Chapter 4: Chasing Shadows

I reached out to a classmate who is an expert in document analysis and sent him the diary.

With some optical techniques, maybe the writing hidden under the ink could be recovered.

But that would take time.

Before getting the results, I decided to visit Professor Musa, the one mentioned in the diary.

He must know what the covered-up organ name was.

Using clues from the diary, I finally got Professor Musa’s contact.

At first, he didn’t want to see me, but when I mentioned Professor Olumide, he agreed.

Professor Musa’s eyes were red, and he sounded exhausted.

"I never expected that after that incident, Professor Olumide would lose his mind.

If I had known, I would never have given him that report."

He ran his hand over his face, voice breaking like a man confessing to a priest.

I leaned in, pressing him for answers.

"Professor Musa, I want to know the truth about what happened.

What exactly is the organ whose name was covered up?"

Professor Musa looked at me, his face troubled.

"Young man, you’re not like that academic madman Olumide.

After his wife and daughter died in a car accident, he became a loner.

Since then, he poured his whole life into research.

That report was his everything, but it means nothing to you.

Knowing too much will only bring you wahala."

He glanced around, as if spirits might be listening, then sighed the way only a tired elder can. "My son, sometimes, it’s better not to chase shadows, especially in this our country where the dead do not always stay buried."

I looked him in the eye and spoke firmly.

"Professor, let me tell you my own story.

Three years ago, my girlfriend Amara and I were caught in a fire.

She gave me the only breathing mask, saving my life.

I managed to escape, but my girlfriend died.

But when the firefighters put out the fire, they found something strange:

There were no remains in the house.

No one was there at all.

But I remember clearly—Amara was inside.

She disappeared into thin air, just like Professor Olumide."

I paused, my voice shaking like a man testifying in court. "Professor Musa, I need the truth. Even if it burns me."