CHAPTER 55

~It's not about hate all the time;

Sometimes it's just POV~

~Mina

SERAPHINA'S POV

It was the morning after, and the mansion was eerily quiet. Not a single fly could be heard.

I zipped up my black Armani one piece and sprinkled on some perfume. For finishing, I went with nude lips, a high ponytail and black combat boots.

I ascended the stairs to the third floor where my friends were already seated, all ready and set. At this point, you must've noticed I'm the tardy ass in the group.

"Updates?" I inquired, sitting beside Enrique.

"None yet." Malu shook her head.

We haven't heard from Aisha since her last call. Malu tried her cell but it kept going to voicemail. She did tell us she'll stop by her house, so I wasn't that worried.

"Your head had been bent over that phone for hours Nathan, and why the hell do you look like you're about to cry?" Lalia snatched the phone when he was least expecting it.

"Marissa, huh." She wiggled her brows, dodging Nathan's long arm.

"Give it back." He grumbled.

"Nope." Lalia giggled.

Everyone watched in amusement as the duo ran about the living room.

"You can't tackle a petit girl Man. You're an embarrassment." Enrique mocked.

I gave him a duh look and smirked.

"Like you're any better. Remember that time you chased me around your backyard for hours?"

"I still caught you." He shrugged defensively.

"Yeah, after begging me to slow down. " I mused.

Enrique's words must've motivated Nathan, as he tackled Lalia on the couch in no time, took his phone and...

Spanked her ass. Yup, he spanked her, hard and loud.

"Whoooo!" Kabia cackled, doubling over on the mat.

"That ass ain't yours nigga." Lalia pouted.

"You asked for it." Nathan chuckled.

"So you still have it on with that chick?"

Ace mused.

"I'm tired bro. Wanna call it quits." Nathan sighed.

"You should. That bitch is obviously taking your love for granted." Maya chastised.

Okay, was I the only one in oblivion?

"Which chick are they talking about?" I nudged Enrique, who was busy playing candy crush. How mature.

"Marissa Williamson. " He tossed his phone to the side and repositioned himself so that his head laid on my lap, while the rest of his body occupied the remaining space on the couch.

"Don't you dare tell me you don't know the Marissa Williamson Phina?"  Leila exclaimed.

What's so special about her? She could be one of NYU's certified whores for all I care.

"Unfortunately." I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Marissa Williamson is the face of NYU." Nathan chimed in.

"AkA his bitchy girlfriend. " Lalia gritted out in a venom-laced voice, and what sounded like....envy?

No way. I hope this isn't what I'm thinking. Is Lalia crushing on Nathan?

"Dump her ass already Nate. You deserve way better." Leila pressed, although I didn't miss the discreet glance she stole Lalia's way.

Sister's support. Okay, I see what this is about.

"I'm with the girls on this man." Ace chided.

Nathan seemed to be on a mental debate with himself.

"Fine, I'll just text her and end it."

"No! ain't no Zayn and Perry shit gon' play here. Call her and end it." Lalia demanded. Okay, the girl has some nerves.

Nathan looked taken aback by Lalia's movement but was quick to recover and dialed Marissa's number.

"Hello." Her high-pitched voice snapped after the first ring.

"Whoa, who lit a fuse to y...

Bia climbed on  Kabia and placed her palm over his mouth. He struggled to break free but after realising Bia had her heel clamped feet dangerously pointed towards his south pole, he remained still.

"Hey, babe."

"Uhuh." Marissa hummed, she sounded so bored and annoyed. I swallowed the threads of laughter threatening to spurt from my throat.

"Uh, I just wanted to let you know that I can't do this anymore." Nathan rushed in a pained voice.

"Okay, and? can you please hurry, my puppy doesn't exercise patience with food." She groaned.

What the.

"I'm breaking up with you, Marissa."

"Alright then." She chirped.

Contrary to Marissa's cheery voice, Nathan's sounded so hurt and defeated.

"Alright? is that it? is that all you're gonna say? No questions, no final words? Nothing?" He breathed in disbelieve, looking dejected.

"What do you want me to ask you? Statement of purpose?"

I was done muffling my laughter at this point. Maya glared at me but I couldn't control myself and you think they were any better.

"I th...

"I don't have time for this Nathan, my puppy's crying, bye." She hung up.

Nathan looked at the phone in utter shock.

I know we shouldn't have and it's wrong too, but Nathan's facial expression made it so hard to maintain a neutral face. Like the evil friends we're, we laughed our asses off until Nathan threatened to file a case against us.

"Oh shit!" Enrique cursed aloud and leapt from my lap, startling everyone.

He picked the remote from the table and switched on the TV.

Breaking news was on set with Al Jazeera's correspondent reporting live from an accident. Why was this of interest to Enrique? most important, why did God curse me with weird friends.

"Is that Aisha's car?" Maya wondered out loud.

My head snapped to the TV faster than lightning. So fast that it's astounding I didn't suffer whiplash.

All colour drained from my face when I took in the Blue Cadillac which was now merely noticeable by the rare hanging off a bridge.

"Can you please pause and zoom in on the number plate?" Caleb requested.

My body ceased all circulation when Enrique zoomed in and the familiar digits stared right back at me.

"And is that Mark? what the hell is he doing there?" Malu exclaimed.

"I'll call him."

"Babe, don't forget to put it on speaker."

"Hey man, it's Rique."

"Yeah, I was expecting your call."

"You were?" Enrique stated but it came off more like a question.

"Yeah, because half of the students had already did." He chuckled.

"Who's involved in the accident?" Enrique asked.

"This Aisha chick, chocolate beauty. Wait, she's your friend I think?"

"Yeah, we tag along. Where's she?"

I held my breath, dreading Mark's response.

"She's currently with some chick at the Paramedics. Don't stress it though for real. She just suffered a scratch or two. It's going to be alright."

I breathed a huge sigh of relief and gulped down a glass of water. I was about to grab my car keys until something Mark said crossed my mind.

Is it just my imagination or did I hear him say Aisha was with some chick?

"Wait a sec babe, hold on." I snatched the phone from Enrique.

"Mark, this chick you mentioned, can you please give a brief description of her?"

"Ugh, not a distinct one 'cause she has her back to me, but approximately 5'8, raven hair and inverse triangle shape."

That's exactly Zara's appearance! holy asparagus. She's going to kill her!

"Mark do not leave Aisha with her, please. Do everything you can to make sure she doesn't follow them to the hospital please, Aisha's life is on a red line."

"Why would I do that? She may be family". Mark defended.

"You don't understand man. Unless you want another murder, get that chick away from Aisha," Asher growled.

"Okay man, I'm on it."

"Please do not hang up. We want to be sure Aisha's safe." Severina pleaded.

"Alright."

Footsteps sounded for a while before Mark's voice followed.

"Excuse me, ma'am. That lady in black, what's her relationship with the patient?"

"She said they're sisters." A woman, I'm guessing the paramedic answered. What a snake!.

"She's lying. Don't let her anywhere close to the patient. She's dangerous, I promise."

"Why shouldn't I? I can't stop her from coming along, and how do I  know you aren't the bad guy here?"

"C'mon, do I look bad to you in any way hottie." Mark huskily let out. Was he seducing a lady possibly his mother's age? God bless NYU guys.

"Okay tell you what, I'll give you two hundred bucks and you drive quietly to the hospital." He offered in a low tone.

"I can't believe I'm doing this?" She groaned.

"Well, you're doing it. Make sure she gets the best medical treatment and in case that lady in black visits, make sure she doesn't know her location."

"Fine. "

"Cool. Run along then before she gets notified." Mark impatiently rushed.

There was yet another stony silence for some time before Mark spoke up.

"They're gone."

"Thank you so much, Mark. Thank you."

I sincerely stated my gratitude.

"It's all good. Alright, talk to you guys later. "

I handed Enrique his phone and slipped on my shoes.

"Lake Onondaga isn't very far. It's northwest of Syracuse. We can make it in time." Maya informed.

"Let's take the family car. It's faster and more accommodating," Severina affirmed.

True to her words, with the family car we arrived at the said destination in an hour.

Luckily, Mark was still present at the scene and who else to seek better information from than him.

"Mark, where's the lady you saw?" I demanded, not having the time for greetings.

"She took off down south twenty minutes ago." He pointed to the left of the haunting, abandoned road, tossing a ball in the air.

"Damn it!" Severina cursed.

"Would you mind directing us there Mark?"

"Not at all, quarterback." He mused. Auch a kind soul.

I threw Mark the keys and took fast strides to the car.

Mark sat at the driver's seat, given that he's well known for his jaw-dropping driving skills. Asher was to his right, while the rest of us stacked behind.

"What's the time, Phina?" Malu asked.

"12:30 pm."

We drove in panic-stricken silence for another half an hour until Mark halted and pointed to a car parked at an Abandoned-looking old house.

"That's the car she drove in."

"Are you sure, Mark?"

Bia scrutinised.

"Positive." There wasn't an ounce of reluctance in his voice.

Mark parked the car behind a huge mahogany tree and we all got out, cautiously advancing towards the creepy house. Who even constructs a building in such an abandoned area? even the lone street was void of any life form.

We reached the door, and Enrique, being on the lead, gently knocked on the wood. A blood-chilling creak sounded before the door flung opened in one fluid motion.

A mini-scream escaped Leila but she swallowed it after one deadly glare from her sister.

It was dark and dusty inside, making series of coughs escape my lungs. Asher handed me a face mask and wore one himself, as we lit our way inside.

"I think we should go back, there's nothing here." Leila choked, clearly scared but a voice I couldn't make out hushed her.

If the entrance was dark, then it's justified to say inside was pitch black. Shout outs to the scientist who invented flashlights, for, without him, we would've been the walking dead today.

"Mark are you sure this is the right place." Malu's voice echoed off the walls.

Silence. There was no response.

"Mark?" Malu called again, only to be met with another icy silence.

"Mark. This isn't funny man?" Asher rebuked.

"Mark!" Severina yelled, but the only response she got was the echoes of her voice.

Enrique lit about the room with his bright flashlight, but there was no sign of Mark.

Panic and fear settled in. We moved around in the darkroom, trying to hold onto each other.

"Ahhh, shit!" Enrique yelled the same time the light went out, succumbing us to total darkness.

"Babe, are you there?"  I reached my hand out but was met with empty space.

"Yes, something hit me. I can't find my phone either."

"I told you this was a bad idea." Leila cried.

"Put yourself together sis. You're not the only one in deep shit, here. We signed up for this, so we know what we were getting into, okay." Lalia jabbed.

We spent about ten minutes trying to locate the door, but all in vain.

"What's that smell?" Caleb coughed out.

"Wha...

The words died in my mouth when I inhaled an extremely pungent substance. My throat locked up and like everyone else, I went off on a coughing spree.

While attempting to seek support, I accidentally tripped on my feet and fell on the cold, hard floor, painfully wheezing.

I tried breathing with my mouth, but it proved more painful than attempting with my nose.

It was as though my entire respiratory system was on shutdown.

The last thing I recalled was a claw-like object grazing my left cheek before darkness consumed me.