With a splitting headache, Angel jolted upright in bed.
Her gaze dropped to her wrist—an IV drip was still lodged in her vein.
Panic surged.
It was the third time in her life she'd woken up like this. She looked around the dimly lit room and sighed in relief. At least she wasn't in a hospital.
Zhang was nowhere to be seen. She was alone.
Just as she swung her legs off the bed to reach for her phone, it rang on its own.
Caller ID: Chioma.
With great effort, she stretched out her arm and answered, gripping the phone tighter than necessary.
"Yes?"
"Can you come to the police station?"
The police station?
Her heart skipped a beat. She'd never dealt with the police before—never stepped foot inside a station. Why now?
Before she could speak or question further, Chioma's voice came again.
"We need your statement. Those bitches need to pay."
Then—click. The call ended.
A few seconds later, her phone buzzed with a message:
(Come to the station. You know the place, right?)
At the Police Station...
Zhang sat beside Chioma. Across the room, Stella, Melanie, and Lizzy were lined up, each giving their statements.
"The men we arrested for attempted sexual assault—was that plan orchestrated by you?" the female officer asked, staring down the trio.
Stella sat stone-faced. Melanie looked like she'd been caught in a storm. Lizzy's mind appeared elsewhere, lost.
The officer slammed her hand on the table.
"I asked you a question. Don't even think about ignoring me. Who came up with that vile plan?"
"Look, officer," Stella finally spoke, her voice sharp. "That girl's always been like this—ever since high school. She does shameful things and blames others."
The officer narrowed her eyes.
"As I asked earlier, you told me you attended high school in Lagos, right?"
Stella nodded.
"Then explain to me—how do you know more about her high school behavior than those who actually went to school with her?"
"I... I heard it from them," she stammered, pointing at Melanie and Lizzy.
"Don't feed me that nonsense. Were you targeting her intentionally?"
"We're telling the truth! She's the real villain here!" Melanie jumped in.
Chioma suddenly leaned forward, her tone low but piercing.
"Then why were you laughing and recording her while she cried and begged for help?"
The officer turned sharply. "What?"
Stella paled. "What are you talking about?"
"Who do you think called the police?" Chioma said. "I was scared I'd be a victim too... So I called. I was a coward, but I didn't want her to lose her dignity."
The room went quiet.
Just then, a younger officer entered, handing a file to the lead officer and whispering something into her ear.
She flipped through the pages. Her expression changed.
"What a record you have here, Miss Stella."
Stella stared at her, then turned toward Chioma and the newcomer.
"What record?"
"Too many things to count." She turned her focus. "Back to you. Name?"
"James," Zhang replied calmly.
"Mr. James, understand this: whatever you say here will be used against you in a court of law."
Zhang nodded. He already knew that. He had nothing left to lose. With only a month left to live, this was as good a time as any to come clean.
"We were cohorts. She—Stella—was known for switching boyfriends constantly. She promised to date me if I raped her roommate. That night was her idea. But it failed, and she kicked us out. Later, I realized she'd used me. I've carried that guilt ever since."
Mouths dropped open.
"You bastard!" Stella screamed. "I've never even met you! Why are you lying?!"
Then, a voice interrupted—quiet but sharp.
"Isn't your name already tainted?"
Everyone turned toward the door.
Zhang and Chioma immediately relaxed. The others stiffened.
There, standing pale but poised in the doorway, was Angel.
"Who are you?" the officer asked, slightly annoyed by the interruption.
"Good day. I'm Angel Selma—the victim."
The officer raised a brow. "Aren't you supposed to be in bed?"
"I was. I just woke up. Still have the drip attached. It was too expensive to waste." She gave a weak smile.
The room chuckled.
"So... why are you here?"
"Can I ask for permission to slap someone?"
The officer looked mildly amused. "You're the victim. And honestly? I'm hoping someone gets what they deserve. Go ahead."
Angel walked directly up to Stella.
Fidgeting, Stella stammered. "W-What are y-you... doing?"
"Relax. It's legal. I asked first. And frankly—you deserve a beating or two."
SLAP. SLAP.
Two clean slaps echoed, drawing everyone's attention.
Angel grabbed Stella by the collar and smashed her head against the table—once, twice, three times. Blood trickled from Stella's forehead.
"I've been dreaming about this. But I obeyed my mother—she told me to endure. Now? Not anymore. I'll stitch you up. I'm a final-year nursing student."
She turned to Melanie.
Three quick punches to the stomach.
"This is for blaming me and almost getting me expelled."
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Melanie's head met the table.
Then Lizzy.
The slaps were too many to count. Lizzy's cheek swelled.
"This is for accusing me of something I didn't do."
She returned to Stella.
SLAP. "This is for the first rape attempt."
SLAP. "And this—for sending people to gang-rape me a second time."
She turned to Zhang. Grabbing a police baton, she struck his back.
"This is for attempting to rape me... and for planning to do it to my sister. But I'll overlook it now. We're even, right?"
Zhang winced, nodding. "Thanks for forgiving me."
"You're welcome." She gave him a small smile.
The station fell silent. The once-broken girl now stood—trembling, pale—but powerful.
Even the female officer gave her a thumbs-up.
With the confessions and evidence, the girls were taken into custody to await trial.
Zhang was ordered to pay a fine. Angel quietly told the officers,
"He only has a month left to live."
The ₦100,000 fine was paid.
Chioma escorted them until they boarded a Keke back to the lodge.
As they settled in, a voice called out.
"Angel."
It was a voice she hadn't heard in a long time—but one she could never forget.
She didn't turn immediately.
Because she already knew who it was.
"Long time no see..." Angel said softly, still leaning on Zhang's shoulder for support.