The hallway was silent.
Akinyi's breath was uneven, her wide eyes locked onto Ochieng's. His grip on her wrist wasn't painful, but it was firm—unyielding.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she said:
"You're dangerous."
Ochieng didn't react. He simply released her wrist and took a step back.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said calmly.
Akinyi didn't move. She studied him, her sharp gaze filled with curiosity and something else—doubt.
"No," she said. "You do know."
Ochieng remained silent.
This was a problem.
For years, he had mastered the art of staying hidden. Even when he was humiliated, even when he was mocked, he never retaliated—not because he couldn't, but because he chose not to.
And yet…
This girl saw through him.
She had noticed what others didn't.
Ochieng didn't believe in coincidences.
Which meant… she had been watching him.
---
Ochieng exhaled slowly, his posture relaxed—but his mind was already working through multiple scenarios.
If Akinyi had truly noticed something off about him, he had two options:
1. Deny everything and make her doubt herself.
2. Give her a warning and make her back off.
The first option was safer. But the second… was more effective.
Ochieng took a step forward, his voice low.
"Akinyi."
She tensed.
His tone wasn't threatening. But there was something in it—an undeniable weight.
"You think you saw something," he continued, "but be careful."
Akinyi swallowed.
Ochieng's eyes were calm, but they held something dangerous—a storm that hadn't yet been unleashed.
"I'm not your enemy," he said softly. "But if you keep digging where you shouldn't… you might not like what you find."
Silence.
Akinyi clenched her fists. "Are you threatening me?"
Ochieng gave her a faint smile. "No."
Then he walked past her.
But as he did, he heard her whisper:
"You're not ordinary, Ochieng. And I'm going to find out why."
Ochieng didn't stop.
He didn't need to.
Because deep down, he knew—this was only the beginning.
---