France-lyse looked out through the window, and smiled. The sky was bright and clear as morning had broken. The wings glided elegantly over the clouds. It was beautiful.
"Well Seer, I guess this is where we part ways.", France-lyse said with a distant, yet mournful look in her eyes. She stood, squeezing my hand one last time as she left.
I simply looked.
No words came out from my mouth. I kept replaying all she had said; how she and the alleged bloodsucker had met. The story seemed to have a lot of loopholes- like a page out of the most cliche book ever. Did he become a vampire because of the curse? Or was his undead nature as a result of SilverTrees experiment?
The old man walked back to his seat, like a child who had just woken up. I shifted for him, and he crossed over, sitting down slowly. He looked drained.
I glanced over at France-lyse and her companion. They seemed engrossed in a conversation.
I rested my head, and closed my eyes.
Tuhn Dun
An announcement came through from the Captain that we would be landing in Dakar in eighteen minutes.
I opened my eyes and folded my arms. Whether I liked it or not, I would be seeing France-lyse and her companion again as our fates were, apparently, tied.
The plane rumbled as it began it's descent, roaring as a growling animal would. Land appeared underneath with enlarging flecks of toy-like buildings.
With a loud thud, the plane dropped, speeding along the taxi. It ran, flaring it's wings and roaring loudly. The seatbelt signs were on, and everyone sat in anticipation. Gradually, the plane slowed down till it eventually came to a stop. An announcement came up again but I did not listen.
Like on cue, everybody stood up, rushing to take their bags from the cabin overhead. The plane became chaotic. It was to believe this was the same plane that was serene eighteen minutes ago.
"Thank you for flying with us, Sir.", chorused the flight attendants at the door, smiling like school girls trying desperately hard to impress a crush.
"Thank you."
"Do enjoy your stay, Sir.", they added.
I followed the officials directing us, glancing once or twice at my back to see if France-lyse and her companion were behind. They weren't.
We were led to what appeared to be enclosed transparent cages with men dressed in uniform in them. Words were written on banners overhead. Words like; Bienvenue, Visa, Indigènes.
Were those French? Oh my God! They were! My French was horrible. I had not spoken French since Junior Secondary School 3, and even then, it was below mediocre.
"Bonjour, Monsieur. S'il vous plaît, donnez-moi votre passeport ", a young lady with a stern look said briskly.
"Huh?".
"Votre passport, s'il Vous plait.", she said holding up a passport in her hand.
"Oh! Sorry. Here, take.", I said, understanding now what she had been trying to say. I ransacked my bag for the passport until I found it. There was growing irritation written all over her face. I handed it over to her.
"Merci."
She glanced through the pages, and beckoned unto me to step forward. Following her directions, I bent my head to look at what looked like a black lamp. I put my fingers, then, on a small machine that looked like it was recording my fingerprints.
"Où logerais-tu?", she asked, looking up at me.
"What?"
"Il resterait avec moi dans notre maison.", a familiar voice sounded behind me.
France-lyse?
"Êtes-vous ensemble?", the young woman in the transparent cage responded, looking behind me.
"Oui, Madame."
I turned to see who it was that had spoken on my behalf. It was France-lyse! She was with her companion too. He did not look very interested in what was going on.
"What did you say to her?"
"You would be staying with us.", she said, nudging me to collect my documents.
I turned back and collected my passport. The woman smiled patronizingly at me. She beckoned unto France-lyse to step forward,and I had to give way for her to pass.
"What do you mean I would be staying with you?", I asked, confusion written all over my face.
"Relax Seer, we don't bite... Well, at least, I don't."
The tall and dark stranger smiled, his eyes closed.
"Well, thank you so much for that convincing gesture of kindness, France-lyse, but I am fine on my own."
"You are alone, in another country. You do not speak their language, and you do not have anywhere to stay. By all means, you are fine on your own. I couldn't be any less bothered.", Mr. Companion said, his eyes shut, head raised and arms folded.
France-lyse laughed.
"Ignore him.", France-lyse said glancing at the both of us. "He is just jealous I have a new friend. Please, do stay with us- at least, until you find a place to stay."
She rubbed my arm.
At this point, it just looked like she grabbed whatever opportunity arose to touch me.
"Where would you be staying?", I asked.
"Ngor."