The climb through the hills was brutal.
The forest near Aburi was dense, tangled, alive with strange sounds.
Twice, Nina nearly slipped on wet stones hidden under the thick leaves.
Chris moved ahead of her, silent and focused, his machete slicing away stubborn vines.
"You dey sure say we dey close?" Nina panted, struggling to keep pace.
Chris paused, checking a small compass carved with strange symbols.
The needle spun wildly — then locked into a single direction, pointing deep into the thickest part of the forest.
"We close," he said simply.
They pushed on.
Finally, after what felt like hours, they stumbled into a clearing.
In the center stood a crumbling stone archway, half-swallowed by vines. Ancient carvings spiraled around its frame — stars, suns, eyes, and swirling rivers.
Nina's breath caught. "Wow."
Chris stepped closer, brushing dust off the symbols. He pulled out the key from Nina's backpack, fitting it carefully into a hidden socket near the base of the arch.
At first, nothing happened.
Then — a low hum vibrated through the air, and the arch shimmered with faint golden light.
"It dey work," Chris whispered, almost in awe.
But before they could celebrate, a soft clap echoed through the clearing.
Slow, mocking.
Chris spun around, dragging Nina behind him.
From the trees emerged a man.
Tall. Muscular. Dressed in dark cargo pants and a black t-shirt.
And worse — he wasn't masked.
He smiled — a smile Nina immediately didn't trust.
"Chris," the man said, voice smooth like poisoned honey. "Long time, brother."
Chris stiffened. "Toby."
Nina's head snapped toward Chris. "You know am?"
Chris's eyes never left Toby. "We trained together… years ago."
Toby chuckled. "Until you betray we. Choose to protect dusty old legends instead of power."
Chris's fists clenched. "You joined Black Crescent. You dey sell your own people for coins."
Toby shrugged. "Everybody get price."
He turned his eyes to Nina, cold and assessing. "And this one… she dey carry de last hope. Sad."
Nina stepped closer to Chris, heart pounding.
"You no go win, Toby," Chris said, voice tight with anger.
Toby smiled wider, showing teeth. "But who say I need to win today?"
He whistled sharply.
From the trees, more Black Crescent members appeared, surrounding the clearing, machetes and guns gleaming.
Trapped.
Chris pulled Nina close. "When I say run… you run. No look back."
"But—"
"No argument," he said sharply.
Toby lifted a hand, about to give the signal to attack—
—when the ground beneath them rumbled.
The stone arch blazed to full life, filling the clearing with blinding golden light.
The carvings pulsed like a heartbeat.
The gateway was open.
Chris didn't waste a second.
"NOW!" he shouted, grabbing Nina's hand.
They sprinted toward the portal, bullets whizzing past them, machetes slashing at empty air.
Chris shoved Nina through the arch first —
and just as he followed, he caught a last glimpse of Toby's furious face disappearing behind a wall of light.
Everything blurred.
Nina screamed as they were ripped off their feet, sucked into a vortex of stars, colors, and endless spinning.
Then — silence.
They collapsed onto cool, damp grass.
Above them stretched a sky full of two moons and a million unfamiliar stars.
Nina sat up slowly, gasping for air.
Chris knelt beside her, equally stunned.
"We made it," he said hoarsely.
"But… where are we?" Nina whispered, staring at the strange twin moons.
Chris looked around, muscles tense.
"I think…" he said carefully, "we no dey Ghana anymore."