A/N
This is a flashback chapter and a vital one
T/W
Suicidal Ideation

Nothing intrigued her, nothing fascinated her. She didn't look forward to waking up and continuing the boring cycle of her life.

She wanted to end her life, but in as much as she was scared to live. She was also scared of dying - dying without creating a name for her self.

Dying with the shouts and the screams repeating every minute in her head.

Dying with an horrid image of shattered glass sprawled on the floor, an image of blood pooling beside a body.

She wasn't ready to go to hell without someone to remember her.

Hell because that's where her mother had chanted countless times to her. Hell her mother had told her she belonged.

She was a loner and had no friends in this huge boarding school. She was supposed to feel empty inside.

But yet... She didn't feel it.

Everything felt blank, everything around her felt unimportant.

She didn't gasp or yelp in pain when a bee had stung her on her way to the school cafeteria, instead she'd paused to stare at the stinging spot on her skin, marveling at how she didn't feel the urge to rub her palm over it.

She was absolutely... Numb.
And she appreciated it.

Three sessions completed, she only had three more sessions to go through.
Then she'll move on, go to a Nigerian university and get a job. Marriage was the last thing she'd ever indulge in. Her parents failed marriage was enough reason why she shouldn't and a totally unwanted child who was blamed for everything, sometimes to her face and sometimes yelled through the house, a reminder of that reason.

  She was her reminder.

Arguments centered round her.

She'd rather die single than have her child hate her.

Better than raising an unwanted child.

She found it funny how a mother who was meant to love and protect her hated her mere presence.
Her father had been better in many ways.

At least he came back for her.

She gazed up at the darkening sky. It was dinner time and foolish clumsy her, had forgotten her note in her class during evening prep. She didn't need the note. But she'd realized she had absolutely nothing to do in her hostel before lights out and would prefer skimming through her school note than recounting the tiles on the floor of her dorm.

So she'd embarked on the journey back to the school building, walked into her class and picked up her book that was safely tucked in her locker. Going back to the hostel seemed stupid since the Cafe was already booming with noise...

Everyone had probably left their hostels and was now waiting in there for dinner to commence.

The bee that'd stung her hovered around, making annoying 'Buzz' sounds around her ears.

It was circling her and as she paused to watch it. It quickly moved towards the direction of the Cafe, her eyes followed the small insect, attentively watching it before it turned left immediately and went straight to the auditorium besides her.
Not sure what was controlling her, she followed the bee, awed at the fact that the bee had actually fascinated her.

She climbed down the rocky stones leading to the auditorium, straying from the walk way. The bee had paused several times before circling again at her head, buzzing in her ears then it flew straight into the auditorium.

Munachi Odumba walked in to the huge empty hall, searching for the bee with her eyes.

With her eyes failing to find the bee, she decided to turn back and continue her walk to the cafeteria until her ear picked up a low 'buzz' sound, motivated now not to give up, she searched for the bee again.

And there it was, hovering over the musical instruments. Before perching at an MP3 player.

Amazed at how her eyes could sight something so tiny a distance away she laughed. Before running up to the front of the large hall. The bee suddenly flew up and hovered round her head again.

"Why do you suddenly pique my interest?" she asked the beautiful yellow and black bee, receiving a 'buzz-buzz' reply.

She laughed.

"You must think I'm crazy. Talking to an insect don't you?" she questioned the bee again.

"I'm not crazy. Mother says I'm worthless. But absolutely not crazy. " she said again erupting into an emotionless laugh.

"Better crazy than worthless. " Munachi gave a light twirl after dropping her notebook on the floor in front of her.

"You're my first friend in a long time. I really do need friends. But no one wants to talk to me. They've all tagged me weird and abnormal. " She twirled again.

Laughter filling the air, she continued.

"But who cares what they say as long as I got you. " She paused and looked up at the bee who suddenly started hovering round her in great speed that it frightened her.

Another emotion she wasn't used to feeling in school.

"Woah. Easy there. What? You want to sting me again?" Munachi asked with a smirk before erupting into another fit of laughter.

Outside, a ninth grader who'd come to retrieve his bag at the auditorium froze after hearing series of laughter.

Goosebumps pricked his arm and he cursed at Chidinma for forgetting his bag in here. He didn't even want to give her in the first place, his bag was jejely(Peacefully) on its way to his hostel when she'd requested for his notes and offered to carry it back for him.

Well she'd forgotten it after rehearsal and had just told him in the Cafeteria after he'd asked for it.

Silent anger passed through him when he heard that but they all fused away as he stared at her sad face.

She really was a beauty to behold.

And after his best friend had squeezed his arm in apology.

Well he wished now he hadn't said he'll retrieve it himself. He wished he'd let her go get it as she first offered.

He had a strong phobia for ghosts. Worst was a laughing ghost.

The laughter on its own didn't seem dangerous, maybe innocent and childish but definitely not dangerous.

Arthur wasn't taking any chances. He was about to turn back and ask Rooney to help him retrieve his bag... Ignore the laughter and the teasing that was sure to follow, before he heard the loud music blast from the auditorium.

Just great. Those useless seniors had forgotten the MP3 and now the ghost was playing with it.

Wait, ghost can't touch human things right?

Suddenly he was curious, who was in there?

He walked slowly and peered inside, his eyes bulging out as he watched a thin girl twirl.

Was she in his school? Of course she was, she was wearing a red house wear.

Maybe she wasn't in his class, maybe she was in 7th grade, she did look small.

His fears evaporating as he watched her twirls turn into steps. Feeling braver now, he stopped starring at her and walked away from the auditorium.

Deciding to follow another door to get to his bag. He was sure that if he'd followed through the main entrance she would've seen him and stopped... Dancing. He didn't want that.

  For some weird reason, he was attracted to her strange dancing.

Her dance steps lacked practice, that was obvious with the way she moved. But her dance was dripping passion and he could feel it as he walked round the auditorium.

"I'm not crazy I swear! " Arthur froze.
He knew that voice... And was she talking to him?

He looked up with his bag in his left arm. Her eyes were closed.. So she wasn't.

Who was NUMB talking to?

"Yeah.. I might be crazy talking to a bee. But you are the first thing to fascinate me in a while. " she said again and Arthur wondered how she wasn't seeing him.

Oh... Her eyes were closed.

She laughed again and her voice pierced his chest.

Wait, she couldn't be NUMB, the NUMB everyone knew didn't laugh or smile.. Or talk.

So who was she?

He stared intensely at her. She was her. She was Munachi Odumba, she was Numb. So why was she laughing...

At a bee... What bee?

Why did Emerald Academy admit lunatics?

Her eyes snapped open, dark brown sparkling eyes that seemed to captivate him.

He suddenly looked away feeling nervous. And glad she hadn't caught him starring. Last thing he wanted was for her to run.

She touched a button on the player and Ciara's - Level up blasted through the speakers.

Then hell broke out.

Repeating the words with Ciara, she twisted her waist.

She didn't look like she lacked practice anymore. Her waist breaking sharper than he'd seen Shakira's waist break.

"Five, four, three,two,one.. " she sang out while hitting her chest with her two hands slowly as she mouthed "Level up." countless times twerking quickly with the song.

Woah

Slowly she moved her waist, dancing sultry all of a sudden. Whyning as if grinding on an invincible guy. Arthur froze up watching her move with some sort of inner anger inside her.

Her eyes screwed shut as she danced almost professionally to the music, she didn't dance like any of the dancers in the music video, instead she moved like Ciara. Anger seeping through her steps as she re counted with Ciara,

He gulped.

She was sitting on her knees now twerking slowly as she rose up. She was getting all touchy with her body and he stared with lust suddenly in his eyes.

She had great talent and probably inspiration greater than his.

Heck, he didn't even have inspiration, dancing was just fun.

He waited for the song to end as he moved closer to her.

"Hey." he said... Shocked at how NUMB was making him nervous.

The song had ended a few minutes ago and a low humming sound replaced it, but she had her back facing him staring at the MP3 player.

"Bee when did you start talking? Wow I am crazy. No friends and now a bee is talking to me. " Arthur's heart broke as he heard that.

No friends...

He looked left and right searching for the bee she was talking to.

He saw Nada.

"Bee? Are you still there? Please don't leave I promise not to laugh again." Munachi said slowly and he felt tears prick his eyes.

How lonely was she that she was begging a 'bee' not to leave her?

"I'll never leave you." Arthur realized it was too late to take back his words when she'd turn quickly and stared at him.

Emotionless black eyes stared widely at him. He froze.

"Arthur." she said... Her voice sounding low and giving nothing away.

She didn't look shocked to see him.. But she also didn't look like she'd expected him. All in all she didn't look like she felt everything.

"How'd you know my name? " he asked wanting to continue this conversation with a stranger.

"Everyone knows you. Arthur Dike. New student, transfered this term. They all talk about you. Chiamaka's boyfriend. " she stated blankly.

A smirk formed... And by 'all' she meant 'girls'.

He wasn't so sure about the Chiamaka's part.

He came to the school less than three months ago, but the hype over him was still high. Particularly because he could dance.

And so could she.

"What did you do to my Bee? " She questioned, her voice almost sounding robotic.

She had this uninterested look in her eyes like he was boring her.

That fact ticked him off.

"What bee? " he asked sincerely, cause he didn't see a bee when he'd climbed up.

"He suddenly went silent before you appeared. Move back. " she ordered and he found himself obeying the tiny girl.

She stared at the smooth tiled floor. Then glared at him.

"You killed my bee. You killed my only friend. " She glared harder at him, dropped to her knees while he watched her.

Guilt washed over him as he watched the smashed carcass of... A bee.

Wtf?! He was feeling guilt over a bee?

Then shock. Did Numb just glare at him? A girl who didn't even speak to anyone was glaring at him.. For stepping on a bee?

"You're a lunatic. " he muttered without a filter in his mouth.

She stared at him emotionless again. That bored look on her face again.

He squirmed under her gaze, certain he didn't like feeling like she could see right through him.

Not right through his clothes like he'd seen girls stare at him with dirty smirks but like she could read him easily, like he was transparent glass and she could see the stains on him.

"And you're a murderer. " her voice was empty. Snapping him back to reality.

She grabbed a book he didn't notice was there and used it to usher the carcass unto the book.

"You're definitely not invited to its burial. " she growled at him with all seriousness and his laughter filled the auditorium.

She picked her self up carefully as she held her book then switched off the MP3 and walked out the door. Not before Arthur yelled.

" I no go even come the burial oh. You wan make I craze with you(I won't even come for the burial, do you want me to be as crazy as you?)I don't get why Emerald academy enrolled lunatics. "

Which hurt her a lot, but it wasn't anything she wasn't used to.

He slung his bag over one arm and walked out.

Not in the least surprised to see his set mate leaning down and digging at the ground.

"I'm unwanted but not crazy. " she muttered when he walked pass her.

He wanted to ask what she meant but realized he was outside. And there was no way in hell he was going to get caught talking to NUMB.

He ignored her and walked towards the Cafe. He sat beside Rooney his new best friend.

"Guy why're you smiling like that? Because you found your bag or what? " Rooney asked.

Arthur shook his head watching the door closest to the auditorium with full attention.

He zipped down his bag and brought out two sausage rolls and a dark red hibiscus drink.

"Just watch. " he smirked before taking a sip of his drink.

"Maybe na witch possess am when he enter the auditorium. I hear say na for evening time winshes they pass this school. (Maybe he got possessed by a witch when he entered the auditorium. I heard it's usually by this time they fly pass.)" Kenelum replied and Chiamaka walked in through the main entrance.

Arthur smirked at her and she blushed before making way to their table with her namesake beside her.

"Hey baby boo. " she kissed his lips and Rooney gagged.

So did his roommates.

"Carry your PDA to some where else and fuck. " Nonso said with a scowl and Chiamaka pulled away.

"Look eh. Nonso abi(Or)whatever your name is. Better behave oh. Don't know what's wrong with you. It's not by force to allow you to fuck me. This Veejay is exclusive to important people only. " Chiamaka eyed him as she spoke.

Kenneth's knee jerked against the table besides Arthur but Arthur didn't spare him a glance, his eyes fully focused on the door.

"Why would I want to screw a public toilet like you? Cheap whore no vex me make I no tear you slap(Don't get me angry before I slap you.)" Nonso threatened and Arthur smirked, his eyes drifting back to the door that was closest to the auditorium.

"What are you thinking about b? " the fifteen year old on his legs asked.

"How long does it normally take to conduct a burial? " Arthur blurted out and his roommates took it as an insult aimed at Chiamaka so they all erupted into loud laughter that turned a lot of heads.

Chiamaka gasped and slapped him.

"How dare you? You wanna kill me? And bury me?" Obviously Chiamaka mis understood him too.

He was about to explain to his friends what he'd actually meant when she walked in.

She was thin and tall, yet something about her screamed small, her hair was on a low cut now turning into a mini afro.

A blank expression was on her face but she had a light pout on her brown and red lips.

Probably mourning her dead bee.

She was glowing under the bright bulb, she wasn't as fair as Rooney was but she wasn't as chocolatey as he was.

She was in between light brown and orange, her red house wear wasn't flared but straight and long and he frowned when he didn't detect any curves.

Her brown sandals fit perfectly with her light brown feet.

He watched as she walked to the sink nearest to the door and washed her hand and Arthur smiled when he noted that she had good hygiene.

"He's smiling again. " Rooney muttered.

"Chiamaka you're not safe again. They've fucked you now they want to kill you. G+ boy we hail oh. " Segun smirked.

Arthur's attention returned back to his table.

"I'm not a G boy. " he murmured and turned to stare back at Munachi.

"You go admit am before?(Of course you'd deny it) " Kenneth smirked.

Arthur caught Rooney staring at him.

"What are you looking at?" Chiamaka's shrilly voice asked loudly.

"Who. Who is he looking at. " Rooney corrected with a smirk directed at Arthur.

Busted.

  But he'll definitely tell Rooney later on in the night in private.

"My little Lunatic. " Arthur replied with a smirk and then a microphone turning on silenced the air.

"Keep quiet everyone! " Their head boy's voice echoed everywhere and Arthur secretly searched for Munachi while feigning interest in the head boy.

"Acting perfects assist me. " The head boy wailed and loud snickering erupted from the SS3 corner.

"Na your Papa be acting prefect(Your dad's the acting perfect)" Darren's voice was the loudest.

"Guy who dey follow you dey act(Dude, who's your fellow actor?)" Darrel, his twin brother followed.

"I swear! We're all perfects biko. Na only you be actor for here(Please. You're the only actor here.)" another SS3 guy yelled and they all started laughing.

Everyone on their table laughed, Chiamaka and her namesake giggled falsely. But Rooney scowled.

He hated his brothers, they were always in the spotlight for as long as he could remember—they've always left him in their tall shadows.

"As I was saying. Someone pray for us. " Senior Fola spoke into the microphone after clearing his throat and silencing everyone.

"No one wants to pray for us?" Fola asked and the head girl spoke up.

"Guy. Pick someone, let someone eat and go and read." Aisha said.

Today for some reason, no head master or mistress was present.

The seniors had full control.

But either way, someone was always randomly picked during dinner to pray

"Okay. You there. Fine girl. " Everyone laughed at senior Fola.

Arthur laughed and turned to look at the girl he'd called on.

Munachi...

"Fola, she's NUMB oh! She cannot talk. " Chiamaka yelled beside Arthur and he forced a laugh.

Why didn't she add the 'Senior' to his name?  Chiamaka had once told him every senior she didn't call senior had fallen at her feet offering her everything and anything so they could sleep together.

Arthur found it disgusting to note that Fola was among them, predators preying on younger girls.

"Girl shut up. " Rooney growled at her and she gasped.

Why'd he snap at Chiamaka for mocking Numb?

"Fine girl, we're waiting for you. " Senior Fola said handing her the microphone.

"In Jesus name...” Not even a stutter and everyone closed their eyes on cue.

Responding with loud "Amen's" to every pause she made.

"... In Jesus mighty name we've prayed. " she finished.

The Cafeteria became loud again as metal plates started clanking and people started opening their large coolers of food.

His eyes met hers and she gave him a cold yet emotionless look and he looked away immediately.

This term just got more interesting.

A/N
This chapter IS VERY VERY important, even the minor details like the bee(🐝), writer to reader, that pesky bee is/was (RIP🥺) the butterfly effect to EVERYTHING, the prayer scene too.

Even as 'unimportant' as Nonso words🥰

Because this book is now picking up❤

Time for you to get addicted