The Uncle From The Shadows
456 Words
Chapter 16: The Uncle from the Shadows
The night fell silent.
Tife stared at the stranger, her heart pounding against her chest.
"My... uncle?" she whispered.
The man lowered his rifle with a calm smile.
"Yes, Tife. My name is Malik Kareem."
She searched his face, looking for something familiar.
His eyes.
They looked just like her father's.
"No..." she murmured. "My father never told me he had a brother."
"Because he couldn't," Malik replied quietly. "He thought I was dead."
Umar stepped in front of Tife.
"Don't listen to him."
Malik chuckled.
"You've always been protective, Umar."
"I know exactly who you are."
"And yet you're still hiding the truth."
Idris frowned.
"What truth?"
Malik's smile faded.
"The truth about the night Tife's parents died."
Tife's breath caught.
"What do you know?"
"I know..." Malik said, "...because I was there."
Silence swallowed the forest.
Umar clenched his fists.
"That's enough."
"No," Tife cried, tears filling her eyes. "I'm tired of everyone hiding things from me. Tell me the truth!"
Malik sighed.
"Your parents weren't killed by strangers."
"They were betrayed."
"Betrayed by someone they trusted."
Tife felt her knees weaken.
"Who?"
Before Malik could answer, headlights cut through the darkness.
Several black SUVs surrounded them.
Their doors flew open.
Armed men rushed out, pointing their weapons.
Farouk stepped forward, clapping slowly.
"Well done," he said with a smug grin.
"You all saved me the trouble of finding Malik."
Malik's expression hardened.
"So... you've finally come."
Farouk laughed.
"This family has been keeping secrets for too long."
He looked directly at Tife.
"Your father wasn't the only one who left you something."
Farouk held up a small silver key.
"The final piece of your inheritance."
Tife's eyes widened.
"The key..."
"The key to the Kareem Vault," Farouk said. "A vault containing documents, gold, and enough evidence to destroy powerful people."
Idris exchanged a worried glance with Umar.
If Farouk got the key...
Everything would be over.
Farouk smiled.
"Hand over the diary."
"No," Tife said, gripping it tightly.
Farouk raised his hand.
The armed men aimed their rifles.
"Then I'll take it by force."
Before anyone could move, the sound of police sirens pierced the night.
Blue and red lights flashed through the trees.
Everyone turned.
Farouk cursed under his breath.
"Retreat!"
His men scrambled into the SUVs and sped away, disappearing into the darkness.
The police vehicles stopped nearby.
Officers rushed toward them.
Tife let out a shaky breath, believing they were finally safe.
Then one officer stepped forward.
He looked directly at Malik...
...and saluted him.
"Welcome back, sir."
Tife's heart sank.
Why would the police salute the man who had appeared out of nowhere?
Who was Malik Kareem...
Really?
End of Chapter 16
- Writer
