Emeka glances at his watch—10 p.m. He knows he has to leave before Amina's parents notice his presence or his parents notice his absence . "I should go," he whispers, his voice tinged with reluctance.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qlEkXoub1
Amina nods, but there's a flicker of worry in her eyes. "I'll walk you out," she says. "It's too dark for you to go alone."
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEfZMMdsFT
They crawl out the window one after the other. Emeka goes first, landing softly on the ground. He turns and holds out his arms to catch Amina as she climbs down. She slips slightly, and he instinctively wraps his right arm around her waist to steady her. For a moment, they're close—too close. Their eyes lock, and the world seems to pause. Amina's breath catches, but she quickly looks away, breaking the contact.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhIHVfCNUe
"Let's go," she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoYnaRmq72
They move quietly through the compound, sticking to the shadows. The night is still, the only sound the rustle of leaves in the breeze. When they reach the edge of the fields, Amina stops. "This is far enough," she says. "Be careful going home."
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa9fRsFcWL
Emeka smiles, though his nerves are still on edge. "Thanks, Amina. Goodnight."
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gWWaQISvY
He turns to leave, taking a few steps into the darkness. But just as he does, something feels... off. The air grows heavy, the sounds of the night fading into silence. Emeka glances over his shoulder, and what he sees makes his blood run cold.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh7RT29d7x
Amina is floating five feet in the air, her body stiff and unmoving. Her hands claw at her throat as if she's being choked by an invisible force. Her eyes are wide with terror, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dB6h7Qvvy
"Amina!" Emeka shouts, rushing toward her. But before he can reach her, an unseen force slams into him, throwing him backward. He crashes into a tree, the impact knocking the breath out of him. His vision blurs, and the last thing he sees before everything goes black is Amina's limp body suspended in the air, her face pale and lifeless.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8FMT9mK1Z
***
Emeka jolts awake, his heart racing. He's back in Amina's room, sitting on the edge of her bed. The kerosene lamp casts a warm glow, and Amina is looking at him with a puzzled expression.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0gfI9t625
"Hey, Emeka, you're dozing off again," she says, her voice teasing but concerned.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHfV9hrrzw
Emeka blinks, disoriented. He looks around the room, half-expecting to see the creature or the shadowy figure from under the bed. But everything is normal. Amina is fine, her cheeks flushed with life, her eyes bright.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrBdHQ9aF5
"I... I must've fallen asleep," he mutters, rubbing his temples.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipb5TNQBrq
Amina laughs softly. "You're such a sleepyhead. It's 10:30—you should go before your parents notice."
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzk7KXirxv
Emeka nods, though his mind is still reeling. He stands, his legs shaky, and heads for the window. As he climbs out, he glances back at Amina one last time. "Goodnight," he says, his voice trembling slightly.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJhcxhDDo9
"Goodnight, Emeka," she replies, smiling.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZmVVhIehW
***
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4e2yMSghy1
Emeka lands on the ground and takes off running, his heart pounding. The night feels darker now, the shadows deeper. He can't shake the image of Amina floating in the air, her face twisted in terror. Was it real? Or was it just a hallucination, a trick of his tired mind?
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFBmg4F8sj
By the time he reaches his house, he's out of breath and drenched in sweat. He locks the door behind him and collapses onto his bed, his mind racing. He tells himself it was just a dream, a figment of his imagination. But deep down, he knows something isn't right.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNElK4CXAH
***
Meanwhile, back in Amina's room, the kerosene lamp flickers. Amina sits on her bed, staring at the window Emeka just climbed out of. She feels a chill run down her spine, though the room is warm.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ85njtFQwl
"Why won't you come to me?" a voice whispers, so soft it's almost inaudible.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFgidAis1A
Amina freezes, her blood turning to ice. She knows that voice. It's the same one from her dream, the same one by the river.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q4sYm8Ice
"Do you want me to use force?" the voice continues, growing louder, more menacing.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrza00b09t
Amina's hands tremble as she clutches her blanket. She wants to scream, to run, but her body won't move. The lamp flickers again, and for a moment, she sees a figure in the corner of the room—a woman with glowing eyes and a smile that's both beautiful and terrifying.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBxWxmE5jl
Then, just as quickly as it appeared, the figure is gone. The room is silent, the lamp steady once more. But Amina knows this isn't
ns18.188.123.155da2
and then Add to home screen.