The silence of the night was shattered by the raucous laughter of Uchenna's thugs as they rode in a convoy of three Land Rover Defenders. In the last vehicle, a modified Defender with an extended cab and an open back, at least a dozen men were crammed inside, with several more sitting in the back, their legs dangling over the sides. KC found himself trapped in the open back, sitting across from his father, whose eyes narrowed as he surveyed the boy.
Uchenna's lips curled into a sneer as he spoke, "Look at you, pathetic. What has that woman been feeding you?" KC's body remained still, his arms crossed and his gaze fixed on the floor of the vehicle. Uchenna's hand reached for a small rock, his fingers curling around it before he threw it at KC's head. The boy's body jerked, but no sound escaped his lips.
Uchenna's voice grew louder, his finger pointing at the boy. "You will look at me when I speak to you, boy." KC's head slowly lifted, his eyes glistening in the moonlight, but no tears fell.
The men's eyes were fixed on the exchange, their expressions curious. Uchenna's posture straightened, his chest puffing out as he reached for another rock. "So, you think you're tough? Let's see how long you can keep up this act."
The rock flew through the air, but KC swiftly moved, dodging the projectile. The men's laughter filled the night, their eyes widening at the child's quick reflexes.
Uchenna's mouth twisted into a mocking grin as he spoke, "Did your whore of a mother teach you that? She was nothing but filth." The men's laughter grew louder, their voices echoing in the darkness.
KC's small fists clenched, his knuckles turning white. His eyes bore into Uchenna, unwavering and defiant. Uchenna's eyebrows raised, his expression a mix of surprise and irritation.
Uchenna's eyes darted to his men, their faces a mix of uncertainty and anticipation. His jaw clenched, and his fists tightened as he lifted his leg and delivered a powerful kick to KC's chest.
The boy's body flew backward, slamming against the side of the vehicle. His face contorted, his mouth opening in a silent gasp. The men leaned forward, their eyes wide.
KC's body trembled as he pushed himself up, his small frame struggling against the pain. His eyes opened, locking onto Uchenna's gaze. He gathered the blood and saliva in his mouth and spat at Uchenna's feet.
The men's eyes darted between KC and Uchenna, their expressions a mix of shock and grudging admiration. Uchenna's face twisted, his eyes blazing with fury. He lunged forward, his hand reaching out and grabbing KC by the throat, squeezing tightly.
KC's body went limp, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. Uchenna's grip tightened, his eyes locked onto the boy's face, searching for any sign of weakness or submission.
A voice called out, “We’ve arrived!" breaking the tension. Uchenna's head snapped towards the sound, his expression shifting. He turned back to KC, his grip loosening as he threw the boy to the floor.
Uchenna's mouth moved, barking orders at his men, "Get this brat out of my sight. Throw him in the basement." He jumped out of the vehicle, his men following close behind, their laughter tinged with a newfound respect for the unbreakable child.