Heavy rains swept across the Ashanti and Central regions as predicted by the Ghana Meteorological Service. The people of Abesewa were simply glad that the rains were finally coming down the night. However, the noise of the crash before the rains began made many wonder. Those who lived by the roadside came to their windows and their small porches to check if there was indeed an accident. Most of them could not see any of such indication along the road so they went to bed. That was because when Nurudeen had stomped the man in the front seat with his feet and stabbed Issah, the car veered off the road into the bushes just before the town, hit a bump and somersaulted about three times before crashing into some trees.
The heavy raindrops were quite blinding for Nurudeen when he gained consciousness. It was almost dark everywhere. He could barely see anything besides a faint glint of light that showed that they were indeed close to a town, the lights of the taxi that had somersaulted and crashed into a number of trees in a thicket close to the road, and the blink of his watch screen that hinted his battery was almost dead. He was still panting from the shock of the crash. He literally thought he was dead when he was awake after the turbulence he could barely remember because of how it flashed in occurrence. He could feel pain in all over his body. The impact of the crash had taken its toll.
The rains were hitting harder and harder, pouring more and more. He looked around him when he felt the rivulets of water flowing past his feet and his hands which propped his upright position. He got up now and checked his watch. The time was 3:23 am. He looked around again because he wanted to determine the direction he could take to the road. Thankfully, he heard a car pass in a near distance. The sound was helpful in directing him. He took a few steps and he sensed the stench of petrol pouring out. He looked at the mangled car, which he had been thrown out off when the car rolled over and crashed. He realised that a body lay right by it, and it was Issah. He was letting out soft moans of pain. He was not dead. He walked closer to him, and crouched by his side.
'Issah?' Nurudeen felt suddenly sorry but he had to. He had to do what he had to do to escape the kind of death that Issah and his family had plotted for him. As long as he was in their grip, it was his death at hand. But now that he was here, what hope did he have? He was not out of the woods yet because he did not even know and could not even tell where he was.
He looked into the car and realised the other man was still inside and he was not even moving. He was dead. He looked at Issah again, his attire covered in blood, mud, and some kind of oil. He was breathing in a way that was as though he was about to die.
Nurudeen reflected on how he had been sent some private messages from men of God, that he was going to die. Some went to greater lengths to even say them publicly just as they loved to do. He was not a religious person but he did his bid to reach out to them to help him in the situation so that he would be safe. But here he was, almost at the brink of that death that had been announced ahead of time. He feared the worse in the moment. He may have the blood of three men on his hands as a result of the defence he mounted for himself.
Issah could not talk. It was only a grunt.
'Issah?' He called softly, again. Issah was still not talking.
He heard the sound of another car. Should he find the way to the side of the road or stay here? He was confronted with a dilemma because what his eyes were staring at were his fault. But would someone have done anything differently? He could not just sit in the car from Cape Coast to Tamale just to be sacrificed in a family altar. Now, he rather sacrificed three lives to save his and he was feeling terrible.
Strong winds set in an Nurudeen was blinded for a moment. The rain splashed on his face and entered his eyes. He wiped his face with his hands and sighed. What a day. What a time of his life. It was almost unbelievable how his life had meandered so rapidly, through a lot of ups and downs, especially in the last week. The week was a very happy one for him and their friendly trip was just about to spice things up! They went from a cozy beach house to being attacked in the matter of hours. And now, he was stuck in the middle of nowhere, shivering from the chilly winds brought by this heavy storm. He was crouched by an injured man who almost killed him. How was this whole drama even a possibility? He asked himself in shock. It briefly reminded him of how the one time decision which had led him to all of this, changed his life in a blink too. It was a reminder that life was that fleeting and for every man, every moment and choice did count in the most unbelievable manner. It had seemed to him like a dream when he went from being a poor chap who had no hopes to becoming the globally respected Nurudeen. And today, that dawn, while he crouched by Issah's nearly-lifeless body, he felt the same - was this a dream?
His phone blinked and his heart skipped a beat. He could not believe the notification that popped up. He scrambled up and made his way through the bushes eagerly. The watch was at three percent when it blinked again. He was still surprised by the notification that his phone was nearby! In a few seconds, he was by the roadside. The notification came again and he could see the beam of headlights from afar.
The beam was brighter and closer now. He raised his hand and began to wave viciously, despite his loss of strength. The closer the car got, the more convinced he was that it was his friends.
That he was glad was an understatement. What was man without his friends? What would man do without brothers? He kept waving to slow the car down.
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