Phidel hurried down the alley to the main streets deeply confused. Nothing like that sort has ever happened to her. Everything looked like a trance but felt so real. Feeling her soul being pulled forcefully out of her was nerve breaking and deranging. Nothing could be compared to the dilemma that she was left in.
All she wanted to do at that moment was to see her sister or hear her voice as usual. Besides that, she had to get to her mother's work place first.
She walked into the busy streets with her mind occupied with ranging thoughts and almost got ran over by a cab. "Hey! Watch it!" The driver shouted, bringing her back to reality.
She deftly glanced around only to find herself almost in the middle of the street, walking leisurely on the zebra crossing. She didn't even notice when she got there. "Oh my God." She grumbled, minding her steps as she found her way through the moving cars to the other side of the road.
"You should be careful when crossing the road young lady." An older woman in her mid fifties uttered to her as she walked by.
"Yes ma'am." She uttered with a slight bow before walking off. The walkway was getting busier as most workers were starting to get off work and so were students. She hurried through the crowd and after about 45mins, got to her mother's work place. She sighed as she took a stand in front of the huge building. "What should I say to make mum understand?" She thought.
She was still brooding on what to say when her mother walked out of the office among her friends, giggling about something they were talking about.
"Hey Jerome," Amy nudged Jerome on the arm, making her glance at her. "Isn't that your daughter?" She queried, staring at the opposite direction.
Jerome deftly turned to the direction of Amy's gaze. "Phidel?" She grumbled, surprised to see her as it was so usual of her. "Hmm...," She mumbled, glancing back at them. "See you ladies tomorrow. "
"Alright." They chorused and continued off their walk and Jerome shuffled over to her daughter. "Hey..." She muttered softly with a sweet smile as she neared her daughter, stroking her arm. "Are you okay? You look like a scared cat with that look. Anything happened in school?" She queried, staring expectantly at Phidel for her rely but she looked unyielding. "Hey..." She mumbled softly.
Phidel in turn just held her mother's gaze for some brief seconds, contemplating on whether to tell her per her intention of going there and as to if she will believe her or not. Seeing her mother expectant gaze on her, she sighed. "I think we should get home first mum–"
Jerome stared skeptically at her confused, "You..." She began but then sighed, giving room for doubt. "Alright." She draped a hand over her shoulders and Phidel glanced at her with a faint smile. Jerome in turn returned the smile before turning her gaze to the street. Just then, she saw a cab heading towards them. She instinctively stretched out her hand stopping it. Wasting no time, it slowly pulled up in front of them and they hopped in. Within the next seconds, it speed off.
****
After almost an hour and a half of being in the class, the long awaited bell for closing finally rang. Rio instinctively jumped up on her feet as the class was left in rumpus with everybody preparing to leave. Miss Elvis without wasting much time just took her notes from the table and bid her goodbye as she found her way out of the door.
When Rio saw that the path was finally cleared, she hastily snatched her bag from her desk, threw it over her shoulders and rushed out of the class with the speed of lightening. Luna and Cora had intentions of going with her but before they could gather themselves up, Rio was already gone. They scoffed as they rose from their seats and staggered out of the class.
After few minutes of racing through the corridors, Rio got to the infirmary. She hastily slammed the door opened only to stop in her steps when she saw an empty bed. Miss Mina was by then, behind her desk with her face buried in a book. "Where is Phidel?" Rio queried skeptically making Mina glanced up from her book to the empty bed. "Oh, she left about 30mins ago. I don't know what's with her but she just rushed out after waking up."
"She what?" Rio exclaimed. Just then, Luna and Cora walked in to see a stunned Rio. "Hey, what's going on?" Luna questioned. Rio swiftly glanced at her and without a word, hurried out.
Luna stared at the door then to Cora. "What's going with her?" She mumbled quizzically and Cora shrugged. They both glanced at Miss Mina for an explanation and she in turn gestured them with her eyes to the empty bed which Phidel was earlier lying on. They knew without a word what had transpired. "Thank you Miss Mina." They chorused and glided out of the infirmary.
NETHERLANDS
The hallway was packed with students staggering towards the main gate like herd of sheeps, laughing and giggling. It' was always fun when the tedious activities in school finally comes to an end. Rowan shuffled among the chaotic students finding his way to the gates when he heard a voice called out his name. He stopped, deftly turning around to see Claire heading towards him.
"Hey," She smiled as she neared him. "You're alone today? Why, where is Phidelia?" She lurked around.
"Well, she already left." He answered as he continued his walk. Claire also rushed after him. "Already left? But she promised to escort me to the city library today."
"Not really sure what it is Claire but I heard she had an emergency. You can do well to pass by her place. For now, I really really need to go. See you, girls, tomorrow." He hurried off. "And tell her to call me when she is less busy." He shouted over his shoulders.
"Hey! wai....t" She mumbled but Rowan was already gone. She sighed, "He is quite a lot of work. I wonder why Phidelia befriended him in the first place." She scoffed as she took the other path to the station.
It had already been an hour now since school ended but Tina, Bella, and Roxy who usually left earlier were still in the school. Seated on the rooftop and brainstorming on how to get Phidelia's body disposed of without getting caught. "So what's the plan, Tina? How are we going to get her out of the washroom." Bella questioned.
"Just leave it up to me. All you girls have to do is to be here at the exact time we've all agreed on. No delays. Hope you have the keys, Roxy?" She queried and Roxy nodded her response. "Great. Come on, let's get going now."
She took the lead, followed by Bella and Roxy down the stairs to the almost empty hallway.