Chapter 25: A Witness and Rising Tensions
1611words
She took a deep breath, held her violin tight and moved onto the stage with gentle lights. Kunle looked at her warmly and gave an encouraging nod. The band begins to play a smooth blues song, and the music feels like a warm hug around her.
When Eki creates music, everything around her disappears. Her fingers move on the strings like dance, turning chaos in her heart into a strong song. Kunle's saxophone responded, weaving a counterpoint that mirrored the yearning in her heart.
Their improv was like speaking, using words they still remembered. Each note and phrase closed the gap of five years apart, bringing back their lost connection. The air full of smoke seemed to carry a hidden energy, their eyes meeting in quiet agreement.
The song finished, leaving gentle quiet in their ears. All of a sudden, the clapping began, warm and thankful. Eki, her cheeks turning red and a smile slowly appearing on her lips, gazed at Kunle – their eyes silently exchanging many unspoken thoughts.
"That was…" Kunle began, his voice a husky whisper. "That was… incredible."
Eki, unable to speak any words, just nodded as the music seemed like it was alive under her skin. Then she saw something moving quickly at the back of the room that grabbed her attention immediately.
There, standing with a fixed and unreadable expression, was Dapo.
The smile has gone away from Eki's face, now he has serious worries. How much time does he stay there? Had he witnessed their entire performance?
Dapo, his face showing many emotions together, moved a little step forward. The air felt thick with sudden tension, like an unspoken blame staying between them.
"Eki," Dapo said, his voice tight. "What's going on here?"
Eki began to speak, but Kunle talked first. His voice was calm and strong at the same time.
"Dapo," he said, extending a hand. "Long time no see."
Dapo's eyes became small as he stared at Kunle, examining him from top to bottom. The handshake they gave each other—if you can call it a handshake—was filled with stress and showed both strength and control. Eki felt caught in the crossfire, her emotions churning in a chaotic mix.
"This is…" Eki stammered, searching for the right words. "This is Kunle. We used to… play together."
Dapo's jaw clenched visibly. A flicker of something Eki couldn't decipher – anger? Jealousy? – crossed his face before it was replaced by a tight smile.
"Ah, yes," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "Childhood friends, weren't you?"
Kunle's gaze remained steady on Dapo's. "Something like that."
The air around them was heavy with silence, interrupted only by the soft murmurs of nearby people. Eki had a strong urge to escape this awkward scene and figure out why Dapo appeared so suddenly.
"Dapo," she interjected, forcing a smile. "We can talk about this later. Right now, I… I need to get home."
Before Dapo could talk, she quickly moved to the door with her heart racing. She had just found joy in music again, but seeing Dapo so unexpectedly made that happiness disappear. Now she felt confused and worried with many questions left unanswered.
When she pushed the large wooden door open, someone quickly emerged from the dark shadows and almost bumped into her. It was Ayo; his face looked very pale, and his eyes had a strong fire in them that Eki had never seen before.
"Eki," he gasped, his voice tight with urgency. "We need to talk. Now."
Eki's heart lurched. What did Ayo know? Why hurry so much? The way he talked made her fears even larger, showing that tonight was not only about finding her love for music again.
Before she starts to talk, Ayo grabs her arm with surprising strength. "No time," he whispers quickly. "It's about the fire. And Dapo."
Eki's breath hitched. The fire. Dapo's secret. Ayo's cryptic words sent a shiver down her spine.
"What about the fire?" she demanded, her voice a mix of fear and determination.
Ayo's eyes swiftly shifted to the shadowy entrance of the bar, then came back to focus on Eki. "It was not an accident," he whispered in a very low voice.
Eki's mind reeled with the revelation. "Not an accident?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "But… how do you know?"
Ayo shook his head, his agitation evident. "I can't explain here. Come with me."
Before Eki says anything, Ayo already takes her away from the smoky jazz bar into a cool night outside. City lights shining all around them, make a magical light on the busy sidewalk. The air feels fresh and different inside the bar atmosphere, giving new energy to their steps as they walk together in the city's lively evening. Eki stumbled slightly, trying to keep up with Ayo's hurried pace.
"Where are we going?" she demanded, finally finding her voice.
Ayo glanced back at her, a flicker of desperation in his eyes. "Somewhere safe. Somewhere we can talk."
His words sent a fresh wave of unease crashing over Eki. Safe from whom? Did Dapo have any connection to the fire? As she thought more about it, her mind became even more confused and unclear.
They came to a quiet park that was hidden between the tall buildings. The only sounds were from leaves moving in the night breeze and distant traffic noises. Ayo stopped abruptly, his shoulders heaving with exertion.
Eki stared at him, feeling her heart beating very quickly in her chest. "Okay, Ayo," she said, trying hard to stay calm though there was a tremble in her voice. "Tell me. What do you know about the fire?"
Ayo took a deep breath, his eyes looking at a distant point far away. Then, with a quiet and tense voice, he began to speak.
"The night when the fire happened... it was not because of a wiring problem like they said. It was... someone started the fire on purpose."
Eki's breath caught in her throat. Arson? Who would do such a thing? And why?
"I saw someone," Ayo said, voice full of emotion. "A person... running away from the building just before the fire began."
Eki felt cold fear growing in her stomach. "Did you see who it was?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Ayo paused, his eyes showing a little fear. "I… I wasn't sure from the beginning." But then…" He trailed off, his gaze falling to the ground.
"But then?" Eki pressed, her voice laced with urgency.
There was a very long and painful silence between them. The wind gently passed through the trees, carrying with it a heavy sense of what Ayo would say next.
"It looked like… Dapo."
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. Dapo? The man she knew and trusted, who always said he cared so much about her family's legacy – is it possible that he is the one behind the fire that ruined everything they had?
Tears coming to Eki's eyes made everything even less clear in her life. The fire, the secret Dapo kept hidden, and Ayo's puzzling words – all these things came together and created a whirlwind of emotions inside her.
"No," she spoke quietly, her voice shaking while she turned her head from side to side. "This cannot be true... there must be some other reason."
But the haunted look in Ayo's eyes was saying something different. The truth, even though it made her feel uncomfortable, was obvious and there for her to notice.
Suddenly, there was a loud cracking noise in the park. Then came a very bright flash of light. Eki and Ayo jumped with surprise and quickly looked around to see where the sound was coming from.
Then, from the shadows of a nearby building, emerged a figure. He was tall and wrapped in a dark cloak, with only his eyes visible. These eyes had an icy and evil shine to them.
He holds the camera in hand, and flashes still glowing gently. His eyes met Eki's for a very short moment, showing a cold smile on his face.
Then, before Eki or Ayo could react, the figure vanished into the darkness once more. It left them with many unanswered questions and a chilling sense of danger.
Eki watched him leave, feeling more frightened than earlier. Who could that person be? Why had he taken their picture? Was he connected to the fire?
Ayo, face pale and looking very tired, took her hand in his. "We need to go now," he said with an urgent whispering voice. "He's not going to stop until he gets what he wants."
Eki nodded slowly, feeling very much overwhelmed by everything that happened in the night. What began as a happy time of rediscovering her love for music changed into a confusing situation with many secrets and betrayals. A scary truth came out, making Eki question everything she believed in.
As they walk out of the park holding hands, Eki feels certain about one thing: this night is only starting. The tune of her life suddenly took a sharp turn, an offbeat note that might break all the gentle harmony she had carefully made. The question now sounded in the silent space between them: can they face increasing danger together, or will truth divide them like a final, awful wrong note?
