The Prodigal Daughter – Episode 27

The Prodigal Daughter – Episode 27

Episode 27: The Consequence

The world was spinning. Sandra’s head throbbed, and she struggled to make sense of the chaos that surrounded her. For a moment, she couldn’t remember where she was, or how they had ended up here. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog in her mind, but all she could feel was the sharp sting of pain across her chest and the strange sensation of weightlessness.

Then, the world came into focus.

The van had slammed into the curb with such force that everything had been thrown forward. The airbags had deployed, cushioning their bodies to some extent, but Sandra’s seatbelt had cut painfully into her ribs, and her head felt like it was about to explode.

Deborah was beside her, unconscious but breathing. Sandra could see the slight rise and fall of her chest, but Deborah’s head had crashed against the side window, and her face was pale, a faint trickle of blood running down her temple.

“Deborah!” Sandra gasped, reaching for her friend’s hand, shaking her gently. Her voice sounded like it was underwater, but she managed to get the words out. “Deborah, wake up!”

There was no response.

Panic clawed at Sandra’s throat. They had been so close. So close to escaping. But now… everything was in jeopardy. They needed to move, needed to get away before whoever had been chasing them caught up.

With trembling hands, Sandra fumbled with her seatbelt, unbuckling it and pulling herself free. The pain in her chest was sharp, but she forced herself to ignore it, focusing only on Deborah. She had to get her out of there.

“Sandra…?” The officer’s voice broke through the haze, shaky but relieved. “Are you okay?”

Sandra turned to see the officer slumped against the driver’s side, his face bruised from the impact. His eyes were unfocused, and there was a dazed expression on his face.

“We need to get out of here,” Sandra said urgently. “They’ll be here any minute.”

The officer nodded weakly, pushing himself up. He glanced at Deborah, his face falling when he saw the blood on her temple.

“We need to get her out of here,” the officer said. “Help me with her.”

Sandra didn’t hesitate. Together, they managed to get Deborah out of the van, and with Sandra supporting her friend, they moved cautiously to the side of the street, trying to find cover. The night was eerily quiet, but Sandra could still hear the faint sound of sirens in the distance, growing louder. They didn’t have much time.

The officer pulled out his phone, dialing a number, and Sandra could hear him whispering urgently into it. She didn’t catch the details, but she knew they were trying to get help. They had to get to the safe house, but it was clear now that it wasn’t going to be easy. Mr. Leke’s people were closing in, and the stakes had never been higher.

“Come on, Deborah, stay with me,” Sandra whispered, squeezing her friend’s hand. Deborah stirred slightly but didn’t wake up.

Sandra’s mind raced. What if they didn’t make it? What if this was it? What if they had failed?

But no. She couldn’t think that way. They had come too far. She had come too far. This was their fight now, and she would be damned if she let Mr. Leke win. Not after everything he’d done.

“Sandra,” the officer’s voice cut through her thoughts. “We need to move. Now.”

He was right. They couldn’t stay here, exposed. They had to keep going, even if it meant risking everything.

The officer helped Sandra carry Deborah, his voice low as he directed her down a narrow alleyway. The sirens were getting closer. Sandra’s heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to stop. They couldn’t afford to. Not when they were this close.

As they turned a corner, Sandra spotted a small, nondescript house in the distance. It looked like a safe place—a place to regroup and plan their next move. But even as hope flickered in her chest, she felt a chill run down her spine. Was it truly safe? Or was this just another trap set by Mr. Leke’s people?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of tires screeching, followed by the screech of a car skidding to a halt. Sandra’s heart nearly stopped. They had found them.

“Get inside!” the officer shouted.

They rushed toward the house, but before they could reach the door, the sound of footsteps echoed behind them. They were being hunted.

Sandra’s body screamed with exhaustion, but she forced herself to keep running. Deborah’s weight felt like a burden, but she couldn’t stop. Not when the danger was this close.

With every step, the sound of pursuers grew louder. The officer was ahead, guiding them toward the house, but Sandra knew they weren’t going to make it. They were trapped.

Suddenly, a door opened in front of them. A shadowy figure stepped into the doorway, and for a split second, Sandra thought it was too late. But then the figure stepped forward and pulled them inside.

“Get in, now!” the figure ordered, and Sandra didn’t hesitate. They rushed inside, and the door slammed shut behind them, just as the first car screeched to a halt in front of the house.

They were safe—at least for now.

Sandra’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to her knees, still clutching the bag of evidence. Her breath came in shallow gasps as she looked around. The house was small, but it felt like a sanctuary in the moment.

But the questions were overwhelming. Who had helped them? And, more importantly, what would happen next?

The figure who had helped them was staring at them, silent but watchful. His face was obscured by shadows, but Sandra could feel the weight of his gaze.

“We’ll talk later,” he said. “For now, you rest. You’ll need all your strength for what comes next.”

Sandra nodded, her body too drained to do anything else. But she couldn’t let herself rest—not fully. They had come this far, but the battle wasn’t over.

And when it was, the world would know the truth.

To be continued…