The wind roared past Ochieng's ears as he pushed the motorcycle to its limits. The three black SUVs behind him were relentless, their headlights burning through the darkness like hunting wolves.
Naima tightened her grip around his waist, her heart hammering in her chest. "Ochieng, they're still coming!"
He didn't answer. His mind was focused on every turn, every second. One wrong move meant death.
The first SUV attempted to cut him off, veering sharply to the right. Ochieng responded instantly, skidding the bike at an angle so sharp that the rear wheel nearly kissed the pavement. Sparks flew as he corrected the motion and shot forward, dodging a row of market stalls that stood in their path.
Behind them—
CRASH!
The SUV that tried to block them collided with a street pole, the impact sending a shower of glass and metal into the air.
But the other two vehicles were still in pursuit.
"We can't outrun them forever!" Naima cried, her voice barely audible over the roar of the engine.
Ochieng knew she was right.
That's why he had another plan.
---
The bridge ahead loomed closer. It was old, half-broken, a relic of a time when this part of the city still mattered. Most of the middle section had collapsed long ago, leaving only a gaping void between the two ends.
A dead end.
At least, that's what Kairo's men thought.
Ochieng's fingers tightened on the throttle. His pulse slowed, his mind clearing as the plan formed in his head.
"Hold on tight," he said.
Before Naima could even protest, Ochieng gunned the engine—
And jumped.
For a moment, they were weightless.
The bike soared into the night air, clearing the broken section by mere inches. Below them, the dark abyss yawned, ready to swallow them whole.
Naima's scream was lost in the rush of wind.
And then—
They landed.
The impact jolted through their bodies as the bike's tires hit the other side. Ochieng fought to keep control, the motorcycle skidding wildly before finally straightening out.
Behind them, the last SUV wasn't so lucky.
The driver hesitated—a second too late.
The vehicle plunged off the bridge, flipping end over end before vanishing into the darkness below.
Silence followed.
Only the distant sound of sirens remained.
Naima gasped for breath. "Did we just…?"
Ochieng smirked, eyes locked ahead. "Yeah. We did."
But he wasn't celebrating.
They had escaped the chase.
But the real danger was only beginning.
---
Ochieng guided the motorcycle into the abandoned district.
The buildings here were skeletons of their former selves—crumbling, forgotten, drenched in shadows. Neon signs flickered weakly, casting eerie glows on cracked pavement.
It was a place where secrets hid.
A place where men disappeared.
Naima shivered. "Why did we come here?"
Ochieng slowed the bike to a stop in front of an old warehouse. The structure loomed over them, its rusted doors slightly ajar.
"Because," he said, "this is where we find out the truth."
Naima frowned. "What truth?"
Before he could answer, the warehouse doors creaked open wider—
And figures stepped out from the darkness.
Tall men, dressed in black.
Armed.
Waiting.
Naima's breath caught. They weren't alone.
And Ochieng?
He didn't look surprised.
He had planned for this all along.
---
A slow clap echoed through the empty streets.
From the darkness, a man stepped forward. His face was sharp, predatory, his smile cold.
"Ochieng," the man drawled. "I knew you'd come."
Ochieng stepped off the bike, his movements calm. Controlled. "And I knew you'd be waiting, Malik."
Malik's grin widened. "Always two steps ahead, aren't you?"
Ochieng didn't respond. His eyes flicked to the armed men surrounding them.
Naima grabbed his arm. "Ochieng, what is this?"
He exhaled.
"The people who really run this city."
Naima's stomach twisted.
She had thought Kairo's men were the worst of it.
She was wrong.
Because the men in front of them?
They were the real power.
And Ochieng had just walked straight into their den.
---
Malik stepped closer, hands in his pockets. "You took something that doesn't belong to you, Ochieng."
Ochieng smirked. "Funny. I was about to say the same to you."
Malik's expression darkened. "You don't know what you're playing with."
Ochieng shrugged. "Then why don't you tell me?"
Malik sighed, shaking his head. "You always were stubborn."
Then—his hand moved.
A signal.
The armed men raised their guns.
Naima tensed.
Ochieng didn't move. Not yet.
Because he knew something Malik didn't.
The real game hadn't even begun.
---