Into the World of Twisted Wonderland Pt 2

🐍 Schemer of the Scalding Sands: Chapter 17 🐍

Once everyone arrived at the oasis, they collapse, wheezing and panting for any air they could get in their lungs and the two were no exception as they collapse, for Angel, Jamil carefully lowered to the ground in which no damage would occur before heading off to the other students, and let out a sigh of relief, but it only reminded them at how dry the air was, making them pant instead. "I think I've got a whole desert's worth of sand in my throat," Grim gasps out, trying not to let sand in his mouth from his position. "Kalim, gimme some water!" He says to him.

Kalim looks at him with a glare, shocking the duo. "How DARE you take that tone with me," he says coldly.

"Eep!" Grim squeaks out in fear of the stare.

"I am not your faucet," Kalim coldly states, shivers down everyone's spines. "If you want water, draw it from the oasis yourselves."

The students look at the 'oasis' in bewilderment. "You mean the one that's bone dry? How?" A student asks in shock.

"This is going beyond tyranny..." Another student mumbles.

"Seriously, what's wrong with the housewarden?" A students asks, fear in his voice.

"Don't worry, I came prepared for this," Jamil speaks to the students. "We've got camels loaded with water. Offload it and share it amongst yourselves."

The information brightens everyone's faces and they start heading to the camels, finding flasks and canteens of water packed on their backs and happy drink the water provided. Jamil hands a canteen to Angel and Grim, which they were thankful for since they didn't have much energy to head to the camels and get the water themselves. "Thank you," a student says to Jamil as they drink from their flask. "If only you were the housewarden, Jamil."

Jamil was taken aback by the statement and sends a glare to the student. "Perish the thought, and don't vocalize it. What if Kalim heard you?" He asks quietly, looking at Kalim, seeing that he was looking at another group of students instead.

"But it's true!" Another student speaks up. "Even before Housewarden Kalim started acting like this, you were the one doing most of his duties, Jamil."

"Shhh," Jamil says to the students, trying to quiet them down. "It's fine. It's my family's honor-" He catches himself. "Actually no, it's MY honor to serve the Asims." The statement only confuses Angel. "Drink your water and rest up," he says to the students. "It's getting hotter now that the sun's high in the sky. The march back will only be worse."

"Jamil..." A student says in awe at his generosity.

"All students, assemble!" Kalim shouts, making everyone flinch. "Break time is now over. Form ranks, and no lollygagging!" He glares at the students.

"Jamil..." A student quietly says. "I...I can't take another day like this."

"I'm done following the housewarden, too!" Another student says, clenching his fists.

"Why are you still obeying him, Jamil?!" Another student asks him.

"It's because..." he sighs. "He's Kalim Al-Asim."

"Because you like him as a person?" Angel carefully asks him.

Jamil thinks for a moment. "It's...hard to say," he hesitantly says. "Let's have a talk tonight. I'll arrange things so Kalim doesn't catch us." He looks to Angel. "Angel, could you spare some time for this as well?"

After dinner, everyone waited in the lounge for Jamil to get back from handling Kalim. The group waited quietly, hoping to get some answers about Kalim's attitude change and the commands he's been giving lately. Angel could see that the students were disgruntled, angry, and exhausted from the thought of being under Kalim's rule any longer, but something kept nagging in her head. Why is he like this...? What could have happened in so little that could make him do a complete 180 in just a minute? Was he always like this? Which one was his true personality? She sighs in defeat, knowing that thinking without hearing Jamil's side of things would be just a waste of time and make her even more exhausted. She nestles into the pillows, relishing their softness with Grim fidgeting beside her, antsy about Jamil's meeting.