Chikamharida's POV.

That night, while I was waiting patiently for Chilli to knock, a message got into my phone.

Unknown:

Have a good night sleep.

—the V.

I had a sneaky suspicion who it was.

Just then, the knock came.

"Harida," a soft voice said.

I hadn't even heard her own door shut. Trying to act cool, I replied, "Who's it?"

"It's Choice."

"Alright, I'm coming," I said, dropping my phone on the bed.

"What's up?" I said, looking in her eyes with a smile. She was trying really hard to avoid my gaze and she succeeded. She was looking at the bridge of my nose throughout.

"I brought pastries," she said, handing me the white bag.

She parted her hand and I pretended to be delighted when I saw them.

"Wow," I said. "This looks more delicious than the others."

"It isn't. This is different but I'll leave it to you. Have a good night rest," she said with a fake smile which I returned.

I believed Adele. And even though I didn't , I wasn't about to be playing with my life by ignoring her warning.It was even more foolish that O'Malley would be sending Chilli to do her deeds now, I thought she was brave? Or had something happened to her?

How I wish the later was true.

"I really appreciate you bringing me cakes Chilli. I just wish I could keep eating your cakes forever."

"It's really no issues. I'm glad I got to do something for you," she said sincerely. And I knew she was sincere cause pain and reluctance flashed in her eyes. She wasn't really good at hiding her emotions.

Having seen a slip in the mask, I decided to make her more uncomfortable but then, my phone had to ring. I nodded at Chilli to excuse myself and she agree before walking towards her door.

Shutting the door and approaching my phone, I noticed that it was an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Nice of you to finally pick."

"You haven't called before."

"I texted you."

"I know you love games but I'm really not in the mood."

"Well, I have something that can change that. A little birdie told me today's pay day and you may be needing a companion to a bank. I'm willing to be your escort, don't ask how. All you have to do is to agree."

Questions were swirling in my head. First was how she would managed to escape a mental facility to meet me? Second, who was the mole in the Jones estate who could be revealing such information? Could it be Adele? Or Mr Bolaji himself?

"Hilda, what have you done?" I asked.

"Nothing too disastrous. Just asking you to help me console my brother incase he finds out."

"You wouldn't pull me into your shithole of secrets Hilda."

"Oh, but I can. And let's not forget you're the one who read the diary and the one who wants the girl to see me."

"I hate what you're making me do."

"Ooh, I can see your heart disagreeing. Maybe cause of your crush oh him. Well, you know what I told you, girl. Whatever your decision is, it wouldn't stop me from attaining my heart desire. Just wanted to give you an opportunity to redeem yourself to..."

Just then, Henry walked in.

"You ready?"

He must have seen something in my gaze cause he asked, "you speaking with someone? Family?"

"Yeah," I said.

He nodded and proceeded to sit on the bed.

"I'll speak with you later," I said hurriedly into the phone and ended the call. Silence reigned for sometime before I deemed it fit to ask his purpose of visiting.

"You needed something?"

"Yeah. You made cake?"

"No, I was gifted," I said. "It has turned sour."

"Ooh," he said, still looking at it suspiciously.

He looked better from the morning he had insomnia and he was so calm I was afraid he knew what his sister and I were up to.

"You clean up nice." I tried distracting him.

"Yeah," he said, lying on my bed so he gazed at the ceiling. "I was wondering if you could convince Adele to take her dad out, you know, so we could get the plan going."

"She knows we've been seeing her mum."

"—I mean, your sister."

If the silence in the room wasn't enough to tell me how much I'd fucked up. I didn't know what else could.

"Who?"

"Adele. She's been following us. And while I was nannying her she'd taken me to go visit Hilda once but was refused entry cause she's not family. I'm sorry for not telling you earlier."

Henry was so calm as he asked, "what else do you know Harida?"

I wanted to tell him all of it but I was afraid to, more so because I couldn't see his face and I couldn't predict his exact facial expression. He'd been staring still at the ceiling, not moving a muscle. His voice was the only inclination that he was listening to me.

"Nothing."

"Alright then ," Henry said, sitting up. "I guess that also makes it easier for you."

"How?"

"If Adele knows things, like you've just told me, she may be willing to help. I believe you can get her to help tomorrow. Tomorrow's the d-day."

"You're serious?"

"Yeah, had to move it forward for obvious reasons. I just have one thing I'm going to ask from you. That you make Adele take her father out, and away while it's all happening."

"Isn't the notice a bit too short."

"Bolaji would do anything for his daughter especially since her birthday is close."

As his words sank in, my eyes caught the cake, and I stopped him with my words before he was complete out.

"Henry?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm about to eat a poisoned cake. You'd be taking me to the hospital around 10pm."

He just raised him brow at me and walked out. I guess he'd been shocked so much by my earlier revelation that he'd grown an absorber.

At that rate, I wondered if he'd ever get tired of my shenanigans.

****

Adele's hold was my first destination. She was in her room, writing some random stuffs on a paper and also speaking with a girl via video call.

She heard the door shut behind me and turned so our eyes met. She went back to the call while I sat on her bed with raised brows.

"Would you be online for an evening game tonight" she asked the girl.

"Yeah I would. Same time right?"

"Yeah. Have you heard of the new version that was launched last week?"

"Hmm, I've tried playing it, but the controls could use some improvement. Maybe if they'd allow phone sensors to be included in the game. Also, the rear view isn't the accurate."

"The characters, they're good, I like the simulations."

"Maybe we should try the multiplayer tonight then, instead of the usual?"

"That would be great."

"Well, Dorothy, it is nice speaking with you but I have to go, duty call."

"Take care."

The call ended with a beep after which Adele turned her chair to face me before recrossing her legs.

"Why do I smell smoke?" She asked, staring at me with dried mirth in her eyes.

"You know the drill."

"Na, enlighten me," she said tilting her head to the side, studying me.

"You've eaten the cake and you need help with an obituary?"

"Funny but not that."

"What?"

"I need you to take your dad out tomorrow. We don't want anything bad to happen to him."

"And how can I trust you?"

"Same way I'm trusting you not to tell on him."

"You know this is funny right? So what's your plan? Break in and smile thinking it'll dissolve everything. Do you know how many years it's been going on?"

"No I don't know that. But what I know is that if you agree to all this, you'd be seeing your mother."

"lol," she said, turning her chair away from me and playing an online game. "Still not interested."

"Henry knows."

"I know he knows."

"And you've got multiple eyes on you, whether you agree or not."

She yawned and increased the volume of the game and I took that as my cue to leave.

"Also, you will her that I've been poisoned tonight," I said, not waiting for a response as I walked out.

*****

I called Hilda when her got to my room, but each time, it was left ringing till time out.

No response, and I bet she was up to no good but I just didn't know what her plan was.

I went to the pool to swim, feeling eyes on me all the way. They were probably watching, waiting for me to be unconscious from the perception that I'd eaten the cake, how sad.

I took laps over laps. Breast stroke and any swimming style I could remember. I was getting fairly good and I'd been out for hours. It got to a point when I heard twigs snap. Expecting it to be O'Malley, I turned to face the direction of the sound, my face emotionless.

However, I became wary when I saw it was Adele.

"What are you doing here Adele?"

"Came to pay homage. Besides this is my spot."

"I never disputed that fact."

"So what now? You're here to gloat or what?"

"Na," she said. "Ain't I too big for that? Just came to swim. The weather's a but hot and only water could do me good."

"Adele?"

She began undressing, her dreads shielding her face and her jeans pooling at her feet till she kicked them off. I began swimming deeper, afraid she may pull out a weapon but that didn't stop her random display of superiority, and nonchalance.

Now, she was in stockings and a bra top, her things on the gravelly soil. She jumped into the water with a plop and a loud splash.

"What, you're not swimming again?"

She asked, her voice loud so that I could hear her ouch the distance.

"You're unpredictable," I replied sincerely, still watching her and waiting.

I knew I was no match for her if she decided that a water-death was best for me, but I'd at least try, by swimming away from her.

"Wait up," she shouted, swimming towards me.

I kept swimming away faster. Maybe her dad had told her to take me out.

"I'm not going to hurt you!"

I kept swimming.

"See," she said tiredly. "You're moving into danger zone."

I could feel the pull of the current, it had gotten stronger, pushing all parts of my body forward.

"Harida!"

Because I'd lost concentration, a powerful thug made me lose my balance, and I rolled over a few times till I caught a low hanging branch.

"Don't fight it, you'd lose your breath! And don't leave the branch, I'm coming."

She was faster than I, swimming towards the land by the other side. I thought she'd help, but she moved away, out of my sight.

"Hang on, I'm coming!" I heard her shout. But my biceps were threatening to give out.

I tried climbing forward on the branch, but a loud crack echoed and it didn't take long for me to realise I'd made a big mistake. Helplessly, I stayed still, afraid that if I moved again it may give out. But that wasn't enough reassurance, cause I watched it unravel slowly, but by bit. Till it finally gave out, and I was left, floating with a stick.

The current got worst, and the motion of water became louder. I closed my eyes and loosened my muscles, already preparing for the worst when I heard my name being shouted.

"Harida catch!"

I opened my eyes, it was a rope of fresh twig, tied to a tree and floating behind me.

Without much thought, I began swimming towards it with all my muscle. When my finger was just a hairs breadth from it, I somersaulted again.

I could feel my brain turning, my vision blurry, water was sloshing inside my ears.

I blinked away the tear and ignored the ache in my limbs, before inhaling and pushing against the current.

This time I got to hold it, but I was too tired to pull myself out of the water so Adele had to help by dragging the rope.