In the dark, within a swift moment, in the blink of an eye, a tragic event can occur and the world would be oblivious or care less till light is shown in that direction.
It was almost the devil's hour when Dorothy felt the pressing need to use the bathroom. She thought she could hold it till the morning, but her bladder spoke otherwise. For her to sleep comfortably, she had to empty it.
Grumpily, she got out of bed and stomped to the bathroom with eyes still closed to avoid losing sleep. While seated on the toilet, she heard creaking sounds coming from her window. The window, wooden and worn, seemed to be under someone's attempt to pry it open.
“It's just you being sleepy,” she muttered as she got up from the toilet. Running her hands lazily around the toilet tank, she sought for the flush button. Then, the creaking sound came even louder. Her eyes shot open, and her fragile heart sought escape as it raced erratically. Taking security measures, she tiptoed out of the bathroom without flushing the toilet to check on her roommate, Trace, as a part of her thought she might be the one trying to open the window due to the hot weather condition.
Trace was fast asleep, oblivious to the unfolding drama. The noise from the window had stopped. “Trace, wake up.” She whispered, her breath quickening as she fearfully tapped the sleeping girl.
“What is it?” Trace said, opening an eyelid. Then, the noise came again, slow and steady, accompanied with hushed voices that carried an air of secrecy, causing the girls to tremble as their lives flashed before their eyes.
According to rumors, robbers who sieged that town were known to be brutal. They had no mercy on any specific gender as they dealt equally with everyone regardless of age. It was worse for young girls Trace and Dorothy's age as they were likely to be raped.
Fully awake now, the girls scurried to their closets to find something to at least cover their bare bodies while the robbers tried to do away with the lock that held the window together.
“Trace? Is this how we're gonna die?” Dorothy whimpered as she paced around the room in search of a defense tool. “What if they have guns?” “Shhhh!” Trace warned as she placed a finger on Dorothy's lips. Following Trace's gaze, Dorothy caught sight of the lock shifting, indicating that whoever tried to unlock the window was getting a hang of it.
Hot tears streamed down the girl's cheeks, but despite being scared for her life and that of Dorothy's, Trace wore courage like it was her garment at that hour. She grabbed Dorothy's hands and moved to the door that led out of the apartment. Swiftly, she unclasped the deadlock, and just immediately, the window flew open, and the robbers jumped in, frightening them with guns.
Two men in attires the same color as the night. The girls shivered as if it was snowing. Trace's hand, still on the door after she had unclasped the deadlock, turned the knob slowly while Dorothy begged for their lives.
“Please take whatever you want but spare our lives,” she pleaded, hot tears streaming down her cheeks. For a split second, the robber who put the gun to their faces looked away, and Trace seized the opportunity. She pushed the door open, dragging Dorothy with her. Screaming “help us, help us,” they ran to the first neighbor whose apartment was closer to theirs but there was no response so they dashed instead to their landlady's.
The kind woman opened up immediately and pulled them inside. “I'm so sorry,” concern written all over her as she held the girls in her arms.
“Why didn't you phone the police?” The older lady whispered as she pulled out a gun from under her center table. “Our devices are dead.” Trace stuttered, her gaze fixed on the gun. The lady shook her head in disappointment as she made for the door.
“Don't! They have guns,” Trace warned between teeth as she beat the wall, but the old lady wouldn't listen. She cocked her gun, turned the doorknob, and stepped outside. Trace and Dorothy crouched beside the couch, and suddenly, they heard a gunshot.
Finding each other's eyes in the dimly lit room, they sniveled as footsteps approached. “What last wishes do you have?” Dorothy whispered, squeezing Trace's hands. “I wish for us to live and graduate college together like we've always wanted but whatever happens tonight, I'm glad it happened while with you.” Trace said and pulled Dorothy in for a hug as their heart beats crashed into each other.
“Girls?” “It's mawmaw,” Dorothy giggled as she jumped out of her hideout. “Are you okay?” She inquired as she searched the old lady's body for a scar. “I'm fine. They escaped. I guess the gunshot scared them off.” “We thought you were dead, mawmaw” the girls cried as they hugged the lady. “The police should be here soon. Get some rest now, okay?” The girls nodded and sank into the couch as their memories flashed back to how it all started.
