It was Friday morning, and Christina settled into the backseat of her father's car, driven by the familiar Mr. Kingsley.
As they turned into the alleyway leading to the school gate, Christina spotted Rachael and Stefan lingering by the roadside.
"Drop me here. I'll go on my own," Christina said urgently.
But Mr. Kingsley's refusal was immediate. "I'm under strict instructions from your father to deliver you safely to your classroom," he replied, his eyes meeting Christina's in the rearview mirror. "You don't want me to disobey him, do you?"
"Are you certain you want to obey my father right now?" Christina said, her tone filled with subtle warning.
"I work for him, not for you, young lady. I must follow his instructions."
"I could have you fired, you know that?"
Mr. Kingsley slowed the car, his eyes locking onto Christina's in the mirror. "Are you threatening me now?"
"Yes, if you don't do as I say, I'll ruin your reputation. I'll make sure you never work for my father again."
Mr. Kingsley's expression remained unruffled, but a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes.
"You're your father's daughter, through and through, aren't you?" he murmured, his gaze returning to the road. "If you're really trying to threaten me, well then... Good luck in trying, just know that threat doesn't work on me."
"Not yet, it will work when my father learns that his driver was drunk on alcohol while driving his only daughter to school," Christina said, a sly smile spreading across her face. "I can't wait to see his expression when I tell him I almost died in a fast and furious car race."
"What!? I'm not drunk! I only had a cup of beer, and that's not enough to get me drunk!"
"I doubt my father would listen to that, and for your information, I already recorded your reply."
She played the audio recording of his incriminating words.
Mr. Kingsley's face turned beet red. "Shit!" he muttered through gritted teeth, making a sudden U-turn just before entering the school gate. He drove away from the gate, heading back to where Christina had initially asked to be dropped.
The car screeched to a halt beside Stefan and Rachael, who looked on with curiosity.
"Happy now? Will you delete the audio?" Mr. Kingsley demanded, glaring at Christina.
"Of course, Mr. Kingsley. I'll delete it... as soon as you promise to keep this little secret between us," Christina replied, her smile still lingering on her face.
Hesitantly, Mr. Kingsley nodded frantically. "Okay! Okay! I promise, will you delete it now?"
Christina's face broke into a wide, mocking grin, her lips spreading from ear to ear.
"So you actually fell for my threat and forgot about the dash cam installed right in front of you?" she said in amusement.
Mr. Kingsley's eyes widened in shock as the realization dawned. Before he could react or utter a word, Christina swiftly exited the car, standing tall as she faced the driver.
With a fixed smile still plastered on her lips, she waved at him in a sarcastic gesture.
The man glared at her before accelerating away. Christina turned around and was startled by Stefan and Rachael who were standing right behind her, their eyes fixed intently on her.
Christina flinched, recoiling in surprise at their sudden proximity.
"Good heavens! You both scared the living daylights out of me!" she exclaimed, taking a step away from the road to compose herself.
"What are you doing here, anyway?" she asked after regaining her equilibrium.
"What else could we be doing?" Rachael replied, her face seeming to show all the seriousness she had. "We're waiting for you, of course!"
Christina thought for a moment, wondering what was wrong with Rachael, but her curiosity shattered as Rachael posed a question.
"Have you received any news from my brother?"
It was then that Christina understood the reason behind her somber demeanor.
Christina couldn't fathom how she had managed to get any rest the previous night, considering her own restless night spent worrying about Mike's safety.
She shook her head slowly, her face reflecting Rachael's sorrow and apprehension.
"I spent the entire night attempting to reach him, but all efforts proved abortive," she said.
Stefan and Rachael released a synchronized sigh of disappointment.
"Then we have no alternative," Stefan declared. "Djuma needs our assistance now more than ever. He's our only hope to locate and safeguard Mike. We must rescue him from your father's captivity."
"God knows what your father would do to him if he remains there any longer," Rachael added. "We cannot afford to waste another moment."
Christina nodded again. "Yeah, I'm aware. But what are we going to do—"
"That's precisely why we're playing truants today," Stefan cut in. "We're going to help Djuma escape from your father's grasp."
"That's a good idea," Christina said. "Let's head to my father's office. If my guess is right Djuma should be in his laboratory."
Rachael and Stefan nodded in agreement. They cautiously scanned their surroundings, ensuring they weren't being surveilled.
After confirming they were alone, the trio set off for the NASA headquarters.
"Are you familiar with the building's layout and security measures?" Stefan asked as they walked toward the nearby bus stop.
Christina shook her head. "I've only been there a few times, I don't know anything about it," she replied. "However, we need to be cautious. My father has state-of-the-art surveillance."
Rachael's grip on her backpack tightened.
"We'll handle it. We just have to save Djuma and get out of there," she said, staring blankly ahead.
***
At the NASA headquarters, Lara entered John's office and greeted him with a bow. "I heard you summoned me, sir?"
John nodded, maintaining a keen gaze. "Yes, I need an update on Dr. Idris's findings from experimenting on that monster. Is there anything significant I should be aware of?"
Lara composed herself before responding.
"Approximately two hours ago, the entity regained consciousness after the sedatives Dr. Idris administered last night. Notably, it has remained silent since awakening."
She paused momentarily to gather her thoughts, probably to ensure accuracy.
"As observed last night, we verified that intense light environments severely impede its vision. Furthermore, exposure to sunlight noticeably weakens its strength, and it appears vulnerable to conventional weaponry."
John rose from his chair, the reply he got must've piqued his interest. "I must witness this firsthand to confirm," he stated, reaching for the door.
"Are you certain you're prepared to face him in your current state, sir?" she asked.
John turned back, his eyes demanding clarification. "What do you mean by my 'current state'?"
"I mean, considering your emotional investment, seeing him will only intensify your exasperation. Can you truly confront him?"
"I'll know when I get there."
With that, he exited his office. Lara shuddered before following, her nervousness transparent in her stride.
They ascended to the upper floor via the elevator, destined for Dr. Idris's office and personal laboratory.
Unlike the main NASA laboratory situated in the building's basement, Dr. Idris's esteemed position warranted a private lab adjacent to his office.
As the chief scientist of NASA, Dr. Idris boasted an impressive thirteen-year tenure, marked by groundbreaking discoveries and achievements.
His remarkable accomplishments earned him distinction among peers, culminating in his elevated rank and the privilege of a personal laboratory.
Stepping out of the elevator on the seventh floor, John proceeded down the hallway. Approaching the end, he halted before the last room on the left. Two imposing guards stood sentinel at the door, acknowledging John and Lara with a nod as they approached.
The door bore the bold, capitalized inscription: 'Dr. Roland Idris.' John pushed open the door and entered, leaving it ajar for Lara to follow.
As Lara trailed behind, the guards resumed their vigilant stance, their eyes scanning the corridor. The soft hum of machinery and muted conversations drifted from within Dr. Idris's office, hinting at the pivotal work unfolding within.