"They chose."
Obasi's voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Now it's your turn."
Nneka stood at the entrance of the shrine, her body stiff, her breath slow.
The air inside the shrine felt safe.
Protected.
But outside—
Outside was him.
And everything that came with him.
"I already chose," she said quietly.
Obasi tilted his head.
"Did you?"
He stepped closer.
But not in the shrine.
He couldn't.
Not yet.
"You chose to leave them," he continued softly."But you haven't chosen what you will become."
Nneka's chest tightened.
"I won't become like you."
A small smile touched his lips.
"You keep saying that."
The wind stirred gently.
"But you are already changing."
Inside the shrine—
Something shifted.
Subtle.
But enough.
Nneka felt it instantly.
Her head snapped back slightly.
The voices—
They weren't outside anymore.
One of them…
Was inside.
Her breath caught.
"No…"
Obasi's smile widened.
"You feel it now."
Nneka stepped back.
"It's not supposed to be here…"
Her eyes scanned the shrine.
The walls.
The symbols.
This place was protected.
Nothing should be able to cross in.
And yet—
She could feel it.
Close.
Watching.
A whisper brushed her ear.
"Nneka…"
She froze.
That voice—
It wasn't like the others.
Not angry.
Not hungry.
Soft.
Familiar.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
Silence.
Then—
"Don't be afraid…"
Her heart pounded.
"I'm not afraid," she said, though her voice betrayed her.
A pause.
Then—
"Good."
The air around her grew colder.
But not sharp.
Not violent.
Different.
A shape formed in the corner of the shrine.
Faint.
Barely visible.
But there.
Nneka stepped closer.
Slowly.
Her breath was trembling.
"Who are you?" she asked again.
The shape flickered.
And then—
It became clearer.
A woman.
Young.
But not whole.
Faded.
Broken.
Her eyes filled with something deep.
Something sad.
"I know you…" Nneka whispered.
The woman nodded slightly.
"You've heard me before."
Nneka's chest tightened.
"You're one of them…"
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
Nneka swallowed.
"Why are you here?"
The woman hesitated.
Her form flickered again.
"I didn't follow you."
A pause.
"I stayed."
Nneka frowned.
"Stayed… where?"
The woman's gaze dropped.
To Nneka.
"With you."
Her breath caught.
"What do you mean?"
The woman stepped closer.
Her presence is faint—but real.
"When the door opened…"
A pause.
"Not all of us crossed."
Nneka's chest tightened.
"Then why are you here?"
The woman's expression softened.
Almost… protective.
"Because I chose you."
Outside—
Obasi's expression changed.
His smile faded.
"You feel her," he said quietly.
Not pleased.
Not at all.
Inside—
Nneka shook her head.
"I didn't ask for this…"
The woman nodded.
"I know."
A pause.
"But you need help."
Nneka's eyes filled with confusion.
"Help… from you?"
The woman stepped closer.
"Not all spirits are like him."
Nneka's chest tightened.
"You're… different."
The woman didn't smile.
But her voice softened.
"I remember who I was."
Outside—
Obasi's voice darkened.
"Step away from her."
The temperature dropped instantly.
Inside the shrine—
The woman stiffened.
Nneka turned toward the entrance.
Obasi's eyes burned now.
Focused.
Dangerous.
"That one is not your ally."
Nneka shook her head.
"You don't decide that."
The woman's form flickered violently.
Struggling.
"He cannot control me here…"
But her voice wavered.
Weaker now.
Obasi stepped closer to the boundary.
"She is weak," he said coldly."She will not survive what is coming."
Nneka's hands clenched.
"Neither will you… if I don't help you."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
The woman looked at Nneka.
"You have a choice."
A pause.
"Follow him…"
Her voice trembled.
"…or learn to control this."
Nneka's chest rose slowly.
Her fear is still there.
But something else is rising now.
Decision.
"I won't let him use me," she said firmly.
Obasi's expression darkened.
"Then you will break."
The woman stepped closer.
"Or…"
A pause.
"You will become something he cannot control."
The air shifted.
The tension snapped.
And suddenly—
The voices inside Nneka surged again.
Louder.
Stronger.
Her body shook.
"I can't—!"
The woman reached out—
And touched her.
For the first time—
The voices stopped.
Nneka gasped.
Silence.
Real silence.
Her eyes widened.
"What… did you do?"
The woman's voice was faint now.
"I'm holding them back…"
A pause.
"For now."
Outside
Obasi stared.
Not smiling.
Not amused.
This time—
He looked threatened.
As Nneka steadied herself—
She looked at the woman again.
"Who are you?"
The spirit hesitated.
Then finally said
"I was the first one he failed to control."
Outside
Obasi's eyes darkened instantly.
"Do not trust her."
Inside
The woman whispered
"He's afraid of me."