The soft buzz of her phone pierced through the silence of Kelechi's small apartment. She hesitated before answering, her thumb hovering over the screen.
Ayo.
The familiar name made her pause, but she couldn't ignore it. Not now. Not after everything that had happened.
She pressed the screen and put the phone to her ear.
"Ayo," Kelechi said, her voice softer than she intended. "How are you?"
He was quiet for a moment before replying, "I'm fine, but I'm more concerned about you. You've been distant lately, Kelechi. I've tried to reach you, but you… you keep pushing me away."
Kelechi sighed, leaning back against the doorframe. Her eyes flickered to the dark corner of her room where the file on Oba Eze lay—proof of everything that had been hidden for too long. She couldn't let go. But hearing Ayo's voice, his concern, it made something twist inside her chest.
"I'm not pushing you away. I just… have a lot to handle right now. You wouldn't understand," she replied, her voice shaking slightly.
"I might surprise you," he said gently. "Let me help, Kelechi. Let me in. Whatever you're doing, I can't stand seeing you like this. It's not just about Seyi anymore, is it?"
Kelechi closed her eyes for a moment, her mind racing. She could feel the weight of the truth—the darkness that had seeped into her heart since she uncovered the truth. There was no going back. But Ayo didn't deserve to be dragged into this.
"I have to do this, Ayo. For her," Kelechi said, her voice cracking slightly. "You don't understand what they've done, what they're capable of. I can't stop now."
There was a long silence on the other end of the line. When Ayo finally spoke, his voice was thick with emotion.
"I do understand," he said. "And that's why I'm worried about you. You're becoming someone I don't recognize. You're slipping, Kelechi. I can't watch you destroy yourself."
But she wasn't listening. She couldn't. Not yet.
"I'll be fine," she said, her voice hardening, though a part of her felt like she was lying to both Ayo and herself.
Before she could say anything else, the line went dead. The abrupt silence was suffocating. Kelechi's heart hammered in her chest as she stared at the phone, her thoughts spiraling. The pull of his voice, his love, it was the one thing that could keep her grounded.
⸻
Later that night, when the air outside was cool and the city lights flickered like distant stars, a knock echoed at her door. Kelechi's heart skipped a beat.
She wasn't expecting anyone. She hadn't even let Ayo in for weeks now. But this wasn't Ayo's knock.
The door opened slowly, revealing Malik standing in the doorway. His sharp eyes scanned her apartment, but it wasn't the look of a man who was concerned. It was colder, calculating—almost predatory.
"I wasn't expecting you," Kelechi said, her voice betraying none of the unease creeping through her veins.
Malik stepped inside, his presence filling the small space like a shadow. His lips curled into a knowing smile.
"Is that so?" he asked, his tone low, his eyes lingering on her face. "I'm not here to make small talk, Kelechi. I've been keeping track of your little… escapades."
Kelechi's stomach tightened. "What do you want from me?"
His smile grew wider, a glint of amusement flickering in his gaze. "What I want is simple. I want you to understand that the war you're fighting isn't just with Oba Eze. You can't keep playing this game without understanding the cost."
She crossed her arms, defiance in her posture. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
Malik took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "It means you're going to need allies. And I can be the ally who gives you what you need. You don't have to do this alone."
Kelechi's pulse quickened. He was offering her something dangerous. Something that would change everything.
But there was a deeper instinct inside her that screamed to be cautious, to not trust him.
"I don't need your help," she said, but her voice lacked conviction.
Malik raised an eyebrow. "You will. You might be stubborn now, but you'll need someone who knows how to handle people like Oba Eze. You won't get anywhere alone."
Kelechi met his gaze. "We'll see about that," she said, though the doubt gnawed at her.
He turned to leave, but paused at the door.
"I'll be watching," Malik said with a quiet smile before disappearing into the night.