Nia's heart raced as the hooded cult figures stepped from the trees, knives glinting in the dim light. The small clearing felt tight, the air thick with tension. "Stay close!" Dami yelled, grabbing a stick from the ground. Zainab raised her gun, firing a warning shot. The bang echoed, scattering some cult men, but others charged. Nia clutched the journal, her hands sweaty. Temi leaned against her, weak but alert. "What do we do?" Temi whispered.
Kofi stepped forward, his scarred face calm. "Use the salt," he said, tossing Nia the pouch. She nodded, spilling salt in a line as the first cult man lunged. He hit the salt, screaming as he fell back, skin burning. "It works!" Nia shouted. Dami swung his stick, knocking another guy down. Zainab fired again, her shots sharp and quick. The cult men hesitated, but more kept coming.
Nia flipped the journal open, reading fast. Salt breaks their hold. Fire ends the bond, it said. She looked around—no fire. "We need flames!" she yelled. Zainab tossed her a lighter from her pocket. Nia caught it, her mind racing. She grabbed a dry branch, lighting it with shaky hands. The flame caught, small but bright. She waved it at a cult man, and he backed off, fear in his eyes.
"Keep them back!" Dami shouted, fighting two men at once. He hit one with the stick, then kicked the other. Temi picked up a rock, throwing it hard. It hit a cult guy's head, and he stumbled. Nia felt a surge of pride—her friend was tough. But the numbers grew, and the salt was running low. A cult man grabbed Nia's arm, yanking her toward the trees. She screamed, dropping the branch.
Dami tackled the man, pulling him off her. They rolled, fists flying. Nia grabbed the branch, thrusting the fire at another attacker. He yelled, retreating. Zainab covered them, her gun clicking empty. "Out of bullets!" she cursed. Kofi joined the fight, using a knife to cut a rope trap the cult had set. It snapped, tripping two men.
Nia caught her breath, checking the journal again. The leader's voice commands. Break it with silence, it read. She looked up—a tall figure stood at the back, hooded, chanting loud. The cult men moved like he controlled them. "That's the leader!" she said. Dami nodded, wiping blood from his lip. "We stop him."
They pushed forward, fighting through the cult men. Nia sprinkled the last salt, Kofi slashed with his knife, and Zainab used a stick. Temi threw more rocks, her aim steady. They reached the leader, his voice booming. Nia covered her ears, the sound hurting. "Silence him!" Kofi shouted. She dropped the journal, grabbing a cloth from the ground. With Dami's help, she rushed the leader, shoving the cloth into his mouth.
The chanting stopped. The cult men froze, looking lost. Nia stepped back, breathing hard. "It worked," she whispered. But the leader pulled the cloth out, his eyes wild. "You think this ends it?" he growled. He raised a hand, and the cult men snapped back to life, surrounding them. Nia's stomach dropped.
"Drop your weapons!" the leader yelled. Dami tightened his grip on the stick, but Kofi held him back. "Wait," Kofi said. "He's testing us." The leader laughed, stepping closer. "Join us, or your friend dies," he said, pointing at Temi. A cult man held a knife to her throat. Temi's eyes widened, her body shaking.
Nia's heart stopped. "No!" she shouted. Dami moved toward Temi, but the leader raised a hand. "Stop, or she bleeds." Zainab glared, her hands clenched. Kofi whispered to Nia, "The journal—look again." Nia grabbed it, flipping pages with trembling fingers. Refuse with strength. The bond breaks with choice, it said. She looked at Dami. "We have to say no—strong."
Dami nodded, stepping forward. "I refuse you," he said, his voice loud and firm. The leader's eyes narrowed. Nia joined him. "We all refuse!" she yelled. Zainab and Kofi echoed, "Refuse!" The cult man holding Temi hesitated, his knife shaking. Temi twisted free, elbowing him. He fell, and she ran to Nia.
The leader snarled, raising his knife. "You'll regret this!" he shouted. The cult men charged again, but their moves were weaker. Nia lit another branch, waving it with Dami. Zainab and Kofi fought back, pushing the attackers. Temi grabbed a stick, swinging at a cult man. The fire spread, catching dry grass. Smoke rose, forcing the cult to back off.
But the leader wasn't done. He pulled a small horn from his robe, blowing it loud. A deeper chant started from the trees—more cult men coming. Nia's legs shook, but she held the journal tight. "We can't win this," she said. Dami grabbed her hand. "We run," he said. They turned, pulling Temi and Zainab. Kofi lagged, facing the leader.
"Go!" Kofi yelled. The leader lunged, knife flashing. Kofi blocked, but the blade hit his arm. He grunted, falling. Nia screamed, "Kofi!" but Dami dragged her away. They ran through the smoke, the cult's shouts fading. They reached a road, hiding behind a broken wall. Temi coughed, leaning on Nia. "Is he…?" she asked.
Nia shook her head, tears in her eyes. "I don't know." Dami checked the area, his face grim. "We'll come back for him." Zainab nodded, her breath heavy. "But first, we survive." Nia opened the journal, reading the last line she saw. The choice frees one, traps another. Her chest tightened. Was Kofi trapped now?
A shadow moved behind them—a cult scout, knife raised. "Look out!" Temi yelled. Dami turned, blocking the attack with his stick. The scout pushed hard, forcing Dami back. Nia grabbed a rock, throwing it. It hit the scout's head, and he stumbled. Zainab finished him with a kick, knocking him out.
They stood, panting. The leader's voice echoed from the trees, demanding their return. "You can't hide!" he called. Nia clutched the journal, her mind racing. The cult wasn't giving up, and Kofi was gone. "What do we do?" she asked. Dami looked at her, his eyes steady. "We fight smarter next time," he said. But the scout's knife lay on the ground, a reminder they were still in danger.