All she could see was darkness… nothing but darkness as she ran without looking back. She had to keep running or they may find her. But how was she going to find her way home in this darkness and where was she? A cry of despair almost escaped her lips, but she covered her mouth with her hands. Her hands looked strange with unusually long, painted nails and she wished she could bite all them off with her teeth but she had no time. Her heart was threatening to burst open as she ran through the woods towards salvation. All she truly hoped for now was to see light… or something to indicate that she was close to safety.
The last 30 minutes… Did she really say 30 minutes? The entire past week had felt like an unending nightmare, starting from the moment she arrived in this utterly strange building. She had never experienced such humiliation, beatings, and mistreatment in her entire life. No, she couldn't endure this hellish situation any longer. A sound, or what she thought was a sound, caught her attention in the woods. Swiftly, she sought refuge behind a tree, her breath uneven as she hoped desperately not to be discovered.
She clung to herself, trying to ward off the cold and fear that left her trembling. Her clothing barely provided any cover. The outfit she wore – a short leather skirt and a revealing top – was typical of her style, something she'd often chosen without a second thought. But right now, more than ever, she regretted her past choices. She yearned for more modesty, a different path in life. The blame for her current predicament weighed heavily on her shoulders; she had willingly sentenced herself to this existence
. She shook her head then as her doubts pushed her to cry again. There was no crying until she was home and safe, then she could let it all pour down. At this moment, she needed to keep moving, knowing that the pursuers wouldn't be too far behind
Her bare feet pounded the rough earth of the woods as she resumed her sprint. The darkness still enveloped her, but she didn't halt until the sight of the road greeted her vision. A car approached, and a surge of joy filled her heart. This was her ticket to escape, her path to freedom.
With a mix of desperation and hope, she waved at the oncoming car on the expressway. She sent out a silent prayer that the occupants wouldn't question her presence in the late-night—or was it early-morning?—hours. Time was a blur to her now. All she knew was that she'd seized an opportunity to flee from dark scary home while the world slept. It struck her as odd that no one had come after her yet. She glanced behind to confirm her safety, only to be met by complete silence.
The car she'd signaled finally came to a stop, but its windows remained closed. A nagging feeling urged her to run back into the woods, yet she defied that instinct of fear and doubt. She had come too close to salvation to turn back now.
Approaching the car, she rapped on the window, and the face she encountered nearly prompted a scream. But before she could pivot and flee to the woods, a force yanked her from behind and thrust her into the car. She fought, screamed, and wept, yet there was no one to answer her cries for help. Her fists pounded against the window before a brutal blow silenced her.
A deep, chilling voice shattered the air, declaring, "There's no escaping alive! This might be your final day. Pray to your God." The voice possessed a grave and eerie calmness. The car peeled away, carrying her farther from the freedom she so desperately wanted.
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"So, what did you write in number four? You know you are the smartest in class, that's why I am asking you." Steven continued to badger her after their exams.
"I do not know. The Exams is over, I just want to go to the hostel and eat" she replied, stuffing her bag with past questions before zipping it up. Steven still stood waiting for an answer and she knew he wouldn't back out without her telling him what she wrote in the exams.
"The answer is Bacteria; you describe the type of bacteria and its functions. Please I just want to go home and eat" Meredith waved him off as he was about to ask her to explain further.
With a frown on her oval, dark face, she set off towards her hostel, not bothering to wait for her friends. She knew they would be upset with her, but she couldn't bring herself to linger while they enjoyed their time with fellow classmates they might not see until the next semester, given that this was their final exam. Frustration burned within her as she hurried on dragging her long plain gown. Even though she was well aware that her only meal was the leftover rice she had managed to eat that morning before heading to the exam, she still was eager to reach the hostel.
Why did she have to come from a poor family? She muttered to herself as she trudged toward the hostel, her vision blurred by a mixture of hunger and anger. She hoped that no one had touched her stash of food.
As she drew nearer to The Green hostel, she spotted groups of girls engaged in discussions, but she wasn't in the mood to inquire about the topic or listen to the gossip that usually filled the hostel's air. Girls in her hostel were always gossiping and most time their gossips were made-up stories. She rolled her eyes as she stepped onto the long veranda leading to her room. The aroma of jollof rice suddenly wafted her way, tempting her senses. For a moment, she contemplated approaching the room's owner to beg for a plate . Swallowing hungrily, she turned toward her corner, only to overhear two girls engaged in a heated conversation.
"I don't think she's missing. That girl has been living a wild life. I'm pretty sure she's in Douglas city enjoying herself with some sugar daddy," one of them remarked.
"But what if she's really missing? She and Irene left together, and wild Irene is back. No sign of Mercy, and her number is unreachable. Maybe one of us should report this to the hostel administrator."
"That's none of my concern. Did I send her to those wild parties? I mean she deserves whatever happens to her there!"
"Gloria, you sound jealous."
Meredith couldn't help but agree with that assessment, but she lost track of the discussion as she entered her room and shut the door to the noise. She walked over to her corner, dropped her bag, and lifted the lid of the pot resting on the stove. Her heart sank as she stared into emptiness—the pot was completely cleaned out.
"Who did this?" she shouted, frustration boiling over. "Who ate my food?"
Her roommates remained silent on their beds, and she felt the urge to confront each of them. That meal was all she had until she left the hostel the following week. Her provisions had dwindled down to garri and a bit of sugar. However, she wasn't keen on resorting to that.
"You girls are heartless! All of you are heartless!" she cried out.
"Meredith, please don't say that. I genuinely don't know who ate your food. But since you're hungry, come have some cornflakes and biscuits," her considerate roommate, also a popular girl on campus, offered.
She wiped away her tears and softly muttered a "thank you" to Irene, following her to the locker where a partially-filled packet of cornflakes and cabin biscuits awaited her. As she sat down to eat, a smile finally crossed her lips. Irene moved to her own corner, seemingly lost in thought. There was something mysterious about Irene, but Meredith had learned not to pry into the origins of food, trendy phones, and stylish dresses that were common amongst certain girls on campus.
Scooping up spoonfuls of cornflakes and munching in silence, Meredith's mind drifted back to the incident with her rice. She was certain it was Bolu, the glutton in their room, who had devoured it. Bolu wasn't currently in the room, but Meredith was determined to confront her once she returned. Her contemplation was abruptly interrupted when one of the popular girls on campus stormed into their room. The door swung open forcefully as she approached Irene with an aggressive demeanor.
"Where's Mercy? What's happened to her? You better start talking now, or the school security will be involved! The school security is even small for where you will find yourself!"
A collective gasp swept through the room. The intensity in the girl's eyes was glaring, and it was clear that she meant business. Meredith felt a pang of anxiety on Irene's behalf, sensing the seriousness of the situation.