Fortune Cookie.

Image generated using Meta AI

"You will actually discover an unbelievable fact," read the fortune slip, just as Chinecherem bit into the crunchy and delicious cookie—and suddenly felt his molar crack in pain inside his mouth, thereby signaling a sudden shock to his brain.

He immediately rolled the delicious cookie inside his mouth with his tongue, tossing it aside and trying to separate the hard object from the cookie, feeling reluctant to spit it out. "If only I can just get a hold of this annoying object that hurt my tooth," he thought, still struggling with the cookie and the object.

It got complicated.

"Ptooey!"

Chinecherem eventually spat out the crumbs and groaned, holding his jaw.

"Ah! My tooth is gone!" he yelled, still holding his jaw and bending his head this time.

His younger sister, Chiemezuo, burst into laughter, "You were supposed to have spat it out immediately! Who told you to chew it like kilishi?" She asked, still chuckling.

"That is your sorry, right?" he asked, scowling, clearly upset with his sister.

"Oya! sorry o," Chiemezuo said playfully.

"Sigh..." Jason muttered, still rubbing his jaw and inspecting the fortune slip again. "See rubbish. 'You will actually discover an unbelievable fact.' This thing almost broke my tooth and still had the guts to threaten me?" He complained to Chiemezuo, who was still laughing seriously.

"Are you actually interpreting the pain or looking for the meaning inside the cookie? because I really do not get you," she said in a giggling voice.

"This is why I do not eat outside. Just imagine, I am injured, and an ordinary cookie is warning me." He rolled his eyes at his sister (Chiemezuo).

They decided to head home. As soon as they were about to get into their car, Chiemezuo's phone vibrated. She checked the message and suddenly withdrew from entering the car, now standing by the door.

Chinecherem frowned. "What is it?"

Chiemezuo showed him her phone screen instead. It was an urgent text from their mother.

It read:

"Get home as quickly as you can. Burn the red envelope in the deep freezer. Then leave immediately; do not go home. Please don't return home; head to Mrs. Comfort's house. I will meet you both there. I'll explain later. Be fast, please." the text read promptly.

Chinecherem stared at the message in a confused state. "Wait! Wait! Wait! Is this a prank or something? Why is Mummy texting like an FBI agent?" he asked, staring at his sister, who was now looking scared and confused as well.

Chiemezuo looked really serious now. "Didn't you remember the red envelope?" she asked.

"No. I do not keep a record of everything inside the freezer," Chinecherem replied scornfully.

"Really?!" she asked calmly.

"Yes! Really... in fact, of all the nice, reasonable, hidden places in the house, why would mum choose a freezer? For crying out loud, to hide an envelope? it should be blocked by now, if not even torn," he reasoned with his sister.

"Well, I believe it's completely safe and waiting for us to pick it up." she reassured her brother.

"Whatever!" he said, looking away.

"Anyways, the red envelope contains several passports, foreign currencies, and a flash drive. Mum told me to keep it safe. She warned me never to say anything to anyone unless something happened," she whispered to Chinecherem.

"Wait, you mean our very sweet and calm Mum, the same woman who prays over palm oil and water before using them to cook?" he asked, shocked.

"Exactly," Chiemezuo hissed. "Before Daddy died, she usually travels for numerous 'conferences.' Actually, the truth is, she was not really attending any conference. She was actually working with the government—I don't know what exactly, but I know is a kind of an intelligence thing... sha." She explained to Chinecherem, who was now looking intrigued.

Chinecherem nearly collapsed on the bonnet of their car.

"So you mean I have actually had a secret agent materials chilling next to frozen chicken, praying over palm oil, and casting and binding waters and spices for years?!" he exclaimed, excited in a way, though.

"Exactly," Chiemezuo said. "And now the text message says to burn it."

As they were still contemplating the shocking discovery, a black SUV slowly drove past them. The two siblings gazed at each other and immediately dove into their car and zoomed off.

They rushed back to the house, and Chinecherem ran straight to the kitchen and opened the freezer. There, behind the bag of okro and frozen chicken, was the red envelope. It was sealed and stamped with a strange mark—an eagle's head in gold and a slightly sparkling silver around it.

Chiemezuo reached for the envelope and quickly opened it. Inside were four old passports, some US dollars, and a flash drive labeled in their mother's handwriting: "Play immediately, 'if i suddenly disappear. Or if Chinecherem eats a fortune cookie.'" the letter said, denoting seriousness.

Image generated using Meta AI

"What kind of mad life is this?" he muttered.

They immediately plugged the flash drive into Chinecherem's laptop. Their mother appeared on screen, wearing her house wrapper and tying her familiar scarf, as if she were just about to cook jollof rice.

The video played:

"Hello, my children," she said calmly. "If you're watching this, that means I'm either missing, hiding, or pretending to be even dead.I know you must be wondering what is exactly going on—I know you are worried. But stay strong and alert. Most especially, do not panic; I am just fine." the video explained consolingly.

Chiemezuo gasped.
Chinecherem frozed.

"I used to work in national intelligence. I am among a very special team. Very long story. But someone called Adire(kind of a nick name, though)—my former handler—is definitely after me. If he discovers that you are actually connected to me directly, you are both going to be in serious danger." The video clarified.

She looked around and leaned closer to her brother, holding each other tightly.

"Burn that envelope immediately, the video continued. "Do not go back home; take rufuge in Mrs. Comfort. She will tell you what to do. And if anyone offers you both a free suya or any kind of attractive cookie, run—run and never look back. Otherwise, that's how they will actually catch you to get to me. Take care, my children. Stay safe. Stay alert. Remember, don't be too trusty. Love you both. See you soon." The video finally ended.

There was a long silence as both of them stared at the screen as if their mother was still there.

Chiemezuo finally broke the silence. "So mum is actually a James Bond-type of woman?!" she exclaimed.

"I just wanted to live a normal life and eat ice cream... now this has happened." Chinecherem sighed as he whispered.

The next morning, they both went to live with Mrs. Comfort as directed by their mother and restricted their movement to stay safe.

Chinecherem reached into his pocket and brought out the fortune slip again. This time, he turned it over—and there was more writing:
"P.S. Do not eat the second cookie."

"Oops," she said, her mouth full. "Too late," she continued, chewing as she suddenly glanced at the note on the back of the slip Chinecherem was holding. Frowning, as his sister kept laughing, Chinecherem ran to her and held her by the neck playfully so she would not swallow the cookie.

Image generated using Meta AI

Perhaps, it might contain:

Yet another slip.

THANKS A LOT FOR READING ME.