Amaka didn't sleep.
Not even for a second.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it again.
The phone.
That message.
Those words that refused to leave her mind.
Stop digging… or you'll be next.
Her chest tightened as she sat up on her bed, her room dimly lit by the faint glow of the streetlight outside.
"This isn't normal…" she whispered.
Nothing about this was normal anymore.
Not the whispers.
Not the stares.
Not even her own thoughts.
But most of all—
Not that phone.
---
She turned her head slowly.
It was still there.
On her table.
Silent.
Waiting.
Amaka swallowed hard.
"That phone was at the station…"
She knew it.
She saw it.
The police had said it clearly—it belonged to one of the kidnappers.
Evidence.
Important evidence.
So how did it end up in her house?
Her fingers curled into her bedsheet.
"There's only one explanation…"
Someone took it.
And brought it here.
For her.
---
A chill ran down her spine.
Slowly, she stood up and walked toward the table.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Her hand hovered over the phone.
For a moment, she hesitated.
"What if they're watching me right now…"
The thought made her heart pound harder.
But she pushed past it.
If she stopped now—
She might never get the truth.
---
She picked up the phone.
It lit up instantly.
Amaka froze.
"No password…?"
Her brows furrowed.
"That doesn't make sense…"
A criminal wouldn't leave their phone unlocked.
Unless—
"They wanted someone to see what's inside…"
Her grip tightened.
"Me."
---
Her eyes scanned the screen quickly.
Call logs.
Empty.
Messages.
Almost nothing.
Too clean.
Like someone had wiped it.
"Why go through all this trouble…"
Her voice trailed off.
Then she saw it.
One contact.
No name.
Just a single symbol.
#
Her heartbeat quickened.
"That's not normal…"
She tapped it.
A message thread opened.
Short.
Simple.
But enough to send fear crawling through her veins.
> "Is she ready?"
"Not yet."
"Don't mess this up."
"I won't."
Amaka's breath caught in her throat.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
"Is she ready…?"
Her mind raced.
"Who is she…?"
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
Then the thought came.
Slow.
Terrifying.
"What if…"
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"They're talking about me…"
---
Morning came too quickly.
But Amaka was already awake.
Dressed.
Ready.
Different.
There was something new in her eyes now.
Fear was still there.
But something else had grown beside it.
Resolve.
---
She stepped out of the house, ignoring the way her mother barely looked at her.
Ignoring the silence from her father.
Ignoring the whispers outside.
Today—
She was paying attention.
To everything.
---
Her eyes found him immediately.
Standing under the tree near the school gate.
Just like always.
The "friend."
He waved when he saw her.
Smiling.
Normal.
Too normal.
Amaka didn't wave back immediately.
She watched him instead.
Studied him.
The way he stood.
The way he looked around.
The way he smiled at people passing by.
Nothing seemed wrong.
And yet—
Everything felt wrong.
---
"Amaka!"
Too late.
He had seen her.
She forced a small smile and walked toward him.
"Hey."
"You've been avoiding me," he said, tilting his head slightly.
"I've been busy."
"With the police?" he asked casually.
Her steps slowed.
Her eyes snapped to his.
"How did you know that?"
He shrugged.
"Everyone's talking."
Everyone.
Always everyone.
But something about the way he said it…
Didn't sit right.
---
"I heard they found more evidence," he continued.
Amaka's chest tightened.
"What kind of evidence?"
"Something linking you to the car."
Her stomach twisted.
"That's not true."
"Isn't it?" he said lightly.
Her brows furrowed.
"What do you mean?"
He smiled again.
Soft.
Calm.
Fake.
"I'm just repeating what people are saying."
---
Amaka took a step closer.
Careful.
Watching him.
"And what do you think?" she asked quietly.
He paused.
Studying her.
Longer than necessary.
"I think…" he began slowly,
"You know more than you're saying."
Her heart skipped.
"What?"
"You don't look confused," he continued. "You look like someone who's figuring things out."
Silence fell between them.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
---
Then—
He slipped.
"You should stop digging, Amaka."
Everything inside her froze.
Her heartbeat stopped.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
---
Those exact words.
From the message.
Her lips parted slowly.
"…what did you just say?"
He blinked.
Like he hadn't realized.
Then he laughed softly.
"I mean… the situation. It's getting messy."
No.
That wasn't it.
That wasn't what he meant.
Amaka could feel it.
Deep in her chest.
---
"You said digging," she pressed.
"And?"
Her voice dropped.
"That's exactly what the message said."
Silence.
For a split second—
His expression changed.
The smile faded.
Something darker slipped through.
Cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Then—
It disappeared.
Like it was never there.
"You're imagining things," he said calmly.
---
Amaka stepped back slowly.
Her pulse racing now.
Loud in her ears.
"You're wrong…" she muttered.
But even she didn't believe it.
---
That evening—
She made a decision.
She couldn't trust anyone.
Not her parents.
Not the police.
Not even him.
"If I want the truth…"
Her grip tightened around the phone.
"I'll find it myself."
---
She opened the message thread again.
Her eyes locked on the symbol.
#
"Who are you…" she whispered.
Then—
An idea formed.
Risky.
Dangerous.
But necessary.
---
Her fingers hovered over the screen.
Then—
She typed.
> "She's ready."
Her heart pounded violently as she hit send.
"What am I doing…" she whispered.
Seconds passed.
Then—
The phone buzzed.
Reply.
Instant.
> "Good. Bring her tonight."
Her breath hitched.
"Tonight…?"
Fear crept back in.
Stronger this time.
---
Another message came in.
> "Same place. Don't be late."
A location appeared.
Dark.
Isolated.
Far from everything.
Amaka stared at it.
Her instincts screamed at her to stop.
To run.
To forget everything.
But she couldn't.
Not anymore.
"This is it
Later that night
Amaka stood outside the location.
The air felt colder.
Heavier.
Like even the night knew something was wrong.
Her heart pounded as she took a step forward.
Then another.
"I need the truth…"
A sound.
Behind her.
Her body stiffened.
A voice followed.
Low.
Familiar.
And terrifying.
"I knew you wouldn't stay away."
Amaka froze.
Slowly…
She turned around.
And what she saw
Made her blood run