Captivity

Chapter 16: Finding Sam

MATURE CONTENT WARNING!! READERS BE WARNED!



Valery Gray sat uneasily, twiddling her thumbs upon one of the campus's many park benches.

She'd hardly spend half an hour in with the financial specialist; going over her options if she chose not to accept the check Mr. Masters had so 'generously' given her. The guilt had eaten away at her, along with her current driving worry to the point where she'd cancelled her appointment halfway through, making up an excuse that something had come up and that she would have to reschedule.

She was certain that she'd embarked some great evil upon her friend, despite the situation going well over her head. All she knew was that she'd been played and that the nefarious plot that was aimed at Sam involved the billionaire and the jet black mer. It left her coffee tasting foul, thus left forgotten next to where she sat, fidgeting and uncertain of what to do. 

Her boyfriend, Tucker, had been lucky. Considering he'd been unconscious for most of his kidnapping, she was able to play off the whole thing as some vivid dream induced by his over indulgence in his new video game. He was speculative at first, though the more the techno geek mulled it over, the more it seemed to make sense. Thus he agreed to take a break from the game, instead picking up another once, an old classic he claimed, called Doom III. Val cared not for the details.

She looked up from her hands as she picked up on passing conversation. A small group of students from one of the science clubs; she could tell by the badges on their sleeves; were complaining about the latest class cancellation. While it wasn't unusual for instructors to cancel a class for the day if they needed to call out sick, the class in mention pulled her attention instantly. It was the interactive marine biology course offered by Sam's uncle, Nathaniel. 

She remembered the class had picked up a few weeks ago with the start of the spring semester, leaving quite a line in its wake for signups. She'd been quite surprised when Sam hadn't signed up for the course and when asked, the answer did make sense. The goth spent enough time at the aquatic center as it was, plus it had been a haven for her away from class. Thus it had been a bit much to expect all aspects of her life to revolve around school. While it was understandable that Sam needed a break, her uncle was another matter. The man loved teaching as much as he did interacting with the wild world. For him to just cancel his class out of the blue left an unpleasant chill up her spine.

It didn't help her anxiety with the fact that Sam hadn't shown up to class that Monday. Her fear was almost a panic when the absences continued for the rest of the week. The goth hadn't even shown up at their room. 

Val darted off not long after that, not interested in the rest of the conversation. Her feet carried her in hasty strides off towards the downtown aquarium. Something was very wrong, and she feared she'd been part of the reason why.

The aquarium was its usual hustle and bustle, people coming and going, staring at the exhibits in awe and wonder; children pointing at the glass with curious expressions. What got her attention right off the bat was the corridor that had originally been closed off from view. The one that led to the main exhibit that housed the jet black mer. Such a dramatic change, where they'd originally been determined to keep the mythical sea beast a secret, and yet there it was open for all to see. The only thing that struck her as odd, was the lack of conversation pertaining to the aquarium's mystery resident. Perhaps they'd moved him? It all just left alarm bells buzzing with the others in her skull. 

The African American teen pushed her way through the crowds, seeking out entry into the backrooms. She needed to speak with the elder Manson, and it left a sense of urgency in her stride. However, just like the first time, she was met with locked doors barring her way. A scowl crossed her lips before she banged on the doors, uncaring if she caused a scene. If anything, the attention of the staff would help her find whom she was looking for.