Everyone Dies

Chapter Three

           Pick only the fine ones ohhh"one of the thugs yelled as the others went round selecting the pretty girls amongst us."Why you wan pick that ugly thing,see fine girl for your back fully equipped from front to back"he yelled as one of them tried picking me."What is this about,where are you taking us to"one of the girls questioned as they ignored her blatantly.They left with seven girls,dragging them out while the ones that struggled with them were beaten regardless of anything."Are we just going to watch this people,are we not going to fight for our rights"a young man echoed loudly,he had a very nice body build but his real age reflected through the wrinkles on his face."Oga abeg just sit down ohhh,what right do you speak of.Right as citizens or hostages,please don't let them hear you ohhh.Because this nonsense you are saying now can provoke this men."       Another man rebuked in annoyance."You all are cowards, especially you my friend.A gallant man won't say those things you just uttered from your mouth"he replied as the man bounced on him with a heavy blow.The fight went on for minutes as no one was interested in wasting the last iota of strength they had left in separating them."Keep it down,don't make me come in there"we heard a voice yell angrily."Here,eat"one of the thugs yelled throwing a tray,it contained ten pieces of bread.Not sliced bread but what we knew as Agege bread.Everyone glared at each other waiting for the right time to grab a piece our eyes partially fixed on the tray."We don't want it,what do you take us for? They are more than 20 people in this room yet you bring in ten pieces of bread.We would rather die than eat this food"the man yelled at the thug as everyone stared at him in shock,our mouths wide open."Okay then,your wishes are my command"the thug replied taking the food away as we rushed after him pleading."What have you done,that is our morning, afternoon and evening food you fool"a man cursed from behind."I told you people that you are all cowards but unlike you I am very brave and I'm ready to start a protest with or without you people"he yelled as every glared angrily,their eyes blood red.As the saying goes a hungry man is an angry man.In a few seconds they all bounced on him afflicting Torture to the young man who laid helplessly on the floor."Guys he is not breathing,I think he is dead"a man announced as everyone withdrew from the dead man."That serves him right"another man said as everyone turned to look at him in shock.Just like that we had suddenly turned into killers,killing ourselves with no remorse.
            After that day everyone was careful of their actions,no one wanted to do anything to offend the others."You are hurt"I heard a voice ask from behind."Let me see"he said stretching his hands towards me as I moved away from him."You don't talk much,the last time I heard you speak was when that lady died from an asthmatic attack"he said sitting next to me."This must have been from the time when they tried dragging you away,you need to cover the surface or it might get infected."he continued leaving a scarf next to me before walking away.I sat still, flustered by his actions,ever since Ma died no one even bothered to ask how I was.I started to feel like I was invisible and now this.All day his face kept appearing in front of me,his actions lingering in my thoughts.He looked okay,he had a muscular build,nice hair,fair skin,pink lips,gap teeth and even dimples.Every day I kept taking short glances at him trying my best to avoid eye contact.
            "Move aside"a man yelled pushing me away as he snatched the last morsel of food I had in my hands.I took a deep sigh realising that it was my day to starve."Do you care"a familiar voice asked,it was my dream guy I thought as I turned and met him smiling at me,a piece of bread in his hands."We can share"he continued his gap teeth very visible. "No it's okay,you can have it."I said refusing his offer."Come on,I don't mind."he said placing the bread in my hands."Thank you"I replied with a smile."Wow,this is the first time I'm seeing you smile,and you have such a lovely smile."he said with a smile as I burst into brief laughter exposing my side gap teeth "Mind if I ask your name?He said,his smile fading as he tried wearing a serious look."Kasarachi"I replied in a timid tone."Lovely name,I'm Chidi by the way."he replied eloquently.After some days we graduated from sharing bread to sharing other things,we shared in each others pain,each others happiness and each others past.Turned out Chidi was not an illiterate like I was,he was highly educated and lost his job only recently due to the change of directors in the company.Old employees where fired and replaced with new ones.I could finally understand what everyone meant by "Reason  to survive."I finally had my reason,Chidi was my reason to survive and I didn't just want to survive I wanted the both of us to.They have to be a way I thought devising and planning ways to survive in my head. "As the saying goes if there is a will there is a way"