Distrations and clues

After my strange talk with Terror, my mind hadn’t stopped spinning.

His words played on repeat in my head like a haunting chorus:

*"Someone who used to be part of it… but left."*

Left *what*, exactly? A cult? A secret society? A cover-up group?

I didn’t have answers — only more questions. And the frustrating part? I knew I wasn’t going to sleep peacefully until I figured it out.

I was lying on my bed, staring up at the ceiling of my hostel room, my laptop half-open with a blank document titled *“Final Year Project - Introduction”* mocking me from the screen. I had barely typed two lines all day.

Then, my phone buzzed.

*Koyin.*

Of course.

I already knew what this call was going to be about. Her love life — a maze of confusion, drama, and poor decision-making. I smiled as I picked up.

“*Lola, I’m losing it. I swear I’m losing it!*”

Yup. Classic Koyin.

“What happened this time?” I asked, already sitting up.

“It’s Kola! Honestly, I don’t know how I’m still with this man.”

“What did he do?”

She groaned dramatically before replying. “He’s just… *useless*, Lola. Useless! I asked him to help me sort out my research outline, just to help me structure it, and guess what he said?”

“Let me guess — ‘Google it?’”

She gasped. “Exactly! Can you imagine? A whole Kola Adedoyin telling me to Google something when I’m stressed and already overwhelmed!”

I chuckled despite the heaviness in my chest. Talking to Koyin always lifted my mood in the most chaotic way.

Kola Adedoyin wasn’t just her boyfriend — he was the only son of a ridiculously wealthy politician whose face was practically tattooed on campaign posters across the country. With his background, you’d think he’d be useful, resourceful — *something*. But nope. Kola had vibes, money, and… not much else.

“Honestly, sometimes I feel like I’m the only one putting effort into this relationship,” Koyin continued. “Everything’s just so one-sided. He never plans, never surprises me, nothing! Meanwhile, look at me — over here being a caring girlfriend.”

I smiled faintly. “Well, if we’re measuring effort, you win. Again.”

“You know what annoys me the most?” she added. “You’re not even dating, and you still have more peace than I do.”

I laughed. “That’s the whole point, babe. Peace over problems.”

“Sometimes I envy you,” she said, her voice softening. “You don’t get7 caught up in all this emotional mess.”

“Trust me, it’s not by choice. I just haven’t found someone who makes sense.”

We fell into a brief silence, the kind only close friends could share without it feeling awkward.

Koyin and I were opposites. Where she was loud, passionate, and bold, I was cautious, observant, and quiet. We balanced each other in ways we never had to explain. And despite the distance — her in Charming University, me in Ingenius — we remained close. She always found a way to pull me out of my shell, even when I resisted.

We talked a little more before saying our goodbyes — her going back to curse Kola in her notes, and me... sinking back into my bed, lost in thought.

Not even five minutes passed before there was a knock at my door.

Tobi.

Of course.

This boy had a sixth sense for when I was trying to be alone.

He opened the door with no shame, already chewing on something. “You’ve been hiding in here since morning.”

“I wasn’t hiding. I was—”

“Sulking. Overthinking. Stalking your thoughts like you always do,” he cut in, grabbing my hand. “Come. We’re going to the cafeteria. You need food and human interaction.”

“I’m not in the mood—”

“Exactly why you need to come.”

He didn’t let go until I gave up and grabbed my phone. I didn’t even have the energy to argue.

As we walked across campus, Tobi pointed out random people, made silly jokes, and asked questions I didn’t care to answer. But somehow, it helped — the normalcy of it all. His chaotic energy had a way of grounding me when I was spiraling internally.

“So,” he said, nudging me. “What’s up with you? You’ve been spacing out all day.”

“Just... something someone said.”

“Someone like who?”

I hesitated. “A guy I met recently. He said something weird about Shutdown.”

Tobi raised an eyebrow. “Weird how?”

“I’m still trying to figure it out.”

“You think it’s connected to the girl we found?”

“I don’t know,” I said truthfully.

“Do *you* feel safe?” he asked, suddenly serious.

I paused.

“No,” I admitted softly. “Not completely.”

He didn’t say anything after that. Just nodded once.