Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels by Tolá Okogwu

Author:Tolá Okogwu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: 2023-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

My feet are already moving and I smack straight into my mother as she’s rising to her feet. Mum’s arms surround me, clutching me tight… too tight, but I don’t care. For months, I’ve barely let myself think about her, focusing instead on my father, because somehow it seemed easier.

Thinking about Mum meant entertaining the idea that I might never see the most important person in my life again. That was a thought that was way too big for me to cope with, so I tried my best to banish her to a secret place in my mind. But now I have her back! Now I can feel her steady strength flowing into me, I can smell the spicy scent of home that’s so unique to her, and it’s like I can finally breathe properly again.

A deep sob breaks free, and once it starts, I can’t seem to stop it. Tears spill down my face and wetness begins to slide slowly from my nose. My shoulders shake with the strength of my sobs and my chest moves as I gasp in great big gulps of air. Mum rubs my back gently and lets me cry, even as her own tears wet my skin. She murmurs soothing words of comfort every few seconds, and after a while my sobs retreat and my breathing slows down.

“Here,” Adanna says. I peek over my shoulder, and in her hand is a neatly folded tissue. “I figured you might need it.”

I grab it with a watery smile and wipe my messy face. Then Adanna looks at my mum expectantly and I know what she’s waiting for.

“Sorry, Mum. This is Adanna. I told you about her, remember?”

Mum frowns at Adanna. “The one who was being mean to you?” she asks sternly.

Adanna’s face drops. “Erm…”

Oops! I totally forgot that the last time Mum and I spoke, Adanna and I weren’t even friends. Mum left AOS so soon after we arrived.

“It’s okay, Mum,” I cut in quickly. “We’re good now. She helped me find you.”

I quickly fill her in on everything that’s happened. When I get to the part about meeting Aunt Naomi, Mum gives me a worried look. I smile back. I forgave her ages ago for not telling me I had an aunt. When I start explaining about Dr. Dòyìnbó, her expression turns dark.

“I can hardly believe it,” she breathes, her voice horrified. “Dr. Dòyìnbó was the only person I told after I made contact with your aunt. We had just started communicating through an old channel she and your father set up, and then I received a strange message that I thought was from Naomi, asking to meet. But when I arrived at the location, a big man with an even bigger forehead bundled me into a car and brought me to this lodge. I’ve been trapped here ever since.” Mum shudders and her arm tightens round me. “I’ve been so worried about you, ókọ́ mi, praying to God to keep you safe.” Her eyes shift to Adanna.

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