"So you're sure you don't know why he's calling us?" Eze asked. His footsteps felt much heavier than they should be. Never had he ever been this dreadful of Mr Okafor before.
Anjola didn't answer. Eze had asked that question more times than necessary already, and it was showing on her face how much she appreciated it.
They stopped in front of a door. One which looked very out of place compared to the rest of the worn down home. Anjola knocked once, faltering just slightly as she glanced at Eze. He barely noticed.
Mr. Okafor's voice boomed from the other side of the door. "Oh, Do come in!"
Anjola pushed the door open, and they stepped into the office. The room was large, more lavish than necessary for an orphanage director. Dark, polished wood floors gleamed under the sunlight filtering through tall windows. It was weird living in the same place and only seeing this room once in a blue moon, but it showed just how involved Mr Okafor really was.
He sat behind a grand mahogany desk, wearing green, Asa-Oke clothing, reclining in a leather chair that seemed just a bit too grand for the occasion. He heaved forward when the final three had arrived. But he was only focused on one of them.
"Eze! My boy! How are you, mm?"
The burst of positivity shattered the negative aura around him. He couldn't even say anything, as the larger than life man came up to him with a grand hug.
"Wow." he said, grabbing his cheeks. "You look so different, even tho it's been how many weeks?"
"Ah, Anjola." He nodded to her, his voice dripping an unnatural with a false warmth. "I trust you've also been keeping out of trouble."
Anjola, standing a little straighter, managed a firm nod. "Yes, sir."
He gestured for them to all sit down on the wooden chairs lined up in a line, before carrying himself back to his seat, using his arm to wipe some invisible dirt on his clothes.
Mr. Okafor's gaze shifted to Chinwe, lingering on her for a moment before he clasped his hands together and leaned forward slightly. "Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I've called you all here today."
Eze's heart skipped a beat, that familiar sensation of dread creeping up his spine again. Except it wasn't dread. It was Anansi. He had materialized himself, and was skittering upwards, seemingly wanting to see this himself. He bit the inside of his cheek, trying to focus.
Mr. Okafor began, clearly savoring the moment. "The recent... incident involving that your friend, made me very wary, as you can tell."
Everyone knew what he was talking about. Chinwe shifted uncomfortably, her face tightening as well.
"Unfortunately," Okafor continued, as if relishing the attention, "I was contemplating the possibility of shutting down this... operation entirely." He made a dismissive wave toward the room, as if nothing more than an inconvenience.
They said nothing. Typical.
"However," Okafor's voice turned smug, "government officials have assured me that should I agree to continue my benevolent work, they would see to it that none of you are ever placed in any real danger again."
The word benevolent hung in the air, thick with condescension.
Bolu, bold as ever, spoke out. "What does that mean for us, sir?"
Mr. Okafor's smile widened. "It means, that you've been offered the opportunity of a lifetime." He leaned back in his chair, hands gesturing grandly. "The government is sending a group of you to Borno State."
Eze felt his stomach drop. Borno State? That was one of the most dangerous regions in Nigeria, plagued by insurgency and violence. What on earth was this man talking about?
"Excuse me?" Eze finally found his voice, his eyes narrowing at Okafor. "Borno State? Why would we go there?"
Mr. Okafor's eyes gleamed with barely concealed glee. "Oh, don't worry, my boy. The officials have promised that you'll be perfectly safe. Security will be top-notch, and you'll even have military escorts. In fact, it's quite an exciting opportunity. You'll be assisting with some charity work in the region—humanitarian aid, helping rebuild communities..."
"Charity work?" Eze repeated, his voice laced with disbelief.
Chinwe's eyes widened. "But... we're just kids. Why are they sending us to Borno?"
Okafor waved his hand dismissively. "Nonsense. You're old enough to handle a little adventure. And besides, it's for a good cause. Imagine the positive press this will bring—orphans from Lagos assisting in the recovery of war-torn Borno. It's a public relations dream!"
The government has proposed an educational excursion to Borno, and I have agreed to support it. Despite the… unique challenges of that region, they've assured me that security will be impeccable. So, you're all going."
"B-but sir..." Joyce's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Quite," Mr. Okafor replied, dismissing her shock with a wave of his hand. "This experience will surely add some resilience, a fine trait for any young person. Of course, if it weren't for the extraordinary assurances I've received, I'd never have agreed."
Then, he heaved himself to face Chinwe, who had been twiddling her fingers.
"You."
She immediately jumped, as she had been caught unaware.
"Yes sir??"
"You've been listening right?"
She asked a hesitant question. "And… I'm coming too, right?"
"Ah, yes. Well, Chinwe, you're… quite the exception here, aren't you?" He folded his hands neatly. "After a number of discussions, I was unable to sway your parents to give their consent. So, you'll be staying behind."
It was like a dagger to the heart. A pang of guilt shot through Eze's chest as Chinwe's face fell. But her disappointment soon turned into a massive sigh of relief. Or two.
"Enough with the dramatics," Okafor said, his voice icy. "This trip will be good for you all. A way to… build character." He glanced at each of them, as if expecting gratitude. "This is an opportunity to see a different part of Nigeria, to understand the world beyond these walls. The government has its eyes on you; you have nothing to worry about."
There wasn't a single pang of positivity present in the place. You would think there were going straight into the headquarters of a terrorist organization or something.
"Oh, and one more thing," Mr. Okafor added, a glint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Pack light. We leave in a day."
As they filed out of the office, the weight of everything that had happened and everything yet to come bore down on them like a storm.
"What did you think Eze?" the Spider said, now in the midst of his hair.
"About the speech or the situation? Cause the answer is bad."
"Eh. It will not be bad. We'll just go in, get what we need, and go out. No issues."
"And what is it that we need?"
He didn't answer after that. Stupid Spider.
"Eze..."
This voice wasn't from his head, but rather, from Chinwe. She shook her head quickly, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "It's fine, Eze. I'll be here. Just be careful, okay?"
Once outside and out of earshot, Bolu muttered, "This is insane."
Joyce nodded. "It's like he doesn't even care about the risks."
Eze sighed. "He doesn't. Not about us anyway."
The group fell into a somber silence, the reality of the trip to Borno State settling heavily on them all.