Daniel and Amina sat at a corner table at a cafe that wasn't very bright. They spoke in low tones, as if the walls could hear them. The stakes were higher than they had ever been. If they wanted to have any chance against the military's power, their little group of friends had to increase.
Amina's eyes moved quickly across a list of names on her phone. "We have two ex-soldiers who are eager to talk. One is from the special forces. They're terrified, but they're not thrilled with way things have been handled. They know how far this goes.
Daniel ran his fingers through his hair, showing how upset he was. "Fear is not what we need. We need people who are willing to fight.
Amina said, "I know." "But we do what we can first. We locate someone who will talk if they won't. "It's not just about us anymore; it's about everyone who's been hurt by this system."
Daniel remarked in a quiet voice, "I'll talk to Tunde." "He's the one who knows who's willing to go public."
Amina nodded but didn't say anything for a while. She was looking at the door and scanning each face that came in. "Daniel, this is bigger than we thought." We're done if we screw this up. "The military doesn't just shut people up; it kills them."
Daniel leaned closer and added, "Not if we get to the truth first." He stopped. "How far are we willing to go, Amina?"
Outside, the sound of screeching tires made it hard for her to answer. The air felt thicker, and Daniel's stomach felt worse. A automobile came to a sudden stop, and the doors slammed shut.
"Someone's watching," Amina murmured, and her fingers were already reaching for her phone.
Amina sat in her small flat with her fingers lingering over the keyboard. Daniel was next to her, and the weight of their choice was heavy on both of them.
"Are we sure about this?" Daniel asked, his voice tense with worry.
Amina looked him in the eye, her face hard. "We don't have any other options. This is the initial shot if we leak it. "The public will see what has been going on behind closed doors."
She clicked a few buttons to upload some of the evidence they had found. It was enough to get people's attention, but not enough to show everything. The military's shady business has to be made public.
Daniel kept a careful eye on her. "And what happens after this?"
"Then we fight," Amina responded, her voice low but firm. "We face the criticism head-on. But we can't go back now.
The screen flashed with tweets, comments, shares, and other notifications before she could continue. The article had gone viral. The public was responding.
Amina's phone rang. It was a news alert. "Daniel Okoro, a former soldier, is accused of treason." The military says he is a threat to national security.
Daniel's blood froze. The military had already started to tell their side of the story.
Daniel mumbled, "I knew it would come to this." He gazed at Amina with a determined face. "They're going to try to shut us up."
She nodded, and her fingers nervously tapped on the table. "And they won't stop until they do."
It was cold outside, and the wind had increased up by the time Daniel and Amina said goodbye. The streetlights above them flickered, making long shadows as they moved in different directions. The plan was made. The proof was out. But the cost of the truth was going up by the minute.
Daniel's phone vibrated in his pocket. He looked down at the screen and saw that it was an encrypted message from Amina.
"We're not safe anymore." I can sense them looking at me.
His heart raced. He couldn't afford to let her go. Not right now.
A black PEGEOUT with dark windows drew up across the street just as he looked up. The engine buzzed in a scary way, and Daniel's heart raced.
Someone was watching him.
He sped up and walked faster, but he could feel the eyes on him and the automobile following him from a distance. The car turned the bend, and the hairs on the back of his neck sprang up. It seemed like a heavy weight was pushing down on him.
He grabbed for his phone and hurriedly sent Amina a text that said, "Meet me at the old warehouse." We have to talk.
He heard heavy, slow footsteps behind him before he could deliver the message.
Daniel's body got stiff as he turned to look at the street. A tall, broad-shouldered figure came out of the darkness and moved quickly.
The man said, "Daniel Okoro." His voice was low and scary. "We need to talk."
Daniel's eyes got smaller. It was happening faster than he thought it would. He had to act now, or the game would be finished before it ever started.
Daniel leaned against the broken door of his flat and held his phone tightly to his ear. The voice on the other end was low and desperate.
"Hey Daniel, it's Mike. "Listen to me," his old army pal replied, his voice unsteady and fast. "They're coming for you." The purging has begun.
"What purge?" Daniel's stomach sank. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Mike's voice got quieter. "Some high-ranking authorities are already working to permanently silence you. They've put together a special team, a group of expert people who know how to deal with threats like you.
Daniel's heart raced as he tightened his grip on the phone. "Are you sure?"
"More than sure," Mike said. "I've seen the orders. They've been told they can kill you. I don't know how much time you have, but you need to leave. "Don't trust anyone."
"Where are you?" Daniel's voice got harder as he thought about what to do next.
Mike added, "I can't talk for long," and his voice was tight with anxiety. "I barely got away." But they know you're next. You need to go away right now.
Daniel shut his eyes and felt the weight of the situation hit him. His heart was pounding in his chest. He had served this country for years, and now it was turning against him.
Daniel said, "You were my friend, Mike," and the words tasted bad. "I believed in you."
"I trust you now, Daniel." Leave. "Get out now." The queue stopped working.
Daniel's grasp on the phone slipped. The message was plain. They were already looking for him.
The map was spread out on the table between them, and Amina looked at it, taking in every line, route, and option. "We need to be smart about running." We can't let anyone know we're moving. "We need to be unseen."
Daniel's fingers nervously tapped on the table's edge. The walls felt like they were closing in on me. "We need to have a good plan if we're going.
Amina, they won't stop coming for us. "The only way out is to stay ahead."
Amina nodded and bit her lip. "I've talked to some people I know. There is a boat waiting for us in Lagos that will transport us out of the country. But it doesn't always work. "We'll need money, papers, and to stay out of sight."
Daniel scratched his forehead as he felt tiredness creeping into his bones. "We've gone too far to go back now. "Dead men walking" is what we say as soon as we step outside.
She looked him in the eye and spoke without faltering. "We don't have a choice." We have to do this, or they will win.
Daniel took a deep breath and looked towards the door. Hearing footsteps outside made his stomach drop.
He mumbled, "I know, I know." "But as soon as we go public, we become targets." We have to be ready for anything.
Amina's phone buzzed just as she was about to talk again. She looked down at the screen and her face became pale. "It's from a number I don't know."
Daniel stopped moving, his heart thumping. Amina answered the phone.
Her face turned white. "They want to get together. They say they have knowledge, but I have to go by myself.
Daniel got up and shook his head. "No." You can't go by yourself. It's not safe for anyone.
Daniel, I don't have a choice, Amina stated in a strong voice. "We lose our chance if I don't meet them."