August Intruder- Chapter 208- Where (Patreon)

The second hand on the clock ticked by as if it was afraid of making a complete rotation around the clock. Mr. Dilion was teaching about monster biology. It was something about a mating ritual that only took less than a second to complete and a gestation period of about a minute.

Kalayo cracked some joke about ‘two-minute men’. The class laughed. Mr. Dilion frowned, said something about seriousness and things being different now more than ever. The class looked at the seat Melmarc used to occupy and sobered up.

The motions passed and Pelumi’s eyes remained on the clock. At some point she thought Mr. Dilion had stopped to look at her, caught her not paying attention in his classroom. She couldn’t be sure since the man had said nothing on it.

Time continued to flow so very slowly. Pelumi knew that time simply flowed at a normal state, but she couldn’t help but feel like it had a personal vendetta against her, stalling for reasons beyond human comprehension.

When the bell rang, Pelumi was gone from her seat before Mr. Dilion could dismiss them. She was out the door and heading down the hallway before anyone could say anything.

Her mind was focused on one thing and one thing only: the infirmary.

It did not take Patience long to catch up to her. The girl walked with a military control, as if she was a soldier of her own. Patience was interesting in that way. When she moved normally, there was a ferocious seductiveness to her. The confident sway of her hips that told anyone watching that she was not trying to be seductive, that she just was. But along with it was the danger that told you that she was not to be trifled with. If Pelumi remembered correctly, someone had said that girls who were combat dangerous yet carried a high level of sex appeal usually ended up like that.

It was interesting because when Patience moved in a hurry, she walked like nothing but a soldier, back straight and all. There was still that sway to her hips but it was very easily forgotten.

“You know he’s not awake yet, right?” Patience said as she adjusted the bag she carried over her shoulder.

Pelumi nodded. “But Ark is.”

“He is?” Patience sounded surprised.

Martha turned up beside Pelumi, seemingly out of nowhere. “Yep. I heard his class arranging a group visit two days ago.”

Patience gave her a look. She had no doubt heard the implications of how she never paid enough attention in Martha’s tone.

One of the most interesting things in school since the portal incident to Pelumi was Patience and Martha’s friendship. She couldn’t call it a friendship, though. It was more like Patience had agreed to put up with Martha’s shenanigans since Martha was Pelumi’s friend. As for Martha, Pelumi had a suspicion that the girl was only here because she thought she was protecting her from Patience in some way.

Not that Pelumi was in any danger.

Besides, she knew that the only reason Patience was currently spending time with her was because of their mutual friendship with Melmarc.

“The class is also planning a group visit for Melmarc,” Patience said, as if to imply to she listens to some things.

The hallways were slowly growing littered with kids who were more than happy to substitute classes with whatever extracurricular activity that they had chosen.

“We can’t visit someone that’s not yet awake, though,” Martha pointed out.

Patience shrugged. “I know. But the teachers have promised to let us know when Melmarc is awake and able to entertain visitors.”

None of this mattered to Pelumi. All she knew was that Ark and Melmarc occupied the same space in the infirmary. Also, Ark was also her friend.

That was all that mattered to her. She could see Melmarc in real time and talk to Ark and get a sense of how he was.

The rest of the walk was done in silence. Patience kept a stern face that Pelumi noticed dissuaded anyone from approaching them. Normally, she would’ve said something about the expression, but she was grateful for it now. Delays were not anything she was willing to entertain right now.

They left the building that held their classrooms and found themselves in the healing building very easily. Through the entire process, Pelumi had not said a word. She had her own worries in mind.

“So, I take it we will not be attending the [Invoker] sessions,” Martha said.

The tone of disappointment in her voice made Pelumi stop. In truth, she had not asked any of them to follow her, but they had because they were her friends. She was not about to tell Martha that she had not asked her to be here.

Martha held her hands up in innocence. “Not that I’m complaining,” she said very quickly.

“I know you like the classes,” Patience said slowly, trying to make sure that Martha knew that she understood. “We could go for the classes, then visit Ark when we’re done.”

“You sure?” Patience asked. “Because honestly, I don’t know when those classes will end and how much time we’ll have with the Lockwood brothers. I mean, the infirmary has the times when it closes to students.”

That was true enough.

Pelumi paused, thinking about it. They could always go in the weekend, but considering that today was just Tuesday, did she really have the patience?

“Aren’t you also missing a class?” Martha asked Patience.

Patience shrugged. “What’s one missed class?”

Martha paused, then shrugged. “That’s a surprisingly good point. Pelumi, I say we go see the Lockwood brothers.”

Pelumi cracked a smile. It was always interesting when you knew a little too much about your friends.

It didn’t take them long to get to the infirmary.

When they got there, they first met with a receptionist at the front desk. Interestingly enough, he was wearing scrubs. With blue hair and yellow eyes that were most definitely magical cosmetics, he gave them a kind smile.

“And how can I help you young ladies today?” he asked politely, taking his attention away from the monitor in front of him.

“Ark Lockwood,” Patience said without missing a beat.

“Good afternoon, sir,” Pelumi greeted at the same time.

The man offered her a smile. “Afternoon to you, too, dear. You can call me Dom, short for Dominic.”

Pelumi nodded. Back in Nigeria calling adults by their first name was not the norm. And even when you found yourself in a situation where you did, their title was always attached to it. Mister this or Miss or Missus that. It was never just the name. Even now that she had spent over a year in the United States, it was still something she was finding difficult adapting to.

“So, may we see him?” Patience asked the man.

The man turned his attention to his monitor. “Well,” he began slowly, still looking at the monitor. “Ark Lockwood is currently with some of his classmates, if you’re okay with that.”

“Might it be overstimulating for him to have so many visitors?” Martha asked quickly, worry coloring her tone.

Dominic laughed. It was actually more of a chuckle than an actual laughter. “That one?” he shook his head. “Not at all. In fact, he specifically told me that the more the merrier.”

Pelumi couldn’t help but smile at that. Ark was the total opposite of Melmarc when it came to associating with people. With Melmarc it was the fewer the merrier.

“I’ll just need your names and student numbers and you’re good to go,” he said.

Patience folded her arms over her chest, thoughtful. “Shouldn’t student numbers suffice?”

Dominic gave her a glance, then shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”

The friendly smile never left his face.

They gave him their student number. He imputed it into his computer as they spoke. Not long after, he reached into a drawer of his desk and provided the three of them with identification tags that could be worn around their necks. Each one carried their picture, their name, and the patient they were visiting.

“Are you always so haughty?” Martha asked Patience as they made their way to the door to Ark’s room.

Patience gave her a confused look. “What did I do?”

“You didn’t have to be mean,” Martha said. “Dominic was polite. What’s the stress in just telling him our name and student number?”

“I was just asking a question,” Patience defended. “I wasn’t trying to start anything.”

Pelumi sighed. “I’m guessing she’d used to it,” she said, halting any further argument. “She doesn’t like having to tell people her name for some reason.”

“When you’re the child of famous people, telling people your name doesn’t always bring about the type of reaction you would like,” Patience said.

“What type would you like?” Martha asked.

“Usually the type you get when you tell people your name,” she answered.

Martha blinked. “I don’t get any reaction at all.”

“And that’s the reaction I would like to get.”

“Oh.”

Pelumi opened the door to the infirmary and stepped inside, ending the conversation. The two girls were easily behind her. All three of them walked into a massive infirmary with empty beds.

The only occupied beds were two beds to their left. One had four people standing around it. All four, three boys and one girl, were laughing and cracking jokes.

They headed over to them, Pelumi keeping her eyes on the guests. Unsurprisingly, all four of them were second year students, Ark’s classmates.

“And what?” she heard Ark say even before she saw him. “You all want to come throw a party here?”

“Dude,” one of the boys said. “Nobody knows what happened to you. You just came back out of nowhere and stumbled into the infirmary by yourself, covered in blood and injuries.”

“It was badass,” another boy said.

Ark opened his mouth then paused as his eyes fell on Pelumi.

Pelumi raised an awkward wave at him. She did not know what exactly she was supposed to do, so it was all she had to do.

Ark cocked a brow at her in that the same way he and Melmarc somehow did. They almost looked like twins whenever they did it.

“If it isn’t the great Olatunji Oluwapelumi, queen of our hearts,” he announced with a grin.

All his classmates turned, their attention focusing on her, Patience and Martha.

There was a sudden silence as Ark took in Martha and Patience. His raised brow lowered a little. Pelumi saw him mentally trying to work something out before he pointed at the three of them.

“When did this happen?” he asked, still jovial.

Patience sighed and walked up to him. She gave his classmates simple nods of acknowledgement. For Ark, she leaned over him in a way that said she was the one with the power now that he was a patient in the infirmary.

“We bonded over our shared satisfaction in your diminished confidence.” She stood straight now, folded her arms over her chest. “I’d like to see the person that knocked you down three pegs and thank him.”

“Them,” Ark corrected. “They are actually gender neutral and like to call themselves a them.” He shrugged. “Some monsters are just like that.”

Patience paused for a moment before speaking. “Well, I’d like to meet them and thank them.”

Ark gave her a cocky look. “And who said I was even knocked down at all? How are you sure that I didn’t win?”

“If you are the winner, I’d hate to see the other guy.”

“But they would love to see you.”

“Why is that?”

“So that they can knock you down a few pegs.” He smiled impishly, then returned his attention to Pelumi. “What? No hugs for me?”

Pelumi looked back dramatically, as if there was supposed to be someone else behind her that he could be talking to, then he looked back at him.

“It can’t be me you’re talking to,” she said with a smile. “It must be Martha.”

Ark smiled, but his eyes moved over to Martha. “And you must be Martha.”

Martha turned completely red as her head jerked in what was supposed to be a nod. Pelumi almost burst into laughter. There was just something about Ark whenever he introduced himself to a new girl. She had seen it enough times to know it. It wasn’t necessarily flirtatious, but there was something about it that told the girl that he could rock her world as easily as he could destroy it. Girls found it appealing, even seductive.

Pelumi always found it hilarious, from Ark’s behavior to the girl’s reaction. It was like being a girl and watching your foolish older brother flirt. It was laugh-worthy.

As for Martha, even though she had never said it before, Pelumi knew that she had the most massive crush on Ark.

In the very brief moment of silence during which Martha was blushing, a member of Ark’s visitors finally spoke.

“If you’re done flirting with all the girls, would you be kind enough to make introductions.” The boy was looking directly at Pelumi.

She would be a fool to say that she did not know where the boy’s interest lay.

Ark sighed. “Chris, this is Patience,” he said, gesturing to Patience.

Patience nodded her head in that method of acknowledgement guys used for each other.

Chris held his hand out to her and she shook it. “I’m Chris.”

Patience nodded. “He said that.”

“And that’s…” Ark’s voice trailed off as he pointed at Martha.

Martha reached forward to offer Chris a handshake.

“I’m Martha,” she said when he shook his hand.

Chris was polite enough. “Chris,” he said.

“And that,” Ark said finally, with a wide impish grin on his face, and an announcer’s enthusiasm, “is the queen of our heart, my personal bully, conqueror or conquerors, Lady of the house of lizards, and closest friend and confidant to Melmarc Lockwood, first lady, Oluwapelumi.”

Chris paused in confusion. Pelumi wasn’t sure if it was because of the titles or her name. Why Ark had introduced her with her full name which he knew people had a tough time pronouncing was beyond her. Although she had her suspicions.

She stepped forward and offered Chris a handshake. She kept her eyes on Ark, however, when she spoke.

“You forgot Self acclaimed custodian of Melmarc’s phone,” she said as Chris shook her hand.

Ark shrugged.

“So sorry about my friend,” Chris said with a warm smile. “Whatever happened to him, he must’ve hit his head a little too hard. What’s the name again?”

Ark’s grin stretched wider at Chris’ question and Pelumi just couldn’t help herself. She gave Chris the warmest smile and said, “Olatunji Oluwapelumi.”

Chris swallowed visibly. Martha failed at suppressing a chuckle beside her.

Chris looked back at the others, and they all shared the same expression. They did not know how to pronounce the name that they had just heard.

“Is there a short version that we can use?” one of the other boys asked.

Pelumi nodded. “You can call me Pelumi.”

Chris visibly relaxed and the let out a breath Pelumi just realized that he had been holding. She almost laughed. She usually didn’t use her name to play games on people but Ark was something of a really bad influence.

“Well, Pelumi,” Chris said, “I’m Chris,” then he turned his attention to the others, “that’s Caleb. That’s Ahmed. That’s my cousin, Mabel.” The girl waved. “And that’s the class rep, Theophilus.”

Chris was still holding her hand.

The soft, suggestive hold said something. He either liked her or just wanted a nice tumble in the sheets. Well, that was unfortunate. The look in Ark’s eyes said that he knew this and knew that the boy was going to go through quite the disappointment.

And he was more than ready to make the entire ordeal as stressful as possible for the boy.

Martha slipped her way up to Pelumi and Chris. She smiled up at Chris until she had his attention. When she did, she pointed down at Pelumi’s hand.

“May my friend have her hand back?” she requested very politely.

Chris started, then let go of Pelumi’s hand.

Martha’s smile never left her lips. “Thank you kindly.”

Free from Chris’ grasp, Pelumi walked over to Ark. She opened her mouth, then closed it. Her eyes moved over to the other bed and her heart broke a little.

Melmarc lay there. His entire torso was bandaged in white. He had a few cuts on his face, implied by the plasters. But most obvious was the massive gash in his shoulder. Her heart tightened at the sight. She remembered the gash from the night she and the others had found him. She could still remember all the blood that had filled the ground. Her heart tightened some more.

Her eyes stung suddenly. She had not expected to handle it very well, but she had truly thought that she was already done crying. She could feel the tears coming. A sob got stuck in her throat. She could not look away.

Melmarc looked so peaceful, despite the state of him. He looked like he was just sleeping. Like he had fought and now he was resting.

The sob rose in her throat.

It stopped as a warm hand wrapped itself around her wrist. She looked down at Ark’s hand, then at his face.

His smile was warm, assuring.

“He’s fine,” he said.

“He… he…” Pelumi wasn’t sure what to say as her throat tightened and the tears threatened to spill.

“He’ll soon wake up,” Ark added. “You just have to wait a little longer.”

Pelumi nodded. She kept herself from asking how much longer. It didn’t just hurt her that her friend was injured and in such a bad state. She actually missed hanging out around Melmarc too. She missed it very much. Having the volatile friendship of Patience and Martha helped, but she missed Melmarc.

Nodding once more, she blinked away the tears, then looked at Ark. Their eyes met, and for a moment the joviality and warmth in his eyes were gone.

He knew it.

He saw the question in her eyes, and she saw that he did not know how to begin answering it. but he should’ve seen it coming. The question must’ve been inevitable.

What had happened in the boy’s bathroom existed between them.

Where exactly had he gone?

And why would a person willingly walk into an open portal?

Last but not the least, though, even if it didn’t show in her eyes:

Where the hell was Spitfire?