PSLE: Terror at the Shopping Mall

Black ominous clouds moseyed across the sky. My mother, my two-year-old sister, Grace, and I had just finished our great Safari trip.  It was magnificent watching the animals plodding across the African plains in herds.  The elephants, the lions, the giraffes and the antelopes were all amazing in their natural habitats.

Today was the last day of our holiday in Kenya and we had to do some last-minute shopping for souvenirs while Dad went back to the hotel to catch a nap. 

The Nairobi shopping mall was bursting at its seams.  Busy shoppers were everywhere.  “Let’s go to the toy shop on the third floor,” Grace suggested as exuberance bubbled in her. 

“You and your toys!” Mum teased as she playfully pinched her rosy cheeks.  Grace smiled sheepishly and stuck out her little tongue.

“We’d better hurry up before the shops close.  We have a late flight to catch later.”  I hurriedly pulled them along.

Bang! Bang! Bang!  Shrill gunshots resounded through the air.  I looked down from the escalator and caught a glimpse of men, women and children falling down like dead flies.  Scores of shoppers were taking cover, fleeing into shops.         

Behind them were a troop of gunmen shooting at the innocent at random.  Pandemonium struck!  Everyone went amok, shrieking like banshees.  We stood rooted to the ground like the Roman statues.  Fear pulsated in us.  The gunmen then spoke in some foreign languages, pointing upwards.  They started rushing upstairs.  Panic engulfed us like a huge tsunami. 

Grace  started bawling at the top of her voice.  Mum cupped her mouth tightly and ordered, “Keep quiet and follow me!”  Mum carried Grace and ran along the aisle with me in tow, looking for the emergency exit.

“Mum, there!”  I pointed excitedly.

Hope rekindled inside me as we rushed towards the door.  Mum pressed the door lever but it would not budge.  My heart dropped.  We turned and heard thumping footsteps.  Terrorists!  We thought it would be the end of us.  To our surprise, it was a burly security guard.  “Follow me!”  he urged.

Without hesitation, we followed him as if we were his shadow.  He brought us to the movie theatre where it was dimly lit.  Here was safer than the shops.  There were intermittent whispers around.  We squatted behind a row of velvety seats, panting profusely. Our fate was so unclear. Would we die?

Suddenly, we heard rough voices.  A rebel had entered the theatre.  Silence blanketed the place.  No one dared to make a sound.  He fired at the ceiling.  The gunshots ricocheted like bouncing marbles as smithereens fell from above and cut our skin but we did not even whimper.    The footsteps of the gunman grew louder and louder.  My heartbeats went faster and faster.   Then, his shadow loomed over us. My heart was in my mouth.  Luckily, he did not notice us.  The rebel was holding an AK-47 assault rifle, with ammunition strapped across his shoulder.  His heavy boot was pressing against my palm.  Ouch!  I wanted to scream in pain as tears brimmed in my eyes.  However, I held back, knowing that the consequences would be dire.

There was a sudden slight movement outside the exit.  It was the same security guard, trying to make his escape.  The rebel turned and ran, aiming at him and – fired.  Crimson blood spurted everywhere as the bullet penetrated his heart.  He fell to the ground - dead.

Just then, my mobile phone broke into the melody of "Oppa Gangnam Style".  It was Dad.  The gunman turned and ran back.  His footsteps thundered in my ears.  My heart almost jumped out of my body.  We were all ready to die.

Fortunately, a posse of officers from the Special Forces came charging in and killed the rebel instantly.  There was an intense gunfight.  Numerous gunshots were fired across the aisle.  We waited in trepidation.  After what seemed like eternity, the policemen triumphed and came combing the areas looking for survivors.  We were then swiftly escorted out of the building.  Needless to say, stray bullet shells were scattered all over and shops were riddled with multiple bullets.  Corpses were everywhere.

As we emerged from the building, a glare of lightning lit up the entire sky.  Rain started pouring in torrents as if the heaven was also mourning for the death of the innocent victims.  We spotted Dad among the crowd behind the security cordon.  Tears flowed freely as we embraced in tight hugs.  We were just too lucky to be alive.