MISSING - Episode Four

‘Oh no!’

Panic blurred her vision, and her shaky hands searched through her cluttered bag for the screaming phone.

‘Wetin be dat?’

She trembled at the voice and lifted her head, watching as their forms turned to her and stopped, unblinking, unmoving, waiting for her to make a move. Her feet stayed rooted to the cold ground, while her mind willed her to move.

The phone stopped ringing and the men started to walk in her direction.

Was it too late to run? Or should she explain that she wasn’t a threat? A reasonable person would understand and let her go, right?

What an idea! There was nothing reasonable about these men. She’d witnessed what they were capable of.

Her phone rang again, and in less than a heartbeat, all her thoughts disappeared. She flung the phone and bags aside, taking to her heels, the sound of pounding feet responding to her sudden flight.

‘Stop!’

Her feet carried her through the night, and Eunice scanned the area quickly for an escape route. She could feel the men close, and her pounding heart even closer. She turned sharply into a corner and ran faster, ignoring the wooziness she felt. Her foot dipped suddenly into a pothole, causing her ankle to bend under her. She fell to her knees and swallowed hard to suppress her scream. The pain in her foot shot up to her thigh, cutting her momentum short. She looked behind her and saw no sign of the men, so she dragged herself quickly to the side of the street. She was flanked by a small tree and a large waste container which she used to brace herself.

She sprawled on the wet ground, teeth clenched against the pain, and clutched her throbbing leg to her chest. Eunice quickly examined her leg and felt despair wash over her at the realization that she couldn’t outrun the men with her wound. Her best bet was to stay hidden, and she hopped the night would cover her.

‘She suppose dey dis side’

She sat up briskly, and her eyes darted in the direction of the baritone voice. Tears clogged her throat and she clasped her hand tightly over her mouth, desperately listening to figure out how close they were.

“I yan am say we suppose don gbess.’

She heard only one voice, where was the other man?

Eunice willed herself to get up, but could not. There were buildings ahead and if she could move fast enough, there would be someone to help her.

‘Run!’ a voice in her head screamed but she still stayed frozen to the spot. The footsteps stopped suddenly, and a shiver ran up her spine. The night was silent again, but for the sound of rustling bushes, cricket sounds, and occasional barking.

She shut her eyes and held her breath, waiting, listening hoping desperately for a way out. It seemed like time had stopped. Her body ached terribly, and her feet felt like they were on fire from all the running. She clenched her fists to her chest as tears welled up in her eyes. Unable to hold her breath any longer, she choked. Then she heard the crunch of dry leaves beside her, but before she could move,a blunt force hit the side of her head, and everything went dark.

#election #thriller #fiction #nysc #kidnap