Chapter 3

 Just as they neared the front yard, a rift opened and three more figures emerged from it. “Chai! Not again.” Obiageri whispered to herself. Where had they come from? Each one was armed with sharp teeth and claws, and one wielded a crude bludgeon fashioned from bones. A menacing growl erupted from their throats, echoing the terror that gripped Obiageri.

Obiageri tightened her grip on her bow, her resolve unshaken. “Nwayoo! Take one more step, and your ends will be swift,” she warned, her eyes tracking their every movement with keen anticipation.

The monsters’ growls grew louder, and the one on the left charged forward with its claws raised high. Obiageri’s arrow struck true, piercing its chest with a sickening squelch. The creature collapsed, its growl silenced.

The two remaining monsters charged, their dagger-like claws glinting. One scratch could inflict severe injury. Obiageri waited, her breath steady. As they lunged, she sidestepped and released an arrow that skimmed the arm of one attacker, eliciting a deep roar of pain. Claws flashing past her ear as she narrowly evaded them. She lunged to the side, sending another arrow into the monster’s leg.

The bludgeon-wielding creature advanced, its swings growing increasingly erratic. Obiageri dodged the blows, the air whooshing past her as she darted to the side, deftly using the creature’s momentum against it.

With a powerful strike, she slammed her bow against its head, the impact echoing with a sickening crack that reverberated through her bones. The creature wobbled, before collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud, sending a cloud of dust into the air around it.

After her last attacker fell, Obiageri’s chest heaved, but the immediate threat had subsided. She took a deep breath as the rain intensified. Panting loudly, her gaze quickly darted around, panic rising as she noticed her mother’s absence.

Obiageri clenched her fists, muscles tense, while her mind raced. Her breath quickened, her chest heaving as her wide eyes darted over the area. The front yard was empty; the moist, clayey ground and battered flower beds were all that remained. The huts stood in stillness as rain washed away the Uli figures painted on the walls. The bamboo gate was unlocked.

Worries filled her mind—had her mother been dragged away? Her eyes fell on deep tracks in the mud—footprints that must belong to her mother, entangled with the ruffled marks left by the monsters. Thoughts pacing, she followed the tracks leading out of the bamboo gate.

Outside, she saw nothing at all—no traces of monsters, just the splatter of rain on the earth. Confusion clouded her mind. Where were they? Where could her mother be? She glanced hurriedly down both lanes. Should she go down to search? A thin fog had risen, and she could barely see anything from where she stood.

A sharp snap jolted her from her search. Turning, she saw her mother’s face through the gaps in the bamboo gate, the rain mixing with her tears, revealing the full extent of her anguish. Her mother had locked herself inside the compound, surrounded by gate posts too high and slippery to climb.

“You have to go, my precious daughter! They’re after me, not you. They want the descendants of the Dibias. I’ll hold them off while you run!” her mother screamed, her gaze locked on Obiageri. “You must survive. The prophecies… they spoke of this day. The ajo-mmuos have risen; Ekwensu wants to wipe out  Uwa… he won’t stop until all life has ended.”

Obiageri’s hands began to shake uncontrollably. Her mother’s voice rang out from behind the gate, strained and urgent. Rifts ripped the air behind her mother, and monsters emerged from them. They drew close with growls, and outstretched hands.

“Listen to me! I am dead weight; those monsters will follow me anywhere I go. Run deep into the Evil Forest, where the gods once walked. There you’ll find him, the one with the bronze horns. Run until the village is far behind you. Save yourself.”

A primal scream tore from Obiageri’s throat. A raw, guttural sound barely recognizable. She battered the bamboo gate with her bow, but the sturdy structure resisted her efforts.

“Promise me! If you care about me at all, promise you’ll listen!” Her mother’s voice was a desperate scream. “Go!”

“I promise, Mama,” Obiageri whispered to herself, tears mingling with the rain on her face. She watched the monsters inch closer to her mother. Her mother’s cries grew fainter as Obiageri’s heart shattered. With one last anguished glance at the bamboo gate, she turned and fled. She had made a promise; she didn’t want to let her mother down.

Obiageri walked, then ran deeper into the forbidden land the elders had warned against. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw villagers in disarray. Screams filled the air as anguish swept through the village. What could she do? The ajo-mmuos wanted to end the line of the descendants of the Dibias.

The only reason why she wasn’t being hunted down was because she was adopted at a young age.  

She sprinted past the weathered wooden signpost marking the boundary, the ground squelching beneath her feet, guilt weighing her down like a physical burden.

When she finally stopped, she leaned against a tree, feeling nauseous and overwhelmed. Her breaths were ragged, and shame and despair felt like weight in her chest. The forest around looked no different from any other she had been in—tall green trees blocking the moonlight, leaves shielding the ground from the rain.

Suddenly, she heard an eerie, shifting sound—a noise like sand moving, but it grew sharper and nearer. A bright purple light beamed in the distance, followed by the sound of thunder. Then, from the dark depths of the forest, a monstrous figure burst out.

Obiageri gasped as she saw it. The creature’s teeth were crooked and sharp, like those of a rabid wild dog. Its mouth was smeared with blood, with strips of flesh hanging from the corners of its lips. Its eyes were white, blank, and devoid of any humanity. Spikes and scars marred its skin, streaks of blue running across its body. The monster’s face bore a cruel smirk, as if it were savoring a dark joke. It was an ajọ mmụọ, an undead man possessed by evil spirits

Instinct took over. Her legs moved with a will of their own as adrenaline surged through her veins. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the ajo-mmuo clawing and crawling toward her with alarming speed. She reached for her back, searching for arrows, but found nothing.

With nowhere else to go and terror pushing her forward, she ran deeper into the forest. She glanced back and saw another creature on her heels—an ajọ mmụọ moving with unnerving agility, its hands and feet striking the ground like a wild animal. Its nails were as long as an eagle’s talons, and its hunger for blood was apparent.

Obiageri’s legs were quick, but not quick enough because the ajo-mmuo jumped on her, driving her to the forest grass. She whirled around, her breath coming in quick burst. With a blaring growl she charged, unleashing her fists. Each blow struck true with a sharp pop, her muscles recoiling and releasing like springs. It did nothing to deter the beast as it edged closer, its drool grazing her cheeks.

Obiageri was frightened, and she hasn’t been in a long time. Her body quivered, refusing to stay calm. This was new to her, and her pulse racing faster. She jerked her knees to unbalance the creature, but it still held her tightly. She could feel its skin on her face, and its odor became suffocating as it licked her chin, and then it opened its mouth to take a bite.

With her back to the ground, she let out a scream, but all that escaped her lips was a muffled squeal. She gave up. Her mother was gone, and she would soon meet the same fate. She made her peace with death, waiting to join her ancestors. Her mother would be waiting for her.

As the monster’s jaws gaped wide, ready to take a bite, the bushes behind her rustled. The air crackled with anticipation, and Obiageri gasped, her eyes darting—what new terror lurked just beyond her vision?

A ram, a magnificent creature with two grand bronze horns, charged into the ajo-mmuo. The sharp end of its horns pierced the monster’s belly. The ghastly creature shrieked in pain as green, sickly blood spewed onto Obiageri’s skin. Disgusted, she pushed the monster’s body away, and a dark-blue spirit rushed out, vanishing like smoke from an open fire.

She stood up, startled, searching for the ram. In its place stood a figure with a mystic aura, a giant of a man but not quite human. His skin was the color of sandstone, and his eyes twinkled like stars. Two noble horns protruded from his head, and he held a tusk in his right hand.

Obiageri’s eyes went wide as she took a step back. Her heart dropped, and a cold shiver crept over her. She stood still, her breath quickening.  This Being didn’t say a word, but she could feel his presence deep within her mind. His dominance grew with each step, muscles glistening with sweat that no earthly wind could dry.

Stunned into silence. It was as if Obiageri’s mind had aged and her spirit had left her. Could this be an evil spirit seeking her soul? No, the Being’s aura felt otherwise—pure, untouched by darkness. The one with the bronze horns? Was it an arushi? The legendary beings spoken of in stories, the great gods who ruled Uwa from the skies and tall mountains? It was unimaginable that one of the old arushis stood before her.

When she finally found her voice, it emerged as a whisper in the stillness of the night. “W…w…who are you, great one?”

The Being’s mouth barely moved, yet words emerged in a bold baritone that reverberated through the forest. “I am the embodiment of human endeavor, achievement, success, and victory. I am a two-faced god, seeing both the old year and the new year at once. I am the embodiment of beginnings, Ikenga Owa-Ota,” he declared. His presence was like fire, shaking the air around him. The ground vibrated, and the wind intensified, as if the forest couldn’t contain his power.

“The gods have heard your cries, and they have chosen you for a task. Your journey will be one of great tribulation and wonder. Ekwensu has allowed the evil spirits to break free from the land of the dead to possess the deceased and wreak havoc upon your world. It is your destiny to thwart his evil mission on Uwa.” The Being’s horn seemed to grow larger as it spoke.

Obiageri paused, the Being’s words heavy on her mind. The name Ekwensu filled her with dread. She was well aware of the cursed god that reveled in chaos and thrived on the destruction it sowed. She traced the beads on her neck nervously. The thought of facing a god was overwhelming. Obiageri’s fingers quivered. How could she, an ordinary mmadu, possibly succeed?

The Being seemed to read her mind. Before she could voice her doubts, it spoke. “You wonder how you will confront a god? There is a boy prophesied—stuck between two worlds. He is weak, and this false god knows it. Everything he holds dear will be hunted. The great evil spirit will send death to his doorstep.”

A frown tugged at Obiageri’s lips. She bit her tongue, shifted her weight, glancing at the shadowed trees beyond them. “To kill the false god, we need a strong warrior. Someone who can face this kind of risk. Why would the arushis trust someone so fragile?”

The Being leaned closer, its voice low. “Because sometimes strength shows up where we least expect it.” A sly smile played on the Being’s lips, its eyes gleaming with mischief. It raised an eyebrow, tilting its head ever so slightly. “Guide this boy to the spirit kingdom and leave his fate to gods.”

As the weight of the task settled in, a smirk crossed Obiageri’s face. “So, I’m supposed to make sure this boy reaches the spirit world. What do I get out of this?”

“You can ask for anything. The gods care little for the petty wishes of men, but yours shall be granted,” the Being scoffed, with clicking fingers and tapping foot.

Obiageri sensed the Being’s presence waning, knowing time was running out. “My mother. She is gone, and I want to bring her back. If I protect this boy and take him to the spirit kingdom, will you grant me that wish?”

“Yes,” the Being replied. “Protect this boy from evil, for his soul is marked. Take him to the spirit kingdom and help him defeat the Great Evil Spirit. In return, you shall receive the Crown of Flesh, taken from the bones of a dead god. Do you accept this quest?”

Obiageri nodded eagerly, her heart leaping with joy. The dream of adventuring she had harbored for so long, was coming to reality. She kept a composed face, but her fingers tingled with anticipation, and goosebumps prickled her skin.

“Be careful out there,” Ikenga warned, his voice grave. “This new evil is unlike anything from the days of the old gods. It hides from even Chukwu’s sight. It summons the undead from rifts that can’t be predicted. This force is worshipped by wicked beings across realms. It craves blood, power, and reverence. It won’t stop until it gets what it wants.”

 “I won’t fail, Ikenga!” Obiageri replied, a fire of purpose igniting her gaze. She could save her mother now. She could make things right.

“No,” the Being corrected, gesturing toward a plain tree adorned with ancient symbols etched into its bark. “You are not allowed to falter. Now go. Find the boy and take him safely to the spirit realm. Destiny waits for no one.”