By His Grace

Chapter 2: Efosa's First Act of Rebellion

One thing loveable about the sun, hung high in the sky, is that it keeps casting a harsh glare on the cracked pavement of the neighborhood. Efosa paced the streets, his hands stuffed deep in his pockets, restless energy coursing through him. He could feel the tension simmering beneath the surface of his daily routine, the walls of their life pressing in around him, and today it was especially suffocating.

As he rounded the corner onto Ugbowo Street, the familiar sounds of the neighborhood surrounded him. There were obviously children laughing, dogs barking and the distant hum of a lawnmower. But there was something different in the air today, a heaviness that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

He paused, catching sight of a group of men gathered in a half-circle, their laughter mingling with shouts that echoed down the street. Efosa's heart raced as he recognized the gang—the notorious enforcers of Mr. Ojaga. Fear churned in his stomach, but it was quickly overtaken by a surge of anger as he pushed through the crowd that had gathered to witness the scene unfolding.

In the center of the group stood a young man named Luis, someone Efosa had grown up with, someone who had always been a friend, but today was a target. The gang members towered over him, their faces twisted into cruel smiles. Efosa could see the fear in Luis's eyes as he cowered, hands raised in a futile gesture of surrender. Their conversations would rattle with a mix of the native English and the colloquial dialect.

"Abeg, show mercy!" (Please, have mercy) Luis pleaded in the local pidgin English, his voice trembling.

Efosa's fists clenched at his sides. He had watched too many times as Ojaga's men tormented their neighbors, but this was different—this was particularly personal.

"Hey!" Efosa shouted, stepping forward, his voice cutting through the laughter and jeering. The gang members turned, surprised to see him there, a mixture of confusion and amusement crossing their faces.

"Weytin carry you come here? You dey ment?" one of them sneered, a hulking figure named Makinwa who had a reputation for brutality.

"Leave him alone," Efosa said, his voice steadier than he felt. "He hasn't done anything to you."

"Or what?" Makinwa stepped closer, towering over Efosa, the sun glinting off the tattoos snaking up his arms towards the bald eagle tattoo on the neck. "You'll stop us?"

"Yeah, maybe I will!" Efosa shouted, feeling the fire ignite within him. "You can't just bully everyone around here. This is our home!"

A ripple of surprise passed through the crowd, and for a brief moment, time seemed to freeze. Efosa stood his ground, heart pounding, defiance radiating from him like heat. The other gang members laughed, but it was a hollow sound, revealing their discomfort with Efosa's unexpected challenge.

Luis, still trembling, cast a fearful glance at Efosa, but it was too late for retreat. The moment had passed, and Efosa felt his anger surge.

"Get out of here, before I make you," he added, his voice low and fierce.

Makinwa took a step forward, the amusement fading from his expression. "You think you're a tough guy? You're just a kid playing hero," he spat, and the other gang members encircled Efosa, inching closer.

Without thinking, Efosa lunged forward, pushing Luis behind him, adrenaline fueling his actions. "I said back off!"

In that instant, chaos erupted. Makinwa's fist shot out, catching Efosa in the gut and sending him staggering backward. The crowd gasped, but as Efosa hit the ground, the fire within him only burned brighter.

He scrambled to his feet, fists raised, refusing to back down even as the gang members advanced. "You want to fight?" he yelled, the sound raw and defiant. "You'll have to fight me first!"

Before Makinwa could react, Efosa swung wildly, catching the big man off-guard. The punch landed, but it was no match for the strength of a trained enforcer. Makinwa retaliated, grabbing Efosa by the collar and throwing him against the side of a nearby building. Pain radiated through Efosa's body, but he didn't falter. Instead, he charged again, fueled by rage and desperation.

But just as the situation escalated, a voice broke through the chaos. "Efosa, stop!"

It was Omozusi, rushing through the crowd, eyes wide with alarm. He pushed his way to Efosa's side, urgency etched into his features. "What are you doing? You can't just pick a fight with them!"

Efosa shot his brother a desperate look, breathless with a mixture of fear and adrenaline. "I can't let them hurt him! Someone has to stand up to them!"

"You don't understand what you're doing!" Omozusi shouted back, grabbing Efosa by the shoulders. "You think this will help? It'll only make things worse. You just dey provoke Ojaga!"

Before Efosa could respond, Makinwa regained his composure, his eyes narrowing. "You're going to pay for this, kid," he hissed, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

And with that, the gang dispersed, leaving Efosa and Omozusi standing in the aftermath. The crowd began to thin, murmurs of disbelief and concern rippling through the neighbors who had witnessed the altercation.

Lydia appeared next, her face pale as she rushed to her sons. "What happened? Are you hurt?" She swept her eyes over Efosa, searching for signs of injury.

"I am fine, Mom," Efosa said, though his heart raced with the realization of what he had done. He had stepped into the line of fire, and now they were all in danger.

"Efosa, you have to think," Uyi said as he arrived, his expression grave. "Do you realize what you just did? You can't challenge those men. They work for Ojaga!"

"I don't care!" Efosa shouted, anger and fear flooding his voice. "Someone has to do something! We no fit live like this!"

"Living like this means staying alive," Uyi replied, his tone low but filled with urgency. "You have no idea what they're capable of. You've put our entire family at risk."

Efosa's bravado began to fade, replaced by a gnawing sense of dread. He had acted on impulse, but now the reality of their situation crashed down on him like a tidal wave. The fear that had simmered under the surface was now palpable, twisting through his stomach.

Omozusi placed a hand on Efosa's shoulder, his expression softer now, but the worry remained. "You can't fight them, Efosa. We need to find another way."

Efosa's shoulders sagged as he realized the truth in his brother's words. He had sought justice, but in his quest, he had only succeeded in stirring a hornet's nest. The quiet fear of living under Mr. Ojaga's shadow, especially by his grace, was now a reality they would all have to face.

As they stood together, Efosa felt the weight of his impulsive decision loom over them, a dark cloud that threatened to swallow their family whole. The rebellion he had ignited now came with a price, and he could only hope it wouldn't cost them everything.

Yaay! It's just Chapter 2 and it's getting wicked! Please like, share, comment and enjoy.