CHAPTER 3 : NARROW ESCAPE

I have being driving aimlessly for a while, with the thoughts of everything that has happened occupying my mind and making me unable to breath.

I got out of the car looking like a semi- mental patient, not minding the glances of people around me as I started trekking.

I walked until fatigue took over, looking at where my feet carried me. It was a market place, with different shops lined side by side.

I clutched the safe house address in my palms and made my way to one of the shops with a friendly looking old man.

Weird glances came from people in the other shops, I didn't mind how I was looking or the reason they were glancing at me. I just wanted to be pointed to a direction and regain a little strength.

"Hello", I greeted the man, who smiled at me.

"You must be tired, young girl, where are you coming from", he asked

"From the other side of town", I answered with the little strength I could muster.

"You must have walked a lot to get here, come and rest for a while", he said

"Thanks, I really need it", I said as I sat down at the seat, he was pointing at inside his shop.

Looking at the shop that was filled with pots and utensils to be sold, I opened the paper, containing the safe house address given to me by Mr.Grant.

"Do you know how I can get to this address sir", I asked the old shop owner.

Taking the paper, he read it loud, " this place sounds a little familiar" he said.

"When you're done resting, I will get someone to take you there" "thank you", I whispered, filled with appreciation, as I rested to gain back a little strength.

The shop owner, stepped into the backdoor of the shop , which I guess has an inner room, and came out with a cup of tea.

" I don't really have much dear but you can drink this lemon tea to refresh yourself", he said.

" Thanks", I whispered as I carried the cup of lemon tea from where he dropped it beside me.

I took a sip and felt my strength slowly returning back to me.

I was almost done with the tea, when I started feeling drowsy, I got up to call the attention of the man, when I overheard him on a call.

" I think I have gotten the girl, you talked about, she matches the description, she has a dark eyes and a very eye catching silver hair., she might forget herself anytime from now, come and get her before dawn" he said.

Hearing all that, I fought against the drowsiness, as I made my way out of the shop and started running for my life.

I heard some footsteps behind me, I turned to see the old man chasing after me, with a speed that shouldn't be found in a man of his age.

"Help me,pls help me", I shouted, expecting any of the people in the shops, to turn around and help me, but they all walked back into their shops and banged the door shut.

My heart ran cold, as I felt the wickedness of this world, first my family and now am being drugged?

"Young girl stop, why are you running, I haven't taken you to the place you wanted to go", I heard the man shouting behind me.

I ran faster, my temperature was rising, maybe its from all this chase, I thought.

Looking up, I saw a car moving towards the opposite direction, probably a Bentley, I didn't bother to check.

I ran and knocked at the window, " help me", I shouted as I fell to the ground. My legs has betrayed me, I thought as I felt strength completely drain out of them.

The car by passed me and started moving away, the old man was already by my side and picked me up, he threw me over his shoulders as he started striding off.

His body was making me uncomfortable, "help me", I shouted again, tears streaming down my face and completely lost of strength.

The car suddenly stopped and a man, exuding with grace and confidence, stepped out of it.

"Help me", I mouthed again, without any sound coming out of it..

"Stop", I heard him shout, his voice echoing in the surrounding, his voice sounded like music in my ears, as a sigh of relief escaped my throat.

The old man stopped and turned around, glancing at the young man, "Learn to mind your business child, to avoid getting into trouble", he said to him.

I felt my heart chill, as I became afraid, thinking the man might decide to mind his business and leave. I struggled to come off his shoulders.

I heard the man chuckle, " I guess she doesn't want to go with you", "why don't you drop her and continue your journey", he said, as cracking of fingers filled my ears.

The old man just sighed and continued walking off with me still on his shoulders, I started praying to my ancestors to get me out of this.

I was still mutterings words of prayers to my ancestors, when I suddenly saw myself falling down from the shop owners hands, I screamed, the ground I was expecting to fall on didn't come, as a hand held me up in the air.

"Don't be scared, you're in good hands", a voice said, opening my eyes, I saw the young man from the car, gently dropping me to the ground.

I looked around for the old man, only to see him, thoroughly bashed with blood gushing out of his skull.

I spat towards his direction, I would have loved to beat him myself, men like him deserves no pity, I thought in my heart, as a flash of hatred, crossed my eyes and disappeared without a trace.

"You're free to go wherever you want to go now, he won't be able to chase after you" he said as he turned and started walking back to his car.

"pls stop sir", I pleaded in a bid to keep him for a while, he continued moving forward, as his voice vibrated,

" Call me Marcus not sir"

I grabbed his pants, " Pls save me, Marcus, take me with you", I whispered with eyes full of fear as I lost consciousness.