Part 1 – The Lord's Day
Sunday – 6:00 A.M.
There are only two things capable of waking a Nigerian teenager up before sunrise.
The first is NEPA suddenly bringing back light after three days.
The second...
Your mother.
And trust me—the second one is far more terrifying.
---
The first rays of sunlight slowly crept through the curtains of my bedroom, painting golden streaks across the walls. Outside, Abuja was just beginning to wake up.
Somewhere down the street, a rooster crowed for what felt like the hundredth time.
Motorcycles rumbled past the compound.
Church buses could already be heard honking in the distance.
Sunday had arrived.
Usually, Sunday mornings were peaceful.
Today wasn't one of those Sundays.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"UCHENNA OKAFOR!"
My eyes flew open.
I shot upright so quickly I nearly headbutted the ceiling fan.
"...Jesus Christ."
Another knock.
"Chimdi!"
"Yes, Mum!" my elder brother answered from across the hallway.
"Chimere!"
"I'm awake, Mummy!"
"And Uche..."
Silence.
"...don't make me come inside that room."
I swallowed.
"I'm awake too!"
"You have exactly fifteen minutes before I return."
Her footsteps slowly disappeared downstairs.
I let out the deepest sigh of relief known to mankind.
"...I survived."
For now.
---
I stretched lazily before glancing at the alarm clock.
6:01 A.M.
"Only one minute late."
Not bad.
Well...
Until another voice echoed through the house.
"Chimdi! Iron your brother's trousers before I come upstairs!"
"I've already done it, Mum!"
"Liar!" I shouted through my bedroom door.
"You ironed yours!"
"I ironed yours too."
"...Seriously?"
"Go and check."
I looked toward the wardrobe.
Neatly folded on the chair were my freshly ironed trousers and white shirt.
"...Thanks."
"No problem."
See?
That's my brother.
He'll annoy you every chance he gets...
...but he'll still help you before you even ask.
---
After a quick bath, I threw on my white shirt and black trousers.
Just as I reached for my tie—
I heard tiny footsteps.
"Big Brother?"
I turned around.
Chimere stood at the doorway wearing a beautiful white dress with little blue flowers stitched around the sleeves.
Her hair looked...
Well...
Like she'd lost a fight with a pillow.
She held two blue ribbons in one hand and her Bible in the other.
"I can't tie it..."
I smiled.
"Come here."
She happily skipped over.
I gently combed her hair before tying both ribbons into neat bows.
"There."
She spun around happily.
"Do I look pretty?"
I pretended to think.
"Hmmm..."
She frowned.
"...Maybe."
Her mouth dropped open.
"Maybe?"
I laughed.
"I'm joking."
"You look beautiful."
She smiled so brightly you'd think she'd won a million naira.
"Thank you!"
She hugged me tightly before running downstairs.
Kids really are easy to make happy.
---
"UCHENNA!"
"...Coming!"
I grabbed my Bible and hurried downstairs.
The aroma of fried eggs and bread instantly filled my nose.
My stomach growled.
Breakfast.
Finally.
Dad was already seated at the dining table reading the newspaper.
"Morning, Dad."
He lowered the paper.
"Morning."
He looked me up and down.
"Your shoes."
I looked down.
Bathroom slippers.
"...Oops."
Without another word I sprinted back upstairs.
Behind me I heard Dad laughing.
"You'll never change."
---
When I came back wearing my proper shoes, everyone was already seated.
Mum folded her arms.
"We've been waiting."
"Sorry."
"Sit."
I obeyed immediately.
Nobody argued with Mum on Sunday mornings.
Nobody.
She placed a plate of bread, fried eggs and hot tea in front of me.
"Eat."
The room became quiet for a few moments except for the sounds of cutlery and occasional conversation.
Dad folded his newspaper.
"So...
How's Nimbus 7?"
I nearly choked on my tea.
"...Huh?"
Chimdi burst into laughter.
"Dad's talking about your football team."
"Oh!"
I laughed awkwardly.
"It's...doing fine."
If only he knew.
Nimbus 7 wasn't exactly a football team anymore.
---
Halfway through breakfast...
Mum stood up.
"Everybody."
Instant silence.
"Bibles."
We all raised them.
"Offering?"
Dad nodded.
Chimdi lifted his envelope.
I reached into my pocket.
Still there.
Good.
"Notebook?"
Chimere proudly raised hers.
Mum smiled.
"Excellent."
Then her face became serious again.
"I don't want anybody sleeping during the sermon."
She looked directly at me.
Especially me.
"I wasn't sleeping last week."
"You were blinking for five minutes straight."
"I was meditating."
Dad laughed so hard he almost spilled his tea.
"Meditating?"
"Yes."
Mum wasn't convinced.
"You were snoring."
"I was breathing spiritually."
Even Chimdi couldn't hold his laughter anymore.
Chimere covered her mouth trying not to giggle.
Mum shook her head.
"One day..."
She couldn't even finish the sentence before smiling.
---
At exactly 6:55 A.M., the family stepped outside.
The cool morning breeze brushed against our faces.
Across the neighborhood, other families were doing exactly the same.
Children adjusted their tiny suits.
Parents locked their gates.
Church buses stopped every few streets picking up members.
The city felt...
Peaceful.
Dad locked the front gate.
"Everybody ready?"
"Yes!"
Our silver Toyota Corolla pulled out of the compound and joined the growing Sunday traffic.
As I stared out the window, watching Abuja slowly come alive, I couldn't help smiling.
Yesterday we fought criminals with superpowers.
Today...
I was just another teenager going to church with his family.
It almost felt normal.
Almost.
Because hidden beneath my neatly ironed shirt...
The silver communicator clipped inside my belt vibrated once.
So lightly that nobody else noticed.
I frowned.
One vibration.
No alarm.
No message.
Just...
A vibration.
It stopped as suddenly as it started.
"...Weird."
I glanced out the window again, deciding it was probably nothing.
Little did I know...
Somewhere else in Abuja...
Two other communicators were about to receive something that would change the course of this peaceful Sunday forever.
Part 2 – The Loudest House on the Street
While the Okafor family made their way through the quiet Sunday traffic...
...
A few neighborhoods away...
Peace didn't exist.
At least not in Victor's house.
---
"TOLU!!"
Victor's voice thundered through the entire compound.
"Where's my tie?!"
The sound echoed from the upstairs bedroom.
In the kitchen, Mrs. Adebayo calmly stirred a pot of jollof rice as though nothing unusual had happened.
Mr. Adebayo simply turned the page of his newspaper.
Without even looking upstairs, he spoke.
"Three..."
Mrs. Adebayo smiled.
"Two..."
"One..."
Almost on cue...
"TEMI!!"
Mr. Adebayo chuckled.
"Right on time."
---
Upstairs, Victor was running around his room like someone had set it on fire.
His school trophies sat neatly on one shelf.
His football boots were lined up perfectly.
His comic books were stacked in order.
Yet somehow...
He couldn't find a single thing he actually needed.
"Tolu!"
His eldest sister finally appeared at the doorway wearing a beautiful navy-blue gown.
She folded her arms.
"What?"
"My tie."
She pointed toward the mirror.
"It's hanging there."
Victor turned.
"Oh."
"...Thanks."
She sighed.
"I've only been telling you that for the past five minutes."
Victor scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"I didn't check there."
"I know."
She walked away.
Exactly four seconds later—
"Temi!"
His second elder sister answered from downstairs.
"What now?!"
"My belt!"
A long silence followed.
Then—
"Victor..."
"...Yes?"
"If I come upstairs and find that belt before you do..."
"You won't."
"I will."
"You won't."
"I WILL."
Victor swallowed.
Maybe she would.
He quickly searched under his pillow.
Nothing.
Under the chair.
Nothing.
Inside his wardrobe.
Nothing.
Finally...
He looked around his waist.
"..."
The belt was already on him.
Victor slowly closed his eyes.
"...I didn't just embarrass myself again."
Unfortunately...
Both sisters had already walked upstairs.
Temi stared at him.
Then at the belt.
Then back at him.
"Victor..."
"...Yeah?"
"You've been wearing it this whole time."
Silence.
Then—
Tolu burst into laughter.
Temi followed.
Victor covered his face.
"I refuse to believe this."
"Oh, believe it," Tolu laughed between breaths.
"You've reached a new level this morning."
"I was distracted."
Temi grinned.
"By what?"
Victor couldn't exactly tell them he'd spent half the night dreaming about yesterday's mission.
Or that he was still wondering how hot his flames could become before Emmanuel started shouting at him again.
So instead...
"I was thinking."
Tolu raised an eyebrow.
"Dangerous."
---
A few minutes later, the entire family gathered around the dining table.
Mrs. Adebayo placed plates of steaming jollof rice and fried plantain before everyone.
Victor's eyes widened.
"Mum..."
"You made jollof?"
"You sound surprised."
"I thought we'd eat bread."
She smiled.
"Not today."
Victor rubbed his hands together dramatically.
"This is why you're the greatest cook in Nigeria."
Mr. Adebayo looked over his newspaper.
"And yesterday you said your aunt made the greatest fried rice."
Victor froze.
"...Did I?"
"You did."
"I meant..."
He looked at his mother.
"...You're number one."
His father coughed.
"Liar."
The entire table erupted into laughter.
---
As breakfast continued, Temi noticed Victor smiling to himself.
"What are you smiling about?"
"Hmm?"
"You've been smiling since you woke up."
"Nothing."
"There's definitely something."
Victor shrugged casually.
"Just thinking about football."
"Football?"
"Yeah."
Tolu narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You're smiling over football?"
"Very normal."
Mr. Adebayo nodded.
"I used to smile over football too."
Victor immediately pointed at his father.
"See?"
Tolu wasn't convinced.
"No...
There's something else."
Victor quickly stuffed another spoonful of rice into his mouth before anyone asked more questions.
If only they knew...
Yesterday, he'd fought a flying criminal with fire.
Today...
He was pretending life was normal.
---
Breakfast finished.
Mrs. Adebayo stood up.
"Everybody ready?"
"Yes, dear."
She looked at Victor.
"Bible?"
He proudly lifted it.
"Offering?"
He reached into his trouser pocket.
"...One second."
His smile disappeared.
He checked the other pocket.
Nothing.
His shirt pocket.
Nothing.
His jacket.
Nothing.
"...Uh-oh."
Temi couldn't resist.
"You've lost it already?"
"I kept it somewhere."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Tolu laughed.
"You truly are impossible."
Victor hurried upstairs two steps at a time.
"Don't leave without me!"
A few seconds later...
"I FOUND IT!"
His voice echoed through the house.
Mr. Adebayo smiled.
"Miracles still happen."
---
By exactly 7:00 A.M., the family climbed into their SUV.
Victor took the back seat beside Temi.
As the vehicle pulled onto the road, he rested his forehead against the window.
The streets were alive now.
Church buses.
Families dressed in colorful native attire.
Street vendors arranging cool drinks.
Traffic officers directing vehicles.
Everything looked...
Normal.
Victor smiled faintly.
"Maybe today will finally be peaceful."
Little did he know...
Across Abuja...
Part 3 – Different Roads, Same Destination
While Victor's family disappeared into the busy streets of Abuja...
In another part of the city...
Someone had been awake long before everyone else.
---
John's House
Unlike most teenagers who needed ten alarms and a shouting match with their parents...
John was already dressed.
His neatly ironed white shirt was tucked perfectly into his black trousers, his polished shoes reflected the morning sunlight pouring through the window, and his Bible rested quietly on the bed.
He glanced at the wall clock.
6:32 A.M.
"Right on schedule."
John wasn't the type to rush.
He believed that if you prepared early, mornings became easier.
Unfortunately...
Not everyone in the house shared that philosophy.
---
"Grace!"
A little girl peeked from behind the bedroom door.
"Yes, Brother John?"
"Come here."
She hurried over.
John knelt and straightened the ribbon in her hair.
"There."
She smiled brightly.
"Thank you."
He nodded.
"Go downstairs before Mum starts looking for you."
She giggled and ran off.
Before he could even stand up—
Another tiny voice echoed from the hallway.
"Brother John!"
He turned.
His younger brother David struggled to button his shirt correctly.
John smiled.
"Come here."
Within seconds he had the buttons fixed and the collar neatly folded.
"There."
David looked down proudly.
"I look handsome!"
John laughed.
"You certainly do."
---
Downstairs, the aroma of fried yam and egg sauce drifted through the house.
Mrs. Okeke smiled as she arranged plates on the dining table.
"John."
"I'm coming, Mum."
She noticed he was still standing near the staircase.
"Waiting for Jeremiah?"
John sighed.
"He's still bathing."
Mrs. Okeke closed her eyes briefly.
"Again?"
John nodded.
"Again."
---
He walked to the bathroom door and knocked.
"Jeremiah."
No answer.
"Jeremiah."
Still nothing.
He knocked louder.
"Guy!"
Finally...
"I heard you!"
John folded his arms.
"You've been inside for twenty minutes."
"I'm almost done."
"You said that ten minutes ago."
"I'm serious this time."
John shook his head.
"If you're not downstairs in five minutes, I'm eating your meat."
The bathroom door flew open slightly.
"You can't do that!"
"I can."
"No, you can't!"
"I absolutely can."
Jeremiah gasped dramatically.
"That's wickedness."
John grinned.
"Then hurry up."
---
Five minutes later...
The entire family gathered around the dining table.
Mr. Okeke looked around.
"Everybody here?"
John nodded.
"Yes, Dad."
Jeremiah hurried in at that exact moment, still drying his hair with a towel.
John smirked.
"You made it."
"Barely."
Mrs. Okeke shook her head.
"Every single Sunday."
Jeremiah laughed awkwardly.
"I'll change."
Everyone around the table answered at once.
"You've been saying that for years."
The room erupted into laughter.
---
After breakfast, Mr. Okeke stood.
"As always..."
The entire family joined hands.
John closed his eyes.
His father's calm voice filled the room.
"Father, thank You for another beautiful Sunday..."
As the prayer continued...
John quietly smiled.
Yesterday he had used his powers to stop a dangerous criminal.
Today...
He was simply standing beside his family.
It was a comforting reminder that no matter how extraordinary life became...
Home would always feel normal.
---
Outside...
The family climbed into their old Toyota Sienna.
As they drove toward Christ Gospel Mission Church, John stared through the window.
Children played football along quiet streets.
Women adjusted colorful gele while waiting for church buses.
Music floated gently through the morning air.
Everything felt...
Peaceful.
He hoped it stayed that way.
---
Atani's Family
Several kilometres away...
Atani sat quietly in the back seat of his father's black Honda Pilot.
Unlike Victor...
Unlike Uche...
Unlike almost everyone else in the Backbenchers...
Atani wasn't much of a talker.
He preferred listening.
Observing.
Thinking.
---
Soft gospel music played through the speakers.
His younger sister rested against their mother's shoulder, still half asleep.
His father kept one hand on the steering wheel while humming along with the song.
Nobody spoke for several minutes.
Nobody needed to.
The silence wasn't awkward.
It was comfortable.
---
Eventually...
Mrs. Hassan turned around.
"Atani."
"Yes, Mum?"
"You've been unusually quiet."
He smiled faintly.
"I'm always quiet."
His father laughed.
"That's true."
His mother wasn't convinced.
"Something's on your mind."
Atani looked out the window.
"I've just been thinking."
"About school?"
"A little."
His father nodded knowingly.
"SS3 isn't easy."
"If only that was the biggest thing on my mind..."
He whispered so softly that only he could hear himself.
---
Yesterday's battle replayed inside his head.
Ahmed's earth attacks.
Olodo flying through the sky.
Eze smashing cars apart.
For the first time...
Magic hadn't just been fantasy.
It had become part of his life.
He slowly clenched his fist.
Even now...
He could feel mana flowing beneath his skin.
Waiting.
Listening.
Responding.
---
"You alright?"
His mother's voice pulled him back.
He quickly smiled.
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure."
She nodded.
"If you ever have something bothering you..."
"I'll tell you."
---
Their vehicle finally turned into the parking lot of Glorious Redemption Bible Church.
Hundreds of worshippers were already arriving.
Children chased each other between parked cars.
Choir members hurried toward the auditorium carrying microphones.
Deacons welcomed families with warm smiles.
It looked like every normal Sunday.
Atani couldn't explain why...
But something deep inside him kept whispering...
Be ready.
He looked toward the bright blue sky.
"...Hopefully today stays quiet."
---
Meanwhile...
Across Abuja...
Two members of the Backbenchers had already completed the first part of their day.
Unlike the others...
They weren't getting ready for church.
They had already answered a different call.
---
Ja'afar
The first rays of sunlight illuminated the prayer mat neatly spread across Ja'afar's bedroom floor.
His Fajr prayer had ended nearly thirty minutes earlier.
The peaceful recitation of the Qur'an filled the room as he quietly turned another page.
Downstairs, the smell of akara and pap drifted through the house.
His mother called from the kitchen.
"Ja'afar!"
"I'm coming, Mum."
He carefully placed a bookmark inside the Qur'an before carrying it respectfully to its shelf.
As he walked downstairs, his younger cousin looked up.
"Morning, Brother."
"Morning."
His father smiled.
"Finished praying?"
"Yes, Dad."
"Good."
Breakfast was simple.
Akara.
Pap.
Bread.
Nothing fancy.
Just enough to start the day.
His father looked across the table.
"Any plans today?"
Ja'afar shrugged.
"Probably revise a little."
His mother smiled.
"Good answer."
Nobody at the table had the slightest idea...
Their son had fought superpowered criminals less than twenty-four hours ago.
---
The family had barely finished eating...
BZZT...
A faint vibration echoed from Ja'afar's pocket.
He froze.
That wasn't his phone.
It was...
The Nimbus Communicator.
His expression changed instantly.
Without drawing attention, he excused himself.
"I'll just grab something upstairs."
His parents nodded.
The moment his bedroom door closed...
He pulled out the silver communicator.
A crimson light flashed repeatedly.
«NIMBUS 7
PRIORITY ALERT
LEVEL: RED
Immediate response required.
Available operatives only.»
Ja'afar's smile disappeared.
"A Red Alert...?"
That had never happened before.
He immediately pressed the communicator.
Only one other signal appeared online.
YUSUF
---
Yusuf
Elsewhere...
Yusuf had also completed his Fajr prayer.
Unlike Ja'afar...
He had spent the next hour helping his mother arrange breakfast before sitting with his family.
His younger brother reached for another piece of bread.
"Leave some for us!"
Yusuf laughed.
"I'm innocent."
"You've eaten four already."
"Evidence?"
His father smiled.
"You've always had a big appetite."
His mother shook her head.
"I don't know where all the food goes."
Yusuf patted his stomach proudly.
"Super metabolism."
If only they knew how true that statement had become.
---
Just as breakfast ended...
BZZT...
His communicator vibrated beneath the table.
Yusuf frowned.
"Excuse me."
He calmly walked toward his room before locking the door.
The communicator glowed red.
Exactly like Ja'afar's.
He immediately answered.
Ja'afar's holographic face appeared.
"You got it too?"
Yusuf nodded.
"Red Alert."
"I don't think this is a drill."
"No."
Yusuf's cheerful expression slowly faded.
"The others are all in church."
Ja'afar sighed.
"Which means..."
"It's just us."
For a brief moment...
Neither of them spoke.
Then Ja'afar smiled.
"Guess Sunday duty belongs to the Muslim members."
Yusuf laughed.
"Looks like it."
Ja'afar's expression became serious again.
"Meet me at Nimbus 7."
"I'm on my way."
The hologram disappeared.
Yusuf looked toward the family photographs hanging on his wall.
Then at the communicator.
"...Time to go to work."
A blue portal silently opened behind him.
Moments later...
Both boys vanished.
Neither of them knew...
The peaceful Sunday morning everyone else was enjoying...
Was about to come to an abrupt end.
To Be Continued...