Escape

It was 5:48 am in the morning, the warning bell for morning prayer had been rung. It was on a Thursday early morning the air was crisp and chilling, the chilling weather didn't take it easy on me.

The headlight coming from the back of the old hotel and the high speed of a vehicle signaled that the Chaplain was coming. The school was in a state of chaos every student was on their toes finding their way from the school block down to the chapel.

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The school chapel wasn't well equipped yet which was the need for every student to bring in their chairs.

The Senior prefect and some hostel prefect were hitting hard on the school hostel gate to get every student out. I could hear the racing feet of every student like they were being chased. The gate opened and our Chaplain drove in packing his car at the usual spot.

My mind was racing as I ran down to class to get my chair then back on to the chapel. I lost hope when the chaplain got out of his car standing right Infront of the chapel. He threw his hands in the air which means everyone should kneel on the gravel floor. I cursed under my breath for the voice that kept telling me to sleep more.

I couldn't count how many knelt with me but I knew we were so many. I was more concerned about my knees using my chair as a wedge. I try to hide myself in the midst of the students that surround me.

The sound coming from the microphone showed the morning prayers started. We knelt till it was over before we got released but then we had to crawl into the chapel with our knees. I was grateful, nobody was watching. At some point I had to squat for a few distance pretending to use my knees to crawl and kneel whenever I saw a suspect watching us.

That was my first ever punishment with my chaplain. I was in Js 1. I began to avoid anything that would make me fall into his painful punishment or deadly flogging. He taught us moral instructions and during his classes I made sure I did nothing wrong.

I could say I hid from him throughout avoiding anything that would make me come face to face with him. He was friendly to some people but I don't see anything friendly with him, when it comes to punishment and flogging you guys are enemies.

I thought I had hid under the shadows till the day I was made chapel prefect, at first I thought this could be a way to come out of my shell but it was the worst decision I ever made.

We were like about 5 assigned but one of us have to leave the school reasons best known to her. I could remember losing my voice each time I tried to calm down the crowd so we could start the prayer's.

This unfortunate day, just like every other day, it was an evening mass we were about to have. The evening prayers haven't been said yet but the chapel was like a marketplace. My voice couldn't even be heard trying to calm students and within seconds the Chaplain walked in, nobody noticed when he drove into the compound. Just his presence made everywhere calm even a pin drop could be heard.

My heart jumped into my stomach, it was already 6:15pm and the evening prayers hadn't started yet. I knew we were in trouble.

The chaplain took the microphone.

“All chapel prefect out” he ordered in a commanding tone. I melted into my chair, goosebumps ran down my skin and I knew I wouldn't be able to escape him. My eyes were on alert as I searched for my fellow colleague.

None made any move to come out, I wasn't going to be the first to step out. I reminded myself even when the chaplain spoke more in an angry town urging the chapel prefect to come to the altar.

One of us made the move and I followed suit followed by the remaining two. We were asked to kneel In Front of the altar on gravel floor, the chapel wasn't yet titled then. We knelt till the end of the mass before we were asked to come to where the chaplain packed his car. He said a few words before opening the butt of his car bringing out two long canes.

My heart jumped into my stomach, he flogged us at the back of our legs. I screamed so much and cried and it left some marks too. That was the beginning of my hatred. Up till now I can't get the experience out of my head.

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