THE SHADOW OF SLEEP

CHAPTER FOUR– Reality

It depended on the side you were on. For some in the room, it was a stampede and to some other people like me, it was a welcome development, not because I needed something exciting but because of what the excitement will bring about.

Two ladies were shouting down at each other which escalated to the real thing many of the roommates were expecting. I knew that was what made some of their blood thrill because of the immediate shout of surprise and joy almost everyone gave in to when the fight began and the excited screams like they had been deprived of all enjoyment when growing up.

It was becoming chaotic as the room swelled in noise, shouts of support to their favourite, and the conglomeration going around the fighters who fought with all their strength and might, like they were on a battlefield and their life depended on it. Actually, I would say so because it would be a loss to lose here and still lose when you're suffering from punishment. At least one ought to win one side and this was the one most certain. My mind was quickly doing some calculations on how I would be able to pull off what I was about to do, some visual sightseeing in my mind when I was interrupted by a voice. I nearly jumped.

“What are you thinking?” Melady asked.

She accosted me and was still asking what I was thinking. Couldn't some people mind their business? I didn't need her now.

“Nothing,” I said in almost a whisper and moved closer to the action scene intending to move far from her half expecting that she would follow me. Why is she sticking to me at this most critical time like glue? I couldn't think when she was looking at me like she was examining me.

And then it happened.

What I had been waiting for. The female wardens who had the watch over us came into the chaos to separate and bring back peace. I deftly moved closer and at that moment snatched the key at their waistband just as the crowd started making space for them to move into the center of action.

I snarled my way back to my bed relieved. Everyone was enraptured waiting for what would happen to the ladies who broke the law. They were nearly dragged out of the room and then the noise turned to cackles each facing their neighbor. Inquiries and speculations flying on what might be the punishment those unfortunate ladies would go through.

“What do you think will happen to them?”

Melady, for the umpteenth time, leave me alone. My mind was not there with them in the room. I couldn't care less. My heart was already beating with what I knew I must do that night.

I shrugged, “Run around the field.”

“Is that so?”

How she said it made me turn my eyes on her. I was already about to lie on the bed feigning sleep and unlike me, I asked, “What do you think?”

“I think they would feed them to the dogs”

My blood ran cold. Just as I saw the cold glint in her eyes. She must have seen the fear in my profile. She smiled, “It's only a joke”

But my bones and joints said otherwise. I felt chilled to my bones. Had that been how she always smiled at me?

As I settled on my bed which was up. I concluded that it was only my nerves playing with me because of the enormity of what I wanted to do this night.

Gradually, night fell with a heavy rain.

•••

The thundering was what gave me hope. So far, everything has been working in my favour. If not, why would a fight erupt where almost all the ladies were afraid of what would happen to them when they broke a law.

I could see the streaks of lightning from the window panes on my left. I quietly stole down from my bed. My bunkmate was sleeping soundly and everywhere was quiet except for the occasional lightenings and thunders.

I crept slowly and silently on bare feet on the cold floor towards the exit and went out.

The passageway was lighted with two incandescent bulbs casting a dim yellow to the floor. I knew where the security cameras were installed and steered clear away from them sticking to the blindspots till I reached that ill-fated office. I stood for a while thinking of what to do to the camera just overlooking the door. I would never be able to get in without being seen. I never thought of that. My plans already had loopholes. I at last removed my dress and flung it high over the camera covering it at once. The cold hit me almost all at once in my pants and bra.

I went into the office. It was as how I remembered it, snug and warm. I went straight to the desk with the papers and a laptop. How I wished we had our smartphones. I would have taken pictures instead of going through all this. I knew I had just enough time to gleam the information I sought.

The papers on top were weekly reports on how we performed and the list of the most promising trainees. I saw my name at the bottom of the list. This was not what I sought, I opened the drawers, scattering through the files there. I still didn't see the information I needed. What this organization was all about? Who was the sponsor and most importantly information about me and my family?

Was I too greedy to search for this? Then It came to my mind that it must be in the laptop. I opened it and to my utmost surprise and chagrin; It had no password. Was this how confident they were in their security? I knew a little bit about how to bypass firewalls and even crack passwords, and I expected a challenge.

And this- I had one inside the laptop as I gripped tightly to it to prevent my hands from shaking.

In what I assume was a sudden attack of large numbers of creatures I cannot even start to explain their morphology into a respectable man’s mansion but it wasn't just any respectable man because the guards were fighting with something I had never seen before, a white steel and shiny weapon that looked like an mp3, I assumed must be some sort of a gun and away from its shiny muzzle, the color took a deep black that twinkled just like a nebula. They fought like they had fought numerous battles like that before.

I quickly sensed that I wasn't the only person in the room. I was so engrossed that I had not heard the guards and trainers come in. I looked up to see Druig and Melady step into the light.

“You cut a fine figure, Miss Florence.” He said with a grin.

I stared at them just as I had been staring in shock and disgust at the video I had just been watching.