HIS SAFE HOUSE

chapter six

CHAPTER 6: THE WATCHERS IN THE TREES

The gravel road wound deeper into the hills, disappearing beneath a canopy of towering trees. The farther they drove, the weaker the mobile signal became until every phone displayed the same message:

No Service.

Daniel finally relaxed his grip on the steering wheel.

"For the first time today," Marcus said over the radio, "we're outside their electronic reach."

Daniel didn't answer immediately.

"They'll adapt," he said at last. "People like Chidi always do."

The farmhouse came alive as evening settled over the hills. Chickens wandered freely across the yard while the smell of fresh stew drifted from the kitchen. It was peaceful—almost too peaceful after the terror of the past few days.

Mama Grace served bowls of hot rice and vegetable soup on the long wooden table.

"You'll all eat first," she insisted.

Amina hesitated.

"We don't want to be a burden."

Mama Grace smiled warmly.

"My child, burdens don't knock politely before arriving. They simply arrive. Tonight, you're family."

For the first time in weeks, Amina felt tears that were not born from fear.

---

Tolu ate quietly but kept glancing toward the windows.

Daniel noticed.

"Still watching the exits?"

Tolu looked embarrassed.

"I just... don't want anyone to surprise us."

Daniel gave a small approving nod.

"Good habit."

Marcus chuckled.

"He's starting to sound like you."

Daniel's expression remained serious.

"I hope he never has to."

---

After dinner, Zara wandered into the sitting room with her teddy bear.

An old wooden piano stood against one wall, its surface worn with age.

She gently pressed one of the keys.

A soft note echoed through the house.

Mama Grace smiled.

"That piano has been here longer than I have."

Zara giggled and pressed another key.

For a brief moment, laughter returned to the farmhouse.

Amina closed her eyes.

She had almost forgotten what peace sounded like.

---

Outside, Daniel began his inspection.

He circled the farmhouse slowly, checking every window, every fence post, every path leading into the surrounding forest.

Marcus joined him carrying a flashlight.

"You really think they'll find us this quickly?"

"I don't know."

"You don't sound convinced."

Daniel stopped beside an old mango tree.

Someone had stepped there recently.

The mud still held a clear boot print.

Fresh.

Very fresh.

Marcus crouched beside it.

"Could belong to a farmer."

Daniel shook his head.

"The tread pattern is military."

Both men exchanged a silent look.

Someone had been watching the farmhouse.

---

Inside, Amina tucked Zara into bed.

The little girl wrapped both arms around her teddy bear.

"Mummy?"

"Yes?"

"Is Mr. Daniel a soldier?"

Amina smiled faintly.

"I think he used to be."

"He's very brave."

"Yes."

"Can brave people get hurt?"

The question lingered in the quiet room.

"They can," Amina answered softly.

"But brave people don't stop protecting others."

Zara nodded sleepily before drifting off.

---

Near midnight, Daniel remained awake.

The security monitors Marcus had installed displayed images from hidden cameras around the property.

Everything appeared still.

Then—

A tiny red light flashed on one screen.

Movement.

Daniel leaned closer.

A figure slipped silently between the trees before disappearing again.

He immediately picked up the radio.

"Marcus."

"I'm awake."

"North perimeter."

"I'm on my way."

Within seconds both men were outside.

Rain had begun falling again, masking every sound.

Daniel switched off his flashlight.

"Why are we walking in the dark?" Marcus whispered.

"So they can't count our numbers."

They followed the narrow trail leading into the forest.

Twenty metres ahead, Daniel suddenly raised his fist.

Stop.

Marcus froze.

A thin fishing line stretched across the path at knee height.

Tripwire.

Daniel carefully traced it.

The wire disappeared into nearby bushes.

Marcus slowly pulled back the leaves.

A small motion alarm lay hidden beneath them.

Not an explosive.

A signal device.

"If we crossed it..." Marcus murmured.

"They'd know exactly when we left the house."

Daniel quietly disconnected the battery.

"They're getting closer."

---

Several kilometres away, inside a parked SUV, a man lowered a pair of night-vision binoculars.

He spoke calmly into his radio.

"Target confirmed."

Another voice crackled back.

"Visual on the woman?"

"Negative."

"What about Daniel?"

The man smiled.

"He found the alarm."

A brief silence followed.

Then the reply came.

"Good."

"We wanted him to."

The radio went dead.

The watcher started the engine and disappeared into the darkness.

---

Back at the farmhouse, Daniel placed the disabled alarm on the kitchen table.

Amina stared at it.

"What is that?"

"Our warning."

"You mean they were here?"

Daniel met her eyes.

"They've already found the hills."

The room fell silent.

Mama Grace slowly folded her hands.

"So..."

"They're coming."

No one spoke for several long seconds.

Finally, Tolu broke the silence.

"What do we do now?"

Daniel looked around the room at the frightened faces depending on him.

His voice remained calm.

"We stop running."

Outside, hidden among the trees, unseen eyes continued watching the farmhouse.

And somewhere in the darkness, a camera shutter clicked once.

The hunt had entered a new phase.

CHAPTER 7: THE FIRST SHOT

Morning came wrapped in a thick blanket of mist.

The hills that had looked peaceful the previous evening now felt strangely silent. Even the birds seemed reluctant to sing.

Daniel had been awake since 4:30 a.m.

Dressed in dark cargo trousers and a black long-sleeved shirt, he stood on the farmhouse porch scanning the tree line through a pair of binoculars. Every movement of the wind through the tall grass demanded his attention.

Behind him, the wooden door creaked open.

Marcus stepped outside carrying two steaming mugs.

"You haven't slept."

Daniel accepted one of the mugs.

"I closed my eyes."

Marcus smiled faintly.

"That's not the same thing."

Daniel remained focused on the forest.

"They found us faster than I expected."

Marcus folded his arms.

"You still think they're watching?"

Daniel lowered the binoculars.

"I know they are."

---

Inside the farmhouse, Amina was helping Zara wash her face while Tolu carefully folded their blankets.

Mama Grace was already preparing breakfast over a charcoal stove.

The smell of fried plantains filled the kitchen.

For a brief moment, it felt like an ordinary morning.

Then a loud bark shattered the calm.

Rex.

Mama Grace's old German Shepherd had raced toward the eastern fence, barking furiously into the forest.

Daniel instantly placed his mug on the porch railing.

"Inside!" he shouted.

Everyone froze.

"Now!"

Amina grabbed Zara while Tolu rushed toward the kitchen.

Marcus pulled Mama Grace away from the doorway.

Daniel moved toward the barking dog.

Halfway across the yard, Rex suddenly whimpered.

Then silence.

The dog had stopped barking.

Daniel's instincts screamed.

He dropped to one knee.

A sharp c***k split the morning air.

BANG!

A bullet tore through the wooden fence exactly where Daniel had been standing a heartbeat earlier.

Splinters exploded across the yard.

Amina screamed from inside the house.

Marcus pulled his pistol.

"Sniper!"

Daniel rolled behind an old water tank.

Another shot rang out.

BANG!

The metal tank shuddered violently as the bullet slammed into it.

"They're trying to pin us down!" Marcus shouted.

Daniel studied the distant ridge.

Nothing.

No movement.

Whoever was firing knew exactly how to stay hidden.

---

Inside the farmhouse, Zara burst into tears.

"Mummy!"

Amina held both children tightly.

"It's okay."

But her own voice trembled.

Nothing about this was okay.

Mama Grace quietly knelt beside them.

"We pray," she whispered.

The elderly woman clasped Amina's shaking hands.

"Heavenly Father, give us courage where fear has entered..."

As the prayer continued, another rifle shot echoed across the valley.

---

Outside, Daniel pulled a small mirror from his pocket.

Marcus frowned.

"What are you doing?"

"Finding him."

Daniel carefully angled the mirror around the edge of the water tank.

A tiny flash reflected from the distant hillside.

"There."

Marcus followed Daniel's gaze.

Nearly six hundred metres away.

Hidden among rocks.

"A professional," Marcus muttered.

Daniel nodded.

"He wants us trapped inside."

"So what's the plan?"

Daniel smiled for the first time that morning.

"We change his plan."

---

He pressed the radio clipped to his vest.

"Mama Grace."

Her calm voice answered immediately.

"I'm here."

"Take everyone into the cellar."

"What about you?"

"We'll join you."

Daniel released the button.

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

"We're not actually going to the cellar."

"No."

"What then?"

"We're going hunting."

---

Far across the valley, the sniper adjusted his scope.

His breathing remained slow and controlled.

The farmhouse door opened.

Movement.

A dark figure stepped outside.

The sniper gently squeezed the trigger.

Click.

Nothing happened.

His rifle jammed.

"What?"

He quickly worked the bolt.

Still nothing.

A quiet voice suddenly spoke behind him.

"Looking for this?"

The sniper froze.

His spare magazine was dangling from Daniel's hand.

Impossible.

Daniel stood only three metres away.

Completely silent.

The sniper reached for the pistol strapped to his thigh.

Daniel kicked it away before the man's fingers touched it.

One punch.

The sniper collapsed onto the rocks.

Marcus emerged from behind a nearby tree, breathing heavily.

"I still hate climbing hills."

Daniel calmly unloaded the rifle.

Military grade.

Suppressed.

Expensive.

He looked down at the unconscious man.

"This isn't Chidi's usual security team."

Marcus agreed.

"No."

"They've upgraded."

---

Back at the farmhouse, Tolu sat beside Zara in the cellar.

The little girl clung tightly to him.

"Will Mr. Daniel come back?"

Tolu looked toward the ceiling.

"He always comes back."

Even as he said it, he silently prayed he was right.

---

An hour later Daniel and Marcus returned.

The sniper was tied securely in the back of their vehicle.

Amina rushed outside.

"Are you hurt?"

Daniel shook his head.

"We're fine."

She looked at the bound stranger.

"Who is he?"

Daniel's expression darkened.

"That's what we're about to find out."

Marcus dragged the prisoner into an empty storage shed.

Daniel splashed cold water across the man's face.

His eyes opened instantly.

Professional.

Disciplined.

No panic.

"Who sent you?" Daniel asked.

Silence.

Daniel placed the sniper rifle on the table.

"Ex-military?"

Still silence.

Marcus sighed.

"He's trained to resist interrogation."

Daniel crouched until they were eye level.

"I'm not asking twice."

The prisoner smiled.

"You already lost."

Daniel's eyes narrowed.

"What does that mean?"

The sniper chuckled.

"You think I came here to kill."

His smile widened.

"I came to make you stay."

Daniel's heartbeat slowed.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

He rushed outside.

The yard looked peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Then he saw it.

A tiny blinking light attached beneath Marcus's pickup truck.

His face hardened.

"Everyone!"

He shouted with all his strength.

"GET AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE!"

Marcus turned.

His eyes found the blinking device.

His face drained of colour.

"Oh no..."

The blinking became faster.

Three.

Two.

One—

A deafening explosion ripped through the farmhouse yard.

The pickup truck erupted into a massive fireball, hurling twisted metal high into the air.

The shockwave shattered windows throughout the house.

Smoke billowed into the sky.

Amina threw herself over Zara and Tolu as glass rained across the ground.

Daniel staggered but stayed on his feet.

His ears rang.

The sniper, still inside the shed, laughed.

Even through the chaos...

He laughed.

The war had only just begun.