SURVIVORS

CHAPTER EIGHT

'A merry heart does good like medicine for the soul'.
I had heard that a thousand times but today, I understood the true meaning.

As I shook the 'shekere' , I danced happily swerving my hips in rhythm to the beats with a particular ebbulience. It was one of those rare days I felt peaceful, momentarily forgetting where I was. Energy coursed through me and I used it to shake the shekere creating a beautiful sound.

The drummers were beating the drums so loudly that at first my ears almost stopped working.

It was the Big Sallah's celebration.

Since I couldn't celebrate Christmas, I decided to accept that this was Christmas to me. Except that this Christmas was without gifts, I could deal with that.

The stars shone brightly serving as extra lightening to a not so bright environment. We were using fires as a source of lightening, some boys held a stick of fire on each of their hands, distancing themselves from us.

I spotted Hajiya Fatima, who looked beautiful. Earlier on, we the girls designed henna on her hands and feet while she shouted orders at the rest to get her dress in order. Our efforts weren't wasted.

My melancholic part kept telling me to stop wasting my time being happy because happiness here is short-lived. I suppressed those thoughts maintaining a positive outlook.

If being happy here is short-lived, then there's every reason to make the best out of it.

Zahra and Samira waved at me, they were about six feets away from me. Zahra mouthed some words which I didn't understand. I gave her a confused expression to let her know I didn't get her.

She came closer saying in my ear. "I hid some suya away, let's go and eat."

I handed the shekere over to the next girl beside me who collected it and began shaking it.

I pushed through the crowd following them both to a secluded area. Zahra brought the suya(roasted meat) out from under the leaves where she hid it.

We shared it equally amongst us, finishing it up before one could spell Jack Robinson.
Samira belched her satisfaction earning a grimace from Zahra.

"Where did you get it from?" I wondered how Zahra was able to hide it.

"I cajoled the guard roasting it to let me have some, it was too easy giving he's a quiet type and you know how good I am at acting." She flipped an invisible hair.

"Why are you asking now that you've finished eating it, you didn't ask before you started oh." Samira said dusting pieces of the meat off her cloth.

I shoved her shoulders playfully, I was too hungry to even ask where the food was gotten from.

We went back to the field dancing our way through the crowd. After a while, we lost each other as I couldn't see them anymore.

Now, the guards were grinding their torsos against the female captives which I found disgusting.

I would move somewhere else each time I saw a guard coming in my direction.

I felt a hand tap me from behind, I dreaded it was a guard so I moved away.

"Hey." I was tapped again and I turned too see Fahad.

"Hiiiiii." I beamed with smiles, grateful it wasn't a guard.

"Some dancing skills you've got there." He complimented? I wasn't sure.

"You call this a dance skill?" I asked repeating what I had been doing.

"Of course it is, I could even take some lessons from you."

I laughed because I didn't believe him. "How's your leg now?"

"Much better." He raised his shorts so I could see the injury was healing, I nodded in response.

He wrinkled his eyebrows. "I didn't know they would celebrate the birth of prophet Muhammad S.A.W here."

"I guess sinners also take time out for God." I chortled, it also amazed me to know that they were treating us badly and still worshipping God.

A drunk guard tripped beside me pouring his drink on me. I sighed as I watched the wine spread quickly on my dress making a mess.

"Motherfucker." Fahad sneered at the guard who kept dancing oblivious to what he said. "Sorry, You can clean up there." He said pointing to a bucket of water that looked abandoned.

I went over with him following. I poured a handful of water where the stain was, brushing it with my fingers. Though I knew the stain wouldn't leave except I wash it.
He handed me a piece of rag which I used to dry the wet area.

Fahad shifted unconfortably. "I...I'm leaving."

No, not this again. "What?"

He took a step away from me. "I mean now."

That's when I confirmed he wasn't thinking straight. "You want to escape, like this. No plans, nothing." I threw my hands in the air. "How smart you are." I added sardonically. "You don't..."

"I do." He interposed. "I overheard Danladi giving instructions to take the truck that brought food items back this night. Four guards came with the truck, two at the front, and the last two behind. I delivered a fake message to one of them saying Master wanted him to stay back and would find a replacement."

"And?" I countered.

"I stole Musa's second pair of uniform last night, I would put it on pretending to be the replacement."

"The guards can identify you Fahad, what if one of them knows you too well."

"They won't. Remember the guards usually wear masks whenever they're leaving the quarters."

I paced around him. "But they don't till they get in the trucks."

"Their minds wouldn't even go there when they see me dressed like they are, and before it does, we would be out of the quarters thereby making my escape too easy." Triumph sounding in his voice already.

I couldn't think of anything else to counter him with, It sounded dangerous but perfect.

Turning my back to him I removed my hijab. I twisted my arm to my back carefully pulling my zip down to expose the scars on my bare back. I turned my face to see his expression.

Fahad clasped his hands over his mouth. He came closer trailing his fingers on a scar. "How did you get those?"

"When I was caught escaping." I pulled my hijab back down, covering my back thinking I had achieved what I wanted.

But it only triggered his confidence.

"I'll find a way to get you all out of here. I promise." He said indignantly.

"And how do you plan on doing that? Telling the government there are captives suffering and hidden away in some unknown place?" I questioned, slightly annoyed.

"Maybe, I can study the road and observe the directions we take, I wouldn't be happy knowing I left with you guys still here, especially now I've made a friend."

"Who?"

"You, Shafa."

"What if you get caught? If that happens all these is Kaput, Kaput! Lost forever."

He smiled. "Then, it was worth a trial."

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