Chapter 1: New Beginnings
1742 Words
The first thing Daniela heard when she arrived at Danso High School was shouting.
Not normal shouting.
The kind of shouting that made you immediately wonder whether you should turn around and go home.
"WHO TOOK MY PHONE?!"
Daniela froze at the school gate.
She looked at her mother, who was still sitting inside the car.
Her mother smiled.
"Don't worry. You'll be fine."
Another shout came from somewhere inside the school.
"I SAID I DIDN'T TAKE IT!"
Daniela slowly looked back at her mother.
"Are you sure?"
Her mother laughed.
"Go. You'll be late."
Daniela sighed, picked up her backpack, and stepped out of the car.
She stared at the enormous black-and-gold gates.
DANSO HIGH SCHOOL
DISCIPLINE • EXCELLENCE • CHARACTER
Daniela read the words twice.
"Discipline," she whispered.
A boy sprinted past the gate.
Three prefects chased him.
"STOP!"
"I'M NOT STOPPING!"
"YOU STOLE THE PREFECT'S BADGE!"
"I DIDN'T!"
Daniela stared.
"Okay."
She adjusted her backpack.
"Maybe discipline isn't working."
She walked through the gate.
It was her first day at Danso High School, and already she was beginning to regret every decision that had brought her there.
---
Daniela had recently moved to Lagos from Abuja because of her father's new job.
She had left behind her old school, her friends, and basically everything she knew.
Now she had to start all over again.
New city.
New house.
New school.
New people.
She just wanted one peaceful first day.
That was obviously too much to ask.
As Daniela walked across the school compound, she noticed students everywhere. Some were laughing, some were rushing to class, and some were already breaking school rules before the first lesson had even started.
She was looking around so much that she didn't notice the girl walking toward her.
BAM!
Someone bumped into her.
Daniela's books fell everywhere.
"Hey!"
She looked up.
A tall girl with perfectly styled hair was staring at her.
"You should watch where you're going," the girl said.
Daniela frowned.
"You bumped into me."
The girl raised an eyebrow.
"You're new."
"Yes."
"I can tell."
Daniela bent down and began picking up her books.
"Okay."
The girl crossed her arms.
"I'm Tessa."
Daniela looked at her.
"Nice to meet you."
Tessa waited.
Daniela waited too.
Tessa frowned.
"That's it?"
Daniela looked confused.
"What else should I say?"
A girl standing nearby suddenly covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Tessa gave Daniela a long look before walking away.
The girl who had been laughing approached Daniela.
"You're brave."
Daniela picked up her last book.
"Why?"
"Because you just told Tessa 'what else should I say?'"
Daniela shrugged.
"Was I supposed to write an essay?"
The girl laughed.
"I'm Amara."
"Daniela."
"You're a new student?"
"Obviously."
Amara smiled.
"You're going to fit in perfectly."
Before Daniela could answer, a loud whistle blew.
"ALL STUDENTS TO ASSEMBLY!"
Amara grabbed Daniela's arm.
"Come on."
---
The assembly was supposed to be serious.
It lasted approximately thirty seconds.
The principal, Mrs. Fola, stood on the platform and addressed the students.
"Welcome to another academic year. This year, we expect discipline, respect, hard work and—"
CRASH!
A metal bucket fell behind the platform.
Everyone turned.
A boy's voice shouted, "IT WASN'T ME!"
The entire assembly burst into laughter.
Mrs. Danso closed her eyes.
"Take him to the vice principal."
Two prefects ran after the boy.
Amara leaned toward Daniela.
"Welcome to Danso High."
Daniela tried not to laugh.
"So this is normal?"
"Very."
Mrs. Danso continued her speech as if nothing had happened.
Daniela listened carefully.
No fighting.
No bullying.
No leaving the school without permission.
No phones during classes.
And absolutely no entering the staff room without authorization.
Daniela found that last rule oddly specific.
She turned to Amara.
"Why did she say that like it's happened before?"
Amara smiled.
"Because it has."
Daniela sighed.
She was beginning to understand the school.
---
By lunchtime, Daniela had already learned three important things.
One: Amara talked a lot.
Two: the cafeteria's meat pie was apparently the best thing on earth.
Three: Danso High School had more drama before noon than her old school had in an entire week.
They were walking back from the cafeteria when a boy nearly bumped into Daniela.
He stopped.
"Sorry."
Daniela looked up.
It was the same boy from the morning—the one who had picked up her notebook.
"Oh. Hi."
He smiled.
"You're the new girl."
Daniela nodded.
"Daniel."
"I know."
He looked surprised.
"You remembered?"
"You told me your name this morning."
"Right."
Amara grinned.
"She's already making friends."
Daniel gave her a suspicious look.
"Don't start."
"I'm not starting anything."
"You always start something."
Daniela laughed.
Daniel looked at her.
"Where did you move from?"
"Abuja."
"That's far."
"It's not that far."
"For Lagos people, anywhere outside Lagos is another country."
Daniela laughed.
"So, what's the most important thing I need to know about this school?"
Daniel thought for a moment.
"Never believe anyone who says, 'I have gist.'"
Amara nodded seriously.
"Very important."
Daniel continued.
"And if someone says, 'Don't worry, nothing will happen,' start worrying."
Daniela laughed.
"Why?"
"Because wahala usually comes immediately after."
Amara pointed at him.
"Exactly."
Daniel smiled.
"Welcome to Danso High."
For the first time that day, Daniela felt comfortable.
Maybe starting over wouldn't be so bad.
---
The afternoon lessons began normally.
Daniela sat beside Amara while Daniel sat a few seats behind them.
Their teacher, Mr. Okafor, entered the classroom with a pile of books.
"Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon, sir."
He looked at Daniela.
"You're our new student."
Daniela stood.
"Yes, sir."
"Introduce yourself."
Daniela smiled nervously.
"Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Daniela Okeke. recently moved to Lagos, and I'm happy to be here."
A boy at the back raised his hand.
Mr. Okafor sighed.
"What?"
"Sir, is she staying permanently?"
The class burst out laughing.
Even Daniela laughed.
"Sit down," Mr. Okafor said.
Daniela sat.
Daniel leaned forward from behind her.
"Don't worry. You'll get used to them."
"I hope so."
"You will."
For the next hour, everything was peaceful.
Too peaceful.
And Daniela should have known that was dangerous.
---
Around 2:30 p.m., a strange noise came from the corridor.
Students began whispering.
"What happened?"
"I heard something happened in the staff room."
"Something is missing."
"What?"
Daniela looked at Amara.
"What are they talking about?"
Amara shrugged.
Before anyone could answer, a prefect appeared at the classroom door.
"Nobody leaves this classroom."
Mr. Okafor stood.
"Why?"
"The principal's office reported that a staff key is missing."
The classroom became noisy.
"Who took it?"
"I don't know."
"Maybe a teacher lost it."
"Maybe someone stole it."
The prefect raised his voice.
"Everyone, stay here."
He left.
A few minutes later, another prefect entered and whispered something to Mr. Okafor.
Mr. Okafor looked toward the back of the classroom.
"Daniel."
Daniel looked up.
"Sir?"
"Come with me."
The room became silent.
Daniel stood.
"Why?"
"We need to speak with you."
"But I didn't do anything."
"Just come with me."
Daniel looked confused as he walked out.
Daniela watched him disappear through the door.
Something felt wrong.
---
Ten minutes later, the rumors started.
Someone had seen Daniel near the staff room.
Someone had supposedly found his notebook outside the office.
And then came the worst rumor.
The missing staff key had been found inside Daniel's bag.
Daniela immediately shook her head.
"No way."
Amara looked at her.
"You believe him?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because it doesn't make sense."
Amara nodded.
"Exactly."
Daniela stared at the classroom door.
She remembered Daniel's warning.
"If someone says nothing will happen, start worrying."
She almost laughed.
Then she noticed something underneath her desk.
A small folded piece of paper.
She picked it up.
There were four words written on it:
DON'T TRUST DANIEL.
Daniela stared at the message.
Her stomach tightened.
Who had written it?
And why?
She quickly folded it and put it inside her notebook.
Then—
BANG!
The classroom door flew open.
Daniel stood there.
He looked worried.
"Daniela."
She stood.
"What happened?"
Daniel glanced around the classroom.
"I need to talk to you."
"What happened?"
"I didn't steal that key."
"I know."
He stared at her.
"You believe me?"
"Yes."
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Then listen carefully. Someone is trying to frame me."
Before Daniela could respond, the emergency bell suddenly rang.
EEEEEEE!
Everyone jumped.
Students rushed into the corridor.
Teachers shouted for everyone to remain calm.
Daniel looked toward the administrative block.
"The staff room."
Daniela followed his gaze.
"Let's go."
---
A huge crowd had gathered outside the staff room.
Teachers were trying to keep students back.
Mrs. Danso pushed through the crowd.
"What happened?"
Nobody answered.
Then a prefect pointed at the ground.
A black school bag was lying beside the staff room door.
Daniel's face went pale.
"That's my bag."
Everyone turned toward him.
Daniel shook his head.
"No. I didn't put that there."
Mrs. Danso picked up the bag.
"Daniel, where were you?"
"In the vice principal's office."
"Then how did your bag get here?"
"I don't know!"
The principal opened the bag.
The crowd became completely silent.
She pulled something out.
The missing staff key.
Gasps spread through the students.
Daniel looked horrified.
"I swear I didn't take it."
Tessa whispered something to her friends.
Someone laughed.
Daniel looked at Daniela desperately.
"Please."
Daniela didn't know what to say.
Then she saw something on the floor.
Another folded piece of paper.
She picked it up.
Her hands shook as she opened it.
The handwriting was the same as the first note.
This time, there were only four words.
YOU'RE NEXT, DANIELA.
Her heart stopped.
She looked around the crowd.
Someone was watching her.
A student standing near the back.
Daniela couldn't see the person's face clearly.
The figure turned and quickly disappeared into the crowd.
"Daniela?"
Daniel's voice brought her back.
She looked at him.
Then at the note in her hand.
Then at the staff room.
Her peaceful new beginning had turned into something else entirely.
Someone had framed Daniel.
Someone had threatened her.
And whoever was behind it was still inside Danso High School.
Daniela folded the note and slipped it into her pocket.
She had come to Lagos hoping for a fresh start.
Instead, on her very first day, she had walked straight into a mystery.
And the biggest wahala of her life had just begun.
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