THE LIST

chapter 3

I looked through the blinds again, the bulbs still off and the lamp was the only source of lighting we had. I knew he had been watching me for the past half an hour since i left that hiding place. He asked questions but i ignored him. The less he knew the better. I sipped on my glass of water once more, this was my sixth glass, i needed as much water as i could take in.
“i have to leave soon.” I told him as i walked over to his kitchen. I pulled an empty shopping bag and headed for his fridge.
“you still haven’t answered any of my questions. You just cant leave.” He said.
“those officers will be back, if i stay we die.” I tried to explain that much.
“they...they will be back?” he asked, his voice shaky. I nodded as i picked out a few packs of dried fruits and other instant foods from his fridge to the shopping bag.
“i have to face those men again? Alone?” he asked and again i nodded. I wasn’t sure what to tell him.
“those men were armed.”
“so am i.” I did it again, i spoke before i could think. The look on his face was self explanatory, it simply told me i should have kept my mouth shut. “only that i run out of bullets.” I added, hoping that would calm him down but he stood still, wearing that same look in his eyes.
I knew i needed to do something apart from just watch him look at me like a criminal they said i was. The fact that i was a black girl wanted girl, who was armed made it worse. My melanin always stood in my progress. I pulled out my gun from the back of my pants and i saw him fly himself across the room, if lightening wasn’t that fast, then i don’t know what would be.
Slowly i placed it on the island of the kitchen.
“am not going to hurt you.” I assured him.
“but they will.” He assured me.
“as long as you they believe you don’t know me you are fine.” I placed the now full shopping bag on the island. “i need a bag pack.”
He started quite for a while as he watched me then walked across the room to where i was.
“no” he said as he grabbed the shopping bag, “ you are not taking any of my things with you unless you take me with you.”
This was pure insanity. What the hell is going through your mind, i am i wanted person? Which part of not been safe around me don’t you understand?, i wanted to yell all these things out loud at him but i didn’t, because i somewhat understood his fear of facing Enoch again.
“look sir...”
“it’s ta...”
“don’t!” i managed to stop him. “the less i know about you the better, the less we know about each other the better.” I made sure i came out clear. “i cant take you with me. I suggest you stay here, running away would be suspicious.”
“its better than dying.”he said
“its better than living my kind of life.” My voice rose when i spoke.
“am coming with you.” He insisted after some silence. “i need to get away from this place.”
“if you are leaving then get back to korea, don’t stay here, if you leave they will suspect you and come after you.”
“why don’t you go back to Africa.” Of course. I was black, and just because i was black i assumed he assumed that was my home. Well it was, till ten years ago.
“well there is nothing to go back to Africa for.”i said dully, my eyes searching the floor.
“well i cant leave Qatar as well, not yet, but i refuse to stay here and wait to be killed by your people.”
“they are not my people.” I say as i get my gun and shove it in the back of my pants. “they were my people, until Enoch became chief commander.” My eyes trailed down to the photo and business card that lay on the table in the living room. I did look cute in it though. “please don’t leave me here.” I heard him ask. His eyes sincere, his voice deep, he meant every word. Like me he needed his life, i got him in this mess the least i could do was take him some where safe.
“fine,” i said, “have a car?”
“yes.”
I disconnected my phone from the charger he had lent to me earlier and gave it to him.
“how long does it take to reach the high way?” i asked
“fifty five minutes.”
“drive slow, meet me there in one and a half hour. The sound of the car will be my lead in finding you.” I gave instructions, it felt good, it wasn’t like anybody ever listened to me back at camp, its not like i talked much anyway.
“am not leaving this place without you.” He asked placing the shopping bag back on the island surface. Probably he was tired of holding on to it.
“leaving the car behind will surely show them we are together. If you want to survive while you are with me, do as i say.” I told him, placing the phone in his hands and walking past him.
“how sure am i you wont run away.”
“because that, in your hands, is my life.” His eyes drove to the phone, then back to me. “ am giving you my life, take care of it.”
With that i headed to the back door, making sure no eye was watching me i sliped through and headed for the bush near by. A few minutes later i saw him walk out. He wasn’t wearing his sloppy clothes anymore. He wore a pair of black thigh jeans that were ripped by the kneels, a black DONALD sweat shirt at a black cap. He just had to wear black, what did he think he was, a movie star shooting an escape scene. If these people were watching him they will notice he is on the run. His bags where also another problem. Sticking with him was probably my worst mistake.
As soon as the engine my thoughts shut down and my legs were ready to hit the road. I was fully recharged now, i could run another couple of hours without worrying about water, deep down i prayed he didn’t leave my bag of dried fruits behind. I looked down to my wrist, it was 5:56am, time did really fly.
I take a deep breath and then head into the woods. Two, three, four, five, it only took five minutes to realise the car was been trailed, i couldn’t run too close to it or i will be spoted. I take a left and head deep into the woods, barely hearing the sound of the engine. All i knew is that i had to get to the high way one way or another, even if it meant tailing the people tailing me, i was going to get there.