The throbbing pulse of the beach was steady and peaceable. Its hums were hypnotic and cylinders of light moved across the sea, a reflection from the moon.

The gushing waves were comfortable and she closed her eyes and inhaled its salty chilly scent.

The beach was a relaxing place for Wura. A cocoon.

She preferred it particular at that time of the night, when it was quiet, serene and undisturbed. Time didn’t matter here to her. She could leave whenever she wanted.

Two days ago, she experienced an odd premature death which laid nothing but guilt and regret in her. She could’ve done something about it, but she didn't.

Of course as an agent in TJH, she had seen plenty of other deaths, but none of them affected her as this one. It was twisted and so wrong. Gothium was bad, but Dahlia Kagabel was worse.

The team had comforted her, told her not to blame herself for her death, but it was difficult, it was painful because an innocent person didn’t deserve to die that way.

Wura heard it. Light footsteps walking quietly, not wanting to get caught.

What someone as doing here that time of the night didn’t concern her. All she needed was the beach and no disturbance. Whoever it was would see her and go somewhere else.

Tucking her hands into her pockets, she shut her eyes in contentment.

“There’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline –“

“No matter how many times it’s sent away.” Wura completed the stranger’s quote and opened her eyes.

The stranger stared at her in wonderment, “you know the quote?”

“It’s by Sarah Kay, an American poet and writer.” She said and turned to take her leave.

“Wait, wait,” he called, “marry me.”

Wura halted and turned with an irritated expression, “are you drunk or are you dumb?”

He took few steps towards her, “neither,” he shrugged, “but as a beautiful single woman like you who is familiar with that quote, i feel like you’re my soulmate.”

Wura snickered in mock confusion, “I’m not single.” She lied.

The stranger glanced at his watch, "A married woman won’t be in the beach alone by 11:23pm.”

“You met a stranger by the beach and you ask her to marry you? I advise therapy for you if you’re going through something.” Wura said before she continued her walk.

“Wait,” he said again, “Can I at least get a name? I’ve seen you here before you know, Can we be friends?”

“I’m a mermaid and I’m not interested in being your friend.” Wura replied sarcastically as she walked.

“Then I’m Aquaman,” the stranger said, which made her pause, “If you’re a mermaid then i’m Aquaman.” He continued.

Wura scoffed in disbelief as she kept on walking. Aquaman kor, Aquaman ni. She hissed in her mind.

Wura’s cat awaited her arrival at her doorstep and she squatted to pick her up.

“Hello Rhyme,” she ran her fingers through her fur compassionately, earning a purr of delight from the cat, “I’m so sorry i’m late, one mumu took my time.”

Cradling Rhyme, she strolled to her bedroom and turned on the light switch. Next, she gently placed the cat on her bed and took of her clothes to change into something more causal. Then she went over to the kitchen to prepare dinner -or was it late lunch, since she hadn't eaten anything since that afternoon.

Wura microwaved the left over coconut rice while she poured some cat food for Rhyme who muched happily. She also filled up her water bowl, before settling on her own food.

Her self contained apartment had no dinning table, so she usually ate in the living room.

Just as she was about to eat a bite, her phone buzzed next to her, which she picked up to check in case it was an important information.

But unfortunately, it was a text message from Astrid which read;

Drinks?

Wura declined and dropped her phone before returning to her dinner. This wasn't the first time, nor second or third that Astrid had asked her to hang out, like old friends. but she couldn't do it, she couldn't let Astrid see her vulnerability.

Wura picked on her food for the next few minutes, forcing herself to finish eating to avoid another ulcer attack. The last one she had landed her in hospitals for days. She hated hospitals.

*****

Wura was falling, unable to breathe. She was drowning, stretching her arms outwards, trying to save herself, trying to swim to the surface, but all to no avail.

Breathing became difficult, her body weakened, her eyes fluttered until they closed, so she gave up, falling deeper into the colorless abyss.

One last time, she struggled to open her eyes, and when she did, she met a face of despair staring at her.

"Why did you let me die?" the person's voice was sorrowful and hunting.

***

Wura sat up with a gasp, breathing unevenly. Her vision blurred, her chest constricted and she bursted into tears.

"I'm sorry," she said admist tears, "I'm sorry I swear." Her hands shook and tears flowed flowed through the corner of her eyes.

Wura dropped to the floor and pressed her palms on her ears in attempt to block the noises of guilt in her head, each one of them cutting her deeper. This was what she struggled with and what hunted her since his death.

Rhyme snuggled next to Wura on the floor as she wept. Like a faithful pet, she had seen her mistress in a state of despair and couldn't bear it, so she comforted her until she stopped crying.

There was something about Rhyme Wura had no explanation for, how a cat always managed to calm her during her anxiety attacks and how it had always worked.

She lay her head on the cold tile as she rubbed her fur and smiled. Rhyme was more than just a cat to her, she was family.

Using both hands, Wura adjusted a picture frame in her bedroom to reveal a compartment in the wall, cupboard size.

After placing the frame against the wall on the floor, she took out a black file labelled 'DAHLIA KAGABEL' and went over to her bed.

She flipped open the file, her eyes scrolling through every word, in attempt to find something she had probably missed before. Something that would determine her next line of action.

The file contained a history on Dahlia Kagabel, her family which had all died in a car accident, her career and most importantly, the Gothium and bullets.

The bullets were in her house right now, true, but was that really where they were being manufactured? she shook her head in doubt.

She had to find out where the bullets were being manufactured and destroy it. She had to work from the inside and to do that, she had to visit a place, somewhere she hadn't been to since his death. A place she had been avoiding.

As she sighted the saloon, her heart was anxious. How will she react when she sees me? She wondered, "Will she embrace me, or will she reject me?"

Switching off her bike's ignition, she descended from the bike, took off her helmet and leaned her bike against the wall of the saloon.

Wura entered the saloon, casting her gaze causally around. It was still the same and the sight flooded memories in her head. Memories she thought she had forgotten.

"Aunty are you here to loosen your hair?" the apprentice asked her. This was a new one, she noticed.

"I'm here to see the Madam." She said with a straight expression.

"She's not around." The apprentice replied which made almost made her smile on purpose. She was aware of these scopes.

"Madam doesn't go out without her red purse," she gestured to the ruby colored purse on the table. I know she's inside, so tell her it's Wura that is asking of her."

The apprentice gave her one quizzical look before leaving and when she did, Wura could feel heart pounding in anticipation. What will she say?

"Wura?" Madam's voice was full of emotion as she came into view, "Wura, is this really you?"

"Aunty Eunice." Wura's voice was brittle. She stared at the woman who fed, clothed and sheltered her for several years before she became distant on her own will. Wura felt ashamed and sorry for treating her that way.

"I've missed you," her aunt crashed her in a hug before she knew it and she inhaled her familiar tropical scent that was soothing to Wura. It had been so long since someone embraced her, so long since she felt this closeness. Her eyes welled up and as she blinked, two trickle of tears ran down her cheek.

Nostalgia. That was all Wura felt as she sat in the familiar living room, eating Aunty Eunice's moi moi.

"Look at you," her aunt exclaimed as she stared at her body, "You have lost weight."

Wura shrugged, "I don't eat much lately."

"You better start eating, unless you want to have ulcer, which I reject for you." Her aunty said as she poured cold water into the glass cup for her.

Wura nodded as she stuffed moi moi in her mouth.

"I've really missed you. After your brother's death, you stopped picking my calls and I was worried about you," Aunty Eunice said with a hurtful tone, " I went to your apartment but you had already packed out."

"Aunty i'm sorry. I just needed to clear my head at that moment. I didn't mean to cut you off. To be honest I was afraid of coming here. I thought you wouldn't want to see me."

"I prayed to see you one day, and i'm glad that day has come."  Aunty Eunice smiled, a dimple formed in one of her cheek. "You know, I didn't throw your paintings away."

That made Wura pause. Her arts and paintings. Her old life.

"Why?" she had to ask. She had left everything behind. Why didn't Aunty Eunice dispose them, after all these while.

"I couldn't do it. Anytime I see those paintings, I remember how happy you always were while painting, so I couldn't throw away your happiness." her eyes had a distant look as she smiled.

Was. Wura corrected in her mind. Painting was her happiness, now it was the cause of her misery.

"Follow me, let me show you." Aunty Eunice said as she stood up. Wura having no other choice, had to follow her.

Wura stared at her paintings with abhorrence, eight of them, framed and pinned on the wall. This was supposed to make her happy, but it had the opposite effect on her.

"Aunty I came to ask you for something," Wura said, looking away from the paintings, "I know Kome didn't die that day and I know there's a possibility he came here. I need to know where he is. Please."

Aunty Eunice said nothing for a
couple of minutes.

"Aunty I need to ask him for something very important. I can't tell you what it is but if you can please, I'll be happy."

"He came here shortly after Kola died. Then he called some weeks later saying had relocated to Epe. Why he went that far is what I don't understand." Aunty Eunice explained.

"Do you know the address?" Wura asked with a glimpse of hope in her voice.

"Yes."

Wura wore her sun shades and continued her journey on foot under the blazing afternoon Lagos sun.

Ogidi town was further down the street according to what the mechanic had told her. She decided to leave her bike with him and approach the town in a less conspicuous way. This was Nigeria, and a lady who drives a power bike was enough attention. Not that she cared anyways, but due to the nature of her job, sometimes its better to avoid those unnecessary attention.

The stench of cigarettes was  enough to give Wura an headache as she walked past an uncompleted building by the side of the road. The only building to be precise.

She had not gone far when three guys approached her, all reeking of cheap alcohol and cigarettes. She sighed inwardly and shifted her shades to the top of her head.

“Fine girl awfar now?” one of the said with a disgusting smile. “Where you dey go?” he edged towards her.

“You fine o,” the other said, “Wetin be your name?” he slurred as raised his hands in attempt to touch her cheek. She swatted it away and he laughed, “See this one o,” he and his accompanists laughed as he moved too close, invading her personal space. He lifted his arm once again to her face.

Wura waited and when the right moment came, she lifted her right leg off the ground and drove her knee forcefully upwards, attacking him on his groin.

He winced in pain and staggered backwards, cuping his arms over the spot.

The other one looked at his partner in disbelief and before he was able to say anything, Wura jabbed his nose forcefully with a side of her palm, pulling her arm back quickly as he thrust his head up and back.

She looked at the last who had shifted backwards who shook his head in plea, holding out his hands in defeat.

“I’m looking a man named Kome,” she said sternly, “do you have any idea who he is, or who I can ask?”

He shook his head, “but pharmacy no dey far, I can take you there.”

The pharmacist smiled warmly at Wura as she stepped in, “Welcome, how can I help you?”

Wura glanced around, inhaling the common drugy smell infused with a lemon scented air fresher.

“I’m looking for someone, I was wondering if you could help me out.” Wura went straight to the point.

“Of course,” he nodded, “If I know the person I’ll help you.”

“He’s a man named Kome, he’s fair and of average height. I heard he lives in this town.”

The pharmacist eyes widened momentarily which Wura caught. That meant he knew something.

“I don’t know him.” he cleared his throat, you can ask someone else.

Wura rested her elbows on the counter, interlocked her fingers and stared directly into his eyes, “You know something don’t you?”

He refused to look at her, “Please, if you’re not buying anything, you can leave.”

Wura tucked her hands into her pocket and brought out her wallet. She opened the it and took out fresh thousand naira notes, she did this slowly, aware that he was watching.

“Why don’t you let me help you by helping me,” she placed the money on the counter, “ten thousand naira is yours right now if you can tell me where he is.”

The offer was apparently too juicy for the Pharmacist to reject as he eyed the money greedily.

“Please wait for me, I’m coming.” he said and turned, entering into one of the back doors.

Wura smiled, his reaction was expected. Seeing free money in Nigeria was like looking for needles in a haystack.

He returned after few minutes, “enter that office, he’s there.”

Kome was here? She wondered in amazement. He owned the pharmacy?

“Thank you,” Wura said genuinely as she slid the money to him. He smiled in response as he counted reward money.

Wura knocked lightly before entering into the office.

Kome looked up from his desk and stood up in shock surprise, “Goldie!”

Wura’s smile was a blend of happiness and sadness because she was glad to have finally located Kome, but sad that things would never be the same without her brother.

They hugged, which lasted a while then they settled down.

“Would you like something to drink or eat?” He asked.

Wura shook her head, “it’s nice to see you again Kome.”

“I looked for you after -” he paused and his face was full of grief. Wura could understand that, Kome was her brother’s best friend, they were like twins, inseparable.

“I needed to clear my head,” Wura explained, “but I’m fine now.” she smiled slightly, “how’s your wife? Aunty Eunice told me you married.”

“She’s fine,” he said with a smile that lit up his eyes, “she’s a teacher at the government secondary school here.”

Wura nodded. Once upon a time she had a crush on him, but he had always seen her as a younger sister.

“I thought you also died?” Wura asked, “how did you survive?”

Kome took off his glasses and cleaned them with a napkin, “it was a narrow escape. I don’t like remembering that night.”

“I want to know all about Gothium itself.” Wura said.

“How do you know about that?” Kome whispered furiously, “Who told you?”

“I found out myself.” Wura retorted, “I want to destroy Dahlia Kagabel.”

Kome shot up from his chair at a speed of lighting, “Goldie! Forget about it.”

“I can’t.” Wura raised her voice, “there’s nothing you can say to discourage me. I will bring her down. You moved all the way here so she won’t find you right? She doesn’t know you survived.”

Silence and tension was thick in the air as Kome reclined on his chair.

“I go by the name Paul here.” He started, “Dahlia Kagabel is a dangerous woman. She threatened us with our families if we ever snitched on the GP -the Gothium Project. It was a rare substance, but powerful. Dahlia was greedy. She wanted more, she wanted us to push through the barriers and when we did, it cost lives.”

“I’ve seen the bullets in action and I want to stop the production. Is there a way?” Wura inquired.

“Where did you see the bullets?” Kome’s voice was full of concern, “And how do you know about the bullets? Who told you about this?”

“Kome please I can’t give you the answers to those questions. Just
help me out here.”

“I’ll give you something that can help you. It belonged to your brother and it contains all the information, but be careful. I can't loose you too.” Kome told her.

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