Let Me Out

by A H Alhaila

  “You should ask him that too.”, said Joanna.

  Adam and Oliver then came and sat with them. “What do you guys think about them?”, said Adam.

  “They’re okay but keep an eye out.”, said Steven.

  “I will. Lunch is being served.”, said Adam.

  Everyone went to get their food, while Steven went to the men’s room. There, he saw Johnny shaving his head with a knife. He looked at the sink and found some hair in it which confused him because Johnny was bold. Steven started to wonder where the hair came from. already shaved his head. Steven thought to himself that Johnny may have shaved off his chest hair. He continued to walk as if he hadn’t seen anything while Johnny made his way out. After using it, Steven then left them men’s room himself and went to have lunch. He found Leonardo, Joseph, Joanna, Adam, and a few others, sitting in a circle and having lunch. After Steven had sat down and joined them, Leonardo asked, “Who is that old man over there?”.

  “That’s Mr. William.”, said Steven.

  “He’s a funny man. Makes me laugh to death.”, said Leonardo.

  “Yes, he is funny.”, said Steven. “By the way, I forgot to ask you about the place you and Joseph were supposed to meet?”, he added.

  “I was just about to tell you. We won’t be staying here for long. We’ll be leaving to the place Joseph and I agreed on. It’s an island with a city that was established almost a year ago.”. said Leonardo.

  “Yes, I’ve heard about it.”, said Steven. “But why that place?”, he asked.

  “Do you think the creatures haven’t got there?”, asked Joanna.

  “Yes, I believe so.”, said Leonardo. “Even if there are creatures on it, we can just kill them with all the weapons we have. That way we can live without fear.”, he added.

  “That’s a great idea. You think we can come along?”, asked Steven.

  “Of course.”, said Leonardo. “That will increase our chances of survival.”, he added.

  “We’ll just round up our equipment and see how many cars we have. I can then discuss it with my group.”, said Steven.

  “Take you time.”, said Leonardo.

  When Steven finished eating, he went to check on the equipment that would help them in their journey. Joanna went with him and said, “Didn’t you say we should watch out for them?”.

  “Think about how our lives would change if we go to that island.”, replied Steven.

  “I think you’re being a little rash this time dad.”, said Joanna.

  “Do you want to keep seeing people die every day? We can end all that by going to that island.”, said Steven.

  Joanna became quiet as her father continued what he was doing. She went to stand in front of the glass window and started thinking about many things. She then noticed that the street was empty. The creatures where nowhere to be found. She thought that it may be because they are gathered in front of the basement entrance located at the back of the building. She waited a few moments thinking that some creatures would show up, but they did not. She then went to the roof to look towards the back of the building but couldn’t find any creature! Joanna was shocked and worried at the same time as she ran in a circle on the building on the roof, looking for the creatures from above, but also did not find a single one. “Where did the large number of creatures go to? This doesn’t look good!”, said Joanna to herself.

  Everyone felt that something had happened when they saw Joanna run frantically in search for her father in the first floor. Adam ran towards her and asked, “What’s going on?”.

  “Where’s dad?”, said Joanna.

  “He’s in the basement.”, replied Adam.

  Joanna headed straight to the basement while the two groups got up and followed her. She barged into the basement, forcefully knocking the door ajar, spooking everyone who was in it. Her father turned to her and saw it in her face that something had happened. “The creatures are gone.”, said Joanna.

  “What do you mean gone?”, said Steven.

  “They can’t just disappear into thin air!”, said Leonardo. “If they really did disappear, then shouldn’t we be happy!”, he added.

  “You know nothing!”, said Joanna.

  Joanna then looked at her father and said, “Come with me to the roof and see for yourself.”.

  Steven, followed by Leonardo and the others, went with Joanna. Word spread among everyone as everyone else headed to the roof. They started moving around in search for the creatures, but they could not find any. “It’s finally over!”, said someone in Leonardo’s group.

  Leonardo’s group were thrilled. Steven’s group however looked at them surprised and said, “It’s obvious you don’t know the creatures like we do.”.

  “Look!”, shouted Victor, pointing towards the nearby building.

  Everyone looked towards the building and saw Hugo on the roof with another creature. When Elma saw it, she broke into tears. The creature standing beside Hugo was Sam! “Get down.”, shouted Steven loudly.

  Everyone except Leonardo’s group and Elma got down. Adam pulled Elma down as Joseph shouted at the others, telling them to get down.

  They got don without knowing what for. “Why are we on the floor?”, asked Leonardo.

  “This creature knows how to use a gun.”, said Joseph. “It killed one of us.”, he added.

  “That’s absurd!”, said Leonardo.

  “I told you, you know nothing! Them disappearing all of a sudden is not good news.”, said Joanna.

  Leonardo finally knew what Joanna had meant. Steven raised his head a bit to see whether Hugo was carrying a gun or not. When he saw that he did not have a gun, Steven got up gradually and looked directly at him thinking whether he was going to pull out a gun or not. Suddenly, Steven’s thoughts escaped his mind when Hugo shouted in a deep voice, “Steven! Tomorrow you die!”.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  An Investigation in the Midst of a Crisis!

  Hugo, along with Sam, disappeared, leaving the two groups in a shock! Hugo’s threat managed to kill their hope of survival. Shocked, Steven stood in silence, while chaos broke out behind him. Everyone thought of their own survival while Leonardo and his group started to withdraw out of the building. “I’m taking my car and driving away with Leonardo.”, said someone and another person responded to him and said, “I have a lot of food that I’ve managed to save up. You can have it all if you take me with you.”, said someone.

  Others looked towards them and said, “How selfish are you?”.

  A fist-fight broke out between them. Someone even fired at another causing everyone to draw out their guns. Steven then turned around and shouted, “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!”.

  Joanna also shouted at them trying to calm them down, when Victor suddenly said, “He’s dead! He’s dead!”.

  Everyone was silent after hearing Victor. Steven asked him to check him again, while everyone waited for Victor to tell them he’s alive. “He’s dead.”, said Victor.

  Steven then quickly raised his gun and shot the man who shot the gun dead. “Everyone must suffer the consequences of their own actions.”, said Steven.

  Steven then ran after Leonardo, calling his name to talk to him, while Joanna stayed back in charge of the group. Leonardo’s group were packing up their things when Steven reached them out of breath and said, “We need your help.”.

  “Will helping you mean I’ll have to stay here longer?”, said Leonardo.

  Understand what Leonardo meant, Steven said “Will you leave us that easily after you said that sticking together will increase our chances of survival?”.

  “Would you and Joanna like to come with us?”, asked Joseph who came carrying his equipment and guns.

  “I don’t mind taking you and your daughter with us Steven. But that’s the most help I can give you.”, said Leonardo.

  “I can’t leave my group to face death alone!”, replied Steven.

  “Isn’t that better than all of us dying?”, said Leonardo.

&nbs
p; “Your group is chaotic. They’re killing each other. How do you expect us to cooperate with them and survive Hugo’s threat?”, interfered Joseph.

  “Joseph, you know that I can control them. I’ve just ended their quarrel.”, said Steven. “Also, the creature “Tomorrow, you die. This means we have time to run away together now!”, he added.

  Leonardo sighed and was out of words. Meanwhile, Steven turned and saw that the tires of one of his group’s cars were punctured! He then looked at the other cars and found that they all were! Steven then looked at Leonardo’s group with anger for what they have done. Steven quickly raised his gun and pointed it at Leonardo. Leonardo felt scared of Steven’s serious look. “What’s wrong Steven? Why are you pointing the gun at me?”, said Leonardo.

  “Why did you betray us?”, said Steven.

  “Calm down Steven! We want to help you not betray you!”, said Joseph.

  “Is puncturing our tires your idea of helping?”, asked Steven.

  Everyone looked around and knew what Steven was talking about. In the midst of it all, Steven then found himself surrounded by Leonardo’s group with their guns pointed towards him. “Put your guns down!”, shouted Leonardo at his group. “This is just a misunderstanding.”, he added.

  “What do you mean?”, said Steven.

  “We didn’t puncture your tires Steven. What use would that do for us?”, said Leonardo.

  “Then who would think of doing it?”, said Joseph.

  Steven then remembered Johnny! He remembered Johnny’s threat before he left the first time when he said, “I wish you’d all die!”. “Johnny!”, shouted Steven.

  When Joanna had entered, Steven was looking for Johnny in between the cars. Joseph explained to Joanna what happened which led Joanna to start searching for him herself. While Joseph was trying to calm her down, Joanna found Johnny hiding under one of the cars. Johnny suddenly found himself being dragged by his foot from under the car by Steven, who took out his gun and pointed it at Johnny. “It wasn’t me! Please don’t shoot.”, shouted Johnny.

  “If you didn’t do it then why are you hiding?”, asked Steven.

  “Because of you! You won’t believe that I’m innocent.”, said Johnny.

  “I suspect it’s you because before you left you wished that we’d all die.”, said Steven.

  “I was scared. I said it out of fear and anger.”, said Johnny. “What proof do you have against me now?”, he added.

  Even-thought Steven was sure it was him, he felt that he should find evidence first. “And what should we do to you if we find out that it really was you?”, asked Steven.

  “Kill me.”, said Johnny.

  “Fine.”, said Steven.

  Steven told Joanna to keep a gun to his head while he goes to look for evidence. He went to check the punctured tires and discovered that they were punctured using a knife. He then searched Johnny for a knife but could not find one. Steven then noticed Johnny’s fingers had a cut. “Raise your hand.”, said Steven.

  Hesitant to do so, Johnny slowly raised his hand. Steven grabbed it and raised it with force then with an angry voice asked, “Raise it like this!”.

  “Where did you get this cut from?”, said Steven.

  Steven and Joanna knew that it was a recent knife cut. “While packing up, I cut myself while carrying a bag that had a sharp piece sticking out of it.”, replied Johnny.

  “Show it to me.”, said Steven.

  Johnny took to the car that had the bag to prove his innocence. “Where is the sharp piece?”, asked Steven.

  “There it is.”, said Johnny after being silent for a moment.

  “Are you saying that this small piece cut you like that?”, asked Steven.

  “Yes.”, said Johnny.

  “Alright.”, said Steven. He then took a look at the sharp piece and said, “There’s no blood stain on it.”.

  Joanna kept the gun on Johnny’s head while he remained calm. Steven checked underneath the car that Johnny was hiding under and after a few moments, Steven stood up with a knife in his hand that he found. “This is the same knife I’ve seen you use in the men’s room. There’s also blood on it.”, said Steven.

  Steven wiped the blood on Johnny’s clothes then said, “This knife is bendable. When this idiot stabbed the tire which is solid, it bent and cut his finger.”. Steven then demonstrated to them and got himself the same cut Johnny has. “You see? It’s the same cut you have. Any last words Johnny?”, said Steven.

  Everyone was impressed with Steven’s investigation skills when Johnny said, “Yes I do.”

  “Say it quickly.”, said Steven.

  “Do you think the creatures’ disappearance is a coincidence?”, said Johnny.

  None of them thought Johnny would ask such a question. “What do you mean?”, said Steven.

  Johnny voice and tone changed as he said, “My leader ordered them to fall back and made you all head up to the roof while I punctured the tires.”, said Johnny. “Tomorrow Steven, you will die!”, he added.

  “You think a that a lie like this would scare us you lunatic?”, said Leonardo.

  “I wasn’t on the roof with you. How did I know that you’ll die tomorrow? Lunatic!”, replied Johnny. “That should be enough proof to you.”, he added.

  Leonardo became furious as his group tried to calm him down. “What will your leader do?”, asked Joseph.

  “You’ll see.”, replied Johnny.

  Everyone was in complete shock. “This is crazy!”, shouted Joanna.

  “Crazy?”, said Johnny. “I’ll show you crazy.”, he added.

  Johnny then started to scream loudly as long hair suddenly grew. With a quick move, Johnny wrapped his hair around Joanna and threw her towards her father to prevent him from shooting. They both fell to the ground as Johnny quickly ran up the staircase. Leonardo and his group started firing at him and followed him upstairs but were not able to shoot him. They found that he had destroyed the ground floor door and he ran out. Leonardo and Joseph then went back to check that Steven and Joanna were not harmed. Steven’s group entered the place after they heard the gun shots. Daniel and Brian the immediately started fixing the door that was broken to prevent any the creatures from coming inside. Mr. William, Victor, Adam, and Elma hurried towards Steven and Joanna and sat next to them. “What happened?”, asked Mr. William.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  A Time Challenge!

  No one believed it when Steven explained to them what happened. “How did he transform? There are no black veins covering his body nor did he have the long hair. He looked just like us.”, said Adam.

  “I saw shave his head in the men’s room using his knife and there was hair in the sink. I thought it was strange because he was already bold.”, replied Steven.

  “You mean his hair grows so fast that he needs to shave it regularly?”, said Joanna.

  “Yes.”, said Steven.

  “I always see him scratch his head with his knife. I thought it was just a bad habit.”, said Leonardo.

  “Do you think Sam became like him? Maybe we could talk to him!”, said Elma.

  “I do think so, but I also think the Sam you knew is gone.”, said Joseph.

  Elma started crying while Joanna patted on the shoulder to calm her down. Everyone felt angry at Joseph and with disapproval for what he said to Elma; that he should choose his words wisely. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I promise we’ll find a way to meet up with him.”, said Joseph.

  Steven looked at Leonardo and said, “We’re running out of time. Since you brought Johnny here, allowing him to puncture our tires, you should help my group and I to get out of here.”.

  “Oh God! First tell me how you want us to help then I’ll decide if we can or not.”, replied Leonardo.

  While they were arguing, members of both groups started to gradually gather around Steven waiting to hear his answer. “By helping us gather new tires.”, said Steven.

  “I don’t understand. Where will we get
the tires from?”, asked Leonardo.

  “We’ll go gather tires from the cars scattered on the street.”, said Steven.

  “You want us to go outside barefoot?”, asked Leonardo.

  “Yes. There aren’t any creatures outside so it’s safe. But, we’ll put a few people on watch to warn us just in case.”, said Steven.

  Everyone started to talk amongst themselves. As Leonardo was thinking, Joseph whispered in his ears and said, “Let’s help them. We brought Johnny so we’re the responsible for this mess. They’ll be angry if we leave them without helping”.

  A few moments later, Leonardo asked everyone to be quiet. He then turned towards Steven and said, “Alright. We’ll help.”.

  Steven’s group was overwhelmed with happiness. However, not all of Leonardo’s group agreed to that decision. “Thanks Leonardo.”, said Steven.

  “But let’s do it quick.”, said Leonardo.

  “Alright.”, said Steven.

  Steven started distributing their roles, placing Victor in charge of watching over them from the roof. Victor immediately went to the roof while everyone else went out to gather the tires. Steven asked six people to stand in front of a destroyed car so that he could divide them into groups. He then gave them his orders and said, “Each group must gather tires for the car assigned to it. If you can’t find the right tires, then at least try to get ones that are he correct size. Understood?”.

  “Yes.”, they replied.

  Leonardo’s group were amazed by Steven’s organization skills. Leonardo went to Steven and said, “It looks like you don’t really need our help!”.

  “Yes, we do.”, replied Steven in a serious tone. “I want you to distribute two of your men in each group. The rest should carry weapons and cover them.”.

  “Good thinking. You really are a good leader.”, said Leonardo.

  “Thanks.”, said Steven.

  “Don’t you need the fake eyes drawn on you?”, asked Elma.

  “No, we don’t. But, thank you.”, replied Steven.

  Steven called the brothers, Brian and Daniel and said, “I need you to get the tools we need to remove the tires from the cars.”.