11 THE UNUSUAL

Mr. Nelson was busy in his farm ,planting and nurturing his crops. On a turn, he suddenly felt a shadow pass behind him. He instinctively turned found no one around except himself . He became a bit uneasy and swallowed a lump in his throat, returning back to his work. Just then, he heard footsteps , gripped in fear, he shouted.

" Who is there–Show yourself" He exclaimed, arming himself with a club. But then, no response or the steps–it felt like it all vanished with the wind, leaving just the sound of the tweeting birds. With an alert glance around, he again returned to what he was doing , thinking it was the wind playing tricks on him.

The shadow came behind him without making any sound this time around. As he was about to hit him, he instinctively got startled by an approaching foot steps. With that, he quickly sneaked into a nearby bush and watched on.

Sofia touched her husband from behind. He spontaneously turned aggressive , like a lion ready to attack its prey, lifting the cutlass in his hand to defend himself from the unknown attacker. She screamed in fear, completing her statement in one breath.

" Nelson!– Is just me ,Solidad " She cried, her chest and fell with rapid breath, her eyes exposed her fright.

"Why are you so aggressive like this? – You nearly killed me".

With that said, Nelson hugged her, compensating with a kiss. "I'm sorry dear, you frightened me– I just mistook you to be an assassin." He explained which alerted her.

" An assassin? " she exclaimed.

"Yes honey, " He affirmed. "I felt a shadow moving around earlier. I went in search of it but couldn't find anyone around– I'm sure someone is spying on me, watching my every move" He added.

" I sense something bad, please let's go back home– its not safe to be here now." She verbalised her worry to which Nelson didn't hesitate on his decision. He quickly packed his tools with the help of Solidad and soon, they hurried off towards home.

VILLAGE SQUARE

Nicole, Betty and Aimscious passed by the market after school to get some items for their upcoming school programme . On their way home , along a lonely stretch on the road , they sensed someone spying on them all along. Betty and Aimscious who first noticed this, felt uneasy and terrified. Nicole calmly assured them to relieve them off their fear.

"Don't be scared, i'm here to protect you– I promise, just trust me" He assured and they bobbed their response.

With a few steps ahead, they acknowledged three masked men, approaching them. This hit them and their subconscious mind instinctively howled.

"Run" They spontaneously raced off as fast as their legs could carry them. Betty felt a sharp pain under her foot after a meter run and blood started dripping. She cried out her pain.

"Ouch, Nic– I've stepped on a nail, I can't go anymore." She cried, stopping in her tracks which made Aims and Nicole pause as well.

"Try, Betty–We really need to get out of here before they close up " Nicole stated. Just then,they overheard the footstep and shouts of the men, approaching their direction. Nelson carried Betty, pulled Aimscious along and they hid in a tunnel nearby.

"Where did they go? " They heard the first masked man ask.

"Don't know but we can't lose them– Let's go after them quickly, each anywhere" The other men replied.

With that, they swiftly turned to the other direction in sped off insearch of them.

When Nicole realize they were far gone, he pulled his siblings and they left in another direction.

THE NELSON'S HOME

Its was getting dark, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson awaited impatiently for their kids–Their bus had already passed by but Betty, Nicole and Aims were not yet home; which told them the otherwise. They checked from their friends but to no avail–None of them had idea of their whereabout.

Solidad and Nelson became more worried.

" Where could they be? " They both asked restless–Solidad was already in tears, Nelson on noticing, settled by her and consoled.

" Don't be like this honey , I know they'll come back safe and sound " He assured.

Just then, they heard an endless knock on the door– They both rushed to the door with hast and opened the door . Betty, Aimscious and Nicole dashed into the house with the speed of light, panting heavily as if they were being persuaded by a deadly animal.

" Where have you been?– We've literally searched all over for you. I was nearly choked to death with fear" Solidad cried and they instinctively fell in their parents arms, shivering in fear.

" We were attacked by unknown masked men on our way home, mother ." Nicole explained. "They wanted to kill us but we were able to escape from them unharmed– It's only Betty who got hurt on her foot."

Nelson comforted them and asked Solidad to take care of them. She nodded and took them to their rooms. Nelson stood in the hall deep in thoughts.

"Who would want to hurt my family? He mumbled to himself.

Solidad after dressing Betty 's wound, fed her– making sure they were all in bed, she finally went back to her room.

Aimscious was about to sleep when she noticed a ray of light, invading her room through the window. Noticing it's persistence, she drifted off bed and sauntered over to the window to check where it was coming from but then, found no sign of light at all, no even a glimpse– only the dark garden behind the house. She scanned all over but found no one either.

"Where did that light come from? " She thought out loud, her brow furrowed in confusion as she glanced out of the glass window.