ESCAPE

Chapter 8A

We had been running for minutes, probably twenty or more. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest. My legs were tired. They were telling me to quit. It's ok, you're far enough. but no, you can never be far enough, you just have to keep going until you can go no more. Behind me were tiny little footsteps, replicating my every move. I didn't know if she was tired or she gained more strength with each step but I sure wasn't stopping before her. Please stop. I pleaded with her in my mind but led her on with my feet. The more we continued, the wearier I felt, until I could go no more.

'We should stop here.' I blurted out.

She stopped and stared down at me, watching as I bent with my hands resting on my thighs breathing heavily.

'They won't find us now.' my sub conscious glared at me. What are you saying? You don't know that.

She wasted no time sitting on the grass. I followed suit. I looked at her as she sat there in silence, she was trembling. Her hands and feet shaking. Paroxysms was something I've observed in people but hers was severe.

'Hey.' I said calmly. 'We'll be fine. We're safe.'

She said nothing. Just stared at me through little scared eyes. I wondered what went through her mind. I scratched my ear as a mosquito flew past it.

'What do you think we should do now?' I looked at her waiting for a reply but she said nothing. She was soaked in fear. Part of me wished I left her back there and the other part felt pity for her. She was absolutely helpless and right now I was the only friend she had. I scratched my hand as I felt a little itch, probably the blood thirsty mosquitoes having a late supper. I knelt and crawled slowly closer to her taking her hand and placing it softly in mine. I felt her hand tremble in mine and I spoke to her as slowly and mildly as I could hoping she would understand me.

'Hey, how are you?' I scratched my head. 'Silly me, you're obviously not fine. I know you're hungry, cold and even scared' I paused. 'but so am I.           
      Really I am too, trust me. But I have learnt that sometimes you don't let your fears get to you, because fear is a choice. You can either choose to be afraid or choose to be strong. And right now we have to, we need to be strong.' her hands stopped trembling, they were less shaky now.
      'Few weeks ago, I ran away from my fears.' I stopped and sniffed. 'but now, they're all coming back to face me. So what do I do?' I moved my eyes from her and fixed them on the ground. 'Do I run away like I did before? Or do I face them once and for all.' I sighed. 'Sorry I'm supposed to be cheering you up and I'm taking all this nonsense.' I smiled confusingly, as she squeezed my hand hands softly. 'I'm Alex Rodney.' I said nervously. smooth move. It was the only think to say.

'Chidimma.'

'Wait do you understand me?' I said with a little glimmer in my eye.

'Alex, Goodnight.' she smiled and lay down.

All I could do was stare in utter confusion and finally I said 'Goodnight.' and lay down turning my back to her in order to hide my face.

  *               *               *

Birds chirped up in trees, their whistling brought life to the forest. The forest was bright, light shone all around us, showing the green and lively beauty of the African forest. I could hear the incessant screams of monkeys in the distance. My hands itched from tiny swells, my belly rumbled and my back ached from from resting on the hard ground all night. I looked at Chidimma. She was still asleep. Her hair covered in wet little leaves and her hands had little bumps all around them. The mosquitoes were brutal.

I closed my eyes and tried to clear my head. A broad smile spread across my face as the image of Mike's face when he hears I escaped flashed across my mind. I thought of Ahmed. I wondered what would happen to him now, maybe they'll have pity on him and let him go I doubt that. What do I do now? Where do I go? What next?