SURVIVAL GAME

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Femi’s fist slammed against the metal table, the echo bouncing off the cold walls. He felt the door slide open behind him, but he refused to look up. He already knew the footsteps — those slow and steady ones.

Ava.

“You must have seen it,” she said quietly.

Femi finally raised his head. His eyes were darker than the cell. Ava stood there, expression unreadable, like she’d spent too long learning how not to feel. She looked tired, she didn't want to come here, he could tell.

“You mean the video where you showed the world what a selfish monster you are?” Femi asked, voice low and bitter. He let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head.

Ava inhaled slowly and stepped closer. “You were dragging me with you to hell. I had no choice. I—”

“You accused me of being violent with you!” Femi roared, exploding to his feet. Ava flinched — not from fear, but from the memory it triggered. His anger was once passion. Now it was a storm with nowhere to go.

“I have done nothing but love you,” he continued, voice trembling with betrayal. “I protected you. I stood by you. And now I’m a murderer and an abuser?”

Ava looked away for one brief second, gathering herself.

“You posted those pictures,” she said quietly but firmly. “Don’t deny it.”

Femi’s jaw tightened. The fight drained out of him for a moment. His voice cracked, almost pleading.

“Yes,” he whispered. “I did it. I did it because I cared. Because I thought you were mine to protect. Because I thought you were different.” He met her gaze then, hurt bleeding through the fury. “But now I know why you and Kofi fit so well.”

Ava’s expression finally cracked — a flicker of hurt, quickly buried. She moved closer, each step slow and deliberate, like walking through glass.

“You lied,” she said softly, her voice darker now. “And how do you expect me to believe anything that comes out of a liar’s mouth?” She stopped inches away from him, close enough to feel his breath. “I saw you. I saw the dagger that night. You killed them. So stop acting like a saint. We’re all demons here.”

For a heartbeat, the room froze.

Then Femi laughed — broken, sharp, like pain disguised as amusement. He leaned toward her, voice barely above a whisper.

“Let’s assume I killed them. Let’s assume I ruined you. But between you and me…” His eyes hardened. “The one who really killed them is you.”

Ava’s throat tightened. Her breath hitched. The guilt — that old, familiar knife — twisted inside her chest. She blinked fast, refusing to let tears fall in front of him, not again.

“I don’t care,” she forced out, though her voice betrayed her. “I didn’t come here to drown in guilt. Not for you. Not for anyone. I came to say goodbye.”

“Get out.” The words left Femi like poison. “Get the f**k out. Go to hell.”

Ava nodded once, swallowing hard. “Fine. Goodbye.”

She turned to leave, but before she could take a step—

“Do you even know who Dark Shadow is?”

Ava froze. Slowly, she turned back. Confusion, dread, something like fear flickered in her eyes.

“What?”

“Kofi will ruin you,” Femi murmured, almost like a curse. “And Dark Shadow will hunt you.”

“Who is Dark Shadow?” Ava asked, voice low and shaky.

Femi scoffed — a broken sound. A sad, cruel smile tugged at his lips before it fell away.

“Get out.”

Ava stared at him, searching for the boy she once loved — the flirty and funny Femi, but she knew it was all fake. Kofi was right, Femi has a darker side and he's already showing it.

Finally, she walked out.

The door closed behind her with a heavy thud.

Femi slammed the table again, harder, a strangled sound escaping him. His chest heaved, haunted by love that refused to die.

He hated her.

He loved her.

He would burn for her — and he knew it.

And somewhere deep inside, he whispered to himself:

I have to save her.

* * *

Obi walked away from the cemetery, tearfully. Shade is gone, and it hurt him like hell. Ava caused it all, she destroyed two people. And yet she feels no remorse. That press conference annoyed him. She acted like a saint. Gosh! Obi squeezed his palms angrily. He wanted to ruin her, he wished he could.

He will. He will remove that fake face and show the world who Ava really is.

But first. Femi must die

* * *

Jeremiah entered the abandoned warehouse and their headquarters. His steps were slow and leaving the aura of power and authority. He walked down the stairs. He didn't like her, he hated seeing her. But unfortunately, it was a part of his job. Jeremiah stopped in front of the metal door, sighed, then placed the pin. The door opened and he walked inside. He stopped in front of another door, sighed again. Was she really a threat that all this is required. He brought out a key and unlocked the door. He opened it. Entered and saw her.

She was sitting beside the wall, looking helpless. Her lips were dry and her eyes swollen. She was trembling. Not from cold, but from fear of what could be done to her.

The girl slowly raised up her head and stared at him

" H...help m...me " Joke said trembling.

Jeremiah removed his eyes from her, turned around and walked away. He could hear the soft and low plea, coming from her mouth.

He locked the door. Why did Ava not kill her? Was her life that special? Jeremiah sighed. Sparing her life, will be a bigger threat one day. This he knew.

* * *

Precious drank the wine, bottle by bottle, until she was dead drunk. She was confused and annoyed.

Obi is gone, to Miami or something, Ava told her that. But Precious knew that Obi hated Miami. That's where his sister died. Obi can't go there. Especially not in a time like this.

Ava lied. She's hiding something. Precious always feel like the odd one all the time. They always kept her in the dark, as if she means nothing.

Something big is going on. She has to find out. She has to find Obi.

" You could have waited for me" Emma said from behind.

Precious turned around and faced Emma then turned around and continued her drinking.

Emma frowned, moved closer to Precious and sat down.

" So what's wrong?" Emma asked

Precious dropped the bottle on the table then stared at Emma, she began to blush, surprising Emma

" You are cute, Soo... really cute" precious slowly touches Emma's cheeks. " And your cheeks..." Precious chuckled " I want to kiss it"

Emma stared at Precious, petrified and confused

" I get that you are drunk, but don't you think this is too much?"

Precious frowned then removed her hands from Emma's cheeks. Emma let out a relieved sigh, but stopped when Precious started to cry.

" No one loves me...I... I'm not ..." Precious took the bottle and took two huge gulp then dropped the bottle down " the world is Soo heartless . And now, you are pushing me away" Precious laughed then cried, laughed then cried, laughed then cried, until she didn't laugh just cried. Emma stood up, walked closer to Precious, put his arm around precious shoulder.

" I'm here now. You can cry, let it all out. I'll be here" Emma paused " I've always been"

Precious stared at Emma, with tears on her cheeks. Removes his arm from her back then stood up.

Emma looked at Precious confused.

Precious faced Emma, locked her eyes with his

" I'm gonna regret this" precious said softly.

" Regret w..."

Before he could complete his statement.

Precious rose on her toes, fingers curling into his shirt, and pressed her lips to his — soft, warm, clumsy, but full of every feeling she’d swallowed for months.

He froze — not because he didn’t want it, but because he wanted it too much.

“Precious…” he murmured against her lips. His hand lifted, fingers brushing her cheek — tender, aching — then he gently pulled back, foreheads still touching. “Not like this.”

Her eyes fluttered open, confused, hurt flickering through the haze.

“I want you to remember it,” he whispered, voice rough. “When you're sober. When you mean it."

Precious’s breathing trembled.

“But I do mean it…"

He cupped her face, thumb brushing lightly along her jaw, a promise in his touch.

“I know,” he whispered. “And that’s why I won't kiss you back. Not tonight.”

She leaned into him anyway, tired and soft, and he steadied her, guiding her gently so she wouldn't fall.

And for a second — just one — his forehead rested against hers, like he was fighting every urge in his body to stay honorable.

“Come on,” he said softly. “Let me get you home.”

He knew regret was going to be present tomorrow. She just kissed her boss son.