Chapter Nine: Dreams & Deadlines
> Some stories begin with a pen.
This one begins with a heartbeat,
a stage, and a girl who made him brave.
---
Five Days Until the Trustline Showcase
CJ's mornings had changed.
Gone were the restless nights haunted by Blaze's name. Now, he woke up to Shantel's voice notes—soft poems she recorded while watching the sunrise.
> "You don't have to win the world, CJ.
Just don't lose yourself in it."
He'd replay them while brushing his teeth, like armor for the day.
But even in peace, the clock ticked loud. The Trustline Records showcase was days away, and Nairobi was already buzzing. Hype pages were posting rankings of rumored performers. CJ and Shantel were #4.
"Too low," Lulu grumbled as they rehearsed. "They haven't heard the second verse yet."
---
The First Crack in the Beat
It happened on a Tuesday.
Shantel showed up late to practice, her hoodie pulled low. Eyes puffy. Sketchbook missing.
CJ pulled her aside. "What's wrong?"
She tried to brush it off. "Just tired."
But CJ saw the truth in her hands—ink smudged, shaking slightly.
Later that night, he found a drawing she'd dropped by accident.
It was… herself.
But surrounded by shadows. Faces with no eyes. One had a long scar down the cheek.
> Blaze?
No… someone else.
CJ's stomach flipped. She had her own battles. And maybe… they hadn't even begun yet.
---
Flashback Within a Flashback – Shantel's Secret
That night, Shantel walked alone on Eastpoint's upper hill, past the market she avoided like a curse.
She stared at a torn poster taped to a pole:
"IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH MWANGI – Gone but not forgotten."
Her brother.
A promising poet.
Gone three years now.
Shot. Caught between gangs.
She never told CJ.
Never told anyone that Blaze used to roll with the gang that took Joseph away.
That's why his name made her flinch.
Why CJ's battles made her scared.
Why this showcase meant more than fame—it meant facing everything she ran from.
---
Back to Present – The Message
CJ got a call.
Unknown number.
He almost didn't answer.
"CJ?" the voice said. "It's… Kevy."
CJ's blood iced.
"You want drama again?"
"No," Kevy said quickly. "It's Blaze. He's not the same. He's been spiraling. And someone else is pulling his strings now—someone worse."
CJ gripped the phone tighter. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you're the only one who can stop him. And because he's not just coming to win the showcase anymore..."
Pause. A chill.
"He's coming to destroy you. And her."
Click.
The line went dead.
---
End Scene – Rooftop, Under Stars
That night, CJ found Shantel on the rooftop again, her head resting against his shoulder.
He didn't mention the call. Not yet.
He just took her hand, kissed her knuckles, and said, "When we go on that stage… it's not about crowds, or clout. It's about us."
She nodded slowly.
"I'm ready to face the ghosts," she whispered.
CJ looked out at the sleeping city. His grip on her tightened.
"Then let's give them something unforgettable."