News of Ekene and Samuel's heroic act spread rapidly throughout Divine Gift University, capturing the attention of students and staff alike. The idea that two students had not only killed a viper but also rescued a fellow student entangled in its grip left everyone astounded
"I heard two students killed a snake yesterday. Is it true?" one student asked curiously
"I don't know how true it is, but it was reported that they rescued a student. That'd have been the third death in three days, but thanks to their bravery, the student is safe," another student replied
In Ekene's room, the two students basked in their glory, unable to hide their satisfaction as they listened to the praise flooding in from their fellow students
"Haha. Listen to them," Samuel chuckled, grinning from ear to ear
"But honestly, what you guys did yesterday was brave," Grace chimed in
"I'd be dead now if you guys didn't step in yesterday," Cynthia said, her gratitude sincere and heartfelt
"Guys, let's forget about yesterday and move on," Ekene suggested, eager to refocus their attention the larger issue at hand. "We need to figure out how to either get the school's approval to investigate the snakes' infestation or find a way to investigate without anyone noticing"
"Easier said than done," Samuel replied, knowing the challenge they face in keeping their plans under wraps
"Yeah, Sammy is right." Cynthia nodded in agreement, "It was just yesterday you guys killed the viper, but it has reached the ears of everyone in the school"
"Yeah, secret investigation on cases like these is nearly impossible," Grace added
"So, what do we do?" Ekene asked, determined not to let their obstacles deter them from uncovering the truth behind the snake infestation
A sudden knock on the door interrupted the friends' discussion. Samuel rose to answer it, and two men dressed in suits stepped into the room, their demeanor serious and authoritative
"Good evening," One of the men greeted. "We're looking for Ekene and Samuel"
"I'm Ekene," Ekene confirmed, a hint of apprehension in his voice
"And I'm Samuel," Samuel added, looking between the two men. "Is there any problem?"
"We heard that you two have been investigating the sudden appearances of snakes on campus," one of the men stated. "You guys even killed a snake at noon yesterday. Is this correct?"
"Sirs," Ekene began, choosing his words carefully. "I can't deny that we killed a snake yesterday. However, that report isn't completely true. We were not investigating the snakes yesterday. We only killed the snake to rescue Cynthia here," he explained, gesturing to Cynthia. "a Law student who was attacked by the snake while making use of the library"
"Good," the man replied, his expression unchanging, "With that, you two have been handed a week suspension from academic activities. Take this as your last warning. If anyone is caught investigating the snake infestation, that person will be expelled!"
Without allowing any form of objection from Samuel, Cynthia, and Grace, the men turned and walked away, their imposing presence lingering even after their departure. Ekene simply smiled in disbelief, shaking his head as he tried to process the unexpected visit
"What was that about?" Samuel asked, concern etched on his face
"I'm as confused as you are," Ekene replied, "But it seems the school is strongly against the idea of students digging into the snake issue"
"But why?" Grace questioned, her voice tinged with a mix of frustration and confusion. "If the school really cares about our safety, shouldn't they encourage any efforts to solve this problem?"
"Well, whatever the reason is, I get the feeling we are dealing with something deep here. And it's very very big!" Ekene said
In the dead of night, Ekene found himself stirring from his sleep, groggy and disoriented. As he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he heard a faint voice echoing from the restroom, laced with fear and desperation
"No! Somebody help me! Please! Anyone!" the voice cried out growing more frantic by the second
Ekene's heart raced as he sprang into action, racing toward the restroom with every speed he could muster. As he drew closer, the voice abruptly fell silent, and a chilling sense of dread washed over him
"Damn it. I hope I'm not too late," Ekene muttered under his breath.
Upon reaching the restroom, Ekene was met with a gruesome sight – a massive cobra was in the midst of swallowing a helpless student, its body pulsating as it slowly consumed its victim. Ekene's eyes burned with fury at the scene before him as well as the memory of the suspension they had received for killing a snake. He then grabbed a cutlass lying nearby
"So, they suspended us for killing something like this?" Ekene seethed, his grip tightening around
With a powerful swing fueled by anger, Ekene brought the blade down upon the cobra, severing it in two.
Ekene's heart sank as he realized that his effort had been in vain – the student's limp body lay motionless on the floor. The horrors of the scene before him were almost too much to bear, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for not arriving sooner
"So, I couldn't make it in time, huh?" Ekene muttered to himself, the weight of the tragedy heavy on his shoulders.
Overwhelmed by the injustice, Ekene clenched his fist, his voice echoing through the stillness of the night as he screamed, "Damn it!"