The quiet of the kitchen was broken only by the soft bubbling of soup simmering on the stove. Kelechi had grown used to the silence—living alone in her modest apartment on the outskirts of Lagos, far from the chaos of her former life. No friends, no family. Just the peace she had fought to create after the storm. A peace that now seemed fragile, easily shattered.
Kelechi continued to stir the pot, lost in the rhythm of it, when the phone rang.
Her hand froze over the spoon. She didn't need to look at the screen to know who it was. The name that appeared sent a ripple of unease through her—Seyi.
Her younger sister's voice used to be the only light in the darkness, a beacon during their hardest times. But now, hearing it again after so long, brought back everything she thought she'd left behind.
"Kelechi… It's… It's Seyi," came the voice, shaky and full of dread.
Kelechi's heart skipped. She held the phone closer to her ear, her body tensing. She hadn't heard from Seyi in months. Not since Kelechi had walked away from everything.
"What's wrong?" Kelechi asked, trying to keep her voice steady, calm. "What's happening?"
Seyi's breath was ragged, each one heavier than the last, and Kelechi could almost feel the panic on the other end. Whatever it was, it was bad.
"They're… they're coming for me, Kelechi. I don't know what to do… I don't know who else to call."
Kelechi's stomach twisted, her mind immediately going to dark places. Who was coming for Seyi? Was it the same people who had almost destroyed them both years ago?
"Who's coming for you? Seyi, talk to me."
A long silence followed, broken only by Seyi's labored breathing. Kelechi's grip tightened around the phone, feeling her pulse speed up. Something was terribly wrong.
Before she could say anything else, the line cut off.
Kelechi stared at the phone, the words ringing in her mind. They hadn't just come for her sister—they were coming for both of them. Again.
She didn't wait for the phone to buzz again. With swift movements, Kelechi dialed the number she'd sworn she'd never call again. The one person who might know something—someone who had been part of her world before. The call went through, and she didn't waste time.
"I need information," she said, her voice controlled, colder than she felt. "Seyi's in danger. I need to know who's involved."
The voice on the other end was low, a voice Kelechi had hoped to never hear again.
"Kelechi…" It was a whisper, laden with years of bitter history. "It's been five years, and you still don't get it, do you? You're never getting away from them. From us."
The phone clicked off before Kelechi could speak, leaving her in stunned silence.
Her pulse raced as her thoughts spiraled. It wasn't just a coincidence. It wasn't just a random call. They were coming for her. Coming for Seyi. And the one person who had always been there in the dark was still tangled in this web.
Kelechi set the phone down slowly, her fingers gripping it so tightly her knuckles turned white. She wasn't running anymore. No more hiding. No more peace.
This time, Kelechi was going to destroy them all.