THE NEXT NIGHT
OUTSIDE A BUILDING – 9:56PM]
The sky is pitch black. No stars. No moon. A deserted street. A man dressed in all black — mask, face cap, and backpack, looks around cautiously before jumping the fence into a building.
Messy room with clothes scattered everywhere. Idris is on his laptop and a phone call, visibly agitated.
Idris: What do you mean by that shit?! Are you saying the police are after us? You’ve got to be kidding me! You better bribe them or something—I don’t care how you do it. Just get the job done! (Ends call, panting) Such a fool... (Thinking) I’ve got to do something...
Suddenly, he hears footsteps.
Idris: Who is it? (He grabs a small knife, eyes fixed on the door) I know you’re out there... Come in now.
The door bursts open, hitting Idris in the face. A masked man rushes in, punching him repeatedly. Idris struggles to fight back but is overpowered, blood pouring from his face.
Idris: (panting) Who are you? What do you want?
Masked Guy: I don’t owe you an explanation. I’m just here to do to you what you did to that girl.
He drags Idris to a chair. As Idris tries to resist, the man punches him again, then binds him to the chair with rope. He stuffs a boxer into Idris's mouth and seals it with duct tape. Idris groans in pain. The masked man clears the desk, opens his bag, and lays out a hammer, knife, and large scissors.
Masked Guy: So... choose one.
Idris: (groaning loudly)
Masked Guy: Oh, you don’t want to choose? (He picks up the hammer) I guess this will do.
Idris begins to cry, shaking with fear.
Masked Guy: So you can be scared. You have the guts to chop off someone’s hand, but now look at you.
(Furious, he smashes the hammer into Idris’s legs repeatedly. Idris screams in pain, but his voice is muffled. The bones crack under the pressure.)
Eventually, Idris passes out from the pain.
The masked man calmly returns the tools to his bag, wipes down the area, and leaves quietly, jumping over the fence again into the night.
***************************************************
[NEXT MORNING – CAMPUS – 8:32AM]
Campus is bustling. Students and staff fill the walkways. Sefinat walks slowly, scrolling through her phone, looking at her late brother’s profile. She suddenly spots Habeebah walking past.
Sefinat: Habeebah! (Runs after her) Hello? As-salaam alaikum.
Habeebah: Wa alaikum salaam. What do you want?
Sefinat: Why have you been avoiding me? I mean no harm… please.
Habeebah: Then leave me alone. (Climbs stairs)
Sefinat: Come on, I just want to be your friend...
Habeebah: Then find your level in class and stop bothering me. (She enters a crowded lecture room)
Sefinat glances around, then sits and scrolls through her phone.
[INT. CLASSROOM – MOMENTS LATER]
Aisha: Guys! Did you hear?
Everyone turns to look.
Aisha: I heard Idris was attacked last night.
Classmates: Ehn?! Idris?! No way!
Aisha: That’s why he’s not here today. He’s unconscious at the hospital. And I heard... he was the one who attacked that girl found bleeding in the female restroom weeks ago.
The class erupts in murmurs, some shocked, some skeptical.
A.Z.: How do you even know that? Where do you get these stories?
Aisha: I’m in a secret club. My info is always legit. You know that. Believe it or leave it.
Mariam: If it’s true, then he got what he deserved.
Suraj: Maybe if all predators were attacked like that, the deaths of innocents would stop.
The class slowly calms down and returns to their seats. Sefinat is deep in thought.
Sefinat: (thinking) If this is true, then there’s more to this than I imagined. I need to investigate... secretly.
She finds an old post from her late brother showing a picture with his girlfriend, but the face is hidden by an emoji.
Sefinat: I need to find her. Why did he hide her face though? Maybe she knows something...
She glances around and catches Khalid staring at her. Their eyes meet briefly before she looks away.
Khalid looks down at his phone, deep in thought. Habeebah is also on her phone doing business research. The lecturer walks in and the class settles down.
************************************
[NOON – CLASSROOM]
Sefinat looks around, scanning the class, unsure where to begin. Her real target is Habeebah, but she doesn’t want to create a scene. She approaches a quiet student and whispers.
Sefinat: Hello? Uhmm... I'm sorry to bother you. Please, I just need a favor.
John: (removes his earpod) What is it?
Sefinat: Actually, do you know this lady? (shows him a picture)
John: (squints at the image) I think I’ve seen her a few times. Yeah... I know her.
Sefinat: (excited) Really?
John: (thinking) I believe she’s the late Jamiu’s girlfriend.
Sefinat: Really? Why hasn’t she been coming to school or class?
John: Well, we’re not course mates...
Sefinat: Ohhh... Do you know where I can find her?
John: That’s all I know.
Sefinat: Alright. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
She returns to her seat and finds a folded paper on her desk. Looking around, suspicious, she opens it. It reads:
"I have told you to stay out of trouble and return to where you came from."
Sefinat: (scans the room, spots him and glares, then whispers) Mind your own business.
Khalid: (confused) What? Are you crushing on me now?
Aisha: (turns around sharply) Who's crushing on you, babe?
Sefinat: (angrily stands up and storms out)
Aisha: Hey! I’m still talking to you!
Khalid: (watching her leave, thinking)
Habeebah: (focused on her phone, thinking) Maybe I should start selling snacks and pens in class. That’ll generate daily income... Forty thousand is all I’ve got left.
[LATER THAT NIGHT – OUTSIDE SEFINAT'S APARTMENT]
Sefinat is dusting her slippers outside her mini apartment, about to go in. Her phone buzzes with a message notification. Just as she checks it, a voice calls from behind.
Ridwan: Hello, Sefinat?
Sefinat: (clenches her fist and turns) What do you want?
Ridwan: Come on! Is that how you welcome me to your new “face-me-I-face-you” apartment?
Sefinat: I won’t say it again. What do you want? And how did you find me?
Ridwan: Alright. I’m just worried about you. You’ve no idea how long I’ve been searching. I almost reported you missing.
Sefinat: Because you lost your prey, abi?
Ridwan: Come on, Sefinat. You know I mean well. How can I leave my friend’s sister alone? Never.
Sefinat: Well, I don’t need your help anymore. Thanks. (starts heading inside)
He grabs her hand.
Ridwan: Please... Let’s talk!
Sefinat: (shoots him a deadly glare)
He quickly lets go.
Ridwan: Alright then. Here... take this cash. I’ll get you more later.
Sefinat: No thank you. (enters and locks her door)
Ridwan: (sighs deeply) Sefinat, why are you so stubborn? How can a woman reject money? You’re just weird... (pauses) Sefinat, please come out. Let’s talk.
Khalid watches from a nearby building, hidden in shadows. He turns and walks away.
*************************************
[AT THE FILM VILLAGE]
Munir heads to his small shop. Divine sees him and greets him with a handshake.
Munir: Guy, how far now?
Divine: I dey oo... Wetin sup?
Munir: I dey jare..
Divine: Ehn... I wan ask about your sister. She never comot for prison?
Munir: She never comot jare. E don tire me self. I no even remember the last time I visit her. I gat problems too, bro.
Divine: But na your twin sister we dey talk about o.
Munir: So wetin make I do?
Divine: At least visit her often, to support her emotionally.
Munir: Make she dey there for now. I go visit when I get chance. Later, bro.
Divine: Munir!!! You no do well o. Ahh ahh? That fine girl with shape... That’s why e no good make girl too fine — na wahala on its own. May God be with her.
***************************************
[AT THE HOSPITAL]
Khalid watches happily from the doorway as a girl eats with her father in the hospital.
Khalid: (smiling) Hello, sir. (bows slightly)
Mr. Badmus: Ahhh! Our savior! (runs to him, almost prostrating)
Khalid: What are you doing, sir? Please… (pulls him up) Please, I beg you...
Mr. Badmus: Thank you so much. We heard... she heard. And now look — she’s smiling despite the pain. She’s responding to treatment excellently.
Khalid: Actually... I don’t understand. I didn’t do anything, sir. (confused)
Mr. Badmus: (leans in, whispers) Weren’t you the one that... (grabs his hand, pulls him outside) I thought you did that to him?
Khalid: Did what, sir?
Mr. Badmus brings out his phone and shows him a picture.
Khalid: (shocked) Is that... Idris? (stares at the image of a heavily bandaged Idris, unconscious) I... I didn’t do this.
Mr. Badmus: You didn’t?
Khalid: No, sir. I had intentions of confronting him, but I would never go that far. Whoever attacked him... they’re incredibly strong.
Mr. Badmus: So you know nothing about this?
Khalid: I swear, I don’t! (still stunned) Look at his swollen legs... Oh my God.
Mr. Badmus: Then whoever did this is an angel sent by God. Thank you... for visiting.
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