Chapter 8: Standing Firm

Rita's phone nearly slipped from her trembling hand as the deep voice repeated its threat.

"Delete your post, Rita. If you don't, you'll regret it."

Her mouth went dry. Her heart pounded so loudly, she thought it might burst through her chest.

"Who are you?" she managed, trying to keep her voice steady.

A moment of silence. Then:

"That's not important. What matters is that you do what you're told. Take it down—or we'll make your life difficult."

A click, and the line went dead.

A Family's Support

Rita stood there in shock, phone still pressed to her ear. Slowly, she lowered it, her entire body shaking. They found me, she thought. They want to scare me.

She hurried into the living room, where her parents were watching the evening news. Kwame sat nearby, scrolling through his phone.

"Mom…Dad…someone just called me," she began, her voice quivering. "They threatened me because of my post."

Her father's expression hardened. "Threatened you? Over that pageant scam you exposed?"

Rita nodded, eyes watering. "They said if I don't delete my post, I'll regret it."

Mrs. Mensah's face paled, but she put a comforting hand on Rita's shoulder. "You did the right thing, sweetheart. We won't let anyone bully you."

Kwame set his phone aside. "Should we call the police?"

Mr. Mensah glanced at his wife, then back at Rita. "Let's not jump to conclusions yet. But we should definitely report this call if it continues."

Friends Rally Around

Word spread fast. By the next morning, Pamela, Faith, and Deborah knew about the threatening call. They found Rita in the school courtyard before class, the usual chatter replaced by worried whispers.

"Are you okay?" Faith asked gently.

Rita forced a small smile. "I'm a little scared, honestly. But I'm not taking the post down.

Pamela's eyes shone with admiration. "Good for you. We've got your back.

Deborah held up her phone. "I shared your post again this morning. People need to see it."

Rita swallowed hard. "Thank you. The more people who know, the less power those scammers have."

But even as she said it, her heart fluttered with nerves. What if they actually do something?

A Surprising Ally

During lunch break, Rita's phone buzzed with a new message—from a local journalist named Ama Kusi. She had seen Rita's viral post about Sunshine Pageantry and wanted to write a story on it. "Would you be willing to talk on the record?" the message read.

Rita's fingers tingled with excitement and fear. An interview? If she spoke publicly, she'd shine an even brighter light on the scam—but it also meant painting a bigger target on her back.

Still, she remembered the trembling voices of other victims who had messaged her. She thought of Eunice, who had lost so much money. And she thought of the threat that came the night before.

"Yes," she typed back. "I'm ready to talk."

Warning from the Shadow.

That evening, as Rita walked home with Pamela, her phone chimed again. A text from an unknown number:

"We warned you. Last chance."

Her heart lurched, but a spark of anger replaced her fear. She showed the text to Pamela, who frowned.

"They're just trying to scare you, Rita. Don't let them win."

Rita nodded, though her stomach churned. "I won't. But I can't pretend I'm not scared."

They paused under a streetlamp, the soft glow reflecting on Rita's worried face. Pamela squeezed her arm reassuringly. "You've got all of us. And now, you've got a journalist who believes in your story. You're not alone."

Resolve

That night, Rita couldn't sleep. She lay awake, staring at the dark ceiling, replaying the day's events. The phone call, the supportive texts, the journalist's interest. Her entire life had flipped in just a few days—from chasing a dream of fame to exposing a cruel deception.

She thought about the frightened tone in Eunice's voice. She remembered the gratitude in the comments from strangers who almost fell for the scam. And she felt the warmth of her parents' and friends' unwavering support.

Finally, she whispered into the darkness, "I won't back down".