*Chapter 11: The Text*
267 Words
David stared at the text.
_I told you not to come to Ikeja._
His hands went cold.
_"They know we’re here,"_ he said, showing Ada and Tunde the screen.
Tunde cursed under his breath. _"That means they’re watching us right now."_
He quickly looked around the small shop. The woman was still counting money. No one else inside.
Ada grabbed David’s arm. _"What do we do?"_
_"We move,"_ Tunde said. _"Now. Before they come out."_
They left the water on the counter and walked out fast, not running. Just three people in a busy street.
But David could feel it. Eyes on his back.
They turned into a smaller road with closed shops and dim streetlights.
_"We need a plan to get her out,"_ David whispered. _"Tonight."_
_"Too risky,"_ Tunde said. _"There are at least 4 men inside. Armed. If we go in now, we’ll all end up like Chika."_
_"So we wait?"_ Ada asked. She sounded scared.
_"We wait and we watch,"_ Tunde said. _"I have a friend. Ex-police. He can help us, but not until tomorrow morning."_
David kicked a stone. Waiting felt wrong. Chika was in there.
His phone buzzed again.
Unknown number.
This time it was a photo.
Chika. Sitting on the floor of the warehouse. Eyes closed. A bruise on her cheek.
Below the photo: _Come alone if you want her alive. 12am. Back gate._
David showed them.
Tunde shook his head. _"It’s a trap."_
_"I know,"_ David said quietly. _"But what if it’s not?"_
Silence.
The street was too quiet.
Then from behind them, footsteps. Slow. Deliberate.
Someone was following them.
- Writer
