DEATH CAN WAIT.
EPISODE 8.
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"THE SECOND PLOT."
(BRIGHT FUTURE ACADEMY).
The next morning at Bright Future Academy, Nkechi, Amaka, and Ajoke gathered in the school compound to discuss how their plans would be executed.
"So, what are we agreeing on now, guys?" Nkechi asked her friends calmly. "Are we putting the substance we got from the herbalist into Shola's bottled water or food?"
"No! How can we put a black substance in bottled water?" Ajoke asked humorously. "Shola would, of course, think the water is contaminated and not drink it," Ajoke continued. "But if we carefully spread it over her food, she wouldn't suspect anything."
"You have a point, Ajoke," Amaka said. "But my main concern is that we must avoid getting caught and ensure that no one suspects anything."
"That won't be a problem," Nkechi replied. "We can carry out our plan during assembly time. Ajoke will stay behind during the assembly period, while you watch for her at the door." Nkechi continued, "Just cough or something if you see anyone coming. It'll be our signal to avoid getting caught."
The three of them nodded in agreement after assigning roles among themselves, then they made their way back to their classroom.
After a while, the school bell rang for assembly, and students started heading to the school hall. Nkechi and her friends' chance had finally arrived, and Ajoke and Amaka pretended they were going to the restroom shortly after the assembly bell rang. Once the classroom was empty and everyone had assembled in the school hall, Ajoke and Amaka returned to execute their plan.
Ajoke went straight to Shola's desk, where her lunch bag sat. She opened the bag, glanced back at Amaka to ensure she was keeping watch, and then proceeded with their scheme. She dipped her hand into her bra and brought out the black substance the herbalist had given them. Then, she sprinkled it on Shola's food, ensuring it mixed and dissipated with the food before closing it back.
"Hurry up, Ajoke," Amaka whispered, poking her head inside the classroom from the doorway. "Someone could come at any second."
"I am almost done," Ajoke replied and adjusted Shola's lunch bag a little, making sure nothing looked out of place. She gave a slight nod to Amaka, who was at the doorway, and they both headed out of the classroom before their mates started returning to the class.
—----------------
(BREAK PERIOD)
When the lunch bell rang, Shola picked up her food and joined the other students heading towards the eating area. She chose a seat away from the others, having felt alone since her troubles began, and she refused to open up to anyone.
Meanwhile, Nkechi and her friends also sat at a different table, keeping a close eye on Shola and waiting for her to start eating.
"Look! She's about to start eating!" Amaka exclaimed, nudging both Nkechi and Ajoke to grab their attention.
The girls watched closely as Shola took a few bites of her food and then reached for her water bottle to unscrew it. After taking a long drink, Shola returned to her meal, and the three friends held their breath as they cautiously observed her.
Minutes passed, and Shola's movements soon began to change gradually. She paused her food mid-bite, scrunching her face in discomfort as deep pain surged through her belly. Quickly, she grabbed her stomach, trying to find some relief from the pain.
Shola reached for her water bottle again and attempted to take a sip, but her hands trembled uncontrollably and her vision began to blur. The bottle slipped from her grip and fell to the ground with a loud thud, drawing the attention of the other students.
The students Turned and noticed Shola was behaving strangely, but before anyone could react and figure out what was truly happening, she slipped from her seat and collapsed onto the floor lifelessly.
Students screamed, and everyone began to run helter-skelter, trying to figure out what was happening to Shola, as it was her second collapse that week.
"Someone get help!" Israel shouted the moment she saw Shola collapse. Some students rushed to inform the school authorities, while Nkechi and her friends observed the entire commotion from their corner.
"Did you see that?" Amaka asked her friends. "I told you the herbalist's potions always work."
"Yes, it does work," Nkechi replied. "But we should also join the commotion and leave here too; we don't want anyone to start suspecting anything."
"Rest in peace, Shola," Ajoke said as they all stood up and made their way out of the eating area.
—------
The school authorities received news of Shola's collapse during the break, and it didn't take long for an ambulance to be dispatched from a nearby hospital.
Shola was placed on a stretcher and transported directly to the ambulance. They arrived at Dr. Collins' hospital again, and Emmanuel, an intern doctor, was also on duty.
Shola had previously visited this hospital during her first collapse, and this was now the second time she had collapsed in just one week.
At the hospital, Dr. Collins and Emmanuel rushed into the emergency room to examine Shola and assess her condition.
From many years of experience and expertise, Dr. Collins could tell that Shola was dead just by looking at her body on the stretcher. However, he needed to confirm it, especially after what happened the last time Shola was brought to his hospital.
"Emmanuel, hand me the stethoscope over there," Dr. Collins instructed, and Emmanuel stepped forward to hand it over to him.
"This is exactly what happened the first time Shola was brought in here," Dr. Collins said while pressing the stethoscope against Shola's chest for any signs of a heartbeat. He looked up to stare at the monitor, just to be very sure this time, and the monitor screen showed a flatline. "Shola is dead on arrival," Dr. Collins pronounced. "Come here and confirm it yourself too," he said, handing the stethoscope to his intern doctor.
Emmanuel took the stethoscope and moved closer to Shola's body. He was an intern, so it was okay for him to learn under circumstances like this. He pressed the stethoscope against Shola's chest too, and after a while, he turned to look at Collins, his senior doctor.
"No heartbeat," Emmanuel said sadly. "Shola is not breathing anymore."
"This was exactly what happened the first time too," Dr. Collins said. "I did everything by the book, but she managed to wake up after. It's indeed a miracle."
"Yeah, it's strange for things like that to happen," Emmanuel said. "They defy medical logic, and I can think of no better term to explain it than a miracle."
"Anyway, you can cover her body now," Doctor Collins said. "It's so unfortunate that Shola could not survive this time. Also, do not forget to record the time and date of her death."
Doctor Collins removed his gloves and threw them in the bin, while Emmanuel reached for a white sheet to cover Shola's body. He pulled the white sheet over Shola's body, but just as he was about to cover her completely, Emmanuel froze suddenly.
"Doc… Doctor Collins," he stammered. "Shola's hand moved again." Emmanuel said and stared in shock.
"What did you say?" Dr. Collins, who was about to exit the ward, turned back to stare at Shola's body on the bed.
"Her hand moved again, just like the last time," Emmanuel repeated. "I am very sure of that."
This time, Dr. Collins didn't dismiss it. He moved closer and pressed his fingers to Shola's neck to feel her pulse.
"It's returned," Doctor Collins exclaimed. "Her pulse has returned, even though it's weak."
Both doctors were still in shock when the monitor, which had shown a flatline before, came to life with activity. The rhythm of Shola's heartbeat appeared on the screen. Neither of the doctor's could say a word for a moment.
"No way, this is happening," Doctor Collins finally managed to say. "Twice. Twice this has happened now. There is something extraordinary about this girl."
"I think so too, doctor," Emmanuel said. "She keeps dying and coming back to life. There's something truly extraordinary about this whole scenario. She's defying every medical explanation we have."
"Document everything that happened and bring it to me privately," Doctor Collins instructed Emmanuel. "I need to look into her files myself."
"Okay, doctor," Emmanuel said and got to work immediately.
(SUPERNATURAL REALM).
Meanwhile, an invisible ghost nurse moved closer to the monitor screen and stared at it for a moment. After a brief pause, she turned to the rest of her team and said, "The oxygen level needs to be adjusted."
One of the ghost team members quickly walked past Emmanuel, who was documenting as per Dr. Collins' command. The ghost then reached for the oxygen cylinder and adjusted it slightly.
Emmanuel didn't notice the ghost around him in Shola's ward. He continued documenting everything he had witnessed that day, still Surprised from the fact that someone could die and then return to life again.
"Alright, everyone," Doctor Victor, leader of the ghost medical team, said. "That was a close call, but our combined efforts have paid off and Shola's been revived. Now, let's move on to the remaining wards and check on our other patients."
@Berry Tyra