The night was too quiet.
Ibrahim's car cut through the empty road like a blade, the engine humming low beneath the silence. Streetlights flickered occasionally, but most of the city had already surrendered to sleep.
But Ibrahim hadn't.
Sleep was the last thing on his mind.
His eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead, sharp and restless. But his thoughts… his thoughts were somewhere else entirely.
On his mother.
Madam Rabi.
The message from the informant replayed in his head like a warning he refused to heed.
"I have information about Madam Rabi. Come alone."
Alone.
That single word had annoyed him the moment he read it.
No one gives orders to Ibrahim Danjuma.
And yet… he came anyway.
Because desperation has a way of breaking even the strongest men.
Behind him, another car followed at a careful distance.
His guards.
Not too close to raise suspicion.
Not too far to lose control.
Ibrahim trusted them.
But tonight… even that didn't feel like enough.
His phone buzzed suddenly.
The sharp vibration broke through his thoughts.
He glanced at the screen.
A message from Safiya.
"Be careful, my love. I'm praying for you."
Ibrahim stared at it for a second longer than necessary.
Then his jaw tightened.
He locked the screen without replying.
Prayers.
That was all anyone ever offered him now.
Empty words wrapped in concern.
But Ibrahim didn't need prayers.
He needed answers.
He needed his mother.
Alive.
The road ahead grew darker.
Streetlights disappeared completely, swallowed by shadows.
The car slowed as he entered a deserted area where the air itself felt abandoned.
An old building stood in the distance.
Broken.
Silent.
Waiting.
Ibrahim's instincts screamed at him to stop.
To turn back.
But he ignored it.
He always did.
He parked the car and stepped out.
The night air was cold, carrying dust that brushed against his face as the wind moved lazily.
His shoes crunched softly against the sand as he walked forward, each step echoing louder than it should.
"I'm here," Ibrahim called out, his voice cutting through the silence.
No response.
Not even an echo.
He moved closer to the building, his senses on high alert.
Every shadow looked alive.
Every silence felt intentional.
Too intentional.
Then
A voice.
From behind him.
"You came."
Ibrahim turned instantly, his body already tense.
A man stepped out of the darkness.
Tall.
Still.
A cap pulled low over his face, hiding most of his features.
At first glance, he looked ordinary.
But Ibrahim had lived long enough to know
Danger rarely announces itself.
"Where is my mother?" Ibrahim demanded, his voice sharp.
The man chuckled softly, the sound echoing in the empty space.
"You're impatient, Danjuma."
Ibrahim stepped closer, his eyes cold.
"Don't play games with me."
The man raised his hands slightly, as if to calm him.
"Relax. I told you I have information."
A pause.
Then a slow, wicked smile crept onto his lips.
"But first…"
His eyes flickered downward.
"…drop your gun."
Ibrahim didn't move immediately.
His instincts flared again.
This was wrong.
Everything about this was wrong.
But if there was even a small chance
Even the slightest chance
That this man knew something about his mother
He couldn't risk it.
Slowly, reluctantly, Ibrahim pulled out his gun.
And dropped it to the ground.
His eyes never left the man.
The man laughed loud satisfied .
"Good."
Then he whistled.
Sharp.
Clear.
And that was when Ibrahim realized the truth.
He hadn't walked into a meeting.
He had walked into a trap.
Men began to emerge from the shadows.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
Armed.
Masked.
Silent.
They surrounded him in seconds, closing in like wolves circling their prey.
Ibrahim's blood ran cold.
"Damn it"
The man in front of him smiled wider.
"You're smarter than most, Ibrahim Danjuma."
Ibrahim clenched his fists, his body already preparing to fight.
"So this is your plan?" he said, his voice steady despite the danger. "You think you can scare me?"
The man tilted his head.
"No."
He reached for his gun.
"Not scare you."
The weapon rose.
Aimed directly at Ibrahim.
"Kill you."
A gunshot exploded into the night.
Ibrahim moved instantly, his body reacting before his mind could.
He dodged.
Barely.
Chaos erupted.
Gunfire tore through the silence.
Men shouted.
Feet pounded against the ground.
Dust rose into the air, blinding and choking.
Ibrahim ran.
Straight toward his car.
But he didn't make it.
One of the men slammed into him from the side, dragging him down hard.
They hit the ground.
Rolled.
Struggled.
Ibrahim drove his fist into the man's face.
Once.
Twice.
The man groaned.
But before Ibrahim could break free
Another hit came.
Hard.
A gun slammed against his head.
Pain exploded.
Blood spilled down his face.
Ibrahim staggered to his feet, his vision spinning.
Shapes blurred.
Voices echoed.
Then a command cut through the chaos.
"Boss said bring him alive!"
Alive?
Ibrahim's heart dropped.
Boss?
There was someone behind this.
Someone bigger.
Someone powerful.
Before he could react
Another blow landed stronger, darker and
Final.
The world tilted.
Then shattered.
And everything went black