Chapter 10 :The Stranger’s Wake
492 Words
Living Room, 7:48 a.m.
Ajoke barely had time to finish her tea when Ada’s voice cracked through the stillness.
> “Ajoke… who is he?”
Ajoke didn’t look up.
> “I’ve told you — I don’t know.”
Ada’s eyes narrowed.
> “You brought a complete stranger into this house?”
Ajoke sighed, rubbing her temple.
> “He’s a patient. I saw him in the rain, weak, almost unconscious. I couldn’t leave him there.”
Ada folded her arms, lips pressed in disapproval.
> “Where is he now?”
> “Upstairs. Sleeping.”
> “Do you even know his name?”
Ajoke slammed her cup down.
> “For God’s sake, Ada! I just helped someone. Can you not make it dramatic?”
They stared at each other, heat rising.
Then silently, they both climbed the stairs.
---
The Guest Room.
The door creaked open slowly.
Taye sat at the edge of the bed, hunched forward, face hidden beneath his shaggy hair.
The air shifted—tense. He hadn’t noticed them yet.
Ada cleared her throat, softly.
Ajoke stepped forward.
> “Would you like anything for breakfast?”
Taye stood without a word.
He slipped on his jacket. Walked to the door.
Just before exiting, he paused—
Then muttered, low and hoarse:
> “Thank you.”
The door slammed behind him.
---
They rushed to the window.
Taye walked past the gate—no glance back. Just silence and rain puddles.
Ada’s jaw dropped.
> “Wait… he just left?”
Ajoke scoffed. “Why are you asking me? No be both of us dey here?”
Ada shook her head.
> “What if he’s a ghost?”
They burst into nervous laughter.
But—
BANG!!!
The metal gate rattled.
Ada blinked. “Wait—did someone just open the gate?”
Ajoke chuckled. “Maybe he forgot something.”
> “Forgot something? Or he’s coming back to kill us?! Let me check!”
They both moved toward the window, playful.
But then Ada stopped.
Her smile disappeared.
> “Ye! Ajoke… look!”
Ajoke leaned closer.
Four men.
All in black.
All masked.
All armed.
Ajoke’s voice cracked.
> “Jesus…”
> “Who are they?”
Ada turned to her, trembling.
> “Which kind question be that? No be your house?!”
Ajoke whispered, “Oh God…”
---
Downstairs.
They heard it.
Footsteps.
Heavy. Calculated. Getting closer.
Ada backed up, her voice trembling.
> “What do we do?”
BOOM!
Gunshots tore through the silence.
Ajoke gasped. Ada covered her ears, frozen.
They slowly crept downstairs—every step a prayer.
And then—
They saw something that made their hearts stop.
---
> The stranger was gone… but trouble found its way in.
Guns. Masks. Blood about to spill. And two women caught in a storm they never asked for.
- Writer
