ALIVE DEATH

A Step Away

ACT 2 SCENE 2

(Chris regains consciousness. He unsteadily gets up from the couch rubbing his eyes as he slowly approaches the staircase. He pauses on seeing his mother and a strange man lying on the floor in front of the stairs. Tears ran down his cheeks as he staggers back and shouts his father's name).

Kofi: (Gets himself up clinging to the stairs to support his body, shakes his head and without a moment of hesitation makes this way unsteadily into Abena's room) "Abena... Abena... Abena... , sweetheart..." (In a teary voice) "Respond my... darling... daddy is... calling you".

(Meanwhile the man in the grey trench coat regains consciousness but continued to lie down unable to move his body. He forcefully turns his head to look up the stairs and on seeing no one shout Kofi's name several times).

Kofi: (Wipes off the tears on his face and unsteadily makes his way through Abena's door down the stairs. Looks down at the man's face as he falls to his knees saying it didn't work she's gone). "She's gone... forever, she's... gone".

Man: (Still lying on the floor with Kofi kneeling beside him) "That... is pale... to what just happened now. Lift your head and look to your right ".

Kofi: (Looks on with his mouth wide open and tears streaming uncontrollably down his face).

Man: (Speaks in a tone of comfort) "Kofi, your children are not gone, they are still here, help me up, we can still save them".

Kofi: (Lambasts the man) "Help yourself, You! You! Came into my home! I don't even know who the heck you are! And now, I've lost all my family! You are to blame for this! I may have lost only my daughter, but you made me loose all my family".

Lois: (Starts to groan and opens her eyes. She tried to get up).

Kofi: (Turns to look at Lois) " Lois, Lois, Lois".

Lois: (Her attempts prove futile and she lifts her eyes to Kofi) "Kofi".

Kofi: (Still in tears but with a smile on his face) "Oh Lois... , darling"
(Gets up to lift up Lois).

Lois: " No Kofi, Lift him up, he can save us. Trust me Kofi, please".

Kofi: (Helps the man up to his feet without questioning his wife)"Get up you".

Man: (Staggers for a second and regains his balance. Looks around, and bends down to pick his hat. Holds it in his left hands and pulls from it a small brown book of unique design) "Get back Kofi"

Kofi: (Raves) "I am not getting anywhere"

Man: "Kofi..."

Lois: ( Cuts him short) "Kofi get back now!"

(Kofi climbs up the stairs)

Man: (Opens the book wide, holds it above his head with his two hands and loudly utter some words) "nogeb uoht luof tirips, nogeb uoht luof tirips, evael taht hcihw htegnoleb ton to eeht. Evael "!

(Shadows of creatures rush out of the house from every corner of the house. Chris' body falls limply to its knees. Kofi with no hesitation rushes to Abena's room on hearing a scream from her room).

Kofi: (In a desperate tone) "Abena, Abena, Abena".

Abena: (Slowly opens her eyes and groans).

Kofi: (With tears in his eyes hugs her daughter) "I... I... thought I'd lost you".

Man : (Helps Lois up her feet just after helping Chris back into the couch).

Lois: (Struggles to gain her balance for a moment) "Thank you very much". (With tears streaming down her face as she hugs him). " Thank you very very much".

(Chris' groan breaks up the hug. Lois's attention is now drawn to Chris).

Lois: (Looks stupified) "But he said only my daughter".

Man: "You can never trust such a loathsome creature" (hesitates for a brief moment) " Look Lois..."

Lois: (Cuts him short) "You haven't told us your name"

Man: "Look Lois, my name is not important now. You and your family have to leave this place right now. They will come back here again"

Chris: (Looks at his mum, confused) "Maa, my head hurts, I wanna leave this place maa. "Something whispered into my ears 'I'll be back'. I'm scared maa. (Starts to cry). Let's go away from here".

Kofi: (Shouts) "Lois, Lois, come up, Abena is calling your name".

Lois: (Turns to leave to Abena's room).

Man: (Stops her by the shoulder) "Lois, get them down here we have to leave now".

Lois: (Says no word and rushes to Abena's side and with tears in her eyes says to her) "My sweetheart..."

Abena: (Interrupts her in a tired tone) "Mom, we need to leave now".

Lois: (Turns to look into Kofi's face, who just couldn't make any sense from all that is happening) "I'll explain later Kofi, but we have to leave".

Kofi: "No Lois! I need to know what's happening now"

Lois: "I know honey, but..."

Kofi: (Cuts her short, gets up to his feet and raves) " Lois, don't you think this is too much to take in. I need an explanation now".

Man: (With a tone of urgency) " Lois, we have got to leave now!"

Kofi: "And who the hell is that man!"

Lois: (With tears in her eyes) " He's our saviour Kofi, so go down to our room and take everything you can. We have to leave now! (Now with a clam voice) "I'll explain everything when we get out of here honey, I will, I promise. Please just lets get out of here".

(Lights fade out and fades in, with Lois and her family all packed and ready to leave).

Man: "I have a van parked outside".

Kofi: "Cuts him short) "No, we'll go by our car".

Lois: "Kofi"

Kofi: "Okay we'll take your van".

(Everyone walks outside with Lois, holding Abena's hand and everyone else carrying a part of the luggage).