Jasper and Malik swapped positions throughout the night till dawn. As the sun peeped over the horizon, they were already ready to move. “We have to assume that they searched throughout the night. Therefore, it's very possible that they have narrowed down our positions. That being said, we need to be stealthy and quick. No sudden or loud moves. No talking. We need to survive this.” Jasper explained, trying to stoke their morale. Malik and Victoria nodded in unison. With that, they moved out. Jasper was at the fire, Victoria in the middle and Malik at the rear. Their heads were on a swivel. They walked for four hours. There were telltale signs of their fatigue but still, they pressed on. At noon, they had covered considerable grounds. They heard the sound of rushing water and they hurried towards its source. They located the river and were glad. They scooped water in their hands and drank. The water tasted funny but they had no choice. They had not eaten or drunk anything since the m
“Do you think they’ll let us board?” Victoria asked, her voice low as her eyes scanned the endless stream of travelers moving like ants around them. Victoria exhaled sharply, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. “Not without documents.” They walked towards a bench and sat on it. Jasper was out of options. He looked beat. In that moment of calm, the weight of the gruesome escapade that they survived hit him. The forest was still fresh in his mind– the narrow escape, the shots that rang too close and the good Samaritan who emerged like a miracle to save them from what would have been a horrific fate.“I have an idea!” Victoria suddenly announced. Jasper jerked from his reverie. He turned to look at Victoria and gestured to her to continue.Victoria closed her eyes as she tried to calm her breath. “ I know someone. A friend … of a friend. He might help us.” Victoria said, uncertainty clogging her voice. Jasper stared at her for a moment. “ Who's this person? And how do you i
Jasper slipped in and out of consciousness as the taxi sped towards his house. His body was finally feeling the exertion caused on it. The adrenaline had worn off and he felt like an empty shell. The car came to a stop. “ I am sorry sir. There's a hold up. I think there was an accident at the intersection ahead. I'd take a detour.” The driver explained as he turned the car around.Jasper just hummed in reply. He just wanted to get home. About forty five minutes later, the car came to a stop again. Jasper was roused out of his light sleep. He stared out of the window and tried to recognize where he was. He couldn't acquaint himself with his surroundings. The sounds of a police siren slowly filtered into his ears. “Don't be alarmed sir. It's just a regular routine check because of the accident that happened at that intersection.” The driver explained to Jasper. Jasper nodded his head and watched as a police officer walked towards their taxi with a walkie talkie in his hand as he com
The world blurred as Luke tore down the streets at the behest of Jasper. Jasper's hands gripped his knees, guilt cutting through him like a blade. His chest felt hollow as Ariel's words rang in his ears.She collapsed“Luna,” he whispered under his breath, his voice cracking. “Please hold on.”The sirens from a police cruiser jerked him out of his reverie. Jasper glanced at the rearview mirror above the car's central console. He could see a patrol car, its lights blinking and its sirens ringing. A signal for them to pull over the car. Without warning, Luke pulled the car off the road, towards the curb and parked, with the engine idling. The patrol car parked behind them and a bulky police officer got down from the car. The officer fiddled with his utility belt for a few seconds before approaching the vehicle. As he approached, Jasper realized that the man's face looked familiar. Unfortunately, he couldn't place the face; at least not yet. The officer walked up to the driver's door w
The ride to the station was quiet. Chatters from the cruiser's radio were the only occasional silence breaker. Officer Sutton navigated through the busy traffic. At long last, the county station building loomed in front of them. Officer Sutton parked his cruiser and helped Jasper out. He guided him towards the station's door. As they stepped into the station, Jasper was hit by a wave of cold air. The station was busy– officers escorted arrested people to and from the holding cells. Officer Sutton directed Jasper to a particular table where another plain-clothed officer sat. “Good day Detective Jones.” Sutton greeted.Detective Jones, a burly man with a shaved head, raised his head up– a look of disinterest in his eyes. “Who do you have there Sutton?” He asked wearily.“Just a civilian without a means of identification. Struck me as weird. My sixth sense was blowing off the roof. So I decided to bring him in. At least we can dot the Is and cross the Ts.” Sutton summarized. Detective
In an instant, Jasper was at her side, falling to his knees. He grabbed her hand, cradling it like it was the most precious thing in the world. “I’m here,” he choked out, pressing her fingers to his lips.Tears welled in her eyes as she gazed at him. “I thought I lost you. You left out of the blue…. I … I was only left with a letter Jasper. I don't know why…But I thought I was never going to see you again.” she whispered, her voice faint but filled with raw emotion.“You almost did,” he admitted, his voice cracking under the weight of his guilt. “I was trapped… in Mali. I barely made it out alive. They—” He stopped, swallowing hard. “They nearly had me, Luna. I thought I’d never see you again.”Lunas gasped. Her lips trembled. “What happened”?” She asked. Jasper shook his head. He didn't want to talk about it. It would be too troubling and he didn't want to worsen Luna's condition.Luna understood his hesitation. Her hand tightened weakly in his. “When did you return?” She asked weak
Luna blinked at him, struggling to gather strength. “I heard… Mali… terrorists…” Her voice was hoarse, her breathing shallow. “You could’ve died, Jasper.”Jasper squeezed her hand gently. “But I didn’t. I’m right here.”Tears welled in her eyes. “What if you don’t come back next time?”He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “Luna, listen to me. I’m not going anywhere. Mali was an impulsive decision which left a sour taste in my mouth. But moving forward, I promise to be more open with you” His voice softened. “I won’t let anything take me away from you.”Luna swallowed hard, her grip tightening around his fingers. “Promise me, Jasper.”“I promise.” His voice was firm, unwavering. “Always.”A soft sigh escaped her lips as exhaustion pulled her back into sleep. Jasper watched her for a long moment before looking up at Luke.Luke exhaled. “You really scared her, man.”Jasper nodded, his expression solemn. “I know.”And as the beeping of the heart monitor filled the silence once m
“I never asked for your goddamn love, all I needed was your fucking signature on that piece of paper. We both know you're here for the money, so just stop acting like you care. You can suck up your filthy love down your throat” Jasper shouted as he flung and smashed the plate of food Luna just served him against the wall, turned, and left the room.His bloodshot eyes held a cold detachment, they narrowed into slits, boring her with a look that could cut metal.Luna should have gotten used to this attitude by now but his words always cut deeper than any sword could. Luna swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to keep her emotions in check. Of course, she was here for the money, but she had hoped that love would set in just like in movies and fairy tale stories.Sitting helplessly at the far end of the room below the window frame, Luna clenched her fists at her sides, fighting back tears that formed in her eyes, with regret she recalled how it all started.Flashback:
Luna blinked at him, struggling to gather strength. “I heard… Mali… terrorists…” Her voice was hoarse, her breathing shallow. “You could’ve died, Jasper.”Jasper squeezed her hand gently. “But I didn’t. I’m right here.”Tears welled in her eyes. “What if you don’t come back next time?”He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “Luna, listen to me. I’m not going anywhere. Mali was an impulsive decision which left a sour taste in my mouth. But moving forward, I promise to be more open with you” His voice softened. “I won’t let anything take me away from you.”Luna swallowed hard, her grip tightening around his fingers. “Promise me, Jasper.”“I promise.” His voice was firm, unwavering. “Always.”A soft sigh escaped her lips as exhaustion pulled her back into sleep. Jasper watched her for a long moment before looking up at Luke.Luke exhaled. “You really scared her, man.”Jasper nodded, his expression solemn. “I know.”And as the beeping of the heart monitor filled the silence once m
In an instant, Jasper was at her side, falling to his knees. He grabbed her hand, cradling it like it was the most precious thing in the world. “I’m here,” he choked out, pressing her fingers to his lips.Tears welled in her eyes as she gazed at him. “I thought I lost you. You left out of the blue…. I … I was only left with a letter Jasper. I don't know why…But I thought I was never going to see you again.” she whispered, her voice faint but filled with raw emotion.“You almost did,” he admitted, his voice cracking under the weight of his guilt. “I was trapped… in Mali. I barely made it out alive. They—” He stopped, swallowing hard. “They nearly had me, Luna. I thought I’d never see you again.”Lunas gasped. Her lips trembled. “What happened”?” She asked. Jasper shook his head. He didn't want to talk about it. It would be too troubling and he didn't want to worsen Luna's condition.Luna understood his hesitation. Her hand tightened weakly in his. “When did you return?” She asked weak
The ride to the station was quiet. Chatters from the cruiser's radio were the only occasional silence breaker. Officer Sutton navigated through the busy traffic. At long last, the county station building loomed in front of them. Officer Sutton parked his cruiser and helped Jasper out. He guided him towards the station's door. As they stepped into the station, Jasper was hit by a wave of cold air. The station was busy– officers escorted arrested people to and from the holding cells. Officer Sutton directed Jasper to a particular table where another plain-clothed officer sat. “Good day Detective Jones.” Sutton greeted.Detective Jones, a burly man with a shaved head, raised his head up– a look of disinterest in his eyes. “Who do you have there Sutton?” He asked wearily.“Just a civilian without a means of identification. Struck me as weird. My sixth sense was blowing off the roof. So I decided to bring him in. At least we can dot the Is and cross the Ts.” Sutton summarized. Detective
The world blurred as Luke tore down the streets at the behest of Jasper. Jasper's hands gripped his knees, guilt cutting through him like a blade. His chest felt hollow as Ariel's words rang in his ears.She collapsed“Luna,” he whispered under his breath, his voice cracking. “Please hold on.”The sirens from a police cruiser jerked him out of his reverie. Jasper glanced at the rearview mirror above the car's central console. He could see a patrol car, its lights blinking and its sirens ringing. A signal for them to pull over the car. Without warning, Luke pulled the car off the road, towards the curb and parked, with the engine idling. The patrol car parked behind them and a bulky police officer got down from the car. The officer fiddled with his utility belt for a few seconds before approaching the vehicle. As he approached, Jasper realized that the man's face looked familiar. Unfortunately, he couldn't place the face; at least not yet. The officer walked up to the driver's door w
Jasper slipped in and out of consciousness as the taxi sped towards his house. His body was finally feeling the exertion caused on it. The adrenaline had worn off and he felt like an empty shell. The car came to a stop. “ I am sorry sir. There's a hold up. I think there was an accident at the intersection ahead. I'd take a detour.” The driver explained as he turned the car around.Jasper just hummed in reply. He just wanted to get home. About forty five minutes later, the car came to a stop again. Jasper was roused out of his light sleep. He stared out of the window and tried to recognize where he was. He couldn't acquaint himself with his surroundings. The sounds of a police siren slowly filtered into his ears. “Don't be alarmed sir. It's just a regular routine check because of the accident that happened at that intersection.” The driver explained to Jasper. Jasper nodded his head and watched as a police officer walked towards their taxi with a walkie talkie in his hand as he com
“Do you think they’ll let us board?” Victoria asked, her voice low as her eyes scanned the endless stream of travelers moving like ants around them. Victoria exhaled sharply, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. “Not without documents.” They walked towards a bench and sat on it. Jasper was out of options. He looked beat. In that moment of calm, the weight of the gruesome escapade that they survived hit him. The forest was still fresh in his mind– the narrow escape, the shots that rang too close and the good Samaritan who emerged like a miracle to save them from what would have been a horrific fate.“I have an idea!” Victoria suddenly announced. Jasper jerked from his reverie. He turned to look at Victoria and gestured to her to continue.Victoria closed her eyes as she tried to calm her breath. “ I know someone. A friend … of a friend. He might help us.” Victoria said, uncertainty clogging her voice. Jasper stared at her for a moment. “ Who's this person? And how do you i
Jasper and Malik swapped positions throughout the night till dawn. As the sun peeped over the horizon, they were already ready to move. “We have to assume that they searched throughout the night. Therefore, it's very possible that they have narrowed down our positions. That being said, we need to be stealthy and quick. No sudden or loud moves. No talking. We need to survive this.” Jasper explained, trying to stoke their morale. Malik and Victoria nodded in unison. With that, they moved out. Jasper was at the fire, Victoria in the middle and Malik at the rear. Their heads were on a swivel. They walked for four hours. There were telltale signs of their fatigue but still, they pressed on. At noon, they had covered considerable grounds. They heard the sound of rushing water and they hurried towards its source. They located the river and were glad. They scooped water in their hands and drank. The water tasted funny but they had no choice. They had not eaten or drunk anything since the m
Jasper tried to even his breath as he crouched. He glanced at Malik and Victoria, who were also crouched like him. He could see the fear in their eyes and he imagined that his was also the same. The voices of the gunmen were now unbearably close. Jasper signaled to Malik and Victoria to maintain their cool. The last thing he needed was for any of them to start hyperventilating, thereby putting them at risk of exposure and capture. The gunmen stopped moving and started conversing in Arabic. Jasper couldn't understand what they were saying, but he knew Arabic when he heard it. The voices were rising in crescendo. The gunmen were arguing loudly. There was clear confusion and anger in their tone. “They are probably angry because they've lost their cash cows.” Jasper thought to himself. It was common knowledge that foreigners were targets of rural terrorists and militias. The captured foreigners were used as bargaining chips for ransom or some other demands. Victoria and he were the high
The next morning, Jasper went back to the garage. He prayed that a miracle would happen which would expedite his movement out of N'Goko. Unfortunately, his prayers were not answered. Idris reiterated that the repairs were going to take a considerable number of days. Jasper was frustrated. He shuffled his way towards Victoria's villa to inquire whether her offer still stood. Victoria was surprised to see Jasper in front of her door. She welcomed him inside her home. She immediately noticed that something was wrong. Jasper walked with a slight slump in his shoulder. “What would you like to drink? I have cold beer.” Victoria offered kindly. Jasper waved her off. “Thank you. I'm fine.” He stated. “Does your offer still stand?” Jasper inquired. Victoria's eyes were furrowed. She was confused. “What offer?” She asked.“You said you had a chartered vehicle which was coming tomorrow to take you to Bamako International Airport. My transportation option fell through. I need to know if I ca