Novels by NONSO PEN

Kai’s eyes snapped open.His sheets were wet with sweat. His heart was beating too fast.The dream again. The rain. The headlights. Victoria’s smile. Mr. Ashford’s voice telling him to choose.His hands shook as he pushed the covers back. It was 4:47 in the morning.“Why do you want the man who will ruin you?” he whispered to the dark room.There was no answer.He got up. His body ached. His ribs felt bruised, like something inside was broken.Fear mixed with something else. A dark pull he didn’t have a name for.He dressed slowly. His hands fumbled with the buttons. He dropped his phone twice.He had to go to school today. He had to act normal.His life would never be normal again.The school halls were quiet when he arrived. Too early. The cleaner gave him a strange look but said nothing.He walked to his first class. Maybe he could hide until other students came.The classroom door was slightly open.Mr. Ashford was at his desk. Papers were spread out. A single lamp was on.He look

CHAPTER 6: Storm Before the Fall“You need to eat.”Kai looked at the full plate. He had been inside for three days. Mr. Ashford was always watching.“I’m not hungry.”“Eat.” Mr. Ashford sat across from him. “Now.”“Stop talking to me like I’m a dog.”The words came out sharp. Weeks of pressure were boiling over.Mr. Ashford’s face was blank. “Be careful.”“Or what? You’ll lock me in my room?” Kai pushed the plate away. “I can’t breathe here. You’re smothering me.”“I’m keeping you safe.”“This isn’t safe! It’s a prison!” Kai stood up, his chair scraping loudly. “You control everything I do. What I wear. Where I go. I’m trapped.”“You’re alive.”“I’m going crazy!”Silence fell. Heavy and dangerous.Mr. Ashford stood up slowly. He walked around the table. Each step was careful. Controlled.Kai wanted to run, but his feet were stuck to the floor.“You think I want this?” Mr. Ashford’s voice was low and tight. “You think I like being like this?”“Then stop.”“I can’t.” Mr. Ashford’s hand

“Show me.”Mr. Ashford’s voice was quiet, like the calm before a storm.Kai’s hand shook as he held out his phone. The screen glowed with the message.Stay away from James Ashford. This is your only warning.Mr. Ashford read it. His jaw tightened.“When did this come?”“An hour ago. I didn’t know if I should—”The phone shattered against the wall.Kai jumped back.“Pack a bag.” Mr. Ashford was already moving to the door. “You’re not going to school tomorrow.”“What? I can’t just—”“You were threatened.” Mr. Ashford turned. A fire burned in his eyes. Real anger. “Do you understand what that means?”“It’s probably just Victoria trying to scare me—”“Victoria ruins reputations. She doesn’t make threats like this.” Mr. Ashford stepped closer. “This is someone else. Someone dangerous.”Kai’s stomach turned to ice. “How do you know?”“Because I’ve gotten three messages this week.” Mr. Ashford’s hand gripped Kai’s shoulder. Hard. “About you. What they want to do to you. To get to me.”The wo

“It meant nothing.”Mr. Ashford didn’t look up from his papers. They had been back for twenty minutes. The car ride had been completely silent.Kai stood in the office doorway. The skin on his face still felt warm where Mr. Ashford’s breath had touched him.“I know,” Kai said.“It was an act. To make Victoria back off.” The pen in Mr. Ashford’s hand scratched across the page. “Do not misunderstand.”“I don’t.”“Good.” Finally, his cold eyes lifted. “Go to bed. We have work tomorrow.”Dismissed. Again.Kai turned to leave.“And Kai?” Mr. Ashford’s voice stopped him. “You did well tonight. Better than I expected.”The praise was small. But it settled, warm, in Kai’s chest.He hated that it mattered.Sleep wouldn’t come. Kai lay in his new, expensive bed and replayed the moment. Each time felt different.The way Mr. Ashford had pulled him close. The firm grip on his hip. The heat of his body. The closeness that stole Kai’s breath.An act.Sure.Then why did his heart race every time he t

“Take those off.”Kai froze in the doorway. Mr. Ashford stood in the middle of a room that was all glass and expensive-looking leather.“Your shoes,” Mr. Ashford said. “They are dirty.”Kai looked down at his old sneakers. They looked wrong on the perfect, shiny floor.He took them off. His socks had holes.A woman in a sharp, clean uniform came out of another room. She looked at Kai like he was trash on her floor.“This is him?” she asked.“Yes, Margaret. The tailor comes at two. Clear my schedule for the afternoon.”“Sir, you have the board meeting at—”“Move it.”Margaret pressed her lips together and left without another word.Kai felt small. The house was too clean, too bright. It felt like it was pushing him out.“Follow me,” Mr. Ashford said.They walked through room after room. A library full of books. An office. A dining room with a table long enough for twenty people.Mr. Ashford stopped at a door and opened it.“This is your room.”It was bigger than his uncle’s whole apart

“Sit.”Just one term. No asking involved.Kai sat down fast, without thinking. Across from Mr. Ashford’s desk, he slumped into the seat.The lamp threw dark shapes over the teacher's face. His chin stood out, hard and defined. Those eyes - like they’d slice through anything. Every little thing he did felt tight, like nothing was left loose.Expensive perfume hung around, thick yet sharp. Not sweet - just cold, almost harsh. This put Kai more on edge, his old clothes itching like they didn’t belong. His skin crawled under that polished smell.“You’re late,” Mr. Ashford said again. He leaned back in his chair. “That tells me you don’t value time. Mine or yours.”“I didn’t know when to—”“Excuses are worthless.” Mr. Ashford’s fingers tapped the desk once. “You came here because you need something. So tell me. What is it?”Kai’s mouth felt parched. Where could he even start - trying to describe that kind of hunger to a guy who seemed born with everything handed to him? Maybe it was pointl