CHAPTER 35

Adrenaline pushed Ikedi’s feet forward as his eyes ached to see the face of Ada again. He knew what to say, he wouldn’t sugarcoat anything. He would spill out everything upfront. He would be blunt and would tell her the bitter truth.

The girls seemed to be arguing when he walked into the yellow room, and until Dike hurried and curled around his feet, they didn’t recognize his presence.

“Ike,” Ada exclaimed and hurried into his open arms.

He held her tightly that her body ironed its print on his. She fitted into his arms. The smell of her body making him reconsider what he was about to say. Maybe he should not say it, maybe he should find some other excuse to give.

“I thought you were dead,” Ada whispered and peeled away from him. “What happened?”

Don’t say it, a voice said, but Ikedi shook it off.

“We must hurry, Ada,” Ikedi said and stepped back “we must get back to Alaocha.”