A Mate Not For Sale

XAVIA

It was a few minutes to seven when I woke up. I had less than an hour to prepare for school, so I rushed into the bathroom to take my bath.

"Xavia!" my mom called and I popped my head out of the bathroom, wiping the water from my face.

"Don't tell me you are just taking your bath? Do you know what the time is?"

"I am so sorry, mom. I will be out soon"

"Your breakfast is on the table. I am leaving for work"

I nodded. "Bye mom"

I returned to the bathroom and quickly took my bath. I got dressed in my uniform and headed to the dining room to eat. Alaila walked in with her bag clutched to her back.

"You are just eating?"

I rolled my eyes. "Come join me"

She sat down beside me. "I already ate. You should eat fast. We don't have much time left". I nodded, filling my mouth with some bacon. "Easy". She chuckled. We suddenly heard gunshots and the spoon in my hand fell. Alaila stared at me, her hand shaking vigorously.

"T-they are not here to attack us again. A-are they?"

I blinked. I could not tell her if it was an attack or not. This wasn't the first attack we had. Just a few days ago, they had come to take a few of our people away.

"What is going on?" I wondered.

I stood up from the chair and walked to the window. Outside was already filled with smoke and I could hardly see what was happening. I blinked. There had not been great smoke like this, since they have been coming. Alaila ran towards me and peeped out of the window. She moved backward and fell to the ground, weeping.

"My mom, my dad, my brother" she wept bitterly.

Hearing her say those words, I couldn't stop myself from crying too. My mom had gone to work too. We suddenly heard a bang at the door and Alaila held my skirt.

"T-they are not here to take us, are they?". I was shivering vigorously to answer her. "X-Xavia?" she cooed. "T-they...". She stared at me in tears. "D-do you think they will kill us?"

I could not console her because I was in fear too. Fear that if we are to get caught, we could either get killed or sold into slavery. I blinked quickly and told myself to be brave. I bend and held Alaila's hand.

"We have to run, ok?" I told her but she shook her head.

"W-we can't... I-i can't... W-what if we get caught? What if we are killed? W-what if our families are dead?"

I shook her vigorously. "Alaila! You have to put yourself together. If we don't leave now, we might not be able to find our family". She stared at me and I nodded. "It won't be long before they get to this place. Please, let's run to a safe place"

She stood up, holding my hand. I took her to my room and opened up the door that lead outside. I had checked through the window to be sure there was nobody outside before opening the door.

"Let go," I told her and we ran out.

We ran as fast as we could, hiding behind anything we see. We were a few meters away from leaving our town when Alaila fell and she screamed so hard. I ran back to her and noticed she had wounded herself.

"I-i am hurt. I-i don't think I can keep going. Y-you should leave"

I pulled her up. "We are leaving together"

"What if we get caught?"

"I won't let that happen". I wrapped my hand firmly around her neck and held her by her waist. "Just follow my lead"

Alaila's injury slowed us down and she insisted that I leave her alone and run away but I was adamant to go with her.

"I can't leave you" I kept telling her.

"Xavia, please leave" she cried. "I won't forgive myself if you get caught"

"I am not leaving"

Alaila pulled herself away from me. "Leave, Xavia. Please leave". I wept. I could not imagine leaving her alone. "Please go". She pushed me forward. "I won't resent you, Xavia. You have tried your best to save me"

"I-i can't..."

She picked up a sharp object lying on the floor. "If-if you don't go, I will kill myself"

She had a serious look on and I knew immediately that she meant what she said.

"Then can I hug you?". She nodded and I pulled her into a hug. "I will find a way to save you, I promise"

Alaila waved at me, as I run away. I was just a few distances away from her when I heard her shout. I turned to realize she had been captured. She stared at me in tears, gesturing to me to run away as they were already coming. I turned and took a few steps forward. I stopped moving and shook my head.

I-i can't let them take her. I can't let them take just her. I will not forgive myself if she is taken away. Alaila has been the only friend I have. She is also like a family to me. After my dad died, I was left with just my mom and Alaila. A lot of people blamed me for my father's death and stopped their children from being friends with me. But despite all the warnings from Alaila's mother to stay away from me, she kept our friendship.

How will I face her mother? To tell her Alaila was taken while she was with me? What if it takes longer than I had expected to save her? What if she dies before I was able to find her? Will I be able to forgive myself?

I sucked in some air. "I-i am sorry, mother" I muttered and ran back to meet her.

**

They made us sit on the floor while they wait for the rest to be brought in. Alaila would not stop crying and I could tell she was in pain from the injury she had but she looked angrier than in pain.

"I-i am sorry" I muttered.