CHAPTER 6
Prisca jolted awake as her cell phone rang, breaking the silence of her sleep. She reached over, fumbled for the phone, and answered, her heart already racing for reasons she couldn't yet understand.
The scene on the road was surreal, and Prisca felt as if she'd stumbled into a nightmare. People were gathered, murmuring in hushed voices and staring at something beyond her view. She pushed her way through, her pulse quickening as she neared the center of the crowd, only to find herself staring at Justin's lifeless body sprawled across the ground. Her hands flew to her mouth, stifling the scream rising in her throat, as a terrible numbness washed over her. In the distance, the wail of police sirens cut through the quiet.
Chi stepped forward, her face drawn with grief, and handed Prisca a crumpled piece of paper. She could barely look at it; the words seemed to blur in her hands as tears welled up in her eyes.
"You were the only girl in his life," Chi whispered, her voice heavy with emotion. "And… my mother knows that. But the police are here now, and if they find you, they won't let you go. You need to go home." Her voice cracked, a mixture of pain and urgency.
Prisca shook her head, barely able to form words. "No… no… this isn't happening. It can't be real."
Chi reached out, taking Prisca's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "As much as I want to believe it's not true, it is. You have to run."
Blinking through her tears, Prisca glanced down at the note again, feeling a chill as her eyes landed on a familiar letter "A" in the handwriting—she'd seen that exact style before. A memory hovered at the edges of her mind, but Chi's pleading look snapped her back to the present.
"Go! Now!" Chi urged, her tone urgent.
Without another word, Prisca turned and ran, her footsteps echoing against the pavement as she disappeared from view just as the police arrived.
Frank and Daniel arrived moments later, parking their bike behind the police van. They both froze, horrified as they spotted Justin's lifeless body.
"Jesus Christ," Daniel muttered, his voice barely a whisper.
"Oh God…" Frank stammered, a hand covering his mouth. "I know him. He… he came to Prisca's place a few days ago. I saw him again just yesterday."
Daniel's eyes widened as he processed the implication. "We need to get back to Prisca. She's not safe."
As they turned to leave, Frank's eyes caught on a piece of paper in the hands of a police officer. He tapped Daniel's shoulder. "Wait. Look at that."
They both leaned in, trying to get a better look at the paper.
***
Prisca's legs carried her down the road at breakneck speed. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps as she fled, her mind racing just as fast. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being followed, that each step brought her closer to danger instead of safety.
In the distance, her boss, out for his early morning run, spotted her. He watched for a moment, confusion flickering across his face before he began to follow her, his strides quickening as concern took over.
A memory flashed across her mind—the day she'd almost forgotten, but couldn't quite erase. John, the stalker she'd once tried to evade, had followed her across town, holding a cardboard sign above his head as she walked by. Written in jagged letters, the message read, "If I can't have you, no one will." She could still see it clearly, especially the distinct shape of the letter "A" in his messy handwriting. The same letter that had been on the note in her hand.
A chill crept over her as she pieced together the familiar handwriting.
***
Her feet barely touched the ground as she raced toward her home, the one place she hoped would offer some semblance of safety. She flew through the gate and reached her door, quickly locking herself inside. She stood there, leaning against the door, trying to still her racing heart.
Outside, her boss arrived, scanning the compound as he tried to figure out which room she'd entered. Moments later, Frank and Daniel came running, both breathless and wide-eyed. Daniel stumbled, nearly losing his balance, but the boss reached out and steadied him.
"Thank you," Daniel managed, his voice rough with exhaustion.
The boss looked at them both, sizing them up quickly. "Do you live here?"
Daniel nodded, barely glancing up. Frank answered instead, his voice urgent. "Yes, but as you can see, we're in a hurry."
The boss nodded, looking past them. "Do either of you know which room Prisca lives in?"
Frank and Daniel exchanged a glance, their expressions turning uncertain as they looked back at him, torn between suspicion and trust.
***
The pounding on the door was relentless, echoing through the small, dimly lit room. Prisca crouched in the corner, tears streaming down her face, her breaths shallow and ragged.
"Prisca, open up, please!" Ben's voice came from outside, loud yet pleading.
Daniel joined him. "We know you're in there. Just open the door!"
Prisca clutched her knees tightly to her chest, her voice breaking as she sobbed, "Please go away!"
There was a pause, then Ben spoke again, softer this time. "Prisca, trust me. Open the door. Please."
Her hands trembled as she reached for the door. Seconds felt like hours before she finally turned the handle, letting it creak open. The moment Ben saw her tear-streaked face, he stepped inside and pulled her into a firm embrace. Prisca buried her face in his shoulder, her sobs muffled but still raw.
"It's okay," Ben murmured, holding her tightly. "Everything will be alright. Just breathe."
Frank stood back, his arms crossed as he glanced at Daniel, whose expression was tight with bitterness.
"I didn't kïll him," Prisca choked out between sobs. "I swear I didn't."
Ben stroked her back, his voice calm and steady. "Hey, stop crying. Just stay calm and tell me what happened."
"I know you didn't kïll him," Daniel interjected, his tone low. "But—"
The wail of a police siren cut through the tense moment, growing louder as it neared. Prisca froze, her body stiffening in Ben's arms.
"Oh my God," she whispered, her eyes wide with panic. "They're coming for me. They're going to take me!" Her grip on Ben tightened. "I don't want to go!"
Outside, the police car pulled into the compound, its flashing lights painting the surrounding walls in eerie red and blue hues. Tenants peeked cautiously from their windows before stepping out to watch the commotion.
The lead officer, Alex, emerged with purpose. "Where's the room of the woman named Prisca?" he asked, his voice commanding.
A tenant hesitated, then pointed toward a door at the far end of the corridor. Alex strode over, knocked sharply, and pushed the door open when there was no answer. The room was empty.
"She's not here," Alex said grimly as he stepped back outside.
At that moment, Daniel and Frank emerged from their own room, their expressions carefully composed.
"What's going on?" Daniel asked, his tone laced with feigned confusion. "Why is it so noisy?"
One of the tenants pointed toward Prisca's door. "I no know why police dey find that ghost girl," he muttered.
Daniel turned to Alex. "Good morning, officer. What's the matter?"
Alex's sharp gaze landed on him. "Where's the woman who lives here?"
Daniel shrugged. "I don't know. Nobody does. She's like a ghost—seen once in a blue moon, never talks to anyone. Why are you looking for her? Did she do something wrong?"
"She's a mûrder suspect," Alex said bluntly.
Daniel's eyes widened. "Murder?"
Alex nodded, his tone firm. "Yes. If you see her around, report it immediately." He handed Daniel a card with his contact information.
Meanwhile, Prisca sat on a worn sofa in Ben's living room, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She clutched a steaming cup of tea that Ben had handed her, though her hands still shook as she sipped it.
"I'm lost, Prisca," Ben said, sitting down beside her. "What exactly happened?"
She stared into the tea, her voice barely audible. "He kïlled him."
Ben leaned closer, his brow furrowed. "Who kïlled who? Who dîed?"
Her hands tightened around the cup. "God," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I can't believe this is happening. I pray I wake up and it's all a dream. How can Justin be dèad? God! John kïlled Justin!"
Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks, and Ben reached out to steady her trembling hands. "Hey, it's okay," he said softly. "Just breathe. We'll figure this out."
Later that day, Ben leaned against the kitchen counter, his phone pressed to his ear. "Yeah, she's still getting over it," he said quietly. "She just won't stop crying. She's really hurt."
Daniel's voice came through the line, steady but tense. "The police came by. They're serious about finding her. Just keep her safe while she recovers. She'll need her strength to defend herself during interrogation."
Ben hesitated. "Who is Justin to her? Lover?"
"I can't say for now," Daniel replied. "But I think I know who the culprit is. I'll make him pay. Just keep her away from the police for now."
Ben glanced toward the living room, where Prisca sat staring blankly at the wall. "She's safe here," he assured Daniel before hanging up.
He approached Prisca, crouching beside her. "I have to go to work," he said gently. "The police are asking questions. If I don't show up, I might raise suspicion."
Prisca looked up at him, her eyes brimming with guilt. "I'm sorry for putting you through this mess."
Ben shook his head. "You didn't do anything wrong, Prisca. I just wish I could do more."
Her voice cracked. "But he diéd because of me."
"No," Ben said firmly, taking her hand. "He died because it was his fate."
At his office, Ben sat in his swivel chair, trying to focus when Alex and another officer walked in. Ben stood, forcing a polite smile.
"Good morning, Mr. Ben," Alex said, sitting down. "Where's your personal secretary?"
Ben hesitated. "I haven't seen her since Wednesday. She resigned and was supposed to come by yesterday to get her things, but she didn't."
Alex narrowed his eyes. "Why did she resign?"
"She didn't give me a clear reason. Just said it was personal."
"How long did she work for you?"
"Four years," Ben replied.
Alex studied him for a moment. "Can I see a picture of her?"
Ben gestured toward a wall lined with framed photos of his staff. Alex stepped closer, scanning the faces until his eyes landed on Prisca.
His expression darkened. "I know her," he said finally. "She's my ex. We dated two years ago. I ran into her last Saturday. And now she's a mûrder suspect."
Ben froze, his mind racing as Alex pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Her phone's off," Alex muttered. "She'll be hard to find. She's smart."
Turning back to Ben, Alex said, "Thank you for your time. If you hear anything, let us know."
Ben nodded, his chest tightening as Alex and the officer left. Prisca's secret was becoming harder to keep, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could protect her.