Where Are You Now, Sam? or Chaos, Space and Bananas (ESC 2022 FANFIC)

6

Meanwhile in the middle of the hall the students were gathering the ransom.

''Look for the most expensive things that you own right now'', encouraged Chanel. ''I'll take all your rings, Cornelia. And that glittery top looks expensive as well.''

''It's not, it's from H&M.''

''Konstrakta, what do you have in your bag?'' asked Chanel glancing at Konstraktas red bag that she was wearing on her waist.

''I have a soap.''

''Not interesting. Emma, these high heels must cost at least a few thousand, right? Oh come on, you can stay barefoot, look at Amanda or Cornelia, they're still alive'', the last words Chanel whispered to Emma's ear as she was tearing her shoes off her feet, ''just beware of Marius. Heard he has some thing for feet''.

As she was walking around gathering stuff from other students, Filip and his group of friends were trying to take a huge disco ball off the ceiling. Chanel looked at them skeptically, but was too nice to make a mean remark, just said with a soft voice, ''Don't forget, guys, if it shines, it doesn't mean it's gold.'' She turned around to Rosa and asked, ''What do you have here? Wine?''

''It's really cheap wine.''

''Then we don't need it. What about your chair, Amanda? Is it from IKEA? Okay, keep it then. This suit, Krystian! I'm sure it costs a good amount of money.''

''Don't you dare to dress off my man!'' shouted Brooke from across the hall.

''Geez, okay, I bet it's from second hand either way. Oh, Sheldon...''

Sheldon was sitting there elegantly, with his white feather cape flowing around and his shining mask covering his face.

''Yes, Chanel, my love?'' answered he in a sad tone.

''Sheldon, look at you, babe. What a beautiful mask you have here! May I please try it on?''

''No!'' Sheldon got way too defensive. ''I mean, why would you want to cover up your beautiful face?''

''Why are you covering yours too, then?''

Cornelia noticed what Chanel had in mind and came closer to help her out.

''Yes, Sheldon, you're such a beautiful young man, you have a gorgeous face, no need to hide it! Come on, give us that mask. You don't need it.''

''Yes I do!'' Sheldon raised his tone, as he noticed both Chanel and Cornelia were approaching him, ready to rip his mask off any moment.

''It's real diamonds, come on, Sheldon, give us the mask!''

They both came for him as Sheldon started squeaking and running away across the hall, with his white cape being dragged through the floor, while Cornelia and Chanel were trying to catch him up. Surprisingly, he was really fast. But when he couldn't run away no more, he ran to Andrea and hid behind her, knowing she is a really good kickboxer.

''Whoah whoah whoah, what is happening here?'' she jumped on her feet, ready to attack.

''You don't wanna test her limits'', said Sheldon, still hiding behind her back.

''Why are you guys chasing Sheldon?'' asked Domi reproachfully.

''His mask alone should cost a couple millions'', explained Chanel who even after all this chasing wasn't out of breath. ''We need it for the ransom''.

''Sheldon'', Domi approached her friend in a calm tone, ''Are you willing to help our missing friend Sam?''

''I am'', he agreed.

''So would you be so nice and give your beautiful jewelry to Chanel?''

''Okay, but only if it saves Sam'', Sheldon sounded a bit offended but took off his mask, raised it above his head in a very dramatic way, and finally handed it to Chanel.

''See?'' smiled Domi ironically, ''a little less aggression would be nice. Come here, Sheldon, you can stay with us. I'll do your nails if you let me.''

''How many millions we think we have?''

''A couple at best'', said Chanel disappointed. ''I'll go talk to Ronela and Andrei. They already miss me. Maybe they'll give me some ideas.''

''I'll go and have a drink'', replied Cornelia.

Now that Sheldon was safe and Domi was doing his nails, Andrea had a short video call with Pia, Lumix's sister.

''But are you guys actually okay? It feels like you've been through hell and back, and all in one night. Shouldn't we call police for you?'' asked Pia concerned.

''We're fine, the only one in danger now is Sam.''

Pia waited a couple of seconds, then said, ''Me and my brother are trying our best to hack the EBU bank accounts, we would give you all that money as a ransom, but it's too hard. Besides, I don't want to sound negative, but... what are the chances, that he's still alive?''

''Pia, stop'' Andrea scolded her friend, but everybody around that could hear the conversation were now looking at the floor, sad and still trying to prove themselves it's not possible, but minute by minute the hope was running out.

''Stay strong, everyone'', wished Pia and hang up.

''After all these years and yet I'm still wondering if she's real or if she's just a hologram'', shrugged Benjamin.

''Either way...'' Domi looked up into the sky as if somebody up there could hear her, ''I just hope it's not too late.''

While everyone in the hall was panicking in their own silly way, Mia and Rosa were sitting on the stairs, sipping Rosa's cheap wine and discussing how cool it would be to write a song about this whole situation.

''You know, like 'no body no crime'. The way Taylor fit a whole mystery novel in one song... Fascinating'', Mia was gushing over Taylor Swift's songwriting skills and who could blame her.

''We can even write a full novel ourselves!'' suggested Rosa. ''Imagine. It's June twenty second. Just an ordinary day in an ordinary town. And suddenly, a person goes missing. He has no enemies, he has done nothing wrong in his life. So where is he?''

''You know what would be fun?'' smiled Mia, thinking about the future book, ''If that main character would've acted out this kidnap himself. He needs the money, knows he'll get the money if he pretends to be kidnapped, he gets the money and...''

''...escapes to an island where he lives happily ever after with five sausage dogs and millions of dollars'', finished Rosa.

''That's such a typical thing that Vladana would say'', noted Mia. ''Wouldn't that be fun though? Maybe that's my next story.''

''Or maybe that character is actually abducted by aliens'', suggested Rosa.

''And this is such a typical thing for Sam to say'', she smiled ruefully.

They all missed him. But he had to come back. One way or another. He can't be just dead, right? This is not how all the beautiful stories end, am I right?

(well you have to read on to find out)