Mika's eyes widened. His heart was about to tear through his chest and his chest tightened as if trying to hold it in place. The man in the t-shirt brandished the gun from his waist. He didn't aim at Mika. Not yet at least.

"Wh- what wh- why?" Mika stuttered. He began to shiver' though the night wasn't cold.

The men chuckled. "It's a long story, my friend," said the guy in the suit. You should really read about your history.

Mika knew the history of the Rebels in Mesuka well. They were a resistant group formed by a rival party, The Mesans. They were all either killed or imprisoned almost before Mika was born and Mesuka was a peaceful village. Maybe they were dormant all this time.

"Enough is enough!" the man in the shirt said. "You always talkin' too much. Let's just do what the boss man says and do."

"Tell you not to talk about the boss!" The man in the suit said. The way he swaggered, Mika thought he was the boss.

"Put him on his knees." said the man in the suit. He took the gun from the other assailant. The two brutes forced Mika down to his knees.

Mika's eyes filled with tears. "Please! Please! It's not me," he begged "I will give you anything. It's not me!"

"Save your tears boy!" The man in the suit ordered. He sauntered behind Mika. The other one took out a phone. The flashlight from it blinded him.

"You recording?"

"Not yet. Put on your mask!" He ordered. They all did at that time. Mika could have run but they would have caught him in no time. Instead, images of his mother, brother and Sherice flashed before his eyes. Cherished memories flooded his mind. He even recalled a moment of bliss with his father in the garden. Mika and Elijah were darting around as he chased them and pretended to not be able to catch them.

"Ready." the man in the suit announced.

"Alright go,"

"Here we have the son of the Alpha. Much like his brother he represents the oppression f the Mesukan people. We have to rise up against the patriarchy! We have to show the Alpha that we are not afraid! The alpha has killed our children! Murdered our parents and taken and sold our lands for hundreds of years! No more!" He babbled.

Mika had no clue what he was talking about. At that moment he wanted to defend his father. For all his shortcomings as a father, he was a fearsome leader that the Mesukan people love. It showed in their support just today at the funeral.

"We have to end the cycle. NO more Alpha!" He shouted. The brutes cheered loudly. Mika felt the cold muzzle on the back of his head.

He squeezed his eyes shut expecting the blow.

The man laughed sadistically. "Look at him crying!" He jerked Mika's head forward with the gun.

" Now we end it here. No more alpha."

~~~~

Gunshots rang out across the court. Mika found himself face-first on the concrete again. Around him, the brawny men fell with a thud. The man in the suit was returning fire at whoever shot at them in the dark. He emptied his clip. Mika dared not move for fear of a stray bullet hitting him.

The other man had taken cover behind one of the cars.

The man in the suit yelled. He waved the gun in the air as if to surrender. Three more shots cut through the air. He fell heavily on top of Mika. Mika struggled to calm his breathing. He peeped up at the car. If he could get to it, he'd have more cover. The man in the t-shirt had managed to creep into the car though he was being shot at. He sped off without turning on his headlights. Gunshots sprayed the court as they chased the moving car. When the car was out of sight, the shots stopped.

Mika laid there unmoving for an eternity. One of the brutes was still breathing; though his breath was shallow. The other's face was frozen in a startled expression. He wasn't breathing. Mika's back was wet. Maybe from the cold sweat. He crept from underneath the man who was going to kill him. He was moving so slow he hardly moved.

His movements quickened when he heard the clack of heels coming behind him. He didn't stop to look back. The clacking got louder then stopped. Mika didn't stop crawling toward the car.

"Mika," he heard a female voice say. He didn't stop moving. The car was getting closer.

She ran before him. He looked up to see pedicured feet in a white and gold shoes.

He couldn't manage to look higher as his arms were still bound. She stooped down. She lifted his chin until their eyes made four. His blurry could barely make out her face.

"It's Olafia." She said softly.

"Olapia?"

"O-la-fi-a". She dropped his head. His chin hit the rough surface. He grimaced.

"Untie him," she instructed someone. They yanked at his arm. Mika whimpered as his shoulder was still sore from the night's events. They cut the ropes. Mika weakly pushed himself up to stand. His vision swayed back and forth. He staggered to one side and was caught by someone. A man had caught him. He held him upright. He noticed the AK 47 hanging from his shoulder.

"Why are you here?" Mika asked.

"You could have said thank you." Olafia rolled her eyes.

"Sorry thank you. But how-"

"We can talk later. We should leave now."

"But they're dead, we should call-"

"The police will take care of it. It's not safe for you out here." The man said. He led him away from the dead bodies into the dark. Olafia followed behind them.

"How did you manage to see to shoot them?" It was pitch black all around the court. No buildings around, no street lights, nothing. 

"It wasn't me." He said.

"Then who?" Just then he heard the rustling of trees. Mika jumped. A man climbed down with an AK 47 on his shoulder as well. He joined the party but said nothing. Mika noticed an attachment on his weapon that probably helped him to focus and shoot.

They walked forever along a rocky road. The sharp rocks felt like they were going to pierce the soles of his feet if he wasn't careful. Olafia kept up well. They came upon a vehicle, a limousine to be exact. The man helped him get in the car.

"Thank you, Sir," Mika said. He couldn't entirely express the gratitude he'd felt.

The man smiled warmly and patted him gently on the back. "Call me Robby." Olafia slipped in beside him and the other man got into the passenger seat. Robby started the car and in split second they were off. Mika sunk into his seat as relief, disbelief and fear rushed over his body. His hands were shaking and his palms were sweating.

Olafia took his hand in hers and rubbed it. Mika's eyes widened. But he didn't pull back. He let her hand rest on his hand while the other held his chest. Finally, his heartbeat was slowing down. 

Visuals of a pregnant Sherice floated into his mind and soothed the pain in his head like a warm blanket on a shivering child. He pictured her slightly off centre smile and honey brown eyes. He closed his eyes to revel in the thought. he wanted to close it all out. If there wasn't a reason to leave before, there was now. He could almost smell her, he needed to go home. He flipped his palm and squeeze the hand on top of his. 

"You're okay," Olafia said. Her voice snapped him out of it and the nightmare returned. Suddenly her warm touch felt like it was burning his skin. He pulled back then. 

He realized that he didn't know where they were going. He questioned her about their destination. 

"We're going somewhere safe," 

Panic rose in his chest again. He didn't know her. She'd seemingly saved him but why? 

"Here." She offered him a bottle of water. He refused it. "Just let me off anywhere here. I am going home. Just let me off."

"Do you know where you are?" 

Mika glanced outside the window. He didn't recognize the street. "I know all of this village, I will find my way."

"And risk the rebels seeing you again and taking you?" She dropped the bottle on his lap. " I don't think so. When we get to the house, you can decide what to do in the morning."

"Whose house?" he questioned. He had expected her to take him back to the compound. 

"My house."