Captain Scar returned barely moments after Baba J's departure, his presence as cold and unsettling as ever.
"Akin, David, Benita, Sandra, get up now!" He barked, referring to the older inmates huddled in the corner of the room. His voice was sharp, laced with menace and irritation. His eyes scanned them with contempt.
"I haven't heard from your relatives, and today makes it the fourth day. Seems they don't value your lives. Seems they don't give a damn whether you live or die". His lips curled into a sneer.
"Well then, if I don't see a credit alert by the end of tomorrow, I'll get rid of you".
With that, he turned sharply and strode out, the steel door groaning shut behind him.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
"The old man's gone," Benita murmured, her voice brittle. She sat down heavily, eyes brimming with a mix of relief and sorrow.
"God saved him. Will God save us too?" Her voice was weak with uncertainty and fear, more apparent than ever now.
"He was always calm, even after they took him," Sandra added, bitterness creeping into her tone. "I knew his family would raise the ransom. That's why he never panicked".
David, seated beside them, ran a trembling hand through his hair. "I'm the breadwinner in my home," he muttered. "My wife doesn't work. I've only got two little kids, and no one else to help them".
"How can they possibly raise that kind of money in two days?" He lamented bitterly. "I'm not ready to die, guys".
Desperation was already creeping in.
From their corner of the room, Ken and Jessica listened in silence, empathy welling up in their hearts. The hopelessness was contagious.
But then Akin, who had been silent all along suddenly leaned forward, a new glint in his eyes.
"Wait… I think I have a plan".
Everyone turned sharply toward him. "What plan?" They asked in unison, desperation clear in their voices.
He beckoned for everyone to come closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "This evening at 6pm, one of us will ask to use the toilet. That person will do one last survey; check if most of the guards have left for food".
"If confirmed, then tomorrow at 6pm, we make our move".
The room was still, breaths held in anticipation and fear.
"At that time, most of them usually leave to get food. Only three or four men stay behind in the warehouse; including Scar, who's always holed up in his room".
"I'll be the one to act pressed and ask to use the toilet. They'll lead me to the bushes like they always do. Once we're out, I'll run. I'll make a break for it. It'll distract them, buy the rest of you time to act".
He paused to let the plan sink in.
"While they're chasing me, the rest of you must lure the remaining guards inside this room and take them out. Quietly. Swiftly".
"There are seven strong men there, you can do it".
"Take their weapons and make your way to Scar's room. Kill that bastard. Grab the keys to the vehicles and his satellite phone. There are more guns and bullets in his room. Use them, alert the police, and run".
Ken's voice cut through the stunned silence. "But Akin… that's a suicide mission. You can't outrun two armed men".
Akin met his gaze calmly. "Someone has to take the risk. If I don't make it, at least the rest of you might".
Might, it was a simple word but filled with so much uncertainty.
Their hearts tightened.
Jessica frowned, her brows furrowed in thought. "What about Scar? He's always here. If he hears any noise, he'll call the others back before we've even started".
"I know," Akin admitted. "That's why the takedown must be silent. Take out whoever's left quickly, then head for Scar before he realizes what's going on. Once he's done, you'll have only a few minutes to act".
Sandra's voice trembled. "How will we know when it's 6pm?"
"I have a wristwatch," David said, pulling an old, scratched watch from his pocket.
"Good," Akin nodded. "We've got what we need. Let's pray it works".
The room fell quiet. Whispers passed between the inmates; soft, anxious, tinged with hope and dread.
Jessica leaned toward Ken, her eyes filled with fear. "I'm scared," she whispered.
He gave a faint nod. "Me too.
"What are our chances of escaping?" She asked.
Ken hesitated, then exhaled. "I don't know. But we have to believe we can".
A bitter smile tugged at his lips. "My parents can't afford the ransom. I'm sure of that". He took a deep breath. "I can't even imagine what they're going through, especially my mom and sister. They'll be shattered".
Jessica looked down, tears glistening in her eyes. "I'm the only girl in my family," she said, voice cracking.
"My dad died in a car accident earlier this year. My mum's been depressed ever since. She was rushed to the hospital just last week… that's why I had to go back to Lagos".
She wiped her face, her voice faltering. "When Scar made me call someone, I called my brothers. I couldn't call her. She wouldn't survive hearing I'd been kidnapped. Life's been… so hard, Ken. It hasn't been easy".
Hearing her talk, Ken felt like a stake was being driven through his heart.
He reached out, squeezing her hand. "It's okay Jessica, don't cry. Nothing will happen to you. Nothing will happen to us. I promise… we'll make it out of here".
It was as much a promise to her as it was a promise to himself.
Ken's eyes? They gleamed with an emotion, determination, and it was far more intense than any he'd ever experienced before.
A moment later, the jarring sound of the lock turning snapped everyone's attention to the door. One of Scar's men stepped in, holding a large nylon bag filled with loaves of bread.
Dinner had arrived.
But no one moved for the food.
Everyone was thinking the same thing.
'Tomorrow, we'll fight for our lives'.