Chaos was all over the city. The citizens were very enraged over the Joe's High School students not yet found. There were protests in the streets, many people with placards.
     The Chief Constable addressed them right in front of the police station with some Constables standing around him for protection from the angry crowd.
     "I know there has never been a case not settled for more than a week since this area was assigned under my care", he began and cleared his throat, "But we the police plead for you all to bear with us. We're working very astutely on these cases - The mysterious deaths of Joe's High School students and the disappearance of some students that took a tour with Mr Joseph", he begged gently.
     "We have kept all the staff of Joe's High School under house arrest while investigation goes on. I'm afraid we're dealing with something supernatural from all the information we've gathered so far", he added. His last statement angered the mob even more because they felt he was only making up an excuse of why the case was not yet resolved.
     They aired out their complaints. Some demanded for detailed explanation to what he meant by supernatural. Some even called him a flagrant lie straight to his face. He never said a word to them and only turned to go back into the police station accompanied by just a few Constables. The ones left stood there to prevent the mob from following the Chief Constable into the station.
     He went into the station and the gates were closed behind him. He tried dialing Dominic's line. "Will I even be able to reach out to him now they're in the woods?", he shook his head and soughed. He was feeling a lot of pressure. Dominic's line could not be reached and he tossed his phone into his pocket angrily and headed for his office.
* * *
     "The citizens accuse the police and government of acting nonchalantly over the disappearance of students who took a tour", Francis Ebuka reported.
     "Mary-Anne Chidi is in the streets. Let's listen to what the citizens have to say about the students who have been missing since taking a tour", a female colleague reported.
     Journalist Mary-Anne gave the mic to some citizens to air out their opinions. The first person to speak was an old man, though he stood straight and looked strong health wise.
     "Only Joe's High School has been losing a student day by day for a while now; is it not obvious someone or a group of people in that school has something to do with it? Yet the police paid no attention to the staff and especially, the owner. Now he has kidnapped our children and the Chief Constable is telling us they are dealing with something supernatural. Supernatural my foot!", he exclaimed, looking very much annoyed.
     The next person to speak was a mother. She held her child by the hand.
     "I have decided my boy won't go back to that school", she started, "Mr Joseph is surely using the students for something best known to him but as for me, my child won't go back to that school", she stated. She was kinder you the police though.
     "The police have been doing well...no doubt! I feel they should just step up in the game. They said they're dealing with something supernatural? Let them resolve it as quick as possible and bring back our missing children", she said.
     The third to air out his own opinion was a young man holding a placard that read;"We need our children back!!"
     "The police have been doing well, that's why I'm very surprised at their attitude towards this case. They don't seem to really care about the whereabouts of the missing children", he said bluntly.
     Reporter Mary-Anne Chidi gave her report then. "The citizens are very annoyed with the police, accusing them of lacking the interest in finding out where the missing students are. They have been protesting outside the police station for a while now", she said.
* * *
     Over to where Dominic and crew were, he was angry even more when he saw some of his sister's stuffs that he was able to recognize, especially her futon when he checked out another room. Her room she shared with her mates was also very untidy looking.
     "They probably forced them out of the house. Why else would their rooms be untidy?", he banged his hand against the door post in frustration.
     "We'll have to split up to go look for them", Mr Donald rested his hand on Dominic's shoulder.
     "Yes you're right! Let's split up!", he replied immediately in eagerness.
     Mr Donald gave him a walkie-talkie. "Have yours. I've already given one to Rita", he handed it over to Dominic.
     "Anyone left for me?", asked the principal.
     Mr Donald then handed him the last one left. "This is just for security reasons", he said to the principal with a flat expression. He then gave Dominic and Rita two guns each. They tested our their walkie-talkies and all were in good condition.
     "This will aid in communication in a place of no reception", he said. Dominic, Rita and the principal thanked him and quickly ran down the stairs and out of the building to go search for the students.
     "Good luck!!", Mr Donald wished them as the descended the stairs.
     "What are we going to do Sir?", asked one Constable.
     "We'll go another way. Let's go down", he replied. They went down the stairs in a hurry and out of the building. They looked rightwards and saw Dominic, Rita and the principal not too far away.
     "Let's go left" , he said to the Constables. They briskly went their own way in search for the students.
* * *
     A man and a woman, both of them farmers and married to each other, were walking past where the students laid to go home. They were at a distance away. They stopped in shock, feeling so terrible to see young children in such a sordid state.
     "Do you think we should go help them?", asked the husband.
     "Definitely", his wife replied, already on her way to attend to them. Her husband readily followed her behind. They bent below some branches on the way.
     The students were surprised to see people in the woods. Some of them stood up, waiting to see what the couple wanted doing.
     "How did all of you end up in the middle of a thick forest?", the woman asked, expressing her concern.
     Tricia walked up to them. "It's a long story. All I can say for now is that we came here to take a tour", she replied.
     "On a tour?", the woman got surprised, "Where are your supervisors? Your tour guards?", she inquired of Tricia.
     "The only supervisor we had betrayed and left us alone in the middle of nowhere to all die", she replied. Turning to see her fellow students in their horrible state, she pleaded with the couple;"Please we're dying of starvation. The fruits here are not safe to eat. Can you please give us something to eat?" She kept a very moody expression on her face.
     "This place is cursed; You can't expect to find food here. Anyone that eats of a tree here dies", the woman explained.
     "That's how we lost a fellow student", she said.
     "You guys should follow us. We have lots of food to spare", the woman turned to her husband to be sure he was in agreement with her. He nodded his head to show so. Tricia's mood was immediately brightened up.
     "Thank you Ma! Thank you Sir!", she expressed her happiness. She went to go share the good news with the rest. The couple felt very saddened looking at everyone's condition.
     Tricia went to inform her mates. "They are inviting us over so we could have something to eat", she said with delight.
     "Let's go then!", one of them gave a faint smile.
     "Let's help the younger ones get up", Ben left to go assist them. Some people followed him.
     "I had a strong feeling help would come", a girl brightened up.
     The farmers also lended a helping hand in supporting some students back to their feet. They all gradually left where they were, being led by the farmers.