Chapter 3 - Fear

Aurora's pov

Voices

Cries

Smokes

Dead bodies

Everything was in ruins, who were these people and why Lagos of all places?

These were questions i asked myself as i finally reached Planet News. I couldn't even recognise my workplace, half of the walls were blown away by the bomb 💣, the gigantic Earth statue was completely reduced to dust. There were wires and broken screens everywhere and the whole building was dark lit only by the sunlight coming through the broken walls, my heels echoed as i slowly walked in while examining the news room. Everything was gone, tears started dripping, then it suddenly hit. Where was everyone, my colleagues, the boss, cameraman and the rest? Did the bomb get them?

"No please" i trembled in tears as I clutched my tummy

I looked around but there was no bodies, that gave me a little hope

"They have to be alive"

I dashed across the news room and climbed upstairs, the stairs were damaged too so i climbed with caution. I finally reached Gabi's office, it was locked.

"Gabi?!" I screamed as i tried to open the door

No answer

"Gabi!" I tried to hold my tears and fears "Gabriel! Anna! Anyone?!"

Still no answer

I slumped on the floor and just bent my face as the tears flowed

"This can't be happening? I can't lose..." I hiccuped

An image of David's lifeless body flashed before my eyes and i just sobbed louder. This had to be some kind of nightmare 

"Is it Armageddon already? God why? Why of all days, you had to choose today? I just lost my boyfriend of 4years, kill me too!"

"Aurora!"

I flinched at the sound of someone calling my name

"God?" I looked around "are you the one speaking?" I was scared 😨 

"Aurora!" I quickly got up and grabbed a plank nearby "I'm not ready to die, i change my mind. Who's there?!"

I Searched the empty dark hall

"Aurora?" The voice was getting closer and I could hear footsteps coming towards me.

"Gabi?" The voice was more feminine

The footsteps were now near, like in front of me. My poor heart pounded heavily as I gently drew back

Two shadows stood before me, the first one came nearer and grabbed me

"Stay back!" I screamed in fear

"Aurora it's me Anna, are you okay?"

"Anna?" I looked closer as the face became more clearer "Anna" i hugged her deeply

The second shadow joined us, it was Michael my cameraman

"What's going on?" I couldn't help crying again

"We don't know, but we're not safe here. C'mon we need to head to the basement" Anna said

I nodded as we ran towards the stairs leading to the underground basement

"How did you find me?" I asked as Anna opened the door to the basement 

"We heard someone screaming and decided to check it out. Thought Mike over here was a bit hesitant" Anna smiled

How could she even smile in this situation?

"Thanks. Where's my Gabi?" I looked around

Anna turned the dim lights on, i could see her clearly now. She had bruises on her beautiful dark face, Mike looked tattered and his white shirt was torn.

"Over there" she pointed somewhere

I followed her directions towards a wall, i gasped

"Gabi"

My boss was on the floor lying lifeless in a pool of blood

"Is...is he dead?" My breath was shaky

"Yeah" Anna said sadly as she sat on the floor "he was on the rooftop calling you when a bullet shot him, everyone started running as his body fell to the ground. Mike and I were the ones who brought him to the basement to try and save him. But then the bombs started coming, we got distracted and he..."

I collapsed on the floor letting out a loud sob

"They took David's life too!!!"

"What?!" Anna rushed to me wrapping me in her arms

"They killed the love of my life Anna, they killed him" i cried into her chest "I'm tired"

Anna consoled me as i continued crying. Mike being the quiet type just stood beside muttering "sorry"

"Who are these people and what do they want from us?"

"Honestly i would like to know too"

"I guess we're about to find out" Mike muttered

"Huh?" Anna and I looked up

He pointed towards the large screen that just came on. A group of masked people were showing on the screen, there was a purple masked guy in their middle holding a snaked staff ⚕️ 

"What's going on?" I was confused

"They're hacking every media platform in Lagos" mike said as he sat down, brought out his dusty laptop and then started checking something on it "I think they're about to introduce themselves and they want to make sure everyone is listening"

Mike was right, because suddenly the noise and screams coming from outside stopped. The masked men started speaking 🗣️ 

"People of Lagos, this is not a drill. The catastrophic events you've experienced today are all the doings of the purple clan..." The man in the middle said

"Purple what?" I looked at Anna who was equally confused

"...what you all experienced today is just the beginning. You've all being living blindly, driving behind your expensive cars, your so-called governor killing my people, landlords raising rents every day, exploiting the poor masses that cannot speak for themselves, trampling upon your victims and claiming for yourself the title of the so-called city of life. Today is your judgement day, and I the purple mon'itei as the jugde will make sure you pay"

The screen went dead and we all remained slient. I looked at Anna, Anna looked at Mike and Mike looked at me. Everyone is doomed

"We.. " i was interrupted by the sound of sirens, the police was outside. Those idiots, coming to our rescue when the chaos has already consumed us

"We need to leave, i think the police is outside and the bombing has stopped" Mike got up, Anna helped me up too.

I was still dusting my skirt when the door suddenly flew open and we turned towards the door in fear