Love’s Reckoning

Adele's POV

As I boarded the busy, packed Greyhound bus, I found a seat in the back. The bus was full, and people were jostling for space. I settled into my seat and looked out the window, watching as the road was congested, but I was grateful to be on my way to my destination. I was in-between two thick skinned ladies and everyone seemed to look suspicious because maybe I was even more suspicious. My sitting posture was terrible, my inner composure was earnestly crying for a release. I was sweating profusely, that my dark purple T-shirt armhole was already soaked. My messy packed bun hair itched on my scalp, few strands of my hair stuck to the edges of my face due to my sweat and when it found it's way down to my lips, I tasted the saltiness. My green lenses dilated, my skin was portraying the club party of goosebumps and I held the back pack I'd been carrying in between my thighs tightly, afraid that someone would grab them. I would look left and right occasionally, although, everyone seemed to mind their business and no one noticed me. I seemed invisible. I shouldn't have, I wouldn't have....

"Ahh!"I winced. The bus had abruptly stopped and I jerked away from my seat, slightly hitting my head against the seat ahead of me because I was in so much thought. Why did the bus stop? I didn't want this. Not now, please.

The driver got down from his seat and came over to the left back door of the bus and opened it. I saw him talk to a trooper or rather you know, these highway patrolmen. My breath hitched, my thinking seized, I hiccuped. Was there going to be a search? I thought I had passed the safest route.

"Everyone, get down"the trooper said.

People began to grumble because the search was like eternity to many travelers.

"You only have to comply in other to have a quick search" replied the trooper to our nonchalant grumbles.

Soon everyone began to alight from the bus, I nervously followed soothe, still holding my back pack tightly with me. Should I just run away? I subconsciously thought.

We stood on a single file and while some troopers searched the bus some of them searched our bodies and the others, our belongings. I was a quick witted person but at that moment I couldn't even think, there was no escape route and if they caught me, then I was going to be jailed because I had with me a very illegal substance.

The search continued from one passenger to another till it got to me. Luckily, I was the last person on the queue. I knew I was supposed to keep calm, but my mind was racing. I had been so careful, so meticulous in my planning. But what if I had missed something? What if they found the substance hidden in my bag? I tried to control my breathing, but my heart was pounding in my chest. I thought I might pass out. The driver and the officer were talking, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. The trooper turned and looked at me, and I froze, unable to move. Was he about to come and search me? I wanted to run, but I knew I couldn't. I refused to make an eye contact with the him but I could feel him stare down at me intensely.

"You are pretty"I suddenly heard him whisper. I looked up at him nervously, the hiccup I had long curbed, finally released and it was followed by me throwing up. "Shit!"he yelled frustratingly.

"What's happening over there?"the head trooper quickly asked while coming over.

"I'm sorry, I'm not feeling too well. I'm on my period, it affects"I muttered, scuttling to a corner to throw out the rest vomit in my mouth. I still held my back pack tightly.

"Is she alright?"I heard the head trooper ask after me.

"Man, I don't know"the other one who I had unfortunately puked on sighed while going away to clean up himself.

I hurried back into the line but the officer had already left. Does that mean I wasn't to be searched?

"Find anything?"the head trooper asked the rest of his counterparts still searching.

"Nothing. All clean sir"they responded

"Ok, let them go"he ordered.

I heaved a huge sigh of relief knowing fully well that fortunately, I had been saved by the police officer who had had an eye on me. We filed back into the bus and soon we hit the road. All I could do was smile from ear to ear because I knew for sure, that I would get to my destination without further search.

WASHINGTON DC

"Move it! Quickly!"

I was back on a file again but this time, I was at my destination. I was not the only one whom they had used to smuggle drugs, we were many and vulnerable people just like me. I just wanted to be done with this brutal mission and get on with my once struggling life.

"What are you doing?!"a guard yelled at me.

I turned to him in fear"I...I..."I stuttered.

"What are you doing?!"he asked again. I wasn't sure what wrong I had committed, till I looked ahead of me and found out the queue had long finished and everyone had dispatched, those behind and ahead of me had gone and I was still standing in the position I had been because I was so lost in thoughts I had forgotten my reality.

"I'm sorry"I quickly apologized "I will go now" I tried to scuttle away but he held me back.

"Take her to the boss!"

"What?! No, I said I'm sorry. I truly I'm sorry"I began to cry out in fright going down on my knees immediately. "You don't have to do this" I begged

"Take her away!"he turned away from me and his boys quickly grabbed me.

I was screwed and doomed. I wanted nothing to do with the boss because infact, the ones who put me up to this back at home had given me an advice to never have any thing to do with the boss, if I wanted to get out of here quickly. Tears fell from my eyes and I weakly was dragged away by the hefty men.

We arrived at a cavernous hall, my eyes were drawn to the wall, which was painted in black and white, with the two colors never touching. A striking sight, it was almost like a yin-yang symbol come to life. The people inside the hall were similarly divided, with two separate groups training with swords. One group was made up of white people, while the other group was composed of people of black race. It was a strange sight, and it made me wonder what the story was behind this division. I watched as the two groups trained in isolation, never once mingling or interacting.

The guards dropped me to the floor by the corner of the hall.

"Wait here "they said and walked farther into the room till darkness consumed them. I presumed, they had gone to get their boss.

The sword training people had stopped their business and began staring at me. Oh Lord! Why was I the centre of attraction? They've never seen a Vegas girl?!

"Hey sweetness" A white guy began approaching me while cleaning his sweaty face with a towel.

I took few steps back, I wasn't supposed to be the naive type but everything in this environment made me act naive.

"Don't worry. I won't hurt you"he smiled with his brunette hair glittering above him.

"Stay away from me! I have no business with you!"I barked clutching tight to the bag full of drug still in my hands.

"Are you new here? I've never seen you before"he finally approached me. "I'm Kelas"he whispered.

I remained mute, I didn't want to get myself in trouble by speaking bluntly. I was usually rude with my words. Who knew, he could be a powerful person in the environment. Last thing I want is to leave here harmed.

"You are pretty. You eyes, they are enchanting"he whispered again.

I held back my breath because I felt increasingly harassed.

"Can I touch you?"he muttered.

"Kelas! Back to your position. "the leader of the training quickly called him.

He winked at me "8:00, Down-street canvass. Come alone"he mentioned and scurried back to his position. I scrunched my nose in disgust.

The guards were out in no time and they picked me from were they'd dumped me to be harassed. I guess I was heading to my real doom. We followed through the path they used before, where darkness had consumed them and we finally arrived in a brighter room. It was a large hall too and there was someone standing by the far edge of the room.

"Leave us"I heard the person say.

The guards released their grip on me and left. I wanted them to keep holding me, I felt a lot safer with them than whoever was standing far away.

His demeanor was unwelcoming. His voice was unpleasant. His aura was frightening.