Panic PT 1

John winced as he struggled to open his eyes. His whole body ached and the rays of morning sunlight reflecting on his eyes didn't make it easier for him. For a while, he didn't know where he was, or what he was doing there. He felt something dried up on his face and immediately knew it was his blood. He touched his forehead to discover it was swollen. As he fought back the throbbing ache on his head, he tried to gather his memory together.

He looked over to his side to see Timileyin's face buried on the steering. Then he remembered.

The Hilux... We crashed... Joana!

His eyes were wide open now. The pain didn't subside though. He looked behind hoping to see Joana but could only find their bags.

"Oh my God!" His mouth felt dry as he exclaimed.

He looked back at his cousin.

"Timileyin," he called with a cough. "Wake up," he said pushing him on the arm slightly.

There was no response from Timileyin and John was beginning to fear that he could be dead. He pulled Timileyin back on the seat and tried to examine him. Blood was smeared all over his face.

"Timileyin," John called out one more time in desperation. This time he got a low, almost inaudible grunt as a response.

"Ah, you're alive! Thank God!" John shouted but soon regretting it as the pain in his head seemed to rise.

He knew they needed help, and fast. Just then his attention caught a crowd of people standing and watching a few meters away from the car. Typical Nigerian mentality, stay at bay to avoid unnecessary issues with yourself and the police.

He turned to Timileyin.

"Timileyin, listen to me, I am going outside now to look for help. I will be back right now, please stay with me okay?"

Timileyin answered with another grunt.

"Okay, I'm going now," John said then walked out of the car.

"Oh my God!" A woman from the crowd shouted. "One of them is alive!"

Everyone began to gasp in shock as John moved forward.

"What is wrong with you people?" He asked. "How long have you been standing there? We could have died!"

The crowd began to move back slowly except for a man who took a bold step to move forward.

"Young man, what is going on?" The man asked as he rushed to John who was losing his balance.

"Thank you very much sir," John said as he leaned on the man. "Please call an ambulance, my cousin needs help right now," he said with a cough.

"The other guy is alive too." The man yelled to the crowd. "We have to rush them to the hospital."

"No, not me," John objected. He could feel his vision dropping as he spoke.

"But you don't look good yourself," The man said.

"No, I have to get to the police station. Joana has been kidnapped." John said before he passed out.

** ** **

_Hey June, by the time you are reading this, I'm probably long gone already. I wrote this to show you how much I love you and how much I'll miss you. I know you have been doubting if I really forgave you or I still hate you, well stop it.

You're my other half Ju, there's no way I could hate you. In fact, that's an understatement, you're like my better half. You have a pure heart and you always want to see the best in people. I know I tell you sometimes that it makes you weak or soft but the truth is I envy that._

June let out a short laugh in tears as she read Joana's note for the third time. Joana had reserved a page for her. It made her feel both delighted and sad altogether. She was sad because she didn't know how to give her parents the note.

Now it was morning and she was still locked in her room not wanting her parents to suspect anything. Thankfully, morning devotion had been skipped that morning and although she wondered what was happening at home, it wasn't the least of her problems at that moment.

Joana had promised to text when she got to wherever she and John were headed. She should have received a text that night but there was none and she was worried. She had waited patiently all through the night till morning for a text but when there was none, she decided to put a call through to her but there was no answer.

After trying a few more times with the same result, she decided to call John's phone. His was no different. Her worry was now beginning to transcend to panic, her parents could come demanding she opened the door and she would be forced to give up everything when she didn't know where her sister was.

She picked up her phone again to call Margret.

"Hey."

"Hey, what's up?" Margret answered.

"Did Joana text you last night?"

"No, she didn't text you too?"

"No... You don't think something bad happened right?"

"Uhm, let's not go there first."

"Well what do you want me to think? It's almost 9 am and my parents are beginning to suspect something is going on."

"Wait, you haven't told me them yet?"

"No, I couldn't bring myself to last night."

"Okay, let's try to stay calm. Have you tried calling John?"

"Yes, he didn't pick either."

Margret fell silent for a moment.

"Okay," she said as soon as she picked herself back up. "Something could be up. Can we meet?"

Suddenly June heard a knock on the door. It was her mum.

"June come out here now!"

"Okay, I'll text you where... I have to go now." June said then hung up.

"Good morning mummy." She said forcing a smile as she opened the door.

"What have you been doing in your room since? And where is your sister?"

June began trembling at her mother's question but she did her best not to show it.

"Uhm, she went out, I think." She said scratching her head.

"You think?" Her mum queried. "Hope you girls are not into something bad?"

"No mum, why would you think that?" June said with a nervous laugh in between.

"Because two policemen are outside and I don't know what they are looking for." Her mum answered. "Are you sure you did nothing wrong?"

June looked at her mother's eyes feeling sorry that she was about to lie to her face again.

"Of course not!"