Chapter 1 - Falling Shadows

Lower District, New Lagos City…

The ceaseless roar of vehicles reverberated through the thin walls of the apartment, mixing with the faint hum of a holo-screen still running. The sound dragged Tayo out of restless sleep, but not before pain rushed over him like a tidal wave. His head throbbed, his body stiff and aching as though he'd been trampled.

When he opened his eyes, the memories crept in alongside the discomfort. The empty bottle of painkillers within reach on the cluttered table mocked him. He had passed out right here. The smell of stale food and unwashed clothes clung to the small room like a curse, making him grimace.

A flickering video on the holo-screen caught his attention. Someone was performing a death-defying leap off a towering building, activating a jetpack just before hitting the ground. The crowd's collective gasp filled the screen, followed by wild cheers. Two hundred million likes. The boldness, the sheer madness—it was what drew people in.

Tayo's lips twisted into a wry smile. Viral stunts like this were currency in a world obsessed with spectacle, but only for those who could afford the equipment. He, on the other hand, couldn't even afford a decent meal.

The video looped again. He leaned forward, groaning as his body protested, and tapped the "next" button. A pop-up appeared immediately:

You have exhausted your internet quota for the month. Renew your subscription to continue.

His head thudded against the table, sending a fresh jolt of pain through him. He froze, groaning in frustration as the events of the day before came rushing back to torment him.

In this state, he was reminded of his pain and how it came to be…

…

…

"Tayo-Tayo. Naso e be?" a hulking man asked, his tone mocking. ['Is that how it is?"]

He had been grabbed off the street on his way home, and now he was kneeling in an alley, surrounded by mean-looking people. The alley reeked of stale air and damp garbage.

"Haffa, why you no drop anything? You talk say you go pay the money by Wednesday, last week," the hulking man in the middle of the group asked, his tone almost playful. ['What's up? Why didn't you pay? You said you'd settle the money by last week's Wednesday."]

Tayo stammered, "I—I'm sorry. The payment I was hoping—"

"Hiss… I don tell you, no dey try this Oyibo thing with me. We dey talk, you dey talk larubawa." The hulking man interrupted with a frown. ['Tch… I've told you, don't try this foreign nonsense with me. We're talking, and you're spewing gibberish."]

"No vex, abeg," he pleaded. ['Please, don't be angry."]

"Ehen, you just dey talk. So, wetin happen?" The hulking man slapped his knees in excitement. ['Alright, now you're talking. So, what happened?"]

"The money I dey expect no show," he lowered his head and carefully answered. ['The money I was expecting didn't come.']

Following his response, the alley fell silent. It was disconcerting to hear nothing. Because the moment he answered, everyone held their breath and all eyes turned to the hulking man.

The silence stretched for a while, causing his heart to pound as he imagined all the terrible things that might happen to him. He was regretting his earlier decision to leave the house. Worse still, his thoughts went back to the day he borrowed the money and how he had wasted it. He had nothing to show for the debt that had come back to haunt him.

Just as he was starting to lose his breath, the man spoke.

"Because money no show, na why you no pay me back?" he asked, his tone low. ['So, because the money didn't come, that's why you haven't paid me back?']

"Boss, abeg, give me small time. The moment e drop, I go pay you back," he replied in a panic. ['Boss, please, give me a little more time. As soon as it comes in, I'll pay you back.']

The man chuckled, lending the oppressive atmosphere an even darker tone.

"You go pay me back, no doubts there, because the next time I come, you no dey go home again, you understand?" ['You'll pay me back, no doubt about it because if I come again, you won't be going home.']

"Yes, boss. I go look for am immediately," he answered, his voice shaking. That was a clear death threat.

The man nodded in agreement.

"Before I go, I need to be sure say you no go disappoint me," he said. "Boys, show him pepper." ['I need to make sure you won't disappoint me. Boys, make him suffer.']

…

…

What followed was a blur of fists, pain, and humiliation. The memory alone made Tayo's body shudder as if reliving every blow. The bruises throbbed faintly beneath his skin even now. Recalling the event seemed to have filled him with adrenaline because he sat up immediately and began to type out a message. He was in pain, but his body would not relax as he typed out a message.

The holo-screen pinged, breaking the grim reverie. Tayo grabbed the screen and read the message:

You have been gifted a limited internet quota, valid for three days.

Relief surged through him. He opened a new message thread to type a quick thanks:

[Thanks, I'll send the money as soon as I have it. Greet Mummy and Daddy for me.]

[You're welcome. You are still coming home on Thursday, right?]

He looked behind him. Nothing was in its place; his belongings were scattered all over the place. It was already Tuesday, normal people would have started packing; instead, his travel bag lay open in a corner of the room, covered in dust.

[Yes, I will be home Thursday or Friday.]

The holo-screen chimed again. This time, it was an invitation:

Your friend, Daniel, has gifted you a basic pass. You will be required to produce the invite code before entry to the arena. The event is scheduled for 9 PM.

Tayo's eyes lit up. He opened the attached invite, marveling at its intricate design. The characters on the card moved fluidly, their rendered abilities almost lifelike. A fighter wielded flame with an effortless grace, while another seemed to shift in and out of existence. Tayo's heart ached with longing.

'I could have been like them', he thought.

His expression changed many times as he imagined the fighters and their abilities. His expression went from excitement to disappointment to sadness to resignment. He could not help but think about how different his life would have been if he had not messed up.

…

…

8:30 PM, Lower District, New Lagos City...

Knock! Knock!! Knock!!!

"Coming... Please don't break down the door."

Tayo opened it to find Daniel standing there, his sharp eyes narrowing. He was wearing a plain blue T-shirt and jeans but carried himself with a confidence that made him seem larger than life.

"You didn't check your messages, did you?" Daniel asked, his tone exasperated.

Tayo frowned. "Why?"

Daniel sighed. "I said we should meet by 8. The event starts at 9. If we don't leave now, we'll have to stand."

"What? They sell standing tickets for these events?"

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Of course. Do you think they wouldn't overbook? Hurry up."

Tayo scrambled to get dressed. As he rummaged through piles of clothes, Daniel stepped into the room, wrinkling his nose at the chaos.

"You do you still live like this?" Daniel asked.

"It's called organized chaos," Tayo shot back.

After a few minutes, they were out the door and into the neon-lit streets. A short transport ride brought them to the arena. The crowd outside was massive, a swirling sea of lights, voices, and energy. David frowned at the sight and glanced at Tayo who sat beside him.

"I did not know, I'm sorry," Tayo apologized.

"It's fine. I can't be mad, this was meant to be your going away present," David answered. "Are you giving up? I'm sure you can find an organization that will recognize your abilities" He asked.

"Let's not talk about that now. I messed up and this is my punishment."

"Right, we better find some seats," David answered. His eyes dark as he got out of the vehicle.

The air outside the arena buzzed with excitement, the crowd a writhing mass of bodies and voices. Lights strobed across the night sky, painting everything in a surreal, electric haze. Tayo felt small among the throng, his stomach churning with a mix of excitement and unease. Somewhere inside, the fighters were preparing. Somewhere inside, he might catch a glimpse of the life he'd once dreamed of.

Just as the invite stated, security was tight and everyone had to provide proof of their invite. As they stepped through the entrance, Tayo felt a strange chill run down his spine. The air here seemed heavier, charged with something unexplainable. He shook the feeling off, blaming his exhaustion. But as the crowd roared and the arena lights dimmed, he couldn't help but feel like he was walking into something he couldn't yet see.