in the street.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Lorena was right when she said langose was a beautiful city with the beautiful skyscrapers that filled the street of the city and their beautiful bridges. But, this country held memories and pains in my heart. Pains that I hope would be long gone but every night, the memories keep coming back.

“Mummy, is my daddy here?” hope asked.

Lorena and I exchange glances as she asked the questions. The truth is that  Hope longed to be with her father and every time she asked of her father, all I do is give her excuses that he was in heaven.

“I…”I stuttered not knowing what to say to her. What was I going to tell a four-year-old who longed for the warmth of a father?

“Hope, why don’t we get ice cream and I’ll tell you stories of princesses,” Lorena said to her and carried her into her arms.

“Really!! Yay!! “Hope squealed at what Lorraine said

“Thank you, Lorena.”I thought and smiled at both of them. Lorena always come to my aid every time I needed it and I bless the day I met her.

My comeback to mecianda is to get back on my feet but where I’m I going to start from. The money we stole from madam samosa was enough to rent a cheap motel and last for two weeks maximum but what happens when all the money is finished.

Lorena could sense my worry and she placed a hand on my back. “It going to be fine Amica. We’ll get through this.” Her words were comforting and that is what had kept me going through for years.

Hope pointed to a restaurant that was opposite us. We had to cross to get to the restaurant. As I rushed to cross the road not bothering to look left or right because the road looks less busy, a car zoom past me almost hitting me, thanks to Lorena who quickly pulled me back.

“Bastardo(bastard) “I cursed in Italian at the man who almost hit me with his stupid car.

“Are you alright Mel?” Lorena asked as she checked my body for injuries or bruises.

“I’m fine, thank you. You pulled me before the car could hit me”I replied and watched the car as it zoomed off and when I couldn’t see the car again, I crossed to the other side where the restaurant was.

**********

Giovanni POV

I stared angrily at my Rolex watch, angry with my life, angry with the nightmares that wouldn’t stop, and also angry at my stupid personal assistant who is incompetent and made me late for an important meeting I was having today.

“Step on it, “I said to my driver who was driving slowly like a snail.

“Alright sir,” he replied and did as told.

I stare at the Samsung tablet in my hand trying to read through the message of the meeting but I couldn’t because everything In my life Was a mess.

The car jerked forward and I almost fall but thanks to the seatbelt that held me back.

“What going on?”I asked.

“It’s just a woman trying to cross the road without looking,” he replied and turned back to driving. As much as I needed to get to the meeting early, I wouldn’t want a woman dying because of my driver’s reckless driving.

When the driver stopped at the front of the company, I came out of the car and walked into the company ignoring all the greetings of my employees.

I headed to my private elevator and entered using my thumbprint. When the elevator got to the 35th floor, the floor where my office and the CEO’s department were. The CEO’s department consists of the General manager, assistant, driver, personal assistant, and my personal P. R. O.

I came out of the elevator and headed straight to the General manager’s office.

“Sir “the manager bow as I entered the office without knocking.

“Are the investors still around?” I asked in a bitter tone.

“No sir, they left but I can get Sandra to reschedule the meeting.”

“Reschedule what meeting? Are you insane!!!” I shouted.

The general manager quickly bows in apology. “I’m sorry sir.”

I frowned at him and put my hand inside the pocket of my pant trouser and gave him an order.

“Look here manager Samuel,  Fire Sandra, and fixed an interview tomorrow for a new personal assistant. Get me a competent assistant, not some idiots who don’t know how to do their jobs well.”I ordered.

The manager bow in response. I headed to the door but was stopped by the manager.

“Sir, the CFO came to your office this morning but you were not in. She said you have an interview this afternoon with reading Tv. “The manager informed and bow.

“send her to my office right now. tell your assistant to cancel my schedules for today and I want no disturbance today. I’ll be in my office, “I told him and walked out of his office.

When I got to my office, I sat down on my chair and breathe heavily. my heading was pounding and my heart was beating fast. It is something that happens to me every morning

“What’s is wrong with me?”I asked myself as I struggled to breathe.

When I finally calm down, I began to go through the files on my table, something my assistant couldn’t do.

*****

Melody POV

Lorena, hope, and I left the restaurant for one of the cheapest motels in the city. As beautiful as langose is, there were still some areas where people were struggling to survive.

When we settled in the motel room, I covered up Hope who was sleeping peacefully on the bed. Hope reminded me of franklin, From her brown eyes, her long blonde hair, and light brown skin even to her attitudes. I wished franklin was here to see his daughter grow.

“Hey, Mel. Stai bene? (are you alright?)”Lorena asked beside me.

“Sto solo Pensando a come sarebbe se franklin fosse Vivo Adesso(I’m just thinking about how it would feel if franklin was alive now.)”I replied in Italian.

“andrà tutto bene(everything is going to be alright.)”

“Nothing is going to be alright Lorena “I replied in English. “We barely survived in Italy. I knew how many times you stood by me and I haven’t done anything for you. The money we stole. “I stopped and looked at Hope who was sleeping peacefully and then turn back to face Lorena.

“Lorena, in two weeks, the money we stole would finish if we don’t find something to do. We can’t continue to stay here forever and I have no one else here apart from the orphanage home where I was raised. And by now they would have changed the sister that was in charge during my time. Who knows if she is dead by now? “I lamented and wiped the tears that were already flowing down my face.

Lorena touched my back and pat it softly.

“calmare la Melodia, respirare(calm down melody, breathe.) “Lorena pat my back softly. “Listen melody. “She stopped and then looked at me before she continued. “Starting from tomorrow, we are going For job hunting and I’ll make sure to do whatever it takes for us to survive.”

“Grazie Lorraine sei Una Buona Amica(thank you, Lorraine, you are a good friend.) “I replied and hugged her.

“Nessun problema(no problem)” she replied and pat my back.

After the discussion, I lay on the floor of the motel room and stared at the old, dirty ceiling. I thought about how we were going to survive mecianda and how madam samosa is searching for us in Italy right now. I looked at the bed where Lorraine and Hope were sleeping and smile at how they cuddled like mother and daughter. I closed my eyes and welcome the sleep that had consumed me even though it was just noon and people were probably working now. I was too tired from the flight and now is the time to sleep.