Chapter 3: Shadows on the Field
682 Words
The school field was dry. Patches of grass fought to stay alive under a merciless sun. It was quiet — too quiet — the kind of quiet wey tell person say wahala don dey squat for corner.
Jayden stood still. Alone.
Bag dropped. Fist tight.
Heart calm, but eyes scanning.
> "So na here dem wan test my bone?"
From behind the school fence, three boys stepped out — same red beads.
Not Skully. Not yet.
These were soldiers. Recruits. Tools.
One held a cane. Another held a belt. The third? Just his fists. All of them had one job — deliver message.
> "Dem say make we give you welcome beating."
"You no suppose sit for dat back seat without permission."
"You too dey shine eye for babe wey no belong to you."
Jayden didn’t answer. He cracked his knuckles.
> “Una sure say una carry enough people?”
They laughed.
The first blow came fast.
Jayden dodged. Slapped one clean across the face. Grabbed the second by the collar and kneed him in the stomach. But the third — bigger, rougher — tackled him straight into the ground.
Dust rose.
Sweat. Grunts. Kicks. Blood.
Three-on-one no be fair. But Jayden didn’t fight fair either.
He bit. He headbutted. He fought like a slum dog raised on anger and dry garri.
When it ended, he lay on the ground — blood on his lip, shirt torn — but two of the boys limped away and the third spat a tooth.
> “Tell Skully… I still dey stand.”
---
Aftermath – Codeboy’s Room
Later that day, Jayden sat on Codeboy’s old foam, holding ice to his face.
> “Wetin I tell you?” Codeboy said.
“You wan be street hero. This no be Avengers.”
“I no fight for movie. I fight for Tega.”
“Then fight smart. You beat dem today, but dem go return. Next time with blade, or worse.”
Jayden closed his eyes.
> “So wetin be next play?”
Codeboy smiled slowly.
> “We go flip their game. You wan shake Skully? Then we enter his house.”
---
Kamsi’s Side
At the other side of town, Kamsi sat in her room, tears rolling quietly.
Her father — Chief Udoh — just finished shouting.
> "I hear say you dey follow that Dustown boy around."
"Do you want to die like his brother?"
"Those slum kids no get future!"
She said nothing. She just stared at the floor.
But her heart?
Already with Jayden.
She picked up her diary and wrote:
> “He’s broken. But not empty. I see fire in him. And somehow... I want to burn too.”
---
Back to School – The Chain Reaction
Next day in school, Jayden walked in — battered but bold.
The whispers had changed.
> "Na him wey fight Red Skullz boys."
"Omo, e no dey fear oh."
"E go die, sha."
"Or maybe… e fit change something."
Even the teachers noticed. But no one said anything.
Silence was survival currency in Crown City High.
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Skully Strikes
Lunch break.
Jayden walked to the canteen with Codeboy.
Then the power cut.
In darkness, a voice whispered from behind the pillar.
> “You fit fight my boys... but your mama? E fit fight for you too?”
Jayden froze.
Skully stepped out from the shadow. Alone.
No crowd. No noise. Just truth and threat.
> “Next time, I touch where it pain pass. Stay in your lane, Jay Blaze.”
Then he vanished into the crowd like a ghost.
Jayden’s knuckles turned white.
> “If he ever touch her… Code… I go break every bone wey dey his soul.”
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Closing Scene – Mama’s Phone Call
That night, Jayden’s phone buzzed. Unknown number.
He picked.
> “Jayden?”
“Mama?”
“Some boys dey here. Say dem wan check light meter. But... Jayden, their eyes no pure.”
The line cut.
Jayden stared at the phone. Heart racing.
> "Skully don cross line."
- Writer
