The Descendants

The professor's library

Dara lay atop her bed. It was 1 AM and she couldn't seem to get some sleep. The lights were out, and her room was very dark, the only source of light was from a street lamp filtering into her room through the window, casting a soft glow throughout the room.

     She could barely make out the shape of her desktop computer in the corner, which looked like a hunched creature in the dark, or her mahogany wardrobe by the window, taking the shape of a city gate. It was funny how the mind played tricks when idle.

      Staring at the ceiling in her peach coloured night gown, with her pillows haphazardly piled beneath her, she thought about the incident at the mall, and the mark that appeared on Tobi's hand. She just got off the phone with Tobi who relayed to her everything that happened with his brother, and his decision to travel southeast.

     It was supposed to be a goodbye call because he would be leaving early that morning. Why didn't I say anything? She thought. He must have thought I didn't care. On the phone with Tobi just a few hours ago, she listened carefully to all he had to say. She had been thinking of what to say when she noticed, out of the corner of her eyes, through the window a quick movement, like someone jumping off one roof to another on the buildings opposite hers. She had rushed over to the window to see what it was, but when she saw nothing suspicious, she thought she had imagined it and went back to bed to continue her conversation with Tobi, but he wasn't on the other end of the line anymore. Her house wasn't far from Tobi's. Maybe she should just run over to say goodbye. At this hour? No, that would be awkward.

     It was going to be boring without Tobi around to tease. Of course there was always Timothy she could hang with, but he was too boisterous to deal with. She needed Tobi to keep the balance. He was such a freak when it came to protocol and following rules. She laughed to herself. She didn't know why, but she wouldn't have missed Timothy as much if he were in Tobi's place. Timothy always had his extrovert nature and could make friends easily. Plus, his good looks always attracted all the girls in school. Yeah, he always had his hands full and was the jovial type, he was definitely the type to be missed. It was always fun having him around and helping their little gang connect with the world, but for some reason, she didn't want Tobi to leave.

     She came to a decision. She knew what she must do. She got up from bed and headed downstairs to her aunts quarters.

***
     Tobi was almost done packing. He had spoken with Dara and Timothy last night about everything. Strangely, Dara was silent throughout the whole encounter. She always had something to say, but not this time. Maybe she had something else on her mind, or maybe she just slept off on the phone. Anyways, he could never understand that girl. Timothy on the other hand had some reassuring words to say at least. He had told him not to worry, that he'll always be in touch. He had said that everything going on was bigger than them and that he should face it with all diligence and he'd come out victorious eventually.

     "Tobi!!!" His brother yelled from the living room. "Get out here now. We're running late"

     Tobi had received an early morning lecture about the many horrors of late night travelling and how it would happen to them if they didn't set out early enough. It was a nine hour journey from the southern district of West Country, to their parents’ house at the coast of West Country. And another nine hours journey from there to the Qarsoodiga village in southeast district. Tobi had packed and unpacked his back pack like five times over to ensure it was excellently packed. He looked at the mark on the back of his right hand. It had darkened and looked much blacker now. He slipped on the black gloves his brother had given him and continued packing.

     When he was finally satisfied, he strapped it unto his back, and headed out the door. He paused at the door and turned to give his room one last inspection. Nice, he thought. It would be ready for me when I get back.