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EPISODE 51 – Home Is Not Safe.



My body was hot, sore, and stiff, like I had been used to mix concrete instead of using a shovel. Every place Clark touched earlier was now reporting itself. Ribs. Shoulder. Back. Even places I didn’t know could feel pain were sending their complaints.

Sleep finally caught me somewhere in the middle of the night.
Not because I was comfortable, but because the pain in my body eventually got tired. Or let me say my body simply got used to the pain.

I slept sitting, head leaning against the wall, waking up every few minutes like someone suffering from sleepless-night syndrome. Like Lady Morgana in Merlin, only without magical powers and with more pain.

Eventually, morning came the way prison morning always comes.

No sunrise through the window. No gentle light from the bed stand. Just noise and pure insults.

Iron doors banged open. Boots hit the floor. Keys clanged like the warders were happy to be alive — and angry at the same time.

“You na think say na hotel you dey? Wake up there!”

Let's talk about prison morning routine that doesn’t care about your injuries. It doesn’t care about your pains. And more importantly, it doesn’t care about your feelings at all.

You wake up. You line up. You get counted. Then counted again because the system do not trust one warder to count well. Another one has to recount, just for assurance. Human beings reduced to numbers that still somehow confuse the system they put in place.

After all the counting, duties start.

Sweeping the corridor. Scrubbing the floor. Fetching water. Carrying buckets. Carrying cement.
Anything that needs carrying, they will find a human being to carry it.

And bathing?

Ah.

Bathing is not just ordinary bathing.
Bathing is another survival world entirely.

We queued with small buckets and rubber cups. Everybody n*ked like goats at a slaughterhouse.

You must not look too much. You must not stare — especially not at the big guys with dreadful looks. All you must do is wash fast-fast and move out of the way. And most importantly, don’t you ever bend down to pick anything from the floor, because in the voice of Very Dark Man, you gon learn, and you'll learn the hard way.

Using soap is optional but speed is compulsory.


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‎If you want to keep following Darous, Tiffany, Kalu, Kenny,  and The Circle mystery…
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‎Thank you for understanding.
‎Thank you for reading.
‎And thank you for supporting my craft.
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‎Let’s continue this journey together. ❤️
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Episode 51. Join the telegram group now...

EPISODE 50 – WHAT THE DARKNESS WAS HIDING

A new cell. A familiar name. And a past that refuses to stay buried. When Darous comes face-to-face with Clark—Toyosi’s dangerous ex and a ghost from the Circle’s bloody history—words quickly turn into fists inside a prison cell ruled by silent kings and watching warders. As survival becomes the only language that matters, power shifts, lines are drawn, and invisibility dies. But just when the night seems contained behind iron bars, another darkness opens its door—where Kalu walks into a horror no father should ever see. Two locations. One episode. And a truth that proves some nightmares don’t wait for daylight.

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‎And thank you for supporting my craft.
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‎Let’s continue this journey together. ❤️
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EPISODE 49 – Inside These Walls.

The first night inside Kirikiri did something to my soul.

People think prison is just “you can’t go out.” Or the endless restrictions.
No.
The real torture is that time stops respecting you. Like it stops giving you complete regard. It doesn’t give a fvcking dime how you’re feeling at all. Time no send your papa once you enter that God-forbid place.

Minutes drag on.
Hours stretch like rubber.
Every sound feels louder.
Every breath feels borrowed.

Freedom suddenly becomes something you can smell from far away but can never touch again.
Like a very delicious stew you only perceive from your neighbour’s pot when you’re fasting.

The walls press your chest.
The air tastes different — heavy, recycled, and tired.
And the silence between the noise?
That one is the worst.
It feels like somebody locked you inside your own thoughts.

I sat in my tiny corner of Cell C-12, hugging myself, pretending like I was invisible. Like I didn’t even exist at all. My plan was simple: follow every step Michael Scofield took during his first days in Prison Break. Avoid people like Abruzzi and T-Bag at all costs.

But of course… despite all my dedication to stay hidden,
they still noticed me.

The big one — the gorilla-chested man at the back — finally stood up.

When he stood, the whole cell adjusted to the gravitational force around his weight.
Even the air paused.

Dark, tall, thick, with a chest like he personally designed it to intimidate people.
His voice?
Deep enough to wake Lazarus.

He walked up to me slowly, his footsteps heavy… like an armoured tank.

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‎Then I believe this support won’t be too much.
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‎Thank you for understanding.
‎Thank you for reading.
‎And thank you for supporting my craft.
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‎Check my signature for the payment details and WhatsApp number to send the screenshot of the payment to. After which you get the telegram link.
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We now on episode 49 on our telegram group..

For those asking. Check my signature for details o. The Telegram group is not free o.

EPISODE 48 – Something Is Wrong Inside.

The first thing I learned about Kirikiri the moment the van stopped was simple:

The gate is not just for decoration.
It is a warning.

Tall, thick, heavy — like demons doing side hustle were the ones that welded it together.
Two guards stood there with faces that looked like they hadn’t smiled since the military era.

The van door opened.
My heart used style to step out of my chest, walked to the gate, inspected the place, came back and whispered:

“Omo… Darous, better behave yourself.”

Two warders dragged me down.

No “sorry.”
Nor even a “take it easy.”
Just drag-and-drop like I was a bag of cement.

They marched me into the reception area — where new inmates are processed.

The smell hit me like a straight jab.

Sweat.
Disinfectant.
Fear.
And one stubborn smell that refused to introduce itself.

An officer with potbelly checked my file.
He shook his head slowly, like my existence will affect his promotion.

“Follow me.”

And we began the journey.

One long corridor.
Then another.
Then another.
At some point, I wondered if the place had turned to Third Mainland Bridge extension.

My slippers kept making noise:

Slap. Slap. Slap.

As if they were mocking me personally.

Inside my head I kept whispering:

“Don’t panic. Don’t shake. Remember the mission.”

But my body?
My body was vibrating like a small generator suffering from bad plug.

Then they pushed me into a large hall.

The noise almost knocked courage out of my chest.

Inmates everywhere — talking, arguing, laughing like drunk spirits.
One guy singing to himself.
Another pacing like a lion with family issues.
Two men were playing draught with the seriousness of people choosing Nigeria’s next president.

But the one that caught my eye…
Kai.

This man looked like the final boss of mortal kombat.
Scars everywhere and a face that looked like it was carved in frustration.

A warder shouted:

“NEW INMATE! STAND THERE!”

He pointed at a red line on the floor.

I stood there like a confused statue.

They searched me from head to toe.
Collected everything — clothes, slippers and my wristwatch

Then they handed me green trousers and shirt that smelled like Lukaku wore it to run marathon under hot sun.

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‎(You get access instantly, and new episodes will drop consistently — at least one every day.)
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‎🔹 If you join when the episodes have passed 10,
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‎you’ll pay ₦1000 for epsiode 42 - 51.
‎
‎Then another 1000, for episodes 52 onwards.
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‎This way, it’s fair for everyone — both early readers and those joining later.
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‎I’m doing this so I can keep giving you high-quality writing, tension, humour, emotions, and the kind of storytelling you’ve been enjoying.
‎
‎If you’ve truly loved this story so far…
‎If you want to keep following Darous, Tiffany, Kalu, Kenny, and The Circle mystery…
‎Then I believe this support won’t be too much.
‎
‎Thank you for understanding.
‎Thank you for reading.
‎And thank you for supporting my craft.
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‎Check my signature for the payment details and WhatsApp number to send the screenshot of the payment to. After which you get the telegram link.
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EPISODE 47 – Price Of Obedience.


The drive to the Third Mainland Underpass wasn’t smooth.
We hit like three different hold-ups before we reached halfway.
While I was busy stressing over the mission ahead, Kenny’s call entered my phone for the ninth time.

Ninth.

My patience was already hanging on one invisible thread.

I hissed, squeezed my eyes shut, I finally picked.

The moment the line connected, he didn’t even pause.

“You dey craze, Darous!? So you just dey decline my calls like I be one beggar? You think say you don blow abi!? You no fit help your own brother!?”

I closed my eyes. “Kenny, calm down. This thing wey you wan do—”

“Shut up there!” he barked. “You dey form sensible person but you be pure coward! Coward!! Ordinary help I ask you, you dey do like say na your destiny I wan borrow. You no get small pity for eyes at all?”

“Kenny, I’m telling you again — you can’t join these people. You don’t know what you’re walking into.”

“Oh! So you don dey see future now abi? You don turn prophet?” he snapped. “You think say ah no know your plan? You no wan see me rise. Na why you dey talk nonsense. You don dey fear say I go pass you. Na why you dey block my blessings. Wicked soul!”

I rubbed my forehead. “Kenny, listen—”

“NO! YOU LISTEN!” His voice shook the whole car. Even the Uber driver adjusted his mirror like he wanted to mind the gossip.

“You’re a useless friend,” Kenny spat. “Heartless. You dey watch me suffer. But no worry… God go judge you. In fact—”
he paused, hissed loudly,
“—you’re going straight to hell. Straight. Na me talk am.”

That one touched my nerve.

I kept quiet for two seconds, then said calmly:

“Hey listen, Angel Kenny… the only way I’ll enter hell before you is if they call our names in alphabetical order.”

Silence.
The Uber driver almost choked on his own breath.

Before Kenny could reorganise his madness and respond, I ended the call.

Blocked the line.

Sat back.



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EPISODE 46 – The Quiet Shift.


After the recording, I went around the house looking for Toyosi.

It felt like the girl had evaporated like hot water on a very dry harmattan morning.

Her bedroom door was locked.
Kitchen? Only pot, plate, and stove staring back at me.
Tiffany's room was empty as well.

I even stepped outside to look around for any clue as to where she might be but still got nothing.

I dialed her number — Unreachable.
Checked her WhatsApp — last seen was the previous day.

I felt that uncomfortable twist in my stomach. Because Toyosi is many things, but disappearing like rapture lite is not one of them.



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EPISODE 45 - The Recording.


The sun hammered my back like punishment as I crawled through the busy Ikotun road on a power bike. The heat was wicked, the kind that made the air shimmer like boiling water. Everywhere was noise — okada horns, people arguing, hawkers screaming prices like they were fighting for their lives. My heartbeat matched the chaos. In that heated environment ,I wasn’t searching for trouble… I was calculating it.

My eyes scanned every corner, every person crossing the road, every bag swinging carelessly from someone’s arm. I needed the perfect one — the kind of crime that was loud enough for people to chase me, but simple enough to earn me three years and nothing more. That was the plan. Get arrested. Enter Kirikiri. Find Black Mamba. Deliver Aristotle’s message. End him. Walk out alive. Easy peasy.. Atleast in theory.

Then I saw her.

A pregnant woman stood by the side of the road, her shadow practically melting into the hot ground. She held a black leather bag under her arm, big and full, the kind of bag someone wouldn’t drop without a fight. Sweat ran down her face, exhaustion written all over her. She looked like someone who needed mercy.

But today, mercy didn’t fit into my assignment. Not at all.

I slowed down, plastered on a harmless smile, and pulled up beside her.

“Aunty, this sun is too much for you o. Let me help you,” I said softly.

She turned, relief flickering across her eyes.

Then, with a well calculated move, I snatched the bag.

Her gasp cut through my chest sharper than any wound. I revved the bike and shot forward quickly.

“Thief! Thief!!” she screamed behind me, her voice slicing through the street.

People turned immediately, because as you well know, Lagos hates thieves more than they hate bad government.

But my mind screamed "Good— that was the point."
I needed attention. I needed to be chased.

But I didn’t expect an entire army of okada riders to come after me like I stole the money meant for the construction of their local government's borehole.

The roar behind me grew louder.
I glanced back — four… no, six bikes. All speeding. All angry. All determined.
My heart slammed against my ribs. I leaned forward, twisted the throttle, and the bike screamed under me. I darted between cars, flew past pedestrians, narrowly missed a danfo that swerved like it had a personal vendetta against me. The driver cursed at me but I didn't mind.

All I needed to do was just to lose them a little. Just enough for a dramatic arrest later.

But street chaos doesn’t care about your plans.

A sharp bend ahead. I took it too fast. My back tire skidded on gravel — my whole body lurched.
Before I know it! I rammed straight into an oncoming bike that was carrying two secondary school girls.

The world exploded.

Metal tore against metal. Screams filled the air. The bike spun and crashed to the ground. The two schoolgirls flew off — their uniforms fluttering like broken kites — and hit the concrete with sickening thuds.

They didn’t move. They died instantly.



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Episode 44 - The Debt Of LM.


Aristotle walked toward me slowly, hands behind his back like a patient executioner taking a stroll before the head hits the ground.

“Darous,” he said, voice calm like a chilled poison.
“So… I was told you’ve decided your punishment.”

I swallowed hard.

“Yes sir.”

He tilted his head the way a hawk studies a wounded chicken.

“You know…” he began, tone dropping into something almost proverb-like,
“A man who destroys a house with fire should not return with a bucket of water and call it compensation.”

Then he continued, voice flat and bruised with ego:

“You’re only still breathing… and being offered this second meeting… because of that sex game you won against me.”
He said it like the memory alone stabbed his pride.
“But that doesn’t mean you should insult my intelligence by telling me this nonsense.”

I kept quiet.
I’ve already learned the hard way that: interrupting Aristotle is like interrupting a firing squad.

“You believe…” he said slowly,
“…that after everything you caused…
your punishment…
is fixing walls?”

He didn’t raise his voice.
He didn’t shout.

Which somehow made the fear settle even deeper.

I nodded carefully.

“Talk.”
The command came out low — like thunder rolling under the earth.

“I-I thought… as an engineer, I should fix the walls and… and—”

He lifted one gloved finger.

I shut up so fast my breath jammed.

Then he laughed.

Just a short, sharp tsk-hah behind the mask.

“Oh, Darous…” he said, head leaning slightly to the side.
“You really don’t understand the weight of what you did.”

He stepped closer — one slow, heavy step.

“You think plaster can cover the lives we lost?
You think cement can bring back L.M?”
His voice was a whispered accusation made of knives.
“He was one of my most valuable agents… and your stupidity erased him totally.”

He moved even closer.

“You think a bag of cement can return him to me?
You think a drum of paint can wipe away the other bodies buried because of your actions?”

He paused — letting each sentence enter me one by one like injections.

Then he straightened… brushed imaginary dust from his coat… and nodded to himself.

“You want punishment?”
Another quiet nod.
“Fine. I’ll give you one that fits perfectly.”




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drewbar:
I am paying payment now and will reach out on whatsapp bro

aiit boss

EPISODE 43 — The Ledger's Weight.


Detective Kalu remained by the window blinds long after Darous walked out of his office.

He watched the young man cross the station compound, enter that black GLE, and sped off.

When the car finally disappeared through the gate, Kalu let the blinds fall shut.

He exhaled deeply and said quietly:

“You can come out now.”

The restroom door at the corner of his office opened slowly.

Tiffany stepped out.


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Episode 42 is now available on my Telegram channel. As he dey hot

juninhouj:
I don't understand, how can I get the Whatsapp number?

Check below my name. Or my profile for details

Episode 43 – The Ledger’s Weight

SUMMARY.


In a room heavy with secrets and shadows, two unlikely allies confront the emotional wreckage left behind by betrayal, loss, and a system designed to break them. As tears fall and truths surface, a quiet war begins — one that demands loyalty, strategy, and the courage to carry what others died protecting.

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FRIENDS, FRENEMIES & FOES
EPISODE 42 – What Follows Us Home.

THE SUMMARY....

He left the office feeling tired, his mind already on food and sleep. The drive was normal at first — same road, same traffic, same routine.
But some minutes later, as he approached the turn leading into his street… he noticed it.

Something off.
Something out of place.
Something that shouldn’t be there — quietly waiting, like it had followed him all the way from the office.

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Hello everyone, good day to you all ❤️

I want to share something important with you about Friends, Frenemies & Foes.

I’ve been writing this story with my whole heart — late nights, long hours, constant planning, and deep emotional work. But along the line, I noticed something:

As you all know, there are so many ghost readers… very few reactions… and almost no engagement back.
And as much as I love writing and giving you the best story possible, the truth is that good work needs support.

So after thinking deeply, I’ve decided to move the full story to a private Telegram channel where only active supporters can access the episodes.

This is not to punish anyone.
It’s simply to make sure my hard work is respected, valued, and able to continue.

And before anything else…
I truly want to appreciate the few of you who always showed love.

Those of you who liked, commented, reacted, encouraged, and made me feel like someone was actually reading…
You’re the real MVPs.

Your small support meant a lot to me — more than you even know.
You’re the reason I kept writing on days when my brain was tired and my hands were shaking.
Thank you for standing by the story.
Thank you for showing up every time.

I see you.
I appreciate you.
And this new phase is also for you — so I can keep giving you the best.


Here’s how it will work:

🔹 Subscription fee: 1,000 naira for 10 episodes.
(You get access instantly, and new episodes will drop consistently — at least one every day.)

🔹 If you join when the episodes have passed 10,
you’ll pay ₦100 for each extra episode added after the initial 10.
Example: If there are 15 episodes when you join → 1,000 + (5 × 100) = 1,500.

This way, it’s fair for everyone — both early readers and those joining later.

I’m doing this so I can keep giving you high-quality writing, tension, humour, emotions, and the kind of storytelling you’ve been enjoying.

If you’ve truly loved this story so far…
If you want to keep following Darous, Tiffany, Kalu, Kenny, and The Circle mystery…
Then I believe this support won’t be too much.

Thank you for understanding.
Thank you for reading.
And thank you for supporting my craft.

Check my signature for the payment details and WhatsApp number to send the screenshot of the payment to. After which you get the telegram link.

Let’s continue this journey together. ❤️

EPISODE 41 – Shadows In The Store.



The next morning walked in casually, like, “Hope you’re ready?” And honestly, I wasn’t.

I woke up to kreeeen-kreeeen — Kenny’s call.
I hissed so loud the devil probably looked out the window.

This boy must have fried plantain oil inside his brain.
After everything I found out at midnight about the whole Circle matter, Toyosi’s confession, the setup, the profiling, all the unexpected twists…
Kenny still wants to join them by force like it’s NYSC recruitment program?

His call came in again.
And again.
And again.

At that point I knew if I didn’t pick, he would never stop.

I let out a low groan and picked.

“Hello Kenny, what is your problem?”
Straight to the point.

“Guy, why you dey do me like this na?”
His voice was calm.
Calm.
Kenny and Calm.
That alone was suspicious.

“Like… like how?” I asked, because I wasn’t prepared for this new gentle Kenny package.

“You know say promise na debt. You promise to help me out na… this suffer-suffer don tire me. Since Baba T don kpai, I just dey live to stay alive. Guy abeg… before they sign me as brand ambassador for Sapa group of companies...”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or hiss.

“Okay. Let’s meet later today at our joint. We’ll talk when we see.”

He agreed. I ended the call and dropped back on the bed. I turned my head to one side and saw Toyosi was still sleeping.

Wait — wait — before you start having funny ideas inside your brain:
Nothing happened. I mean nothing at all happened...I'm repeating myself again now that nothing happened oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

She just insisted on sleeping beside me like I was her emotional power bank.

And when I asked why, she said she doesn't know, only that she does “crazy things” when she’s scared.

You remember she told me that same statement the other night, abi? Fine.

I just need to clear myself before
you carry phone and call Tiffany that “Darous didn’t even wait for her to leave the house before he started knacking Toyosi her best friend.

Wait first... did I just call Toyosi her “best friend”?
Is that still her title after last night’s confession?

Well,.let me allow you to be the judge of that.

So like I was saying, I lay right there on the bed for like twenty minutes replaying everything she told me at midnight.

The setup.
The profiling.
The manipulation.
The therapist.
Bola.
And The Circle.

While I was deep in thoughts, my phone rang again.

The time was quarter past eight.
It was an unsaved number.

Normally I would ignore, but it could be Aristotle or somebody important. So I picked.

“Hello.”

“Hello, Darous…”

I recognised the voice instantly.

“Detective…” I said, getting up immediately and tiptoeing out of the room before Toyosi’s FBI ears would start listening to my conversation.

I got to the door and looked back at her.
She turned her head slightly on the pillow, adjusting herself, still sleeping.

Good.
I escaped quietly into the sitting room.

“So, when should I be expecting my phone today?” Kalu said.

My chest jumped small.
I completely forgot I promised him to get him his phone today.

“Errm… I’m on it sir. Give me till afternoon or evening. I'll definitely get it to you boss.”

“Good. I’ll be expecting your call.”

He hung up.

The rest of the morning played itself.
I called Tiffany like a madman — more than twenty times.
Her phone was off.
WhatsApp one-tick.
TikTok dry like Sahara.

Toyosi said we should give her two days. That she’ll calm down. I had no other choice than to trust and hope on that.

Moreover, If I give detective Kalu his phone, he already promised to help convince Tiffany that everything was just a ruse.
I pray it works because that might be my only chance to enter her emotional house again.
Every time my phone vibrated, a small part of me wished it was Tiffany. The annoying part? I don’t even know what I’ll say if she eventually picks my call or calls me.

Later in the afternoon, I dressed up for my meeting with Kalu and my other meeting with Kenny at our old spot — the place where Baba T was stabbed.

Ah, that place holds a lot of memories.
We used to laugh, gist, whyne each other till we nearly ran mad.

But now?
Baba T is gone.
Jude is invisible.
And Kenny has transformed into “Circle Lite — No Joy Edition.”

This outing will give me th chance to kill two stones with one bird— or kill one bird with two stones — or…
Look, you already know what I’m trying to say. Let's move to more important details.

So I went to the back store to pick detective Kalu’s phone and the flash drive.
I wrapped them in tissue the other day and kept them well-hidden.

But when I got there…

My whole body paused.

I stared at the tissue wrapper for almost five seconds. It had moved. I know how I keep my things—exactly where I drop them. So if it shifted, even by one inch… then someone entered this store.

Or maybe it was breeze. Or maybe some over–curious rat decided to do investigation on them. Anything is possible in this life. I just told myself to relax, tucked the phone and flash drive into my pocket and pretended nothing happened. At least I still found them there. That one alone was enough reason for me to be happy.

I already told Toyosi I’d be using the remaining car in the house. She said she wasn’t going anywhere that day, so I picked the car keys and drove out of the premises.

*******


Thirty minutes later, I got to Ikeja police station and walked straight into Detective Kalu’s office.

The man smiled like someone that just won a tax refund.

I didn’t even waste time. I brought out the phone and handed it to him.

“Ah, good boy! You did it,” he said, standing up.

The way this man grabbed it ehn… you’d think I returned his missing child. He inspected it like a mechanic checking engine oil — turning it around, pressing buttons, checking the screen.

When he confirmed everything was intact, he let out one long relieved sigh.

“Good. Very good,” he said. “You kept your word.”

“Abi na...,” I said.

“I don't even want to know how you did it but I will keep mine too,” he added. “I’ll talk to your girlfriend.”

Once he mentioned Tiffany, a sad feeling overtook my mind.

“Detective… she broke up with me last night,” I confessed slowly. “I didn’t tell her the truth. And she caught me. Everything have scattered.”

He paused. The man actually paused, looked at me, and shook his head like a disappointed uncle.

“Hmmm. Women…” he said like someone talking from experience. “Darous, listen. They react strongly to what they don’t understand. It’s for their protection. Nobody can blame them. But trust me she’ll be fine once you take care of that useless group.”

I nodded slowly even though the way he said those words, I couldn't tell if he was referring to Tiffany or another woman.

“She’s not even picking my calls,” I said. “Her friend said I should give her time to cook off.”

He waved his hand.

“Leave that one to me,” he said confidently. “I’ll talk to her. I’ll make sure she understands everything was just… what do you young people call it… a ruse.”

I almost smiled. The way he pronounced ruse like rooz.

He leaned back in his chair and switched the topic.

“So… anything new about the Circle? Any new development since we last spoke?”

I shook my head. “Nothing yet, sir. I’m still trying to connect the dots.”

He narrowed his eyes a bit like he didn't believe me.

“Hmm. Are you sure?”

“Yes sir. Nothing.”

He let out a breath and nodded like someone that didn’t fully believe me but decided to let it go.

“Alright,” he said finally. “Lets hope for the best.”

Before I stood up to leave, he added:

“And remember — your three months starts now. You must finish them. Completely. No excuses.”

“I know,” I said, standing. “I’m ready.”

We exchanged one warm handshake.

Then I turned and walked out of the office.



To be continued

Damilgodwin:
To be honest ehn. I am starting to doubt life itself 😁😁

Shey na human being nai dae creative like this ni 😁😁😁

Twale sir ooo💯💯🙌🙌

you welcome my boss

hatchetman:
I will stop coming here until next year.
I can’t keep reading these short updates, before suspense kee me

you mustn't my bro

yungbanks:
Omo seems we’re getting to the finish line already

finish what? Dey play... The ride is still long my bro

Episode 40 – Blueprint of a Trap

Tiffany was her mission?

For a few seconds I didn’t even know the correct reaction to pick.
Sadness?
Shock?
Anger?
Or that confused “God abeg, wetin be all this?” face you make when life is just dealing with you left, right, centre?

Toyosi looked away like even her own words were slapping her.

“But before you start throwing stones,” she said quietly, “you know how these people work. They don’t give you choices. And… on… on the bright side… everything I have today — the money I used to set myself up, the one I used to help Tiffany, even this house— all came from them. They just needed her to trust me. They wanted her close enough so I could finally find where the ledger was.”

My heart tightened the way you do when you realize life is about to collect its balance from you.

This world is truly… very… very… I don’t even have the vocabulary again. Let’s just leave it like that.

Tiffany trusted this girl with her full chest.
Loved her like sister, friend, adviser— all in one.
They laughed, shared secrets, did all the girly things girls like to do.

Meanwhile… Toyosi was on assignment.
A full mission.
With mission directive and mission benefits.

The memories rushed back — the first day I saw her. How she and Tiffany entered Mrs Adeoye’s party like they owned the place. Collecting attention from everyone fortunate to see them like free souvenirs.

And as I stood there, my brain finally clocked in to work and started connecting dots it should’ve connected since. Every unanswered question suddenly had one destination.

Since the day I met Toyosi, nothing about me was hidden from the Circle.

They knew the exact minute I was discharged.
They knew I met the detective that morning.
They even somehow knew I wanted to tell Tiffany everything that night.

So… it’s Toyosi.
She’s the one feeding them.
Wow.
No need to ask her. The evidence was dancing in front of me.

No wonder she said she was scared last night.

How do I even remove myself from this nonsense?

That question was still hanging in my head when her voice cut in again.

“I’ve tried to get the ledger from her more than a hundred times,” she muttered. “Every trick failed. Even her uncle that I tried to use couldn’t convince her. Tiffany is too stubborn. Anything concerning that ledger — she just doesn't want to hear it at all.”

Her face softened, something close to guilt. My mind flashed back to that night at their dining table — my first night in their house after leaving the hospital. The way Tiffany flared up when Toyosi told her to give her Uncle the ledger. That reaction felt strange back then… but now it makes sense.

“Chuka told me the Circle is getting impatient,” she continued. “They gave me just one more month — only one. But time is running. If I fail… I’m going back to prison. And this time the sentence will be doubled.”

As she said that, something told me my connection to the Circle might not be the simple thing I’ve been assuming. Something told me I was deeper in this than I even know.

I opened my mouth to ask her, but she beat me to it — like she was reading my mind.

“You must be… erm… wondering how it links back to you.” Her voice cracked. “None of this is supposed to leave my mouth. But what else do I do? You’re the only person I have left.”

Then she shifted closer, eyes red, shoulders tired.

“But before I tell you anything,” she said, “you must promise me something.”

I folded my arms.
“What’s that?”

“Promise me you’ll help me get the ledger from Tiffany.”

I almost laughed like a madman.

“Toyosi, how? Somebody that hates me with passion right now —”

“Use your sweet mouth,” she cut in. “I know Tiffany still loves you. She might be angry but she loves you more than you think. The things she’s done for you should tell you that. Just find one sharp way to win her back. You can do it.”

I stared at her like: is this girl okay at all?

She moved closer again, voice shaking.
“Please, Darous. I can’t go back to prison. I won’t survive it. You must help me. I’m finished if you don’t.”

I dragged a long breath, looked at the wall, ceiling… then after long, painful thinking, I nodded.

“Fine. I’ll help you. But tell me first — what’s in the ledger?”

“I don’t know,” she answered fast.

“What of Tiffany? Does she know?”

“She doesn’t. I guess that’s why the Circle wants it away from her before she figures out whatever is inside it.”

“But how is she keeping something she doesn’t even understand?” I asked.

Toyosi squinted. “All she told me is that her father warned her never to open it until the time is right.”

“Time is right? Which time?”

She lifted her hands. “I don’t know. Look, that’s not the point. The point is to get it from her… please.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll help you — but I’ll do it my own way.”

Even though the whole thing smelled like trouble mixed with conspiracy stew.
But if I want to take these demons down in the three months detective Kalu gave me, I need every information. I might even use the ledger for myself in this pursuit of bringing them down.

The moment I agreed, she didn’t waste a second.
She walked to the sitting room, grabbed a glass, poured cold water, took one long, stressful sip.

We sat on the cushions opposite each other and then she started talking.

“They warned us — no touching Tiffany, no rough play, nothing. Handle her gently like an egg. The instructions were simple.”

She paused to confirm I was still with her. I gave her a small nod.

“They didn’t want a repeat of what happened with her father. They believe Tiffany is even more stubborn.”

She shifted again.

“The moment they noticed I might fail, they brought someone else in. A therapist. Someone that will study Tiffany from inside without giving room for any suspicion.”

I just watched her as more continue to unfold.

“I was asked to convince Tiffany to see the therapist by any means. So when she broke up with her ex, I used it. She was weak that period, so I pushed it. That’s how she finally agreed to visit the therapist.”

I sighed deeply. This people and tactics.

She continued:
“The therapist reported back. She told the Circle the exact type of man Tiffany could ever trust and love. That’s when they brought in a profiler. Her name is Bola.”

The moment she said that name, my spirit sat up.

“Bola?” I whispered. “You know Bola too?”

She nodded.

"Eeeweeeeee. See my life for outside..." That was all I could mutter as shock spread across my mind.

“She’s the profiler hired to find the perfect guy for Tiffany. Someone that matched the therapist’s report.”

She wasn’t done.

“Initially, they didn’t need you because of your gift — seeing things, hearing things — whatever.”
She waved her hand like my ability was pure nonsense.

"Then what do they need me for?"

“Like I said earlier, everything I’m saying now is against the rules, but you’re the only one that can help me."

" And?"

" No. They don't need your abilities at first. They got more people for that already, they only needed you as a pawn. Someone they could slide into Tiffany’s life and use later incase I failed."

“No,” I cut in quietly. “ I've been swallowing everything you've been saying since morning but this is where I'll draw the line. I know what I'm saying. I approached Tiffany myself. We met on our own. No one introduced us to eachother at all." I said, nearly shouting as memories of how I met Tiffany stood at the center of my brain.

She hissed. “Okay. Dey play o Mr approacher. You think it was coincidence that you met her, oh you think you are the first guy to ever ask her out after her break up? Guy, it was planned by me and Bola.”

“How?....like how is that even possible” I asked in total confusion.

She leaned back.
“Listen well, because I won’t repeat myself.”

I nodded.

“Bola was your friend for six months. Six solid months. Studying you. Studying you and your guys. She even heard all of you talk about the type of girl you’d love to date — and you yourself told her more than once that Tiffany’s type was exactly your weakness.”

I didn’t blink cos what she was saying is the truth.

“And according to the therapist, you also fit the exact kind of man Tiffany would naturally fall for — hardworking, intelligent, and that your stupid funny words you use to charm people.”

She swallowed.

“But it was like icing on the cake when Bola told them you have this ability to notice tiny details, so that made the whole thing easier. Let’s be realistic — you can’t afford that resort where you met Tiffany if the Circle didn’t pay you for the ‘task’ they gave you. Those tasks were just to make you feel like they needed you only for your abilities. ”

I felt something shift in my stomach.

“Bola also said you mentioned that if you ever touched your first one million, you’d go to that resort. So once the money dropped in your account, I found a way to make Tiffany go there with me. And lucky me, you came the same day.”

She pointed at herself.

“I was sitting with her when you walked into that resort that day. Bola already sent me your picture. The moment I saw you, I excused myself and gave space. And that small assignment — setting you and Tiffany up — that was what bought me another month with the Circle.”

“Hmmm.”
That was all I could say as my whole body went still.
Everything lined up in my head — every single thing from the last seven to eight months of my life.

For the first time…

I realised I wasn’t dragged into their network because of my abilities. I was wrong all along.

I was selected.
Handpicked.
Purposely positioned.

A pawn in a game I didn’t even know I was playing.

To be continued.

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