THE MEMORY CARD
676 Words
Chike stared at the photograph until his hands began to shake.
His father.
Standing behind Amara.
Alive.
But that was impossible.
“What's wrong?” Adaeze asked.
Chike quickly locked his phone.
“Nothing.”
She grabbed his arm.
“Don't lie to me. I saw the picture.”
Chike looked at her.
“My father is alive.”
Adaeze's face went pale.
“But I thought he died years ago.”
“So did I.”
He started walking toward his car.
“Where are you going?”
“To the old church.”
Adaeze followed him.
“You're not going alone.”
“I have to.”
“No. Whatever is happening, we face it together.”
Chike stopped.
For the first time, he realized that Adaeze wasn't the enemy.
She was just another victim of the family's secrets.
“Fine,” he said. “But stay behind me.”
Meanwhile, Amara sat inside a dark room.
Her hands were tied.
She could hear footsteps outside.
The door opened.
A familiar man walked in.
“Daddy?”
Her father looked at her with tears in his eyes.
“Amara…”
She struggled against the rope.
“You're the one behind this?”
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
He walked closer.
“To save you.”
Amara stared at him.
“But the photograph—”
“Was taken before I escaped.”
“Escaped from who?”
Her father looked toward the door.
“Your grandmother.”
Amara's eyes widened.
“She has been controlling everything.”
“Then why did the police arrest me?”
“Because she controls them too.”
He quickly untied her hands.
“We don't have much time.”
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere she can't find us.”
They reached the back door.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the hallway.
Her father pushed Amara behind him.
“Stay here.”
The door opened.
Chike's father stepped inside.
Amara froze.
He was holding a gun.
“Don't move.”
Her father raised his hands.
“You're working for her.”
Chike's father shook his head.
“No.”
He lowered the gun.
“I'm here to help.”
Amara stared at him.
“Then why did you send Chike that message?”
“To bring him here.”
Her father looked confused.
“Why?”
“Because Chike is the only person she won't suspect.”
Amara's heart raced.
“Suspect him for what?”
Chike's father looked at her.
“The bank account isn't the real evidence.”
“What is?”
He reached inside his coat and pulled out a small memory card.
“This.”
Amara stared at it.
“What is on it?”
“Your grandmother's confession.”
Her father gasped.
“You recorded her?”
“Twenty years ago.”
“Why didn't you release it?”
“Because I was afraid.”
Amara took the memory card.
“Then we'll release it now.”
Suddenly, the lights went off.
A gunshot exploded.
Amara screamed.
When the lights returned, her father was on the floor.
Blood was spreading across his shirt.
“Daddy!”
She rushed toward him.
He grabbed her hand.
“Don't cry…”
“Please, don't die.”
He smiled weakly.
“Find Chike.”
“Why?”
“Because he has the other half of the truth.”
Then his eyes closed.
Amara screamed.
Outside, a car sped away.
Inside the car, Amara's grandmother sat silently.
Beside her was Chike's father.
She looked at him.
“Did you kill him?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She smiled.
“Because now we can finally finish what we started twenty-four years ago.”
Then she made a phone call.
“Bring Chike to me.”
A voice answered:
“He's already on his way.”
The old woman smiled.
“Excellent.”
She looked out the window.
“Tonight, the kiss they hid will become the reason they lose everything.”
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD