A Bleak Awakening
758 Words
"Thanks for coming, Mama Joy!" Mimi’s mother called out, waving at her friend, who was the very last guest to leave the compound.
"You’re welcome, Mama Mimi! I’m the one who should be saying thank you for the hospitality," Mama Joy replied, adjusting her wrapper. "Anyway, let me rush home. It’s already past 10:00 PM."
"Okay, see you tomorrow, na! Safe journey!"
Inside the living room, the house was finally quiet, save for the hum of the refrigerator. Mimi was already fast asleep, slumped deeply into one of the couches, exhausted from all the dancing.
Her mother walked over and nudged her. "See this girl o.
Madam, wake up and lock the doors, abeg."
Mimi blinked open her heavy, sleepy eyes. "Okay, Mommy..."
"Goodnight. I’m going to my room. Make sure you don't sleep on this couch again o, go to your room."
"Okay, goodnight."
Stumbling over her own feet, Mimi dragged herself to the front door, turned the key, and slid the bolt into place. But in her deeply drowsy state, her mind slipped. She completely forgot about the kitchen back door. Leaving it unlocked, she crawled into her room, collapsed onto her bed, and instantly blacked out. She was just too tired.
The next thing Mimi felt was a blinding, stinging slap across her face.
The sheer force of it jolted her awake. She gasped, jumping off the bed in terror, only to freeze. Standing over her in the shadows was a strange man. In his left hand, glinting under the dim light, was a gun.
"Jesus—" Mimi gasped.
"Shut up!" the man hissed, pointing the barrel straight at her.
Trembling violently, Mimi clamped her hand over her mouth, biting her lips tightly together to stop herself from screaming. The man grabbed her roughly by the arm and dragged her out of her room, throwing her into the sitting room.
There, two more strangers stood waiting.
As Mimi hit the floor, a cold, sickening realization washed over her like ice water. The back door. She had forgotten to lock the back door. Armed robbers were in their house.
Her mother was already lying flat on the rugged floor, sobbing quietly and begging for their lives. Her father was beside her, his face pressed against the ground.
The leader of the gang paced the room, his boots thudding heavily. "Where is the money?!" he roared.
"There is no money in this house, sir," Mimi’s father said, his voice shaking but steady, his head still pressed to the floor.
"No money, abi?" The leader sneered. He turned to one of his men. "Spider! Go inside and search the house."
"Yes, Boss."
The man disappeared into the back rooms. A few agonizing minutes later, he walked back into the parlor holding two thick bundles of cash. "Boss," he said, handing them over.
The leader stared down at Mimi's father. "You said no money, abi?"
"I’m sorry, sir... please..." her father begged, his voice cracking.
The leader smiled a wicked, lifeless smile. "For lying to us..."
BANG!
A deafening gunshot shattered the silence of the night. Mimi’s father gasped as the bullet struck him squarely in the back of his chest. He slumped instantly, completely motionless.
Mimi opened her mouth to scream, but it felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her throat. No sound came out. Her voice was trapped.
Seeing her husband’s lifeless body, Mimi’s mother lost all control. She rushed toward him, screaming in pure, agonizing grief. The robbers panicked, fearing the loud wails would alert the neighbors.
BANG!
Another shot rang out. Her mother fell sideways, collapsing over her husband's body. The screaming stopped.
Mimi stared, her eyes wide with horror. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Both of her parents, gone in a single night. A night that had started with music and laughter, ended in a bloodbath—and in her mind, it was all thanks to her stupidity. All because she forgot to lock that one door.
One of the robbers began walking toward her, his footsteps echoing in her ears. Mimi couldn't scream. She couldn't run. She couldn't even weep. She just knelt there on the floor, frozen, like a statue that no longer possessed a soul.
As his rough hand reached out and grabbed her shoulder, the darkness finally swallowed her, and she fainted.
- Writer
