Fractured: Chapter 5 - 5:00 PM Sunday (Desperate Decisions)

Kemi’s legs felt like lead as she trudged through the desolate alleyways of the city, her mind racing and her heart thudding in her chest. Every noise made her jump—every shadow felt like it was watching her. She had barely made it out of the church alive, and the reality of what was happening to her was starting to sink in.

She found herself drawn to an abandoned building, its crumbling façade hidden from the street by overgrown weeds. With no other choice, she slipped inside, her body screaming for rest. The room was musty, filled with the echoes of forgotten memories and dust that clung to everything.

Just as she was about to collapse onto the floor, she heard footsteps approaching. Her hand instinctively went to the gun in her duffel bag, ready to defend herself.

“Relax, I’m not here to hurt you,” a voice said from the shadows.

Kemi spun around, her eyes narrowing as she saw a man step forward. He was tall, with dark eyes that seemed to know more than they should.

“My name’s Kunle,” he said, raising his hands in surrender. “I know what you’re going through.”

Kemi’s mind raced. She had no memory of this man, but there was something about him that made her hesitate. “How do you know anything about me?” she asked, her voice edged with suspicion.

Kunle took a cautious step closer. “Because I’ve been where you are now.”

Kemi shook her head. “What do you mean?”

He let out a long, tired sigh, leaning against a broken-down wall. “This... game you're in. It’s not the first time it’s happened. There’s an entity—a group, I don’t know exactly who they are. But they do this. They wipe your memories and force you to do their bidding. You’re not the first, and you won’t be the last.”

Kemi stared at him, her mind racing to piece together his words. “You’re saying I’m being used?”

Kunle nodded grimly. “The people you’ve been killing—they were all involved in something much bigger. A conspiracy. And you’re just a pawn in their game.”

Kemi’s heart raced as the weight of his words settled over her. The truth behind her situation, the moral dilemma she faced with each kill, the dark reality of what was happening to her—it was all crashing down.

Kunle glanced at her phone, which rested on a nearby table, the countdown continuing to tick away.

“You don’t have much time,” he said. “Your next target, Felix Ajayi, he’s not like the others. He has something—evidence. Something that could expose everything.”

Kemi’s pulse quickened. Evidence. The word sparked something deep inside her, a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, she could get out of this alive and uncover the truth.

Kunle took a step toward her, his eyes locking onto hers. “You need to find him. He’s the key to all of this.”

Before Kemi could respond, Kunle’s body suddenly jerked violently. His eyes rolled back, and he dropped to the floor, convulsing uncontrollably.

“Kunle!” Kemi screamed, rushing to his side. His mouth frothed, his body writhing in agony as she tried to help him, but it was too late. Within moments, Kunle lay still, his eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling.

Kemi stumbled back, horrified. Her phone buzzed loudly on the table. With trembling hands, she picked it up, her stomach sinking as the screen flashed a new message:

Felix Ajayi - 7:00 PM - No mistakes this time.