The boy's voice gradually faded into the background.
Ego was no longer listening.
A forgotten memory had risen from the depths of her childhood.
She had been no more than eight years old when the village was thrown into mourning.
Ogudiri.
The first son of Nze Obijuru, the wealthy blacksmith.
He had left home one afternoon and vanished without a trace.
The search had lasted for days.
Men combed every footpath, every stream, every stretch of forest. Hunters searched with dogs. Diviners were consulted. Sacrifices were offered.
Nothing.
Not even a scrap of clothing.
The elders finally declared him dead, though no body had ever been found.
Rumors spread through Umudibia like dry-season fire.
Some claimed slave raiders had taken him.
Others whispered that enemies of his father had murdered the boy to force the blacksmith to abandon a disputed piece of land.
No one ever discovered the truth.
Ego looked at the child again.
The swollen eyes.
The broken skull.
The blood that refused to dry.
A cold weight settled inside her chest.
Ogudiri...
The realization struck her so suddenly she almost stumbled.
This is him.
Pity welled inside her.
She longed to tell him how the whole village had searched for him.
How his mother had cried until her voice failed.
How his father had never stopped looking.
But the old woman's warning echoed louder than her compassion.
Do not speak.
The child wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand.
"It is because my body was never found," he whispered.
"My spirit cannot follow my ancestors."
He looked toward the towering trees.
"I've watched these saplings become forests."
"I've watched children become parents."
"I've watched old men become ancestors."
"And still..."
His shoulders sagged.
"...I remain here."
"I tried frightening travellers."
His face twisted with shame.
"I thought if they noticed me... someone might finally find my grave."
"They only ran."
A sad smile crossed his face.
"I even went to Nworie River."
"I always wanted to see the women's side."
"I could see everything."
His smile faded.
"But I couldn't touch the water."
"I couldn't feel it."
"I couldn't even cry properly."
He looked toward the distant outline of the village.
"I've tried to go home more times than I can count."
"My mother's hut is so close."
"I can see it."
"But every time I reach our compound..."
He stopped.
"...something pushes me back."
"It is like an invisible wall."
"I cannot cross it."
Ego's throat tightened.
She answered only with a slight nod.
She dared not trust her voice.
The boy's eyes brightened.
"It feels good talking to someone again."
He laughed softly.
"I had forgotten what conversation sounds like."
His expression suddenly changed.
He studied her carefully.
Then his eyes widened.
"Wait..."
"You're not one of us?"
His gaze drifted over the torch, the mortar balanced on her head, the pestle tucked beneath her arm.
"No..."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"You're alive."
Ego slowly shook her head.
The boy looked utterly bewildered.
"Then..."
"How can you see me?"
She offered no answer.
Time was slipping away.
Every heartbeat carried her closer to the end of the eclipse.
She lifted one hand in farewell.
The smile vanished from the boy's face.
"No."
His voice trembled.
"Please."
He took a desperate step toward her.
"Don't leave."
"I've been alone for so long."
"Please..."
Ego forced herself to turn away.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Behind her, the child continued pleading.
"Ego!"
His voice cracked.
"Please don't leave me!"
She kept walking.
"I beg you!"
The cries tore at her heart, but she did not slow down.
Gradually, desperation gave way to anger.
"Ego!"
His voice rang through the darkness.
"I know where you're going!"
She did not stop.
"You are walking into a trap!"
Silence.
Then one last warning echoed through the forest.
"If I were you..."
"...I would turn back."
His voice grew fainter with every step until it became nothing more than another whisper swallowed by the darkness.
Only then did Ego release the breath she had been holding.
She thanked her chi in silence.
One temptation had passed.
She prayed it would be the last.
It was not.
The forest came alive once more.
Mosquitoes whined around her ears.
Somewhere in the distance, a lone wolf howled into the unnatural night, answered moments later by others hidden deep within the forest.
The sound crawled beneath her skin.
She tightened her grip on the torch and kept walking.
"Think about the bird," she told herself.
Think about tomorrow.
Think about the life waiting for you.
For a few precious moments, it worked.
Then the flies came.
At first it was only one.
Then several.
Then hundreds.
Their buzzing swelled until it surrounded her like a living cloud.
A foul smell drifted through the darkness.
Rotting flesh.
Wet.
Sweet.
Sickening.
Ego covered her nose with the back of her wrist, fighting the urge to retch.
The stench grew stronger with every step.
Whatever was producing it...
...was coming toward her.
She raised the torch as high as she could.
The flame pushed against the darkness.
But the darkness pushed back.
And somewhere beyond the reach of the light...
Something moved.