Chapter 4 THE ALLEY

"Han-gel!" My mom called me, dragging a chair closer towards my bedside.

I removed the sheet cover over my head, gently I sat up, then stared at her.

I could tell she's much calmer than earlier, still worried, but much calmer.

"Hmm, it is well sha." She said, not loud, but loud enough for me to hear.

Then brought out a large bowl. "i know nothing is in your stomach, have this." She shoved it right at me.

What's this?-Food?-But why is it so heavy?

I turned to her, my gaze blazing with questions. "Do she want to kill me... with this?-no, she's my mother?-does she?

Putting those thought aside. After all the food might not even be half the bowl... right?

I twisted the cover open, it won't budge.

My hands starting to hurt me, mom grab it, and with one twist, it opened.

But what escaped my mouth next... "JESUS CHRIST!" ...wasn't my fault.

She shoved it right back at me. "Your FAVIRATE!"

It's then I realized this woman truly wanted to kill me.

Me thinking it might not be half a bowl, but this... this... was even spilling out without even touching it.

I darted my gaze between my mother and the food, my eyes filled with suspicions.

"What? Oya open your mouth and eat. You must finish it oh!! Afti all, it's you FAVIRATE!"

Favorite, so what?

"Good day ma..." I looked up, a man stood before us.

He's dressing quite simple, looks decent, i guess.

Turned towards me. "Good-day-sir!" He tone slightly different from how he had addressed my mom earlier, or, maybe not.

"Eh! What do you?" My mom inquired. I think what she wanted to say was, how may i help you?

"My name is Emmanuel..." he started. "Officer Emmanuel-" identifying himself as an officer of law.

"Eh?" My mom interrupted him.

I don't blame her, she's not much of a patient person, but himself he's dragging his welcome to long.

"I'm sorry ma-I'm sorry." Sudden turn of event as he bend down apologizing nonstop.

"Ehh! What is it with you?-why is you keep saying sorry?-what has you done?" She asked.

Did he do something wrong?-Was my mom that terrifying?-Is she a gang leader?- Am i a gang member?-I'm not understanding anything...

Those questions flooded in my mind.

"What e it?" my mom asked him again, this time a bit up set.

The man got up, stared at us for nearly half a decade, before speaking up.

"I...i... i was the one who hit your son." He bloat out.

"Ehh?" My mom immediately dash towards him without hearing come-go.

She held him on the collar with her left hands, slapping him tirelessly with her right hand, while her lips spat fowl words unpleasant to the ears.

It took at least five men to separate her from him, and all I could do was to bury my face in my palms.

................

Meanwhile, at another place, It's now night. we hear the constance buzzing of a call.

A girls stepped into an alley, her footsteps stopped.

Her looks seem to be around mid 20s. Holding a phone in her hand, while she dial a number.

RINGING.

She stretched, checking, searching for something or someone.

But with the current condition of the alley, she could not see a thing.

The alley; a very dark passage way, with one flickering bulb illuminating.

ANSWERED.

"Hey big-head, just got here." She said, being sassy.

"Oh-" a male voice was briefly heard.

"Where are you? I can't see you." She didn't let the person at the other end say anything before interrupting.

"Really, I'm almost out of the alley." He said.

"Hmm..." doubtful.

She prey her gaze into the alley, trying to see maybe his words are genuine. "Then why can't i see you?"

"Maybe you should just wave you hands i might see you."

"hmm..." she began waving her hands, while mumbling, "can't believe mom and dad force me to come pick you up."

"Can you see me now?" She asked, frustrated.

"No."

Annoyed, she flay up. "...fuck, Mike! it's not funny."

Confused, Mike asked through the phone. "What?"

"Are you serious, can't you just stop without pulling a prank for once."

She starts walking down the alley.

"Hey, watch it." Someone yelled.

She looked backed, not her-

"I-I'm serious, I really can't see you." Mike tries to convince her.

A cat passed her feet.

Terrified, she screamed. "Ahhh!!"

"What?" Mike worried voice peered through the phone.

Composing herself, a awkward cough escaped her lips.

"Nothing." She said briefly. Then continued, "Are you even at the right place?"

"Yeah, was't I meant to pass the alley behind MOLLEY HOTEL?" Mike informed.

"Hmm... tell me then, what do you see around you?" She asked.

"Okay... I can see two cats fighting for food." Mike said jokingly.

"Mike!" She roared, her voice laced annoyance.

Mike giggled. "Okay-okay fine... I see a guy, he's smoking-"

"Okay." Uninterested.

"He's holding something."

"Holding what?" Not interested.

"I don't know, maybe... a... a knife-" Mike said, his voice shaking with fright.

"What? Dave, not sure you're the right place-" Jess stopped. Standing at the center of the alley, she sees the road ahead.

"Now he's staring at me."

"What, why?" Worries, waging on her.

"He's walking towards me."

"Dave please, stop playing with me." She doesn't want to believe.

"I'm not-he's running towards me-wh-what should I do?" His voices shaking.

"Get out-get out of there." She's panicking, yelling at her little brother.

"I can't, he's fast." He informed her.

"Dave!" She shouted.

"Ahhh!!!" Screams were heard from the other side of the phone.

Frighten and confused, she gazed on her phone screen. "Wh-what. just. happened?"

Then stared at the other end of the road.

Suddenly, her phone started ringing.

She stared at the screen, unknown number popping up. Then answered.

"He-hello!" Terrified.

"Jess please-Jess please help me-" Mike shaking voice came from the other end of the call.

Anxiously, her voice began echoing through the alley. "Mike! Mike where are you?

"Give me that..." someone voice came through. "Hello there!" He sound much calm then earlier.

"Who are you, what do you want with my little brother?" She asked.

"Well, what do you think? Why would a human, kidnap another human, in a bad economic?" The stranger replied.

Straightforward, she spoke up. "Just name it, name your price, but please, don't hurt him, don't hurt my little brother please."

"I-" the stranger voice broke, loud laughters were had from the other end. "Bro, i'm sorry, I can't keep it up."

Another laughter penetrated through the phone. "Hey you, I don't think you loved me that much."

Confused, she asked. "What?"

Laughters till exploding from the other side of the call. "A prank, it's just a prank sis."

Annoyed, she lashed out. "Fuck, what? You really were pranking me, I can't believe this. Fuck you, fuck you Mike... I-I really thought you were in danger after we talked just a minute ago."

Surprised, Mike asked. "What?-what do mean we talked? This is the first time we are talking today."

She not believing. "Mike stop it, we spoke minutes ago about you been in the alley-"

Mike trying to convince her. "No sis, I never called, and in fact i got home for like two hours ago."

"No-"

"And beside, i lost my phone two months ago, this is my new number I'm using to call you." He concluded.

Confused. "Huh?"

"Hey sis, got to go now, see you at home, bye!!!" Mike said.

"Wait-"

CALL ENDED.

"What's going on here? Wasn't it him I spoke to?..." she being confused.

"...Hey sis!" A voice came from behind, carrying trace of Mike in it.

Jess turned.

Confused. "Who are you?" She asked.

And in a low voice, he replied. "It's me, Mike."

"Wha--" but before she could say anything, a hand reached out to her from behind with a small cloth in it.

She struggled; her breath becoming shallow. Eyelids once wide, slowly shut close, till she eventually lost consciousness.