I don't know how long i stayed hidden but by the time i came out of hiding, my joints hurts and my limbs had lost feeling from contorting my body and trying to make myself as small as possible so as not to get noticed.
I stretched out and looked about cautiously. It was safe to come out. I moved swiftly in the direction of my hostel when i saw something that made me catch my breath.
A sob built in the back my throat and before i knew it, tears were running down my face
''help me...please''.
A girl laid half-conscious on the ground. Her dress was ripped in shreds like brutal animal attacked her. Bruises bloomed across her face and when she tried to roll to her side, she gasped in pain as her body folded abdomen, the way her face twisted in pain and i knew.
It was no animal that did this, it was a man. I had to get her medical attention but the health center was at the other end of the campus.
I needed help but no one else was around, they must
have all fled for safety. I leaned down to help
her up, there’s no way I was going to leave
her there.
The sound of gunshots ricocheted off nearby buildings and I knew we were still in danger. “Come on, I need you to please cooperate with me.” I whispered as we made slow progress towards the hostel.
It was the safest place i could think of. We could wait there until they leave and then I’ll take her to the medical center.
Few meters away from the gates, she collapsed.
“No, no, no, please don’t. Not now.” I
whispered urgently as I struggled to keep her vertical.
Footsteps came running in our direction and i tensed. What should I do? Should I run and
leave her? No, I couldn't do that. If I’d been abandoned too two years ago, I wouldn't be
alive today. I sighed in relief when I recognized
the figure headed towards us. It was Stacy.
“Quick, get up we need to get to safety.” She
dragged me up and that was when I noticed
there was a guy trailing behind her.
The situation was too dire to fully comprehend the
fact that a guy was going into our hostel with us. But when the door was shut behind us and the danger had passed, I turned to face him, his
direction anyway, since I could barely see his
face.
The power was still out. “What do you think you’re doing?” I yelled.
I realized the unconscious girl was nearly half-
naked so I groped around for my blanket and
threw it over her before I turned my attention
to him again.
“Monica, calm down. This is my boyfriend
John; he isn't going to harm you. In fact,
his presence here will do the opposite.”
The glow from Stacy’s phone screen was enough for
me to see her face and that of the guy standing
beside her. She rummaged around for a
moment before lighting a candle.
Well, would you look at that, there were candles
in the room after all? I felt like smacking myself.
“How come you guys aren't at the party?” I
asked eyeing him warily. He was a tall, dark guy
with dreadlocks that were neatly tied with a red
bandanna. He ignored my suspicious scrutiny.
“Well,” Stacy looked away shyly. I blinked in
surprise. It was the first time she looked shy of
anything. “We planned to head to the party
eventually after we, well, um.” He gave her a
mischievous look I didn't understand and she
cleared her throat. “Anyway, we were spending
some time together when we heard the raid so
John decided to bring me back here.”
I sighed and nodded. He couldn't have just left
her at the gate anyway. Besides out there was
dangerous and in here was safe.
A scream resonated through the hostel. I held my breath as everything went still. I glanced at the faces of
my companions to see if they were thinking in
the same direction as I was. Stacy’s eyes grew
wide but she seemed calm in a way. John
seemed to care less as his body stance was
relaxed.
The girl was still unconscious on the bed.
“Guys, I think they got in.” I whispered.
Suddenly, I heard doors being kicked open and
shouts of men followed by laughter. Was that
female laughter I heard?
“Stay behind me and don’t say a word.” It
was the first thing John said in the short while
since I met him. Stacy complied and grabbed my
hand to pull me behind him too when I didn't
move.
The door burst open and a group of three
people walked in with their faces partially
covered with masks. Two of them carried arms
but the third didn't look like he needed it. He
was built like a rock.
“What do you say, should we rough ‘em up a
bit?” The first guy spoke in a deep voice that
had a strong Russian accent.
He took a few steps closer, eyeing Stacy hungrily.
In that moment, I was glad that I didn't have such a killer figure as she did.
John stepped up to the challenge when he saw
the way the guy was eyeing his girl. I was
honestly curious as to what he planned to do
when he was out numbered; three to one. He
dipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out
an object. I tried to catch a glimpse of it but my
gaze became preoccupied when I noticed the
girl among them point a pistol toward us.
She was slim and of average height but that
didn't make her look any less imposing.
He raised his hands slowly so as not to trigger
any negative response from the group and
tossed the item to the one who was built like a
rock. He caught it easily and examined it. When
he raised his head, his whole demeanor changed.
“Let’s go.”
.
.
.