CHAPTER 60

I don't know how long i stayed hidden but by the time i came out of hiding, my joints hurts and my limbs had lost feeling from contorting my body and trying to make myself as small as possible so as not to get noticed.
I stretched out and looked about cautiously. It was safe to come out. I moved swiftly in the direction of my hostel when i saw something that made me catch my breath.
A sob built in the back my throat and before i knew it, tears were running down my face
''help me...please''.
A girl laid half-conscious on the ground. Her dress was ripped in shreds like brutal animal attacked her. Bruises bloomed across her face and when she tried to roll to her side, she gasped in pain as her body folded abdomen, the way her face twisted in pain and i knew.
It was no animal that did this, it was a man. I had to get her medical attention but the health center was at the other end of the campus.
I needed help but no one else was around, they must
have all fled for safety. I leaned down to help
her up, there's no way I was going to leave
her there.
The sound of gunshots ricocheted off nearby buildings and I knew we were still in danger. 'Come on, I need you to please cooperate with me." I whispered as we made slow progress towards the hostel.
It was the safest place i could think of. We could wait there until they leave and then I'll take her to the medical center.
Few meters away from the gates, she collapsed.
'No, no, no, please don't. Not now." I
whispered urgently as I struggled to keep her vertical.
Footsteps came running in our direction and i tensed. What should I do? Should I run and
leave her? No, I couldn't do that. If I'd been abandoned too two years ago, I wouldn't be
alive today. I sighed in relief when I recognized
the figure headed towards us. It was Stacy.
'Quick, get up we need to get to safety." She
dragged me up and that was when I noticed
there was a guy trailing behind her.
The situation was too dire to fully comprehend the
fact that a guy was going into our hostel with us. But when the door was shut behind us and the danger had passed, I turned to face him, his
direction anyway, since I could barely see his
face.
The power was still out. 'What do you think you're doing?" I yelled.
I realized the unconscious girl was nearly half-
naked so I groped around for my blanket and
threw it over her before I turned my attention
to him again.
'Monica, calm down. This is my boyfriend
John; he isn't going to harm you. In fact,
his presence here will do the opposite."
The glow from Stacy's phone screen was enough for
me to see her face and that of the guy standing
beside her. She rummaged around for a
moment before lighting a candle.
Well, would you look at that, there were candles
in the room after all? I felt like smacking myself.
'How come you guys aren't at the party?" I
asked eyeing him warily. He was a tall, dark guy
with dreadlocks that were neatly tied with a red
bandanna. He ignored my suspicious scrutiny.
'Well," Stacy looked away shyly. I blinked in
surprise. It was the first time she looked shy of
anything. 'We planned to head to the party
eventually after we, well, um." He gave her a
mischievous look I didn't understand and she
cleared her throat. 'Anyway, we were spending
some time together when we heard the raid so
John decided to bring me back here."
I sighed and nodded. He couldn't have just left
her at the gate anyway. Besides out there was
dangerous and in here was safe.
A scream resonated through the hostel. I held my breath as everything went still. I glanced at the faces of
my companions to see if they were thinking in
the same direction as I was. Stacy's eyes grew
wide but she seemed calm in a way. John
seemed to care less as his body stance was
relaxed.
The girl was still unconscious on the bed.
'Guys, I think they got in." I whispered.
Suddenly, I heard doors being kicked open and
shouts of men followed by laughter. Was that
female laughter I heard?
'Stay behind me and don't say a word." It
was the first thing John said in the short while
since I met him. Stacy complied and grabbed my
hand to pull me behind him too when I didn't
move.
The door burst open and a group of three
people walked in with their faces partially
covered with masks. Two of them carried arms
but the third didn't look like he needed it. He
was built like a rock.
'What do you say, should we rough ‘em up a
bit?" The first guy spoke in a deep voice that
had a strong Russian accent.
He took a few steps closer, eyeing Stacy hungrily.
In that moment, I was glad that I didn't have such a killer figure as she did.
John stepped up to the challenge when he saw
the way the guy was eyeing his girl. I was
honestly curious as to what he planned to do
when he was out numbered; three to one. He
dipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out
an object. I tried to catch a glimpse of it but my
gaze became preoccupied when I noticed the
girl among them point a pistol toward us.
She was slim and of average height but that
didn't make her look any less imposing.
He raised his hands slowly so as not to trigger
any negative response from the group and
tossed the item to the one who was built like a
rock. He caught it easily and examined it. When
he raised his head, his whole demeanor changed.
'Let's go."
'What?" The second guy protested.
'Now. This is not our territory."
The other two frowned but slowly retreated. The door shut behind them and minutes later, the
hostel became still again as the rest of the gang
left. I was too stunned to react and just stood
there with my mouth hanging open, questions
pending.
'What just happened?" I finally regained my
ability to speak.
'I just let them know that they were on
another's territory." John said.
I looked to Stacy to see if she was following but
she didn't seem bothered. She wrapped her
arms round his torso and he pulled her close.
They were acting like nothing just happened and
we weren't almost butchered within an inch of
our lives.
'What does that mean?"
'You ask too many questions." He sighed and
turned to Stacy, dismissing me.
'Baby, I've got to run. See you tomorrow."
'Bye hun." She smiled and hugged him tightly
before he walked away.
'Hold it." She held up her palm and I shut my
mouth which had already opened wide to
release a barrage of questions.
'She needs medical attention as soon as possible. It'll be safe to leave the hostel in a few minutes once
word gets around.
Get ready so we can get out of here."
I glanced at the girl to see that sweat beads
had formed on her forehead. She really was out
of it. Moments later, Stacy and I balanced her
weight between ourselves and made our way
out of the room to seek medical help
*********
In a dimly lit hotel room, Ryan closed his eyes and inhaled. He winced slightly but his face soon relaxed and his features smoothened out again. He loved the high that came with the experience. Carefully, he brushed his fingers across his nose and bits of the white substance fell unto the table surface. He raised his head when the door opened, sending in a few rays of light. His eyes blinked rapidly as he adjusted to the brightness.
'What's this?" He asked, fingering the object his gang brother tossed at him.
'That amulet belongs to a rival gang group." Vicker said.
Ryan frowned as he ran his callused fingers across the surface of the amulet. His lips formed a cruel smirk as he thought of all the ways to end their pathetic lives or at least make them suffer for their foolishness.
It's about time we headed back to campus officially. Inform the guys, tell them to get ready." Ryan dismissed him.
Slim, feminine hands suddenly ran down Ryan's chest, their owner was kneeling behind him on the bed. He slapped her hands away in irritation. He had forgotten about her presence and wasn't in the mood for any disturbance.
'Get out!" He snapped.
'B-but I-i" The confused girl stammered at his sudden anger.
'I said get out." His voice was frighteningly calm this time.
The girl stood up and picked up her belongings before dashing out of the room. She didn't wait for another warning.
A few steps down the hallway she nearly bumped into Vicker who was heading into his own room. He stopped short at the sight of her and willed his face not to show any expression.
'Did he throw you out again Grace?"
Grace looked down to hide her embarrassment. She wasn't fully clad yet and didn't have any time to do that before she ran out to escape Ryan's wrath. She still had the bruises to show for the last time she disobeyed him. He told her to go dress properly in his room.
For the first time, he let his sadness show. He got up from the bed and walked towards her, stopping just in front of her. His eyes ran over her bruised face which she tried desperately to cover with makeup. She was a beautiful girl with glowing skin and a lovely eyes.
She used to laugh easily and had a carefree attitude. But now she was almost always silent, her skin had nearly lost its glow and her eyes seemed dim.
'You chose this yourself Grace but I warned you.
I begged you a year ago before you got yourself into this mess. I was ready to give you all my love, care and attention. Anything you asked, if it was within my power I'd have gotten it for you."
Grace blinked rapidly but she couldn't stop her tears.
'I'm sorry Vicker."
He turned away in annoyance.
'Sorry doesn't change a thing Grace. It doesn't change the way you broke my heart into several little pieces and that wasn't enough, you squashed them beneath your feet too."
Grace gasped for breath, trying to stop her tears from becoming sobs. She knew what she'd done to him. She knew how much she had hurt him. Vicker had always done everything he could to please her and the day he asked her to be committed to him and become his girlfriend she had shut him down and avoided him. She'd always thought Ryan was more of her type. He was charming, unbelievably handsome and classic. If only she'd seen beyond his facade and cherished the one person who had been by her side all along.
Now it was too late because if she should even consider being with Vicker, Ryan would skin her alive. He really could do it. She now knew that he was nothing more than a beast; the worst kind.
⏭⏭⏭⏭
***Back on Campus***
Stacy and I returned to our hostel after ensuring that the injured girl received medical attention. The doctor had asked us to return, promising to give us a call when she woke up. Stacy didn't understand why I was so concerned about the girl's health and safety but it was because her situation was very familiar to mine.
Although, it was years ago(apparently three years ago), the memory was still intact.