The night was cold and so was he. Sanmi tapped his foot against the pavement, anxious to get the meeting over with also while simmering in anger at the disrespect he got from ORION, something had snapped in him, something wild and rebellious. Perhaps it had been long coming or perhaps he just needed the right eyes to tap him awake, he knew what he was messing with and that going against it would only spell doom for him, still he was past listening now.

A few minutes ago, he had completed the last drug deal of the night to a wide eyed stranger who had gazed at the package with reverence and with disgust, Sanmi realized that was how he probably looked at drugs, like it was a god. He hadn't noticed the stranger slipping something into his jean pockets until he was far gone.

Now he seethed at the contents of the letter, if you ever wish for something more than ORION, something better than revenge, contact us with this number and do not let anyone see this letter in your hands.

It was signed ARTEMIS. Sanmi had heard of Artemis in passing, something Joshua Phillips had whispered in fury and anything that made Phillips angry was worth looking into. Sanmi stared at the plain paper and memorized the numbers on it before taking out his lighter and setting the paper on fire, watching it burn like his life had.

His mind was made and for the first time, he felt a genuine smile tug at his lips, a smile that soon faded when Joshua Phillips arrived in tow with his merry band of bastards. Joshua wore a leather jacket with ORION's symbol on it etched on his breast pocket and biker jeans with boots, off campus he flaunted off ORION more, letting whoever cared to look that he was powerful because he led powerful people. He somehow didn't look put off by the brightly lit but dirty alley and walked like he owned the world.

Sanmi almost laughed at the look, suits definitely suited the bastard better.

Amina on the other hand looked intimidating wearing clothes or nothing, Sanmi remembered when he first joined ORION and thought he could bed her and use her to manipulate Joshua, she had taken one long look at him and laughed condescendingly and whispered in his ears that he was far from her type. She liked them new, fresh and preferably rich, she had sneered before flicking his nose in a seemingly playful gesture. Sanmi had hated her ever since. Every time they met, she would smile at him, like they shared a secret joke.

She usually wore an hijab but not tonight -- her long hair was packed in a ponytail -- not when she looked dressed to kill -- literarily. Dressed in an all leather outfit like Phillips, it seemed like they all dressed to match, including Firepemi and Nina.

As usual, the other girl avoided his stare and this time Sanmi did smirk, he knew her secret. Although it was no secret she and Phillips despised each other despite being in a relationship, but it was definitely surprising the she was fucking Firepemi behind her boyfriend's back. Sanmi held on to that secret, until it proved useful to him to spill it.

"I'm assuming it went well tonight, Sanmi?" Amina said, she always did the talking, and Joshua always did the taunting. He hated all of them and concealing it was hard enough, especially now that he knew something they did not know.

"As always," He forced himself to say, taking in deep breaths and trying not to imagine himself pummeling Phillips to the ground.

"I'm glad to hear it." Joshua nodded curtly, this evening he seemed to be bothered by something, Sanmi barely noticed how he was constantly sneaking a glance at his watch and was more focused on Nina's eyes constantly darting to her lover.

"I have a little concern though," Phillips continued. "And I'd hate for you to find out from outside ears, seeing that we're friends. Aren't we?"

Sanmi rolled his eyes, Joshua narrowed his eyes, most likely surprised by the sudden defiance, he reached into his breast pocket to pull out a small tube and Sanmi felt his chest swell with venom and hate, much to his chagrin, tears spring to his eyes.

Once again, Joshua Phillips played dirty, using his enemies weaknesses against them, like now. He knew Sanmi couldn't say no to drugs and what better way to keep him on a leash than the drugs.

Sanmi sneered at Phillips, and against the trembling in his body and the itching in his throat, he reached out and batted it away from Phillips, throwing the package to the ground and stepping on it for further emphasis.

The alley was suddenly silent, Firepemi had stopped his whistling and was now staring, even Amina had stopped smirking. Phillips looked downright surprised, the most emotion Sanmi had ever seen on his face. Bravado was still coursing through his veins and before he knew it, words were spilling from his tongue.

"I've been a good little boy, and I'm fucking tired now." He spoke through his teeth, running a hand through his messy hair. "Today has been long and I have no desire to stand here in this fucking place and act like we are anything close to friends, stay the fuck away and I'll run your errands like the slave I am but don't you dare taunt me."

He stood before a still Phillips, towering well over the smug boy.

"Hey, take it easy." Fire was saying, placing a hand on Sanmi's tense shoulders. He was quick to shrug it off.

Joshua raised a hand in surrender, eyes glinting with malice and Sanmi knew he'd pay for this later, one way or the other and he'd do it on his knees.

"I'm trying to look out for your family, Sanmi." He drawled. "I was going to tell you how I heard your sister was in trouble with the university and now I took care of it."

Joshua drew closer and laughed softly. "I extended my generosity and invited her to our next meeting, we're all looking forward to seeing Grace." I'm looking forward to fucking with her, his eyes said

Sanmi lost his shit, but Joshua saw the blow coming and caught it, twisting Sanmi's fists and batting it away.

Both boys were breathing heavily, and their companions watching wide eyed. Sanmi raked a hand through his hair and took a step back, the others did the same, seeing the wild look in his eyes.

"I'm done with your shit." He said, he took another step back before breaking into a light jog, far away from the alley and away from the vipers in it. As he ran, he pulled out his phone and dialed the number he memorized.

He slowed his stride and looked back, careful to check if he was being followed. He paused, resting against the walls of a closed shop and phone on his ear. ORION had lost him when they began to mess with his sister.

The other line picked up at the second dial.

"Hello, you have reached ARTEMIS, what is your emergency?" A feminine voice said.

Sanmi's nose crinkled and he wondered if he had the wrong person or if ARTEMIS was all a big prank but then the voice cackled at the end.

"I'm sorry, I've always wanted to say that." The voice chuckled. Sanmi would have smiled if he weren't so pissed off. "I'm guessing this is Sanmi Ilori, we weren't expecting your call so soon."

"I think you're the one who's been trying to reach me." He said.

"ARTEMIS could use your help, Sanmi." The voice said. "But only with your permission."

The boil in his blood was cooling to a simmer and Sanmi wondered if he was making a mistake that would only haunt him later. What did he have to lose? A whole lot, What did he have to gain? Everything.

He exhaled a deep breath and nodded even though they couldn't see him, but if they were anything like ORION, then they probably had eyes everywhere.

"I'm in."

"Fantastic, welcome to ARTEMIS, we'll be in touch."

***

It was September 2nd and on a normal day Kendrick would have been happy, excited even, birthdays only came once a year and it was a day he liked to spend alone and probably the only day his mother coddled him. When he was still in Abuja, his parents would visit his hostel and his mother would spoil him with Korean Chinese dishes that she knew were his favourites, especially 자장면  and he would eat until he was sick.

September 2nd was the only day his family felt like a traditional Asian family and no matter what his father never cancelled birthdays but this particular morning, Kendrick had woken up to a call from his father sounding less than sorry telling him he wouldn't be able to fly from Abuja to Lagos for his only son.

His mother would be coming the next day but it wasn't the same thing, Kendrick knew they were still pissed at him for transferring schools suddenly and without their approval. They didn't understand why and sometimes Kendrick didn't even understand why himself, all he knew was that he wasn't going to let Emmanuel's murderers go scot free.

"Okay, 어머니." He muttered the only word he knew in Korean into his phone speakers, wincing as his mother shouted down the line, he walked briskly careful not to bump into any student. LASU students were funny about things like that, always sporting for any excuse to fight.

"뭘 해야 할지 모르겠어요."  His mother muttered angrily in a string of Korean words Kendrick did not know. "너는 바뀌었다, 아들."

"I don't understand what you're saying, 어머니." Kendrick said bitterly, he crossed to the other side of the road hurriedly just as a car zoomed past. The Faculty of Education loomed in sight and almost immediately he caught sight of Grace sitting under one of the numerous trees. She was alone, thankfully.

"I just do not understand you anymore, 薄." She said calling him by his Chinese name. Kendrick could hear the fatigue in her tone and wondered if he was being too difficult, sometimes he felt angry at his parents for fitting in so well that they made him feel like an outsider.

"I'm fine, ma." He said, softening his tone. "I promise I'm not getting into trouble," He almost laughed at his own lies, he was definitely getting into a lot of trouble.

"Yes, I'll be a good son." He continued, ignoring the look a passerby sent him. "And I will see you tomorrow, God willing."

His mother sighed heavily. He imagined her tired nod and smiled fondly, she might be as tough as nails but still she worried and it was good someone worried about him, that would keep him in check.

"Okay, happy birthday, 薄." She whispered. They didn't say goodbye, it was a Yong family habit, they said what they wanted to say and hung up so Kendrick was surprised when she muttered a hurried goodbye and hung up.

He stared at the phone and for the first time he worried if there was something his parents were keeping from him. Kendrick shrugged and force himself to remember his mission, get Grace Ilori to help him.

She raised her head like she sensed him coming and a brief look of surprised crossed her squinted eyes. Kendrick risked a glance at his watch and saw that it was a few minutes past four o'clock. Only a few hours before dusk and he still hadn't figured out Joshua's riddle. He should have known Phillips wouldn't make it easy.

Kendrick plopped down on the empty concrete seat besides her and smiled. She only looked at him with suspicion, closing the book in her laps. He caught a brief look at the cover before she flipped it upside down -- the art of war, His father's favourite book.

"Hey," He said.

"Okay, what do you want?" She asked firmly, almost borderline on rude, if Kendrick hadn't gotten to know her he might have been offended but that was how Grace looked at people, like they were all coming to collect a favor.

"I'm offended, is this how you talk to your friends?" He asked.

"We're not friends." She said. Now he was kind of offended.

"And here I was thinking that sports brought people together." He forced a hollow laugh. He watched her tap a steady beat on her book before looking ahead to squint at the sun.

"Don't play smart with me, Kendrick. I know you want something and I know you've wanted it since Joshua freaking Phillips handed us his stupid invitation." She snapped and this time Kendrick smiled, she had just given him the opening he needed.

He parted his lips to speak but she cut him off with a raised palm.

"You see, I could tell there was something dark inside you, on the outside you seem quiet and observant and maybe you are but not now, I can virtually hear the cogs in your head spinning, you're out for something, I saw it in the pleased look you had when Phillips gave you that invite and I see it now. You want something and you want me to help you." She ranted in one breath, only pausing to insert venom in her tongue.

He looked down at the book in her lap again and back to her face. People who read the art of war for leisure were definitely the strangest people he knew.

"Okay, you've got me." He said, tucking his tongue in his cheek, and making a note to master a poker face. He'd be needing it with the people around him.

"I want no part in what you've planned." She said. "Listen, my whole life is fucked up, I've got enough on my pinky finger and that alone is probably bigger than anything you're handling on both hands. If you want to join Joshua and his band of bastards because you're bored and have the time, then go ahead but don't bring me into this."

"Joshua Phillips and his band of bastards killed my best friend." Kendrick said flatly, he let the words slip through his lips and if he had expected to feel better sharing the burden with someone else, then he was wrong. He didn't feel better, not even an iota of satisfaction as Grace stiffened.

"I saw it happen with my two eyes and I want to make them pay." He continued. "It's the only thing driving me, and it's the only thing that will save me. They weren't there after he died, leaving his family to pick up the pieces. His mother died of an heart attack at the news and his two little sisters are in separate orphanages, one family destroyed by stupid teens playing god."

"And now you want to play punisher." Grace said, she didn't sound moved, she sounded pissed off. "I wish I could say I understood, but I don't, getting even will not bring your friend back."

"This isn't about that!" He exploded, even furious, his voice was still a whisper but the intensity made Grace flinch and instantly, he felt sorry. "This is about stopping countless other families from ending up the same way."

Grace didn't bat an eye. "So you want to play hero?"

"I need your help, if you don't want to help me take down ORION that's fine." He said hurriedly and firmly. "I haven't figured out the riddle, and I could use an extra brain."

"What riddle?" Grace asked, truly perplexed.

Kendrick rolled his eyes. "Have you even read the invite?"

"I wasn't thinking of going, I'm in deep shit but letting ORION solve my problems is like asking for a cap in an exchange for my head." She said, slouching against the tree, suddenly looking exhausted.

Kendrick handed her the folded paper from his pocket and watched her glance through it, biting her upper lip in concentration. He looked away to glance at the thinning crowd gathered at the faculty building, some of them leaving after lectures and some arriving for evening lectures.

She looked up after a moment and rolled her eyes, a scoff escaping her lips.

"You didn't get it because you've been thinking like this is some grandmaster level of riddle but it's meaning is thinly veiled and very obvious, like Joshua Phillips' common sense." She said.

Kendrick forced a laugh, her jab was funny but oddly he felt like he had bared his soul to her moments ago and he now felt raw.

"You should look at it through his eyes," She said. "Here it says something about a blindfolded lady, he's talking about the symbol of Justice, a blindfolded woman holding a sword on one hand and a scale in another."

"Wow, you're pretty smart." He said, expecting her to be pleased but instead she grimaced.

"Please, don't insult me by comparing my intelligence with this stupid riddle, the writer is quite stupid." Grace said. "And I've been solving riddles since I was ten."

"And here he talks about a place where people play the game of justice." He exchanged a glance with her and at the same time they said;

"A court."

Grace nodded, a small smile on her face, still pleased despite her words.

"He might mean a court in general, but there is a court here on campus, albeit not a real one." She continued. "The moot court in the Faculty of Law, I'm sure of it."

Kendrick could have kissed her but settled for a pat on her shoulder because a hug would have unsettled her.

The moot court, he was one step closer to his revenge and he wouldn't stop till he got it.

The moot court, 7pm.

***

28th of December, 2000

Tolu Kingston looked at the sleeping bundle in his arms and felt grief envelop him like a dark cloud. No matter how bad he wanted to keep her, he knew he could not when ORION were after him. Not when he knew what they would do to the child in his arms, the same thing they had done to Mika.

Anger swelled in his chest at the thought and he glanced at his phone, at the last text he had gotten from her.

If I am not back by the 27th, know I am gone. I'm sorry, T, take care of her.

He took a deep breath and forced the anger away, forcing his mind to the matter at hand, keeping his daughter safe. He knocked the door, suddenly he wanted to run far away. It had been in their plans, to give her away if things came to shit but nothing could prepare him for the abyss in his chest as the door creaked open and a tall man stepped out.

He nodded once, a sign of solidarity but it made Tolu want to knock the man's teeth back into his throat.

"Take care of her." He said. The man nodded again.

This time when he walked back into the dark, he sent one last message before he smashed his phone on the concrete.

Then he pulled out the new phone he got a day ago and dialled a number. A voice answered on the end, grim and nondescript.

"Hello, you have reached ARTEMIS, state your emergency."

A/N
Fun fact, Artemis is the goddess of the hunt in Greek mythology and she slayed Orion, a giant-hunter and pursuer of the Pleiades (companions of Artemis). I didn't even know this until I was reading on Orion 😂