*To be continued...*

As they traveled, Jessica's thoughts turned to her friends. "I wonder how they’ve been doing," she mused silently, gazing out the window. She hadn’t heard from them in two weeks, and the uncertainty gnawed at her.

"Thank you for taking such good care of her," Evans said to his wife, kissing her gently.

"It's my duty," Anne replied, hugging him tightly. Evans opened the car door for Jessica, and they drove off together.### CHAPTER 6

### THE DARK FORCE

Back in the hospital, the atmosphere was thick with urgency. Doctors and nurses hurried through the corridors, their faces masks of concentration as they worked tirelessly to revive Jessica. Her hands twitched slightly, a feeble attempt to communicate something urgent.

**JESSICA'S POV**

Consciousness was a slippery, elusive thing. My hands trembled as I fought to stay awake. "Jessica! Jessica!! Jessica!!!" The sound of my name echoed relentlessly in my mind, drawing me back from the void. I forced my eyes open, squinting against the harsh glare of the hospital lights. The world was a blur, a wash of colors and shapes. I heard my uncle's voice, soft and steady, as he held my hand.

"Jessica," he said gently, his grip warm and reassuring. "How are you feeling now?" His concern was palpable, and I clung to the sound of his voice, grounding myself in the moment. The room around me was a cacophony of sounds and sensations, but his voice cut through it all, a lifeline in the chaos.

**AUTHOR'S VOICE**

The hospital ward was a hive of activity, filled with the tension of doctors working to save the daughter of a prominent figure. The deputy governor was on the phone, his voice low and urgent as he reported the accident. He suspected foul play, convinced that there was more to the crash than met the eye. Uncle Evans remained at Jessica's side, his wife Anne clinging to his shoulder, her eyes brimming with tears.

"She's stable now," the lead doctor announced, wiping sweat from her brow with a handkerchief. "She'll need two weeks of rest before she can be discharged." With that, she left the room, leaving behind a silence that felt almost oppressive.

"I'll go get her some food," Anne said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "Okay, babe," Evans replied, giving her a gentle kiss before she left the room to find something for Jessica to eat.

Meanwhile, in a remote part of Nigeria, a small settlement buzzed with sinister activity. Well-built men armed with weapons patrolled the area, while machinery clanged and whirred, tearing into the earth. Scientists in lab coats hurried between makeshift labs, their faces intent as they conducted experiments. In a lavish office, a man sat on a white, gold-handled chair, surveying the scene with a cold, calculating gaze. Two people, bound and escorted by guards, were dragged before him.

"Master, they are here," one of the guards announced, eyes averted in deference.

The man in the chair merely grunted, his lips curling into a smile. "You’ve made the right choice by coming here," he said, his voice dripping with menace. “But don't think you can negotiate with me.”