SWNOVELS Chapter 8: Unraveling Ottawa University
Time: 1 P.M
"How did it go?" The frigid question came from a seventy-year-old man standing in front of him, while another man knelt before him. He was irritated by the lack of progress, feeling that everything was in disarray, and he knew that even those around him were lying.
"Yes, the Red-In-A01 group is a sham! Fuck them for destroying everything two years ago!"
In frustration, he screamed in his head. Yes, you read that correctly. There's another group out there, one that has successfully defeated the Peur Organization as well. After the chaos they caused two years ago, the Red-In-A01 Organization went silent. Until now, the mastermind behind the new organization remains unknown, driving him insane. He is determined to find out and will stop at nothing to achieve his goal.
"By any means necessary, I'm going to reclaim what is rightfully mine," he declared, making a pledge to himself.
"Prepare everything. We'll design a strategy for this. I'm not going to let them get away with it. Whether I die or end up in trouble again in Ottawa City, no one can stop me," he said to the man who was still kneeling in front of him, his tone harsh and resolute. The man simply bowed his head and obediently followed his orders.
"You're going to pay for this, Nathalie..." he whispered, his words carried away by the wind, venting his frustration and anger towards the mysterious figure behind the Red-In-A01 Organization.Nisha's Point of View
It's been two days after exploring Greenhills, and the memories of it are still fresh in my mind. After our excursion, I spent the remaining days in my room, preparing for the start of classes. The mysterious disappearances of those people still bothered me, but I had forgotten to ask Shawn about it. However, Shawn hasn't been seen for the past two days. Perhaps he's focused on achieving his objective, and I don't want to disturb him.
(Flashback)
"What the hell have you been up to?" She questioned sharply before storming out of the room. I let out a sigh, straightened up, and fixed my gaze on her.
"Just outside," I replied.
Nathalie's gaze locked onto my filthy sneakers, and she scrutinized me from head to toe. There was no way she couldn't figure out where we had been. In Ottawa Green, there's hardly enough dirt to make my shoes that muddy. After a quick glance at my sneakers, her eyes returned to my face.
"Have you two been to Greenhills?" Her tone was skeptical as she inquired. I swallowed hard, trying to act as normal as possible. I felt nervous for no apparent reason. I nodded in response and lowered my head. Shawn had assured me that she wouldn't be furious, and I hoped she would understand. But when she didn't say anything, I raised my head from my bow and saw her determined expression.
"Just keep an eye on him. I trust that he will keep you safe. Now, eat. I prepared meals in the kitchen," she said before walking away. I followed her gaze to the couch, where she sat down and turned on the television. I let out a sigh of relief. I didn't have a choice but to go into the room to shower and get ready.
I regained consciousness due to the loud knocks on my door. Nathalie was there, ready to interrupt me once again. With a sigh, I stood up and walked over to the door, opening it to see her expression brightening up, but her brow was raised.
"Do you have any plans to stay locked up in this room forever? Make an effort to get out and do something. You might perish because of your isolation," she grumbled at me before turning around, which caught me off guard. What was her problem exactly? Is she just trying to irritate me? Annoyed, I ran my fingers through my hair, messing it up even more. She left me with no option but to follow her, and so I did. I noticed her glancing at the clock at the dining table. It read 10:15 a.m. according to my wristwatch.
"Please have a seat. I made some munchies," she said with a smile on her face. I just shrugged and followed her instructions. I feel like I have a motherly presence looking out for me at all times with Nathalie around. Despite her busy schedule, she hasn't forgotten about me, just like Shawn. So, I let them take care of me as they see fit.
I started eating the sandwich and lasagna on my plate. Nathalie ate slowly as well, seemingly lost in her thoughts. Another quality I admire in her is that she is not only an excellent cook but also an excellent multitasker. After finishing my meal, I leaned back in my chair and patted my stomach with contentment. Nathalie noticed I was done and promptly began wiping the table. She never seemed to tire of taking care of me.
Whenever I asked her a question, her response was always the same: "The class is about to begin. So, for now, you have no choice but to accept that I am your mother."
"Anyway," I said, "I want to go outside," she grinned as she turned to face me.
"Would you like me to accompany you?" I just shook my head when she asked.
"There's no need for it. I'm in desperate need of some fresh air. I won't be gone for an extended period of time," I muttered, and she merely gave me a nod. As I noticed something, I decided to ask. Maybe it's not so bad, especially if you talk to Nathalie nicely, despite her occasional rudeness.
"Where are they now? Your boyfriend, too?" I inquired, my gaze fixed on her, but she seemed preoccupied with the plate she was cleaning.
"They're on some sort of mission. I needed some relaxation today, so I delegated the rest of my missions to Shawn. He's handling things on the second floor of the East Building. Rebecca is with her sister, Christopher is working for the Peur Organization, and Dylan is looking into the disappearances," her words drew my attention.
"By the way, how is it? Have they been found?" I inquired, my voice full of hope. I noticed her wipe her hands and move closer to where she had been seated. My shoulders dropped in frustration as I followed her with my eyes and saw her shake her head.
"No, not yet. We're still searching for answers. But don't worry, we'll give it our all. The Headmaster is also assisting, and he has a lot of contacts," she replied, settling back in her chair and staring at me. She must have sensed my concern. She gave me a friendly grin and continued talking. "You're a wonderful person with a good heart. She will undoubtedly save you from that misery," her statement left me puzzled.
"Save me from what misery?" I asked, a bit confused by her cryptic words.
Nathalie's smile remained enigmatic. "You'll find out soon enough. Just remember, we're here to protect you, no matter what."
"How do you feel?" I responded with a question, changing the subject even though I am still confused.
"I'm okay right now. I need to clean our bedroom before I go to sleep. Do you mind if I ask you to take care of yourself?" I just nodded and looked away from her. I'd like to get some fresh air. I noticed a large number of students walking around. Getting out of the room isn't too bad as long as you don't stay the night. Since Nathalie didn't tell me about it, I'm not sure if this university has a uniform. I might be able to inquire of her later.
As I strolled, I arrived at the field behind the North Building. There were a lot of students there as well, and some of them were joking and playing as if nothing was wrong. I hope I could be more like them.
"You can be like them," the familiar voice said, startling me. Shawn had a smile on his face when I turned around. He was dressed comfortably in a polo shirt and a pair of slim-fitting trousers. We haven't seen each other in two days, and I had only just smiled at him. Even my father didn't see it, not once. I smiled back at him without hesitation. People were still laughing as I returned my gaze to the field.
"How's it going with your mission?" I asked him as he stood next to me.
"It's all right. I'm only going to the East Building right now. I was merely passing through because I came from the North House. I saw you here, so it wasn't bad of me to bother you, was it?" he replied with a grin, and I had to glance at him before nodding.
He grimaced and examined his watch on his wrist. I could tell he was running out of time and desired to complete his objectives as quickly as possible.
"I'm afraid I'll have to leave you here. My father despises having to wait for me. Later, I'll pay you a visit in your dorm. Return to your room as soon as possible. I'm sorry, but I have to leave," he said. In response, I simply smiled at him and followed him with my gaze. I took another look at the large field before deciding to return to the dorm.
As I walked, I was shocked to see so many students at the playground. They were going around in circles, seemingly searching for something. Two people were strolling past, whispering, and I couldn't help but notice their secretive behavior.
"I feel sorry for their predicament. The bodies are strange, to say the least," said the young lady. I froze when I heard that and dashed through the crowd. I needed to see what was going on, and when I got the results, it felt like my entire life had come crashing down around me. There were dead bodies, and to my horror, they were familiar faces. My body trembled with fear as the realization hit me.
"Get out of here!" the voice called out, but I couldn't move. I was paralyzed, unable to tear my gaze away from the sight before me. I wanted to cry, but there were no tears in my eyes. I was just staring at their lifeless forms. I felt like I was about to pass out when someone took my hand. I could feel the old man's eyes on me, but it didn't bother me. And then I remembered the person who had dragged me away from that haunting scene. It was Shawn.
He held my hand tightly, offering me the support I needed in that moment of despair. I couldn't hold back my tears as I saw him, and he just held me in a comforting embrace.
"It's all right..." With his soothing words, Shawn reassured me. I cried even more as he did nothing but embrace me, and I couldn't help but pour out my emotions because of what I had witnessed.
"They're gone. Shawn, the people I saw in the deserted house, they're no longer alive..." I choked on my words, my voice trembling with grief and shock. Shawn held me tighter, providing a sense of comfort amidst the overwhelming pain I felt. He didn't say anything, knowing that there was nothing he could say to ease my sorrow. All he did was hold me, offering his silent support as I mourned the loss of those I had seen in that tragic place.