The Prodigal Daughter – Episode 29

The Prodigal Daughter – Episode 29

Episode 29: Into the Unknown

The streets outside were eerily quiet, but Sandra knew it was only a matter of time before someone noticed they had left. They had no choice but to move quickly, with no guarantees of safety along the way.

Emeka led the way down the narrow street, his movements deliberate and purposeful. Sandra, Deborah, and the officer followed closely behind, their footsteps light but hurried. Sandra felt her heart hammering in her chest, each step dragging her further into the unknown.

Deborah was leaning on Sandra for support, but Sandra could feel her friend’s body trembling. She had been through so much already, and now, in this moment of uncertainty, Sandra wished there was something she could do to make it all better for her.

“Where are we going?” Sandra whispered, trying to keep her voice low.

Emeka didn’t look back, but his voice was calm. “The second safe house is a few kilometers from here. We should make it there in less than an hour if we don’t run into any problems.”

Sandra glanced at the officer, who was still visibly shaken from the crash, but he nodded in agreement with Emeka’s plan.

“That’s if we don’t run into trouble,” the officer muttered.

Sandra knew the risk. With Mr. Leke’s people on their tail, they couldn’t afford to be careless. Every turn, every corner, every shadow could hide danger.

“I don’t think we have an option,” she replied, her voice steady despite the knot in her stomach. “We keep moving.”

They continued down the street, avoiding any main roads and sticking to the alleys. Sandra’s thoughts were a whirlwind of questions—how did Emeka know so much about Mr. Leke’s operations? Who else was part of this resistance he spoke of? And, most importantly, could they truly trust him?

Just as Sandra was about to voice another question, she heard the faintest noise in the distance—footsteps, soft but unmistakable. Her heart leapt into her throat.

“Hide,” Emeka hissed, pulling them into a small doorway beside a shop.

Sandra barely had time to react before the officer shoved her and Deborah inside. They crouched low, listening to the muffled sound of footsteps drawing nearer. The air seemed to thicken with tension, and Sandra’s pulse quickened.

The footsteps stopped just outside their hiding spot. Sandra held her breath, barely daring to move. She could feel the weight of Emeka’s presence beside her, his body as still as a shadow.

Seconds passed like hours. The footsteps were closer now, stopping just a few feet away. Sandra’s mind raced. Were they caught? Would they be found here?

Then, the footsteps moved away, growing fainter and fainter as whoever had passed by continued down the street.

Emeka let out a quiet exhale, his body visibly relaxing. “That was too close.”

Sandra didn’t know whether to feel relieved or terrified. They had narrowly escaped detection, but how many more close calls like this could they survive? How long could they keep running?

“We can’t keep doing this,” the officer whispered, breaking the silence. “We need a real plan.”

Sandra nodded in agreement. But the reality was, they didn’t have one. Not yet. They were scrambling to survive, hoping that each step would bring them closer to safety. But the longer they stayed on the run, the more exhausted they became.

“We’ll figure it out,” Emeka said, his tone firm. “But for now, we need to keep moving. The safe house is close.”

They stayed hidden for a few more minutes, listening for any signs of movement before Emeka led them out again, making sure they were still undetected. As they continued walking through the maze of streets, Sandra couldn’t shake the feeling that danger was always just one step behind them.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Emeka stopped in front of a small, unassuming building. It was tucked between two larger structures, its door barely visible from the street.

“This is it,” Emeka said quietly.

Sandra felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her, but she didn’t let it show. They couldn’t afford to relax yet. She could still feel the weight of Mr. Leke’s threat looming over them.

Emeka knocked on the door three times in quick succession. After a few moments, the door creaked open, revealing a woman in her mid-thirties. Her eyes darted nervously to the street before she ushered them inside.

“Quickly, before anyone sees you,” she whispered urgently.

They filed into the building, and the door clicked shut behind them.

The woman led them through a narrow hallway and into a small living room. It was sparsely furnished, but there was a sense of calm in the space—something Sandra hadn’t felt in what seemed like days.

“Thank you,” Sandra said, her voice barely above a whisper. “We’re in your debt.”

The woman gave her a tight smile. “You’re safe here for now. But you won’t be for long. You have to get moving soon.”

Sandra glanced at Deborah, who had collapsed onto a worn-out couch. She was still unconscious, but her breathing had steadied. Sandra was grateful for that, at least.

“How long will we be safe here?” Sandra asked, her eyes flicking back to the woman.

The woman hesitated. “I can’t say. Mr. Leke has eyes everywhere. It’s only a matter of time before he figures out where you are.”

Sandra clenched her fists. She couldn’t keep running forever. She needed to fight back. They all did.

“We need to do more than hide,” Sandra said, her voice growing stronger. “We need to bring this to an end. We need to take down Mr. Leke.”

The woman’s eyes flickered with a mix of surprise and understanding. “That’s easier said than done, but I understand your urgency. If you’re serious, there are people who can help. But you must be careful. You have no idea what kind of forces you’re up against.”

Sandra nodded. She didn’t need anyone to remind her how dangerous Mr. Leke was. She knew that all too well. But they had come too far to turn back now.

“Where do we start?” Sandra asked, determination flooding her veins.

The woman studied her for a moment before answering. “You start by finding the truth. And the truth isn’t what you think it is.”

Sandra’s stomach tightened. There it was again. The truth. She had been searching for it, but every step brought more questions.

“Find the truth,” Sandra repeated, trying to make sense of her words. “What do you mean by that?”

The woman didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she walked to a table in the corner and pulled out a thick envelope. She handed it to Sandra without a word. Sandra took it cautiously, her eyes scanning the room as if expecting someone to jump out at her.

“This will help you,” the woman said. “But be careful. The truth is dangerous.”

Sandra opened the envelope, her fingers trembling slightly. Inside, there were photographs, documents, and a list of names. Names she recognized. Names she had never expected to see in connection with Mr. Leke.

This was the beginning. The beginning of the end.

To be continued…