Ada's mind raced as the car sped through the streets of Lagos, her eyes glued to the tinted windows that obscured the world outside. The city passed by in a blur of neon lights and shadows, but inside the car, the air was thick with tension. She sat in the back seat, her thoughts swirling around everything that had happened in the past few days. Daniel's revelations, the mysterious people who were now claiming to help her, and the growing realization that her life was no longer her own—it was all too much.
The man in the front seat, who hadn't introduced himself, was completely silent. His face remained a blank mask, his attention fixed on the road. Ada couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that there were eyes on them from every angle. She leaned back in her seat, trying to steady her breath, but her hands were trembling.
"Where are we going?" she asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was shaky, but she couldn't keep the question inside any longer. She needed to understand what was happening.
The man in the front seat finally turned his head, his eyes briefly meeting hers in the rearview mirror. There was something unreadable in his gaze—something cold, distant. "To a safe house," he replied. His voice was smooth, almost too smooth, as though rehearsed. "It's better if you don't know exactly where."
Ada frowned. "Safe house? From who?"
He didn't respond immediately, his gaze flicking back to the road ahead. "From the people who want you dead."
The words hit her like a punch to the stomach. "Dead?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. She had always known there were dangers out there, but she hadn't understood how far it had gone. Her father's disappearance had been just the beginning, and now, it seemed, she was caught in the middle of something far darker than she could ever have imagined.
"Why me?" Ada's voice cracked as she asked the question that had been eating away at her. "What's so special about me?"
The man finally spoke again, his voice steady but filled with something ominous. "You're the key to everything, Ada. Your father hid something—something important—and you're the only one who can find it."
Ada's chest tightened. "What is it? What did he hide?"
The man's lips curled into a thin smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You'll find out soon enough. Just know that your life will never be the same again once you do."
Ada wanted to scream, to demand more answers, but she held herself back. She knew that screaming at him wouldn't change anything. He wasn't going to tell her more, not now. Her only option was to follow him, to trust that somehow, this path would lead her to the truth.
The car took a sharp turn, and Ada's stomach lurched. She had no idea where they were anymore, the city's familiar landmarks now gone, replaced by unfamiliar streets. The man pulled the car into a narrow driveway, stopping in front of a sleek, modern building that seemed completely out of place in the gritty, bustling city.
"This is it," the man said, opening the door. "Get out."
Ada hesitated for a moment before following him. She couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as she stepped out of the car and onto the cold pavement. The building loomed over her, its sleek, glass exterior reflecting the harsh light of the city. It looked like a fortress, designed to keep people out, not let them in.
The man led her through the building's entrance, and Ada couldn't help but feel like she was walking deeper into a trap. The interior was just as sterile and imposing as the outside—cold, metallic walls, polished floors, and sharp angles that gave the place a clinical, impersonal feel. She followed him down a long hallway, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the silence.
They stopped in front of a door, and the man turned to her, his expression unreadable. "This is where you'll stay," he said. "We'll bring you food and everything you need, but for now, you're to stay inside. Understand?"
Ada's mind was spinning, but she nodded, not trusting herself to speak. The man unlocked the door, revealing a small, sparse room. It was nothing more than a bed, a desk, and a single window that offered a view of the city's skyline.
"Stay here. We'll contact you when we need you," he said, his voice final. Without another word, he turned and left, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
Ada stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door, her heart pounding in her chest. She had no idea what was happening, but she knew one thing: she couldn't stay in this room forever. She couldn't let herself become a prisoner to whatever this was.
Taking a deep breath, Ada crossed the room to the window and peered outside. The city was alive, the streets bustling with the usual chaos, but it felt distant, like she was no longer a part of it. She had been dragged into something far beyond her understanding, and now, there was no turning back.
As she turned away from the window, her eyes landed on the small desk. There was a folder sitting there, half-hidden beneath a stack of papers. She hesitated for only a moment before walking over to it. As she opened the folder, her fingers trembling, her breath caught in her throat.
Inside was a photograph—one she recognized immediately. It was a picture of her father, younger than she remembered, standing next to a man Ada didn't know. They were both smiling, their arms around each other like old friends. But what caught Ada's attention was the man's eyes. There was something dark and calculating about them, something that sent a chill down her spine.
On the back of the photo, in her father's familiar handwriting, were two words:
"Trust no one."
Ada's blood ran cold. Her father had known. He had known that this day would come, that she would be dragged into this world of secrets and lies. And now, all she could do was follow the trail he had left behind.
But could she trust anyone, even now?
The answer seemed clear as the photograph slipped from her fingers, falling to the floor with a soft thud.
No. Not anymore.