Ada's heart raced as she followed Daniel through the narrow corridors of the crumbling building. The urgency in his movements left little room for questions, and her mind was still reeling from the truth he had revealed. Her father, the man she had once thought was simply lost to time, had been entangled in a world far darker than she could have ever imagined. And now, that world was closing in on her.
"Where are we going?" Ada asked, her voice barely a whisper, the silence pressing down on them from all sides.
Daniel's eyes flickered back at her, his expression taut. "We need to get to a safe place. Somewhere they won't think to look."
"A safe place?" Ada repeated incredulously. "You mean to tell me there's such a place after everything that's happened?"
Daniel didn't answer. He just pushed forward, his pace quickening. Ada's frustration boiled over, and she grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop.
"Stop running, Daniel!" she said, her voice shaking with a mix of fear and anger. "I need answers. I need to know everything."
Daniel stared at her, his face conflicted, torn between the desire to protect her and the knowledge that revealing more could put her in even greater danger. His eyes softened for a moment before hardening again.
"You don't understand, Ada," he said quietly. "The more you know, the less safe you'll be. You have no idea what you're involved in. Your father was playing a game that's bigger than both of us. And now, they're coming after you."
Ada's mind raced. Every new piece of information she uncovered only led to more questions. But it was the pain in Daniel's eyes—the guilt that seemed to weigh him down—that made her hesitate. He wasn't just trying to protect her; he was trying to protect himself as well.
"I don't care about the danger, Daniel," she said, her voice firm. "I've already lost too much. I need to know what's going on."
For a moment, Daniel didn't speak. The seconds ticked by, the tension in the air nearly suffocating them both. Finally, he exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping slightly as if the weight of the world had pressed down on him.
"Alright," he said, his voice resigned. "You want the truth? You're the key to stopping everything. Your father's involvement in this… it wasn't just about keeping secrets. It was about keeping something from being unleashed. And you've been a part of it all along."
Ada's stomach twisted. "What do you mean, 'something to be unleashed'?"
Daniel's eyes flickered with regret. "I can't explain everything right now, but there's a document—something your father kept hidden. It's in a safe place, and once it's found, it could change everything. But whoever gets their hands on it will have the power to destroy everything we know."
Ada's mind was spinning. "And you think I'm the only one who can stop it?"
Daniel nodded. "Because you're the one who has the key. Your father left clues behind for you, things only you can understand. It's the only way to prevent this from going too far."
The words felt like a heavy punch to her gut. She had thought she was just a victim in all of this, someone swept up in a dangerous web that she had no control over. But now, she was the one who could decide the outcome. She was the one who held the fate of everything in her hands.
But it wasn't that simple. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that her father had hidden something from her. Something important, but also something dangerous. And now, it was her responsibility to find it and protect it.
Daniel's voice interrupted her thoughts. "We can't waste any more time. They're already looking for you. We need to go, now."
Ada nodded, forcing herself to focus. There was no time for hesitation. Not anymore.
They moved quickly through the darkened streets of Lagos, avoiding the main roads and sticking to alleyways where they could keep a low profile. The city felt different now—like a jungle, filled with hidden dangers that lurked in every corner. Ada's eyes darted nervously, every sound making her jump. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
As they turned a corner, a sleek black car pulled up beside them. Ada's heart skipped a beat. She didn't know who was inside, but she could feel the danger radiating from the vehicle.
"Get in," Daniel said urgently, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the car.
Before she could protest, the door opened, and a man in a suit stepped out. His face was cold, unreadable, and his eyes locked onto Ada with an intensity that made her blood run cold.
"Don't worry," the man said in a calm, almost soothing voice. "We're here to help you."
Ada recoiled instinctively, her breath catching in her throat. She didn't trust him. She didn't trust anyone anymore.
But Daniel's expression told her otherwise. "We have no choice, Ada," he said softly. "They're the only ones who can protect you now."
Reluctantly, Ada stepped into the car, her heart pounding in her chest. As soon as the door closed, the man in the suit turned to her, his gaze unwavering.
"You don't know who we are," he said, "but we've been watching you. We know everything about your father's work. And we know you're the key to stopping what's coming."
Ada's mind was reeling. "Who are you?"
The man's lips curved into a thin smile. "We're the ones who can help you finish what your father started."
Before Ada could ask another question, the car sped off into the night, the city lights blurring past her.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Ada wasn't sure who to trust anymore. All she knew was that the journey she had begun was far from over. In fact, it had only just begun.