Uche had long recognized and grown familiar with this pain that lasted no more than a couple of seconds before turning into a distinct vision. And somehow, he had been waiting for it to happen for days now. He couldn't believe it himself — that he had been waiting for something like this.
Taking his mind into a state of clarity, Uche cleared his throat and focused as the vision became clear.
Just like the last few visions he had seen, a familiar book lay on a table with a pen hovering above it. The pen floated over the book for a minute, as if the writer were thinking of what to write, then eventually started moving.
The first words were…
*Hey, where have you been? I thought you were killed. I was dead worried.*
This was accompanied by several smirking sketches — and a few sad ones.
'That bastard.'
Uche thought, trying to control himself from shouting.
The pen continued moving.
*Anyways, I'm glad that you're alive, safe and sound, I guess.*
*How about a meet-up? I'm sure you're dying to see me.*
The vision faded immediately, making Uche almost spit — well, if he had a drink in his mouth, he would have spat it out.
"He… he wants to meet me. That bastard," Uche said, his blood boiling as he pointed his hand at the air, almost as if he were pointing at the words Snowflake had written.
"Well, this is good. Too good. Mira, where are you?"
He quickly got off his bed, hurrying to look for her.
"Mira, Mira, could you believe… believe…" Uche stammered as he barged into Mira's room — then turned back immediately.
'Damn, when did I lose my manners?'
The young lady was half-naked, still sleeping on her bed. She jolted awake when he called her name, and if not for the bedsheet she clutched tightly to cover herself, Uche would have seen what he wasn't supposed to.
'Damn.'
He hadn't even knocked before barging in. Mira stared at him with a mix of surprise and frustration.
"What is it? Why are you calling my name like that?"
She asked, pulling the duvet higher to cover more of her body.
"No worries. We'll talk later. Have some sleep,"
Uche said quickly, closing the door behind him as he walked off.
"Whatever,"
Mira muttered, going back to sleep.
Uche slowly walked back to the room he was temporarily occupying in Mira's house. He sat on the bed, staring blankly into the air, thinking of nothing in particular. He was trying to get his mind off the fact that he had barged into Mira's room and found her half-naked — but unfortunately for him, that scene kept replaying in his head.
"Damn, her body is so fresh… flawless."
The picture of her half-naked form resurfaced again and again in his mind, his imagination beginning to run wild.
"What am I thinking…"
Luckily for him, the familiar faint pain returned, making him smile brightly.
"Just at the right time."
As usual, the pain turned into a vision, still with the same setting as before. But this time, the book already had words written on it.
At the top was a well-detailed address, and right below it was another sentence, marked with a warning sign sketch at the end:
*Be right there tonight, by 9 p.m.*
*You must come alone, or else you'll regret it and lose your eye forever.*
The vision ended right there.
*Why does it sound like he's dead serious? Like he's angry?*
Uche thought.
He couldn't see the familiar mocking sketches that Snowflake usually added at the end of his words, and this message in particular seemed rather harsh.
"Well, it doesn't matter anyway."
He immediately picked up his phone, copied the address into it so he wouldn't forget later.
Just then, the door creaked open. Mira stepped in, still clutching her duvet around her body. She walked slowly toward him, and for a moment, Uche felt the urge to disappear and never return. He was embarrassed.
"Hey, what was that for? You can't just come into my room and leave right after without saying anything,"
She said, sitting down beside him.
"Huh… sorry, I thought I disturbed your sleep,"
Uche stammered.
"Actually… Snowflake contacted me again."
Mira's attention sharpened instantly, her eyes widening.
"What… what did he say?"
Uche slowly raised his phone, showing her the address.
"He told me to come here tonight. Alone. Or else I'll regret it — and lose my eye forever," Uche explained.
"Did you ask him why he wanted you to come?"
Mira asked.
Uche raised an eyebrow.
"How does that matter? And don't forget — he's the only one who controls the conversation."
"Oh yeah… you're right. Then what are we waiting for? Let's make a plan."
---
Several minutes later, Uche and Mira sat on sleek metal chairs, staring at the virtual display of a map on a computer system in front of them. Different pointers blinked across the map.
"Are you sure this is right?"
Uche asked, cautious.
"Trust me. That bastard is not getting away," Mira replied with a reassuring smile.
On the virtual map, a detailed district was zoomed in more clearly than the others. Two tall buildings stood close together, their alleyway leading to a small, quiet street with only a handful of people walking through.
That was where Uche was supposed to meet Snowflake.
Several tall buildings lined the street, and the designated meeting spot was the fifth building — at least fifty stories tall.
The plan was for Uche to meet Snowflake while Mira stayed on one of the tallest, closest buildings in the district, just outside the street. She would watch and be ready to act at the last moment, even if nothing went wrong.
"Take this. It will give me access to your conversation with him — and also serve as a tracker,"
Mira said, handing him a small wristwatch, identical to the one she wore.