Chapter 31: The Price of Fear
The hours ticked by slowly as the evening wore on, a haunting silence settling over Ezinne's home. The clock on the wall seemed to mock her, its ticking a constant reminder of the approaching deadline. Her thoughts churned, fear and anger battling for control, but deep down, she knew what she had to do. She had already made up her mind. There was no turning back now.
Ogechi paced the living room, her hands clasped tightly together as she looked at her friend, who sat motionless on the couch. Ezinne's face was drawn, her eyes distant, as though the weight of the situation had already consumed her. She had always been strong, determined, but this was different. Her son was in danger. And despite all her strength, there was nothing she could do to change that.
"You're not going alone, Ezinne," Ogechi finally spoke, her voice firm but filled with concern.
Ezinne's eyes flickered up to meet her friend's gaze. "I can't risk him getting hurt, Ogechi. If I don't do this, he'll die. He's my son. I have to protect him."
"But not like this," Ogechi insisted. "You don't have to face him alone. You know what Somto is capable of. You can't just walk into his hands willingly."
Ezinne swallowed hard, the lump in her throat making it hard to speak. "I have no choice. He'll kill Chibuikem if I don't show up. I have to do it for him. I can't let him grow up without me. I won't let Somto ruin his life too."
Ogechi opened her mouth to argue, but the truth in Ezinne's voice silenced her. There was no convincing her friend otherwise. She had made her decision. The pain of losing her son, the torment of knowing he was in Somto's hands, was more than enough to drive her to do the unthinkable.
"Promise me you'll be careful," Ogechi said quietly, her voice laced with worry. "You know how dangerous Somto is. I won't lose you too."
Ezinne gave a faint nod, her hand reaching for the car keys on the table. "I'll be back. I have to be. I can't... I can't let him win."
The old warehouse by the river stood in ominous silence as Ezinne's car pulled up to the entrance. The rusted gates loomed ahead, half-open as though inviting her into the belly of the beast. The cold night air brushed against her skin, making her shiver, but it wasn't the cold that sent a chill down her spine. It was the fear that gripped her heart—the fear of facing the man who had been a stranger to her for so long, but whose power still haunted her every step.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The gravel beneath her feet crunched as she approached the building, her footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness around her. The night was thick with tension, the only sound the wind rustling through the trees.
As she reached the doorway, a figure stepped into the shadows, making her freeze. For a brief moment, she thought her heart might stop altogether.
"Ezinne," Somto's voice sliced through the silence, smooth but laced with malice. His silhouette emerged from the shadows, his tall frame casting an imposing shadow. "I see you decided to show up after all."
Ezinne's pulse raced as she stepped forward, her hands trembling but determined. "Where is my son, Somto? I'm here. Let him go."
Somto's smile was slow, cruel, as he took a step toward her. "Patience, Ezinne. All in good time. You want him back, don't you? Then you'll have to play by my rules."
Her breath caught in her throat. "What do you want from me?"
Somto's eyes gleamed with a darkness that made her stomach twist. "What I want is simple. You and your family have taken so much from me, but now it's my turn to take something back. If you want Chibuikem to stay alive, you'll agree to my terms. And trust me, you won't like them."
The air seemed to grow thicker as Ezinne's mind raced. "What are you talking about?"
Somto stepped closer, his face inches from hers. The smell of cheap cologne mixed with the stench of old rust and dampness in the air. "I'm not stupid, Ezinne. I know you're connected to Chinedu and all his little tricks. But now it's your turn to pay the price. I'll make sure you regret ever walking away from me."
A cold chill ran down Ezinne's spine. She couldn't let him manipulate her like this. She couldn't let him drag her into his world of torment. Not for Chibuikem. She swallowed the rising fear in her throat, refusing to back down.
"I won't let you control me, Somto. I won't let you hurt my son."
Somto's gaze darkened, his smile widening with cruel satisfaction. "You don't have a choice. And don't think for a second that you can walk away from this. If you try anything stupid, I'll make sure Chibuikem pays the price for your mistakes. You know I'm capable of anything."
Ezinne's heart sank, but she kept her chin high, refusing to show him any sign of weakness. "What do you want? Name it, and I'll do it."
Somto tilted his head, eyes glinting in the dim light. "I want you to stay away from Chinedu. Stay out of his business, and never contact him again. If you do, I'll make sure Chibuikem suffers for it."
Ezinne's world seemed to collapse around her. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, suffocating her. Stay away from Chinedu? She couldn't. He was her brother, her family. But the thought of losing her son… she couldn't let that happen.
"I can't do that," she said softly, though her voice betrayed the uncertainty within her.
Somto stepped back, a dark chuckle escaping his lips. "Then you leave me no choice. We'll see how far you're willing to go for your family."
Suddenly, a voice pierced the tension. "I'll go to the police."
Ezinne spun around, her heart racing as she saw Chibuikem standing at the edge of the warehouse, his small figure barely visible in the darkness. Somto's gaze flicked toward the boy, and then back to Ezinne.
"You think you can escape me?" Somto hissed. "This is far from over."
Ezinne's heart skipped a beat as she saw the fear in her son's eyes. The storm was only just beginning, and she had no idea where it would lead. But one thing was certain—Somto had made a grave mistake. And she was going to make him pay.