The Untainted
– Smoke and Truth
The explosion shattered the night.
A loud BANG echoed through the street, followed by a thick cloud of smoke rising from the gate.
Guests screamed.
Chairs scraped violently across the floor as people rushed toward the exits.
"What was that?!"
"Is it a bomb?!"
"Everyone move back!"
The calm, respectful dinner had dissolved into pure chaos.
Outside the Gate
Balkis had barely reached the walkway when the smoke burst from the small box beside the pillar.
The sound was deafening at such close distance.
She stumbled backward, coughing as grey smoke spread quickly through the entrance.
Her ears rang.
Her heart slammed wildly against her ribs.
It wasn't a bomb.
But the panic it caused was almost worse.
"Balkis!"
Someone grabbed her arm.
It was one of the house guards.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
Her mind went blank.
"I… I…"
She couldn't speak.
Because deep down she knew.
This was her fault.
Inside the House
The guests were in disarray.
Some hurried outside to see what had happened.
Others pulled family members closer in fear.
Through the confusion—
Basit reached Rihannat first.
"Are you okay?" he asked urgently.
His hands hovered near her shoulders but didn't touch.
Rihannat blinked, stunned by the sudden chaos.
"I… I think so."
Her voice trembled.
Qazeem arrived beside them seconds later.
His protective instincts flared instantly.
"Stay inside," he said firmly.
But the shouting outside was growing louder.
Someone yelled—
"There's smoke near the gate!"
Outside
Ridwan pushed through the small crowd gathering near the entrance.
Then he saw her.
"Balkis?"
She looked pale.
Frozen.
The guard still held her arm tightly.
"This girl was running toward the gate before the explosion," the guard said suspiciously.
Ridwan frowned.
"Balkis… what's going on?"
Her lips trembled.
"I didn't… I didn't know…"
Her voice cracked.
Ridwan's stomach dropped.
Didn't know what?
Across the Street
Segun sat upright when the smoke erupted.
Bayo whistled low.
"Well… that definitely worked."
But Segun wasn't smiling.
"That wasn't supposed to go off yet."
Bayo looked at him sharply.
"What?"
Segun's eyes narrowed toward the gate.
Someone had interfered.
Or miscalculated.
Either way—
Things were now unpredictable.
Back at the Gate
More guests were coming outside.
Murmurs spread quickly.
"What happened?"
"Was something planted here?"
Qazeem pushed through the gathering crowd, his expression dark.
"What is going on here?"
The guard gestured toward the smoking box.
"Someone left this near the gate."
Qazeem's jaw tightened.
Then his eyes landed on Balkis.
Standing there.
Looking terrified.
Ridwan still beside her.
Something about the situation felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Inside the Crowd
Rayyan rushed outside anxiously.
When she saw Balkis standing with the guard, confusion washed over her.
"Balkis?"
Rihannat followed behind slowly.
Her heart still racing.
Then she saw the smoke.
The box.
The frightened look on Balkis' face.
A cold knot formed in her stomach.
At the Gate
Qazeem spoke calmly but firmly.
"Who placed that box there?"
No one answered.
The street had fallen strangely quiet.
Balkis' breathing grew shaky.
Her phone vibrated again.
The sound felt thunderous in her ears.
She looked down slowly.
A new message.
Unknown:
Relax. It was only meant to scare them.
Her vision blurred with tears.
Ridwan noticed immediately.
"Balkis… who is messaging you?"
She shook her head quickly.
"No one."
But it was too late.
Qazeem had seen the screen.
His voice hardened.
"Show me that phone."
The crowd grew silent.
Balkis stepped back.
"I… I can't…"
"Balkis," Rihannat said softly.
Her voice carried hurt more than anger.
"Please."
That single word shattered the last piece of Balkis' control.
Her shoulders shook.
"I didn't mean for this to happen!" she cried suddenly.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
Ridwan stared at her.
"What do you mean?"
Her tears spilled freely now.
"I only told someone about the dinner! I swear I didn't know they would do this!"
The silence that followed was heavy.
Terrible.
Qazeem's eyes darkened instantly.
"Who did you tell?"
Balkis covered her face.
"Segun."
The name spread through the crowd like a spark.
Basit's expression changed sharply.
Because he knew that name.
Very well.
He heard about what happened to Rihannat at the restaurant.
And suddenly—
This night was no longer just about a dinner.
It had become something far more dangerous.
@OlukoyaZainab