"He's afraid of me."
The words lingered in the air.
Nneka stared at the spirit before her, her breathing slowly steadying for the first time since everything began.
Silence.
Real silence.
No screams.
No whispers clawing at her mind.
Just her… and the spirit.
"What is your name?" Nneka asked softly.
The woman hesitated.
As if the question itself hurt.
"I don't remember."
Nneka's chest tightened.
"You don't remember your name?"
The spirit shook her head slowly.
"That's what happens… when you stay too long between worlds."
A pause.
"You start to lose yourself."
Outside—
Obasi let out a low, amused chuckle.
"Listen to her carefully."
His voice dripped with mockery.
"She is exactly what you will become."
Nneka's jaw tightened.
"I won't."
Obasi's eyes darkened.
"You think you're different?"
He stepped closer to the edge of the shrine.
"You think you can hear them… open the door… hold them back…"
A pause.
"…and remain human?"
The spirit beside Nneka stiffened.
Her form flickered slightly.
"Ignore him," she whispered.
But Nneka didn't.
Because a part of her…
A small, quiet part—
Was starting to wonder.
"What happened to you?" Nneka asked the spirit.
The woman looked away.
"I tried to help them."
A pause.
"Just like you."
Nneka's chest tightened.
"I don't want to end up like that…"
The woman's voice softened.
"Then don't lose yourself."
Obasi laughed.
A sharp, cold sound.
"She already has."
The ground trembled slightly.
The shadows outside shifted.
Growing.
Watching.
Nneka stepped forward.
"I'm still me," she said firmly.
Obasi's gaze locked onto hers.
"Then prove it."
A sudden pressure filled the air.
Heavy.
Crushing.
The voices inside Nneka surged violently.
The silence shattered.
"NO—!"
She dropped to her knees, clutching her head.
"They're back!"
The spirit reached for her again—
But this time—
It wasn't enough.
The voices broke through.
LOUDER.
Stronger.
"LET US OUT!"
"SHE BELONGS TO US!"
"OPEN THE DOOR!"
Nneka screamed.
"I CAN'T—!"
Her body trembled violently.
The ground beneath her cracked slightly.
Obasi stepped closer.
"You feel that?"
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
"That is power."
Nneka shook her head, tears streaming down her face.
"It's not power—it's pain!"
The spirit beside her struggled to hold on.
Her form flickered wildly.
"Fight it!" she cried.
But Nneka's strength was slipping.
The voices were too many.
Too strong.
And then—
Something changed.
Inside her.
The door.
It didn't just open this time.
It shifted.
Turned.
Like it was responding.
To her.
Nneka froze.
Her breathing slowed.
The chaos didn't stop—
But it bent.
Just slightly.
"What… is this?" she whispered.
Obasi smiled.
"You see it now."
The voices stilled.
Not gone.
Controlled.
For a moment—
Just a moment—
Nneka felt something terrifying.
Not fear.
Not pain.
Control.
The spirit beside her gasped.
"No…"
Nneka turned to her.
"What?"
The woman's expression was filled with fear.
Real fear.
"Don't let it take you."
Nneka frowned.
"I'm not losing control… I'm gaining it."
Obasi's smile widened.
"Exactly."
The air darkened.
The shadows stretched.
And then—
Nneka stood.
Slowly.
Her body was no longer shaking.
Her breathing is steady.
Her eyes—
Different.
The voices fell silent.
Not because they stopped.
Because they were listening.
To her.
The spirit stepped back.
"You feel it, don't you?"
Nneka didn't answer immediately.
Because she did.
The power.
The connection.
The pull.
"I can stop them," she said slowly.
The woman shook her head.
"Or you can become them."
Silence.
Obasi's voice cut through it.
"You will become like me."
Nneka's chest rose.
Her mind was racing.
Her heart was torn.
Was this control?
Or was it the beginning of something worse?
Suddenly—
A voice echoed inside her.
Different from the others.
Clear.
Cold.
"Let go."
And for a split second—
Nneka almost did.