Chapter 1 The Drive That Changed Everything.

The school bell rang loudly, marking the end of the term. The sound was like music to our ears-freedom at last! All around me, students cheered, slinging backpacks over their shoulders, laughing, and rushing toward the gates. The air buzzed with excitement as everyone planned their holiday adventures.

I stood outside the school gates with Favor, my best friend since my Jss1. We leaned against the fence, joking about how we'd finally sleep past dawn without homework hanging over our heads.

"Think Daniel will let us stop for puff-puff on the way home?" Favor asked, nudging me.

I grinned. "If we beg enough, maybe."

Daniel was more than just our driver-he was like family. For years, he'd picked us up every afternoon, always on time, always with a smile. His old blue Toyota was a familiar sight, rolling into the school compound at exactly 3:15 PM.

But today, something was wrong.

3:15 passed. Then 3:20. Then 3:30.

No Daniel.

Favor frowned. "Did he forget us?"

I pulled out my phone to call him, but before I could dial, a deafening screech of tires cut through the noise.

A sleek black Mercedes-a car I'd never seen before-roared into the school compound like a beast unleashed. It swerved dangerously, barely missing a group of students crossing the driveway. My heart leaped into my throat as the car skidded to a stop just feet away from us.

The door flew open.

And there was my mother

Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear. Her usually neat braids were messy, as if she'd run her hands through them too many times.

"David!" she shouted, her voice sharp and urgent-a tone I'd never heard from her before.

Favor and I exchanged a quick, confused glance. Before I could ask what was happening, Mom grabbed my arm, her fingers trembling against my skin.

"Get in. Now. We don't have time."

Her words sent a chill down my spine. Without thinking, I turned to Favor. "Tell your mom I'll call you later!"

Then I jumped into the passenger seat. The door barely clicked shut before Mom slammed her foot on the accelerator. The car lurched forward, speeding down the school's long driveway so fast the trees blurred past us.

The Wrong Turn

Once we hit the main road, I expected Mom to merge onto the highway-the usual route home. But instead, she swerved sharply onto the bridge, taking a path that made no sense.

"Mom," I said, gripping the seat. "Why aren't we taking the highway?"

She didn't answer.

I turned to look at her-and my stomach dropped.

Tears.

Silent, streaming tears rolled down her cheeks. Her jaw was clenched so tight I could see the muscles twitching. My mother never cried. Not when I broke my arm falling from a tree at eight. Not when Grandma passed away last year. She was the strongest person I knew.

But now, she was breaking.

A sharp pain stabbed through my chest. "Mom... why are you crying?"

She forced a smile, wiping her face with the back of her hand. "It's nothing, David. My sweet boy, it's nothing."

But it wasn't nothing. I knew that smile-the one she used when she was hiding bad news. "Mom, please," I begged, my voice cracking. "Tell me what's wrong!"

Her composure shattered. A sob tore from her throat, raw and painful, like a wounded animal. The car swerved dangerously close to the edge of the bridge as her hands shook on the wheel.

"Mom, stop the car!" I shouted.

This time, she listened. She pulled into the parking lot of a roadside supermarket, killing the engine before slumping forward, her forehead resting against the steering wheel.

The Truth Unfolds

The silence in the car was suffocating. All I could hear was my own heartbeat, pounding like a drum in my ears.

"Mom," I whispered. "What happened? Where's Daniel? Where are we going?"

She took a deep breath, wiping her face again before turning to me. "David... I don't want you to cry, okay? You're a man now."

I nodded, bracing myself.

"Listen carefully," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And don't scream."

Another nod.

Then, the words that shattered my world:

"Your father was shot today. At his office."

My breath left my lungs. "What?!" My voice was hoarse, disbelieving. "But-his office is guarded! How-?"

Mom's face darkened. "Daniel did it."

The name hit me like a punch to the gut. "Daniel? Our Daniel?!"

She nodded, fresh tears spilling over. "He betrayed us. He shot your father and escaped through the window before the guards could catch him."

My vision blurred. Daniel-the man who'd driven me to school every day, who'd laughed at my jokes, who Dad had trusted like a brother-had tried to kill my father?

"Why?" My voice was raw. "We trusted him! Dad loved him more than he loved me!"

The slap came so fast I didn't see it coming. My cheek burned, my head snapping to the side.

"Don't ever say that," Mom hissed, her voice trembling with fury. "Your father loved you more than anything in this world. Everything he did-everything he sacrificed-was for you."

I clenched my fists, anger boiling in my chest. "If he loved me so much, why did he leave us? Why did he marry another woman? Why did he call me a mistake?"

Another slap. Harder this time.

"Your father is a good man!" she shouted, her voice breaking. "He left to protect us! He married that woman to keep us safe! Everything-everything-was to shield us from the people who wanted to hurt him by hurting you!"

I was drowning in confusion. "Protect us from what, Mom? What is Dad involved in? Why won't you ever tell me?"

She cupped my face, her thumbs wiping away tears I didn't realize I'd shed. "One day, David... I promise, I'll tell you everything."

It was the same empty promise she'd made a hundred times before.

The Race to the Hospital

After a long silence, Mom exhaled shakily. "Alright, David. Let's go see your father."

My heart lurched. "He's alive?!"

She nodded. "Yes. Daniel shot him, but the guards got him to the hospital in time."

Relief and fury warred inside me. "Mom, you should've led with that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

A faint, tired smile touched her lips. "Alright, love. Let's go."

The drive from Lagos to Abuja was a blur of tense silence and racing thoughts. The sun had long set by the time we arrived at the hospital, the sterile white lights of the reception area glaring down at us.

Before Mom could even park properly, I bolted out of the car, sprinting inside. The nurse at the counter barely looked up before pointing me down a hallway. "Room 207," she said, as if she already knew who I was looking for.

I ran.

Every step echoed in the empty corridor, my pulse roaring in my ears. I didn't know what I'd say to him. I hated him-for leaving, for lying, for making Mom cry. But beneath the anger, there was still love. Still hope.

I turned the corner, skidding to a stop in front of Room 207.

And then-

I pushed the door open.

A man in black stood over my father's bed.

A gun in his hand.

Pointed at Dad.

Before I could scream-

BANG.

To Be Continued...