Screams from the Abyss

Nalanda

Different buses were properly packed in front of the school, their red exteriors decorated with white stripes. Students from different classes were lined up in front of the vehicles, chattering excitedly as they awaited departure. Each class had been designated to a specific bus, with their respective teachers supervising the boarding process.

Miss Thompson stood before her class, dishing out instructions to her students before they made their way onto the bus. Scanning through the entire population of her class, she noticed someone was missing.

'Where's he?'Miss Thompson thought with a stern expression. She had already warned her students not to be late, and she would not tolerate any delays.

Meanwhile, Alex was growing increasingly anxious. He stood at the front of the line, eagerly anticipating Jaden's arrival. The two had planned to sit together for the trip to Africa, and Alex was starting to worry that Jaden had changed his mind. As the minutes ticked by, Alex's concern turned to frustration. "Why the hell are you keeping me waiting?" he muttered under his breath.

Finally, Jaden sauntered through the school entrance with a nonchalant attitude, his black hoodie pulled over his head. His hands were tucked into his pants as he made his way towards where his class was lined up. He wore a poker face as he approached Alex's location, unaffected by his friend's irritation.

"Ah, thank God you finally made it," Alex said with a heavy sigh. "Why the hell did you keep me waiting? Miss Thompson had been looking around. I could tell you were the reason."

Jaden looked up at Miss Thompson, who was busy talking to another teacher. "I'm sorry, man. I got caught up in something and lost track of time," he apologized half-heartedly. His tone and body language conveyed a lack of remorse or concern.

"It doesn't look that way to me," Alex said, glaring at him. "You casually strolled in like you didn't have a care in the world."

Jaden shrugged his shoulders, offering no explanation or further apology. He remained unfazed by Alex's frustration, his uncaring attitude suggesting that he wasn't particularly invested in the trip.

Finally, the principal arrived, striding towards the front of the line and standing before the students with the buses behind him. He pounded his foot on the ground, causing it to vibrate as a platform rose from the ground momentay. Getting on the makeshift stage, he began his speech, giving the students instructions and warnings about the trip. Jaden listened passively, his expression unchanged, as the principal wished the students luck and stepped off the platform.

With the speech over, the students began to make their way onto the buses. Soon enough, the engines roared to life, and the vehicles pulled off from the driveway, heading for the airport.

____

As the buses pulled up to the airport, the students excitedly made their way to the entrance, chattering and laughing about the upcoming trip.

Jaden and Alex made their way to the boarding gate, joining the long line of students waiting to board the plane. Jaden felt a little guilty for his reaction towards Alex earlier, so he tried to strike up a conversation.

"You excited about this trip, man?" Jaden asked, trying to sound enthusiastic.

"Are you kidding? This is going to be the trip of a lifetime!" Alex exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.

Jaden couldn't help but feel a little jealous of Alex's enthusiasm. He had never been outside of Thalassia before, but he wasn't sure how much he cared about it. Sure, it would be cool to see Africa and all, but he didn't want to get his hopes up too high.

As they waited in line, Jaden observed the other students around them. Some were bouncing with excitement, while others looked nervous or scared. Jaden felt like he was somewhere in between - he wasn't scared, but he wasn't exactly excited either.

Eventually, they made their way to the front of the line and handed their boarding passes to the flight attendant. She smiled warmly at them and directed them to their seats.

Jaden and Alex settled into their seats, stowing their bags in the overhead compartment. Just before the plane took off, the pilot's voice came over the intercom. "Hello, ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. Welcome aboard this flight to Nalanda. We hope you have a pleasant journey. Please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for takeoff."

Jaden glanced out the window and watched as the airport workers loaded luggage into the cargo hold. The roar of the engines outside filled the cabin as the plane started to taxi down the runway.

But just as they were settling in, the pilot's voice came over the intercom again. "Ladies and gentlemen, a reminder that we are traveling to a foreign country with different laws and regulations. I must emphasize that the use of any abilities or powers on this flight is strictly prohibited. Any violation of this rule will result in serious consequences."

Jaden felt a slight twinge of nerves in his stomach as the plane lifted off the ground, but he tried to push it aside. He was determined to enjoy this trip, even if he wasn't as enthusiastic as some of the other students.

As they climbed higher into the sky, Jaden closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was on his way to Africa - a place he had only read about in books. Who knew what adventures awaited him there?

____

As the plane descended towards the runway of the bustling airport, Jaden's eyes were glued to the window. He watched in awe as the vast expanse of land below came into view, the landscape changing from the familiar streets of Thalassia to the rugged terrain of the African country they were about to land in.

The excitement in the air was palpable, the students fidgeting in their seats, craning their necks to get a better view of their destination. Alex nudged Jaden, a wide grin on his face.

"Can you believe it, man? We're finally here!"

Jaden couldn't help but smile in response, feeling a spark of enthusiasm ignite within him. As the plane touched down on the tarmac, the roar of the engines filling their ears, the students broke into a round of applause.

They filed out of the plane, the heat hitting them like a wall as they stepped onto the tarmac. A group of officials in bright colored dress were waiting to greet them, a banner with the words "Welcome to Nalanda" stretched out behind them.

Jaden couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder as he looked around, taking in the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the airport. The students were herded towards a waiting bus, their luggage loaded onto the back.

As they made their way through the bustling streets of Nalanda, Jaden took in the vibrant colors of the buildings, the crowds of people moving about their day. He felt a sense of adventure stirring within him, eager to explore everything this new place had to offer.

Eventually, the bus pulled up to a large hotel, the students piling out and stretching their legs after the long flight. Jaden followed the group inside, his eyes taking in the opulent decor of the lobby..

Once they arrived at the hotel, the students were given some free time to explore the area around the hotel. Some students decided to go shopping at the nearby markets while others went to the local restaurants to try the local cuisine.

Jaden and Alex decided to go on a walk through the city streets. As they walked, Jaden couldn't help but feel out of place in this new environment. He had never been to a place like this before and he wasn't sure if he was ready for it.

Alex noticed Jaden's unease and put his arm around him. "Don't worry man, we're in this together," he said with a smile.

Jaden smiled back at him, feeling comforted by his friend's words. Together they continued their walk, taking in the sights and sounds of this new and exciting place.

As they walked through the vibrant streets, Jaden and Alex couldn't help but admire the unique style of the country. The traditional attires of the locals added to the cultural richness of the place. The air was filled with the scent of exotic spices and the sounds of the lively street musicians.

In the distance, they spotted Drake and his friends talking with a local store owner. Alex's pace slowed down, and he stopped in his tracks, refusing to move any further. Jaden noticed the change in his friend's behavior and stopped beside him.

"You don't have to worry about him. He won't be stupid enough to attack us in public," Jaden reassured Alex, placing a hand on his shoulder.

As they continued walking, they drew closer to where Drake and his goons stood. Drake spotted them and greeted them with a smirk on his face.

"Oh, look who decided to show up. Jaden finally made it," Drake said, taunting them. "You had us worried for a while it's weird that I didn't see you through the flight here" he added, laughing as his goons joined in.

"Let's go, Jaden," Alex said, dragging his friend away.

As they walked away, they could still hear Drake's mocking laughter ringing in their ears. The tension in the air was palpable, and Jaden and Alex couldn't wait to get back to the safety of their hotel.

Upon their arrival, every student was given a bracelet as a security measure to monitor their movements. They were instructed not to remove it for the duration of their stay, which only added to the already

heightened sense of security in the foreign land.

***