The Wishing Well – Episode 3
EPISODE 3
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WRITTEN BY NATHANIEL ANUMA
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The issue at hand among the four students in Touch-hill university was a very sensible one. They needed not only to be careful but also secretive with their wishes otherwise if anybody should know the consequences behind them, the death of any person for any of their wish to be granted, will be traced to them and, of
course, get apprehended by law and constitution of the country. Therefore they were really in a bondage as Kiana once substantiated.
Nevertheless, inside the control room, Kiana looked from Juel to Anderson and finally to Nancy for them to break the silence base on the picture on the computer screen.
“This issue is very sensitive” Nancy broke the silence. “We can’t possibly conclude that our own lecturer is behind the accident only because he’s on a picture shaking hands with this strange man that bumped out from nowhere”
“Nancy, I’m not saying that Mr Chuks is behind the accident” Kiana objected. “All I’m saying is that he must have known who Mekus was. Therefore, he could tell us more about him.”
“Then how do you intend asking him without him being inquisitive and suspicions on why you want to know?” Nancy glanced at the two boys who had not said anything yet, she continued. “You guys should understand that all eyes are on us. People are wondering why we are the only one who didn’t sustained an injury and also went missing after the accident. Soon, we will be called to explain our way about after that accident” she began to breath heavily.
“So what do you guys think?” Kiana threw the question in the air.
Juel looked at Anderson. “We should agree with her. What do you think, man?” he asked like one who had run out of suggestions.
Anderson didn’t reply rather walked out from their midst to the wall full of papers and angrily hit on it and tore the papers out.
“What is wrong with you?!” Kiana rushed him before he destroyed her office. She wasn’t a good runner, so she had to gallop like a horse.
Anderson turned to them not only with violent pointing fingers but also with a harsh expression. “If only you guys know what we are into, you won’t be suggesting that we keep mute. We need help! A problem shared is a problem half solved!”
“Are you out of your mind!?” Juel approached him violently too like a mad dog. “Our lives are at risk here. Don’t you get it?! If we open up to people, Kiana gonna suffer most coz the strange man claimed to know her and wanted to be with her, hence, causing our accident.” he paused, breathing hastily before he brought down his voice. “We must take Nancy’s idea; we’re not asking Mr Chuks anything about Mekus neither are we telling anybody anything about us or the well even after our wishes are granted!”
Silence creeped inside the room. Only distant chattering and the torned papers Kiana packed up from the ground filled their eardrums. She was already shedding tears when her voice came like that of a cat, “Please, Anderson, you need to listen to us. I’m very scared”
Nobody replied her neither did anybody looked at her sad face. Though her voice alone changed Anderson’s mind at that moment. Sooner did they know that the door of the room was left open and someone stood at it, staring at them. He must have heard part of their discussions. His name was Judge. He was believed to have a psychological abnormality. It could be seen on the nature of his eyes and bushy hair. He wore a three-quarter pair of Jean trousers with army colour design and a white transparent shirt that shows his singlet.
“What are you looking at, moron?!” Nancy shrieked at him. Just as she called him, Judge left the door like a moron after which Nancy turned to her friends. “Do you think he heard our discussion?”
“Even if he did, he can’t decode it. Everybody knows him as a moron” Juel replied.
Just then, a student came in and told them that Dr Danny needed them in his office.
They glanced at one another quietly.
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Inside the head of department’s office (HOD’s office), the temperature had been reduced by an air conditioner. One could see different shelves with properly arranged files in them. On the walls were pictures of Dr. Danny both on his matriculation and convocation day. On his table were awards and voluminous books, even a laptop rested on the table too. Suddenly, a knock came from his door and the four students entered to see him seated on his chair while Mr Chuks also
seated opposite him in a way the table demarcated them. The students greeted one by one, seeing the mean faces of the two staffs which was a sign to them that there is a fire on the mountain.
“I’m so happy you guys made it out of the accident alive” Dr. Danny began, leaning his back on the chair which made a cracking noise. “But can you girls tell me where you went to after the accident?”
Juel swallowed hard. “Sir, we got lost. I guess is because we were carried by a river.”
“Was that also the reason why you had no scratch on your bodies?”
The students remained silent.
Mr Chuks turned to them. His voice carried an atom of anger. “Kiana, if there is anything you guys have to tell us, please do coz Dr. Danny is pointing accusing fingers…”
“Mr Chuks” Dr. Danny interrupted him.
“No, sir!” he continued, hitting his hand on the table with his feet standing on the floor. “With all due respect, sir, let’s call a spade a spade! This interrogation simply means you’re suspecting us for being the cause of the accident. Of what benefit would that yield to my life?”
“But a lorry can’t grow wings and fly down the hill”
“I guess you would have been happy if we were all dead”
All remained silent, allowing the sound of the air conditioner to take over. The students had already became amazed at the extent Dr. Danny had taken the issue. Of course they were expecting such a thing. Nevertheless, as the tranquillity lingered, Mr Chuks walked out of the office.
“Listen,” Dr Danny cleared his throat. “Sooner or later, I must find out the root of the sprouting plant” he ordered them to leave.
Outside the office, at a distance, one could see Anderson leaving others angrily again, but Nancy rushed him saying, “I don’t know what your problem is but make sure you don’t screw us up”
“You acted as if you knew the Well very well” Anderson glared. “You had us make wishes out of it. Now have you seen where it’s taking us to?” He finally left.
Not only Kiana and Juel watched them from a distance, also Dr. Danny monitored their actions from a window.
Kiana looked at Juel. “This whole thing is beginning to look like we’re are the cause of the accident”
“Of course not, Ana” Juel faced her. “Mekus is the cause”
“How can we explain that to people?”
Juel suddenly went dumb as Kiana left him all alone. Not withstanding, Dr. Danny
took record of that too.
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Another night fell in the city. Nobody had an idea the secret of the four students. Therefore, it was really like a heavy burden to them especially to Kiana who sat on the floor of her lodge, weeping. She was on a night gown with just a pant under. She had small attractive breast. As she wept, a knock came from her door severally but refused to answer it. It later cracked open to see Juel entering. He was disappointed to her in that mood.
“What’s the problem, Ana?” he bent down beside her. The poor girl felt her tears pouring the more at that moment.
“Juel, I feel like I’m the cause of my fellow students’ death. If Mekus hadn’t wish to have me, none of that would have happened” she cried, leaning her head on his bent knee.
“Stop feeling guilty. It wasn’t your fault”
“What of the people that will die for my wish to be granted?” she queried in a
crying voice. Juel felt her emotional pain and began to dry her tears and rubbing
her hair in consolidation.
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The next day at Touch-hill, The ground quivered like an earthquake and the firmament opened. Large rocks with fire, burning round them began to fall like heaven crashing down on earth. They created large holes on the earth surface, broke some parts of buildings and most of all, killed people. Students could be seen running helter skelter.
Nancy ran into a building to see Judge, staring at her. “What, freak?” she spread her hands.
“You are the cause” Judge pointed at her. “You’re the cause of the raining rocks” he added.
Hearing that, Nancy remembered her wish. She became scared, stepping back from the moron. Already, the rocks had stopped falling which gave her the opportunity to run to Kiana’s control room. Luckily, she was the only one there.
“What is happening in school, Nancy?” Kiana asked her.
“Rocks just rained down in the school” she tried to stabilize her breath.
“Yes, I can see that, and people are killed by it” Kiana rushed to the window to take a better look.
“I think is my wish” Nancy said in a broken voice.
Kiana turned to her swiftly. “You wished to have rocks rain down the school?”
“No,”
“Then what’s your wish?”
“Remember, I can’t tell you until it’s granted. But the rained down rocks is a sign.” She moved closer to her. “Kiana, there is a bigger problem; Judge has figured it out”
“What are you talking about?”
“Judge knows I’m the cause of the fell rocks”
“What?! But how?”
“I don’t know!”
Both girls stared at each other. Kiana couldn’t imagine Nancy’s wish that had flaming rocks raining in school. She couldn’t wait to know… :
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TO BE CONTINUED
