Chapter 2: A Glimpse of Corruption

Daniel stood in the shadows of the barracks, his hand gripping the edge of an old wooden door. His gut told him to move and get back to his unit, but something kept him from doing so. The conversations within were low and quiet, but they were easy to hear.

A voice said, "They're asking too much." "More soldiers, more guns." We don't have to fight like this. "We need to control the flow, not stop it."

Daniel knew right away that it was Lieutenant Colonel Emeka Nwachukwu. He had always been a good leader, but not anymore.

"We've made a deal with the rebels. greater attacks, greater disorder. That's the only way we can get the Senate to pass our laws. You know what that means, right? A different voice, one I didn't know, answered.

Daniel's heart started to race. Did he think this was what it was? He held on tightly to the doorframe with his fingers. He moved closer, trying not to make a sound.

"I know," Nwachukwu said in a low voice. "We get what we need and make a lot of money." "Not just in money, but also in power."

Daniel's heart raced. They were talking about giving the soldiers up. He had thought it was true for months, but now there was no doubt. This wasn't about fighting for Nigeria; it was about making money by managing the upheaval.

He gently stepped back, but his boot kicked a loose stone as he did so. It made a noise like a warning as it scraped across the ground.

"Who's there?" Nwachukwu's voice came out like a bullet.

Daniel stopped moving. His head told him to run, but his body didn't move fast enough.

Daniel went out of the barracks and felt colder than normal. His mind was still going over the conversation he had just heard. He heard the words over and over again, but they didn't make sense. Betrayal? Cash? He could hardly believe what he had heard.

"Tunde!" he said, his voice full of urgency.

Tunde Adebayo, his second-in-command, looked up from where he was standing by the armory. His face, which was normally tranquil, now showed a hint of worry.

"What's wrong?" Tunde enquired as he hurried over to Daniel.

Daniel continued, "We need to talk," and looked back over his shoulder as if he thought someone was following them. "Inside."

Tunde followed Daniel to a quieter part of the facility, where he looked around the edges. The way Daniel's jaw was set told him something was wrong.

Tunde's voice softened as he said, "Talk to me, Daniel." "What's going on?"

Daniel's voice was low, and he hesitated for a while before speaking. "I heard Nwachukwu." He is negotiating negotiations with the rebels. The military's actions are all about money. The mess? It's on purpose.

Tunde's eyes got smaller. "What do you mean? That the battle and the conflict are all planned? "To get money?"

Daniel nodded sadly. "Yes." They are making money off the killing.

Tunde stared at him for a long time, and his face showed that he couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Are you sure about this?"

Daniel said, "I'm sure," in a harsh voice. "And I need your help to find proof."

Tunde looked away, torn. "You want to expose the people we serve, which is what you're saying." This might kill us.

"I know," Daniel murmured softly, looking him in the eye. "But if we don't do something, the lives of every soldier here don't matter at all."

Tunde gulped. "Okay, let's go."

But as they were about to go, footsteps echoed in the corridor, making Daniel's blood run cold. The door of their safe place creaked open.

Daniel didn't move. The weight of his choice felt like a thick stone on his chest. He had left the operation early because he couldn't handle the weight of what he knew. Daniel could already feel his resolve cracking, even though Tunde had volunteered to help. It wasn't just about the battle anymore; it was about the lies they had all been living.

He walked into his modest room, where the weak light made lengthy shadows on the walls. The walls, which were covered in trophies and framed praise, felt like they were closing in on me.

He held on to the side of the bed with his fingertips. He could hear his heart beating in his ears, which was a constant reminder that something had changed in him. How could the military, the place he had dedicated everything to, be so corrupt?

"Do you not trust anyone anymore?" Her voice ripped through his thoughts like a knife.

Daniel turned around and automatically reached for his rifle, but when he saw her standing in the doorway with a blank look on her face, he froze.

"Jesus, Amina. What are you doing here? His heart was still beating when he took a big breath. He didn't want to talk about morals just now.

"I've been attempting to get in touch with you. You've been acting strange. What's going on?

Daniel ran his hand through his hair, which was a mess. "It's bigger than I thought. The military is doing more than just fighting. They are making money from it. "The lives of the soldiers don't matter to them."

Amina's expression relaxed, and her eyes showed that she understood. "I knew something was wrong with how things were going, but this..."

He looked at her, and the meaning of what he said hit her. "This isn't just about us anymore." It's about everyone who has been sent to die for a falsehood.

Amina went forward and delicately touched his arm. "Then we show it. We need to. For them."

Daniel looked her in the eye, and the moment seemed to last forever. She was correct. But at that moment, he questioned if he could handle what would happen next.

His phone buzzed all of a sudden. It was a text message from a number he didn't know.

The message said, "I have the answers you want." "Tonight, meet me."

Daniel's stomach got tight.

Daniel's heart raced as he leaned against the old brick wall and looked around the alleyway. The meeting was supposed to start at 10:00 PM, but the informant hadn't shown up yet. The night was very calm, save for the sound of cars in the distance. He looked at the message on his phone again: "Meet me." You won't be sorry.

At the end of the lane, a shadow showed up. Daniel's hand instantly went for his gun, but he made himself keep calm. The figure came closer, wearing a black jacket with a hood. He couldn't see any details, only the outline of a person with their face obscured.

The person stopped, staying a safe distance away. "Are you Daniel Okoro?" a voice inquired in a gruff but firm way.

"Yeah," Daniel said, narrowing his gaze. He didn't know who this was, but he didn't have time to be careful just now.

The informant nodded and put his hands inside his jacket. He pulled out a stack of papers wrapped in a plastic bag and stated, "I've got what you need." Daniel didn't know what the symbols and military codes on the documents meant at first. But what attracted Daniel's eye was the informant's face. He was frightened and sweating under the dim streetlight.

The informant's voice got lower as he said, "You should go through these quickly." "The folks you're enquiring about? They're more hazardous than you would assume.

Daniel didn't think twice. He took the papers, feeling the weight of what they might show. But as he was about to depart, he heard an engine revving up close by.

A military truck was coming up quickly.

Daniel's heart raced as he ran down the alley with the papers clasped in his grasp. He didn't look back even though the motor noise behind him got louder. His thoughts were racing. Who would have thought I'd be here?

He ran down a short side street, trying to lose the car, but the dark sedan skidded around the curve, squealing its tires. Daniel's heart sank. They were aware.

The driver slammed on the brakes, and two people with guns jumped out. Daniel's instincts took over. He crouched behind a skip, his heart racing in his ears. This time, they weren't going to let him leave.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He didn't want to answer it, but he couldn't help but be curious. He had to get it.

Amina's message popped up on the screen: "We need to meet." Needed right away. Tonight.

Daniel looked over the edge of the skip and saw the men searching the alley as they got closer. He typed a hasty response: "I'm being followed," and his fingers shook. Come to the old warehouse to meet me. 30 minutes.

The engine screamed again, but this time it was closer. Daniel could hear the sound of footsteps. He didn't have much time left.

He put the phone back in his pocket and got ready to do something. But when he looked around the corner, one of the people turned and saw him. The chase has just started.