Whispers Between The Two Houses

Chapter two

As Amara and Lydia rushed away from the busy market, the music from the festival could still be heard faintly in the distance. The lights on the lanterns behind them flickered like tiny stars, but Amara's excitement had suddenly gone away.

Lydia didn't slow down until they got to a quieter street where the party noise got quieter.

She stopped only then.

Her face was full of shock and anger as she turned to Amara. What were you thinking’ Amara? Lydia asked, her voice tense but low.

Amara frowned because she didn't understand why her friend was acting that way. What do you mean? You were talking to him like everything was fine! Lydia whispered sharply.

Amara put her arms up to protect herself.

Because it was normal, she said. Just a guy at the festival, he said. We were talking. Lydia looked at her in shock. Do you even know who that guy is? Amara sighed in frustration.

"You've already told me." Daniel is his name.

Daniel Adebayo, Lydia said to fix it.

The name hung in the air like a heavy weight.

Neither of them said anything for a moment.

Amara felt a strange pressure in her chest.

"I didn't know," she said softly. Lydia shook her head.

That name is known by everyone in Ogwashi.

Amara turned around and looked back at the square where the festival was. Daniel was probably still standing there in that sea of dancing lights. Waiting. The thought made her heart race. I just talked to him, she said again in a soft voice. That's the problem! Lydia answered. She moved closer and spoke more quietly. Do you remember what your dad always says about the Adebayo family? Amara thought for a moment. She remembered, of course. When she was younger, her father told her many times. Do not go near them, that family doesn't bring anything good.

But the strange thing was that no one had ever clearly said why. Amara sighed and leaned against a wooden fence next to the road. "Hey Lydia, have you ever thought about how strange it is that our families are fighting?" Lydia frowned. "What do you mean?" Amara said slowly, picking her words carefully, "Everyone talks about the feud like it's the worst thing that ever happened in this town, but no one ever says what started it." Lydia looked like she was in pain. "That's because it happened a long time ago." "Exactly," Amara said. "So why are people still holding on to it like it happened yesterday?" Lydia didn't say anything. She had thought the same thing before, deep down.

But in Ogwashi, asking about the fight was almost like breaking an unspoken rule. Finally, Lydia let out a sigh. "Hey, maybe the whole thing doesn't make sense. But that doesn't change the fact that your dad would be very angry if he found out you were talking to Daniel Adebayo. Amara knew she was right. She had seen her father's anger many times before. There was still something different about the night. Daniel didn't seem like the kind of person who came from a family that hated each other. He had actually seemed nice. Kind. Interesting. Amara pushed the idea away. She said in a quiet voice, "It was just one conversation." "That's all." But she knew that what she said wasn't completely true. Because there was something about Daniel that was stuck with her.

In the meantime, Daniel was still standing where Amara had left him in the festival square.

The lantern in his hand had gone out a long time ago, but he hadn't noticed. He was still thinking about the girl who had just left. Amara, that name rang in his head. He had never met anyone like her before. Someone who could make a normal talk seem important.

Daniel sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

Then, all of a sudden, a hand touched his shoulder. Daniel turned around quickly.

Tunde, his older brother, stood behind him and watched him closely. Tunde said, you look lost.

Daniel shrugged. Just thinking. Tunde looked at the crowd with Daniel. You were talking to someone before. Daniel didn't answer right away. Tunde raised an eyebrow. Who was she? Daniel wasn't sure what to say. Just a girl. Tunde's got a little smaller. What's her name? Daniel turned his head. “Amara".

Tunde's face changed as soon as he said the name. His face got serious. Amara Okafor? he asked slowly. Daniel didn't say anything. He didn't have to. Tunde took hold of his arm and pulled him away from the crowd. Why are you talking to someone from that family? Tunde asked. Daniel made a face. I don't see why it matters. Tunde looked at him in shock, you got to be kidding me.

"Daniel said firmly, "I'm serious." "People have always told me that the Okafors are our enemies." But no one ever tells you why. Tunde's jaw got tight. "Some things you shouldn't dig into." Daniel put his arms across his chest. "Why not?" Tunde moved closer and spoke more quietly. "Because some secrets in this town should stay hidden." Amara sat by her bedroom window later that night and looked out at the quiet street. The music from the festival had stopped. The town was asleep. But her brain was still awake. She couldn't stop thinking about Daniel's smile. The way he paid attention when she talked. How simple the conversation had been. All of a sudden, her phone vibrated on the table next to her. Amara frowned.

Someone sent me a message from an unknown number. Her heart skipped a beat. She opened it up slowly, "I know we shouldn't talk but I can't stop thinking about what we talked about tonight". Amara's heart started to race, she already knew who it was. After that, the last message came, see you tomorrow. Then a new line showed up on the screen. Behind the old train statio

Amara looked at the message for a long time.

Her mind said this was a bad idea.

But curiosity whispered something else deep down. And sometimes fear was less powerful than curiosity.