THE BLACKMAIL
253 Words
Zahra’s phone buzzed at midnight.
Unknown number: `We have the photo. 5 million naira, or Daniel’s family sees everything.`
Her hands shook. Before she could reply, someone knocked hard.
Daniel.
“You lied to me,” he said, pushing inside. “My mother says you’re a fraud.”
“Daniel, wait—”
They fought. Shouting. Accusations. Her bag hit the floor.
The DNA paper slid out.
Daniel picked it up. His eyes went wide.
The room went silent. Daniel’s voice broke. “This… this says she’s my sister?”
Zahra couldn’t breathe. “I didn’t know. I swear.”
The phone buzzed again. `Time is running out.`
Her hands shook. Before she could reply, someone knocked hard.
Daniel.
“You lied to me,” he said, pushing inside. “My mother says you’re a fraud.”
“Daniel, wait—”
They fought. Shouting. Accusations. Her bag hit the floor. Makeup scattered.
His voice cracked with anger she’d never heard before.
The DNA paper slid out.
Daniel picked it up. His eyes went wide. His fingers
Her hands shook so badly she dropped her phone. Before she could pick it up, someone knocked hard. Three times. Like he was breaking the door down.
Daniel.
He didn’t wait for her to speak. He pushed inside, breathing fast.
“You lied to me,” he said, his eyes red. “My mother says you’re a fraud. That you’re after money.”
“Daniel, wait— please just listen—”
But he wasn’t listening.
- Writer
