Chapter Six

 But sleep was evading her once again. Her tired mind conjured up images and parts of speech she had heard throughout the day.

Adira woke up with a start, breathing heavily and trying to recollect the dream she had seen. It had been something about Sibyl...about her walking over to her, smiling a chilling smile.

Adira clutched her hair and then swung out of bed, wanting to feel the ground beneath her feet. She checked her phone, saw only notifications for app updates, and then put it back face down.

Again, she had argued with herself for informing her parents about Sibyl and once again the practical voice inside her warned her that if she did, her parents would hate that she was involved in her sister’s mess and call her back.

She went over to the kitchen, glad that the nightlight in the passageway was always on. She didn’t mind the dark, but absolute darkness chilled her. Suddenly thirsty, she was walking over to the fridge, when her eyes fell on the package on the dining table.

Turning on the lights, she picked up the package, saw only her name on it and not the sender’s. Ripping the paper apart, she found a brown cardboard box inside.

Adira sat down on the chair.

An unknown package. I probably shouldn’t open it. There could be a bomb inside it.

Then she snickered at her own thought.

Nobody hates me that much to send me a bomb.

Stretching her arms, so that the box wasn’t in front of her face, she slowly opened up the box and then tilted in slightly.

Inside, nested atop shredded paper, was a gold colored smartphone. Her fingers tentatively retrieved it from the box and then when she pressed on the buttons, she almost swallowed, expecting something terrible to happen.

When the screen didn’t come on, she laid it on the table, staring at it as if it was a dangerous object.

Maybe it is a bomb. But I can’t hear any ticking sounds.

She turned it over and removed the back. When she didn’t see a battery, she frowned.

“Great.” She sighed and turned it over in her hands. “Who would send me this? Looks like the latest model. But why isn’t there a battery inside?”

I must have won a prize. Did I enter that shopping mall raffle? Wasn’t that four months ago? Did I win and they just now sent me my prize?

Adira frowned. She considered tossing it, but couldn’t bring herself to do it.

I have an inkling. I don’t know about what, but I don’t think I should chuck it just yet. Tomorrow I’ll buy a battery and if it’s still a dud, I’ll sell it off or exchange it at that store that is giving half price on the new phone for an old one.

Adira put it back in the box, closed it and then got up. She opened the fridge, drank cold water and then went back right to bed.

*****

 

The next morning, Adira was trying hard to pay attention in her class, but failing miserably. She had chosen to wear dark jeans with a deep purple sweater and black boots, an attire she thought would be suitable in case she was called to one of the offices she had contacted yesterday.

Tapping her leg restlessly, she stared at the presentation on the board and had to look at the heading several times to remind herself she was in her economics class.

When class was over, she was the first one to leave, excited when she received an email informing her she could come in and meet the staff of The Lion’s Den. Unfortunately, she was asked to come at two in the afternoon and that meant, she had three hours of nothing to do but drive herself insane as to what she would do once she went in.

She was walking down the steps and planning to just take a walk around the city, when she heard Neil call her.

Rolling her eyes, she expected him to berate her, taunt her or be absolutely condescending towards her. Instead, she saw him sitting on the bench under a tree with a girl she hadn’t seen before.

Pulling up her bookbag, she trudged toward him, grumbling inwardly and readying herself to retaliate to any of his derisive statements.

“I talked to Ms. Darian and told her which company we chose to do our paper on.” Neil handed her a sheet when she came closer. “Ms. Darian gave us a letter to show them that we have permission from our college to conduct research.”

Adira took the sheet, saw Ms. Darian’s signature on the form as well as hers and Neil’s name.

“Okay, thanks.” She turned to go, but the girl he had his arm around, spoke up.

“Hi, I’m Ruby.” She smiled.

Adira looked at her outstretched arm, cautiously. Glancing at Neil, she saw the uneasiness in his eyes.

“Hi, I’m Adira.” She shook her hands.

“I’m new here. Just transferred.” Ruby had almond eyes, straight hair tied in a loose ponytail and wore a light blue tshirt and jeans.

“I’m used to the cold. It gets a lot colder than here, where I come from.” Ruby gave a short laugh. “I saw the way you looked at me, as if I’m crazy to be the only one not wearing a sweater or a jacket.”

“I didn’t mean to stare.” Adira smiled back. “Where are you from?” From the corner of her eye, she saw Neil shifting on the bench and removing his arm from around Ruby. Then he was staring at his shoes, apparently waiting for her to leave.

Adira decided to prolong his agony.

“Not far from here. I’m from Cloudlet City,” she replied. “Its cold and grey all the time over there with temperatures going down in the minuses.”

“They don’t have good colleges there?” Adira asked.

“Not really. Not many accredited ones. I applied over here and got a scholarship.” Ruby smiled at Neil. “I met Neil online a couple of months back and it was his suggestion that I try for here.”

Adira turned slowly toward Neil.

A couple of months back? Wasn’t he with me at that time?

When she saw Neil suddenly looking far away from her, she gritted her teeth.

That cheating bastard!

“Oh, and are you both...”

Ruby nodded excitedly. “Well, we did like each other. It’s such a coincidence that we have all the same interests.”

“I’m so happy for both of you,” Adira said through gritted teeth. She glared at Neil who looked up at her brazenly. “Did Neil tell you about me?”

“There’s nothing to tell. We’re just classmates working on an assignment together,” Neil intervened quickly. “Sweetie, how about we go and get lunch?”

“Yeah, I’m getting hungry.” Ruby took his hand in hers. “Would you like to join us?”

“She has class,” Neil answered for her.

Adira sighed. “No, that got canceled. But I am going into the city to get some shopping done and maybe even lunch.”

“That’s where we are going too,” Ruby said, standing up. “Come with us.”

“Sure!” Adira said before Neil could interrupt. He scowled at her, but she gave him a playful smile and then walked between him and Ruby towards the gates.

*****

 

Adira could hardly pay attention to what she was eating and whatever Ruby was talking about. Her eyes kept going back to her digital watch and she saw that it was getting close to two. And she was half an hour away from The Lion’s Den.

“And then I saw a cockroach,” Ruby was saying. “There are no cockroaches in Cloudlet City. None. It’s pretty clean. Or I guess they don’t like the cold weather?”

“No, I think cockroaches can survive cold climates,” Neil said, drinking water from his glass.

Adira checked the time again and then looked down at her empty plate. She had every intention of having Neil pay for her meal so she had gone ahead and ordered the most expensive items on the menu, complete with a berry mocktail and a dessert with a name that she couldn’t pronounce but had been cake and a pudding of some sort.

Ruby got up then. “I have to use the washroom.”

The waiter came in to collect the dishes and when he too was gone, Neil scowled at her. “You didn’t have to come.”

“I was hungry.” Adira wiped her mouth with the napkin. “Thanks for the meal by the way,” she said, getting up.

“I don’t want to have to see you again.” Neil looked grumpy as he said that.

“We’re stuck for the project and you’re kidding yourself if you think I want to keep seeing you.” Adira slung her bag over her shoulder.

“You’re the one who cheated on me.” Neil tightened his hand around his glass.

“That’s what you told anyone. You made me out to be a slut when it was you who were clearly cheating on me,” Adira said, then gestured to the empty seat where Ruby had been sitting.

“We were only friends. I asked her out only after we broke up,” He defended himself.

The check arrived and Adira shook her head. “Whatever. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Just stick to the project okay. Remember that we both have to show up for the presentation as well or we get a failing grade.”

“I know.” Neil sat back and then gave a wide grin when Ruby returned.

“I have to go,” Adira told her. “It was nice meeting you.”

“Yeah, same here.” Ruby turned to Neil. “You have a very nice friend.”

Adira didn’t say anything, just bit down on her smile and walked out into the sunny afternoon. The breeze was cool and there were hardly enough clouds to cover the magnificent blue of the sky.

She turned on her GPS, typed the name of the office and headed down the street toward it, basking in the glow of getting under Neil’s skin. It felt good to see him squirming around her and Ruby, wondering what she would reveal about their relationship.

Adira didn’t have any intention to do so, but decided she would intervene if she saw Ruby being treated shabbily by him. By now, she knew how aggressive and vengeful Neil could be.

How dare he imply that I cheated on him!

Neil was clearly never going to have the guts to admit to his indiscretions.

Whatever, I don’t need him in my life. I have learned my lesson well enough to know never to trust anyone. As far as love goes, I suppose that is a fantasy as well. Look how my prince charming turned out to be.

Taking a shortcut advised by her GPS app, Adira reached the building exactly five minutes before she was told to. She entered, searched the board for the floor on which the office was and then took the elevator to the third floor.

When the doors opened, she found herself walking down a dim-lit passageway that led to an arched doorway lined with red bricks. There was a white board beside the entrance with red and gold letters presenting the name proudly.

THE LION’S DEN

On the top left corner, was an engraving of a lion in gold with his mouth open done in red.

Adira stopped before the glass doors and knocked, uncertain whether to enter or wait to be called.

When she heard footsteps, she paused her hand and adjusted her bookbag strap and then the hem of her sweater.

The door was pulled open and she found herself staring at a young man who appeared to be in his twenties, with brown curly hair and thin black rimmed glasses over his hazel eyes. He was dressed in a white shirt with the sleeves rolled and the top buttons left open.

“Can I help you?” He asked, putting one leg out.

Adira smiled. “I was the one who sent an email. Adira.”

“Ah, yes, you want to see the workings of an online newspaper.” He nodded as he looked at her from top to bottom. “For your college assignment?”

“Yes, I’m considering a career in journalism,” she said when she was let in. The room was vast and barren except for five wooden desks on which were computers. Apart from that, there was no rugs, no curtains or blinds over the windows or even a motivational poster or painting. Three people were at their desks, typing away with so much concentration that Adira thought they hadn’t even realized there was someone else in the office.

When she turned, she did see another piece of furniture- a small brown table with drawers. On top of it was a small water dispenser and plastic cups. There was also a basket of fruit, but the apples and bananas looked like they had gone bad.

“I would expect you to be very thorough about your decision,” He told her. “I’m Keith by the way. What you see around here may not be very impressive, but our determination to uncover the truth, our passion to connect with the world- that is what we hold most important here at the Lion’s Den.”

Adira looked around at the desks, wondering which one must have belonged to her sister. “So, it’s only the four of you here, doing this fearless work.”

“At the moment, yes.” Keith had his hands on his hips and looked disgruntled when she had spoken.

“At the moment?” Adira repeated innocently.

“We used to have a larger team, but business has slowed down a bit. A lot of people don’t read nowadays and prefer getting their news from what they consider to be reliable sources.” Keith said the last two words using air quotes.

“But you’ve been going a long time,” Adira said. “On your website it says that you’ve been up and running for two years now.”

“It’s a bit of an exaggeration. We couldn’t very well write that we began the company only six months ago. Wouldn’t have sounded very impressive.” Keith pushed up his glasses and Adira could see he looked annoyed.

“So you did start six months ago?” she asked, carefully, wishing she could talk to someone else who looked friendlier and stable. Keith looked like he was on the verge of punching walls.

“No,” He rubbed his forehead and then let out a dramatic sigh. “What we do around here takes a lot of groundwork. The site went up six months ago, exactly as we had planned. Before that, we collected the material that needed to go up there. Our investigative work takes a lo of time. It’s a whole process of research, pinpointing the problems in a company, tracking reliable sources, investigating, writing reports and collecting evidence.”

“All that would take a lot of time,” Adira said, wondering if Sibyl had been longer in this city than what she had thought of first.

What was Sibyl waiting for? Why didn’t she contact me?

Adira looked around her, seeing nothing else that she could ask casual questions about that would lead her to asking questions about her sister.

I have to get straight to the point. Why am I hiding behind a disguise? I could just tell him that I am Sibyl’s sister.

“We did have help,” Keith said, staring at an empty desk. “I’m sorry.” He looked at her and frowned. “It’s one of those days. I don’t think I’m doing a great job of enticing you to join the world of journalism.”

“That’s okay.”

“Actually, one of our main reporters, just up and left,” Keith said before she could tell him who she was. “This is her idea, her handiwork. We would work on all these projects together that would change the world. Then about two weeks ago, she sends an email saying she was done with all this. Nothing else. Just that one line.”

“Oh, in the staff page of your site, it did mention that Sibyl...”

“Was the editor-in-chief. Before she left, she was working on a story she wouldn’t tell anyone about. Not even me. She must have come across something really good to have decided it wasn’t worth just printing it online. I bet, she found a publication that is paying her a lot of money for that.” Keith looked irritated again.

Adira opened her mouth to tell him who she was, when her phone rang. When she saw who it was, she felt her heart skip a beat.

Why is Ramon calling me?

She canceled the call and looked at Keith who was watching her. “I don’t mean to sound jealous but...”

Her phone beeped again, this time for a text message from Neil who was telling her that a representative from HiYou had agreed to meet them tomorrow.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I had no idea you were so busy.” Keith’s face had turned red.

“I am so sorry.” Adira switched off her phone and put it in her pocket. “No more distractions, I promise.”

“Maybe you should consider another career. Journalism requires dedication, passion and most of all, concentration.” Keith looked at her as if she had personally failed him in some way. “You have none of those attributes.”

“I am sorry,” Adira said earnestly, almost desperately. This was her once chance to develop a relationship with Sibyl’s coworkers so that she could learn more about her sister. Now, she had infuriated the one person who could have helped her. “I am interested in this. It’s just bad timing for me. I switched off my phone.”

Keith ran a hand over his brown curls and wiped a bead of sweat from his temple. “Sorry, it’s been a little tense here. We have to shut down our operations. Our editor-in-chief screwed us up a little. I am trying to hold down the fort, but let’s see. I may just be able to save the company I have put so much effort and time into.”

Adira tried to feel sympathy for someone else Sibyl had abandoned...again.

Doesn’t Sibyl realize she’s hurting so many people?

Adira quashed her plans to tell him she was Sibyl’s sister. It would only end up vexing him even more.

“I’m sure you’ll find a way to save the company.” She looked at the others, typing away fervently. “And your jobs.”

“Thanks, but your words are mere fantastical. It is going to take a lot of hard work to pull this off.” Keith gave another dramatic sigh and looked around at his own office as if he was going to undertake the arduous task of rebuilding the office by hand.

“I understand.”

Keith offered his hand and Adira realized he was trying to get her to leave. “It was nice of you to come down here and get a glimpse of how investigative reporting works.”

Adira was about to say that she didn’t, but Keith was already opening the door for her.

“If I have any questions, can I come visit again?” She asked, keeping her foot on the door so that he wouldn’t close it just yet.

“Sure. Just email us first. Bye.” Keith gestured for her to move back and then closed the door.

“Rude.” Adira grumbled. She turned on her heels and went to the elevators, shaking in anger and irritation. “Why was she even working with him? He’s so...disagreeable.”

The lift doors opened and she punched the buttons for the ground floor. She turned on her phone and inwardly cursed Neil and Ramon for calling at the wrong time.

But Keith didn’t have to get so hyper. He’s just stressed I suppose.

She walked out of the doors, then out the building, heading for her apartment when she had to pause midway and remind herself she had to get a battery for the phone that had been delivered.

Retracing her steps, she then took a left turn to where her phone told her a mobile accessories shop was. She went in, and was browsing the colorful phone cases and headsets, when a salesman came up to her.

“Welcome Mobile HotSpot. How may I help you?” He gave her a cheery warm smile.

“Yes, do you sell batteries for Spiral-A phones?” She asked. “It’s the new one that comes in gold?”

The salesman nodded and then ran a finger down his mustache. “It’s a limited edition phone. Only a few of them were made...but...” He went over to his laptop and started to type. “I do think we have one in stock.”

“Can I have it?” Adira felt a jump of happiness.

“Of course.” The salesman checked the screen again and then went behind the glass display to rummage in the shelves behind. “Here it is.”

Adira removed her wallet. “How much?”

“It’s a bit more than the other models.” The salesman came up to her and placed the black and brown rectangle in front of her. He told her the price and Adira widened her eyes.

“Okay. Um...I’ll take it.” She removed five notes and handed it to him.

The salesman packed the battery and handed it to her in a bright yellow shopping bag with the shop’s logo on it in bright red letters. “Do come again for all your mobile phone needs.”

“I will,” Adira said, turning her head to smile at him. Then suddenly, she had stepped on someone’s foot and bumped her nose against someone’s chest. “Oops, sorry,” she said, rubbing her nose, then looked up to see Ramon.

She stepped back immediately and stared at him in bewilderment. “What are you…?”

“How can I help you sir?” The salesman asked.

“Nothing. I was looking for something. Now, I found it,” Ramon replied gruffly, all the while glaring at her. He reached for her hand and then walked her out of the shop.

“How did you find me?” She asked, still feeling disoriented.

“Did you go to Sibyl’s office today?” He looked furious.

Adira looked all around her and saw that not many people were on her side of the street. She looked up at him, confusion playing and twisting her mind. “How could you have known that? Are you following me?”

Ramon put one hand in the pocket of his blue suit and pushed up his sunglasses.  “Of course, I am. You’re my friend’s sister. If I think you’re putting yourself in trouble then I find it necessary to go to any lengths.”

“I can take care of myself.” Adira put up her hand, suddenly livid. “How exactly are you following me? Do you have spies? Are you…?” And then it hit her. She removed her phone from her pocket, stared at it and then at him. “Are you tracking my phone?”

“Yes.” He hadn’t even hesitated. “Did you meet Keith?”

Adira looked away, trying to keep her anger in control. “I’m not at liberty to discuss it with you.”

“Throwing my own words at my face?” Ramon scoffed. “Stop acting like a child. I am under a confidentiality contract. What is your excuse?”

“I did meet him. So what?” She crossed her arms, the bag swung on her wrist as she did so.

“So, he has an affinity to lie,” Ramon said. “He’s a pathological liar and a sociopath. Did you know he proposed Sibyl? He was obsessed with her.”

Adira looked at him in shock. “What? I didn’t glean that when I met him.”

“Of course not. Unlike you, I do background checks on people I find suspicious,” Ramon retorted.

“When I asked you whether you suspected someone from her office, you said no,” Adira reminded him.

“To protect you. I don’t want you impeding my investigation.” Ramon looked frustrated.

“You mean your official investigation?” She asked.

“I am keeping this under wraps for Sibyl’s sake. Though I firmly believe that she has gone away on her own accord.”

“I don’t care what you think.” Adira stepped back. “You lied to me. If you won’t let me help you find my sister, then I’ll find her on my own.”

“Fine,” Ramon almost screamed. “Just stay away from the Lion’s Den.”

Adira blinked at him as he turned and left.

Why won’t he accept my help? No matter. I’ll find Sibyl on my own. She’s my sister.

Adira walked briskly toward her apartment building, seething and seeing a line of white in her vision.

“He’s lying,” she said to herself. “Keith seemed aggressive but not dangerous. And there was no warmth in his eyes or voice when he spoke of Sibyl.”

She entered her building and waited for the elevator.

Why is Ramon lying to me?

When she reached her apartment, she locked the door behind her, also using the chain and then went over to the small black coffee table where she had kept the phone in the box.

She removed it and took out the back. When the battery had been inserted, she was relieved when it switched on. The phone came on, a swirl of bright colors and the phone’s model number.

Then it started to beep incessantly.

“Yikes!” Adira pressed hard on the square button on the phone. “So many updates. A software update?” Then she saw the right top corner and frowned. “Great! Only thirty-five percent battery.”

She found her own phone charger and tried to plug it in. When it didn’t enter the slot she groaned. “Now, I need to buy a charger, too?”

She slumped down on the sofa and was about to check the new phone, when her own rang. She saw her parents were calling and smiled.

“Hi!” she said, picking it up. Beside her, the Spiral-A continued to beep. She ignored it, and spoke to her parents about her college and her assignment and upcoming exams. As usual, she omitted the fact that she had no friends. As far as her parents knew, she never had a boyfriend either.

She was almost on the verge of telling them about Sibyl and having an inward argument with herself about it, when the phone behind her blinked rapidly and then went blank.

Adira picked it up while on the other line her mother was telling her about how much rain they were getting. She pressed on the little square button, but the screen didn’t light up.

Stupid software update must have drained the battery. Ugh! Tomorrow I’ll have to buy the charger as well.

She put the phone back in her box and then went into her room to remove her shoes, all the while talking about how much rain was going to come in the next few days.