Chapter 3: Power No Be By Muscle

I turn to Musa. “Your ability: ‘A deep affection that can kill anything in a second.’ See as e get Nollywood love drama vibe.”

Everybody chuckle small, even Musa. Sometimes, power dey resemble joke.

Musa grin, scratch head. “My power no get use—no vex if I make you laugh. Na why I dey clerk for Seventh Bureau. My guys say I suppose go reality dating show.”

I laugh. “No run yourself down. Olatunde always talk: ‘No useless ability. Develop am, your time go reach.’ For Ifeanyi, his own na: Summon the Domain of Fire to Burn Everything. That one na hot cake—A-rank.”

Ifeanyi nod. “You really be the strongest. Just look me, you don know my power.”

I continue, “Now, make I use my ability… Done. Ifeanyi, abeg, use your power.”

Musa shift go one side—he sabi Ifeanyi’s power fit burn person by mistake. Ifeanyi close eyes, open am—red like fire. Psychic force burst, next thing, red flames cover him tie. The tie dey burn like old tire for Sango. Air hot, small smoke dey rise.

Ifeanyi shout, “E dey hot!” He dey slap tie, try quench am, but power no dey die easy. If no be say e get fire resistance, na barbecue remain. He dey jump, Musa wan laugh but hold am.

“Try withdraw your power,” I suggest, dey hide my laugh. Ifeanyi retract am, fire disappear, but jacket don burn and tear. I snap finger—clothes return to normal. Musa clap small for that one.

I explain, “Just now, I change ‘domain’ for your ability to ‘tie’—so na ‘Summon the Tie of Fire to Burn Everything.’ See as small change fit turn world upside down.”

Ifeanyi still dey process. Musa shout, “Omo, this thing mad oh!” Excitement for him face no be here.

“Make I return to my story. The moment I awaken my power, I see Folake’s own: Every time she kills person wey truly love her, her strength go double.”

E pain me well. Love wey I take swear, na trap. My heart break as I talk. “So all that sweetness for uni—she just dey set me up, make I fall, so she go kill me, double strength, dey unstoppable.”

I remember how she dey look me, laughter sweet, all na set-up. My chest still tight.

“But before I wise up, e don late. That day, na the very day Folake plan to kill me. She put sleeping drug for my food. By time I notice, the thing don catch me.”

You know that feeling—when belle full, sleep dey hold you, but heart dey suspect wahala? Na so.

“So how you take escape?” Musa ask, voice now get ginger, curiosity wide open.

How I escape? My brother, that night, even death close eye for my matter.