The night was dark, with an eerie pitch-black thriller calling to it. The type of nights you don’t want to find yourself strolling around alone. It was silent, pin-drop silent. Not a sound for miles. The weather forecast had shown the night to have bulging cloudy skies with teasing rain drops to follow that would usher the nights’ moon to its dawn. It had been a special night, one which wasn’t supposed to end the way it had.
“This damn curfew…”, uttered Dennis as he made his way to his apartment; carefully skipping pot-holes, not to let mud ruin his designer jacket. He was almost home, a few minutes shy to the curfew time enforced by the local government to ensure the deadly pandemic was put in check. As he ran towards the estate entrance, he couldn’t help but wonder if his girlfriend had made it home in time. He wished he had accompanied her home but she lived with her grandmother who was a tough nut to crack. It was thoughtful to have ordered a cab for her ride back home. It was definitely a faster and safer option too, furthermore it would have saved her from the drizzles that would have eventually ruined her hair. If there was one thing that Dennis knew to heart, it was that Queen’s hair was not be messed with.
“Hey you, are you home yet?”, Dennis asked as he took a sip of warm water, already making himself comfortable on the couch.”Not yet, there is crazy traffic and the road is quite slippery,” Queen responded softly. ”We are trying to manouver it, hopefully I’ll still get home in good time”, she continued.They were a young couple, he remembered the day he asked her out on their first date. As nervous as he was, he had made up his mind to do it. Whatever it came down to, he was going to muster up the courage and ask her to be his girlfriend. Now Dennis didn’t have much luck in that department, he had managed to ruin all of his relationships and he figured this one was going to end the same way just like the previous one. Carrying his baggage of losses, he would then drown his sorrows with a bottle of Irish whisky. However, he had felt different about queen, he felt a different surge of sensation every time he laid his eyes on her. A shot of adrenaline surged up and down his spine every time they held hands. It was as though time stood still possibly because he had met his heart beat; his penguin.
“Well, lucky for you, you got home safely and before the curfew time,” she continued.”…you didn’t have to leave you know, besides you don’t have work tomorrow.” Dennis responded in his husky yet smooth voice.
“Yeah, yeah but you know how gran’ma gets, don’t you?”
“Oh yes I know, you don’t have to tell me twice, remember the last time when she almost caught us walking up the stair case?”
“Haha, how could I forget, you jolted like you had seen a ghost…”
“…hey hey,I was rushing to get to my cab…”
“Yea right…”
“…”
“Hello…hello..he..” Dennis called out.”…Queen, are you still there?…”he asked again frantically, promptly sitting upright. Suddenly, he was alert. He had lost connection and the phone call was disconnected. He was now awake, his senses heightened and his instincts telling him that Queen was in danger.
He frantically dialled her number again and again but to no avail. He went on to dial the cab driver and still no response. Something was definitely amiss. Suddenly, a text message pops up as a notification, ”help..driver..danger..” His heart was in his mouth now. His hair follicles had straightened as he had goosebumps all over. Sharp chills were running down his spine. He was so confused and soaked in worry. What did the text mean,was he supposed to reply? What was going on? He grabbed his dripping jacket and stormed out of his apartment. The curfew was going to be the least of his worries tonight.
He jumped onto the nearest motorbike he set his eyes on and away they went. Giving directions whilst mumbling in gibberish, he urged the bike driver to ride like his life depended on it. They navigated through dingy alleys and escaped the police on duty by a whisker. Dennis was unsettled and couldn’t help but worry about his queen. He kept on checking his phone for a text, a phone call, any proof to show that she was okay. The ride seemed as the longest ever in his entire life. With every passing minute seeming like eternity, he was getting more and more anxious. He clenched his fists, hoping that Queen was okay and that the cab driver had not hurt her.
“C’mon man, ride faster!” he shouted, urging the rider to navigate the slippery road and skip the puddles without a care in the world. They were almost there, he could see red and blue lights up ahead. The wailing of an ambulance was also close. He couldn’t wait for the motor bike to make its way past the vehicles. He immediately jumped off and began running towards the commotion; shouting his girlfriend’s name in anguish, hoping that she would answer. The cab was much closer now though manned by armed police on both sides. Something was amiss. Something was not adding up.
“Queen!!”, he shouted with all his might, alerting the police who turned to look at the hopeless, frantic young man eagerly seeking the safety of his young damsel in distress. Suddenly, a loud bang followed by a piercing scream tore through the empty and serene night. Shaking the very tranquillity of the calmness that the rain had brought that night. Dennis lay on the muddy road,holding his chest, mouthing what seemed to be his last words. He could see the shady sillhoutte of Queen running towards him. He raised his hand steadily, wincing in pain, ready to hold her and then suddenly another loud bang tore up the place.
This time, total silence ensued.