Chapter 88: Confronting the Past
1959words
Kunle came not long after, and his figure against the sunset was a blend of contrasts. The person who used to be her close friend and trusted advisor now stood in front of her as if he were an unfamiliar individual full of secrets.
'You wanted to meet," Kunle said, his voice a low rumble.
Eki turned to face him, her gaze steady. 'I did. We need to talk."
They walked further away from the water and found some logs turned white by the sun. The area around them felt very heavy like a strong power was in the air.
"Next, we talk about the messages," Eki started speaking with a very gentle voice. "The secret ones and those that brought me here."
Kunle's face was impassive. 'You're smart, Eki. You figured it out."
"I have done many calculations and see that something is wrong. You are part of some big action." Something that carries risk."
Kunle laughed, but it wasn't a happy one. "Life is dangerous, Eki. Especially when you wish to change it."
'Change it? Or control it?"
"The Olumide family, they have been controlling this city for many years. But it feels like a dictatorship because their power is not shared with anyone else." "They hire artists to make money and build a big empire." Kunle looked very serious when he said these words. It's time for a change."
Eki felt a shiver of fear. These words sound very similar to what she heard from the stranger who approached her, saying "You are talking about the Moonlight Lease system."
"Correct. Like cancer, Eki. A parasite that devours the life of this city's creative centre."
'But why involve me? Why the cryptic messages, the threats?"
Kunle paused, his gaze going distant. "I wasn't aiming to hurt you, Eki. But I needed someone who helped me from the inside. Someone who understands the system can assist in making it fall apart.
'And you thought I was that person?"
'I hoped so."
A wave of anger washed over Eki. 'You hoped? You used me, Kunle. You played with my emotions, putting me in danger."
"I am sorry," he whispered, voice so soft it was almost silent. "I did not want things to turn out like this."
Eki scoffed. 'Too late for apologies, Kunle. You've crossed a line."
"I understand," he sighed, "but I cannot quit now. We are almost there."
'Close to what? Destroying lives? Tearing this city apart?"
Kunle's jaw clenched. 'Destroying a corrupt system, Eki. Liberating artists."
'At what cost?"
People no longer speak, and the only sound is gentle waves meeting the beach. The sun is almost gone now, painting the sky with orange and purple colours.
"You working inside the secret group?" Eki asked, feeling bolder even if her voice still trembled a bit.
Kunle's eyes narrowed. 'And if I am?"
'You're playing a dangerous game, Kunle. A game that could destroy you."
'Or change everything," he countered.
'Or destroy us all," Eki said, her voice rising.
When the last daylight disappeared, it created a twilight sight on Beathe ch. At this moment, somebody emerged from the dark areas. This person's face was hidden as they wore a cloak of darkness.
'Time's up," the figure said, their voice a chilling whisper.
Eki and Kunle spun around, their eyes wide with fear.
Eki and Kunle look at each other fast with fear in their eyes. The human figure is bigger, not clear in shape because of the dim twilight. Eki feels a shiver of terror run down her spine. This was it. The moment they'd both been dreading.
'Who are you?" Kunle demanded, his voice laced with defiance.
The figure let out a laugh, deep and eerie, breaking the quiet around. "Someone who has no patience anymore."
Eki's chest was beating fast. She grabbed Kunle's hand, her fingers trembling. He squeezed back, giving a silent comfort.
'You've played your games, Kunle," the figure continued. 'Now it's time for the endgame."
"What do you want?" Kunle asked, his voice steady but fear evident in his eyes.
"I want Moonlight Lease, you give it to me," answered the figure.
'Over my dead body," Kunle growled.
Again, the number laughed. It was a cold laugh that made Eki's body shake, "We will see," the figure said.
Someone stepped out from the shadows, showing a face that Eki felt was both familiar and unfamiliar. It seemed like they had met before, but not entirely so.
'You know me," the figure said, their voice dripping with arrogance.
Eki's mind worked quickly. She tried to remember, connecting the face with a name or something that happened before in her life. But she couldn't remember anything.
'I don't know you," she lied, her voice barely a whisper.
The figure smiled, a cold, calculating expression. 'We'll see about that too."
With that, they turned and walked away, disappearing back into the encroaching darkness.
Eki and Kunle were there, standing as if they had been turned into statues. At first, their breathing sounded like drum beats, but then it became very loud.
'Who was that?" Eki finally managed to croak out.
Kunle shook his head, his face pale. 'I don't know. But they know us."
Eki felt very scared in their stomach. They were deeper into this than they ever thought, and the most terrible part was still ahead.
As the moon's silver light begins to spread, Eki and Kunle stay near each other for warmth. The once quiet beach now feels like a battlefield, a place where disaster is coming close.
'We have to get out of here," Eki said, her voice trembling.
Kunle nodded, his eyes filled with fear. 'But where do we go?"
They were trapped, surrounded by darkness and uncertainty. And the enemy was closing in.
Eki looked at Kunle with much sympathy. Both of them were in the same situation – two people caught up in a difficult web of lies and danger. She reached out her hand and grasped his, giving it a strong squeeze.
'We'll figure it out," she promised, her voice filled with determination. 'Together."
He gently pressed her hand, giving a soothing comfort. She was alone, frightened and feeling weak. But also united. And in that moment, that was all that mattered.
The night was like it had life as if it could breathe. Everything around was wrapped in darkness, making breathing almost hard to do. Eki and Kunle sat very close; their breaths made white clouds in the cold night air. The world felt so small, pressed tightly by danger around them.
'We can't stay here," Kunle said, his voice a mere whisper. 'They'll find us."
Eki nodded, her mind racing. Where could they go? Who could they trust? The city, once a place of safety, now felt like home for hunters.
"We need to find a place to hide," she whispers very quietly. "Somewhere they never look at us."
'But where?" Kunle asked, his voice filled with despair.
Eki closed her eyes, trying to recall. She thought of a place, a hidden spot where she had been with her father in the past. It was in a small fishing village at the edge of Lagos. It felt isolated, almost forgotten by all people.
"I am thinking," she replied with hope. "It has risk, but it looks most likely."
Kunle's eyes lit up. 'Let's go."
They got up, and when their feet hit the sand, it made a sound like a crunch. The moon was making weird shapes, turning what we know into a new view. Now they start to walk, and the steps make a sound in the silent night.
The journey was very hard. They continued to walk for many hours, feeling pain in their bodies and losing strength. Nevertheless, they proceeded with a strong wish to get away.
At last, they arrived at the fishing village. It looked like a group of small wooden houses close to each other, perhaps trying to keep warm in the nighttime. The place looked mostly empty, but not fully. Small lights like the ones on Christmas trees started to shine and soft sounds of water hitting the shore could be heard.
They discovered a small, empty hut and stepped inside. While it was cold and wet, it provided some shelter from the weather. Eki felt better when they huddled for warmth. They were safe, for now.
But, while they rest and sleep, Eki gets disturbed by a different sound. It was like a soft scratching noise outside of the hut. He woke up slowly and listened carefully to the strange noise coming from outside their small home. Her heartbeat became so loud that her chest felt heavy. She nudged Kunle awake.
'Did you hear that?" she whispered.
Kunle's eyes snapped open. He listened intently. 'I think so."
They sat straight, their body tight. The scratching noise increased in volume. Something was outside, it approached closer and closer.
Eki took the old machete; she found it in one corner of our hut. It was rusty. Kunle had a broken fishing rod with him, and we kept near each other, both breathing hard.
The door creaked open, and a pair of glowing eyes peered into the darkness.
Eki felt his heart pounding inside him. The eyes belonged to an animal. They were very large and had much danger. The light was so weak, you could not see anything. But its eyes had a colour similar to melted gold - bright and intense.
A low, growling sound came from its throat. Eki gripped the machete even tighter. Kunle, who was standing next to her, showed both fear and determination.
The creature made the jump, and from the shadows its shape became clear. It looked like a large dog that showed strength and elegance in how it moved. Showing sharp teeth while making mean growls, Eki swung her machete but missed; very quickly!
The small house felt to them like a wild animal, always shifting and never taking eyes off. Eki and Kunle stepped back, breathing quickly from fear.
With a quick jump, the creature hopped again so strong that Eki felt cold shivers down her spine. Kunle tried to protect himself by lifting a fishing rod, but too late—the creature quickly knocked his weapon away. The rod flew across the room as if it had grown wings.
Eki and Kunle looked at each other with fear. They were helpless. The creature came nearer and its angry sounds became bigger, more threatening.
At that time, just when the hut's room was almost bursting with light, something showed up at the entrance. It had a gun aimed straight at this creature. The animal froze and stared at them.
The number stopped. The creature shouted in pain, moved back and broke the thin wooden wall with its big body.
Eki and Kunle survived, they took deep breaths to feel calm. But when they saw who saved them, their hearts were now heavy with worry.
In the door frame, a person stands. This person wears a dark cloak that hides their face so it can not be seen. This is the person responsible for causing danger at the beach.
