November 11 20XX Ukwu-Nzu, Delta State

A thick layer of toxic smoke covers the sky as an emergency response crew sifts through the debris, desperately searching for the last survivor. The remnants of the large building lay in ruins, courtesy of a bomb planted by Boko Haram. A Helicopter hovers above, it's blades slicing through the putrid air, carrying a news crew, ready to capture the aftermath of yet another act of terror. Amidst the tragedy, the reporter's voice cuts through the noises of Ambulances, Police and screaming ER workers. As she speaks, her eyes remain stagnant. This was now a regular occurrence for them after all.

"In a third attack this month, Boko Haram has attacked Southern Nigeria. Ukwu-Nzu, a peaceful village in Delta, became their target." the reporter relayed in a somber, yet professional tone. "Specifically, the Adi Manor, a grand structure belonging to none other than the multi-million dollar Adi family, fell victim to their deadly bombing. We can confirm the tragic deaths of Philanthropist Okonkwo Adi and Mary Adi, his wife. However, the fate of their unknown first son remains uncertain."

The emergency response team continues their search, now beginning to seem like a hopelessly lost cause. The workers, covered in grime and frustration, now begin to voice their feelings about the matter. Their voices mingle with the sirens and various onlookers, the smell of smoke making their vision slightly hazy.
"Abeg oh, we should just tell the media that we tried." A worker said, laced with resignation, "There's nothing we can do again sef"
But another worker, named Wilberforce was filled with determination to find him.
"Me? I no go leave until I find that child oh," he said with an unwavering resolve.
Another companion, wearied by the relentless nature of their task, offered a response tinged with cynicism.
"Ah, It's ok oh. He thinks he'll get a bonus," he says with a sigh.

As soon as there was little hope left, there were faint cries coming from a nearby pile of wreckage. Without pausing for a second, Wilberforce dashed toward the sound as his senses heightened. With the exception of a small scrape on his arm, the baby was strangely unscathed as gloved hands scuttled through the debris while kneeling down.

Wilberforce gently held the youngster in his broad, loving arms and experienced a wave of relief and motivation. He carried the saved child toward the waiting ambulance with a determined expression on his face, wanting to give the child the utmost care and love he deserved.

1 Month Later

One month had passed since the Ukwu-Nzu incident, and Wilberforce's frustration and concern for the abandoned baby boy, Eze Adi, had only grown. In the confined and dimly lit room that served as his quarters, he paced back and forth, his emotions swirling within him.

"It's not fair!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and helplessness. "The entire Adi extended family wants nothing to do with this poor child. I'm sure they're only concerned about the inheritance."

Ulu, his supportive wife, gently cradled the baby in her arms, trying to provide solace to both the child and her husband. "It's okay, Will," she reassured him, her voice soft and comforting. "We can take him to the orphanage Okafor opened in Lagos. They'll give him the care and love he deserves. How I wish we could afford him."

Wilberforce calmed down as he stared at Eze Adi, the infant. He extended his finger, inviting the youngster to take it. He expressed his steadfast commitment and resolve to give the child a better life with that straightforward gesture.

"Eze Adi," he murmured, his voice filled with tenderness and conviction. "You deserve so much more than this.".

The infant smiled broadly and had its little hands around Wilberforce's finger. The world appeared to weigh heavily on Wilberforce's shoulders at that moment.

12 Years Later, Illupeju, Lagos

As Eze stepped out of Drake International School, he felt the weight of exhaustion from a long week of studying and school activities. The weekend had finally arrived, and he longed for a day of rest and relaxation. However, his plans were about to change with the arrival of his two friends, Obinna and Chinwe.

Obinna approached Eze with his usual enthusiasm, "Are you ready? We haven't checked out that Cave that opened up in Iyana Ipaja."

Eze let out a tired sigh, his tie slightly sagging as he spoke, "I'm really tired though. Can't we just wait till tomorrow?"
"And then Chinwe appears!" he gestures, pointing both of his arms to the side.

Just as he spoke, Chinwe appeared, as if on cue. "How did you guess?" she said with a smile.

Chinwe was eager to explore the mysterious cave, adding a hint of melody to her voice as she spoke, "Anyways, we need to see the cave, Eze. We don't have much time tomorrow with the football match happening. Sporting Lagos is playing after all."

Eze couldn't resist the playful teasing, "Fine. But you both owe me Adventure Milk."

Chinwe chuckled, "I still don't know how you can say that brand with a straight face."

With a weary grin, Eze responded, "I'm too tired to care right now."

The trio stepped out of the school building, and the intensity of the sunlight temporarily blinded them. The usually quiet neighbourhood of Illupeju provided a serene atmosphere, perfect for leisurely conversations. They noticed that the local supermarket was already bustling with cars pulling in.

"How are we even going to get to Iyana Ipaja? It's a three-hour walk from here," Eze exclaimed.

"We'll have to take the bus, but to catch one, we need to get to GRA," Chinwe explained.

"Do you have money?" Eze inquired.

"For the conductor?" Obinna interjected, "Yep! Chinwe's Dad gave her just enough."

Eze, however, meant something different, "I meant for some of Titan's area boys."

"In GRA? Impossible. That place has too much security," Chinwe assured.

The trio made their way to a secluded shed, their secret meeting spot for the past seven years. It was an unassuming structure entirely made of metal, and while it offered shelter, it had an appearance that deterred most casuals from entering.

"Obinna, did you bring a change of clothes for me?" Eze asked.

"Of course! I wouldn't want you sneaking off and abandoning us," Obinna replied.

"Abandoning? Tough choice of words there," Eze retorted.

"Sha, be quick with your changing. Let's get in, out, and then back to the shelter," Obinna urged.

"You mean Okafor's?," Eze clarified.

"Yes, I mean Okafor's. What other shelter do we have?" Obinna said.

"Chinwe still has a home, you know." Eze teased.

"Oh, is that a problem?" Chinwe said, supposedly stonefaced.

"I hope you don't make your parents too worried," he continued with a playful smile.

"Only you people can make me feel guilty for having parents. Chai," Chinwe sighed good-naturedly.

As they shouldered the off-brand gym bag, their excitement grew, eager to explore the mysterious cave and uncover its secrets.

"This cave better have treasure or something with the way you people are so invested," Eze joked, a spark of playful skepticism in his eyes.

Chinwe chuckled, "Come on, Eze. We've been to so many other caves before. This is no different."

"Yeah, don't be such a doubter," Obinna chimed in, "Besides, we might find something cool."

Eze shrugged, a smile breaking through his initial skepticism. It only ever took a few precisely placed words to break down his defences. Especially from his friends. "Fine, fine. Let's get to Ikeja GRA quickly."

"We go by parkour?" Chinwe suggested, her eyes glinting mischievously.

"Sounds like someone learned some new moves," Eze remarked, a playful tone in his voice.

The buildings showed signs of wear and tear, the walls adorned with graffiti and worn-out politician posters. The streets were lined with makeshift stalls, where vendors sold goods ranging from earphones to fresh produce. The people they encountered were a mix of weary commuters, haggling shoppers, and children playing amidst the chaos.

The trio set off, their journey taking them through the bustling streets of Maryland. The environment was rough and packed, the chaos of the city permeating the air. They would move through the crowded market stalls, disrupting the cacophony of vendors vying for customers' attention.

"OGA! NA YOU GO BUY THIS THING FOR ME?" A vendor would shout, infuriated with them..

"Same as it always is huh?" Eze said.

"If it were different, this would be a lot harder, wouldn't it?" Obinna retorted.

They leapt over crates and boxes, nimbly dodged fruit stands, and jumped on top of stalls towards buses to gain higher ground. Each movement was calculated like they had done it a thousand times before.

Eze noticed a bird flying directly toward him as they moved through the crowded market. He rapidly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding a potential collision, with cat-like reflexes.
"WOAH!" Eze yelled, his heart pounding from the near miss.

They carried on their nimble quest, climbing atop parked buses and precariously teetering on perilous heights. Every time, it was the same. Once they had established a rhythm,their motions became more fluid, almost like a dance with the 'urban' surroundings, as the adrenaline rushed through their blood. They had spent many hours developing their parkour talents, as shown very clearly by how easily they moved through the urban maze and how accustomed to their surroundings they were.

Feeling the need to catch their breath, the friends stopped to rest by Oba Akinjobi Way. They found themselves in a quieter area, the hustle and bustle of the city fading away. Lush greenery bordered the road, providing a welcome contrast to the concrete jungle they had left behind.

"We're not that far away now. Let's keep pushing," said Obinna, his determination evident.

"Where to?" asked one of Titan's area boys, a hint of challenge in his voice.

Titan's area boys, though only two in number, exuded an air of dominance. Their intimidating presence was enough to make most people comply without resistance. But Eze was not one to back down easily.

"I don't know why you came here, oh, but Oba Akinjobi is our area," the area boy asserted, trying to assert authority.

"Make e jappa, unless you have cash," the other one added, ready to exploit any weakness they could find.

"Eze, I think we should give it to them. I don't want any trouble. You know what these boys do," Chinwe whispered anxiously, her concern for their safety palpable.

Eze looked at her with tender eyes, understanding her worry. Chinwe didn't handle these situations well, and he didn't want to put her or Obinna in harm's way. But as the situation unfolded, a mischievous thought crossed Eze's mind. He had an idea that might turn the tables.

"Abeg oh, we don't want wahala," Eze calmly responded, using his colloquial language.

"We are just passing through here to Iyana Ipaja," Obinna chimed in, playing along with Eze's plan.

"We don't have money as we are from an orphanage," Chinwe added, emphasizing their vulnerability.

"As you can see from the dust on our clothes, we walked here," Eze said with an innocent smile, using humor to disarm the situation.

The area boys exchanged puzzled glances, clearly unsure of how to handle this unexpected turn of events. They had expected easy prey, not orphans who dared to challenge their authority.

The silence that followed was thick with tension, and Eze's heart raced as he hoped his gamble would pay off. Suddenly, the area boys' expressions changed from dominance to a mixture of confusion and, surprisingly, horror.

"You're motherless?" one of them blurted out, the realization of their situation sinking in.

Eze nodded, maintaining his composure, "Unfortunately so. Will you let us go?"

"Get out and make it quick," the other area boy demanded, his bravado fading fast.

As the three friends hurried away, out of earshot, one of the area boys would whisper to his companion, "I hope God doesn't punish us for this."

"Abeg, you shut up that your mouth jor," the other responded, shook.

"My hero," Chinwe said with a playful smile, her admiration for Eze evident in her eyes.

"You can pay me back in adventure milk," Eze teased, unable to resist.

"Can we not say that," Chinwe retorted, rolling her eyes but still laughing.

"Bus is there, let's get on it," Obinna chimed in, steering the conversation back to their present situation at hand.

The yellow bus they boarded was packed like sardines, a common sight in the bustling city of Lagos. The trio found themselves squeezed together in the heat and stuffiness, the overwhelming crowd making it feel like they were almost suffocating.

Once the bus left Ikeja, the roads transitioned from the smooth roads of the city to ugly mud-ridden rocky 'roads' that were all too familiar in Nigeria. The bumpiness of the journey was enough to keep even the most hardcore sleepers from nodding off. The windows couldn't be opened due to the bus's overcrowding, and even if they could, the route was taking them through a factory, so the malodorous air wouldn't have been much better. But this was normal in Nigeria, where everyday life was a dance with a brand new challenge. No matter how bad it gets, it always becomes normal eventually.