Chapter 5 Getting Settled

How have your classes been? Laura asked Alix when she entered their room... But Alix had a long day to describe how she felt...

Exciting but long... she stated. Well, you are the brainy one and if you say it is a long day... "Why? Crystal asked, "She doesn't get tired easily?"

Not really, Laura retorted... She loves school and all the activities associated with it... Please, Alix rolled her eyes up making Crystal chuckle.

Got something to eat, I am starving Alix said to her cousin... "I have walked the whole of the campus today looking for my course counsellor to no avail.

I don't understand why he chose to be my mentor when he wasn't going to be there. "Walking to the kitchen Alix saw that Laura had kept her food securely in a room-temperature flask"... Thank you she moaned when the food touched her lips...

What is the name of the professor who was to be your counsellor? Crystal asked while Alix munched the food in her flask like a starved person.

Asher Quill, she answered still eating the food... I called him... "He had said to meet me in my office only to get there and he wasn't around".

I had waited long hours but he didn't show up... His office is quite a stretch from the dormitory so I got exhausted and frustrated and hungry... Thank you for the food sister, she complimented Laura but Laura snorted.

Crystal cooked the food... You know I can't cook squat... Right! I forgot... Alix retorted playfully... Thanks, Crystal you are a gem.

You are welcome, and Asher Quill is a phantom... everyone knew him for that... It is rare for him to take on mentorship, I guess good brains do get you places.

Alix raised her brow in question seeing Crystal's melancholy demeanour and Laura sat straight on her bed wanting to hear the gist... Oh! It's nothing Crystal got cryptic it's just that it has been carried around that Asher Quill is kind of strict and cold.

He has no flexible bone... Been a child prodigy and all and he is extremely rich too; so rich that his worth can't be written on paper...

"Really!!! Alix stared wide-eyed... But if he is so rich why become a professor here... He didn't Crystal ventured, he was offered an exclusive for his services...

More like they wanted him to be here so he could impact the world using their platforms but he is impacting without the need for this... "I guess he just finds it peaceful to be here in this place, Alix said thoughtfully.

Who knows, Crystal shrugs. You are lucky and unlucky at the same time. "Good luck connecting with him... "Alix sighed. I can even the odds, she said to her.

There you have it little Lix... Laura patted her back... you've got it...

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After leaving Kanuri village Alix noted that Laura had become more free with her thoughts with her but she was still a little apprehensive about certain things.

Alix could tell she was afraid of her shadow but decided to keep quiet until she felt comfortable enough to share.

She listened half-heartedly to the ongoing class wondering what to do to get her course adviser to show up but the man was a phantom".

"Not knowing what he looks like, Alix finds it more difficult to search for him. "The man has no social media presence".

All that was on his media page were his works from his early days and what was surprising was that one of the sculptures she saw online was bought by her father when she asked him to get one for her as her fifth-year birthday present.

"It was a child surrounded by wolf hounds, but one hand reached out to him holding him, looking right at him and not at what he could offer".

The piece had enraptured her at that moment and she found it fascinating, still does... "The piece was tucked finely in her mansion; the one she got as a present when she turned fifteen.

Her father's lawyer had personally delivered the keys to her saying her father wanted her to have it on her fifteenth birthday which came as a shock to her uncle too.

She bet he had no idea that mansion existed and for some months he was being nice to her so he could get his hands on the land but Alix was a stubborn lady.

Sighing at the thoughts now, she find all he did to her a shit show; baseless because if he thinks he corner her into giving up her properties then he must be mistaken and she wouldn't take it lying low she thought grimly.

Sitting by the window gave her access to the happenings outside... "So she watched people; how they blend in the beautiful scenery of the school."

Imagining what each of them spoke about she found herself drifting when she saw it; her cousin in front of some boys cornered...

Not able to make out what they were saying, she saw Laura trembling but she managed to stand her ground... Without thinking, she stood up and ran out of the class without a word.

Leave her alone, she said breathlessly when she finally got to them but her words.

See the star of the show has arrived one of them smirked at the idea then silence reigned when one who looked like a moulded sculpture came with his blonde her and refined jaw; one which no doubt was caused by multiple surgeries.

He walked up to her with a flirtatious smile making her feel nauseated. His strong cologne wafted through the air making her sneeze.

Guys, he held his hand up making the other boys go quiet and Alix confirmed her thought that he was the leader.

Alix Smith, the boy called her name huskily... I am sorry we came to you this way but we know this one, he pointed towards Laura is the only person who could make you come to us.

Taking a stance; Alix stared at him blankly wondering what the charade was about... Now you've gotten my attention; congratulations... move.

Thuy chuckled at her snide remarks... I haven't told you what I wanted you for... Alix wrapped her arm around her sister and then looked up at him in annoyance...

I am not interested... Now if you will excuse me I would like to leave... With that, she took Laura who was obviously shaken through a backdoor to an empty room.

Sit while I get you something, she said but Laura had closed off... Years of torture and continuous rape by her father flashed through her eyes.

Alix noticed this and moved closer to her... Sister talked to me, she beseeched but Laura kept her mouth shut... Alix saw for the first time her vulnerability.

The fear, the pain, the hatred all at once in those beautiful grey eyes of hers.... What is it or should I say when did all this start; Finally figuring out what could have happened.

Someone had definitely harassed her before and her gut told her what she would learn of this wasn't going to be good.

When I was two, Laura finally voiced out... She could speak openly knowing no one would eavesdrop on them.

Who was it Alix braced herself for the truth but as she waited for her she took a deep breath figuring it out.

Does Aunt know about this? No, Laura shook her head... "He killed Mel right in front of me when I tried exposing him to Mum.

Alix staggered a little at the revelation... "She had been beaten brutally but nothing beats a father violating his daughter".

I am sorry, Alix whispered engulfing her... She can now understand the reason Laura did so many things to her...

How can I help you through? this she whispered

Just be with me Lix, that's all I asked... You are the only one I trust.

I will, sisters... always she hugged her in and Laura clung to the sister she longed to have all her life.

Come, Alix said after a while... Let's wash your face my class president just paged me that the school chancellor wants to meet with us.