CHAPTER EIGHT
The night was dark and still, the only source of light coming from the dimly lit street lamps scattered around the campus. It was about 10am. As I made my way towards the theater lecture room, my mind was preoccupied with the looming deadline of my final paper. As an undergraduate student, I had spent countless nights in this very lecture room, pouring over books and typing away on my laptop.
But tonight, something felt off. The usually bustling campus was eerily quiet, with only a few students scurrying back to their dorms. I shook off the odd feeling and focused on the task at hand. I had to finish my paper before the sun rose.
As I entered the lecture room, I noticed a group of guys standing in the corner. They were whispering among themselves, their eyes darting towards me as I made my way to my usual spot at the front of the room.
I tried to ignore them and settled into my work. But as the night wore on, I couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. Every time I looked up from my books, I would catch one of the guys staring at me with a menacing glare.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and decided to confront them. I walked over to them determined to ask them to stop disturbing me. But as I got closer, I noticed that they weren't just any ordinary group of guys. They might have been Josephine's course mates I guessed since I noticed one of them – the same Josephine who had been my friend for the past month.
As I approached them, one of the guys stepped forward, blocking my path. He was tall and muscular, his arms adorned with tattoos. His eyes bore into mine, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Stay away from Josephine," he snarled, his voice dripping with venom.
Confused and taken aback by his sudden aggression, I asked, "What? Why? Is she okay?"
The guy's expression turned even more menacing, as he growled, "Don't play dumb with us. We saw you with her last time and that was the last time you'll ever see her. If you know what's good for you, you'll stay away."
My heart was beating rapidly and fear coursed through my veins. I had no idea on what they were talking about but I could sense the danger in their words.
"Look, I don't know what you're talking about. I've been in this lecture room all night. I haven't seen Josephine in days," I stuttered trying to reason with them.
The guy's grip on my shoulders tightened and his face was only inches away from mine. "Don't lie to us. We know you were with her, and we don't want to see it happen again," he hissed before pushing me away and walking back to his friends.
I stood there frozen in shock and fear. What the hell was going on? And why did they think I had something to do with Josephine?
Feeling paranoid and unsafe, I quickly gathered my things and ran out of the lecture room. Something was sure, I knew I had to find out the truth and I had to do it fast before something terrible happened.
The next day as early as possible, I went to Josephine's dorm, hoping to find her and get some answers. But to my horror, her room was completely empty, as if she had never lived there.
I frantically searched for anyone who could tell me where she had gone but no one seemed to know. I even went to her classes but she was nowhere to be found. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.
But then, I stumbled upon a group of students huddled together whispering and looking at me with wary eyes. As I got closer, I overheard them talking about Josephine.
"They say Josephine don't love the guy and the guy keeps disturbing and threatening her with his dangerous group. That's why she disappeared to find another place safe," one of them said, fear evident in his voice.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.
" A bad guy is following Josephine, a dangerous group. She has been afraid of them ever since."
Just after there, as I was walking back to my dorm in the night time, I saw something that would change everything. I saw Josephine.
She was walking alongside these dangerous guys, looking scared and defeated. I quickly hid behind a nearby building, watching as they approached a secluded area of the campus – a place where no one ever went.
I knew I shouldn't follow them, but my curiosity and fear got the best of me. I had to know what was going on.
As I got closer, I could hear them talking.
"I can't love you Kuchi. Love is not by force guys. Allow me go," Josephine's voice trembled.
"Too bad, Josephine. It's too late for that, you know I love you with all my heart," Kuchi cried out. One of the guys sneered before turning to Josephine. "Jose baby, if not because of the love our friend has on you, we would have shown you what happens to those who refused us love." "And I told you I will never fall in love with a dangerous and careless guy. Just imagine, careless guy, careless love raising a careless family." Josephine lamented. "What a hell with you!" Someone screamed and I could hear Josephine cried out.
I was about to turn and run, but then I heard a blood-curdling scream. I knew I couldn't leave her there at the mercy of these dangerous guys.
With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I ran towards them, screaming for them to stop. They turned to me with fury in their eyes, but I didn't hesitate. I fought back with all my might, not caring about my own safety.
In the chaos, I managed to grab Josephine and run towards safety. Once we were at a safe distance, I finally saw the horror on her face. She was bruised and battered, but alive. I also sustained some injuries though not as serious as Josephine.
Together, we went to the school security unit and told them everything. With my testimony and Josephine's, they immediately went out in search of the dangerous group. Some securities helped us to the school clinic. Josephine would have had to pass a night at the clinic after some treatment but she refused that she will follow me home, that she has a lot to tell me. We went home together.