Nia's breath caught as the hooded man stepped into the firelight, his silence heavier than the cult's fading chants. The shadowy figure had shrunk, but the air still crackled with danger. Amina's grip tightened on her arm, her scarred face set like stone. "Move—now!" she barked, her voice cutting through the tension. Dami hoisted Kofi up, his arm bleeding but his grip firm. "Where to?" he asked, his tone sharp. Temi leaned on Zainab, her leg wobbling under her weight. "Anywhere but this hell," she muttered, her voice weak. The scout nodded, eyes scanning the dark. "I know a path—follow me," he said, leading the way.
They trailed Amina, weaving through thick trees and muddy patches that sucked at their shoes. Kofi groaned, leaning hard on Dami, his face pale and sweaty. Nia's chest tightened—he'd taken that hit for her, and it hurt to see him struggle. The journal glowed faintly in her hand, Blood and fire seal the break, it read, the words burning into her mind. She clutched it tighter, her cut hand throbbing. Amina guided them to a narrow trail, hidden behind tangled vines. "This leads to a safe house," she said, her voice low and urgent. Zainab glanced back, knife ready. "Better be real," she grumbled, her distrust clear.
The trail twisted like a snake, branches snapping under their feet with every step. Nia stayed close to Kofi, whispering, "You'll make it—you have to." He managed a weak smile, his lips cracked. "For you," he rasped, his voice barely audible. Dami's jaw clenched, a flash of jealousy in his eyes as he shifted Kofi's weight. The push-pull hit Nia hard—Dami's steady presence or Kofi's quiet sacrifice? She shook it off, focusing on the path. The scout moved ahead, checking for cult tracks. "Clear so far," he called back, his voice tense.
Amina slowed, pulling Nia aside near a gnarled tree. "Your dad left more than this journal," she said, her one good eye piercing. Nia frowned, confused. "What do you mean?" Amina opened a worn pouch, revealing a small vial of dark, thick liquid. "His blood—mixed with a spell. Use it with the journal." Nia stared, her stomach churning. "Why didn't he tell me?" she asked, her voice breaking. Amina's face softened, a rare crack in her hardness. "He wanted you safe—until you had to fight. He knew this day would come." The weight of her father's secret sank in, tears pricking her eyes as she gripped the vial.
They reached a small hut, its walls cracked but holding strong. Inside, Amina lit a dim lamp, casting long shadows. "Rest here," she said, her tone firm. Kofi collapsed against the wall, Temi sinking beside him with a groan. Dami guarded the door, stick in hand, his eyes on the night. Nia opened the journal, The vial unlocks the final seal, it read in shaky letters. She uncorked it, the sharp smell hitting her nose. "What do I do?" she asked, her hands trembling. Amina guided her, pouring the liquid onto the page. It glowed bright, words shifting like living ink. "Read it," Amina instructed.
Nia read aloud, "By blood and fire, the dark is bound." The hut shook, the journal pulsing with light. Outside, the cult's horn blared loud, shattering the quiet. "They're close!" Zainab yelled, jumping to her feet. Dami peeked out, cursing under his breath. "Too many of them!" The scout grabbed a board, Temi snatched a rock, her face set despite her pain. Nia's heart raced—hope or a deadly trap?
The door burst open, cult men pouring in with knives raised. Nia threw the lit lamp, glass shattering as flames spread fast across the floor. The cult yelled, stumbling back from the heat. Dami swung his stick, cracking it against a head with a dull thud. Zainab stabbed another, her knife flashing red. The scout blocked a knife thrust, grunting as he pushed back with his board. Temi threw her rock, hitting a guy's face, blood spurting. Amina fought with her dagger, slashing an arm and sending a man reeling. "Hold them!" she shouted, her voice steady.
Nia pressed the vial to the journal, reading again. The glow flared, a shockwave knocking cult men down with a crash. The leader appeared, bloodied but grinning wide. "You can't win!" he yelled, his voice cutting through the smoke. The shadowy figure flickered back, weaker but still there, its eyes glowing faint. Nia slashed her hand with a shard, adding her blood to the page. The journal blazed, the shadow screaming as it twisted. The cult fell back, tripping over each other, but the leader raised a new horn.
More cult figures charged in, knives glinting in the firelight. Dami tackled one, pinning him down. Zainab kicked another, her boot thudding against his chest. The scout fought, blocking a swing with his board. Temi threw another rock, hitting a leg and making a man stumble. Amina guarded Nia, her dagger flashing as she took down another attacker. The journal's light dimmed, the spell weakening. "Keep going!" Amina urged, her grip firm. Nia read once more, the hut shaking hard. The shadow faded, but a cult man grabbed Temi's arm, yanking her toward the door. "No!" Nia screamed, lunging forward.
The cult dragged Temi out, her cries echoing. Dami tried to follow, but more men blocked him. Zainab stabbed one, the scout hitting another. Amina pulled Nia back. "We'll get her," she said, but her eyes were hard. The leader laughed outside, his voice booming. "She's mine now!" The hut's walls creaked, the fire spreading. Nia clutched the journal, its glow fading. Kofi groaned, barely conscious. The chapter ended with Temi's scream cut off, the leader's chant rising—cliffhanger locked.
But the chaos wasn't done. More cult men smashed through the back wall, wood splintering. Nia ducked, Dami swinging his stick at the first intruder. Zainab kicked a second, her knife ready. The scout blocked a knife, grunting as he shoved back. Temi's cries faded, fueling Nia's anger. She lit a branch, pressing it to the journal. The page flared, a weak pulse knocking a cult man down. Amina fought beside her, dagger slicing. "Focus!" she yelled.
The leader appeared in the doorway, blood on his face. "End this!" he shouted, raising a knife. Nia read again, the journal shaking. The glow strengthened, the hut trembling. Cult men stumbled, but one grabbed Kofi, pulling him toward the door. "No!" Nia screamed, running to him. Dami tackled the man, freeing Kofi. The scout and Zainab held the line, Temi's absence a gaping hole. Amina threw a smoke pouch, clouding the room. They coughed, retreating to a corner.
Nia pressed her bloody hand to the journal, reading the full spell. "By blood and fire, the dark is bound—release!" The light exploded, the shadow outside screaming. The cult fell back, but the leader laughed. "You'll pay!" he yelled. The hut's roof cracked, a beam falling. They dodged, Amina pulling Nia out. The chapter ended with Temi's distant cry, the cult leader's figure vanishing into the smoke—twist hanging.