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.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq6TM6ZcJC
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."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywI2DTNb63
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.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuH4VsRIhP
"Let's go," she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVfkAiOAKj
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."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcmtDHk0Vx
Emeka smiles, though his nerves are still on edge. "Thanks, Amina. Goodnight."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLThJMavDQ
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.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDzADdgHZa
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.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEzY27eLIC
"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.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftHO4Mhziw
***
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.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtzfOfPcFa
"Hey, Emeka, you're dozing off again," she says, her voice teasing but concerned.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeHCjVha70
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.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjV6M49Plv
"I... I must've fallen asleep," he mutters, rubbing his temples.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7AYlQpr0Z
Amina laughs softly. "You're such a sleepyhead. It's 10:30—you should go before your parents notice."
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6KYK1y2YE
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.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQoJJGeBGz
"Goodnight, Emeka," she replies, smiling.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8LR7CgUws
***
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI67aVIT9TZ
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?
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3QcxxNAOJ
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.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyMNUc4jnf
***
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.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSFfFfOtfA
"Why won't you come to me?" a voice whispers, so soft it's almost inaudible.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ0BPE64r4
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.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FheFAThos
"Do you want me to use force?" the voice continues, growing louder, more menacing.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcsGw2gzTs
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.
137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ6aJF3X1j
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
ns216.73.216.239da2
