Chapter 1: Ordinary Among Geniuses

Twenty years ago, as just one regular Naija boy from a quiet town, I somehow land inside one class wey dem reserve for geniuses.

That name alone loud for ear—'genius class.' For this our side, e mean say every pikin wey dey there, na real brainbox—dem dey solve maths like JAMB na play, dey talk grammar wey go confuse even principal. Dem sabi book reach, na even university lecturers go dey fear them.

That time, as I still dey struggle with textbooks, dey manage scrape WAEC past questions, these ones dey dissect quantum mechanics—na book wey dey even confuse university students—dey draw mathematical models like say na water, dey run computer programs as if dem be oyibo.

Me, the only ordinary one, always dey bottom for class ranking—sometimes e go even be like say I dey disgrace my whole family line, my mind dey heavy anytime report card land.

But na last year, wahala start. My former genius classmates begin die mysteriously, one by one. At first na small whispers for our old WhatsApp group, then phone calls from people I never hear from in years. Up till now, the shock still dey my body.

Na that time Officer Auwalu from State CID begin look for me.

Police dey talk say na me—this ordinary person—kill all those geniuses. For Naija, dem no dey ever suspect the obvious person last. This kain matter fit make person sweat under AC.

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1

I just comot from theatre, surgery finish. Disinfectant smell still dey my hand.

I tired reach to collapse. My leg dey shake, eyes dey heavy—body no be firewood, abeg.

Before I reach my office rest, one fine young man approach me, flash police badge. Suit fresh, but you fit see small wahala for him face—police work na real stress.

"Good afternoon, Dr. Ifedike. I’m Auwalu Musa, head of Kaduna State CID. There’s a case I dey investigate, e fit concern you. Abeg, Dr. Ifedike, I wan ask you small something. E dey important."

As I hear Officer Auwalu talk, I rub my eyes, totally finish. Na only God know how I still dey stand.

"Officer Auwalu, abeg, which case be this? If e no concern me direct, make we quick. I just finish twelve-hour surgery—body don weak finish, sorry." My voice dey shake small.

Officer Auwalu just look me, then drop three words:

"Genius class."

I freeze for a moment—

My mind blank. My hand dey tremble small, sweat dey gather for my palm. For a split second, I wan stand up run.

I never hear that term for long. The sound alone heavy, e dey drag old wound come surface.

"Oya, make I go office change first, then we go talk for bukka by hospital gate?"

I look am, half-smile. "I need coffee o. If not, I no go survive."

Officer Auwalu nod. "Of course."

"I go wait for you for café, Dr. Ifedike. Which kind coffee you want?"

"Double shot iced coffee, double creamer. Make e strong small."

Officer Auwalu nod again, no talk too much, waka go. Na real northern man, no dey talk pass necessary.