THE ESCAPE

Williams sat in the middle row on the floor,

shivering and was unable to control his

fears,Capoul who was known as the leader and the

founder of the group came out to them, Smokes

findings ways through his nostrils like the vapour

coming from a hot kettle with his red eyes like a

blood from a fresh cut on the body. The room was

too dark for any of the captives to see what was

happening except for the sound of humming and a

little lantern covered with a towel placed on the

table beside Capoul, nobody knows how many

people were in the room.

Williams couldn't figure out what was going on at

first, the last thing he could remember was that he

slept off after speaking to his mother when the bus

was at sagamu, his hands has been tied up with a

rope but could only feel the warmth of others

beside him, Capoul spoke to one of his men to

switch on the light so that he could address the

new captives they just got, that was the moment

Williams realised he had been kidnapped .

Williams felt unease, he suddenly remembered his

last conversation with his mother which prompted

drops of tears down his cheeks.

Williams closed his eyes when the light was

switched on, it was like the scorching sun was

placed towards his eyes but managed to see

Capoul and his men. The room was large which

was undoubtedly previously used for a store, there

was only one chair and a table and that what

Capoul sat on, the roof has been damaged while

cobwebs hung around different corners of the

room. Five hefty men stood behind Capoul, all

smoking and drinking local gin also holding

different types of guns.

Capoul stood up and cleared his voice,

"you are all in our captivity and surely we are going

to kill you and sell your parts to those who

acknowledge the importance of your body parts"

He laughed with great joy and began to sing with

his men joining in, Williams' mind was filled with

anxiety while many thoughts were flying around his

head.

"is this really happening? Am I dying soon? That

was the question that kept on ringing in his mind.

He kept looking around to be aware of his fellow

captives, he closed his eyes, prayed to God

suggesting this may be his final days on the face

of the earth, his mind quickly shifted to his

mother's advice

" always pray to God in any situation you are in and

endeavour to use any opportunities you have in

order to be free".

Williams remembers he boarded a bus going to

Lagos from Abeokuta on the road side which his

mother advised him against, prevention is better

than cure they said, he never witnessed the

circumstance of travelling with a road side bus

until the very moment.

Capoul instructed his men to untie all their hands

and lock the door safely but before then he had

instructed them to take an old man along saying

that would be the first goods to sell tomorrow

morning, "what a pity" was the word in the

expression shown on his fellow's face. Williams

then decided to heed his mother's advice, he then

spoke to the man beside him "can I suggest

something?" with his wet eyes, "go on" the men

said accepting his faith.

"can i suggest a plan to escape" he said, the man

managed to release a smile

"I think you are tired of your life right?" the man

said with a chuckle "well my name is Demola, nice

meeting you in this jungle of danger".

Everywhere was still quiet, no one seems to have

the courage to stand up and make a plan, Williams

was willing but still needs to convince someone

first, Williams turn to the man again

"my mother usually tells me that one has to

endeavour to use any opportunities, so let's use

this opportunity and escape this dangerous

hideout" Williams said with more confidence

already built in him.

" Okay tell me your plan" he finally got interested in

the Williams plan.

Williams told Ademola everything he got in mind

but wasn't convinced enough yet so he got up and

told everyone about the plan, some got interested

while other continued crying silently. Williams

placed the single chair in the room on top of the

table to climb to the roof, Ademola got out of the

room first then others began to follow, the roof led

them to the backyard of the house which a fence

was erected and was the only boundary avoiding

them from escaping.

Ademola wanted to climb the fence first but the

Idea was rejected by others suggesting another

person should go first instead, they heard footsteps

coming their direction, they all kept quiet for a

moment in order to confirm. Everywhere was dark

and now totally quiet, Capoul and his men were

taking a stroll around the fence in order to be

vigilant and avoid any captive from escaping,

Williams and others were hiding beside a tank of

water beside the fence. Suddenly one of Capoul

men suggested "Oga let go to the room once again

make we go look those chickens o" managing to

complete his statement with the obstruction of his

cigarette, then another accepted the idea " nah true

boss Capoul'', they walked through the tank turning

left to the corner where the door was, "wait o, I dey

suspect say something don happen, let go back to

the fence o" said the third person , "no joor let go

and check first, them no fit run" Capoul said

walking ahead to the door.

Williams and other captives quickly jumped over

the fence without fighting on who should go first,

Williams ran very fast in the thick Bush knowing no

where, he just kept on running straight forward, he

kept on praying to God to show him the way.

Capoul was in a big shock when he got into the

room, then quickly instructed all his men to search

everywhere for the captives.