The Void Between Hearts ~~ongoing~~

39. Fight.

ᵀᴴᴵˢ ᶜᴴᴬᴾᵀᴱᴿ ᴵˢ ᴰᴱᴰᴵᶜᴬᵀᴱᴰ ᵀᴼ keniemarsh1212

~◇~◇~

As they speed through the flyover, Boma is unmindful of the fact that her mother is accelerating at a high speed, faster than the other cars, faster than she has ever driven before.

Meanwhile, at the base of the flyover, weaving carelessly between cars and culverts, are three black, tinted SUV's in an entourage. In the first SUV is Mrs. Adebayo, tensed and broken, beside her is Sua, who's duty is to provide comfort for the restless woman. Behind them are two soldiers, and in front, the driver sits with a navy officer. In the second SUV is Mike, Deji and Ike. The third SUV is packed with armed police men.

A few kilometres away, the people at the pleasure park are unaware of the tragedy they are about to witness.

The speeding Toyota Corolla makes a reckless U-turn at the foot of the flyover into Aba road. Driving for a few minutes, and coming to a slow stop as they join the queue at the gate. Before her mother can stop her, Boma alights the vehicle and begins to run inside. Leaving her mother anxious, honking repeatedly, and yelling at the cars to move faster.

Inside the park, Boma is refused entry without a ticket. Each passing moment is too precious to waste. She begins asking people leaving the park if they've come across Ivan. When her description fails, she shows them pictures on her phone, still, they provide more hopelessness. Just when she's about to lose it, her mother shows up behind her.

"mummy they need us to pay, we need to buy tickets," she cries frantically, "tickets." she repeats, her mind is far from arranged.

The queue at the ticket desk stretches far into curved lines, frustrated people murmuring at every turn. To Boma, a second feels like an hour, one she cannot waste. A woman stands beside them, away from the queue, a black leather purse hanging over her shoulder, and two tickets in her hand.

Boma runs up to her. "Please ma, can we buy your tickets? We'll pay double for them, but we just need to get into the park now!"

The woman is dumbfounded, but moved by the tears and urgency of the pretty girl, and so spares them the tickets for the same price. Boma's mother hands over the money to the woman and grabs the tickets. They push their way to the front of the gate, and rush in as soon as they're allowed, paying deaf ears to the people lamenting about their manoeuvre.

Close to a little stream, Boma sights people crowding. She looks ahead and there it is, the most glorious sunset, casting hues of rich gold and shades of sweet orange. Her mind snaps out of the sunset when she connects the dots. With a speed faster than she had ever reached, Boma bolts towards the area, unconcerned by the scene she's creating.

The closer she gets the more her heartbreaks. She can hear the people shouting, 'blood of Jesus!' as more people gather. She squeezes herself through the crowd and comes to an icy still when she sees Ivan seizing on the bare concrete ground. She crawls over to him, lifting his head to her chest, begging him to wake up, while simultaneously yelling for help.

The crowd gives way as her mother runs in, followed by Mrs. Adebayo, Sua and the Soldiers. They immediately pick Ivan up, rushing him into his mother's SUV, amidst the gazing audience, most of which have their cellphones out, recording what doesn't concern them.

On the way to Life Fountains hospital, police has been alerted to keep the highway clear of vehicles, and behind the entourage, Boma and her mom follow closely. Both of them being unable to keep their eyes dry.