CLAWS AND LAWS

Ajoke sat in the dim silence of her cell, her thoughts a cacophony of fear and regret. The damp, musty air seemed to cling to her skin as she stared at the walls, each crack and stain mocking her helplessness. The realization gnawed at her soul—Sade, her sister, was not just a beast in the literal sense, but in the depths of her heart. She was a creature driven by malice, deception, and a hunger for power.

But Ajoke knew Sade too well to dismiss her completely. Somewhere beneath the monster, could there still be remnants of the sister she once loved? Could Sade, in some twisted way, come to her rescue? A bitter laugh escaped her lips. The chances were slim, and the stakes were too high to rely on wishful thinking.

The sound of approaching boots shattered her thoughts. Ajoke tensed as the cell door swung open with a creak. A tall officer, his face cold and impassive, stepped inside.

"Up," he barked.

"Where are you taking me?" Ajoke asked, her voice trembling.

The officer didn't answer. He grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet, dragging her out into the dimly lit corridor. The narrow passage felt suffocating, the air thick with a mix of sweat and despair.

Ajoke's thoughts raced as she walked. Her mind returned to Akintola, her lover, her confidant, and the investigator whose fate was now entangled with hers. She could still see his face—determined yet gentle, his dark eyes burning with conviction. Akintola had trusted her. He had believed in her innocence even when the evidence painted her as guilty.

Now, he was caught in this nightmare too, framed alongside her. Was he alive? Was he safe? Or had Sade already eliminated him to tie up loose ends?

The officer shoved her into a room at the end of the corridor. It was stark and sterile, with a single table and two chairs. A man sat waiting, his sharp features framed by the harsh fluorescent light.

"Sit," he said, gesturing to the chair across from him.

Ajoke obeyed, her heart pounding in her chest.

"My name is Inspector Adebayo," the man said, his voice calm but firm. "I've been assigned to investigate the attack on the station. You're at the center of this mess, Ajoke. And so is your... associate, Investigator Akintola."

Ajoke's breath caught. "What have you done to him?"

Adebayo raised an eyebrow. "Me? Nothing. But let's not pretend he's an innocent bystander. Akintola is a senior investigator with access to classified evidence. Evidence that links him to the attack. Care to explain that?"

"It wasn't him," Ajoke said quickly. "It wasn't either of us. You have the wrong people."

Adebayo leaned back, studying her. "And who should we be looking at? Your sister, Sade? The same woman who has been helping us with the investigation?"

Ajoke flinched. Of course, Sade would position herself as an ally to the police. It was the perfect cover.

"She's not who you think she is," Ajoke said, her voice breaking. "She's a monster. She's the one behind the attack. She framed us."

Before Adebayo could respond, the door burst open. A young officer entered, his face pale and anxious.

"Sir, there's been another attack," he said breathlessly.

"What now?" Adebayo snapped.

"The detention center where Akintola was being held," the officer replied. "Witnesses reported seeing a red wolf. Five are dead—three officers, two inmates. Akintola is missing."

Ajoke's blood ran cold.

Adebayo cursed under his breath. He turned to Ajoke, his expression hard. "Is this part of your plan? Or is your sister cleaning up loose ends?"

Ajoke shook her head violently. "She's using him! You have to believe me. Sade is the red wolf. She's behind everything. If you don't stop her, more people will die!"

Adebayo's jaw tightened. He nodded to the officer by the door. "Take her back to her cell."

"No! Listen to me!" Ajoke shouted as she was dragged away. But her pleas fell on deaf ears.

Akintola woke up from what seems to be a drug induce sleep.

The world came into focus slowly, the pain in Akintola's head blurring the edges of his vision. He blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The room was dark, the air damp and stale. His wrists ached, bound tightly behind his back.

"Awake, finally."

The voice was calm but laced with malice. Akintola turned his head toward the source.

"Sade," he croaked.

She stepped into the dim light, her lips curling into a smile. "Good. You remember me."

Akintola struggled against his bonds. "What do you want from me?"

Sade crouched in front of him, her eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. "Want? Oh, Akintola, this isn't about what I want. It's about what Ajoke will do to save you. You see, love makes people foolish. It makes them predictable."

Akintola's jaw clenched. "She has nothing to do with this."

Sade laughed, a low, chilling sound. "Oh, but she has everything to do with this. You're here because of her. And when she realizes just how far I'm willing to go, she'll come running. That's when the real fun begins."

"You won't get away with this," Akintola spat.

Sade's smile widened. "I already have."

---

Ajoke's Resolve

Back in her cell, Ajoke sat in the dark, her mind racing. Sade had taken Akintola. She could feel it in her gut. But why? Was he alive? Or was Sade simply toying with her, using him as bait in some twisted game?

Ajoke clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She couldn't sit here and do nothing. If the system wouldn't save them, she would.

Sade thought she was the predator, but she had underestimated her prey.