Novels by Onorine Mankah

Violet:I could hear the ringing in my ears after the explosion. As my eyes slowly opened, the first thing I saw was a white ceiling; then I smelled antiseptic, and then I saw a nurse. Caleb sat on the couch, tired and drained, his eyes bloodshot, dark circles under them like he hadn't slept in days. A machine nearby beeped in a slow, steady rhythm. For a single second, I just lay there wondering why I was in the hospital, and then it came back: the call, the match, the crash. My heart rate spiked, the beeping noise rose in the air, and before I knew it, the nurse was saying something, and Caleb was up. He was trying to reach me while other nurses held him back. Everything they said came in whispers. I could see their mouths moving, but what I heard came in slow gaps. A loud noise kept ringing in my ears, but all I wanted was Liam.I tried to sit up, and the room spun violently. My body slammed back before I could even take in instructions. The nurse quickly reached toward my shoulde

Violet:I expected Liam to switch off the bench and join the match during the second half, but I hadn't expected the collision when the final whistle was about to blow or for the victims to be carried away. The blood stains remained on the cold ice, and clips were already circulating online. All I wanted was to get down there and make sure Liam was okay, but with what had just happened, access to the ice was restricted. The arena burst with angry fans, some chanting, some requesting closure, others pointing fingers. But it was clear to us all, clean slate or not, how they'd aimed. They came in at full speed, and the moment Liam moved, it was too late for either of them to stop. I couldn't say who got hit harder, for they both were hurt badly. Marcus was out before he was carried off the ice, while Jude lay barely moving, blood seeping from the corners of his ears. That was only the beginning. By the time he was carried away, rumors were already circulating that he might not make it

Liam:Two nights ago, when we'd decided to make my benching public, in Patrov's hospital room, which smelled of antiseptic and new furniture, Anderson had laid out the plan for us like a chess master on a sheet of paper. Everything was drafted down to the right angle, the right position, and the right moves. All we had to do was sit back and relax, watch their moves, and counter them with the same moves. The new players hired by Kingsgrove were exceptionally good. That was no mistake. But something was lacking. Every team had a strategy, and for years Ashgrove had built its strategy. Ours was deep-rooted in our team. Kingsgrove changed its strategy every season when new players came, like borrowing a language every time. They had no language of their own. Marcus had fed them everything, but he'd forgotten that what he fed them was something we'd made from scratch, and we could build another. That was why I'd already handpicked my players before he picked his. My players would end up

Liam:Silverford Metropolitan Arena was louder than it had ever been. Banners flew from every direction, and the fans' chants were so loud the arena buzzed. Every seat was taken, and it was so packed that some fans were standing while others were still outside, unable to gain entrance. Both teams arrived on time. First, the reporters took their shots, as always. Marcus led the way, posing and doing everything he could for the camera. Then Emma Bennett stepped forward. I'd expected her to start with Marcus, but no, she came to me."There's a rumor going around that you'll be benched from this game. Is it true?""What can I say? It's time to give another player a chance to prove themselves." She gave me a look that said she didn't trust me, and I didn't explain further. Marcus had already grabbed the mic, and I couldn't even open my mouth. He began by expressing his gratitude to his fans for supporting him so far, not once making mention of the team, then moved on to congratulating him

Third Person:It was only a few hours until the big day. While Ashgrove prepared at their own hotel, Kingsgrove was making preparations of its own, and every activity was tailored to the day ahead. The morning opened with Jude and Louis going around town picking up a few items before rejoining the team at their hotel. Then they had breakfast and lunch, chatted a little, drafted the strategies they were going to follow, and finalized who would be on the team.Jude was in charge. Yes, Kingsgrove had a coach, but the ball had always been in Jude's court. He picked every player, from those who would start the game to those who would finish it and those reserved for the bench, and Louis stood by his side through every match like a sister. When everything had been settled, some players grumbled that they'd wanted to play. They thought they were good enough, but Louis and Jude insisted on using the hired players. The hired players came from elite teams and international teams, known for the

Liam:"I wouldn't put it past him. He's been the guy sleeping around for as long as I can remember. He came back with one woman after another, so it's nothing new.""Hmm," Taron muttered over the phone. "Or it could be the one you've been searching for."My pulse quickened so fast that I had to look up. "You think?""We can't put anything past him. He has been searching for them, and so have we. And with how confident he sounded mentioning the baby to Marcus, I'm certain he's already aware of their location, or worse, he has access to them. So we pay more attention to his house, to those who come in and go out, to every exit in the building, and to Marcus. He may just be the only way for us to gain access without having to break through his security.""I know that. Compare the documents sent to Taron on it," Derek answered immediately and began typing at the speed of light.Speak of the devil, Taron's call came in right then."Hey," his calm voice came through the speaker."Hi, Taron,