ENLISTED

The Runaways

I guess it comes to this.

•••

"Bloody hell!" An agitated voice cursed amidst hush mumbling in the dark of night.  The jingling of keys resonated from a distance. "Shut up! You were wrong, someone's here!" Another aggravated soul growled in a somewhat panic-stricken husky voice.

"Well, did anyone here chicken out and snitch on us¿" The league lead demanded to know but there was only deafening silence for a response.

I shifted my exhausted self on the top bank of my bed suddenly intrigued by where the conversation was progressing to. I hadn't dared contemplated on whatever they were plotting, if it would amount to anything or who in fact were whispering in lowly tones in the next cubicle.

"Me?"

"Yeah,  you! Who are you? Who even looped you in on this?" The vexed person who, seemingly was their leader inquired in a harsh undertone, as attention shifted to a suspect.

I immediately called to mind the rumors that had been flying around the barracks like wildfire the past weeks. There were lots of secretive bathroom breaks, dining hall laughs, side eyes amidst group rehearsals, segregated morning runs and noisy past midnight mutterings in cubicles the.  Apart from that all activities on the daily had gone by like the simulation we'd been accustomed to and save for those isolated moments all else had played on quite seamlessly. The gossiping soon subsided for it seemed untrue like heresy from idles teenage tongues, especially when nothing became of them. The administration who had caught wind of the same had asked about their loyal prefects to shadow few suspects whose mannerisms had been marked as wanting. Nothing, they found nothing fishy to report.

"I...well, you know..."

"Is she a mutt?! Girl, you better talk, we ain't got no time for your stuttering."

The entire week had been laborious, sweat and tears amidst the hottest days and coldest night. All in the name of prepping for our "passing out" which in lay man terms meant "release" from training into service to the nation by The honorable president himself. Most if not all were relieved to soon be getting out of that hell hole as they'd found it quite demonized and tortuous.

I, much as I was equally happy was still sad to be parting ways with my dear friend who had found her strength to come back after mourning and burying her entire family. She said she had no choice, her aunt had counseled her to do so for the sake of her future, "it'll be easier for you to get placed into a government office once you are done with your training and service dear.  You'll be able to be an independent lady." She'd nudged her almost forcefully, as if she felt overwhelmed by the thought of having another mouth to feed in her cramped up one bedroom.  "Remember dearest, it's for the sake of your future." She'd insisted and prodded her back into servitude against all her might, at the time: for the country, for her kinfolk but most importantly, for herself,

It seemed to me that she hadn't had enough time grieving and I wouldn't blame her, it'd take ages to come to terms losing my parents and siblings. Her stance had drastically changed and most days it felt as if I often spoke to an altered version of her. All the intuitive, happy, bubbly characters that made up her personality had since faded.

I sighed.

•••

The chatter had subsided and I must've soon drifted into slumberland when a thunderous voice yanked me awake. Flashlight blazing on my sleepy face. I immediately took notice of Amina's body, stiff as a board, her hijab hang loosely beside the praying mat she slept on as a comfort pillow.

"Where is she!?" She growled threateningly, but I quickly realized she was speaking to the ever snoring Laura who grumbled and cursed beneath her musty breath. "Wake the hell up!" She bang her bat again.

"What!? It's not time for the morning run yet!" She grunted her voice low and disdained. I held my position eyes shut, she was right, it was maybe one thirty early morning at the time.

"Where is the hijabi¿" She inquired, her big reddened eyes almost bulging out of their sockets.

"I don't know, am I her..." Laura quickly bit her tongue sitting up, suddenly aware who her remarks were directed to. "Why?"

"I'm the one asking questions here. You better squeal or I'll make you." Madam barked venomously.

"I certainly haven't seen her in my dreams since our goodnights after lights out. Maybe she went out to poop, she always does that when she's on her period. Something about her cramps correlating to a running stomach. So weird right?"

"You're blathering. She's the fifth of seven girls missing in their banks tonight."

"Wait, what!?" Laura paused nervously, "am I in trouble? I promise you I sleep like a log, didn't hear nothing, if there was anything for that matter." Laura answers defensively certain about what little she knew had materialized.

The corporal grunted, her flashlight pointed at me chewing on air, pretending to be deeply comatose. Laura started whimpering as madam yelled for everyone to fall in.

"You'll all tell the truth today!" She heaved anguished to have been outplayed by a bunch of smart teenagers.

Our house prefect immediately arose and switched on the lights when another whistle was blown.

"On your toes! Everyone! I said now!" She grizzled as if an anguished bear.

"What's happening?" I quizzically asked, briskly taking my spot outside our cubicle, almost certain of the answer I anticipated.

Laura seemed shook, "I thought...I thought she was kidding." She whispered to me weeping at the thought of another punishment.

"Kidding about what?" I anxiously inquired.

"Leaving this hellhole." She gulped restraining a waterfall.

"Who?" I pensively asked.

"Amina and the six." She lowly mumbled. "I really thought they were joking!"

I finally comprehended their entire plot, how Amina's cards had fallen into place, she surely held the very Ace.

"Clarice!?"

"Present." She said, as madam went through her list. The alarms resounded—whining, almost pleading with the insolent enlistees to return to their barracks. The security lights shone through our domitories, across the compound and I imagined beyond the thick dark forested surroundings hunting them down.

It felt as if I stood amidst a movie scene, I never imagined in our tenure we'd be here, in this very moment we were thorough warned about. I wondered whether the weakly Amina had enough strides in her to keep up with the unleashed dogs chasing after them, sniffing for their scents cacthing wind on their paces.

She sure did surprise me, her bravery that is, to dare be named a runaway.

"Edina!"

"Present!" I heaved.

•••

Long time dear readers. Thanks a lot for coming around :)

Appreciate your feedback, any thoughts on what will happen?