In her sleep she heard voices, somehow like dreams and somehow reality. The noise got stronger until she woke up. It wasn't a dream. it was Vazzy's voice, raving, to what exactly? She looked at the time, it was 2am. Who could be awake by this time just to quarrel? She lifted herself off the bed and scuttled out to see for herself.
             Reaching the balcony she could hear him better but can't see them. She snuck down the stairs carefully. The night was still and that alone was noticable while in the building. Apart from the stillness both night and day feels the same in the building because the lights and temperatures were controlled and adjusted respectively. 
              Now she could see them, they were many boys from her guesses they were about eleven or more. 
"If you haven't caught work for the past two weeks, come out" Vazzy said, holding a thick wire. Roselyn stood quietly watching.
"If you don't have an ongoing work also, come out. Wait! who is that lazy idiot there? Are you sleeping? your mates are hustling and you are there sleeping? You came to Abuja to sleep? is this how you are going to make it? Do you think you are here to play? if you value sleeping over your success why didn't you stay in your house? The next person to him, activate him with five stars"
"High spirit!" The person to take the order echoed and immediately he was up as if he was given a task he's long waited for. He went to the one suspected to be sleeping and slapped him hard, five times which got Roselyn quivering. 
"Good! You can't be praying for God to bless you and you will be sleeping. God doesn't work like that. you play your role and he plays his. Heaven helps those who help themselves, now is not like In the days of Moses when God sends manna from heaven. We put in work first. We work and pray, faith combine with work as the scripture says amounts to success. By the way, do you have any ongoing work? Any work at hand?"
"Yes"
"How many?"
"One" The voice was almost inaudible because it was choked with pains.
"One work is just as having no work, it can pay, it can crash. And if it crashes you have nothing to hold on to. Apparently, as you know, the probability that it will crash is higher, it's about ninety percent. I will pardon you, but before the end of this section I want you to show me a new work you have caught"
           Roselyn kept watching in silence. wondering what the work is about and gradually she could figure out what it was, but she wasn't familiar with this style of having boys in a building working under someone else. As she kept on watching she could see him flogging three boys who he called out earlier for not meeting up with the demand. He flogged them brutally like criminals. As he did so, he increased the volume of the music so that people outside could not hear the shouting. Roselyn could not bear the sight, she rushed back to her room, as she was running she almost stumbled on the stairs so they noticed her presence.
"I have always known there's something about this house? Everything seems strange. How can boys be in one house doing a job only them knows? And why should he flog his fellow humans like that? I can't keep quiet on this. I'm calling Amanda"
          She reached for her phone, dialed Amanda but it wasn't reachable. She tried it over and over, she mistyped repeatedly because she's trembling. A knock on the door got her even more scared. It felt like horror movies when you know you are running from what will eventually catch you and finally you are in a state where you have no option than to submit. 
"It's me Rosy, please can you open the door?"
             She was quiet, she didn't know what to do. she thought about pretending not to hear so he could think she's sleeping.
"I know you are not sleeping. I saw you"
              This was shocking, making her only option a failure.
"Please, can't we see in the morning? it's midnight already"
"You may not be able to sleep till morning unless your head is cleared"
"He knows?" She thought in silence.
"Please be kind to me by opening the door" He sounded very polite and genuine.,
              She hesitated, stood up reluctantly, with determination to face whatever it is, walk slowly to the door, she opened it and immediately pulled back to have a clear space between them.
"Hey! You look tensed" He said with unexpected gentle tone, leaning on the door waiting for permission to step forward. "I'm sorry, if what you saw down there is bothering you. But I'm sure you know of this, it's not new or a secret. That's how many chairmen does, I'm a kind of gentle with them and that's because of the kind of mind I have. I don't like raising my hands on anyone but here you have to do it, not because I hate them and not because their offense is beyond pardon, no. it's an encouragement to work harder. This place is not supposed to be comfortable for them otherwise they'll feel relaxed and carefree, so giving them this hand gives them reason to work out their freedoms" He actually calmed the tension clouding the atmosphere. 
"Are they hostages?"
"Ah! hahaha" He chuckled as one being misunderstood "No, they are not, but they need to get what they came for before leaving"
"Everyone's destiny and grace is not the same. This may be the way out for some and to some it could be a waste of time and effort. I think not everyone can make it from this and to those who can't make it, will they keep living here with you, to what end?"
"I get your point. However we don't pray for that to anyone"
"Nevertheless, ..it's possible, isn't it?"
"Mmh, well, it is"
"Good"
"But some who are patient enough tends to win big at the end"
"That aside, you call the way you treat them encouragement. I'm not castigating that for everyone understands things in different ways. That's okay to you but to me, it's unfair. You must not beat someone to make that person serious. Some like me, beating me is killing my spirit. it will keep me in constant terror, I won't be able to focus. when I hear about you or I make any mistake I will be trembling. Even some easy things will become difficult to me because I'm afraid if I try to do it and fail I will face my master's wrath. I'm not saying you should be friendly with them but that won't be bad if you do, however, try to make them feel like they are trying. if they are doing well, let them enjoy that glory, for our people says that when a worker is praised he does more. Sometimes you check what they are doing not to find faults but to correct or guide them. Encourage them, see them as brothers and see how things will go. just try it, you will see changes. And as for their stay in this house, why don't you have a specific time one is supposed to spend here. maybe three months, four, five or six. if one can not get what he is chasing then he should leave, at least he's learnt the work already. If he must achieve through this then I think even on his own he will. Yes, God can do anything anytime"
"I provide them with all they need, That's the major reason they came. I didn't kidnap them or forced them into coming. They came because here they can get all the equipments, updates and guidance"
"That's good. But I think when one's time is due whoever wants to go should be free to go and whoever wants to stay should stay. I can tell from what I observed the minds of many are not here again. They are regretting, they didn't expect it to be like this. So, I beg you, I know I'm not supposed to be saying this, not under your roof but I just hope I'm making sense"
"Rosy, it's okay" He said placidly after a little contemplation. "I've heard you. I think I should think about it. You will hear from me tomorrow. Now you need to rest, good night"
"Please, don't be offended"
"No I'm not" He replied simply leaving the room. She jammed it behind her and heaved a deep sigh. She wasn't expecting a peaceful conversation like this but thanks to God he is providing to be a gentleman as her sister claimed. while summarizing the situation her eyes rolled around, there she realized that the plastic flower in the room was luminous- glowing all round, making it look obvious with every color looking exactly as it was in the day time.