CHAPTER ONE.
The sun had barely risen over the cite Eden, casting a soft glow on the dew-kissed building. i sat my table Chair, scheming through my notebook, While mingling from one textbooks to the other, the epitome of a student lost in the throes of an exam preparation. My mind, however, was not on the pages before me but on the phone call that had come at dawn.
While I had my normal rush hour doing my morning routines, My Phone rang.
“ Hello Papa” I answered.
“ Hello Ann. How are you my Child”
“ I am good Papa.”
“Papa hope all is well? Because I know you too well. It’s unlike you to call this early morning.”
“You’re right my Child. But the worst has happened again. I want you and your siblings to come home.”
“Papa, Hope all is well!. I have an important exams to write tomorrow and if I miss this exams I wouldn’t be able to validate it.”
“ Come home, Ann. Just come home “
My father’s voice, which was usually stern and unyielding, had carried a tremor that I couldn’t ignore. The urgency in his tone spoke volumes. It was a summoning I felt compelled to heed, yet the weight of my academic future bore down on me.
The exams were my stepping stone, my path to a life where I could stand as an equal in any circle. To flunk them was to tether myself to a fate I had long vowed to rise above. But family—family was the anchor that held me to the world, the compass that guided my morals.
Torn between duty and ambition, I wrestled with the decision. The reasons for the meeting were shrouded in mystery, a suspense that gnawed at my resolve. Could it be about Kemi? Was there news, or perhaps something more dire that required her presence?
With a heavy heart, I closed My books. “The exams would have to wait, for the call of blood was louder than the call of paper”. I said to myself. I Parked my bags my mind a whirlwind of scenarios, each more unsettling than the last.
As I stepped out of My Cité, the air seemed to hold its breath, the city of portan tableau of life paused in anticipation. I knew that whatever awaited me at home would change the course of my story, for better or for worse. I rushed out with my back, stopped a bike and hopped on. He took me and left me at another town that let to mine. As I stood there waiting for a taxi, I spotted a beautiful waterfall on the mountain. I thought of it as just an irony. Yes indeed many things had changed a lot. The once enjoyed Town had changed. But all negative changes; Transportation, had increased, people have died, the sounds of Gunshots had become a common thing. Kidnapping and killing was no longer inevitable.
As I pondered on everything, a Metal scrapped looking Car stopped In front of me. “ We go?”. Uttered the driver in pidgin English.
“ Yes please.”
“Wuside you de go? “
“ Please will you drop me at Kendy junction?”
“ OK, enter. Ya money na 800fca”.
“ What!!! For what now? Am not carrying any luggage?”
“Madam are you going or not. Do you know the amount of control check points I have to settle on the road??. If you’re not going I will move to the next passenger.”
As soon as he said that, he kicked off and I had to run behind him. I had no choice. He wasn’t lying about the checkpoints though but he exaggerated the transport. We were now seating in the car awaiting other customers. I took out my ear piece and put them on my ears, took out a textbook and was reading. I spotted some few people running towards our direction. I didn’t quite think it was something serious until I saw the driver freaking out running out of his car.
I immediately took out my earphones only to be welcomed by an unfamiliar gunshots. I didn’t stand for minute to think of what I was going to do, so opened the door and joined the crowed. I spotted my driver’s lifeless body on the ground as blood came out oozing through his neck. I had no time to mourn and I noticed that if I were to continue running like others, I might be the next victim of a stray bullet so I rushed into a nearby shop and laid down till we were certain the shooting had stopped. I came out took another taxi which had now increased it’s price to 2k. I had no option but to leave that place I had seen a lot already. This shooting was spearhead by gun exchanged between the separatist and the military. It was disastrous as it let to the death of eight people.
TO BE CONTINUED
What will Ann find at home? What secrets awaits ?
