"Come on, son, go!" screamed Mr. Harry. When I looked at him, he was already tucking his smoky gun into his belt.That provided some solace for me. Finally, I wasn't in shock of my life, trembling like a leaf in the wind, fearing the imminent embrace of death.At least I now knew that it was Mr. Harry who had fired the shot, so I couldn't be hit by friendly fire. With newfound confidence, I scanned the surroundings and realized there was no blood on the ground, nor anyone wounded by the bullet."C’mon! After him, stop wasting time!" Mr. Harry's voice echoed in my ears. It transformed my legs into wheels, and together with the other five, we sprinted after the thief, swiftly closing the gap.When we finally caught up with him, we discovered he was empty-handed, raising two perplexing questions in my mind.If he was empty-handed at the moment of capture, it meant that the street, like a protective mother, had shielded him and safeguarded the device we had chased him for.Or perhaps, he
Back on the street where I came from, we could be chased for far too long, and the pursuers—which could be the police or the other gang from the street—would never get tired easily until we were caught and they got what they wanted from us.But here, it was such a different story. Five able-bodied men chased after 22-year-old me for only about 30 minutes, and they had already given up.Immediately, as I looked back, still breathing heavily through my nose and mouth at the same time, I saw that they were no longer chasing me. Not only that, I could not see their traces anywhere.However, it was a good thing. There was still a problem. The place I was in was unknown to me, and even though I was chased here, I did not know how to find my way back to the others.At first, I looked around with the hope of finding Mr. Harry or maybe Samantha or Ethan. It could have been possible we came out the same way, but there were no signs of any of them. The only faces my eyes beheld were the indigeno
Mr. Harry was already covered in blood, and he was also made to kneel with his hands tied behind his back. His white suit was no different from the color of mud, and he was without a hat.Behind him stood the rest of the five. Samantha was breathing heavily, as if she had a mountain tightening her chest, and the others, including Ethan, looked disfigured like a shattered mirror."Who the fuck are you?" the black thug sitting in front of Mr. Harry yelled again, holding his bloody fist in a threatening manner.I had just met Mr. Harry, but this was the first time I had seen him so powerless and helpless. He said nothing, kneeling in front of the black thug, and his breath suggested that he might die soon."Do it," the black thug ordered, looking at another one behind Mr. Harry and the five.The thug held a piece of rotten metal, like a hole punch. As soon as he received the order from their apparent leader, he grabbed Emily's hair, as she was the closest to him."I will not ask you agai
Finally, we were able to find our way to the bank. As the bank was tracked through the GPS Ethan had in his hands. However, if the bank was different from the ugly roads, gutters, and all that the city itself looked like, it was a lie.The name of the bank was visible enough with the engraving they designed on their wall. "The Total Bank of All."It was painted white, but the color was also stained with sand and fading away like a forgotten memory drifting through time. The bank's fences were made of iron bars, which made the whole bank look somewhat like a prison yard. And the security guards that protected the bank didn't carry any weapons, like they were just ordinary people."Will these people be able to protect this bank from theft and invasion?" I thought, looking at one of the guards who was eating from a large cooler at his post.It seemed like Mr. Harry and I had the same thought. However, he didn't say anything, but his thoughts were obvious on his face, like a transparent w
It was our turn to speak to the bank teller. I didn't know why, but in that moment, I felt nervous like a cat on a hot tin roof.It was as if the bank teller could read my face. Like a monster deliberating and inciting fear at a Halloween party, she frowned at me and asked."What can I do for you, sir?"I didn't know what to say; my mind shifted from right to left and left to right like a wanderer in search of greener pastures. But of course, Mr. Harry came to the rescue, as he always did."This is Marcus Taylor, and we would love to visit the locker."I could boldly see it written on her face. She recognized my name with that flinch she carried on her shoulder as well, but she tried to keep it to herself."Why does everyone seem to recognize the name Taylor?" I thought, but if the thought lingered for a long time, it was a lie."Come with me," the bank teller interrupted suddenly, directing her hands towards a path that led behind the counter table.The bank teller was a lady who see
Suddenly, like the light illuminating a sniper gun, I saw pink light from the right wall touching the left wall.At first, they were stagnant, but now they are moving in a direction I could not even predict.Both the expanses of space in front of me and the ones behind me were filled with this light. And like a child afraid of heights, standing at the tip of Mount Everest, my heart rose and fell in maximum fright as I saw death flash before me."Do not breathe too rapidly, Mr. Taylor. It senses fright, and it attacks." The voice said, As it appeared, they realized my fright. "Then f*cking do something about this, huh!" Mr. Harry yelled from the room where he was, and immediately I heard his footsteps approaching."Sir, do not go in there. You will further complicate this." The voice warned."Then stop all this nonsense if you don't want me in there," answered Mr. Harry.No matter how much I tried to control my rapid breathing, I could not. My fear took total control of me like a pilot
"We already called the ambulance; they should be here in a few minutes," the voice said. "Please apply pressure to the cut, Mr. Harry." "Go, son! This is not my fight. I will be fine. Go retrieve your inheritance. We still have a lot to do after this one. Go! Go!" Mr. Harry groaned in agony. Quickly, as if Mr. Harry's urgency had infected me, I sprang to my feet like I was on fire and rushed towards the end passage door like a bolt of lightning. Reaching the door, it was as if I were at the gate of prosperity, knowing fully well that my entire life would change the moment I opened the door. I took a deep breath and muttered to myself, "It is worth it," judging from all I have been through in this country called Nigeria. I stared at the doorknob for about a minute, figuring out what I would do the moment I beheld my inheritance. "Why is it not opening?" I yelled, turning the doorknob, but the door refused to open. "Why is the door not opening?" I yelled again. "Mr. Taylor, you mu
Mr. Harry was already in the ambulance when I came out of the bank, but as soon as he saw me, Ethan, Samantha, Benjamin, Emily, and Michael, who were beside him, they were not enough to hold him back from receiving his treatment.Like a wrestler who fought all odds and wanted to win a belt, he unbuckled the bed belt that restricted him in the ambulance and threatened the men in scrubs who were treating him with his injuries. "I am getting outta here; stop me, and I'll cut your head on a spike."Mr. Harry, though still struggling with his arm, walked towards me, and scanned his eyes completely on me like he was looking for something. The first thing he asked was, "Give me all the documentation in that room."My thoughts rumbled on my face like thunderclouds brewing, ready to release a torrential downpour of emotions. And as soon as Mr. Harry saw this boldness on my face, he took back his words immediately. "I am sorry. Did you find your inheritance in there?"I understood, Mr. Harry, l