It was a warm wednesday afternoon, that period when smells of fresh bread oozing out from the bakery fills the air , a boy of about 17 years old named Bright was outside their compound less busy just looking around the neighborhood and enjoying the atmosphere.
Then he became a bit bored and he decided to go to the supermarket down their street to get things to eat.
The market was calm, only some few customers were there quietly browsing the row of goods, a woman with her son excitedly pointing at the colourful cereal boxes. An old man with a faded hat comparing the price of packaged tomatoes and others.
He went straight to the snacks row to see what he can buy from there.
He was still thinking of whether to buy biscuit or chin chin and maybe with a bottle of soda when the peaceful moment was ruined.
The door of the supermarket was pushed open with a full force.
Four men on black, each with a gun, entered the store.
" Everybody go down" shouted the tallest among them, his voice was very loud and commanding.
There was confusion in the store as everyone was in great fear, the cashier froze in the counter, the woman with her child took him and kept him beside her holding her tightly and everyone else.
Everyone was down.
At first bright didn't believe what he was seeing but when she saw metals-real guns, fear grip him as he went to the ground trying to hide himself beside the boxes of cereal.
The shortest among them went from person to person collecting their wallet and phones and handbags, the tallest among them who is their leader was looking around, his eyes darted, scanning the whole store like a hark searching for a prey.
Then his gaze stopped and it was on bright.
"Hey you, come here" he shouted at bright.
Fear grip him, his leg became heavy on him, his heart was beating so fast as he stood up shivering and went straight to where the leader was.
He grabbed him by his arm, his grip rough and cold, he carried him close to the counter where the manager was and pointed the gun on his forehead
"Open the safe or the boy gets it".
The managers hand shook violently as he punched on the code, beads of sweat roll down from his forehead and finally the safe was open.
They opened their bag and collected all the money and zoomed oof leaving everyone in great fear but unharmed.
The manager ran to Bright and asked him if he's okay or not and he said he's okay but still shivering and in shock.
Silent fill the air, only the sound of the refrigerator was heard but with time people start moving again, mother's checking up on their kids, customer's picking their dropped good's, the old man saying a silent praying and someone hide behind the counter and called the police.
After like twenty (20) minutes the police arrived, taking statement from everyone and checking the security cameras but with the look on their face,finding the robbers won't be an easy work.
Bright ran back to his house, on his way home, his leg were heavy on him as he was replaying the moment the gun was pointed at him, he was not physically hurt was deep down in his soul he know something happened to him.
When he got home, his mother hearing what has happened and been worried saw him and ran to embrace him asking him if he was fine and he said yes but he knows he is not fine.
From that day on, he begins to get frightened by little things as he remembers everything that happened in the supermarket, he was really afraid but at least he was killed and that's alone consoled him, then he realize that being hostage is not all about being trapped in a place but also about being trapped in a situation you can not control.
And from that day on, he never returned to that supermarket again.
Thanks for reading up to this point, I really appreciate.
Love you all @obioma12
Image generated by metal Ai