Forty Eight

Ugwa

I woke up to the sound of rain on the roof. I was feeling so cold and the freeze from the floor was entering my bones because I was lying down on the floor.

I heaved a deep sigh and sat up, hugged my legs and sighed again.

I began to worry about my family, my mom most especially. I'm quite sure they wouldn't tell her about me being missing. It would worsen her condition.

I looked at the door and noticed there was a slight opening. I stood up and walked to it, the door was opened.

I gasped and covered my mouth.

It was not closed... For real.

Plenty things ran through my mind. I thought of escape and I was bent on doing it.

I went back and took the black scarf that the man wearing a mask gave me. I covered my head and hid myself in it. I gently crept out of the room and closed the door gently so no one would suspect I had left.

I looked at the hallway and didn't know which side to take. Either left or right.

My heart was beating loud and fast.

I decided to take the right path. I walked fast, barefooted and scared. The cold breeze was blowing my scarf but I held it firmly in place.

I kept walking and hiding in the dark parts of the building whenever I heard strange noises.

I was walking with my spirit because my body was as weak as jelly. It was God that held my body in place.

I kept walking and hiding. I saw a man, shirtless and with a big black bag walking in the rain. I watched him till he vanished into the dark.

Why would someone enter this chilling rain without wearing any protective clothing?

I shrugged and continued my journey. I was actually going to enter the rain too, like that crazy guy but I wanted to have a clear path first.

I was ready to enter when I reached a spot but I stopped because I heard gasps from a room. I became scared and I hid somewhere. The gasps were like that of someone who was dying.

I noticed they were coming from a room.

I began to hear little words from the person. I moved closer to the room and the words became clearer, it was 'help'. The person was saying 'help'.

I didn't know when I opened the door.

I gasped and felt goosebumps all over my skin.

It was Andy, sprawled up on the cold floor with blood dripping from his mouth. He was holding unto his chest.

Me: Andy..

I ran to him and knelt down. I held his face

Me: Andy.. What's wrong? Baby talk to me...

My tears were already falling because the sight I saw was too painful.

Me: baby it's me. It's Ugwa. I'm here

I hugged his head against my chest and cried. I was so scared.

I began to pat his back a little and soon, he stopped gasping for air. His breathing normalized and I felt his hand moving up. I looked at him.

His hand touched my face and I smiled.

Me: don't worry babe. I'm here. We're in this together, okay?

He gave a faint smile and I hugged him tight.

We stayed like that for almost an hour without saying a word.

The rain had subsided. I found out that the door was still open

Me: OH my God. I left the door open. I have to close it.

He gently lifted himself from me

He wasn't bleeding anymore but the blood stains were still there.

I stood up and walked to the door, I looked around and saw that no one was in sight. I looked back at him and I decided to just escape with him.

Me: do you have strength to walk? We can get out of here.

He nodded and I helped him up. We got out and closed the door then gently entered the dripping rain

Daniel

I parked my car beside the road on the street and looked at Chubi.

Me: you're feeling cold?

Chubi: a little

I smiled at his American accent.

Me: don't worry. You'll be home in minutes. Just get back into the bag

I smiled at him as he entered the bag again. I zipped it up and opened the door, I got out with him and I gently hung the bag on my back.

I kept walking by the street until I reached their house. I brought out my phone and called Anibe. He didn't pick at first but when I called him the second time, he picked.

📲hello Anibe

📲hey. What's up

📲I have your brother here. Just come and take him. He's outside the gate. Please don't alert anybody, just your father.

📲and why should I believe you Daniel?

I dropped the bag and unzipped it.

Me: Chubi speak with your big brother

Chubi : hii. Anibe it's me. Daniel brought me home

📲what? Chubi is that you? Please don't prank me.

📲he's the one. I'm leaving now. Make sure you take him.

I hung up and looked at Chubi.

Me: be a good boy okay. I'll be hiding by the corner there, when he comes and takes you then I'll leave.

Chubi : thank you so much Daniel

Me: you're welcome

I patted his head and left to stand by the corner.

He was still in the bag though his head was out. I had my hand behind me, firmly gripping unto a gun, just in case something comes up. I know my dad has moles in their house and I hope they're wise enough not to trust any guard.

Soon the gate opened and thankfully, it was Anibe and his dead. I heaved a sigh of relief when they both knelt down and hugged him.

I felt a sting in my eyes and I knew if I didn't leave, I'd cry.

I blinked repeatedly and looked away.

When I looked back, they were already going back inside. I smiled and turned to leave.

When I got to my car, I remember that Andy was in a bad condition when I left him. He was choking.

I hurriedly drove back to the estate and ran to his room but to my dismay, he wasn't there. I saw blood on the floor and my heart dropped.

What could have happened to Andy?

Ugwa

Me: here, sit... Let's rest a little

I helped him sit on a log of wood then sat beside him

Me: how do you feel now?

He just smiled. He hasn't spoken a word since.

Me: don't worry, we'll be home soon and this would soon be over

I kissed his forehead and hugged him.

It's been about two hours since we escaped from that prison. To be honest, I do not know how we did it. We didn't even meet any complications at all and I'm still wondering if God had personally struck the guards with sleep and led us out just like he did with Peter in the Bible.

I looked down at Andy's face, his eyes were closed but his face looked troubled. He has been through a lot.

I looked around us, it was just a thick forest with crickets chirping and frogs disturbing with their croaks.

It was still very cold but who cares, the most important thing is to survive.

About an hour later, we began to move again. We kept walking through paths until we reached a road. It was quite empty and there was no sound of vehicles approaching or going.

Andy and I kept walking. It was a bright night because rain and washed off the clouds and the moon was shining bright, as if God ordered it to shine on our path.

We would have been faster in our journey but, we both lacked strength and Andy was leaping.

Soon, we saw a light from the far end of the road. It kept getting bigger and bigger until we could detect it was a car. At first I was glad that we could get some help but then I became scared again, what if it's Eden Alberto's men.

I looked by the side and saw a huge tree

Me: quick, let's hide, quick!

We quickly hid behind the tree and I peeped as the car drove by. It was a tinted car so I couldn't see the person inside.

The car went a few metres and reversed. It drove back to the side of the road where we were and stopped. The driver got out and I gasped, it was Daniel.

Me: (in whispers) Andy look, it's Daniel

He looked and his breathing fastened

Me: are you okay?

He kept looking at Daniel who had bent down and was holding unto a black substance.

Oh no! My scarf!

I must have left it when we were hurrying to hide behind the tree.

Suddenly a bright light flashed against us. I closed my eyes because the light was too powerful.

Then it went off.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Daniel right in front of us

Daniel: Unugwa

I didn't answer. I felt Andy grip unto my wrist tightly.

Daniel: come with me. I'll take you to somewhere safe, away from my father.

Me: no. We'll find somewhere safe by ourselves.

Daniel: you don't know how dangerous the town is now. My father has sent men to look all over for you. No single place is void of his men. The second he found out you two had escaped, he went mad like a dog. Unugwa, you and Andy are in great danger

Me: I knew it. I knew you were your dad's accomplice. How did you know all these if you haven't been working with your dad? How I'm I sure you're not here to take us back to him?

Daniel: I'm sorry for the pain I've cost your family. Your family and that of Andy. But believe me I don't want that life anymore, I want to help. That's why I didn't let that man molest you. That's why I gave you the scarf and gave you food. That's why I took Chubi back home

Me: what?

Daniel: Unugwa believe me I want to help.

I blinked my eyes

Me: you're that man who was walking shirtless in the rain, with a bag hung on his back.

Daniel: yes. And it was your brother who was in that bag. I was returning him home without the knowledge of my father.

I exhaled and looked at Andy.

Me: okay, we'll come with you but promise us you won't betray us

Daniel: I promise

I nodded and held Andy's waist. We began to move towards the car. Daniel quickly opened the back door and we entered then he closed it.

He drove off immediately and after long minutes of driving, we arrived at a house. A local house with rusted roof.

He helped us out of the car and we walked to the door. He opened it and we entered.

The inside was quite warm and looked better than the outside.

There was a sofa against the wall and a wooden table in front of it. The floor had a fading red rug and the windows had old curtains

I helped Andy sit on the sofa

Daniel: no one would suspect you being here. I'll contact your families then you'll be back to them as soon as possible.

I nodded and crossed my arms.

He made to go to a room through a door by the left when I stopped him

Me: Daniel wait...

He looked at me

Me: why are you doing this?

He chuckled a little

Daniel: because someone's last words to me were 'at least for once, make momma proud by doing the right thing'

He then walked through the door