1 Chapter One

Chapter One

 I knew this day would come. The day I would be on the ground; helpless and at the mercy of my enemies. It's not as if no one warned me. They did, but I simply choose not to listen. Would I say I continued because of money? or perhaps fame?

As for money, I came from a rich home where my parents are top politicians. Adding to that, my husband has one of the biggest companies in the world. Would someone in my shoes complain of money? As for fame, I won the beauty contest eight times in a row. Another was that I'm referred to as the genius doctor. I created a bio-code for the reconstructing of genetics and the DNA of the body which scientists still marvel at my accuracy. Isn't that enough? Would someone in my shoes complain of fame?

People loved me and wanted to be like me. I'm a devout Christian who helps people when I really can. What I can't comprehend, is after being all the good you think you can be, some people would still go behind you and plan your downfall. Perhaps I've learned the hard way that it's not everyone who likes your success. Just say some are committed to seeing your downfall. I looked around the room. It was dark and it had this aura of death looming around me. So this is how I would die a miserable death. An expression came to my mind. "You would die just like that". Like really, just like that. After all, I've done to help my fellow mankind. My reward was an unhonourable death. Is that fair?  I thought I was alone in the room, planning out my escape when someone kicked me on my tummy. I mean, the pain was unbearable. A thick warm liquid drooled out of my mouth and from experience, I knew it was blood. No. I can't just die like this. Even if I'm to die, I'm must at least give my enemy a scar that he/she would look at it and be like I've created an impact in his/her life that would last a lifetime.

" Tell me the code!" the gruff voice of a man shouted. I couldn't see his face, but from the direction of the wind, I knew he was lingering near. I stood still waiting for his next action. What I heard was the growling of a man, as if he was in pain. I could perceive the scent of blood around me. My heart began to race and I could feel my hands get cold. An optimistic idea came into my mind. "What if this was a rescue operation".

"Please help me!" I screamed. That was one of the most foolish choices I've ever made in life as they injured me with their knives. I tried kicking in all directions but that was just like exercising my body to my assailants.

"Pluck off her eye" a gruff voice murmured.

"Crap no!" I screamed. It was just like a story for the gods. With the aid of their sickle-shaped knife, they uprooted my right eye. Now because of science, I had lost my eye. Because I decided to do something that will benefit mankind, I lost my eye. Would it be wrong if I decided to seek revenge? My family flashed before my eyes. The business-oriented Moses, my teenage son, Nicolas. The people whom I cherished so much appeared in my memories. Science says that when one is nearing death, there is a swift interval of pleasant memories. This means I'm dying. Finally, before I went blank, all my brain could organize was one thought.

" May science be cursed forever"

                  Moses Maurice, a multi-billionaire, derived his source of income from being the CEO of Mars Group and Mar Miners respectively. He came down from the executive jeep which was parked on the school's premises. To a careful observer, the jeep was the latest in town, as well as highly customized. His seventeen-year-old son, Nicholas, also called Nick came down with him. Nick was to be enrolled in a university, and according to sources, Mecury High was the best option for his child. And judging from its looks, it was a school for the rich. Its academic performance was excellent if judged by average, and its moral performance as standard. As they walked into the compound, he wasn't expecting it to be so vast and well furnished. Girls eyed him as he walked one on one with his father. Two reasons were for this; one was that he had lots of money, and secondly, he was handsome. You won't have time to say hi and hello to girls if you're walking with your hot-tempered father.

" Can you tell me where the vice-chancellor's office is please?" he said to one girl unable to hold his curiosity. The girl was a bit taken back by this question as she never expected in her wildest dreams that someone of high social status like Nicholas Maurice would stoop low to talk to her.

" Behind the lecturing block, then turn your left" she replied abruptly.

" Thanks" he commented and ran towards his father to catch up with him.

                      The vice-chancellor's office was bigger than what he expected it to be. Mecury High was set up by one of his business partners so he expected nothing less than standard.

"You're welcome" the fat woman greeted as Moses came in. Fat because it revealed the nature of her salary. He found comfort in a soft cushioned seat which was at one end, that was arranged in a grid format. A waitress entered the office and served him chilled juice and some sausages. Moses nodded his head in disapproval indicating he had no time for that. He handed her an envelope containing his son's database. Just then, Nick came in. He was panting which indicated he had been running.

" Where've you been dad?" he asked coming in. Moses cast him an angry glance. The reason was obvious. He didn't knock on the door. And that had projected a bad image of him to the vice-chancellor.

" Good morning ma'am" he greeted trying to cover up his initial crime.

" Morning dear, you may have a seat" her warm voice replied. He was a bit taken back by the tone of her voice. He had expected something more of official or a tensed tone. So people like this still existed. He took a seat beside his father.  She took her time explaining the rules and norms guarding Mecury High, and why the school had such a good reputation. The one that shocked Nick was anything less than 75 was an F. And A was from 95 and above. From what he heard, the school didn't sound so strict. It was more of a flexible school with lots of emphases placed on the academic lifestyle. It was the standard of scoring marks that bothered him. How can something like 70\100 be an F? He nodded his head periodically to indicate that he paid enough attention while in actual reality, he was in a world of fantasies.

" If you have any problems, you can visit the Welfare Manager's office is always open. Always remember that your wellbeing is our priority" was what he could recall as he looked around.

" Thanks for your time ma'am" he complimented as he got up from the seat. He received a bag which contained his laptop, a modem, a tablet, a light pen, and an ear mike.

" Time to go son," Moses said as he patted his son on the back.

" But.." Nick muttered. That was one thing with your parents. At home, they may seem boring and time-taking to you. But when you're in school, that's when you're going to meet their presence.

" You're a big boy now. Don't disgrace yourself" he cushioned.

" Fashi those stuff dad. It doesn't exist. Just..,"

" But you're the one who cried for me to bring you here. And now here you are. Don't tell me you're about to regret that move"

" No dad, it's just that I'm going to miss you" Nick replied. He was getting emotional now. No doubt he was going to miss his father's companionship.

" Promise me you're going to make your daddy proud," Moses said

" I promise" Nick replied, fighting back the tears. Father and son hugged each other and to an observer, it was quite emotional. Moses broke off from the hugging and Nick watched as his father walked out of the school's premises.

                     The huge company is known as Meds Org, an acronym for Medical Organization stood in the middle of a busy city. It was established by Professor Robert and other professors who have made their footprints in the world of medicine. As time went on, Meds Org became a non-governmental profit-oriented organization that tackles medical issues and creates vaccines against future diseases that may surface. The group of people that entered the company were renowned scientists who have made amazing discoveries concerning the human body particularly in the fields of anatomy, biochemistry, or bio-coding. And as expected, only a specific set of people were granted access to enter the company. Moses was granted access based on his wife's contribution to the company. She was referred to as the genius doctor because of the amazing bio-equations she had formed concerning the metabolic processes of the human body. The company also had its technical department, which produces complex devices that would be of great use on medical grounds, which were courtesy of Moore Global Technologies.

" Morning Mr. Moses, how may we help you?" a receptionist asked, her tone similar to that of the vice-chancellors.

" I need to see Robert. It is very urgent"

"Fine, I'll make some calls" she replied. He watched as she typed some digits on the telephone and talked in hushed tones.  When the call was over, she opened a file cabinet and handed him a small paper containing a password.

"He's on the tenth floor. Use the password on the paper as your passcode" she stated. He took the card from her and left. No time for thanks or compliments. After waiting for some time inside the elevator, the door opened and a robot stood there before him.

" Password please," the modulated voice asked.

" JagonWagon7756" he replied. Something like a glass pulled up and he was granted access to the hallway leading to Robert's office. This person had amazing technology. And it was courtesy of Moore Global Technologies. He thought of contacting the company because he needed that kind of technology in his own company. The door opened automatically, which revealed Robert sitting on his soft-cushioned seat.

" Welcome Moses" he greeted as he opened his arms in a welcoming gesture. Moses responded positively in a professional manner indicating he didn't have enough time for all the gestures. After the exchange of pleasantries by the two men, Moses went straight to the point. There wasn't time to waste.

" Is my wife on another project?" he asked in a concerned tone.

" Not any that I can remember. Why do you ask?" Robert said, returning the question to him. Moses sighed in frustration as the imaginary part of his mind imagined all possible things that might happen to his wife. Maybe kidnap or assassination. That thought made his emotions being quite unbalanced.

" Then where is she!" he yelled. Robert was scared and angry at the same time.

" You can't just come into my office and yell at me asking questions I don't know their origin" he fired back in the same tone. In his mind, he was like what the heck is happening to Moses?

" Are you trying to say that you don't know where my wife is?" Moses asked, his voice betraying his emotions. He hadn't fully recovered from the thought of his son leaving him because he had to stay in a university for four years.

" Truly I say to you" he started sounding a bit biblical. " I don't know. I haven't seen her since she applied for a leave yesterday"

" If this is serious, it means my wife had been kidnapped" Moses concluded

" And you need to contact the police before it's too late" Robert suggested. The two men stared at each other. And that stare was deadly.

                                  I woke up with pain in my head. Just a bit of headache, nothing more or less. I touched my right eye. It was right there, perfect and clean. May my enemies be cursed forever. Are you a bit confused about how my right eye would be there? Let me explain. If you have any part of your body amputated, except your finger and toenails and your hair, it won't grow back again. Let's take if I cut off your right arm, it won't grow back. In the bio-coding course, there's what they call genetic and DNA restructuring I may not go to explain in detail what I did so as not to confuse you guys. I closed my left eye to be sure I could see clearly with my right one. Yes. Even better. I studied the environment where I was in. Two men stood at the doorpost. They had no weapons, but they were muscular. And me, on the other side, I wasn't chained. I smiled knowing that was the worst mistake they've ever made. They thought two muscular men would be enough for a woman who had top-class martial art training. I studied the men carefully. Their attention was fixed on their mobile phone showing they had no time to look at me. I ran towards them holding a chain in my hand. Using force I wiped the chain on his face, and he fell bleeding. To the second, I performed a stunt that involved jumping over his head and chaining his head in form of a backward headlock. He tried to use his strength to overcome the chains but I increased the pressure and he dropped unconscious instantly. The first one ran toward me, and I thought of possible ways to take him down. A sharp idea came to my mind. I threw the chain towards his legs and dragged it forwards with such a force that he fell immediately. Taking this opportunity, I jumped on him and released my anger in form of punches on his nose. He fainted after the seventh punch and I was relieved.

" Thank you, Lord" I muttered as I walked towards the exit. A man held a gun to my face indicating that I should not move.

" I admire your skills woman" he stated, his fingers on the trigger. Just as he was about to increase the pressure on the trigger, someone stabbed him from behind. It was an assassin. He pulled out his mask and revealed his identity.

" Joseph?" I asked, surprised at this instant. Something like guilt was on his face." What is it?" I asked further. It seemed he had a hard time finding his voice.

" I'll accept any punishment you're going to give me if I told you that I put a tracker on your breasts," he said abruptly, his tone revealing that he was scared. It sounded a bit funny as I smiled, but it was seconds later I came back to my senses. Wait like how and why would my student put a tracker on my…. And besides, I reasoned that we had to get out of here first before I bombard him with questions.

 Getting popular in a boarding university won't be difficult if your father is a multibillionaire. Girls flocked around him as the lectures were over for the day. They needed to know more about him, or if possible date him. He hasn't explored the school yet so he had to remain calm. Nick remembered what the vice-chancellor told him. Anything less than 70 was an F. He wondered how this set of people would read and smash their exams. As he walked towards God-knows-where, he met a familiar face. It was the girl he inquired about the vice-chancellor's office earlier today.

" We meet again" Nick greeted

" Um, yeah, I'm Laura, you?" she asked

" I'm Nick" was his short response. A boy walked up beside the girl and held her arm. He seemed to be her boyfriend or something.

" Are you the newbie?" he asked extending his hand for a handshake. Nick responded positively to the gesture.

" Yeah, what's your name?"

" I'm Anthony, you?"

" I'm Nick" Laura stamped her feet, showing she was a bit impatient.

" I have important businesses I have to attend to please" he stated and walked towards her. Nick sighed as he knew what the two were up to. Dating and stuffs, and it was very stressful. It was then that he remembered that he had to see his room in the dormitory. And he don't even know where the dormitory was. He looked around. Girls were in groups, talking in hushed tones. They observed his every movement.  He noticed a girl, who was alone and sat down on a bench. Her attention was focused on her mobile phone. He walked up to her steadily and thought of the path the conversation would follow.

" Hey" he greeted, gaining her attention

" Hi" she greeted back, her face glued to the screen. Oh no. It can be quite irritating trying to gain a girl's attention.

" I'm talking to you, and not myself" he stated sounding a bit rude. She looked at him with an expression like " are you talking to me?"

" What do you want?" she asked, her tone mild.

" Can you give me the directions to the boy's dormitory?". The girl sighed and continued pressing her mobile phone.

" And if I don't" she fired showing no sign of fear. Of course, why would she fear a newcomer?

" You'll take me there yourself" he replied. It seemed like what he said had some unseen forces behind it.

" Fine" she replied. Nick was taken back. This was a girl who was cold to him some minutes ago. His doubt was confirmed when she got up and shot him a seductive glance. He could feel the action of stimulating hormones in his groins.

" No time for that now" he muttered to himself.

" But what I meant is that you give me the directions to the hostel, not whatever you're thinking about"

" Okay, you can go to the hostel yourself". Nick looked around the compound. He thought of walking around the school. It sounded almost impossible. Imagine a journey around the world with a wheelchair.

" You're wasting my time please," she said her voice jolting him back to reality. He had to make a decision. And he had to do it fast.

" Fine, you take me there" he replied.

" Let's get going then" she replied. She began to walk towards the left and he followed suit having no other option. There was an awkward silence as the duo moved.

" May I know your name please?" he asked, breaking the silence.

" I'm Sonia" she replied. There was silence again. " What job does your father do?" Nick looked at her. For her to ask such a question, there must be some sort of interior motive. He looked at her body structure critically. Not too slim, not too packed.

" My father owns Mar Miners and Mars Group respectively" he stated, his tone that of flat and indifferent.

" I see" she replied

" What are you seeing?"

" Your resemblance to your father" Nick looked at her again. This girl wanted something from him. They stood right in front of a tall structure which was the boy's dormitory.

" Thanks for your time Sonia," he said as he entered inside. Before she could understand what he meant, the automatic door closed and he disconnected it from the power source.

        It was all over the news. Winnie Maurice had been kidnapped. Society referred to her as the genius doctor. A price tag was to be allocated to the person that would provide valuable information about her to the police. The reporters clustered around Moses as he was about to deliver a speech.

"Given the current circumstances, I would love to say that anyone who provides information about my wife which will be of great use to the police would have his/her cup filled financially." That was one characteristic of Moses. His ability to mask his emotions with words.

His bodyguards led the way as he walked out of the area

" The kidnapping of the genius doctor has no doubt, sparked lots of reactions. Would they find her, or would they not? Tune to Web news for more updates. Thank you"

Robert watched the news and smiled. To him, the police were wasting their time because they won't find her. His phone rang as he picked it. It was Matthew.

" Hi Mat, anything?" he greeted.

" Lots There is a ninety percent chance that the police would find her?" he stated. He was at the reported scene observing the whole scenario.

" What! Wait! Why!?" Robert asked.

" Because she's escaped" Matthew replied. He was scared to the extent that his phone fell on the ground and scattered to pieces.

"What the hell" he gasped.

According to the card, his room was No-34RA. He moved around the hall till he found his exact room. He located it and opened it with the key given to him.

" Welcome to Mecury High Nicolas Maurice," a voice said, over the wired speaker. Wow. Nick looked at the speaker and after examining it for some time, he became afraid. Afraid because he had the idea of webcams being here and monitoring his every activity. After much glances, he concluded that there weren't any webcams here. Then he began to move around the room. It contained all the comfort one could ask for. No wonder Mecury High was the best school in Bay City. What he liked about the school wasn't the comfort of the bed or all other fancy stuff like that, but rather, he liked the steady Wi-Fi which could never be exhausted. When he was done arranging his properties, he walked out of his room and locked his door. It was time for making new friends. If at all he could find any. To his surprise, he found Sonia there, sharing some invitation cards. What he didn't understand was that the girls could enter the boy's dorm. Wow. This school should have a high rate of sexual immorality just like the school he came from.

" What brings you here?" he asked walking up to her.

" Something you shouldn't know" she replied without giving him much attention.

" I need to know" he stated. She looked at him with somewhat indifference. The people around them all left the area as they thought that something was up between the two. Sonia looked around and saw no one. Just this annoying Nicholas who stood like a statue. After contemplating for a while, she agreed the best thing to do was to tell him the simple truth and let him stay out of her life.

" My cousin is having a birthday party tonight. It's an honor to be invited"

" I'll be there"

" Your wish" she stated, her tone indifferent. Nick smiled as he once had experience with girls of her character. He looked around to be sure that no one was there before he came closer to her. He held her face firmly brought his close to hers. Sonia meanwhile felt paralyzed. Like she couldn't understand what was up with him. He planted a kiss on her lips and as he did, she seemed sweeter than what he expected. Soft lips, soft body, and so on. He had to disengage before he became fully committed to the act. Sonia stood there, enjoying the pleasure of being kissed.

" Till we meet again" he gasped as he released her.

   Humphrey put the herb in the already made concoction. The herb would act as a negative catalyst to the desired reaction. He connected the condenser to the tube to extract the liquid. The liquid would become a herbal cure for venoms and scorpion stings. Then the solid mixture would serve as a lotion for eczema, measles, and other skin infections. From experience, the time taken for all these reactions to take place was eight hours.  He decided to while away time by visiting his well-dressed bed and continue in his melancholy nature of life. He locked the door of his laboratory and walked towards the bed when his button phone rang. He looked at the screen. It was an unknown number. He raised the button phone and pressed the dial button.

" Hello," he asked, his voice in a native style. The caller meanwhile made no response. He looked at the phone to be sure that the call was still ongoing.

" Mr. Humphrey, do you know who is calling?" the person asked. He looked at his phone for a second time a bit surprised this time. How could someone unknown contact you and also ask you about his identity?

" I'm meant to be the one asking that question," Humphrey said, his tone sharp. There was an uncomfortable silence. He was tempted to cut the call.

" I'm Robert, the founder of Meds Org" Humphrey's facial expression changed from that of apprehension to that surprise. In his mind he was like 'wait, you said you are?'. So he had been talking to his icon he adored so much.

" Em, so, how can I help you?" he asked, trying not to sound desperate. But his voice betrayed him. Robert meanwhile, did not notice the grammatical tense that has emotions attached to it.

" I need you to come to my office. There are certain businesses which we need to discuss in private."

" Did you just say that I should come to your office? I don't simply have the resources" he complained. He hated people seeing his shortcomings.

" Don't worry about resources. I'll provide you with that in abundance, in ways your imagination can't fathom" Robert boosted. Humphrey could feel the sense of pride in his icon's voice.

" Including my expenses sire?"

" Don't you know the meaning of beyond your imagination? I'll fill your cup financially. Take it like that" he explained further.  Humphrey nodded in agreement. All he prayed for was that let this not be a dream.

" So how do you expect I meet you?" he proposed.

" My men would locate you in the next thirty minutes. I need you to prepare your luggage"

" Okay, that's if you say so" Like that, the call came to an end. To Humphrey, it sounded more of fiction to him than reality. How could someone of a high-status scoop so low? All just to remember him.

" Till they come" he murmured

         Tears ran down my cheeks as I rewatched the news. I cried because I can't return to him till I end the virus Robert and his men were still creating.

" Your food is ready" Joseph announced as he placed the dish on the stool. Fried potato and egg sauce. I wiped the tears off my eyes. To end the virus I had to be strong; emotionally speaking. As I began to eat, I forgot about everything and my mind raced back to the cell where I was imprisoned. I remembered the reason I felt a little angry at first. Joseph putting a tracker on my breasts.

" Joseph why would you put a tracker on my breasts?" I asked, between mouthfuls. He looked away in guilt. There was an uncomfortable silence.

" I asked a question which deserves an answer!" I reminded jolting him back to reality. He shook his head for a moment before facing me.

" You were asleep and I decided to do something tricky to wake you up" he admitted. I could feel my hands getting colder by the moment.

" Something tricky like what?!" He exhaled deeply before replying.

" Placing a chip that will shock you every five minutes but.." He didn't complete his sentence because I threw him my fork which he dodged. Before I could get up to descend on him, he had entered the room and had locked it. This Joseph was one hell of trouble.

..............................…..

Night in the city was so lively and active. The advertisement posters, the nightlight, the noise of party and so on. Humphrey alighted from the jeep as he observed his environment. He saw this as God's hand of blessing. Of course, why won't God bless him? After all, he had been faithful to him throughout his lifetime. He had envisioned his life changed for the better with this new appointment he had with MedsOrg. The fantasy life. The inflow of cash, new cars, executive houses, plazas, expensive lifestyle,e, and all others.