Sarah handled the situation that day and the police left. But I knew that wasn't the end of it, I needed to make a move before it went out of hand. I took out everything from my safe that day and left the office. I thought it was something I would be able to settle in few days as usual I never knew that was the last time I was seeing my office.
I went home that day, gathered some other stuffs like my clothes and the rest, drove to my hometown. I had hoped I'll be safe for now then till I got a grasp of what was happening. Everything happened so fast and I didn't know how much trouble I was in. Who really was that man? What was his intention? Why did he choose me?
These were the questions I kept asking myself that I couldn't get answer for.
The next day, Sarah told me some thugs came to the office, another time some police came too to do the same thing. They ransacked everywhere like they were looking for something very important. They destroyed properties and injured some of the staffs. Of course that item was the beginning of my troubles. I had no idea what was it in but seeing so much length these people are going to go get it, it must be something really important. I needed to lay my hands on it to be able to map out a plan, I thought.
I went to the address Dr Thompson gave me. Inside the locker was a drive and files. I read the files but it had no meaning to me. I checked the flash drive. I got the shocker of my life after I saw what the flash drive contained. It was a list of top officials' bribery logs, travel history, foreign accounts, information on the affairs they had.
"Why on earth did this man have this?"
I mumbled to myself as I stared at the computer screen scrolling down on the files. I was getting tired already when a file caught my eyes. It was named "RED". I clicked on it and saw names and photos of government officials, civil servants and the likes. A red x mark was on their pictures indicating they were dead. I suddenly saw my dad's picture there.
My dad was a general in the army, he was framed for funds embezzlement and murder of his subordinate. He was charged to court and given an execution. I was 16 when this happened. As if that wasn't enough, some soldiers came to our house the next day after my dad's execution and scattered our home. My mom tried to fight them back and resist, they shot her in my presence and that was how I became an orphan overnight.
After I saw that happened, I ran dearly for my life without knowing where to go. I had no family, no home. I became a homeless teenage roaming on the street. I later found out those people who killed my parents were looking for me because I was a witness to my mom's murder. I ran again till I had no where to run to. I was running from them that day when I bumped into Sarah, she was in disguise and I couldn't even see her face but I kept begging her to help me. I really don't know why I did that because I never trusted anyone after my parents death. But I clung on this strange woman like she was my last hope of survival. I told her some men were pursuing me and begged her to hide me in her home.
When she saw the men behind coming after me, she quickly dragged me into her house. The men looked around and later left when they couldn't find me.
" I only helped you because a young boy like you with this tiny body against those hefty men wasn't a fair fight, I don't know what you did or why you are being pursued but you must leave when everything dies down" she said with a cold eyes. She looked like she had enough of her own problems too.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to burden you, I'll leave immediately I know they are no longer in the neighborhood. Thank you for helping me" I said with a weak voice.
I hadn't eaten for days and I was exhausted from the run. She dropped a plate of rice in front of me. My eyes brightened up as I saw the plate, I rushed the food like I was being chased.
"Easy boy, you are going to choke, don't worry I'm not going to take it from you" she said
I nodded as I continue filling my mouth. I couldn't even answer because of the food in my mouth.
"Not that I'm interested or anything but what could a young boy like you do to make those big guys chase you. Did you steal from them?" She asked
I took a cup of water and was finally able to talk as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
"They killed my parents, they are chasing me to kill me because I witnessed my mom's murder" I answered
"Poor you" she said tutting
"The world is really a wicked place isn't it?, even a young boy like you has his own battles already, I'm facing mine too you know which is why I don't have the luxury to home you or help you any further" she said standing up to go out
"Are you being chased too?" I asked her
She paused and turned back, was silent for few seconds and said
"I'm being chased too but unlike you, I'm being chased by more stronger and powerful forces".
"Why?" I asked shyly
She sighed and sat down again, nodding her head she said
"Okay, I think it will be fair enough if I tell you mine too since you told me yours. I was an IT tech for CIA, I followed orders, did my job to my best power until I stumbled on a file one day. Of course not that I stumbled on it like that, I saw it and was curious about it so I hacked it and broke in. What I saw was against everything I told myself I fought for. I tried to reveal it but I was so naive at that time. I didn't have an idea of how powerful they were. They had their people everywhere so the file didn't get anywhere. It was buried like it was nothing and there was an order to kill me since I read what was in it already. I ran for my life and I've been on the run since then, you see why I can't help you now?"
I nodded again and said thank you. I looked around through the window,couldn't find any of the men chasing me anywhere then I decided to leave.
"I think the coast is clear now, I'll take my leave before I cause you more harm. Thank you so much for your hospitality. I owe you one for saving my life" I said and I stood up to take my leave
"What are you going to do now?" She asked
I turned back to her
"Do?"
"Yes, how will you survive, those men will hunt you down in no time. They are relentless you know" she said again
"I'll have to keep running till the end of earth I guess"
She chucked softly and said
"You said you owe me one for saving your life yeah? How about you pay me back by living for me?" She asked staring at me directly in the eye
"Live for you?" I asked looking confused
"Yes, live for me" she said again with a smile.