Chapter 31: A Friend's Distraction
1651words
Trading a nervous look with Dapo, Eki knew they needed a plan. But making one feel like going through a maze blindfolded.
Then, a spark of inspiration ignited in her mind. Kunle. Her unusual coworker has strange skills for finding things and knows all the secret places in the city. Maybe, just maybe, he is the one to solve this new mystery.
"Hey, Kunle," Eki yelled when she saw him leaning over his computer screen. Beside him was a tall stack of takeaway boxes arranged very neatly.
Kunle looked up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Eki! To what do I owe the pleasure? And what's with the haunted house look?"
Eki took a deep breath, considering how much she should explain. "Kunle," she began, "I need your help with something." It's… kind of a family thing."
Kunle raised an eyebrow, scepticism dancing in his eyes. "Family, huh? Sounds serious. Alright, spill it. What's the deal?"
Eki shared the story in a quiet voice, not mentioning parts about Feather and the security guard. After she finished speaking, Kunle leaned back in his chair with a serious expression instead of the usual joking smile.
"So, you want to go into the restricted archives at Olumide mansion, yes?" he thought aloud while touching his chin. "Now that's what I call a mission."
Eki's heart sank slightly. The Olumide mansion? That place was much more protected than the company archives. Going inside felt like something that could not be done.
"Relax, Eki," Kunle chuckled, sensing her hesitation. "Leave the creative problem-solving to me. I am not James Bond, but I have some knowledge about getting around in secret areas.
In the next few days, Eki feels a slight hope starting inside of her. Kunle, who is always very smart and good at solving things, finds an old drawing of the Olumide mansion plan. The details on it become less clear as time goes by, but you can still see where everything is located in this large house.
"Maybe there is a secret entrance many people do not know about," Kunle said, tracing his finger over an old line. "It goes to an old maintenance area no longer used and connects directly to the archives."
Eki looked at the blueprint, feeling both excitement and a bit of fear in her stomach. It was risky, but this was their only chance to succeed.
The night arrived for their planned infiltration, covered in a layer of nervous excitement. Eki met Kunle at an empty alley behind the big house, her heart pounding fast like a wild drum inside her chest.
The air smelled of wet earth and night jasmine flowers. Up in the sky, a small piece of moon came through some clouds, giving magical light to the big front side of the mansion.
"Okay, this is the plan," Kunle whispered very softly so almost no one could hear. "I will create a distraction near the front gate." You enter from the back door and go straight to the archives. Remember, once you find a file, leave right away."
Eki nodded, and felt her throat get tight with both fear and determination. This was the moment now. The point of no return.
Kunle made a wink to her, and there was something playful in his eye. Then he did a funny salute and walked away into the dark places where she could not see him anymore.
Eki was moved by the old blueprint, with all her senses very alert. Going through thick bushes and broken stone paths to reach the secret entrance was like something from a spy movie.
Finally, she arrived at an old metal door. When she pushed it open, the hinges made a loud noise as if they were unhappy. A stale smell greeted her; the air was thick with dust and had the scent of memories not remembered for a long time.
Heart beating quickly, Eki carefully walked in the narrow corridor, her flashlight lighting up a way in the darkness. As she went deeper inside, it got colder, and only noise was echo of her own footsteps cutting through silence.
After what seemed like a long time, she located a large wooden door with "Restricted Archives" written on it. Her hands were trembling as she inserted an old key – given by a very friendly janitor – into the lock.
With a big sigh, the door finally opened. Eki walked in, a flashlight showing many rows of dusty files that went on and on as far as could be seen. The weight of history felt very strong on her, almost like you can feel it in the thick air.
Taking a deep breath, Eki walked into the labyrinth of ancient records. The air was thick with the scent of old paper and forgotten stories. She navigated the aisles, careful not to disturb the precariously balanced stacks of files.
Each dusty folder held a piece of the Olumide family's past, quietly narrating their wins and losses. But her eyes stayed on one thing – a file called "The Olori's Promise."
The name itself feels oddly known, like a soft whisper from an old dream. Did she hear it before, maybe in one of her grandmother's tales?
Hours went by one after another as Eki looked closely at old labels, feeling more and more upset. She took a deep breath and rested against a high stack of files, thinking maybe she won't make it this time.
Suddenly, a gentle creaking noise disturbed the deep silence, causing her to feel very frightened. Eki immediately stopped in her tracks, sensing her heartbeat thudding strongly within her chest. Was somebody chasing her? The weight of the mistakes she made and the secret job she had felt extremely heavy and difficult to carry.
Holding a flashlight with a stronger grip, Eki walked slowly to where the sound came from. Light beam flickered and showed someone leaning over a desk on the other side of the archive room. Relief washed over her as she recognized the shape of a familiar, rotund body.
"Kunle?" she whispered, her voice barely a croak.
The person got surprised, hitting a stack of old papers and making a big noise. He turned fast, his face showing much shock.
"Eki? What are you doing here?" he stammered, scrambling to pick up the scattered papers.
Relief battled with confusion in Eki's mind. "Kunle? I thought you were creating a distraction at the front gate."
Kunle stood up straight, his face becoming very serious all of a sudden. "Eki," he said softly, "there is something important I must show you."
He moved away a stack of papers, revealing a secret place in the desk. Inside this hidden area, among spider webs and old scrolls, was a small book with a leather cover. The cover looked old and tired, but the writing on front shined strangely glowing - "The Olori's Promise."
Eki's breath caught in her throat. This was it. She searched for the answer. But just before her hand could reach the book, an awful scream shattered the calm silence into pieces.
A big scream came from the hallway that leads to the secret entrance. Eki and Kunle looked at each other with scared eyes. They weren't alone. Someone else had discovered their secret.
"We must go now," Eki said in a low, urgent voice while taking the book from Kunle's trembling hand. Her heart was beating very fast inside her chest as they hurried to the exit. She could hear footsteps getting closer and louder with every second that went by.
They pushed through the heavy wooden door and fell into the empty hallway. Kunle hurried to shut the door behind them, his hands shaking as he struggled to lock it.
But it has already become too late. Someone appeared from around the corner, and a silver feather on their jacket shone in the moonlight. It was a security guard from an office building. His face looked very angry, and his eyes were full of rage like fire.
"There you are," he spoke in an angry way, his voice feeling very threatening. "I should have known that you were up to no good, Eki Olumide."
Kunle stepped forward, his voice surprisingly steady. "Leave her alone. This doesn't concern you."
The security guard let out a teasing laugh. "Oh, it matters to me more than you think," he said, looking at Kunle in a way that gave Eki shivers down her spine.
A tense silence filled the room, only broken by the rough noises of their irregular breaths. Eki clutched the book close to her chest, feeling a sudden cold feeling go through her body. The real link between the security guard and Kunle came from a shared history. The security guard, who used to live in the same village as Kunle's family, felt very grateful because they saved his life when times were tough. This connection made him secretly keep an eye on Kunle, always protecting him without being seen. "The Olori's Promise" had a very old secret that many thought was extremely valuable. People said this promise had knowledge about mystical powers or hidden treasures that could change a person's fate or control important resources in their community. For those who knew it was real, getting hold of it meant gaining huge power and influence. This made them willing to risk everything—even their lives—to find out its secrets.
Stuck between the frightening guard and doubting whether her friend was loyal, Eki realized there is no escape. The past came back, bringing hidden truths that might ruin everything for them all.
