Chapter 20: The Weight of History
1227words
The Olumide family was keeping a secret. It was something dark, linked to the mysterious messages and the frightening experience in that concealed room. A secret that could threaten the fragile trust she'd built with Dapo.
"You okay?" Dapo says, breaking the quiet. His eyes show worry that makes her feel even more uneasy.
"Just thinking," she whispered, looking down and avoiding his gaze. How could she explain that she thought his family might be hiding a darkness capable of ruining everything they were working on?
They reached her apartment without talking. When Eki got out of the car, she felt a strong wish for the warm and open feeling she had with Dapo before they found the hidden room.
Inside, the quiet felt heavy on her. Each squeak of the floorboard and every small flash of the light above seemed to repeat the disturbing mysteries hidden within the mansion.
Sleep wouldn't come. Nightmares of cloaked figures and flickering messages plagued her dreams. When morning light finally came, it brought new strength. She decided she wouldn't be a piece in the Olumide family's secret plans. She had to find the truth.
She went to the library first. She spent many hours looking through old books, trying to find anything about the Olumide family or strange symbols she saw in a hidden room. Time passed quickly as she searched every page carefully. Disappointment gnawed at her as she drew a blank.
Then, a soft murmur from an elderly librarian caught her attention. "The Archives," the old woman whispered in an almost inaudible voice. "They hold secrets the library wouldn't dare touch."
An archive, hidden from public access. A new challenge, a new obstacle. But Eki wouldn't be deterred.
Days became weeks while Eki struggled through the complicated bureaucracy, at last getting a temporary access pass to the Archives. The air was thick with history's presence, and only the sound of old papers moving around disturbed the quiet atmosphere.
As she looked through old parchment and faded photos, one name stood out – Orisha. It was not just a word; it was someone's name, a woman. A lady belonging to Dapo's ancestry, her face carrying a deep and lingering sorrow. The words that came with it were few, vague mentions of a love not allowed and a sad result.
A forbidden love? The words repeated in Eki's mind, creating a feeling deep inside her. Maybe Orisha's story is the warning tale told in the writings on the wall? And how it connects to a secret room attack, I wonder.
Suddenly, a voice startled her. "Looking for something specific, Ms. Bates?"
Eki turned quickly, her heart beating fast. Behind her was a tall woman who looked very strict and had eyes like a hawk. The lady's presence made it clear she had much power and control.
"I, um…" Eki stuttered, trying to quickly conceal the paper she was holding. "Just looking into Olumide's family past."
The woman's gaze narrowed. "Intriguing topic," she said, her voice clipped. "But some corners are best left unexplored."
Eki felt cold shivers go up her back. Is this only a warning, or is something more bad happening? Before she could ask the woman more, a loud voice echoed in the big hall.
"There you are, Ms. Davies! We need to discuss a security breach."
Eki's stomach lurched. Security breach? Is it possible someone has found out about her unauthorized entry into the Orisha document? One look at the stern woman confirmed her fears.
"Looks like someone has been sticking their nose where it shouldn't be," the woman said, a smile showing on her face.
Eki's thoughts moved quickly. She needed to leave, carrying the document and whatever truth it contained. But when she tried to run away, the woman reached out quickly and caught her wrist with a stronghold.
"Where do you think you're going, Ms. Bates?" the woman hissed. "Secrets like these have a way of getting buried. Permanently."
Eki struggled against the woman's grasp, fear gripping her heart. Was this it? Was uncovering the Olumide family's secret going to cost her life?
Just then, a familiar voice cut through the tension. "Leave her alone!"
Eki turned quickly to see Dapo standing in the doorway, his face showing great anger. His eyes moved back and forth between Eki's scared face and the paper she held tightly in her hand. For a moment, he seemed to understand something important.
"Dapo?" Eki gasped, a wave of relief washing over her. "You came."
The stern woman scoffed. "Mr. Olumide, intervening in Archive business is not—"
But Dapo cut her off, his voice icy. "Not today, Ms. Davies. This is a family matter."
Ms. Davies paused, surprise showing a little in her eyes. Then, with a quick nod, she let go of Eki's wrist and walked away fast, leaving behind a quiet that felt heavy.
Dapo hurried to Eki, his eyes looking closely at her face. He softly took the document from her shaking hand and read the old writing before his eyes opened wide in surprise.
"Orisha," he whispered, his voice sounding both angry and sad at the same time. "This changes all things."
Eki took a shaky breath. "What is it, Dapo? What does it say?"
He looked at her, his expression unreadable. "It explains a lot," he said finally. "The hidden room, the attack… Everything is connected to my family's past. This past has many secrets and a big tragedy that has troubled us for many generations."
Eki's heart was beating fast. The story of Orisha – the forbidden love, the sad outcome – felt like a piece that fits perfectly into the puzzle she had been trying to solve. But the bigger question remained.
"How does it connect to us?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "And why did they try to stop me from finding out?"
Dapo hesitated, his gaze distant. "There's more," he confessed, his voice strained. "Some things that might change how you think of me, or even my family. Are you certain you want to know?"
Eki met his gaze, her resolve hardening. "The truth," she said firmly. "No matter how ugly it is. We owe each other that much."
Dapo let out a sigh, feeling like the burden had been lifted from his shoulders. "Then let's go somewhere safe," he said while still looking at the document in his hand. "Somewhere we can talk without fear of watchful eyes."
He took her from the Archives, with the truth's promise feeling very strong. When they went out into the busy city street, a shadow moved quietly through an alley across them. A single word came softly from their mouth - "Orisha."
Eki and Dapo were almost finding out the hidden secret of the Olumide family, but they weren't the only ones looking for the truth. Another person was watching them closely, someone who wanted to keep the past hidden very much. This person would do anything needed to stop Eki and Dapo from discovering secrets.
