When the man left the room, silence lingered in the room. Jane and I just sat there staring at the door where the man just passed through. We didn't say a thing to each other for a very long time, not like we had something to say in the first place. We were both trying to take in what the devil-looking man had just said. 

     I was thinking so hard about what the man meant by his boss wanting my father to be his transporter. Who is his boss? Could he be the mafia of one underground casino? You are probably wondering how this little boy knew about a casino or a mafia? Well, I don't gamble moreover, there is no casino in Old Town and don't think I'll gamble if there is. Trust me, Mum will kill me if I do. So, I might not be an intelligent student but I am a smart one and that's how I got to know about this casino and its mafia.

    When I was in Elementary 3, there was this boy in Elementary 4 so he is my senior. This boy is a very big, huge guy, he looks overage for his class and that's why we all call him Biggy. He likes the name though. I was on my way to my class for Prep one day when Biggy called me. Biggy's class is just a few steps away from my class while the cafeteria is beside Biggy's class. So I have to pass in front of his class while coming from the cafeteria to get to my class.

    "Go and take a bucket fee cry toilet and fetch water for me," Biggy said when I got to where he was sitting. I fetched the water since it was something normal around the school for juniors to be ordered around by the seniors. So I obeyed. I wish it stopped that day but Biggy kept doing this and sometimes keeps from having my Prep. That's why I plot revenge.

    Biggy called me, as usual, that day to fetch water for him but I already had a grand plan for him. There was this leaf at the back of our school, Jane once told me that if it touches your body, it will start to itch you. So I carefully cut this leaf making sure to cover myself all over. I put the leaf inside his water, left it inside for a while then took it to the toilet for him. I went back to inform him that his water is ready but I didn't leave. I hid in a corner. I wanted to know how my grand plan would go and it was while I hid that I heard Biggy and his friends talking about the casino and how Biggy had won a man's money till he has nothing left on him and was forced to borrow to play again so he may recoup his losses. He entered into so much debt and those that he owed had to call the mafia to deal with him. Biggy said the man's fingers were chopped off by the mafia and he was left unconscious. I pity the man but I pity Biggy in advance of what awaits him. 

    So I was wondering if this man's boss could be like the mafia Biggy talked about. If he is like that, will he chop off my Dad's limbs and leave him unconscious if my Dad still refuses to be his transporter or will he just kill me and show my corpse to him then threaten to kill my mom, and every of his family till he agrees. I know that transporter should be someone like the bald man that drives our school bus since he transports us from our house to school and back, maybe he wants Dad to be his driver, but considering Dad's job as a messenger in the Old Town Defense Unit, he won't like to become an ordinary driver. Mum once told me he is what they call a 'Courier'. See I don't even know what that means. But I do tell my mates proudly in school and they all look at me in awe because they also don't know what it means. 

      "What do you think he meant by transporter," I asked Jane who seems to be lost in her thoughts as well.

     "Mase, he said I'm going to be useful, what are they going to do to me. I'm scared" Jane began to cry again. I got to her side and placed my hand on her shoulder. I'm not the best at consoling people but I tried my best since I practically put her in this situation. She soon stopped crying and we both sat on the floor, side by side, as silence filled the room once more. Jane suggested that we search the room if we could see anything that may aid our escape if we ever have a chance to but we are soon back to our sitting position as we could not find anything useful in the room.

     We soon fell asleep and it was when the iron door makes that creaking sound again that we both knew we'd been sleeping.  

  

       "You seem to be having a nice time," the leader of the gang who I will hereinafter refer to as The Man (because I never get to know his name) said as he entered the room.

      'Nice time my ass' I cursed under my breath.

    "Now someone wants to speak with you and you'll be glad to speak with him too lil boy" the man continued while I stayed there in silence. He pressed some buttons on a small phone that he brought out of his pocket, said some things to someone over the phone then passed the phone to me. 

     "Mase!" I heard a familiar voice as placed the phone in my ear. No doubt it was my Dad speaking. "Are you fine, did they do anything to you, did they beat you, did they..." a lot of questions followed and he didn't wait for me to answer one before he throws the next at me. He was worried about me. Which parent wouldn't be worried when their child is in abduction I thought of Mum at that moment, how will she cope. Her husband and son both abducted in a day. I wonder where she'll be at that time, I don't even know what time of the day it is, I wonder if she did eat or how she'll sleep in our old house all alone till we return; if we ever do. I don't even know if she has also been abducted. A stream of tears flowed out of my eyes like the little stream not too far from our house where some elders go to fetch water.

      "I'll be fine Mase, be careful and eat if you are given. Be strong my boy".I don't know how to feel, but I just nodded amidst the sobs. "I am aware that Jane is with you, hope she is fine, I'll try to resolve everything and get you two out of there as soon as possible" Dad said as it seems they were about to collect the phone.

    "Wait Dad, what do they mean by transporter and why don't you want to do the work," I asked before he could end the call.

   "I can't do it Mase, I can't. I can't let them transport... humans to be used as...." Dad could not finish what he was saying as his captors seems to either have collected the phone or find a way to shut him up because I heard screams just before The Man took the phone away from me and I was left to wonder what they are using humans for.