20 CHAPTER 20: THEN DIE!
SATURDAY 9:30 AM
IN THE GYM
The gym was almost full with students who were either working out, or admiring those working out. Kim Eva was doing her normal workout with Rex while Josh suit himself with a barbell.
KIM EVA: Do you have an idea of what transpired between Sylvia and her boyfriend yesterday?
REX: Tell me.
KIM EVA: Well... For what I know she was in an argument with him and she entered the room crying. I wasn't in the mood for eavesdropping so I didn't bother listening or even asking her what happened.
REX: We didn't do anything else....apart from the time she, she kissed me.
KIM EVA: (Almost screamed) You what?
JOSH: He's definitely coming for you!
Just then Chris enters with some other guys and spots Rex, Kim Eva sees him first.
KIM EVA: Rex run he's behind you!
REX: Who? (He turns)
Chris gives him a punch across his face and one more punch, Rex falls. Sylvia runs from behind Chris...
SYLVIA: What are you doing? (Tries to hold him back)
One of the other guys that came with him held her before she could reach him.
SYLVIA: (Crying) Chris please here me out, he did nothing to deserve this!
Chris holds Rex gives him another punch...
CHRIS: This is for stalking my girlfriend. (kicks him hard at his back and his belly)
Rex just rolled from him to keep distance as he lied flat on the floor.
REX: (Hoarse voice) I didn't do anything...
CHRIS: (Yells) Really? After you made my girlfriend to begin to loose her consciousness staring at you even when she's with me? You even went ahead to be her tutor. (To Sylvia) What happened to the general extra moral classes organised by Mr Kirby? Why didn't you join that one? Get up Rex I'm not finished with you!
(Rex stands slowly)
Chris moves swiftly at him and hit Rex's chest with his leg. Rex falls back.
CHRIS: (Squats closer to him) You should never mess with me, ever!
He leaves with his gang, Sylvia chases after him. Everyone began leaving the gym in pairs, groups and individually till the gym was almost empty.
Kim Eva, Josh, Jax and Bridgette rushed to meet Rex.
REX: (Stands up slowly and staggery) Don't take me to the sickbay, don't worry about me I'll be fine.
JAX: How could you still stand up without any assistance after that kind of beating?
BRIDGETTE: Jax! Could you please keep your damn mouth shut?
JAX: What did I do? (Opens his hand guiltlessly)
BRIDGETTE: Rex I'm sorry this happened to you.
REX: It's not your fault, (smiles weakly) I don't think I've ever been beaten this way in my life. (Groans in pain)
KIM EVA: We have to take care of your bruises meaning you should follow us to the sickbay.
REX: I don't have any, I only feel slight pain that's all.
JAX: I don't believe you.
REX: Then check my face and my body.
He proceeds to take off his shirt. Kim Eva and Bridgette couldn't help but stared with eyes wide open.
KIM EVA: (Eyes wide open) Er....do mind I do the examination?
REX: (Shrugs casually) Go on!
She moved closer and placed her hand on the left side of his chest with her eyes locked on his rock-hard biceps and abs (she was totally carried away). She is about placing the second when Josh called her...
JOSH: Kim Eva!
KIM EVA: Er..em... (Places her hand on her forehead) Yh! No bruises I'm surprised! (Pretends to be surprised)
JOSH: (Sly smile) Kiiiiiiiimmmmm! Are you sure you were actually looking for bruises or...
KIM EVA: (Raises her hand in a fisted manner) hold it!
JAX: We saw the way you and Bridg looked at him as soon as he went shirtless,
BRIDGETTE: (Places her hand on her chest in defence) Me?
KIM EVA: Alright can we not talk about this now?
REX: I should go after Sylvia,
BRIDGETTE: No, no, no! I don't think that's a good idea now.
REX: I can't get hurt that easily! (Rushes out of the gym)
BRIDGETTE: I just wish he doesn't get hurt really.
JAX: But come to think of it I don't still understand how he didn't get hurt!
KIM EVA: First things first, we should go after Rex before something drastic happens.
(She leads the way out the others followed)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
SYLVIA: (Crying) Chris please I beg you hear me out, I love you, I really do.
CHRIS: (Stops and turns) If you loved me, Sylvia if you truly loved me as you claimed to you would do as I told you, we both know why I gave that condition but instead you defaulted.
SYLVIA: I accept the fact I disobeyed you and I sincerely apologise, (holds his hand) please don't leave me I might find it really hard to love again pleeeaaase.
CHRIS: Then die! (Removes his hand from her grip)
She falls as a result of the force from which Chris removes his hand from hers. Rex who has been there watching the drama walked up to Sylvia who didn't notice him since she was drenched in her own sorrows.
REX: Hey!
SYLVIA: I'm not in the mood to talk to you now, leave!
REX: I just wanted to say I'm sorry ab...
SYLVIA: (Yells) Leave!
REX: K! (Turns away slowly in frustration)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Rex walks deep into the woods, it was a large area of land covered with trees and shrubs in the school yet to be used. He was devastated, angry and sad.
THE HEART OF THE WOODS
He was pale already, begins quivering uncontrollably, he goes down on one knee with his eyes gradually turning bright yellow. He let a loud shout causing a rapid tremor in his immediate environment followed by a strong wind which moved throughout the woods.
He falls down, weak.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
KIM EVA: Did you hear that?
JAX: Yeah, what do you think it might be?
KIM EVA: I have no idea, but I think it came from the woods close by.
BRIDGETTE: We should go check,
JAX: No! I don't think that's a good idea. (Visibly trembling)
JOSH: You not scared are you?
JAX: Dude, I'm about freaking out! I mean we are still looking for Rex and suddenly a terrific noise, how do you explain that?
KIM EVA: Jax is right in a way,
BRIDGETTE: Wait, wait, wait. Are you trying to say Rex is in trouble?
KIM EVA: It better not be.
JOSH: There's only one way to find out and that is going to check.
KIM EVA: Yeah.
JAX: Are you guys crazy? I'm definitely not going with you, you can go without me.
KIM EVA: C'mon trembling chicken, put yourself together and get your damn ass moving.
JAX: You heard me, I'm going nowhere! I don't Know the monster in there waiting for us.
BRIDGETTE: We should just go without him,
JOSH: Yeah.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Bridgette, Josh and Kim Eva searched the woods and kept moving till they were in the heart of the woods.
KIM EVA: (Shouts) Reeeeeex! Where are you?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
BRIDGETTE: (Looking intently at human figure lying on the ground, she decides to go check who it was) Rex? (Calls out) Seen him!
(Kim and Josh runs to where Bridgette was)
JOSH: He's unconscious!
BRIDGETTE: What do we do?
KIM EVA: We should make him regain his consciousness first, then help him go back to his dorm.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *. * * * * * * * * * * *
Jax sat on a bench looking uneasy, he then sights his sister coming closer to him and the others who were assisting Rex to walk. They just walked passed him.
JAX: (Stands up) What's up with Rex?
KIM EVA: Shut your damn mouth Coward!
JAX: I was only scared something bad might happen to me,
BRIDGETTE: and Rex? You didn't think of his well-being you only thought about you, what a selfish brat you are.
JAX: Alright I'm sorry,
(No response)
JAX: guys? I said I'm sorry!
KIM EVA: Fuck, off!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *. * *
REX'S ROOM
KIM EVA: Bruh you stink, you should take a bath.
REX: Definitely!
BRIDGETTE: We'll see you later.
REX: Thanks guys,
JOSH: don't mention, that's what friends are for.
REX: (Smiles)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NEXT DAY
IN THE BATHROOM
The water flowed freely from his head to the other parts of his body as he stood still. Suddenly he begins to feel that strange coldness again, he was quivering furiously, he looks at the mirror in front of him, his eyes turns dimmed yellow and then back to normal. It kept fluctuating till it became constant bright yellow, the fast dropping water droplets suspended midway. He kept staring at the mirror but was distracted by the knock on the door making the whole water droplets suspending in the air to land with a harsh splash on his body.
GREG: Are you okay in there?
REX: (Behind the door) Yeah sure,
GREG: K, 'cause it's been ten minutes the shower stopped rushing.
REX: I'm totally fine.
GREG: Ok!
5 MINUTES LATER
Rex comes out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist as he approaches his bed.
SYLVIA: Hey!
REX: (Screams out of embarrassment making his towel fall off though he quickly covers himself with his hand) Goodness me! You could've just knocked!
SYLVIA: The door was not locked, I kept knocking and besides I just entered now.
REX: Could you just turn around please?
SYLVIA: No problem. (Turns around)
(Rex quickly began to wear his clothes)
SYLVIA: Y'should take your time,
REX: You're crazy.
OLIVIA: (Chuckles) I know.
REX: (Arranges his hair) You can turn now.(She turns) so why are you here?
SYLVIA: Nothing serious, I just came to see how you were doing,
REX: Not to bad after all.
SYLVIA: Do you mind....going for a walk?
REX: Sounds harmless...
