Infinite Invincibility ( Thee Afroverse Codex: Dual Awakening)

Edward's eyes widened in horror the moment he heard Madam Beatrice's voice. His chest rose and fell rapidly, each breath tighter than the last.

Beside him, Mdachi held his breath, equally terrified.

He glanced at Edward, who stared blankly up at the curtains in front of them—paralyzed by panic. When Beatrice spoke again, Mdachi's thoughts halted, ears sharpening.

"I know you're in here, baby," Beatrice said casually.

Those words felt like torment.

"Now… where could you be hiding?"

Edward lowered his gaze, sinking deeper into dread.

His heart clenched. Hard.

Then, jerking back to the present, he turned and locked eyes with Mdachi—whose face showed pure petrification, waiting for Edward to take the lead.

Looking down again, Edward bit his lip, his mind racing for a way out.

His hands trembled.

"What if I'm not strong enough?"

"What if she beats me in an instant?"

"Mama Anita said the witch who erased my memories was incredibly powerful... What if it's her?"

"I can only levitate things... and not even heavy ones."

Outside their hiding spot, Madam Beatrice stepped closer to the desk, eyes slowly scanning the room.

She stopped just in front of it. One hand on her waist, the other pressed thoughtfully to her chin.

Pressing her lips together, she cast a sharp, narrowed look at the cupboard in the corner… then slowly looked down at the floor, frowning, as if trying to remember something.

Edward and Mdachi grew paler.

Sweat beaded on their foreheads.

The air felt thicker now, harder to breathe.

Edward tried to steady his trembling hands. He was ready—almost. But the fear wouldn't go. Not completely.

A small part of him wished this wasn't real—that it was all just another hallucination.

He remembered how brave he'd felt earlier, reacting to a false alarm that turned out to be Mdachi. But now that it was really her… the fear swallowed him whole. He didn't feel strong anymore. Just vulnerable.

Beatrice stared blankly ahead at the curtains.

Suddenly, her face lit up with a joyful realization.

She spun to her right, hair flipping gracefully over her shoulder, and looked behind her.

She saw it.

Beatrice rushed to the wall beside the door—toward the hanging pegs—and took down a silver snake-chain necklace. Its pendant was shaped like a flying dove, clutching a broken heart in its beak.

Her eyes sparkled with joy as she gently held it in her hands.

Hidden behind the desk, the boys listened, surprised—but slowly began to relax.

Mdachi let out a quiet sigh.

Edward started breathing again. He lowered his guard just slightly—right hand braced on the floor, left hand pressed against his chest, feeling his heart drum hysterically.

After a moment of composure, Edward turned to Mdachi—only to find him peeking at Beatrice from the edge of the desk.

In alarm, Edward grabbed his shirt and yanked him back. His face was clearly agitated, though he said nothing.

Mdachi understood.

He leaned closer and whispered, "I think it might be a false alarm."

Edward raised an eyebrow.

Mdachi gestured for him to stay calm and just watch. Then he peeked again.

"I had a feeling I'd find you here, my baby," Beatrice whispered to the necklace after kissing it several times.

Rubbing the pendant softly against her cheek, her voice turned sad.

"You're my most precious thing, you know. And I'll hold onto you until he returns, baby. Until he returns..."

She turned toward the window as she spoke—and then paused.

The curtain.

It was slightly open.

That wasn't normal.

Her expression twisted in confusion.

Fastening the necklace around her neck, she adjusted her hair and began walking toward the window, visibly unsettled.

Behind the desk, Mdachi quickly turned away and pressed his back against the drawers. His breathing quickened.

Edward stared at him for a second before realizing why.

He mirrored Mdachi's stillness—silent and tense—but this time, less afraid than before.

Alert. Listening.

Beatrice's footsteps grew louder.

"Is there anyone there?"

A strained voice suddenly echoed down the hallway.

It sounded young. Masculine. Weak. Like someone sick.

Beatrice froze in place.

"Anyone?" the voice repeated, closer now. Even more desperate.

Beatrice blinked in surprise. She had heard it.

She turned and rushed to the door.

Peeking into the hallway, she spotted a freshman slumped against the wall. He looked terribly ill—almost dying.

She hurried to him.

He collapsed into her arms.

"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked, struggling to hold him upright.

"I... I don't feel good," the boy said weakly, staring up at her. "I feel so sick..."

"Okay, let me just close my door and take you to the sickbay," Beatrice said, motioning toward her office.

But the boy clutched her sleeve, trembling.

"No," he pleaded. "Please don't go. I really need your help. I don't think I can wait... Please."

He gagged suddenly and covered his mouth. His cheeks puffed… then slowly relaxed.

"Okay, okay," Beatrice whispered. "Let's go."

She wrapped one of his arms around her shoulder and gently supported his weight, then carefully led him away down the hall.

Back in the office, Edward and Mdachi listened closely. The hallway echoed just enough for them to hear everything.

Mdachi looked up and clasped his hands in grateful prayer.

"Thank you Lord," he muttered under his breath.

Edward stood and dusted off his pants.

He crept to the door and peeked through.

Clear.

He walked back to Mdachi, who was still kneeling in quiet thanks.

"Now's our chance, Dachi. Let's go," Edward whispered, half-eager, half-relieved.

Mdachi scrambled to his feet and nodded, determination etched on his face.

But just as they were heading for the door—a knock tapped on the window.

Their hearts stopped.

Then—relief.

It was Anita.

Mdachi rushed over and opened the window. Edward followed.

"Don't be stupid and waste my effort, you dimwits," Anita scolded through gritted teeth. "Use the window, not the door."

-------

Buildings. People. Trees. And more.

Edward's eyes caught them all in fleeting flashes as the Uber cruised forward.

With one hand over his mouth, he stared pensively out the window. He hadn't spoken since they'd gotten into the car.

Anita and Mdachi, on the other hand, kept exchanging awkward glances—whenever their eyes met, they both quickly looked away. Anita turned back to the window, and Mdachi kept shifting his gaze around the car as if studying every nook and cranny.

The air was thick with unspoken tension, none of them willing to speak much with the driver present.

The car stopped.

"We're here," the driver announced softly, glancing at them through the rear-view mirror.

They snapped out of their thoughts and stepped out.

"Thanks," Mdachi remembered to mutter, closing the door behind him.

"My pleasure," the driver answered cheerfully as he drove off.

Mdachi joined the other two on the sidewalk as they all stared up at the towering building before them: Dhahabu Apartments.

"You sure this is a good idea, Anita?" Mdachi asked, a trace of unease in his voice as he eyed the building again, then turned back to her.

"You could've stayed at school if you didn't want to come, you know?" Anita shot back without looking at him.

Mdachi swallowed the rest of his questions.

"Come on, guys," Edward said quietly, trying to keep the peace.

Anita exhaled and softened. "I'm sorry, Dachi. I just... couldn't stay after what we went through... That was horrifying."

Mdachi scoffed. "You were horrified? Edward and I nearly got stewed in some magical cauldron by a suspiciously elegant evil witch. That's what I call horrifying."

"But you didn't, did you?" Anita snapped. "I saved your asses. So, just as it was terrifying for you, it was for me too."

"Guys, can we just talk inside?" Edward tried to cut in, exasperated.

"Yes, you saved us... but how'd you even pull that off? That boy sounded legit sick. I believed him too," Mdachi continued, curiosity sparking again.

"Guys!" Edward said sharply. He looked irritated now.

Both Anita and Mdachi flinched.

"Fine, fine, we're going," Mdachi grumbled, walking toward the entrance.

Anita rolled her eyes dramatically at Edward, then followed. She hated being corrected—especially in public, and especially like that.

"So... they did hear me," Edward murmured to himself as he watched Mdachi push the large glass door open.

His gaze lingered on Anita as she slipped in after holding the door. Shaking his head with a sigh, Edward followed them inside.

---

The elevator doors closed.

"So now we know for sure that Madam Beatrice is a witch," Mdachi blurted out immediately. The silence had clearly been bothering him. "You think she might be the one who vacuumed your memories?"

Edward turned to Anita, he asked, "Is it normal for witches to pose as teachers?"

"I... I mean, I guess?" Anita stammered, caught off guard. She quickly composed herself. "What I mean is—yeah. People like us blend in with society. So sure, a witch or anyone supernatural could easily pretend to be a casual teacher."

"Damn..."

Ding!

The elevator doors opened.

Mdachi kept talking as they stepped out. "Now I'm just wondering how many supernatural people I've come across in life thinking they were humans."

"'Humans? Seriously?" Anita frowned. "That's kind of offensive."

"I didn't mean—"

Edward interjected, turning to Anita. "So we can't be sure Madam Beatrice is the witch who took my memories. She might just be an ordinary one... living her own life, not involved in any of this."

His voice trembled slightly. He sounded more heartbroken than uncertain.

Mdachi looked at him with pity.

"You're right. We're not sure," Anita said, opening the door ahead of them. "But we can't stop here either. The vibes she gave? Definitely sketchy. We need to dig deeper."

"I agree with her," Mdachi added firmly.

Anita stepped inside first.

"So what do we do next?" Edward asked, following her into the corridor.

Mdachi came in last, closed the door, and hung up his jacket.

"I'm not sure yet," Anita admitted as she pulled off her hairband and flipped her hair loose.

But then she froze—eyes fixed toward the kitchen.

Edward followed her gaze... and bolted toward her.

His eyes widened.

Completely unaware, Mdachi bumped into Edward's back.

"Hey, what gives, man?" Mdachi started, annoyed. "Mov—"

He fell silent, words caught in his throat.

There, leaning against the kitchen island, arms crossed with a suspicious but ever-charming smile…

stood Jenevive.

Mdachi leaned toward Anita, whispering in disbelief, "I thought you said no one was home."