It had been two years and I now lived in Saint Moreno. I was attending at the University of Moreno and I lived at the res and I attended with Pam. She was studying to become a computer engineer, while I studied to become a Scientist. Precious and Justin also attended there but my best friend, Collen, was at the University of Stallian; he wasn’t admitted here. My mom was a manager at a famous clothing shop and still stayed in Stallian.

At Stallian, I was seen as a hero, well secretly seen as a hero by the cops; no resident of Stallian knew that I was a hero. It wasn’t made public. My doctor declared me perfectly fine, my blood was clean and there was no trace of the energy drug – which was simply dubbed as the E-drug by the media.

I didn’t really believe that. Because when I got angry I could still feel the euphoria and the adrenaline of the energy drug but my muscles wouldn’t increase. I had lost the effect of the drug, but the feeling was virtually still there. It took three months and a lot of counselling for me, Collen, Precious and Justin to recover from what had happened. In the end it was worth it.

It was tough balancing school and all but somehow under those tough circumstances I prevailed. Mr Jacobs was gone and forgotten; he had lost a lot of blood after being shot by my mother. That story was changed; journalists were told by the police that Mr Jacobs had committed suicide. This was done to protect my name and everyone else who was involved in his demise. If our names were mentioned then I and my friends would surely be dead. Other than that, everything was fine.

“Where’s your mind at?” I heard Pam’s voice as she kissed me on my lips.

“Just thinking of you, beautiful,” I said kissing her back.

“What are you reading?”

“How to become a top scientist,” I said as I showed her the cover of the book. “Anyway how was class?” I added.

“It was hectic, we did…”

“Shh!” Pam was cut off by some of the students at the library.

“I tend to forget that this is a library at times,” Pam joked.

“Me too. Let’s head outside?” I said. We went out of the library and continued to talk.

“So are you ready for tonight?” Pam asked.

“Ah, not really. I’ve won a lot of awards at Stallian High, remember?”

“Yeah I do,”

“Besides I haven’t completed this course yet, I still have a long way to go. It’s just an award,” I said reminding her.

We headed to the cafeteria to meet up with Precious and Justin.

“How’s the man of the hour?” Precious asked with a smile.

“C’mon, it’s just a yearly certificate,” I said laughing.

“Just because you’re getting this certificate in the faculty of Science doesn’t mean that you’ll become a good scientist,” snapped Justin. “Becoming a scientist isn’t child’s play,” he added.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I said trying not to sound wounded.

“Exactly what it means,” he responded with a grimy look on his face. There was silence as we stared at each other for a while.

“I’ve got something to do. Gotta go babe, see you later,” Justin said as he kissed Precious on her cheek and walked away.

“What’s his problem?” I directed my question to Precious.

“Ah, don’t mind him, he’s just angry because he didn’t do really well on a test he wrote yesterday,” she explained.

“Well he shouldn’t take out his frustrations out on me,” I said angrily.

“So what do you wanna order babe?” Pam broke the silence that lingered for a while.

“Steak,” I said. “Are you gonna join us?” I asked Precious.

“Nah, I’ve got something to do. See you later when you get awarded,” she said with a wink as she walked away.

“You two always look kind of cosy,” Pam said.

“We’re just friends, you know that,” I defended.

“That’s how you may see it, but does she?”

“If I didn’t know any better I’d say that you’re jealous,” I said teasing.

“Jealous? Not me,”

I placed my hands on her hips and kissed her on the lips. “You’re the only girl for me,” I said.

She smiled and I gave her a hug. The waiter brought our food.

“Let’s hurry up and eat, we need to get ready for the Faulty Awards,’” I said and Pam laughed.

“Come on babe, the awards are in three hours, what’s the rush?” she joked and I laughed too.

“Well time waits for no man. I just wanna be ready,” I said.

Three hours later we were seated in the crowd with other students, watching as the awards took place on stage.

“That was Ruben Lungelo, who wants to become a Political Analyst. He performed well in the Faculty of Humanity.” Mr Richard, Dean of the university announced. “And the student who performed outstandingly this year in the Faculty of Science is, Benard Mulaudzi,”

“Finally! I thought they had forgotten my name,” I said confidently to Pam as I stood.

“How would they?” she said with a smile.

I got on the stage and the cheering from the audience of students intensified. The Dean handed me my certificate. I then walked and stood with the other students that got certificates. While standing in line with them, I looked towards Pam in the crowd and she waved at me. I then looked to the west side of the crowd and saw Precious, also applauding. I noticed that Justin wasn’t sitting with Precious anymore, he must’ve left and I wondered why.

I looked towards the middle side of the crowd and I saw someone who made my heart tremble in fear. The person that I saw through the crowd of students had a striking resemblance to Mr Jacobs. Even though he was a bit far from where I was standing, I could still see his eyes.

They were filled with darkness. They were exactly the same as Mr Jacobs’. I started to feel dizzy. Then I felt something, in an instant, forcefully piercing through my heart. I fell down.

I looked at my left hand, clutched at my chest, and it was red. Blood started to slowly stain my white shirt. I started feeling dizzy. I began to hear sounds of gunshots and chaotic screams from the crowds. I looked up to saw what was happening. The hall was filled with pandemonium.

Men wearing black suits with black gloves were shooting at the audience of students, creating a pool of blood.

I heard Pam’s scream. I’ve got to rescue her, I thought to myself. I tried to stand up but I couldn’t; the pain of the bullet that pierced through my left chest was excruciating. I failed to get up, I felt like I was losing consciousness.

“Is everyone dead?” one of the men shouted.

“Only three are left, as planned,” the man in the black suit said, communicating with a radio phone.

“Perfect, tie the two girls up and keep an eye out for that guy while I notify the boss,” the other man in black suit commanded.

There were ten of them. I tried to stand up once more, still clutching on my chest as blood continued to heavily pour out of my body like an opened tap. The man guarding me kicked me in the stomach, “You’re going nowhere boy,”

I looked at him in disgust. I turned my attention to both Precious and Pam. Both looked at me with eyes uttering ‘help me, save me’ in fear. I looked down, knowing fully that there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t even move; I had lost a lot of blood. The floor was now like a pool of blood; both mine and the students that had received their certificates; that were now dead. I’m gonna die soon, I thought to myself.

“First phase is completed. Bring in the boss,” the man that seemed to be leading the men in black said in his radio. A figure walked through the dark door. The men in black bowed down in his presence. I couldn’t see the figure because it was dark. The figure advanced forward in a bright area and I realised in horror and astonishment; that it was Mr Jacobs.

He walked with a victorious smile, puffing on his cigar. But how is he alive? Didn’t my mother kill him? I mean he was shot, wasn’t he? How did he survive? Did he even die when he got shot? But I saw his body. What the hell is going on here?

Thoughts of confusion flowed through my mind in a matter of seconds.

“You’re supposed to be dead,” I said in shock.

He made a snickering laugh, “Don’t worry boy, I’ll be with you in a while,”

Both Precious and Pam looked as confused as I am.

“We’ve eliminated everyone in the institution as you ordered, Sir,” the leader of the men in black assured.

“Excellent. Burn the whole university to ashes. Make sure that there’s no evidence for anyone to link this back to us,” Mr Jacobs said and the leader nodded.

Mr Jacobs then walked to Precious and Pam. “Oh Precious,” he said as he touched her hair delicately. “Thought you could get rid of me that easily, heh?” he said with a laugh. “I had plans for you, and you chose to betray me…” he folded a fist and looked at Pam.

“And this is the ever loving and caring Pam. We never got properly introduced. Sorry to put you in this situation but what can I say, you fell for the wrong man at the wrong time,” he said as he laughed.

“Leave them alone. This is between you and me,” I mumbled as I coughed out blood.

“Of course, this is between you and me,” he said. “I’ve lost everything because of you. I’m now without a hand and had to feel excruciating side-effects from getting a new one through surgery. I’ve lost a lot of millions, thanks to you,” he added.

“The money that you lost didn’t belong to you, it belonged to my father. Without him you wouldn’t have become a rich and illegal businessman,” I exclaimed. His face suddenly turned red.

“Still cocky I see. Well, let’s see how cocky you are when I blow your girlfriend’s brains out,” he said as he headed back to Precious and Pam.

“This is between you and me, not my girlfriend or Precious. But me and you,” I shouted in anger. Mr Jacobs took another puff from his cigar.

“Give me a gun,” Mr Jacobs commanded the leader and he nodded. He then looked to both Precious and Pam, and looked back at me.

“Tell me Bernard, who you want me to kill first, your girlfriend or Precious?” he asked with a conniving look.

“Don’t do it, let them go! And kill me instead,” I said with a worried look. He let out a laugh and went towards Pam, whom was in tears, and touched her chin firmly.

“Well, since you’re so close to Bernard’s heart, how about I kill you last?” he kissed her on the cheek and faced Precious. He then pointed his gun on her face.

“Please, don’t… Don’t kill me, I’ll… I’ll do anything to win your trust back. I promise,” Precious desperately pleaded.

“You should’ve thought about that before you plotted against me,” Mr Jacobs aimed his gun at Precious’ head. “Goodbye,” he said and pulled the trigger.

“Nooo!” I shouted. Blood started to flow out of her brain. Anger started to fuel my body. Mr Jacobs let out a laugh. “Can’t believe I almost felt sorry for her,” he said. He then pointed the gun to Pam, aiming at her head.

“Why… why are you doing this? What… what have I ever done to you?” she mumbled with a flood of tears.

“Well firstly, it’s because I can and secondly, like I said in the first place, you fell for the wrong guy at the wrong place,” he said. “Or maybe at the wrong time. But hey, it’s nothing personal,” he added.

Pam looked at me with eyes and tears of goodbye. Tears started to fill my eyes. Then I heared a bang! The bullet hit her head and she collapsed. Something tore off from my sanity.

“Iiiiiraaaaaaaaah,” I screamed in anger. The pain that I felt on my chest completely vanished. My heart started to race faster as I slowly stood up. I looked at Mr Jacobs’ face. “You! You’re dead! You hear me? You’re dead!” I yelled angrily.

“Wouldn’t now be an appropriate time to gun him down, Sir?” the leader of the men in black asked.

“Nah, I’ll do it myself,” Mr Jacobs responded.

“I’m gonna kill you,” I said.

I folded my fists and ran towards him raising my left arm. He didn’t move and I threw a punch as hard as I could on his face. His head bent backwards and I turned and elbowed him with my right arm, which made him to walk backwards, unbalanced. I jumped as high as I could to kick him on the chin and he fell to the floor, due to the impact of it. I was breathing heavily, completely tired, the more I moved the more blood I continued to lose. Mr Jacobs started to laugh as he slowly got up on his feet.

“What’s… what’s so funny?” I said trying to breathe.

“Is that the best that you can do?” he asked with a smirk. What he said supported his statement, as there was not even a scratch or trace of blood on his face.

“I’m just getting started,” I bluffed.

I ran towards him once more, raising my right arm this time. I threw a punch and he quickly dodged it. He threw a powerful punch on my stomach; I vomited more blood. I immediately retaliated by giving him a knee-jerk on his face, he stood up straight because of that. I then threw a straight punch on his face and he moved backwards and I did the same, clutching on my stomach.

“Even at my normal strength you’re no match for me, your punches are weak. Even a girl can do better than that,” he exclaimed with smirk. Even though I didn’t like to admit it, he had a point. I gave him a knee-jerk on his face, but still he was not bleeding. I folded my fists angrily.

I jumped forward and threw a right punch and he blocked it with his left hand and squeezed it very hard. “Aaaaahhhhh,” I screamed in pain. I then threw a left punch and he blocked it with his right hand and squeezed it very hard too.

“Aaaahhhh,” I screamed in agony once more. Mr Jacobs then gave me a strong head-butt that sent me flying in the air and crashing devastatingly on the floor. My vision started to become blurry.

Ching chung, Mr Jacob prepared his gun. “I gave you a chance to at least have a consolation for the death of your girlfriend by defeating me, but you failed,” he said with a laugh. “You’ll have the chance to tell your father and girlfriend how you failed to avenge the death of everyone here in the afterlife,” he added.

I couldn’t believe that this was the end. I should’ve known that in life, the bad guys always win, and not the good guys. Mr Jacobs aimed the gun at my face and I closed my eyes for the last time.

Baaaaang, was the last sound that I heard.