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Chapter 2: Eviction

Eviction

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Without uttering a single word, Zen followed the warden in a daze as they walked down the dorm corridors, her mind racing with thoughts. If it wasn't for a room check, or to yell at her for not paying her tuition fees on time, she couldn't think of any other reason why the warden would want to speak to her in person. No, no. Those can't be the only reason. I'm certain I did something. Have I violated some rules? That can't be right. What was I doing yesterday? After class, I headed for the part-time job at the convenience store and directly came back to the dorm when my shift was done. And I've been in my room the entire time writing today. Did something happen back at home maybe?-

"Stop."

As soon as the words left the warden's mouth, Zen immediately halted her steps right before she could crash on the warden's head.

"Wait outside," the warden instructed. She then entered into a door that Zen noticed was another dorm room a few feet down her room along the narrow corridor.

"Hey Zen, what's happening?" Startled by the voices, Zen turned around in panic. "Madilyn? Nadia? What are you doing here?"

"We just want to know what's going on."

Zen opened her mouth, ready to spout something vexing but refrained. Couldn't help it when she got friends as nosy as the old, jobless neighbourhood aunties back in her hometown, always ready for some theatrical showdown.

Zen snapped her head to the sound of the door clicking open, and before she could notify her friends to go and hide, they were nowhere to be seen - like a ghost disappearing after sneaking up on some poor, harmless characters, giving them the scare of a lifetime, and then poof, just vanished into thin air only to show up at the next scene to take their soul. Stop it, Zen. We're not bringing up horror plotlines here. Zen scolded herself.

"Zen."

The heart-stopping name call was evident something really bad was going to happen. Zen gulped down hard. Lord, give me the strength to withstand the storm that's about to swallow me whole.

"Do you know them?" the warden asked Zen.

Zen looked at the warden, confused, and became even more confused when she noticed two girls standing behind her, both with tousled hair, puffy red eyes, smeared make-up, and tattered clothes; there also seemed to be some teeth missing.

The warden stepped aside to give Zen a better view of the two girls.

"Let me repeat. Do you know them?"

"No, I don't know them," Zen answered without hesitation. "This is the first time I'm meeting them."

"Is that so?" The warden crossed her arms, fingers tapping her shoulders in irritation. "I'll give you one more minute to observe them carefully. After that, you have to answer me."

Zen did as told. To tell she was completely clueless would be an understatement. Judging from the looks of the situation, it seemed like some sort of event was taking place in the university. As an avid listener and a writer of many cross-genre series, she could tell, at just a glance that it was going to be a big event, like a stage play perhaps. The make-up on the two girls' faces was superb; they appeared to be far too realistic. But there was a nagging doubt at the back of her mind. Was it going to be a circus play or a horror play? That concept was a little odd at first, but hold on. She figured it out. To make the show successful, they most likely needed a scriptwriter. Was that the reason they wanted to speak with her? If that was the case, she'd be delighted to assist. Maybe she'd also get paid. Her exciting thoughts were short-lived, however.