BEHIND THE WALLS

Episode 4

One of the bracelets that Carlos picked had an imprint of the name Maliya.

It was a bracelet he had bought for her on her 14th birthday.

That was the year before he left for the undercover job.

On seeing that, Carlos knew that the girl who just brushed his hand was Maya.

"Maya!" He said forgetting that he was still on the call.

"Carl, did you see my Liya?" His mom asked over the phone.

"Mom I'll talk to you later" he said and hang up.

"Hello, hello, hello Carl! He hang up on me. Oh God!" Mrs David said in tears

"Hey, relax. Carlos will find her" Mr David said sitting on the sofa and decided to change the channel but the next he kept had the similar incident.

"Why should I relax? It's my girl we are talking about David! If you ain't worried then I am" Mrs David said in tears.

Mr David hated to see his wife like that so he went to her and hugged her.

"Everything will be fine" he said but his heart was confused.

He felt pain but was also happy about the incident.

A part of it wanted Maya to just die there and a part of it wanted her to come back home.

He just brushed it off so that his wife didn't notice his confusion.

Carlos on the other hand began pacing down to look for the ambulance carrying Maliya.

He held on to the bracelets tightly as he pushed his way towards the ambulance.

The crowd was growing bigger and many were going towards his opposite direction.

When Carlos was almost getting to the ambulance, he saw it leaving.

"Hey! Hey! Hey wait!" He called out but who could hear him there?

There was noise everywhere, from those who were crying, from the ambulances and fire fighter's cars, from those still looking for their kids and calling everywhere.

The place was the noisiest.

Carlos crawled under some people and got to a clear spot just for him to look for the ambulance details.

He then rushed to look for his car, just to find alot of people around the car.

There was also another car carelessly parked next to his, such that he couldn't get his car out.

"Who did this? Who the hell did this?" Carlos asked but no one looked at him.

Everyone was busy doing their own search and cry.

Some were gossiping already.

"How did the fire even start? Many students have lost their lives, how are they going to compensate the parents? It is a very rich school for the rich kids. Look at all the cars parked here by the parents. They come to show off even during a crisis.I'm glad my child isn't schooling here. I would be dead from shock by now. I'm not leaving until I get to know what caused the fire and every detail in it"they gossiped and even laughed about it.

Carlos was feeling so messed up such that all he could do at the moment, was to go where the other car was blocking his, and tried to lift it.

His first attempt failed, but he did his best in the second round.

He caught the car by the front and pulled it away, to give space for his car and to move.

And just that gave him attention from many near there.

Some took videos of him for their t****k accounts but Carlos didn't care at that moment.

He just wanted to get to Maya.

He got in his car, hooted to get people out of his way and rushed towards the ambulance that was already out of his sight.

Carlos wanted to go fast than he was driving, but was caught up in a traffic jam.

"What the heck is this!" Carlos said angrily as he waited along the traffic jam.

Luckily, another ambulance was rushing past their way so other cars had to make way for it.

Carlos took the opportunity and rushed in with the ambulance.

Other drivers complained about his act but Carlos didn't care at that moment.

He followed the ambulance up to the city hospital.

Luckily, he saw the ambulance he had been looking for.

He rushed in but the hospital was flooded with people.

Nurses and doctors were rushing here and there to check on the patients.

Some were handling minor injuries, while some had the critical ones who were fighting for their lives.

Some were being taken out covered in white sheets since they couldn't make it, no matter how hard the doctors tried.

"Maliya, where are you? Please fight for yourself" he said and kept moving about around the hospital.

There was no enough space for everyone.

Some were crowded outside, family and friends.

Annaya on the other hand was already having a heated argument with her parents.

She arrived home early, said hi to her parents and Jonathan borrowed her phone.

Jonathan walked out and never came back.

Annaya sat down to wait for what her parents called her there for but they didn't say anything.

The tv was also switched off, which was unlike them.

"You are scaring me now. Say something mom. I need to go back to the school. They've been looking for me and I haven't even replied to them. Where is Jonathan? I need my phone" said Annaya but no one said anything.

Her other two brothers, Jayden and Jordan came downstairs.

"You guys are home? Were you trying to surprise me?" Annaya asked and stood to hug her elder brothers.

She was the only daughter of the family and the last born.

"Yes. That's why we called you here" her mom said nervously.

"This isn't like you. My dear brothers could've just come for me at school. Now tell me the truth. Is something wrong? Why did Jonathan leave with my phone. Am I missing on something?" Annaya was now getting suspicious.

"It's nothing Annaya. Just go in and rest" said her father.

"Rest? It's my work day and i'm supposed to be in school with my students. I want the truth. What are you hiding? I was in the army for three good years dad and I know when to feel suspicious. This seems like a trap. Can someone tell me anything!" Annaya yelled

When nobody answered, she rushed for the remote and switched on the tv.

"Don't watch it!" Her father yelled but it was too late.

Annaya was shocked by the news and was glued there for about 5 minutes, saying nothing.

"We wanted to keep you safe. It was dangerous to go there right now. You are a girl and ..." her dad was explaining but mentioning the girl thing, Annaya cut in.

"Here we go again Dad! I thought we solved this three years ago. What does me being a girl have to do with my school burning to ashes? I should be there right now! There with other teachers and the students. What will they think of me? Oh, so this is why Jonathan came very early to my house. This is why he took my phone away. You are unbelievable!" Annaya yelled as she used one hand to hold her waist and the other was on her forehead.

"We all mean well for you. It's dangerous to be out there right now. Let the others do their work" said her father

"Dad those are my students out there! Why am I even arguing with you!" Said Annaya and wanted to rush out but her two brothers stopped her.

"Don't push me beyond my line bros. Let me go" said Annaya

"You ain't going anywhere Annaya. We all are just trying to protect you here" said Jordan

"Can you even hear yourself? What nonsense is this you are spitting? I don't need protection! Those students out there..." Annaya said and pointed towards the tv just to see Carlos caught on camera lifting a car and dragging it away.

She couldn't finish what she was saying.

"Carlos!" She said and turned to her brothers.

"Let me go!" She said

"Not today Annaya" Jayden said.

"Very well then, I'm sorry" said Annaya and faught her way out.

She gave three to four tight blows to her brothers and escaped.

"Annaya!" Her mother called but she was already out, leaving her brothers laying on the floor in pain.

"Where are the guards! Guards! Bring her back!" Annaya's dad commanded.

Annaya found her car outside, but Jonathan had escaped with the keys.

She heard her father send for the guards and had to quickly escape.

Jonathan forgot to lock the car, so Annaya got in, used her hair clip to cut some wires, joined them and started the car.

"How did she start the car?" Wondered Jonathan who was hiding behind the flowers next to their parking lot.

He got out to stop his sister along with the guards but was almost run over by Annaya.