_Chidinma_

Unknown Sender..

I know who killed her.

We will meet at The Lighthouse.

5:00.

••••••

That was the mysterious text that entered my laptop mail, four days after my breakdown. An unknown sender had sent me that text. It could  be the same people who sent me the video, or the same people who got me here. Needless to say, the idea of going thrilled me.

The sender was sure I'd take the bait. 'We will' not ' Can we'. I really wanted to go.

I was curious. Anxious. What if the sender actually knew who did it? What if this was my big break from all these happenings? My chance to get Justice for Chioma?.

I was scared. Mortified. What if it was a lie? A trap? What if I actually went and then I get hurt? Or I never see the light of day again?.

But, yet again, as always, curiosity got the best of me. But one question still remained unanswered. How do I leave this house without Denzel's knowing?

~~~~~~

_Omniscient POV_

Approximately two years earlier.
Excerpt from Chioma's life

"So tell me, Lord of the Rings or Troy?."

"Huh!?."

"You know, between those two all time faves, which is your fave?."

"Umm.. yeah. Right. I umm..I haven't seen any.."

"Wait, wait, wait. Don't tell me you have not seen Troy!?." Chioma asked, disbelief etched on her face.

"I haven't even seen Lord of the Rings.."

"Hei!..chim oo!. Just..just close your mouth. Don't come and say that kind of thing outside. Or are you joking!?."

He shrugged noncommittally. "I'm not." Deji said.

Chioma just looked at him like he had grown three heads. She looked utterly gobsmacked. Then she got up all of a sudden and dragged his hand to pull me up. She suddenly became serious. He didn't care, but he had to act like he did in order to get what he wanted.

"Chi, what's up? Where are you taking me to?."

"We are going to the love garden. We need to download those two movies in your phone asap!."

They were speed walking towards the garden when they were sidetracked by someone who seemed to know Deji well. The guy sagged his trousers and wore studs, his hair seem very rough and untidy. Although, he seemed to be a handsome man. If he and Deji were friends, it was hard to believe. They looked like stellar opposites.

Chioma felt Deji's grip tighten on her arm when the man leered at her. She watched him as a dark, looming, brooding cloud covered his features, making him look absolutely horrifying. She felt chills run through her at the dark aura he emitted then.

She watched as he grew even colder, his grip nearly cutting off her blood circulation, when the mysterious man whispered something into his right ear.

He grew stiff for a moment before in a flash, he struck the man with his fist. Chioma heard his fingers crack against the man's jaw. She cringed away in horror, at the sight of blood that came out from the man's nose.

The voices of the people that had gathered at this event interwove maniaclly in her ears as she ran away, her heart pounding, filled with fear and apprehension for what she didn't know.

~~~~~~

_Chidinma_

I spent the next three hours- before going for the meeting- looking for hidden cameras in my new place and around the yard. It seemed a little far-fetched since the house was provided by Rex and not the police, but I just couldn't shake the feeling that somehow, somewhere, I was being watched.

My efforts proved futile as there were no cameras anywhere. Officer Denzel Ikechukwu had called twice already today by six in the morning and three in the afternoon and I had given my reports.

To cover up my tracks, I downloaded an app on my cell phone which could automatically pick a call and reply with a recorded voice note at a particular time. My last report would be by five, that's when the app was scheduled to go off. As I wasn't sure for certain if I would be at meeting place by that time, I decided to play it safe.

I got dressed -black jeans and a plaid blue dress shirt- and somehow, I managed to stuff all my hair in a straight wig and to finish my look, I put on the nerdy glasses I owned but used rarely.

I looked completely different. I dressed so so that anyone who saw me wouldn't recognize me no matter how hard they stared. Stepping carefully out of the apartment, I went out through the gates and walked briskly to the junction.

The noise of vehicles and the shouts of conductors nearly brought tears to my eyes. Almost a week, I had been under house arrest. Stopping a taxi, I was conveyed to The Lighthouse.

~~~~~~

_Rex_

~5:00pm~

I was back home by five on the dot.

I called Lillian as I settled in. I don't know why, but my fingers were pressing me to call. She picked the call on the first ring. I was relieved. I just wanted to hear her voice. I did hear it. I heard that sweet, melodious tune, but what she said shocked me to the bone.

"Good evening Denzel. This evening I had dinner early -rice and stew- took a bath, and right now, I am on the couch watching TV. That's all. Good night."

The call hung up immediately. Those words were meant for Denzel not me. Lillian had done something stupid.
 
I called her phone again. Straight to voicemail.

"Shit!." I cursed as I grabbed my keys and the spare keys to her place, ran to my bike and zoomed off to her place.

~~~~~~

_Chidinma_

~4:57pm~

The taxi driver dropped me at the junction just before The Lighthouse. As I trekked I checked the time on my spare cell phone.

4:57.

I had saved the unknown number on my phone. On getting to The Lighthouse, I sent a text to the number. The place was rowdy, and I was confused. It would be hard trying to find my source in the thick crowd.

"I'm here."

Two seconds later I got a reply.

"Round the corner to the back. I'm waiting there."

"Why at the back!?. Why not in the restaurant?"

The sender wasted a minute this time.

"Do you want to know who did it or not?"

Curiousity got the better of me. I rounded the corner.

~~~~~~

_Rex_

~5:12pm~

She had locked the gate and the doors, but left the lights in her apartment on, to make it look like she was in. But she wasn't.

In frustration, I opened the padlocks on both the gate and the door. I threw her door open.

"Lillian!.. Lillian!!."

I screamed running through every door in the apartment. I stopped dead in her kitchen when I realized that my efforts were futile. She had gone. She had really gone. I threw the plates on the counter down on the floor. I was angry. Really angry. She promised. She fucking promised.

I took two minutes to gather my thoughts and emotions. Where could she have gone? What could have made her leave somewhere that was for her own safety?

I dailed her phone. From somewhere in the apartment I heard a faint ringtone. Her ringtone.

I looked around the kitchen and the adjoined living room, my eyes skimming over every detail. Her laptop and phone lay carefully on the center table. I jolted back to life ran to the couch and pried open the laptop. Fortunately, there was no password.

White noise rushed through my ears and my heart pumped blood twice as fast as I sifted through her mails, my fingers shaking as I worked the keyboard.

I froze when I saw the mail.

The Lighthouse.

~~~~~~

_Chidinma_

~5:10pm~

I rounded the corner and soon emerged into a darkened yard, lit only by a faint solar panelled street lamp. I saw a dim figure standing under the light. As I neared closer, I noticed that it was the figure of a woman. She wore an unnaturally bright red dress, that stopped just above her knees, and had on a jean jacket.

My heart started beating twice as fast. I was terrified, which was awkward. It was only a woman who looked about my age. That should have quelled my beating heart a little, but the speed only increased as my eyes darted to the darkened corners of the yard.

I was within twelve feet from the woman. Two more feets and I realized that the woman looked vaguely familiar. Five more feets and my fears were confirmed. I gasped audibly at the realization and my palms became very moist.

"Fega!??."

Just when I voiced that name, I felt a presence behind me. I turned around to look but was met with a dark flash that left me unconscious.

~~~~~~

Happy New Year!!✨✨

This year shall be filled with beautiful possibilities for each and everyone of us in Jesus name.🙏🏾🙏🏾

Enjoy the chapter, and I'm super sorry for the extra late update.😅

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