Chapter 9 Plan to escape

" Nancy! Nancy! Wake up! " Oliver screamed like a woman.

" Get a doctor!" I yelled. Oliver made to call the doctor and I looked at her. She won't last up to five minutes if we don't get the water out of her. And the doctor won't be here in twenty minutes.

" Back off ." I said to both men so that I could have enough space. I interlocked my fingers together and placed them on her chest.

" I hope this works." I murmured. I pressed on her chest the first, second, third and fourth time but there is no improvement.

I wanted to give up but I kept on doing what I was doing. I tried for the eighth time and that was when she coughed. It seemed like she had drank the whole lake.

" Nancy." Oliver said running to her side. " Thank you." He smiled looking at me.

" Big brother." She said lowly and I smiled. My first act of saving someone worked.

***

Michael dismissed the police and the workers for the night. We sat on the lawn staring at the stars. Nancy was well cuddled beside me in a blanket. The doctor checked on her and prescribed some drugs for her to prevent cold.

" Nancy you scared the hell out of me." I said as I played with her hair.

" I'm sorry. I thought I saw mother by the lake." She said lowly.

" Nancy your mother's in California. Maybe you were just imagining things. Don't ever scare me like that again." I said and pecked her forehead.

" I'm sorry. Brother Oliver said you saved my life. Thank you. Are you a doctor Ms Jasmine? " She smiled.

" No but I want to be. It has always been my dream." I said staring at the stars.

***

TWO DAYS LATER

MICHAEL

I was driving to the office when I caught sight of a middle-aged lady by the pedestrian walk. She looks like one who escaped from the psychiatric hospital.

I wanted to drive past her but my spirit told me to stop and take her to the mansion. I brought the car to a halt and alighted.

" Excuse me ." I said to get the attention of the woman. She turned to face me and I gasped. It can't be!

OLIVER

I was spending some time with Jasmine at the mansion. Nancy went back to California this morning, seems she missed mum so much or I made her miss her. My mum has always given her anything she wants.

" Oliver you're not concentrating. " Jasmine said to get my attention.

" Oh, sorry. " I said and took the laptop from her. Michael had bought her a medical school form yesterday. " This here means the field you want to specialize in." I said pointing to where she hasn't filled.

" If I send this back, will I be admitted?" She asked and I chuckled.

" You have to write an exam first you know." I drawled.

" Business wasn't as hard as this." She pouted.

" Did you go to business school?" I asked and she nodded. " When? How ? I didn't see anything like that in your file."

" That's because you didn't check well." She said and clicked on a link. " See. I was among the top ten students in Business school, California." She said.

" But how? Didn't your aunt know about it?"

" She didn't. We moved to California when I was immediately after I finished high school. I finished school a year ahead my class. I went for a three years course. Lucky me she stayed there till I turned eighteen then we came back."

" You're such a sneaky one."

" Will helped me. I always be grateful."

" Are you hungry?" I suddenly asked.

" No. Are you?"

" No. Can I ask you something?"

" Anything."

"Do you like Mike?" I asked and she gasped.

" Maybe, I don't know. I'm not sure."

" If you do. I want you to help him. Bring him out of the mess he calls a life. Show him what it means to love and be loved. Can you do that for me?"

" But I thought you wanted me for yourself." She blurted.

" I did. But Mike's more important. He's my best friend and I would do anything so he could be happy. This is the first I've seen look at a woman twice." I said.

" I'll help him and I'll help you too." She smirked.

" What do you plan?"

" I have a friend." She said

" Is it Francie? Please tell me it's not Francie."

" Come on you'll like her. She's not all bad. She has a good side too."

" I wonder how you put up with her."

" Come on, you've only seen her like twice."

" And I know she's a talker." I grinned and she laughed.

**Authoress POV**

Somewhere in new Orleans, a psychiatric hospital is seen standing talk. The inner rooms reveal different folks going up and down. A nurse walks into a room and helps a woman sit upright.

"Anne you have to leave tonight." The nurse whispered.

" I can't leave. You know that." A middle-aged woman, Anne said.

" They're going to kill you. I overheard your husband speaking with the doctor." The nurse, Bridget said .

" Why? I did all he wanted. I left so he could keep the company and so my daughter could stay alive. Why does he want to kill me?" Anne asked.

" Because a young man is searching for you. They don't want him to find you." Bridget said and hugged her .

"But I don't want to go. He'll kill her." Anne said.

" Anne you're my friend and I don't want to see you dead before your grandchild is born. " Bridget frowned.

" Will you come with me?"

" Not yet. I have other matters to attend to. I'll find you. You are leaving tonight when the dark is far spent." She said as she walked out of the room.

***

12am

" Anne hurry. " Bridget said as she checked the corridors again.

" Will I see you again?" Anne asked.

" You will when you're safe." Bridget said and hugged her.

" I hope this is not the last time we'll hug." Anne smiled as she disengaged from the hug.

She followed Bridget's instructions and soon found her way out of the hospital. She spent the remaining night walking till she was sure she was miles away from the hospital.

Soon morning approached and she searched for a place where she might eat. She was about cornering to a restaurant when she heard a male voice say," Excuse me."

She turned slowly and the young man in his early twenty gasped.