I Not Leaving.

Mark hesitated, his gaze flicking to Anushka before he spoke. "I… I don't remember everything. There are gaps in my memory. But I know I was in danger, and Dr. Otim helped me. He kept me safe."

The room fell silent at the mention of Otim. Jacqueline's eyes narrowed, her voice sharp. "Otim? The same Otim who—"

"Yes," Mark interrupted, his tone firm. "He's not the enemy. He saved my life."

Anushka squeezed his hand, her voice soft but steady. "Otim told me to deliver a message. He said that all of this—the attacks, the danger—is the work of someone named Thomas Pezi."

The name hung in the air, heavy with implication. Dad and Grandpa exchanged a glance, their expressions darkening. "Thomas Pezi," Dad repeated, his voice low. "We know that name."

Mark's brow furrowed, his confusion evident. "Who is he? Why does he want to hurt us?"

Grandpa leaned forward, his tone grave. "That's a long story, Mark. One we'll need to tell you when you're ready. For now, the important thing is that you're home."

Mark nodded, though it was clear he wasn't satisfied with the answer. He glanced at Anushka, his grip on her hand tightening. His thumb brushed against hers again, a silent reassurance that he wasn't alone.

As the evening wore on, the family began to retreat to their rooms, the emotional weight of the day finally catching up to them. Mark reluctantly let go of Anushka's hand, his fingers lingering for a moment as if reluctant to break the connection. "I'm going for a quick shower," he said softly, his eyes searching hers. "I'll be back soon."

Anushka nodded, her heart aching at the uncertainty in his gaze. "Take your time, Mark. You've been through a lot."

He hesitated, as if he wanted to say more, but then he simply nodded and followed the others upstairs. Anushka stayed behind with Dad and Grandpa, the three of them settling into the quiet of the living room.

Dad was the first to speak, his tone serious but gentle. "Anushka, we need to know everything. How did you find Mark?"

Anushka took a deep breath, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "Otim called me," she said, her voice steady despite the tension in the room. "He told me Mark was safe and asked me to meet him. He said that all of this—the attacks, the danger—is the work of someone named Thomas Pezi."

Dad and Grandpa exchanged a glance, their expressions darkening at the mention of Pezi. "Did Otim say anything else?" Grandpa asked, his voice gruff but filled with urgency.

Anushka nodded. "He gave me his new contact information. He said we could reach out to him if we needed to."

Dad leaned forward, his hands steepled in front of him. "This is bigger than we thought. If Pezi is involved, we need to be careful. Anushka, you're already deeply involved in this. It's not safe for you to be on your own anymore."

Grandpa nodded in agreement. "He's right. You should move in here, at least for now. We can protect you better if you're under this roof."

Anushka hesitated, her mind racing. She hadn't expected this, but she knew they were right. If Pezi was as dangerous as they seemed to think, she couldn't afford to take any chances. "Alright," she said finally. "I'll move in. But we need to figure out what to do next."

Before they could continue, the front door opened, and Jerry walked in, his arm slung casually around my shoulders. He was the one who always dropped me off and picked me up from school "Hey, everyone," Jerry said, his usual cheerful tone cutting through the tension in the room. "We're home!"

I immediately noticed the serious expressions on Dad, Grandpa, and Anushka's faces. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice tinged with curiosity and concern.

Before anyone could answer, Mark appeared at the top of the stairs, his presence commanding the room. He descended slowly, his eyes locking onto me and Jerry. For a moment, no one spoke, the shock of seeing Mark rendering us speechless.

Then, Mark's lips curved into a small smile, and he called out, "Baby sis."

My eyes widened, my breath catching in my throat. "Mark?" I whispered, my voice trembling. I took a step forward, my heart pounding in my chest. "Is it really you?"

Mark nodded, his smile widening. "It's me, Dorcas. I'm home."

I didn't hesitate. I ran to him, throwing my arms around him in a tight hug. "I missed you so much," I sobbed, my tears soaking into his shirt. "I thought… I thought we'd lost you."

Mark hugged me back, his voice gentle but firm. "I'm here, baby sis. I'm not going anywhere."

Jerry stood frozen in the doorway, his usual bravado replaced by stunned silence. "Mark," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're really back."

Mark looked up, his gaze meeting Jerry's. "Yeah, I'm back. And I'm not leaving again."

The room fell silent, the weight of the moment settling over them. Anushka watched from the sidelines, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions. She was relieved to see Mark reunited with his family, but the danger they were all in still loomed large.

Dad broke the silence, his tone firm but gentle. "We need to talk. All of us. This isn't over yet."

Grandpa nodded, his expression grim. "He's right. We need to figure out our next move. But for now, let's just be glad Mark's home."