HAUNTING SHADOWS

Chapter 2 : Bokka's return

As Bokka emerged from the prison's imposing gates, a mixture of emotions swirled around him like a maelstrom. The warm sunlight and fresh air enveloped him, a stark contrast to the bleak, suffocating confines he had left behind. Elias and Joshua, their faces etched with forced smiles, approached him with a sense of obligation rather than genuine enthusiasm.

"Hey, Bokka! You're finally free!" Joshua exclaimed, his voice laced with a hint of insincerity as he wrapped Bokka in a perfunctory hug.

Elias, on the other hand, offered a stiff, formal handshake, his smile strained and unconvincing. "Good to see you, Bokka. Congratulations on your release."

Bokka's gaze swept the surrounding area, his eyes narrowing as he searched for familiar faces, his mind racing with questions. "Where are the others? I thought they'd be here to welcome me back."

Joshua shrugged, his expression nonchalant. "School just started, and we haven't had a chance to tell them about your release yet."

Bokka's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his voice tinged with a hint of incredulity. "You guys are already in university? You're really moving up in the world, aren't you?"

Elias chuckled dryly, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm. "Apparently, we are."

Elias's curiosity got the better of him, his eyes locked onto Bokka's. "So, how did you manage to get out so quickly? I thought you were in for 20 years, at least."

Bokka's tone turned skeptical, his voice dripping with doubt. "I was a model prisoner, and my lawyer worked magic, huh? That's quite a feat."

Bokka's added, his response was curt, his expression unreadable. "Let's just say I had good representation."

Elias and Joshua exchanged a weighted glance, their true feelings about Bokka's freedom masked behind a veneer of civility, their unease and discomfort palpable.

"Anyway, let's get out of here," Joshua said, his voice tinged with a hint of urgency, gesturing toward the car.

As they slid into the vehicle, the tension was palpable, a sense of unease settling over the trio like a shroud, the air thick with unspoken words and unresolved issues.

They later settled into Club D-One, the conversation flowed like a slow-burning fire, with Bokka inquiring about the gang's status. Elias and Joshua deftly sidestepped the questions, their evasive maneuvers palpable.

"Let's talk about you first," Joshua forced a smile, attempting to steer the conversation toward safer waters.

Bokka snorted, his tone laced with sarcasm. "There's nothing to talk about. I've already wasted five years of my life. People my age already have kids running around."

As the discussion continued, Ahmed and Collin suddenly appeared, their presence drawing Bokka's attention. "Zanite!" Bokka called out, using the abbreviation of Ahmed's nickname, Tanzanite, a moniker reserved for his illicit activities.

Elias shot Bokka a warning glance. "Please, not here. We don't want to draw attention."

Ahmed's eyes scanned the room, searching for the source of the familiar nickname. As he turned, his gaze locked onto Bokka, and his expression transformed from curiosity to shock.

"Bokka?" Ahmed's voice trembled, his eyes wide with disbelief.

The two men embraced, their reunion palpable. "When did you get out?" Ahmed asked, his voice laced with excitement.

"Today," Bokka replied, his tone casual. "So, how's life been treating you?"

Ahmed's smile faltered, his eyes darting toward Elias and Joshua. "It's been...interesting. We've all been laying low since...you know."

Ahmed's gaze narrowed, sensing the unspoken tension. "Anyway, Have you called Alice and Amaka yet?"

Bokka's nodded, eager to shift the conversation. "Yeah, but Diamond's number is dead."

Meanwhile, Amaka, known to her gang as Diamond, sat at the dinner table, surrounded by the opulent trappings of her family's wealth. Yet, the atmosphere was heavy with unspoken tensions, the silence between them a palpable force. Mr. Theophilus, her father, attempted to break the ice, his voice laced with a mix of concern and frustration.

"Your mother mentioned you skipped school today, Amaka," he said, his eyes searching for a glimmer of explanation.

Amaka's response was terse, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm exceling academically. No need to worry."

Mr. Theophilus's expression turned skeptical, his tone firm but measured. "That's not an answer. We need to discuss this."

Amaka's gaze locked onto her father's, her eyes flashing with defiance, but she remained silent, her jaw set in a stubborn line. The air seemed to vibrate with her unspoken resentment.

Mrs. Amarachi, sensing the escalating tension, intervened, her voice smooth as silk. "Amaka was simply indisposed today, dear. No need to drag the issue."

Amaka's glare lingered on her father, her expression a mask of indifference, before she turned back to her meal, the silence between them growing thicker, like a living entity.

The dinner table, once a symbol of warmth and connection, now felt like a battleground. Mr. Theophilus's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with concerns about his daughter's behavior.

"Amaka, we need to talk about this your rude character," he pressed on, his voice firm but laced with a hint of desperation.

Amaka's gaze flickered, her eyes flashing with a sarcasm. "Rude?" she chuckled, her voice dripping with indifference.

Mrs. Amarachi's hands fluttered, a nervous gesture. "Let's not quarrel, dear. We're just worried about you."

Amaka's laughter was a cold, mirthless sound. "Worried? You've never been worried about me. You've only ever cared about your reputation and your wealth."

The family's gaze lingered on each other, the tension palpable, as Amaka abruptly stood up and walked out of the dining room, leaving her unfinished meal behind. The silence that followed was oppressive, heavy with unspoken words.

In her room, Amaka's eyes widened as she saw the missed calls on her phone screen from an unknown number. Her curiosity piqued, she tried calling the number back.

"Hey, Diamond. I'm out," a low, gravelly voice said, sending a shiver down Amaka's spine.

She paused, her mind racing. Who knew her by that name, besides the gang that had long been disbanded? and she had assumed those days were behind her.

"Who is this?" Amaka asked, trying to keep her tone neutral, but her curiosity getting the better of her.

"Is me, Bokka," the voice replied, sending a jolt of surprise through Amaka's body.

She was taken aback, her mind reeling with questions. Bokka, the one person she had thought was out of her life for good. What did he want? And how did he get out of prison? after all these years?