No Turning Back

My hand tightened around the gun.

Sweat was dripping down my face now.

Slow.

Cold.

Uncontrollable.

Outside…

Tobi knocked again.

Louder this time.

“Guy! I know say you dey inside! Open this door!”

My chest was rising fast.

Because that voice…

It still sounded like him.

But everything else?

Wrong.

Completely wrong.

My phone was still in my other hand.

That last message burning into my head:

“Use the gun.”

“Omo… God abeg…”

My voice was barely a whisper.

Because this…

This was not what I signed up for.

The door shook suddenly.

BANG.

I flinched.

My heart jumped straight to my throat.

“Guy, no make me break this door o!” Tobi shouted.

Another bang.

Harder.

More aggressive.

I stepped back.

Slowly.

Gun still raised.

But my hand?

Still shaking.

Because one question kept hitting me:

“What if it’s really him?”

My phone buzzed again.

I checked.

“Focus.”

Another message.

“They’re testing you.”

Testing me??

With my own friend??

My head was spinning now.

Nothing made sense anymore.

Another loud bang on the door.

“Guy!! OPEN THIS DOOR!!”

This time…

There was anger in his voice.

Real anger.

Then I heard it again.

That second voice.

Low.

Sharp.

Closer now.

Whispering something to him.

My chest tightened.

Because now I knew.

100%.

This is not just Tobi.

I moved slowly toward the door.

Each step heavy.

Careful.

Controlled.

“Step back from the door,” I said.

My voice shaking slightly.

Silence.

Then—

“Guy… wetin be this?”

Confusion.

Real confusion.

That one hit me.

Because that sounded like the real Tobi.

“Omo…”

My head was splitting.

Because now…

I didn’t know what to believe.

My phone buzzed again.

Fast.

Two messages.

“Don’t fall for it.”

“They’ll use anything close to you.”

I clenched my jaw.

Tight.

Because now…

I had to decide.

Another bang.

The door shook violently this time.

The lock almost giving way.

“LAST WARNING!!” Tobi shouted.

But this time…

That second voice didn’t hide.

It spoke louder.

Clearer.

And what it said…

Made my blood run cold.

“Break it.”

Silence.

One second.

Two seconds.

Then—

BANG!!

The door cracked.

Wood splitting.

My heart exploded in my chest.

I raised the gun fully now.

Pointing at the door.

Both hands shaking.

Breathing fast.

“Don’t do this…” I whispered.

Not even sure who I was talking to.

Them?

Myself?

God?

I didn’t know.

Another hit.

The door was already giving way.

Almost open.

My phone buzzed again.

I didn’t check.

I couldn’t.

My eyes were locked on that door.

Because now…

There was no more time.

No more thinking.

No more confusion.

Just action.

The door burst open.

Violently.

Wood flying.

Sound echoing.

And in that moment…

Everything slowed down.

Tobi stepped in first.

But his face—

Fear.

Pure fear.

Like he didn’t even understand what was happening.

Behind him…

One of the men.

The same ones I saw outside.

Cold eyes.

Focused.

Dangerous.

Our eyes met.

Just for a second.

And that was when I knew.

This is real.

My finger tightened on the trigger.

My heart pounding loud.

My body trembling.

Because in that moment…

There were only two choices left.

Shoot.

Or lose everything.

To be continued…