WE ARE THE INNOCENT ONES - CHAPTER 1

WE ARE THE INNOCENT ONES
CHAPTER ONE:
           It was on a dry friday morning when AbdulQuyum, the tyrant terrorist invaded Al-umman Model School. Halima Danya could remember vividly because she had been helping the dorm Matron to get food from the school canteen when trucks of armed men drove roughly into the school, making young girls run for dear life. Shocked and transfixed to a spot, it was only when one of them got down and struck her across the face before she realized why they were there. She fell to the ground, seeing stars and felt warm blood trickle down her face.
"On the ground, all of you, on the ground!!" A deep voice boomed in Hausa.
Time seemed to have sped really fast because the next thing, hands were shuffling them up on their feet. Halima looked around and realised half of the school was with her. The Armed men all looked formidable, armed to the teeth.
A huge man who seemed to be the leader, his face hidden behind a black mask, his hand gripping a long big gun, was walking to and fro, scrutinizing them. Halima could hear someone crying behind her but dared not look back because the huge man was coming towards her now, his presence cowering her. She could smell his dry sweat and could hear his rasp breathing.
"Name!!!" He yelled at her.
"Ha....li....." Before she could finish stuttering her nonsense, he slapped her and she once again saw stars.
"Stop stammering and answer properly"
"Halima!!" Tears were streaming down her face now.
He proceeded to the girl behind her. After about three minutes, they began to shove them towards the trucks, wails and cries filling the air.
"Ha...li....ma" A shaking voice called her.
She looked behind her, her vision partially blurred and saw her best friend, Hadiza Ahmadu, quivering, her face expressed in horror.
Two strong hands pushed them into a truck that smelled of dust. Halima winced as the door was shut, leaving them in complete darkness.
"Ha.....di.....za, oh....Allah help us"
Hadiza pulled herself towards Halima and held her close, crying into her uniform. There were other girls in the truck but no one spoke. The silence was broken by loud gunshots and deafening cries. The two friends shook visibly and tried not to place their minds on the noise outside. The truck started and sped forward, taking them along into an unknown future.