Continuation...
The Following Day
Estate, Mansion, Game Room, Nigeria.
8:00 a.m.
SAMUEL
It feels like Heaven on Earth. I grin, fingers flying across the controller as I face off against Jennifer, my younger sister. We're locked in a battle on *Injustice 2*, and I've got Superman—my go-to. She's picked Aquaman, and it's getting intense. Her fingers blur over the controls, cheating—watching my hands instead of the screen. I pretend not to notice.
Five minutes later, Aquaman delivers a finishing blow, and the screen flashes with "Fatality". Jennifer leaps from her seat, pumping her fists in the air.
"Yes! Yes! Finally!" she squeals.
I stare at the screen, stunned. "Wait… how did you beat me with Aquaman?" I mutter to myself. "No one's ever done that—not even Desmond and his crew."
She spins around, still bouncing. "I told you I'd beat you!"
"It's just the first round," I remind her, cracking my knuckles. "I'm still in this."
The door creaks open. The sound of heels clicking against the floor enters the room. I don't need to turn around—I know it's Chioma. Her perfume gives her away.
"What's going on in here?" Chioma asks, curious.
"Jennifer won the first round. She's celebrating like she's already won."
"Oh." She chuckles. "Well, breakfast is ready. You two should come eat before it gets cold."
"One more round," I say, gripping my controller. "Then we'll come."
Round Two begins.
I don't hold back this time. My fingers move with the speed of a pro-gamer, throwing combo after combo. Jennifer struggles to keep up, managing only to land a few hits before I block her moves and counterstrike.
"You didn't even give me a chance!" she complains, throwing her controller onto the couch when I win.
"You hit me three times. That was your chance." I smirk. "Who's the boss now?"
She glares at me, folding her arms. "Whatever. Let's go eat before it gets cold."
"Just one more round."
Chioma nods, heading out, and I roll my neck, preparing for **Round Three**.
Our fingers are ready on the buttons, eyes locked on the screen when the door flies open, slamming against the wall. I freeze, glancing over. It's Mr. Zhang, one of my favorite security guards, panting, his shirt soaked in sweat.
"Mr. Zhang?" Chioma's voice cuts through the room. "What's going on? Why are you running?"
He doesn't answer right away, struggling to catch his breath. His face is pale, his chest heaving. Chioma walks over, instructing him to breathe slowly.
After what feels like an eternity, he manages to speak. "Sir... ma'am... there are seven robots outside the door. One of them... half human, half robot. They're demanding to see you."
I stand immediately, my heart skipping a beat. "Robots? Here?"
"They're armed... one of them says he needs to speak to you directly."
I set down the controller and glance at Jennifer. "Stay here." Chioma and I head for the living room, tension thick in the air.
As soon as we reach the front of the mansion, I stop dead in my tracks. There, standing in the doorway, cloaked in a massive brown blanket, is Zack Hughson—my old science teacher from secondary school. His once-familiar face is partially hidden, but there's no mistaking him.
"Zack? What—what are you doing here?" I ask, extending my hand, trying to piece together what's happening.
He ignores my handshake, his eyes hard. "We need to talk. Now."
Chioma steps forward, puzzled. "Who is this?"
I hesitate, still trying to process it all. "He was my teacher... I met him again at Oxford." I turn back to Zack. "But why now? Why here?"
He looks over at Chioma. "Can your fiancée give us a moment? This is between us."
Chioma frowns but turns to me. "Don't take too long."
"I won't." I watch her leave, as I turn to Zack, I see a towering, armored robot with a powerful, heroic presence. He has a metallic body with detailed, complex mechanical parts, predominantly in shades of blue, red, and silver. Zack's build is muscular, with broad shoulders, sturdy arms, and a chiseled torso. His mechanical chest plate is adorned with red and blue armor, featuring intricate patterns and metallic grooves that emphasize its strength and durability. Zack left side is purely mechanical, with a sleek, angular design and glowing blue eyes that add an intimidating glow.
On the right side of Zack's face, his metal gives way to a human face. The transition between metal and skin is seamless, as if the human and robotic halves are fused together naturally. The human side has a strong jawline, with a rugged, battle-hardened look. The skin is weathered, contrasting against the cold metal of the left side, and the human eye holds a piercing, determined gaze. This fusion of flesh and metal creates a character that feels both formidable and relatable, blending the precision of a machine with the resilience of a human.
"What happened to you?" I ask, the words slipping out before I can stop them. There's a heavy weight in my chest, a mix of fear and confusion. I don't recognize this man—this thing—standing in front of me.
Zack doesn't answer right away. Instead, he gestures to the chairs. "Let's sit. We need to talk."
Reluctantly, I follow. His movements are deliberate, mechanical, the sound of his footsteps clanging against the floor in a way that seems to echo too loudly in the stillness of the room. I can't shake the feeling that something terrible is coming.
Minutes into the conversation, I feel the blood drain from my face.
"Are you insane, Zack?" I nearly choke on the words. "You want me to build a machine... something that could destroy all of New York?"
His expression doesn't change, but his voice drops, colder now. "Exactly. You're the only one who can do it, Sam. The best mechanical engineer I know. If anyone can pull this off, it's you."
I shake my head, heart pounding in my chest. "I won't. I can't be part of this... this madness. It's wrong."
He leans forward, the sound of servos whirring softly. "I lost everything, Samuel. My life, my wife... everything I ever cared about. This is the only way I can make him suffer the way I have."
I swallow hard, torn between the friendship we once had and the monster sitting in front of me. "That doesn't make it right," I say quietly. "I won't help you. I can't."
His mechanical fingers flex, the metal groaning softly as his fists clench. "Very well," he says, standing abruptly. His steps are heavy, each one punctuating the finality of his words. As he reaches the door, he turns back to face me, his human eye narrowing. "Watch carefully, Sam. You'll see soon enough. One way or another, you'll do exactly what I need."
Then, he's gone. The door slams behind him, leaving a strange, hollow silence in the room. My stomach twists in knots as I glance out the window, just in time to see Zack's gang, clad in black, gathering near a massive ship—something out of a nightmare. The engines roar to life as they ascend into the night sky.
"What the hell..." I murmur under my breath, watching in disbelief as the ship disappears into the clouds. His words replay in my mind, their ominous weight settling deep in my bones.
TWO DAYS LATER
ZACK
The school gates creak as I step through, my movements deliberate and unhurried. I see Jennifer from across the playground. She doesn't see me at first, not until it's too late. The terror in her eyes when I grab her sends a ripple of satisfaction through me.
Next, I'm at the office building, Sam's fiancée just stepping out for her lunch break. She barely has time to scream before I pull her into the waiting car.
Hours later, I call Samuel.
"Hello?" His voice is tense, confused. He doesn't recognize the number.
"Samuel," I say, keeping my tone flat. "Do you remember me?"
"Who is this?"
"The man whose offer you rejected." I let the silence linger for a beat, then, with a cold satisfaction, I bring the phone closer to their screams. Jennifer's cries cut through the speaker, sharp and desperate.
"What the hell did you do, Zack?" Sam's voice breaks, panic rising.
"What I had to. Your family is feeling the pain now, Sam. The same pain I felt when you turned your back on me. Meet me at Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue in Victoria Island. Come alone."
I hang up before he can say another word, the sound of their suffering still echoing in my ears.
To be continued...