The still voice that speaks

Follow your heart they say, listen to that still voice within you that says “Don’t do this” or “Don’t go there” but most times we tend to ignore that voice and do whatever we want to do.

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A few years back I got a message from an old classmate of mine, we had not spoken for ages, we exchanged pleasantries and had random conversations, in the process of catching up, Emmanuel broke the good news to me or so I thought.

“IB you still model right?” he asked.

“Once in a while, I do it when I am less busy I replied to his chat absentmindedly.

“Oh! Can you model for my new clothing line? I have some models already, I want you to be part of them” he replied.

For a moment I was taken aback, was this not the same Emmanuel that I knew, that was into music, since when did he venture into fashion and design? I asked myself and didn’t hesitate to ask him the same question too.

“For a while now, I have been into it and it’s been going great, can you please be one of my models?” I read Emmanuel’s text and I could sense that he was serious.
Since I was less busy during that period and I needed some free cash I jumped on the offer of being one of Emmanuel’s models.

According to him the photo shoot was to happen the following week but he wanted to have a meeting with all the crew members, this was to enable us meet ourselves and be acquainted with the location and props for the shoot.

Emmanuel sounded so professional that I concluded that the photo shoot was a big deal and had already spent the money that I was yet to receive for the job in my head.

The meeting was fixed for 10:00 am and the venue was Lily Pearls Hotel.

I got dressed that Thursday morning and informed my sister that I was going out, for the first time I didn’t tell my sister where I was going nor did I give her Emmanuel’s number like I usually did whenever I go out with a friend or acquaintance for the first time.

"I am going out, please tell Daddy I won't stay out late," I said while trying to buckle my sandals and immediately I was done I took a glance at myself in the mirror, satisfied with what I saw I bade my sister goodbye not paying attention to the glares she shot my way.

I set out to embark on my journey, but everything felt off, my sixth sense kept screaming Don’t go! Don't go! But I didn’t listen.
To start with I boarded a cab and the driver was a crazy fellow, he kept on driving recklessly we almost had an accident twice and each time that happened the still voice popped up in my ears and reminded me to turn back.

There were days when I trusted my instincts but that day I went against it and wanted to prove that I could be right sometimes.

I alighted at Lily Pearls Hotel, I immediately called Emmanuel and informed him that I was at the hotel, Emmanuel told me he changed the venue already, how do you change the venue without informing a member of the crew, I was annoyed since the new location was a bit far from the Lily Pearls Hotel, but when I thought about the money I stood to gain I shoved my annoyance aside.

I got to Oti’s Hotel 45 minutes after struggling to locate the hotel. I called Emmanuel again and asked him where they were having the meeting, and he said I should come upstairs, I was startled because there was a restaurant and a conference hall on the ground floor of the hotel.
I asked him politely where exactly upstairs was the meeting being held, and he replied by saying "Come to room 819"
"Room 819?" I shot back
"Yes some of the crew members are here, we are checking the designs" he answered.

I was skeptical to go upstairs, I thought about how a supposedly professional photoshoot meeting was being held in a room in an hotel.
The still voice came again, go back home but of course, I had gone too far to return back home.

I took the stairs and headed to the room, the room was located at the topmost part of the building and that part was still under construction and had fewer visitors and staff around.

At the door of room 819, I was greeted with Emmanuel's big grin, he beaconed on me to come inside the room and the moment I did the sight that greeted my eyes was alarming.

I immediately searched for the other “crew members” who were also supposed to be at the meeting but I could only find a boy and a girl who were drinking and smoking, and on the table, I could see some pills, my heart sank, fear gripped me. Was it Emmanuel's plan to drug or kill me in this room where if I scream nobody would hear me, I thought to myself and I could hear the still voice in my heart telling me that I was warned.

"Where is everybody I asked?"still standing close to the door for security reasons.

"Oh they are very close" he replied.

While I was still at the door I saw the two people I met in the room stand up and was about to leave the room. The thought of staying alone in the same room with just Emmanuel gave me the chills, I politely told Emmanuel I didn't like the idea of having a business meeting in his hotel room, I suggested we used the restaurant downstairs but he protested, while he was still protesting I left him and went downstairs.

I called him a few minutes later to remind him that I was still waiting at the restaurant, Emmanuel blatantly told me that he wasn't going to come to the restaurant when he had a room.

I waited at the restaurant which was close to the reception for hours to see the other crew members who he claimed were very close to the hotel already but for hours none came.

I concluded that Emmanuel tricked me into coming for a job while he had other motives, I didn't listen to my instincts but I was glad I wasn't harmed that day.