THE NEXT DAY
Vic left his room empty and locked the door behind him since his roommates weren't around. His plan that morning was to meet Vivian and probably just let the wind control his other actions. Though he wasn't feeling the need to do anything about the missing lecturers, he wanted to see the story all the way through, and confirm his hunches on the daily 9 newspaper being a future device.
A black cat passed by his feet, without his notice.
Vic: (inhales and exhales) My life starts now!
He put on a face of optimism and grinned like a sick person. Then he went down the stairs, about to leave the hostel through the steel bars when…
Random guy: hey Vic
Vic: (raises his hands) yo-o rando-o, what is it?
Random guy: how is it going?
The guy was shaking all over, possibly from the sweat on his face and shirt. Did he run from somewhere?
Vic: it's going smooth! Today's gonna be great. What is it?
Random guy: just wanted to know where you are going this early Saturday morning
Vic: isn't it obvious? I'm going to Church. I don't know if you know, but I'm a devoted worker of Christ in the school chapel. (Folds his arms) What is it?
Random guy: l-let me follow you then
Vic: no way man, go do something else with your life
Random guy: … but I want go to church, don't you want more members
Vic: no, go Sunday. Nobody will count you if you go today.
Random guy: but…
Vic: is alright, following the church bells now (walks away)
Random guy: (follows Vic)
Vic: (walks faster)
Random guy: (follows faster)
Vic: (starts running)
Random guy: (runs behind him)
Vic: (while running) Tell me WHO SENT YOU!
Random guy: (while following) 'gasp'
The two ran through the path that divided the female and male dorms. Vic looked ahead and saw that he had reached the main road where the bus usually stops to pick up students, Vivian was waiting for him there when the guy ran his way into the road path
Vic: h-ey! (puts his hands on his lap)
Vivian: … oh, hello, let's…
Vic: shut up, follow the bush path
Vivian: what…?
Vic: follow it, go (points at the path in front of him)
Random guy: (still running towards him) VI-C
Vic: a-h (looks behind him)
Vivian: Who is that?
Vic: (scruffy voice) Human trouble!! He's after me
'Vivian: (walks in front of Vic)
Vic: wha…?
Random guy: (starts walking towards them) Hey Sisi, get out of the way or I'll…
Vivian: you'll what?
Random guy: … shift jor (raises wanting to push her away)
Vivian grabbed the guy's hand before it reached her and tightened grip on it
Vivian: go away…
And with that, Vivian held the guy's arm so tight until he started yelling in pain, she pressed her thumb in between the bones in his wrist, holding it in a way that the guy couldn't pull out his hand.
Random guy: stop it, stop…
The guy tried removing his arm from her grip but to no avail, then with a smile, she yanked his hand from his wrist, pulling out the hand from the joint. And with a heavy kick to the chest, she hit him to the ground.
Random guy: 'screams' you broke my hand!!
Vivian: and I'll do it again if you ever get in my way again'
Vic: Hey Vivian, (shakes her) VIVIAN WAKE UP
Vivian: … huh? What? Where am I?
She looks around her to see herself lying on a bench next to a building in the middle of nowhere
Vic: we're at Femi's shack, what happened to you, you blanked out there
Vivian: (sits up) Forget me, how did we get back here?? This evil forest!
Vic: uh, well I told you that we had to follow this path but then you looked at the guy that was chasing me and just hooked like you crashed or something, I had to carry you all the way out here so… you are welcome.
Vivian: but… but I don't like this place
Vic: it's fine, I was going to collect a newspaper from this guy anyway (brings out the folded newspaper from his pocket) check it out (hands it to Vivian) it says we both succeeded in saving the lecturers
Vivian: uh… (collects the paper) ok
She glances at the story,
Vivian: What are you talking about? It just said they 'later showed up at the school'. We aren't even mentioned.
Vic: maybe, maybe we chose to remain anonymous.
Vivian: 'with the little i know, you will never do that. Come to think of it, everytime this Dotu is mentioned… could it be…?'
Vic: (places his hands on his waist) This makes me feel motivated, let's be going, it's still early so we can avoid attackers no problem
Vivian: (looks up) wh-what about the guy that was after you
Vic: oh, forget about him (jogs at a place) the coward couldn't even lay a foot in here
Vivian: … Hey, thanks for…
Vic: (knocks on the door of the shed) Yo Femi, can you teleport us out of here like last time? (knocks again) HEL-LO??
Vivian: 'sigh' (stands up) if he's not answering, let's just go
Vic: (walks up to her) Fine then (starts walking)
Vivian: s-o which way is the back gate?
Vic: 'shudders'
Femi: (from inside the shed) EAST, WALK EASTWARD
Vic: (grins) Thanks so much Femi
Femi: 'Ha hah ha' be careful kids! You're gonna need it! 'Hehehe'
Vivian: …
Vic: All alright Vivian, onward, to the rising sun!!
Vivian: your enthusiasm is too much
Vic: perfect!!
Vivian: it's uncalled for
…
9 minutes later
They got to the road side, much earlier than expected. The small one way road was eroded with scrubs, it lay on the ground,
Quiet,
Lonely.
For a moment, it felt like there was no time there, its eeriness made it look dangerous.
After wandering for a while and getting to a main road with the gate at a distance, the two of them heaved a sigh of relief because their journey had advanced a bit deep down, neither of them knew where they were going, but they both planned that Vic would ask questions along the way. So that morning, the two are seen walking away from the school gate, it was still a long way to the gate before they had to actually find the location on the letter there but they haven't been walking long enough to be tired.
Vic: yo, not trying to be rude, but where the heck are we going?
Vivian: we need to find that location on the letter you DIDN'T read
Vic: I did read it, which is why I was looking for the owner of...
Vivian: just… just shut up, okay?
Vic: (chuckles) Fun events are ahead
Vivian: save your breath, by the way, you're the one who would ask for directions
Vic: a beg, we don't need to look for directions when I technically know this hood of a town
Vivian: … (looks at him with a puzzled expression) You stay in Port-town?
Vic: Carnival site (an area by the border of the town), but I still know this hood of a town
Vivian: stop calling it a hood
Vic: Come to think of it, why would Dotu leave an address on a letter like this, does he want to be found or what?
Vivian: it's not a letter without one, this isn't really an address, (shows him the paper) It's just a stupid sentence saying 'Dotu's Domain' and nothing else
Vic: … (puts his two hands behind his head) So that's where we're heading?
Vivian: hopefully the lecturers will be there, if they aren't we'll just call the police
Vic: cool, but, I don't actually know that place
Vivian: 'Sigh' which is why you'd be asking the questions
Vic: oh… (laughs)
Vivian: It's not funny…
When they got to the gate, Vivian had an idea of seeing the school's security.
Vivian: (to Vic) Go and ask for directions (stops moving)
Vic: (stops) Why can't you do it?
Vivian: you're the people-person
Vic: yeah, you're not wrong there (puts his hands on his waist and grins). So what should I ask him?
Vivian: … the location, where 'Dotu's Domain' is
Vic: oh please, that's simple enough to ask, you should do it
Vivian: Never!
Vic: (shakes his head) Okay, how about we go together yeah?
Vivian: No!
Vic: really? Okay (starts moving to the gatehouse) Suit yourself then
Vivian: (frowns) Ode
He headed to the tollgate-looking gatehouse and stood in front of a huge window. He looked at Vivian as if checking if she was still there, then he smiled and proceeded to knock on the glass that covered the window. Not too long after, a man whose face was covered in hair and wearing a bright blue security uniform opened the window and stuck his head out.
Gateman (to Vic) yes?
Vic: oh hey, good morning, you look… fine
Gateman: hmm I see, any problem?
Vic: well, you see, I and that girl over there (points at Vivian) are looking for a place called…
Gateman: wait first (looks at Vivian who is looking at the ground) HEY MADAM
Vivian: …
Gateman: MADAMU
Vivian: (looks up and panics) Oh, n-o…
Gateman: come a beg
Vivian: (looks around and points at herself afterwards) Me?
Vic: there's no one else but you
Vivian: (bites her lip as if holding in a shout and hesitantly walks towards them)
Gateman: good morning
Vivian: hello
Gateman: yes, who is this brother to you hm?
Vivian: 'Dead' he's my course-mate
Gateman: so, nothing more
Vivian: uhm…
Vic: look, guy, we are just looking for 'Dotu's domain', just tell us where it is
Gateman: Are you two mad? Why are you going there?
Vic: … assignment, yes! GST to be uh… sure
Gateman: oh, all these assignments of nowadays … that place is a dangerous place in Port-town
Vivian: we know…
Vic: oh and yeah, did you happen to see anything suspicious pass here yesterday morning?
Gateman: hm… some group of vehicles drove out of the school building sha, but I'm not allowed to tell you that, that's the only thing
Vivian: 'waste of bribe money'
Vic: hm-hm well thanks for the info guy, we'll be going to the market to buy fruit now (starts walking away)
Gateman: hm, okay oh, you two should be careful o
Vivian: (avoids noticing the gateman looking at her as she follows Vic)
Gateman: madam
Vivian: hm? (turns to look at his collar)
Gateman: (points at Vic) Be mindful around that one oh, he doesn't look okay in the head if you understand (laughs to himself) okay?
Vivian: (nods)
Gateman: Oya (closes the window)
Vivian: (frowns and runs up to Vic)
Vic: sup?
Vivian: …NOTHING FROM THAT MAN WAS USEFUL! And you went ahead and (hits him on the head) dragged me into it
Vic: hey? It's not all bad, at least we knew they were kidnapped