Moremi's escape 3

Chapter Three

Baderin’s mind struggled to process what was happening. This had to be another one of those wild dreams—one where she’d wake up to another morning of servitude. Yet, something was different. Why was she sprinting through an unfamiliar tunnel? Why did she feel like she was free and why in the god's name was her sister Desola, holding her hand?. Confusion clouded her thoughts as she burst through the tunnels into the embrace of the crisp forest wind. It slapped her face, carrying the scent of damp earth and whispering freedom. She could hear the rushing river to the east—that was when she woke up.

"Moremi, Moremi—what’s happening?" she gasped, scanning the darkened forest.

"We’re escaping," Moremi panted. "We need to move fast. We have to get to the river." Moremi replied releasing Baderin’s hand, as she rested against a small rock on the path. Baderin turned to her, noticing the way she staggered. "What’s wrong?" she asked 

Moremi pulled aside her blood-soaked blouse, revealing the ugly wound. "I was stabbed."

"Oh no. Oh no." Baderin’s throat tightened. Not now. Not when they were this close to freedom. "Come on—I’ll help you." Baderin prompted her, lifting Moremi back on her feet, she wrapped her arm tightly around Moremi's waist and started  guiding her down the forest path.

"Drop me here," Moremi rasped, pointing to a small rock shed. "I don’t think I can make it. Even if they don’t catch us—and they will, with the dogs—how am I supposed to cross the river? "Baderin pressed a trembling hand to Moremi’s wound, feeling the warmth of her blood beneath her fingers. Her cocoa-toned skin had paled under the weak moonlight, her breaths shallow, each one a battle. They needed to cross the river. Fast. But Moremi was fading.

"Leave me here," Moremi whispered. "You go. Head for the river. One of us has to make it—"

"No." Baderin’s grip tightened. "I’m not leaving you for them." Moremi tried to argue, but the words barely formed on her lips. "You know what happens if they catch us."

"Oh, I know." Baderin tucked a stray strand of Moremi’s damp hair behind her ear, her fingertips brushing against her cheek. She studied her—the sharpness of her jawline, the deep brown of her nut-colored eyes, the faint traces of red still clinging to her lips. She reminded her too much of her sister. She wasn’t leaving her behind.

"Listen," Baderin said, tapping Moremi’s arm to keep her awake. "You brought medicine, right? I’m going to patch you up. It’s going to hurt like hell—but once I do, you need to head for the river."

"What about you?" Moremi murmured.

"I’ll give you a head start. I’ll distract them another way."

"Listen, you don’t owe me anything. You don’t have to do that," Moremi protested. "No, you’re wrong," Baderin said, loosening the small bag Moremi had packed for the journey. She threw some leaves into her mouth, grinding them between her teeth.

Moremi’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. She nodded slightly.

"There’s another way. Up the hill." She lifted a trembling finger toward the rugged path winding above them. "It’s dangerous and you have to run fast. It leads to a cliff, so you must not miss the jump but if you make it, you’ll land in the deep end leading to the river. Not even the dogs can follow beyond the riverbed. The moon is high, and the waters are turbulent tonight."

"ok that sounds like a reasonable plan" Baderin replied as she worked quickly, pressing the chewed leaves against the wound, securing it tightly with fabric. "Okay. How do you feel?"

"Not better," Moremi admitted, breathing through the pain. "But this is it. I’ll be fine."

"Drink some water and eat something—you need all the strength you can get right now," Baderin instructed. She glanced toward the woods. Voices. They were close. "I need to go distract them. Head for the river now."

Moremi grabbed her hands. "Thank you, may Esimirin guide you."

Baderin smiled. Then she turned—toward the voices, toward the torches, toward the dogs.

                                                                                                 ….

The Ugbo guards spotted her instantly, their flickering torches cutting through the darkness. "Over there! Over there!" Ten men and five snarling dogs surged forward, their footsteps pounding against the earth. Baderin didn’t hesitate—she bolted up the hill, up the rugged path Moremi had shown her. The dogs followed. The men pursued. She was fast—but the dogs were faster. The gap between them shrunk in minutes, their teeth snapping at her heels.

She twisted through the trees, misdirecting them. One lunged—sinking its fangs into her buba. She ripped herself free, letting the fabric tear away from her almost naked body as she neared the cliff. There was no time to think.

She leaped—

The longest jump of her life. The men skidded to a halt, unwilling to follow her into the abyss. One lost his footing, screaming as he plunged to his death. Before Baderin could feel relief, she heard another howl—

The dogs. One had jumped after her. She landed hard, tumbling down the footpath, scrambling for balance. The dog was closing in, its growls fierce. She dived into the river.

The cold slammed against her body like stone, the current gripping her, threatening to drag her under. She kicked, fought the pull, each stroke pushing her closer to the shore. Her lungs burned. Her limbs ached. She couldn’t breathe. She lifted her head as the river dragged her deeper.

"Control your body. Control your body." She instructed herself. She hadn’t survived all that just to die in a river. Finally, she reached the other side. She dragged herself toward the riverbed. They could not follow her here—at least, not yet.

But it wasn’t time to celebrate. "Moremi must be somewhere close."