Umuahia to Ekok: Chapter 5

The alleyway was a maze of narrow passages, its shadows concealing Nneka and her children as they slipped through the bustling market. The soldiers’ voices echoed behind them, barking orders and demanding answers from the traders. Nneka's heart raced with fear, but she forced herself to focus, knowing that their survival depended on her quick thinking and calm demeanor.

As they emerged from the alley, Mama Chidi led them through a series of winding paths, her familiarity with the town providing a much-needed advantage. Nneka followed closely, clutching the small bundle of medicine she had managed to procure from a sympathetic trader who had taken pity on her plight.

They reached the outskirts of town, where the forest loomed once more, offering its sheltering embrace. Nneka breathed a sigh of relief as they stepped beneath the canopy, the familiar scents and sounds wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. But there was no time to rest; Ugo’s condition was worsening, and every moment counted.

Back at their makeshift camp, Nneka hurried to Ugo's side. His skin was pale and clammy, his breaths shallow and labored. Chima knelt beside him, his face a mask of worry as he watched his brother struggle.

“Mama, is he going to be okay?” Emeka asked, his voice barely above a whisper, fear evident in his eyes.

Nneka forced a reassuring smile, though her heart ached with uncertainty. “I have medicine now. We’ll do everything we can to make him well.”

She carefully administered the medicine, whispering words of comfort and encouragement to Ugo, hoping that her presence would be enough to keep him tethered to the world. As she worked, the forest around them was quiet, the only sounds the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds.

Chima stood watch, his gaze scanning the forest for any sign of movement. He had grown into a protector, the weight of responsibility heavy on his young shoulders. He knew that Major Ibrahim’s men were still out there, searching relentlessly, and it was up to him to keep his family safe.

The hours passed slowly, each one stretching into eternity as they waited for signs of improvement in Ugo's condition. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest floor, it became clear that the illness had taken a firm hold.

Nneka held Ugo close, tears blurring her vision as she rocked him gently. The boy's fever had spiked, and his small body trembled with the effort of breathing. She whispered prayers and sang lullabies, the words a balm for her breaking heart.

Emeka and Obi sat nearby, their faces etched with worry and exhaustion. They had been through so much already, and now they faced the possibility of another loss. But Nneka refused to give up, not yet, not while there was still hope.

As night fell, the forest was alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures stirring, the darkness wrapping around them like a shroud. But the peace was shattered by the distant sound of shouting and the harsh glow of flashlights piercing the trees.

Chima’s head snapped up, his body tensing as he strained to hear. “Mama, they’re coming.”

Nneka’s heart lurched with fear, the reality of their situation crashing down on her with brutal force. They had to move, had to find a way to stay ahead of their pursuers. But as she glanced down at Ugo, she realized with a gut-wrenching clarity that he couldn’t continue the journey.

“I need you to be brave,” she whispered to Ugo, her voice breaking. “I love you so much, my darling boy.”

The words felt hollow, inadequate in the face of what was happening. But they were all she had to offer, a mother’s love and a promise to keep fighting for those who remained.

As the sounds of the soldiers grew louder, Nneka knew they had to make a difficult decision. Ugo’s fever showed no signs of abating, and his breathing was growing weaker by the moment. She looked to Chima and Emeka, her eyes filled with the pain of what she was about to say.

“We have to keep moving,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. “But Ugo… he needs to rest.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of their meaning. Emeka’s eyes filled with tears, and even Chima’s stoic facade cracked as he processed the reality of their situation.

“But Mama…” Emeka began, his voice choked with emotion.

Nneka shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. “We’ll come back for him. I promise. But we have to go now.”

With a heavy heart, they set about making Ugo as comfortable as possible, using leaves and branches to create a makeshift bed. Nneka whispered words of love and apology, her heart breaking with each word.

As the first light of dawn crept through the trees, they prepared to leave, their hearts heavy with grief. The forest was alive with the songs of birds, a cruel reminder of the life that continued on, indifferent to their suffering.

Nneka paused one last time, her gaze lingering on Ugo’s peaceful form, the boy’s chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Then, with a deep breath, she turned away, leading her children deeper into the forest, away from the encroaching danger.

The journey was grueling, each step a reminder of what they had left behind. Nneka’s resolve hardened, fueled by the memory of Ugo’s bravery and the promise she had made to protect her family at all costs.

But as they approached a clearing, the reality of their situation came crashing down. The soldiers had set up checkpoints, their presence an oppressive reminder of the danger that lurked behind every tree. Nneka’s heart pounded with fear, but she knew she had to think quickly, to keep her children safe from the ever-watchful eyes of Major Ibrahim’s men.

They approached the checkpoint cautiously, Nneka’s mind racing as she formulated a plan. She needed to divert the soldiers’ attention, to create a distraction that would allow them to slip through unnoticed.

As they neared the soldiers, Nneka feigned a stumble, clutching her ankle as she fell to the ground with a pained cry. The soldiers’ attention shifted to her, their eyes narrowing as they assessed the situation.

“What’s wrong with you, woman?” one of the soldiers barked, stepping forward with a sneer.

Nneka winced, her expression one of exaggerated pain. “My ankle… I think I twisted it,” she gasped, her voice tinged with desperation.

The soldier’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, suspicion flickering in his eyes. But the momentary distraction was enough. As the soldiers focused on her, Chima and Emeka led Obi past the checkpoint, their movements careful and deliberate.

Nneka held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched them slip through the narrow gap between the soldiers. The tension was palpable, the seconds stretching into eternity as she waited for the soldiers to catch on.

But fate was on their side. The soldiers eventually lost interest, dismissing her with a wave of the hand. “Move along, woman. We have no time for your nonsense.”

Nneka nodded, struggling to her feet as she limped past the checkpoint, her heart soaring with relief as she rejoined her children on the other side.

They moved quickly, the forest once again closing around them like a protective shield. But even as they put distance between themselves and the soldiers, the weight of their loss pressed heavily on their shoulders.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, they came to a stop in a secluded glen, the grief of their journey finally catching up with them. Nneka’s strength faltered, the pain of leaving Ugo behind overwhelming her.

Chima wrapped an arm around her, his own tears flowing freely. “We’ll come back for him, Mama. We will.”

Emeka and Obi joined the embrace, their shared sorrow a testament to the bond that held them together even in the darkest of times.

The promise of return, of redemption, hung in the air, a fragile hope in a world that seemed determined to tear them apart. But Nneka clung to it, to the love and determination that had carried them this far.

As they set off once more, the forest echoed with the sound of their footsteps, a haunting melody of resilience and resolve. And though the road ahead was fraught with danger, Nneka knew that she would do whatever it took to protect her family and honor the memory of those they had lost.

And so they continued on, guided by the light of hope that refused to be extinguished, even in the face of overwhelming darkness.