I became scared and perplexed. I didn’t know if I’m to continue walking forward or backward. Or I should just hide myself till day break.
“If I continue walking, they may think I’m among the thieves”
“Maybe I should go back to Bethany’s house”
“Nooo…. Her Dad is a soldier. That will only paint me a suspect”
Those were my thoughts as I stood in the middle of the road. The shouting continued even louder “thief…thief…. Neighbors help….”
It seemed everyone was scared of coming out. Where I was standing, I could hear footsteps of people running towards my direction…. I quickly hid myself under a long trailer parked along the road to avoid being seen. At first, I thought they were the security men going to intervene but they were actually the robbers running.
“Did you get the money?” one of them asked.
“Yes boss” a lady answered.
“Good girl. You did well”
“Will she die?”
“You don’t need to worry about if she dies or not. Okay. No one is going to know”
That was the conversation going on between one of the robbers and the gang leader as they were running. From the sound of her voice, she was scared and maybe terrified for what she must have done and while they were running, something fell off but they didn’t know.
They went through the drainage to escape being seen by the security in front.
I laid low under the trailer for about 5 minutes until I could hear no sound.
I stood up, dust myself and picked up Wisdom’s guitar and was about to go when I stepped on something. It was a purse. Everywhere was dark, so I couldn’t really see what kind of purse it was or what was inside.
Regina must have been so worried about me. I told her I wasn’t going to waste time. But there I was stuck. She then called to know where I was. My phone ringing tone sounded louder than usual and terrifying. The ringing tone could be heard from a distance, loud and clear due to how quiet the place was that night.
I quickly answered the call and was talking to her in a low voice….
Regina: Derra, where are you?
Me: I’m still at Bethany’s street.
Regina: why are you talking like that?
Me: I’m in the middle of a big mess right now.
Regina: are you alright? What happened?
Me: I can’t leave the street o
Regina: why not?
Me: the gate is locked by now and they are security men there.
Regina: so? Tell me you went to see someone.
Me: arm robbers just robbed a house now. They may think I’m one of them.
Regina: aahhhhhhhhhh. Where are you exactly?
Me: some distance away from Bethany’s place.
Regina: ehh…. What do you do now?
Me: I seriously don’t know o.
Regina: maybe you should……..
Me: (interrupt) I have to go now. I can hear people’s voices. I need to hide.
Regina: please be careful…
I hung the call. They were people coming from the direction of the gate with touch light moving randomly in the dark.
They must be the vigilante boys. Someone must have informed them of the situation of things.
I ran back to the direction I was coming from, trying not to make sounds with my feet. Then I remembered Emilia leaved in the same street….I ran to her place to spend the night. When I got to her house gate, I called to let her know I was at her gate.
Me: hello dear.
Emilia: hello Derra. How are you?
Me: I need your help. Are you at home?
Emilia: yes. What happened?
Me: I’m at your gate. Can you come out to open the gate?
Emilia: you mean, you are outside our gate?
Me: yes.
Emilia: haah. My mum won’t allow me come out right now because of the report we just got now. Someone said, they are arm robbers around.
Me: trust me, I’m alone here. The robbers are gone.
Emilia: but how come?
Me: I can’t explain now. I just need to get off the street.
Emilia: just give me like 5 minutes….
I stood outside the gate praying that those security men do not get to me before she will open the gate. I stayed there for over 15 minutes. She had to make her mum think she was going to bed first before she sneaked out to open the gate.
She finally opened the gate for me to come in….
Me: thank you so much.
Emilia: Ssshhhhhhhh. Just follow me.
She took me through the back door, to her own room.
Me: (relieved)
Emilia: Mum mustn’t find out you are here.
Me: thank you for saving my life.
Emilia: what happened? How come you are here by this time?
Me: my dear, I came to make things right with someone and lost track of time.
Emilia: uhhmm…. The police will be everywhere tomorrow. How will you get home?
Me: I guess, I’ll have to stay here till they are gone. Hope I won’t be a burden?
Emilia: not at all.
Me: please tell me. I don’t want to put you into trouble.
Emilia: you are always welcomed here with me.
Me: thank you.
She made her bed for us to sleep….
Emilia: you can share the bed with me.
Me: that’s so kind of you but you’ve done enough. I’ll manage the floor.
Emilia: no nau
Me: (smiled) beside, I don’t think, I’ll be able to sleep this night.
Emilia: why not?
Me: my head is not at ease.
Emilia: I insist. I can’t allow you sleep on the floor when I know my bed will contain us.
Me: alright. You sleep. I’ll join you later.
She then went to sleep while I sit on the stool in her room. About 3 minutes later, there was a knocked on her door.
“Emy, are you still awake?” her mum asked.
“Yes mum. Should I come?” she replied quickly.
“Open the door”
Emilia: Mum, do you need anything?
“I said open the door”
Emilia: I’m coming Mum.
She gave me a sign to hide inside her wardrobe. She opened the door for her mum to come in….
Emilia: mum what is it?
“Uhhmm, nothing. I came to tell you. You should better wake up on time tomorrow. We will be traveling to see grandma tomorrow morning.
Emilia: Ahhh Mum? You didn’t tell me since.
“I’m telling you now”
Emilia: but mum….
“Shuuu shuu. Better go and sleep now. We are leaving as early as 8AM, so that we will come back on time”,
After her mum told her what brought her to the room, she left… Emilia knocked the wardrobe for me to come out.
Emilia: what are we going to do now?
Me: uhhmm I seriously do not know.
Emilia: can you wake up as early as 5?
Me: what time does the entrance gate open?
Emilia: that’s true o. 6am.
Me: uhhmm. Don’t worry, I’ll figure a way out.
I called Regina to let her know I was safe…..
“I’ll be spending the night at Emilia’s place”
Regina: it’s alright. I’m glad you are safe o.
Me: don’t miss me too much o
Regina: see this one o.
Me: I know loneliness will finish you this night.
Regina: when I have Jesus, I can never be lonely.
“Don’t worry I’ll take care of her” Segun shouted from the background.
Me: give that yeye mountain head the phone.
Segun: you say wetin?
Me: if I hear say, you touch her cloth. I go dislocate your cerebrum.
Segun: Oga forget that thing. We will start with doggy then move to 69 and after that we will now close it service with the missionary style.
Me: what are you talking about?
Segun: oyibo say what a child know no, e no go know am.
Me: get out. Give the phone to her.
He laughed and gave Regina the phone…
Regina: what were you two talking about?
Me: Segun is possessed. Please stay 100 km away from him. Abeg.
“Story for the gods….” Segun said.
Regina: Segun will you keep quiet.
Me: just stay away from him.
Regina: I’ve heard you. Do and come back on time.
Me: of course. See you soon.
I hung the call.
Emilia: was that Regina?
Me: yeah.
Emilia: I love that girl o.
Me: I love her too. She’s a very good friend.
Emilia: more than very good. I’m going to bed now.
Me: Alright dear. I’ll join you soon.
*****************
The next day, as early as 6AM, the police were already everywhere investigating the night robbery. They went to the robbed compound to get information about the robbery. The owner of the house described the robbers to the police…
“They were 3 in number. Two men and a girl”
Police: did you say a girl?
“Yes, there was a girl with them”
Police: did you see her face?
“How will I see her face when I was asked to lie down?”
Police: so you mean, a girl gave you a command?
“Officer, I don’t understand…. You wanted me to do strong head when they were armed?
Police: at least, you should have done something.
“Of course I did something, I laid low. And after I left I shouted for help….not even the yeye security men could come to my rescue”
Police: don’t worry…. We will find them.
“Please do. They took my wife’s jewelries of gold and my money. I’ll personally break whoever that girl among them is for hitting my wife.
They began going from house to house to ask the neighbors if they saw or heard anything.
There was no way for me to leave the house that morning; her mum didn’t know I was in the house, her neighbors didn’t see me entering…..
When it was past 7, Emilia’s mum came to her room…
“Emmy…. Wake up now before I enter the room”
She woke me up the moment she heard her mum’s voice….
“Derra wake up!”
Me: uhhmm orrrhhmmm…. Is it 11 already?
Emilia: wake up…wake up….mum is coming.
Me: ehh what?
I jumped out of the bed immediately to hide.
“Enter the wardrobe…”
I was still feeling dizzy and so tired.
Her mum opened the door without knocking…..
“Are you still sleeping?”
Emilia: I’m up since.
“Why are you behaving like you saw a ghost?”
Emilia: mummy I’m fine.
“When you are coming, tell the person in your wardrobe to join you o”