SITA
Terrorists! That's how they strike. They always start with massive explosions that would put fear in anyone around, before they open fire to have stray bullets do their bidding.
The noise of people fleeing into safety struck the hall where we were all laid on the floor to first save our heads. I thought of the five-armed security officers, they were supposed to return fire, but neither their shots nor that of the terrorists was yet to come.
"Get to safety." Alessandro hollered at the peak of his voice, but as though the terrorists were waiting for him to utter his piece, a second explosion came as loud as the previous one, and gunshots from the security men followed in response.
"Our men are engaging them," I yelled.
Everyone rose to their feet, and as though I and Alessandro were the lead roles in an action movie, we led them out and took all of them to the backyard where at least, the building would be our cover.
"The terrorists aren't returning fire to the security officers." One of the men among us muttered. "Cowards, I know they won't fight when they sense they will be beaten up in a gunfight."
The security men stopped firing, maybe to reload, and the terrorists opened fire from their corner. As though that wasn't enough, they launched explosives that landed in the school compound and raised clouds of dust that jumped the building and splashed on us.
"Run!" I heard a voice yell out loud. The gunfire was yet to seize, and at intervals, they blew their explosives and hit the camp.
"Our men are no longer returning fire." Said the same man who mocked the terrorists for not returning fire when the security officers opened fire in defense of the camp.
"They are probably dead." Said another man.
"And we are all here, waiting on death?" came another man's voice, he raised his voice and hollered, "Run for your life!"
Everyone took off. More explosions came more gunshots, and the cry of people scampering for safety. I and Alessandro were the ones left in the backyard.
I could have swung into action, tracking and killing the terrorists, but that would cause me severe problems even if I won.
"Come, I'll protect you." He took my hands and made a move, but we both bumped into a terrorist. "Gosh."
The fellow drew his knife for a fight, but Alessandro was good with speed and punching. His fist traveled to the terrorist's jaw and dislodged it. the bandit, a mere teenager with an AK47 lost balance and found himself on the floor, but not without opening fire without definite direction because his gun did not fall off from his hand.
We took off. There was a big hole in the back fence. We made it to it and fled from it. A thick forest was waiting ahead of us, but what I saw was different. Those bastards had taken captives, and among their captives was my assistant.
"Shit!" I snarled, "Look over there!"
Alessandro stopped and looked at the other end of the landmass. They were moving those who ran off earlier into a big vehicle.
"We have to save them," I said and ran to ward them, the trees around acting as shields to me. Alessandro followed me, calling on me but I had no business listening to him when there were lives to save from the grip of bandits.
"Those men are well-armed; you can't stop them!"
The bandits sighted us and opened fire against us. I dropped to the floor like a dried corpse to avoid the bullets that were whizzing past me.
"Are you okay?" I asked to ensure the bullet didn't hit Alessandro.
"Yes, I'm kissing the earth." His muffled voice met my ears.
I nodded, and like a serpent, I crawled on my belly, as swiftly as I could to meet the bandits who were dispatched in the bush near the forest to find us.
They were five, I could tell by the sound of their feet walking the earth. Alessandro, I was sure he wouldn't see me or sense what was happening if I did it the best way I could.
The first man had soccer boots on. He looked worse than death itself, but his looks were no problem to me. I started by ripping out on him from nowhere and knocking his gun off from him, and he ended what I started by engaging me in close combat.
I looked at the left side of his legs and a knife was tied to his lap. I pretended to be a novice in hand-to-hand combat, but he was shocked when I grabbed the knife from him and stabbed his left chest.
He dropped to the earth his blood staining it, and I went for the second man. I wouldn't spare him, I had sworn under my breath not to make such a mistake, because he was the one who fired more than ten shots into the bush before entering.
Having gotten a knife, I was ready to do the good work of putting them down without fear. I trailed him like a snake, and once he was in a good position, I stroke from the rear and slit his throat from ear to ear before he could press his trigger.
His gun fell off, and he dropped to his knees. I knew he wouldn't survive the injury, so, I took off and settled for the third man. He seemed to have been consumed by fear because he couldn't see his colleagues walking the bush anymore.
He called out to them, but no answers came. He whispered loudly to get them, but a jab from behind was the response he got. His gun dropped first, but who cared about that, I pulled the knife off his back and stabbed him in the head.
"Rest in the bosom of Abraham." I took the knife off his head and made for the car which was were my assistant, a few other people, and two bandits were.
I came close enough to make a clear target. The first one was standing outside, with his gun ready to shoot, while the one was in the car, ready to turn on the engine and take off.
***