Hellen couldn't sleep. The glow of her phone screen haunted her in the dark room, its message still flashing in her mind.
"I know who you are. Check your inbox."
She had been pacing for the last hour, unable to shake the feeling that someone, somewhere, was watching her every move. The email had come from an anonymous address, but the threat in it was clear. Someone knew her secret.
Hellen's fingers hovered over the screen, trembling. She had to know what they wanted. With a sharp breath, she clicked open the email again. There, in the message, was a single line that made her heart race:
"Meet me at the old church at midnight. Don't bring anyone. Or I'll expose you."
Her blood ran cold. The old church—the one abandoned for years, where the doors were always locked, the walls decaying. No one went there. It was a place of forgotten things.
But she couldn't ignore it. She couldn't risk being exposed. Not after everything.
She threw on her jacket, grabbed her phone, and stepped out into the night. As she walked through the empty streets, her thoughts spiraled. Who could it be? The man who had touched her when she was younger? An angry church member? Someone else entirely?
She thought of Tunde, her secret crush, the boy who sat beside her in church every Sunday. The one who had always seen her as more than just a pastor's daughter. He had been the only one who truly understood her, and for a brief moment, she let herself imagine what it would be like to tell him everything—about the abuse, the pain, and her double life.
But she couldn't. Not yet. Not when her secret was still so fragile. She could never tell him what had really happened. Not when it could destroy her father's reputation—and everything she had ever known.
As she neared the church, she felt a cold chill settle over her. The place was darker than she remembered. The once-grand entrance now lay hidden behind overgrown weeds and cracked stone. She hesitated before pushing open the creaking door.
The church was pitch black inside, save for a faint glow coming from the altar. Hellen took a step inside, her footsteps echoing off the empty walls. The scent of mildew and dust filled her nose as she moved deeper into the sanctuary.
"Hello?" she called softly, her voice trembling. The silence that followed was oppressive. She took another step forward, then another. Her heart pounded louder with each one.
Then, she saw him.
A figure stood at the altar, his face obscured in the shadows. Hellen couldn't make out his features, but the outline was unmistakable. Tall, broad-shouldered, and still as stone. He didn't move, didn't speak.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
The figure stepped into the dim light, and Hellen froze. It was someone she hadn't seen in years. Someone she thought was gone forever.
Pastor Daniel.
Her father's closest confidant. The man who had whispered lies into her ears as a child. The man who had ruined her life.
Her mind spun. Why was he here? What did he want from her?
"I see you remember me," Pastor Daniel said, his voice low and smooth, sending a shiver down her spine. "You've grown up so beautifully, Hellen."
His words were laced with something she couldn't quite place. Something dark. Something dangerous.
Hellen took a step back, but he blocked her path. "You don't understand, do you?" he continued. "I didn't come here to threaten you. I came to offer you a deal."
Hellen's heart raced. "What kind of deal?"
He smirked, stepping closer. "A simple one. You keep quiet about everything you know about the church, and I keep your little secret safe. You expose me… well, let's just say your father will never look at you the same way again."
Her mind was a whirlwind of panic. What could he want from her? What was he planning? But deep down, a part of her knew. He wanted her to choose. Her secret, or her father's reputation.
Just then, a familiar voice broke through the tension in the air.
"Hellen!"
It was Tunde.
She spun around, her heart leaping. There he was, standing in the doorway, looking disheveled and concerned, his eyes locking with hers. The sight of him made her feel a mix of relief and terror—relief because, for a moment, she wasn't alone, but terror because now her secret could be exposed.
"Tunde… what are you doing here?" she whispered.
He took a step toward her, his face softening. "I... I couldn't stop thinking about you. About what's been going on. I saw you leave the house, and I knew something wasn't right. I couldn't let you face whatever this is alone."
Hellen's heart raced. She could feel the warmth of his presence, and for a moment, everything felt like it could be okay. Could she trust him?
But before she could respond, Pastor Daniel's voice rang out, cold and unyielding. "This is none of your business, boy. Go home before you regret it."
Tunde's jaw clenched, and he stood tall, defiant. "It is my business when it comes to her."
The tension thickened, and for the first time in years, Hellen felt torn between two worlds—the one she was expected to uphold and the one where, maybe, for the first time, she could be free.
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To Be Continued...