Love By Deception

Chapter 3: Am I going to die?

Maria scoffed and shook her head, "My life is like this because of them. If that woman haven't brought them to me, I and my husband would still be living together in peace. It's not my responsibility to care for them, you can as well take them to the orphanage home since you work there by the way."

Sarah shook her head abruptly, "You don't mean that Maria, don't forget that you held them tightly while crying in front of your house yesterday."

Maria bit her bottom lips and shook her head. "So you're saying I should care for someone else's children when I just lost my husband because of the same person?"

"Come to think of it, the babies haven't done anything wrong. Infact, they have also suffered the loss of a mother. I'm sure your husband would want the same thing Maria, please."

Maria turned and looked at the babies. They were indeed adorable and looked so beautiful like their mother. True, they were innocent and victims too. She could tell that they would be damsels if they grew up. Yes 'if', because she honestly had no idea if she would care for them or even how.

She sighed, "I don't have a job, I don't even have a home. How on earth am I going to care for two babies? Simply take them to the orphanage home please."

Mrs Sarah sighed and moved closer to her. "I understand your feeling right now. It's fine, we can talk about this another time but for now, go have your bath and eat so we can go to the hospital. You also have blisters all over your feet."

Maria shut her eyes and heaved a long sigh before getting up.

"So where is the bathroom?" She asked.

"The next door by the left." Sarah directed her.

"You are so cute..." Sarah kissed the babies on the foreheads as she played with them.

In the car, Sarah drove quietly through the street while Maria stared through the glass in silence. Being unable to bear the silence, Sarah decided to start a conversation.

"You can stay with me until you are stable on your own Maria, do not worry about anything at all."

"You have said that before Mrs Sarah, and I'm grateful." Maria murmured in reply.

Mrs Sarah sighed, "You said earlier that I should take the babies to the orphanage but you know very well that I cannot just take the babies there without giving them solid explanation on where I found them. And they might even announce it on TV to see if any family would show up before accepting them as orphans."

Maria shrugged, "I really don't care what happens to these babies, they are cursed." She said without thinking.

Sarah turned to her in shock.

"You don't mean that Maria! Why would you say that? That's a mean thing to say."

"What do you want me to say then?" Maria shouted out loud with her eyes clouded in tears, "Should I say that I love them so much with all my heart? Should I act all good and take them as my children? It's the same good that took my husband's life! I really can't do this anymore Mrs Sarah." She sniffled.

"I understand your pain Maria, so I will give you time to calm down because I know you are a good person and you are only talking out of being hurt. All will be fine."

Maria did not say anything in reply but only buried her head between her legs as she cried continuously.

Few minutes later, they arrived at the hospital. She carried one of the babies while Mrs Sarah carried the other and they both went over to sit at the waiting area after collecting their cards.

*MARIA'S POV*

I held the baby in my right arms as I sat down to wait. The innocent baby kept looking at me with her cute eyes which only made me felt more pressured and guilty. She kept giggling at me as she clutched my index finger tightly. Poor little thing, she had no idea what was going on.

I'm definitely hurt that saving them cost me my husband's life but I couldn't hide the fact that I shouldn't blame the poor babies. They're also the victims.

They had done nothing wrong and even lost their mother before getting to know her, so I do pity them, but still, I'm scared. I'm scared of taking care of them because I haven't given birth before and I don't know if I could do it, if I would be able to let go of this incident and accept them as my own.

I'm lucky to have met Mrs Sarah because if not for her, I would have already gone to the police station and I bet they would have taken the babies from me before now and I may have been taken as well. Still, I wouldn't be able to stay with her forever, I would need to have a home of my own.

And for the safety of the babies, I cannot remain here. I would have to move to another place and start all over.

Wait, start over? Am I even ready for that?

All my life, I had been attached and used to staying with Ken, managing our self contain apartment but now that he was no more, I didn't know if I could survive on my own, really.

"Miss." I heard a voice and quickly rose up my head and I saw a nurse who stood before me with a file in her hand.

"We need the names of the babies." She smiled at me.

I turned to Mrs Sarah for help because I also had no idea what the names of the babies were. She nodded her head at me and I wondered what she meant. And when she smiled, I understood that she wanted me to give them names right away. When I have never had kids, how would I give them names?

I cleared my throat anyways, "Erm...it's erm...Akeyla and Aniyah." I said without thinking much. Those were the names of my neighbor's twins.

"Akila and Aninya?" The nurse asked again pronouncing the names wrongly and I couldn't help but rolled my eyes at her.

What's so hard to pronounce there? Did she not take English classes? Ugh! Why was I so pissed? She only made a mistake.

I sighed and stretched out my hand to her, "Give me the file, let me write it myself." I said collecting the file from her. I heard Mrs Sarah chuckle behind me as she shifted closer to me.

"Don't mind these annoying nurses my dear. I see you're pissed." She whispered to my ears and I chuckled lightly.

I wrote 'Akeyla' for the baby in my arms and 'Aniyah' for the other baby that was with Mrs. Sarah. And them I wrote my surname for them, 'Adams'.

"Thank you madam, you are number 15, please come in when you hear your number." The nurse said and I nod my head in reply before she left.

"What made you come up with such beautiful names for the babies?" Mrs Sarah asked me after a while.

"Well, those were the names of my neighbor's twins. She once told me what they meant too. She said Akeyla means powerful. So I thought, those were the perfect names for them. I may not be prepared to look after them but I can tell they are ready to pull through life challenges and they are even stronger than me."

I pulled Akeyla's cheek which made her giggle and a wide smile that I couldn't subdue, found it's way to my face.

"You're so cute." I smiled at her.

"And Aniyah? What does it mean?" Mrs Sarah asked staring at the other baby in her arms.

I turned to the other baby who although wasn't giggling like Akeyla but was staring at me, blinking continuously. " She said It means, 'God is gracious'. There is definitely a reason why God kept me alive, I just might not know it yet." I smiled at Aniyah who didn't smile back but kept blinking at me.

"Such beautiful names. You're already becoming their mother Maria. And slowly, you will learn to love them." Mrs Sarah smiled at me.

"I really don't know Mrs Sarah. I hope you're right though ." I said before heaving a long sigh.

"Number 15!" I heard a voice say using a microphone.

"It's our turn already." I said as I stood up and Mrs Sarah stood up as well. The both of us made our way to the Infants ward.

Immediately we opened the door and entered into the room, the doctor smiled at us. Or rather, beamed at us.

Do they usually smile at everyone in this hospital? Were they injected with something or what?

Or maybe I'm the one having a problem with their smiles? Ugh!!

"So what is the problem with your babies madam?" The doctor asked me.

"Oh... well, nothing much, we just came to do a checkup for them, they have been in the cold for too long so......they might.....erm......"

"Okay I get you madam... The doctor cut me off. "When was the last time you brought them for checkup?" She asked.

"Erm......well......" I turned to Mrs Sarah for help.

Mrs Sarah quickly cut in, "Well.....we haven't brought them for checkup before except........erm.......for anti natal."

"Oh, is that so? Bring them this way please." The doctor said standing up.

I stood up, alongside Mrs Sarah and we both followed her to the inner room where we saw other mothers sitting with their babies.

After checking the babies, the doctor sighed and turned to me.

"The babies both have minor cold but it could have gotten worse if they hadn't been brought to the hospital on time."

"Oh" I nodded before adding on. " They.......they.......didn't show any symptoms of cold at all."

"Yes, you're right. Not all children show signs, some might be sick but wouldn't show any symptoms." The doctor explained.

"So what do we do now?" I asked cluelessly.

"We can prescribe drugs but if you permit, we will give them vaccines as well."

"Please go ahead with the vaccines." Mrs Sarah said behind me.

"Please sit here, I will be back to attend to you."

"Okay doctor." I nodded and we went over to a bench at the corner to sit and wait.

After a while, the doctor finished attending to us and we went out to wait for the drugs. Then Mrs Sarah stood up with Aniyah in her arms.

"Where are you going?" I asked looking at her puzzled.

"I want to go and make an important call, I will be back, stay here and wait for me, don't go anywhere." She said to me like she was talking to an infant. Well, she should be more than 20 years older than me though.

"Will you be okay taking her with you? You can leave her with me." I suggested.

"It's fine, just hold Akeyla." She said with a smiles before leaving.

I shrugged and turned to Akeyla who was sleeping in my arms. I still can't believe I just named them myself.

I guess I really have to carry on with the mother role and it probably won't be that bad at all.

As I looked around at nothing in particular, my eyes caught a familiar figure. He... He looked really familiar but where have I seen him? I looked closer and I gasped in shock. It was one of the men who were chasing after Hannah.

He was alive!

What was he doing here? They would't give up??

He didn't look like he was going after anyone but as if he was here for treatment as well because he was collecting drugs from the pharmacist. Oh God, I have to inform Mrs Sarah so we could get out of here very fast before he would see me.

Just as I stood up, I heard my name from the counter.

Oh yes, I forgot I had to collect the drugs.

The drug did not matter at the moment. I had to leave now. Just as I started walking away, they called my name again and that was when he turned to my direction and our eyes met.

Oh no! No!

My heart started beating fast praying he doesn't recognize me and after few seconds of staring at me, he turned away. Oh thank God.

I heaved a sigh of relief and went over to the counter to collect the drugs.

After collecting it, I started walking away to go and look for Mrs Sarah so we can go but then, I saw the man moving to my direction, that was when I knew he had recognized me.

Oh God, not again! When will this end?

Many thoughts started coming to my head.

I could stay and scream 'help!' and then claim he wanted to take my child but then, that would be a risky move because the real father of the babies was their boss and if he was nearby, he could easily take the babies from me.

I might not be ready to care for them but I was also not going to release them to these people either.

I quickly mixed myself in the crowd and started walking out of the hospital fast. There was no time to find Mrs Sarah. When I looked back, I saw him making his way to me and fast.

Oh God! Did they want these babies so bad? What does he want with them? I understand they're his children but someone who could order men to kill their mother, wouldn't hesitate to kill them too. So why come for them?

Were they not satisfied after taking their mother's life and the life of my husband? I guess they wouldn't rest until they take my life and the babies' as well.

I bit my bottom lips and walked fast making my way through the long passage of the hospital. I didn't know where I was headed but I know for sure that he would catch me if I stopped one bit.

After squeezing past everyone, I was finally out of the hospital.

Oh God! Mrs Sarah was still inside!! Should I go back inside?

As I turned back, I caught a glimpse of him making his way out of the hospital, getting closer. I quickly started walking fast out of the hospital premises. When I reached the side of the road, I stood there to wait for a taxi. Oh God, please. Where on earth were all the taxis in Lagos?

Thankfully, a taxi slowed down in front of me.

"Where to madam?" The taxi driver asked me.

""Just drive! I will tell you on the way!" I said as I quickly opened the door and entered.

"Okay" The taxi driver said before he started the car and started driving.

When I looked back, I saw him coming out of the hospital and was heading to a black car.

"Please drive faster! Faster!" I urged the taxi driver.

"Madam, if I drive fast pass like this en, we go just die o. (Madam, if I drive faster than this, we would end up dying.)" The driver said as he continued driving like he was a learner. I looked through the glass and even saw a motorcycle ride pass us.

Oh God!

"Oga drive this thing na abeg! Ahn Ahn.(Mr, drive faster please!)" I blurt out in pigin as I was already becoming frustrated. At this rate, that man would catch up to us.

"Madam abeg, I get children for house, abi you never hear say to drive fast dey kill person?"(Madam please, I have children at home or you haven't heard that driving fast kills?")

Oh holy Mary mother of God! What kind of driver is this?

"I will increase you money, please."

As soon as he heard that, he increased the speed of the car. I'm sure even a sport car would not be able to drive as fast as him at this point.

Humans and money, Oh God.

I looked back again and I panicked when saw the black car moving closer to us.

"Please divert, divert fast." I urged the driver.

"To this lane?" He pointed to a lane by the left.

"Yes, yes."

"Ah, madam. This road no good o. E dey bad well well." (Madam, this road is not good. It's very bad.)

"Please follow it, I will pay whatever amount you want." It's more better to follow the bad road than for that man to catch up to us.

The driver pursed his lips as if thinking about the offer. Before I could blink, he had diverted to the lane. I quickly brought the baby closed to my chest as he diverted.

After a while of driving, we ended up in a junction.

"Madam, na highway be this o. If I follow this road en, na im be say we dey go Ibadan o. You even know where you dey go sef?" (Madam, this is highway. If I follow this road, it means we're going to Ibadan. Do you even know where you're headed?) He asked me as he stopped the car turning around to take a good look at me.

I looked around and gulped, "Okay, I......I will come down here." I said as I opened the door and stepped out from the car.

"So how much is your pay?" I asked walking backwards, ready to take off. The only thing in my mind at the moment was to take off because I have no money to pay this man.

"3000 naira plus the extra you said you will add." He said stretching out his hand to me. 3000 naira! I don't even have 100 naira to give him and he's saying 3000 naira plus extra.

I took a long sigh, "I'm sorry!!" I said out loud and took off to my heels.

"Hey! Stop! Thief! Madam! Stop o! Na highway be this o!" ("Hey! Stop! Thief! Madam! Stop! This is highway!") The man screamed after me but he didn't follow me.

I still kept running though, I didn't care if he followed me or not and I didn't't care where I was going either.

If this was how life wanted to treat me, if this was how I would keep running for my entire life, then so be it, as long as they never catch up to me. I would not die in the hands of a stranger.

After running for long through the tarred road, I became breathless and had to stop to catch my breath. The road is very quiet and didn't even see any cars passing.

"How do I go back now? Where do I go from here now? Oh God!!" I screamed out loud and a tear dropped from my eyes.

I looked to my right and saw that it was a sloppy road so I couldn't see whatever was at the end. I should cross to the other side, maybe I will see another cab to take me back.

Just as I dragged my feet across the road, Akeyla's shoe fell off on the ground. I turned around and walked back to collect it. Just as I bent down to pick the shoe in the middle of the road, I heard a loud horn. As I turned to my right, I saw a car coming towards me with full speed.

That's it, I succeeded in killing myself and the poor baby. I tried to move away from the road while the car quickly tried to turn in order to avoid hitting me but it was too late. I felt a sharp force hit me by the side and I fell to the hard coal tar bleeding heavily. I was still clutching tight to Akeyla in my arms hoping she doesn't get hurt. I could hear her cry loudly and I wanted to look at her but I couldn't raise my head up. I also heard an additional voice that wasn't clear.

I saw a blurry figure standing before me and saying something I couldn't hear. Then I felt my whole body gave up as I slowly lost my vision.

Was this how I was going to die?

Tears rolled down my cheeks before I went unconscious completely.

Xoxo.