Chapter 1 - Escape
Journal entry
Many are mad but few are roaming. Many are bound but few are locked up.
Mina's POV
I sat with my head leaning on the window of the Inter-city coach bus. I was tired but I couldn't sleep. I was hungry but I had traded most of my meals for bus tickets. I've been on the road for two days and a half, hopping from one bus to the other, trying to get as far away from LA as I could.
This was going to be my last bus ride because I'd run out of money to pay my fare. I had no Idea where I was headed. I mean I knew the name of the town - Twinhills, atleast that's what the bus ticket said - but that was it. I had no idea what kind of town it was, what the economic conditions were or how safe it was. But the farther we traveled, the more relief I felt. I took a deep breath and felt my nerves calm a little. I closed my eyes but they fluttered open again as the memories of the past days came rushing through.
Looking out the window, I noticed the woods had begun to thin out and there was a lot of grassland...empty vast green grassland. This must be the beginning of a town or a village. I hope it's a town. There will be more opportunities to stay hidden and make a few bucks here and there. I begin to wonder how I'm going to survive. With no money, no home, no contact, only God knows how I'd make it by. But I didn't want to think about that..there was no point carrying tomorrow's worries.
I left. I made it out. And for now, that's enough.
Not for long though. Reality kicked in. I'm tired, hungry, itchy and uncomfortable. I have been wandering for atleast two hours since I alighted from the bus at the bus station, which looked like a scene from a 1970s movie. I had expected to see ancient looking cottages and small modest houses, but surprisingly, most of the houses were well built and modern. This could well pass for a rich suburban neighborhood.
My stomach must have some kind of sixth sense or something because I'm now standing in front of a diner. The windows have pictures of steaming cups of coffee and pastries. My tired feet shuffled towards it without hesitation.
I heard a clanging of bells as I walked through the door of the diner. I breathed a sigh of relief seeing that it is almost empty. The smell of freshly baked pastries hit me so strong, it had me drooling. There's a middle-aged woman with red hair at the counter. She looked up at me and her eyebrows drew together in question at my haggard-looking appearance. Feeling nervous and self-conscious, I gave her a quick wave and muttered a greeting, then slid into a chair by the table closest to the door.
5 minutes later, I'm still seating here stealing gazes at the pastries in the show glass. This is pure torture. But I don't have enough money. I had rummaged through my back pack and only came up with $1.15 in change.
The redhaired lady kept shooting wary glances at me. She must know I have no money to buy.
'Well I may not have money but I am sure going to eat something' I thought stubbornly.
Talk about hunger-driven faith!
She went through a door probably leading to the kitchen and I eyed the pastries. Maybe I can grab one and run before she comes out.
I hesitated. I've never stolen anything before. The snack warmer housing the pastries opens up from the other side of the counter. I'd have to go around. What if I'm not fast enough and don't get out on time?
The red-haired woman came back.
'Chicken' My stomach accused with a growl. I ignored it.
The woman looked straight at me like she was trying to read my mind. I looked away from her sharp intense gaze, feeling a little guilty.
"Can I help you honey?", her voice had a slight drawl.
I started a little. Then stood up and dragged my feet towards the counter. Might as well get it over with.
"Ummm." I said stuttering, " actually I umm...". She gave me a tight lipped smile meant to encourage me, but her fingers tapping on the counter we're shouting 'spit it out already'.
"I'm hungry" I said matter-of-factly.
She cocked her head to one side" you have any money?"
"About $1. What can it get."
She regarded me for some time with piercing eyes, and I could almost hear the many questions running through her mind. I began to get uneasy. Last thing I wanted was someone playing detective on me. "I'd just have something to eat...anything..and I'd be on my way." I said.
She nodded in a curt manner, but her eyes had softened a little. She put a burger and two sausages on a plate, then poured some juice in a glass and pushed them towards me.
"It's on the house" She said.
My eyes watered along with my mouth at her kindness. "Thank you."
I grabbed the tray and headed back to my table. The world stopped when I took the first bite. I've never had a burger so perfect.
************
"I've never worn a shoe so perfect."
I rolled my eyes. Tetura was one to exaggerate. "You'd be saying the same thing to a new pair of shoes when we come here next month."
"No seriously Mina. I love them"
"Then get them".
She sighed and placed them back on the shelf "They're too expensive".
I shook my head "remind me why we come hear again. Cos u never buy anything. Save me the time Tet, let's go to the thrift store down the street"
Tetura turned around and pinched my nose, an annoying habit of hers when we argue.
"aww" I protested.
"To dream girl..to dream. That's why we come here. Don't you picture yourself wearing all this fancy stuff?" She waves her hand around in a dramatic fashion. Today, we were at a shoe shop and they had such nice shoes.
We do this twice a month right after getting our fortnightly stipend from Madam pepper. We'd eventually end up at the thrift stores downtown but Tetura makes sure to drag me to a fancy store first. She said it was to get our shopping juices flowing. Honestly, the things she comes up with.
So we'd go to nice boutiques and look at clothes and shoes. Tetura claims we're keeping up with fashion. It kinda made sense because we couldn't keep up via newsor social media. We didn't have access to Android phones for our level in the ring. We were newbies and they didn't trust us yet. A smartphone meant wider audience, more connections and a higher opportunity to spill out secrets. So we were stuck with basic phones. WhatsApp was about the only social media app we could get on. And the phone cameras were wack. It's not like we had any great memories we wanted to capture anyway.
So we'd browse through the shops, Tetura acting all rich and grown up and I looking oddly out of place. She had this aura that made her seem high-class and confident. That's until you looked closely and noticed our clothes weren't the real deal. It took a trained eye to notice though. Tetura's shopping skills always got us the best second-hand clothes for a fair price.
I picked up a black sequined dress and held it close looking at the mirror. it was beautiful. But of course I wouldn't buy it. This was just a waste of my time. I'd rather lay curled up on my bunk with a good novel.
"I don't need to come here to picture it. That's what our imaginations are for." I replied.
"Akuko" she sniggered. (Story). Tetura was Igbo. She always chipped in words from her native dialect every now and then. She claimed it kept her close to home. "You can only imagine what you have seen. You think you're so smart but I teach you everything."
I laughed and smacked her arm " shut up smart ass"
she chuckled "yeah...I know I know "
My laughter died down. "I wonder how many more times we have to dream this before we live it though."
Tetura turned and looked at me with soft understanding eyes. "Okay, let's go to the thrift store" she said and linked her arm in mine as we left the store.
**************"*********************
I feel much better now. I had used the convenience to relieve my self and splashed a little water on my face. I sat back in the chair by the door, thinking of what next to do. Redhaired lady was at the back busy doing something and seemed to have forgotten I was there. She only hurried out front when the bell clanged signalling a new customer.
The sun was beginning to set and more customers were trickling into the diner. They all gave me that look of curiosity mixed with disgust. Did I look that bad? I haven't had a bath in three days. I probably stank. I began to smell my armpit but caught myself.
Way to go, Mina!
I look around and I suddenly wonder why the redhead lady didn't throw me out. It was a little diner but it very nice and homey, and definitely too neat for the likes of me. There were beautiful little chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, Amber lights gave it a soft calming atmosphere, potted plants stood in the corners and there was a massive piano by the corner close to the counter.
I shouldn't be here, tainting this beauty.
I stood up and sneaked out the door as quietly as I could. I wandered around for a little while, then I found a sleeping spot. It was sheer luck. I was standing in front of an apartment building with brick walls when I noticed the stairs right from across the street. I remembered Mr Sura, who had a shop under the staircase of my secondary school building, and it hit me what I needed to do. I passed the little kids playing on the slides and swings out front and walked in. The hallway was clear so I dashed under the staircase and crouched. The steps were wide so I had enough room. I'm confident no one could see me from my here except they were purposely looking. I saw a carton with cleaning supplies in a corner. I removed them and kept them on the floor, then tore up the sides of the carton and opened it up, trying to make as little noise as possible. Whenever I heard footsteps on the steps above, I froze and held my breadth.
Eventually, I had the carton on the ground, my back pack under my head and my body curled up in a fetal position on the carton. It wasn't the best arrangement and was still a little cramped but it'll do for now.
The last time I lay on the floor like this, I was in Nigeria. On the nights the moon was high we will sit on mats in front of the house in the village, and crack jokes with our family and neighbors.
I thought of the times Grandpa exaggerated while telling us his youthful war stories, and grandma had to counter 70 percent of his claims. I thought of the times I attempted to sing Westlife songs with the girls and we destroyed the lyrics so bad the boys made fun of us. But Dagogo said I sang like a goddess an that was all I needed to hear.
I closed my eyes as I imagined the moonlight and the soft warm breeze on my skin. And I felt at peace.
**********************
The peace doesn't last long. I'm sucked into a horrible nightmare. Except it's not a nightmare, it's a memory.
I and Tetura running down the alley, Tetura getting shot on her stomach. We had somehow managed to evade the hunters and ending up in a really dark alley. I figured it was a good place to catch our breadth. Tetura could barely walk anymore, and she was getting to heavy to support. I sat her down in the floor and tried to stop the blood with some clothes from her backpack but the blood just kept flowing and she was grunting in so much pain. I didn't know what I was doing. I wish I had some first aid training. I put my hands through my hair in frustration.
"How did they find us? I wondered aloud
"You have to go Mina" she said as she breathed heavily. "I may not make it"
Tears running down my face, I grabbed her palms tightly "I won't leave you"
"You have to" she said with more firmness in her voice. "You know what they'd do to you if they catch you". I closed my eyes. I didn't even want to think about it.
"What about you?"
"If I make it.."
"You will make it" I cut her off. I need you to be strong okay."
"If I make it, they will try to break me. I may have to tell them things. You can't follow our plan okay"
I nodded in understanding.
I dug out my phone from my backpack "I'm calling 911"
"Don't", she said weakly.
"It'll give you a chance. If they get to you before them..you could still get out"..Tetura began to protest but the call connected. "Hello..please there's an emergency situation...my friend,..she's been shot... she's bleeding out.. please help" I said into the phone.
"Okay, I need you to stay calm and tell me your location?" The operator said in a soothing voice which didn't help me calm down at all..
"I'm not sure... downtown"
"We'd trace your location and send the paramedics. Stay on the line please..".
I tuned out the operator as I noticed a car pass slowly across the alley entrance. It was black with tinted windows. My heart beat faster. The alley was dark so I don't think they could see us.
"Now go", Tetura urged. I hugged her tightly and she winced a little. I quickly pulled back "Sorry. I'd try to reach you somehow. I don't know. Hang on okay. Please don't die Tet."
I dropped my phone beside her so the paramedics could trace her, stood up and started to walk further down the alley.
"Mina" her voice was so weak it came out as a whimper. I froze in my tracks. It broke my heart to leave her like this. I wouldn't turn to look at her because I could feel my resolve weakening by the second. All I wanted to do was drop the backpack, hold her hand and wait till the paramedics come.
"Whatever happens, don't come back. Don't look back. Promise me"
I couldn't get any words past the lump in my throat. A voice somewhere said she wouldn't make it but I pushed it out of my mind. I needed to believe she will make it to be able to walk away.
I managed to give her a small nod, and then I ran off into the darkness. I didn't look back.
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Thanks for reading.
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