24 Hours

I didn’t sleep.

Not even close.

I just lay there on my bed, eyes open, staring at the ceiling like something would jump out of it.

Every few minutes, I would turn and look at the bag.

Still there.

Untouched.

But somehow…

It felt heavier as time went on.

Like the weight was increasing.

Not physically.

Mentally.

“Omo… this thing fit ruin person life.”

I checked the time.

2:14am.

Only a few hours had passed.

It felt like days.

Every small sound made me sit up.

Footsteps outside.

Someone dragging something.

A dog barking.

Even my neighbor’s door closing made my heart jump.

Because now…

Everything felt connected.

Everything felt like a threat.

At some point, I stood up.

Walked to the bag again.

Stared at it.

“You go just sit down here dey look me?”

No response.

Just silence.

I don’t even know why I said that.

Maybe I was already losing it.

I bent down slowly and opened it again.

The money was still there.

Neatly stacked.

Untouched.

The black pouch too.

Still inside.

I hesitated…

Then picked it again.

The gun.

Cold.

Heavy.

Real.

I held it properly this time.

Turned it slightly in my hand.

“Omo…”

I had never held a gun in my life.

Not even toy.

Now I was holding a real one.

Inside my own room.

At 3am.

With no explanation.

A sudden sound outside made me freeze.

Footsteps.

Close.

Very close.

I dropped the gun immediately and zipped the bag.

My heart pounding.

The footsteps stopped.

Right in front of my door.

I held my breath.

Completely still.

Nothing.

No knock.

No voice.

Just silence.

Then slowly…

The footsteps moved again.

And faded.

I exhaled sharply.

“Omo… I go kpai.”

This thing was messing with my head.

Bad.

By morning…

My eyes were burning.

My body weak.

But my mind?

Still racing.

I checked my phone.

No new messages.

No calls.

Nothing.

That alone made me uncomfortable.

Because silence now felt worse than pressure.

Around 10am…

My mum called.

I froze.

Stared at the phone.

Ringing.

For a few seconds, I didn’t pick.

Because I remembered the message:

“Don’t call anyone.”

But this was my mum.

I couldn’t ignore her.

I picked.

“Mummy…”

“My son, good morning! How are you?” her voice was warm, normal.

Too normal.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly.

“You sent me money yesterday… are you okay? Where did you get it?”

My chest tightened.

“I just… got lucky small.”

She laughed.

“That kind luck no be small o! God has done it!”

I forced a smile.

“Yeah…”

There was a pause.

Then her tone changed slightly.

Concerned.

“You sure you’re okay?”

That question hit differently.

Because for a second…

I almost told her everything.

Almost.

But something stopped me.

Fear.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said.

“Just work.”

“Okay o,” she said softly.

“Take care of yourself.”

“I will.”

The call ended.

I dropped the phone slowly.

And just sat there.

Because now…

It was clear.

I was alone in this.

Completely alone.

My eyes moved back to the bag.

Still there.

Waiting.

Time started moving slowly again.

Every hour felt like a test.

Every minute felt like pressure.

By afternoon…

Something changed.

That feeling again.

Like someone was watching.

Closer this time.

Heavier.

I stood up immediately and went to the window.

Pulled the curtain slightly.

Looked outside.

Nothing.

Normal movement.

People passing.

No black car.

No strange faces.

But still…

That feeling didn’t leave.

My phone buzzed.

I grabbed it immediately.

Unknown number.

“Halfway.”

My chest tightened.

Halfway??

That means…

They were counting.

Tracking time.

Watching everything.

Another message came in.

“Don’t get comfortable.”

I laughed softly.

“Comfortable ke?”

With a gun and millions in my room?

Then the last message dropped.

And this one…

Made my stomach turn.

“Someone is coming.”

I froze.

“What?”

I typed immediately.

No reply.

My heart started beating fast again.

I stood up.

Looked around my room.

Then at the bag.

Then back at the door.

Because now…

The rules had changed again.

This was no longer just “keep the bag.”

This was:

“Protect it.”

And I had no idea…

Who was coming.

To be continued…