The week-long suspension that Ekene and Samuel had been served finally drew to a close, allowing them to resume their normal academic activities. They began attending classes once more and regained access to the library and other facilities on campus, relieved to have some semblance of normalcy restored to their daily lives
Over the past few days, there had been no reports of deaths from snake attacks, nor had any serpents been sighted on campus grounds. The once-fraught atmosphere of Divine Gift University had settled into an uneasy calm, leaving the students cautiously hopeful that the worst was behind them. Despite this, an underlying sense of tension lingered, as no one could shake the feeling that the danger had merely retreated into the shadows
On a seemingly ordinary morning, Ekene found himself seated in class, attempting to focus on the lecture at hand. The recent tranquility had lulled him into a false sense of security, as he hadn't encountered a snake since the fateful day he saved Chidinma – an event that had transpired nearly three weeks prior
As the lesson progressed, however, Ekene couldn't help but notice the conspicuous absence of both Grace and Cynthia. Their vacant seats only intensified the ominous feeling that had settled in the pit of his stomach
"What are those girls doing in their rooms?" Ekene wondered, his concern mounting, "The class is almost over, and they're still not here. I hope they are okay. I have a bad feeling about this. I'll check up on them after the class"
As the lecture drew to a close, Ekene hastily packed his belongings, eager to ensure the safety of his friends. He navigated the now-bustling hallways with purpose, his thoughts fixated on the unsettling absence of Grace and Cynthia
En route to Grace's room, Ekene crossed paths with Samuel, who greeted him with his characteristic nonchalance. "What's up, buddy?"
"Grace and Cynthia weren't in class this morning, so I'm going to their rooms to check up on them," Ekene explained, his tone laced with concern
Samuel, ever the joker, saw an opportunity to tease his friend, "Awwwnnn, that's sweet," he said with a knowing grin
Ekene rolled his eyes, not in the mood for Samuel's ribbing, "Samuel, it's not what you think, okay"
"Yeah, right, I believe you, haha," Samuel chuckled, sensing Ekene's earnest concern. "Let's go together," he suggested, putting an end to his teasing
"Alright," Ekene agreed, grateful for his friend's support despite his playful banter
Ekene and Samuel's hearts pounded in their chests as they reached Grace's dormitory. As they entered her room, they were met with a scene of utter disarray – ingredients strewn across the floor, clothes and shoes scattered haphazardly, and bags tossed carelessly about. It was evident that something had gone terribly wrong
"What happened here?" Samuel asked, surveying the chaotic scene.
"I don't know," Ekene replied, his voice tinged with worry and confusion
As they cautiously moved further into the room, they discovered Cynthia lying face down on the floor, her body lifeless and still. Rushing to her side, Ekene and Samuel knelt down to assess her condition
"Cynthia, what happened?" Ekene asked, gently resting her head on his arm
Cynthia's eyes flustered open, her voice barely a whisper as she uttered a plea, "Ah, Ekene, please save Grace"
In that instant, Ekene understood the gravity of the situation, his eyes burning with rage. He carefully laid Cynthia back down on the floor before turning to Samuel, his voice low yet authoritative
"Samuel, let's go," Ekene said, leaving no room for debate
"Right!" Samuel replied, his own resolve strengthened by Ekene's determination
Ekene and Samuel's blood ran cold as they stumbled upon a horrifying scene – Grace, wrapped in the suffocating coils of a massive python, on the verge of being swallowed whole. Without hesitation, Ekene sprung into action, his voice trembling with a mix of fury and desperation
"Hey, do you have any idea who that is?" Ekene demanded of the python, his question hanging heavy in the air
With raw strength fueled by adrenaline and a fierce determination to protect his friends, Ekene grabbed the python's tail and began swinging it around. The force of the swings proved too much for the snake to maintain its grip on Grace, and it reluctantly released her. With one final powerful toss, Ekene sent the python flying through the air
"Samuel! Get Grace somewhere safe!" Ekene ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument
"Sure!" Samuel replied, wasting no time in scooping up the terrified Grace and ushering her away from the scene
Ekene's focus remained locked on the python as he seized a machete lying nearby
"For hurting my friends, you're gonna pay," Ekene said to the python, his words hanging heavy in the air
With the weapon firmly in hand, Ekene charged toward the reptile, his arm raised high. In one fluid motion, Ekene brought the blade down upon the python, slicing it cleanly in two
With the immediate danger eliminated, the boys wasted no time in rushing Grace and Cynthia to Amosu clinic for first aid treatment, their hearts racing with the lingering fear of what could have been. Unbeknownst to them, however, a shadowy figure lurked nearby, observing their heroic efforts with keen interest
"Oh, he's strong enough to kill a python within a few seconds, huh?" the stranger muttered to herself, her curiosity piqued by Ekene's impressive display of strength and courage