Lastborn ran like he had never done before in his entire life. He had let go of Eniiyi and she herself was almost ahead of him. They stumbled through the wilderness, trying to put distance between them and their pursuers.

Eniiyi, heart hammering wildly somewhere in her mouth, tried to wrap her mind around what was happening and keep up running at the same time. As a result she slowed down. Forget it, she just had to keep running! She surged on forward as they went deeper and deeper into the bush and it got darker and darker. She didn't know why Lastborn had done what he had done, but she knew they would be dead soon. It was dark already and if they kept going deeper into the forest they would soon lost all visibility and then their pursuers would catch up to them!

Her whole body was weak and she struggled to keep up with Lastborn. God, she couldn't do this, she was almost dead! But she didn't want to die! What could she do?

As if in answer to her prayers, they reached a fall. Not really reached —Lastborn, who was running ahead, did not notice the dip in the topography so went crashing down it. Eniiyi saw this just in time and pulled to an abrupt halt, just at the edge of it. 

She was going to call out for Lastborn when her sharp senses picked up running feet. The robbers were almost on them, no time! So she rolled down the slope as gently as she could, shielding her face with her arms.

She rolled to a stop against a body that had to be Lastborn's and then started to shake him. Oh God! Was he dead? Had he broken his neck and died!

She could hear the men stop at the edge of the fall. She could barely make out some figures against the streak of moonlight that had penetrated the thick canopy layers above, but, thankfully they could not see her in the darkness that blanketed the lower ground.

'Turn back, men, they don escape!' a voice rang out loud and clear in the night.

The men all obeyed and footfalls retreated.

'Make you no worry. Them never fit last the night in this jungle.'

Eniiyi shivered at this and hoped with all her heart that they were wrong.

When she was sure they were gone, she started to shake Lastborn again.

'Lastborn, please wake up!' she cried.

Lastborn rolled to his side and sat up. 'They're gone?'

Eniiyi's eyes widened in relief and she threw herself at him. 'You're alright!'

'Of course, I am. My backpack cushioned my fall,' he retorted but hugged her back, glad they were both alive.

'I have a flashlight in my bag, let's go.'

08:07 pm

They had been running through the bush for about two hours or so now and he was dead tired. He didn't know where they were or in which direction they were headed. The flashlight had long since run out and the only source of illumination was the moon overhead where it peaked through the dense canopy layers. 

All he wanted to do was fall down and die. But he knew he had to stay strong and alive, not only for his sake but for Eniiyi's. She could barely walk and he was the one supporting her. She was now very sick and weak, his flesh burned hot on all the parts that were around her. He hoped they could make it out before it was too late, he shivered, before she died.

'Las . . . look.' Eniiyi weakly tried to raise her arm to point to her side then abandoned the effort.

Lights! Bright yellow lights were barely visible far to the side.

Lastborn's hope raised and he increased his steps. 'Hang on, Eniiyi, hang on, you hear?'

Soon they stepped out of the forest, into a roadside. Street lights lined the roads up and down, bathing the whole area in a yellow glow. It was obviously an express road, but, unfortunately, it seemed to be empty.

Eniiyi gave a sigh of relief on seeing the road and then fainted.

Lastborn fell down to her side and started to shake her. 'Eniiyi! Eniiyi! Eniiyi, wake up!' But her eyes remained shut. Tears started to flow freely down his face. Was she dead? What could he do? How would he get her to a hospital?

'Calm down,' he told himself then tried taking in deep breaths. He had to find a car!

He stood up, tears still falling from his eyes and walked closer to the road, hoping fervently that a car would pass.

One did, but it sped by so fast he didn't have the chance to shout for help.

'Please come back! Help!' he shouted, but the car had disappeared into the distance.

He continued to shout for help at the top of his voice till it went hoarse.

He fell down onto the side of the road, tired. Was this how they were going to die? Had they escaped the village and a band of armed robbers just to be found dead at the side of an express road the next morning?

Hot tears flowed faster as sobs shook his whole body. He shut his eyes as the lights glared brighter. Then snapped them opened, yes, the lights were brighter! But they were car headlights! A car was approaching but not too fast.

He didn't know when he picked himself up from the ground and dragged to the middle of the road, waving his arms wildly and croaking for help. 

That way the car would surely see him.