The night was gloomy as the moon went to sleep, the crickets were busy screeching, and some forest birds cooed occasionally.
Every time a hooting sound was heard, Lara was reminded that Deji and her fetish old man were on their way.She stepped slowly to the window and peered out; there was enough light for her acute eyes to see well. She jumped out the window after several failed attempts—escape on her mind.
She took a cautious step away from the main structure...
She felt a pistol nozzle on her neck and said, "Not so fast."
She stopped for a second, her mind racing with ideas.
“So you're looking for a way out? Ehn?” With his rifle still on her throat, a manly man inquired.
“No,” she said quietly as she turned to face him.
She whispered quietly, "I genuinely came to see you..."
“Do you see me?” he asked, chuckling.
“Yes, I. Erm...require. She stammered, “To talk...to you.”
He grunted, “hmmm.”
He yelled, "You're not smart, get back inside!"
“Please...” she said as she moved closer to him, the gun slipping from her grip.
“I...err...you know...”
She replied gently, resting her hand on his shoulder, "I might be killed tonight..." He pushed her hand away, but she returned it to its original position.
She said politely, "I just want one thing from you."
“Please accept my apologies...
I'm not a fan of pregnant women.” He tried to push her away with his protests.
“Don't mind my protruding stomach; just... let's.” “Just...savor...some...you know...” she said as she ran her fingertips over his big chest.
As his breathing became faster, Lara grinned to herself and moved closer to him, her bulging belly pushing against him.
Their faces were in contact as he held her tight. Lara held him in one hand while planning her strategy with the other.
She cunningly let him drop his rifle and kicked it far away with her legs.
She gave him a strong punch between his legs just as he recovered from his gust, her knee cap devouring the ‘position.' With a yelp, he slumped. Lara swiftly turned and bolted as fast as her pregnancy would allow. She dashed into the woods, certain that she would make it out one way or another. She upped her speed after hearing multiple gunshots, indicating that they were pursuing her.
As the gunshots became closer, she realized she would be overtaken, so she chose to flee. She looked about, but there was nowhere for her to hide. She climbed a tree, oblivious to the searing aches in her waist.
She spotted them, a lot of them, as she relaxed on the tree.
“What a b-daughter!” itch's One of them cursed the other.
“I'm going to kill her with my own hands.”
Lara clenched her teeth and put her palm over her mouth. Her baby was fluttering wildly, and it was kicking so fiercely against her that she felt compelled to scream. A searing discomfort beneath her abdomen nearly revealed her identity.
She exclaimed, "Ouch!" The kidnappers wondered aloud, "Did you hear that?"
“She's about here,” one of them offered. “Disperse and look for her; I'll wait here.”
Except for the one who stood beside the tree, they all dispersed in different directions.
As she felt something slither on her legs, Lara's eyes widened in dread. She sat motionless, her tongue bitten. Snake! She was on the verge of passing out.
As she plummeted from the tree, she cried, "Haaaa!"
She landed on a man beneath the tree, who acted as a cushion for her.
“O snake, o snake, o snake, o snake, o snake, o snake Snake!” A snake was wrapped around the man's neck, and he shouted in terror.
Lara was able to hide behind some bushes as a result of this. She was in excruciating pain and feared she would die.
The aches and pains around her waist became more intense.
“What happened?” the group exclaimed as they rushed back.
The man yelled in panic, "E be like say that chick don change snake o."
The entire gang was terrified as they glanced at the lifeless snake.
Before fleeing, they said, "Make us call Baba."
Lara concealed herself properly beneath the bush, tears streaming down her face.
“Please, God, assist me,” she prayed silently.
With lightening flashing, thunder boomed powerfully. Lara was terrified as she glanced up at the sky, which was dark and heavy with rain.
“Yekpa! Rain? “Not yet, thank you.” She muttered something.
Lara believed she was going to die as the rain fell down violently. She cried and prayed for as long as she was able.
“Please, God, not for my sake...but for the sake of this baby...please,” she trembled in the rain.
The rain stopped, like if God had spoken to her. Lara began to crawl deeper into the jungle, unable to stand, as she was in excruciating pain. She pondered where she was in the world.
She mumbled to herself, "Help will arrive." She believed in God.
She had a strange feeling that she wouldn't die in the wilderness.