Closer Than You Think

By Becky Anyanwu

Ruben’s past has returned to haunt him, and this time, there's nobody who can save him.

He navigates college life while pushing back the consequences of his actions. His feelings for Enya and love life grind to a halt when notorious schemers, who know of his past, find their way to him.

Everyone near him is in mortal danger. Risking his life to find the mastermind behind his terrible ordeal, he finds a clue that could lead to his salvation... or to the end of it all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Next Chapter
• Release date: Apr 18, 2024

Book preview

Chapter 1

I can’t be like my father, he thought, but nothing seemed more important at that very moment, except to please his father and get away as soon as possible from the feeling of guilt. The man had told him that every first kill was the most important one and that the most important one could lead him to great heights. All his guilt would vanish away, and the awe of him would spread to those around.

Young Ruben walked slowly under the rain, his feet stamping the ground as if leading him to his utmost doom. The darkness around him seemed to have swallowed him up.

His heart sounded like the loud repeat of drums in his ears. His clothes dripped with water. The word kill seemed like a burden to him, but the repeat of his father’s words in his ears kept him going.

"The awe of you will spread to everyone around," were his father’s words.

The young boy stood at the door of a house, a solidly built bungalow, and he knocked slowly but repeatedly. He prayed that no one would answer. At the same time, he wished someone would let him in and take care of him. There were low voices inside, and the door pushed open.

A man stood in shock, his expression coarse and suspicious at the same time. As he looked at the young boy from head to toe, Any problem, boy? he asked, with a bold, harsh voice.

Anger rose on the inside of Ruben; he expected the man to be kind to him and take him in, but he didn’t do that. As a young boy, he had been taught by his father that people were wicked. Nobody was worthy of trust, and nobody was good enough to stay alive.

Good evening, Sir, please can I get some water? That was a lame excuse, but he stuck to it.

Looks like you’re crazy, boy. Get lost, the man said. His wife heard his voice and came to check on him or who he was talking to.

Honey, who is that? she asked as she pulled the door open. Her husband fell back to the floor, bleeding red and thick blood. It moved slowly away from the hole in his stomach. Ah, Honey! she cried, trying to wake him up. With teary eyes, she saw someone approach her. It was the boy her husband was speaking to, and he was holding a knife, wet with blood.

What do you want? Please tell me what you want?! she cried, crawling backward away from him. Unfortunately, it was too late for her. The boy drove the knife deep into her throat and left her to drop on the floor. Drops of her blood were scattered on his face, but he didn’t care. She was dead, and that was the most important thing.

Ruben heard a whimper behind him; it was the sound of a girl sobbing. He walked towards the sofa where she was; the sitting room was clean under his feet, and he approached her with the bloodied knife. It was sharp at the edge and sweet to look at. By the look on his face, it told that he was ready to kill anyone and everyone in the family.

Please, the girl pleaded heartily. She didn’t want to die with her parents. At the sound of her voice, he brought his knife down and looked at her with a soft but calm look, too kind to be a killer. She was younger than him, and his conscience, which wasn’t seared yet, told him to leave her alone.

He walked past the two dead bodies and left the house. He felt a sense of peace and satisfaction inside of him. The hunger to kill more was blasted in the flames inside of him, and he realized that his father was correct when he said, "Kill one, and you will enjoy more."

Chapter 2

Ten years later

Ruben was driving from college back to his house, looking grown and independent. His type of work gave him the liberty to sign contracts which were attached with money that would be released after he had performed the expected assignment.

He parked his car in the garage and walked into his house, which was the very evidence of money. He sat down and kept his books aside. He had things to do, including his class project. He had consistently kept up the good grades and made sure not to miss any exams.

He pulled off his clothes and walked into the bathroom to shower. His phone rang from the room, and when he had dressed up, he saw the missed call. It was from Enya. They attended the same university but studied different courses.

After looking at his phone for a while, Ruben sighed and cut the call; he didn’t feel like speaking to her or anyone. It was not the first time he was ignoring her, but that was because he felt rather uncomfortable when she was near, and he made sure that she got that impression from him anytime they were together, yet she didn’t stop trying to get close to him.

Ruben jogged his way to a park that lively morning, and when Enya saw him, she jogged her way to him. She knew that Ruben was fond of avoiding her and her calls, and day by day, she was getting weaker, knowing that Ruben did not like her as she liked him. All her attempts to get closer to him failed woefully, and not one of those plans survived the night.

He was so good at concealing himself and found it very difficult to open up to anybody. He was always alone and never moved with friends since she knew him. He was the quiet type—no doubt a good student in college.

Good morning, she said.

Morning. It looks like you enjoy exercise? he replied, trying to tease her even though it was not his style.

Both of them knew that she didn’t like going out for exercise, especially on a lively morning; she preferred quiet places. He knew her that well; they had attended the same basic school, high school, and now they were in the same college. There was actually nothing that he didn’t know about her, and he knew all of it by watching her from afar.

It’s very good of you to remind me of what I enjoy, she said, not bothering to look at him.

I have good reasons.

Like?

Private reasons.

I see, she said. As they jogged, Ruben noticed three men staring at Enya, and another different man was jogging behind him also.

He had also noticed that someone had been following him since he started jogging, but he was careful not to turn back and pretended not to know anything.

There is no need to talk to you, Ruben. I will just go back to my house, she said.

Bye, he replied to her as she turned and walked back to her house.

Shortly after she left Ruben, the three men that had been watching her were nowhere to be seen. Ruben stopped for a moment and breathed in and out, thinking of what he had seen. Just then, he remembered that someone was following him from behind, and he started walking, not jogging this time.

If his father had sent someone to stalk him, then he would have known, but the man behind him was not from his father. Therefore, he knew that something was wrong.

Enya walked to her house with disappointment. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, that Ruben could not just have feelings for her after all her trials.

She went into her house and closed the door behind her. She had some school work to do, so she took her bath, dressed up, and took her books to study. In the middle of her study, she got a call from Olivia, one of her friends.

There’s a party going on tonight. I hope you will be there? Then you can have an opportunity to meet new guys and forget about Ruben, Olivia said.

I don’t want to attend any party, Olivia. Enya wasn’t in the right mood to think about parties.

Trust me, you are going to like it.

That’s what you said the last time, and I almost got raped by the same guy you introduced me to, she said. It was a terrible experience that she was constantly reminded of, and she didn’t also miss reminding Olivia about it too.

I didn’t know that he was that type of guy. I thought he was cool and well, different, Olivia replied.

I guessed so. You knew nothing about him, but I know a lot about Ruben. I have known him for years, and I am not ready to give up on him just yet.

What if you meet someone who likes you more than he does?

Enya paused for a moment and replied, I don’t know about that; just let me be for now.

Before I leave you, promise me that you’re going to come to the party.

I will, I promise, but I will spend only thirty minutes there, and I am off. I’ve got work to do.

Fine then. Okay by me, Olivia said and hung up.

Enya was not content with the fact that Olivia just agreed to her conditions. As close as they were, Enya did not know who Olivia was planning for her to meet. She continued with her books, waiting for Olivia to send the time and venue.

The man following Ruben went through a tunnel and searched some places, but he couldn’t find Ruben. For a moment, he thought he had Ruben, but now he was gone. He brought out his phone to call someone, and just then, he heard the crackling sound of a gun behind him.

Who are you? Ruben asked, ready to pull the trigger. He was very sure that the man in front of him was suspicious. He had been trained by his father to perceive such things.

So you finally found me, the man said, turning to Ruben with a smile. The gun didn’t threaten him one bit, almost as if he thought that Ruben wouldn’t dare pull the trigger.

If I ever wanted someone to follow me, it wouldn’t be you.

Richie sent me here to get you back in the game, but it seems like you are smarter than we thought, the man said with a mischievous grin.

Richie has no right to threaten me by sending you. He should do it himself, don’t you think? The man got a hold of Ruben’s gun and kicked it away, then he lunged at Ruben and punched him above his pelvis region, and he didn’t stop until Ruben fell down to the ground, coughing out blood.

He actually sent me here to kill you, the man said with a smile as he turned to pick up Ruben’s gun, but before he could turn back to the place where he left Ruben lying down, Ruben gripped his neck from behind tightly with his hands, and before the man could struggle free from Ruben’s hold, he dropped down dead with blood gushing out of his open throat.

Meanwhile, Ruben held a knife stained with blood in his hands. He threw the knife down and took the man’s phone to see who was calling him, and it was Richie. When he answered the call, Richie called the man’s name, but there was no answer, so he knew that the man he had sent was dead.

It has been a long time, Ruben. How about a drink for two? Richie said. His voice was devoid of regret or hurt concerning the man that died.

It would be fine, only that you are going to pay for the drinks, right? Ruben replied, definitely in a mood for killing, not for drinking.

Richie smiled and nodded. I am going to get you, Ruben Hammond, I swear.

And I will make you pay for what you did to me. How about that? Ruben hung up, throwing the phone to the ground. He had succeeded in controlling himself for so long, and today, he couldn’t do so anymore. He had to get Richie, or he would do something drastic.

Enya got out of her car and went into the party. Olivia smiled as she led Enya to the table for two, where she introduced Enya to a guy. She left the two of them to talk, and Enya was forced to sit down and face the guy.

It’s nice to meet you, Martins said.

You too, she replied with a smile.

I know that you are uncomfortable, and I also feel the same. It was Olivia that set me up to meet you. I didn’t know what she was planning, Martins said, and Enya was eased of her worries. She is really so unpredictable at times. We have been close for eighteen years, and yet, it seems as though I don’t know her, she replied.

You’ve known Olivia for eighteen years? How did your friendship last that long? I thought she was too picky to be a friend.

She is too picky. To tell the truth, she didn’t speak to me for nearly a month when we were newly meeting; she just communicated with waves and smiles and hugs.

That must have been hard for you, Martins said with a sympathetic voice.

It was, especially when I really wanted to be her friend.

I see, he said, finding it hard to take his eyes off her. The both of them discussed for a while, drinking, and they watched Olivia dance.

She was surprised that Martins didn’t ask her for a dance; he only sat and watched the party. He was just like her, and she loved it. She was comfortable with him all through until the party ended early in the morning.

So I will see you in college tomorrow… I mean, today, he said.

Yes. You will, Enya replied with a positive smile. She got into her car and drove off while Martins watched until the car was far away. He had to confess that he liked her and he was happy that he was going to meet her again that day.

Enya laid down on her bed and closed her eyes to sleep but she could not; she found herself thinking about Ruben.

Ruben was one of the most handsome guys she had ever encountered, and he had a sense of humor. He had this dark brown hair that was always brushed and neat when seen each day. He had natural gray eyes that she couldn’t stop staring into any time they met.

Coupled with his gray eyes, he had faint red lips. No lipstick, no paint, the color of his lips was so natural. She had shaken hands with him on a few occasions and she found that his hands were slender, a little hard. He wasn’t like the guys she had met before; he was different, with this kind of atmosphere that seemed to weaken her knees anytime she saw him.

Martins was also handsome, with dark hair and lively brown eyes, pink lips with soothing hands. They held hands before walking to her car that morning, and she was very sensitive to his touch. Martins was lively in a way but he was usually very mellow. She was actually glad to spend time with him, and she was equally happy that she was going to see him when the day breaks.

She didn’t know whether her love for Ruben was going to dissipate, nevertheless, she was willing to try because she was madly in love with him and he didn’t even want to see her even for a day. There was no way that the two of them could work together.

Ruben got a call from his mother, Claudia, early that morning; it had been four years since they saw each other. How are you doing? she asked.

You don’t need to worry about me, I am okay, he replied, not genuinely in the mood to answer her questions.

When was the last time you took your medications? she asked.

Last night. He never liked his answers to be longer than usual. He liked them short and straight to the point.

Have you spoken to your father? He is proud to admit it, but he misses you.

I don’t want to speak to him now⁠—

Ruben, he loves you as much as I do. Somehow, she could tell that she was lying to herself, not to Ruben, but she found it helpful to say good things about his father to him.

When was the last time he said such to me? I must have forgotten because he has not said that to me before. There was a moment of silence between them for a while before she spoke up.

I’m sorry for my mistakes, Ruben, Claudia said with tears.

I know, I will call you later. Greet Sandra for me, he said and hung up without hearing what she had to say next.

He had held bitterness and anger within him for so long; he despised people who had nothing to do with his life and he killed those who wanted to make his life miserable. His father was the real reason why he had so much bitterness for everyone. He was never taught to be nice to anyone. Paul would always tell him,

"Nobody is going to be there when you are in trouble, but they are always going to be there when you celebrate. This world is filled with selfish people who always want to take from you, and in the end, they dump you for another," he would say with all seriousness and bitterness.

One time when he saw Ruben talking with Enya as they walked home, and then he waited for Ruben to come into the house before grabbing the sixteen-year-old Ruben by the throat. "I told you not to talk to her, didn’t I? She is only looking for something to take from you, and when she has had enough, she will leave you for another. She will make you