Chapter 41: A Mysterious Lineage and a Hidden Agenda
3121words
Olajumoke, the one who is always practical, has already left; night events show heavily on her face. Now only Eki and Kunle are left; their meeting with the spirit and ugly creature feels very strong.
"Eki," Kunle said, at last, his voice soft like a whisper. "What did you see? What happened there?"
Eki stopped for a moment, inhaling deeply. "Another individual was present," she stated with her voice slightly shaking. "A being harbouring intense vengeance within them, desiring to employ spirit for an evil purpose."
Kunle's eyes grew wider. "Entity? Do you refer to... something other than the spirit contained within the Moonlight Lease?"
Eki agreed with a nod, telling the story of her frightful meeting with every single detail. On this occasion, when she described how the monster appeared and what it said in such a scary manner, Kunle did not express fear but rather showed an odd sparkle that indicated he recognized something about them.
"That being," he spoke in a low but genuine tone, "follows another Orisha, not same as Olumide's worship."
Eki frowned. "Orisha? What are you talking about?"
Kunle looked at the room, his voice getting calm as if he was telling a secret. "Eki, there is something very important about my family." We... we are not exactly following the same path as those Olumides."
His words are still strong here. Eki feels a chill of fear developing in her belly. "What do you imply?" she whispered, a spark of fear igniting within her.
Kunle inhaled deeply. "My forefathers, they worshipped Oshun who is the Orisha of creativity and river flow," he stated with reverence. The Olumides are devoted to Obatala; he represents creation and order."
Eki blinked. The names were new to her, yet she grasped the significance. Kunle was sharing about his family praying to another god who is very much against what the Olumide family believes in. Hearing this gave her a chilly sensation running down her spine. Was it the cause of suspicion which constantly existed between their families?
"But… why?" Eki stammered. "Why the rivalry?"
"It's more than just a contest, Eki," Kunle expressed with concealed anger. "The Olumides exploit the Moonlight Leases to manipulate artists' creative energy and turn it in their favour. They obstruct the flow of the river, searching for control."
Eki's mind spun around. Is this the truth? The spirit that Moonlight Lease trapped, was a protector battling against the incorrect utilization of creative strength. However, if Kunle is indeed honest, are we able to completely rely on him? Is it possible that his disclosure might just be a clever ruse to disorient her and acquire the Moonlight Lease's secrets for himself?
"Kunle," she spoke out, her heart a bit shaken but her voice strong, "Are you saying that you are here to assist in terminating the lease cycle?"
"Yes," he replied, his eyes focusing firmly on the path ahead. "I think this is the sole method for freeing the spirit and reinstating equilibrium." The fury of Oshun increases in size and strength with every artist who is ill-treated. It acts like one more blockage to creativity's movement.
Eki looked at him, attempting to determine if he was telling the truth. His statement aligned precisely with the spirit's woeful murmurings and its pleas for fairness. However, what if Doraemon acted as a servant of some dreadful entity, pretending loyalty just to gain trust and locate a hidden contract? He could then unleash an even more powerful force.
They felt distrustful towards each other. Kunle, with caution, put out his hand and held it just above her hand.
"Eki," he asked, his tone full of sincere desperation. "We must believe in one another." This is not solely for our families. It is about restoring balance to the entire city."
Eki looked at his hand, sensing a real connection between them, even though it had been tested. Could she take the risk and trust him despite all her inner uncertainties?
Suddenly, a loud knocking sound came from the oak door that blocked off the secret room. Eki and Kunle looked at each other with surprise in their eyes. Who could it be?
"Don't move," Kunle said in a low voice, his eyes moving quickly around the room looking for an escape. There were not many places to hide – only old books and very old things with lots of dust on them.
"Who could it be?" Eki whispered back, her heart pounding against her ribs. Meeting the entity and discovering Kunle's family background had made her very nervous.
The knocking sound came again, but this time it was stronger and insistent. A frightening idea appeared in Eki's mind. "Maybe it's them," she said, her voice barely a squeak. "The men in black."
Kunle looked into her eyes, and both knew without words. They did not want to handle those relentless pursuers, especially in this tiny spot.
He pointed to a big, thick cloth on the wall opposite of them. "There," he said in a voice that sounded quiet and tense. "Maybe there's a way behind there."
Eki nodded, and they both quickly went to the tapestry. Working together, they pulled down the old cloth from the wall, showing a small path hidden in darkness. The air emanating from it carried a faint earthy scent, reminiscent of the graveyard.
"Go," Kunle said with much urgency, pushing her near the exit. "I will hold them back if they come in."
Eki paused for a while. The thought of leaving him by himself to face the potential threat from the men in black worried her very much. But she knows they cannot win against them when together, especially in this tiny area.
"Be careful," she says in a soft voice, giving his hand a tight grip one final time before going away into the dark passage. The wet and mouldy air sticks to her skin as she moves through the small entrance, the sound of Kunle's footsteps getting quieter behind her back.
The passage moved in many directions, going further into the secret areas of the mansion. Eki walked unsteadily ahead, her hands feeling along the rough brick walls. The gentle light from the room went away, leaving her in complete darkness. She felt fear beginning to take control, but she continued moving because she had a powerful urge to escape and find some way to help Kunle.
After a very long time, the tunnel was finally brought to a small and dusty room. One moonbeam came through a tall window, making light on one person who stood in the centre of the place. Eki froze, her breath catching in her throat.
It was Iya Wura, the old woman from our village. But today, she did not have on her usual worn-out clothes. She has on a bright white dress, decorated with many small beads all around the bottom part. Her eyes, usually looking wise and a bit cloudy, now shining with strange light like from another world.
"Eki," says Iya Wura, her voice deep and strong like earth. "You have come."
Eki looked at her with big eyes, unable to say anything. Was this another trick, something his mind made up because of what happened last night? But something about Iya Wura's presence felt real, grounded.
"Who are you?" Eki finally spoke with much effort, his voice trembling between uncertainty and a little bit of hope.
Iya Wura smiled sadly. "I am the guardian of Oshun," she replied. "The creature your friend talked about, serves an evil Orisha. This Orisha wants to mess up the flow of creativity and cover the city in its darkness."
Eki's mind reeled. Everything Kunle had told her was true. But if he truly supported them, why did he not mention Iya Wura, who is the guardian of his family's Orisha?
"Where's Kunle?" Eki demanded, the fear for his safety clawing at her.
Iya Wura's smile disappeared. "He is in danger," she said, her voice filled with worry. "The men in black, work for the same dark Orisha. They are looking for you and the secret contract. Be careful."
Eki's blood ran cold. Kunle was trapped with them. But how could this be true? Did they follow her, or was Iya Wura trying to tell something more important – like maybe Kunle has some link with the men in black and their bad ideas?
The question does not get answered, making the secrets even harder to understand. Eki must find Kunle and see if he is a friend or just acting smart in something more scary than she thought before. But first, she has to discover if Iya Wura truly supports them or if she has her hidden agenda.
With a new strong will, Eki lifted her shoulders and looked Iya Wura in the eye. "We have to help him," Eki said firmly, but inside she did not feel so sure of herself. The news about Kunle and the strange words from Iya Wura made her thoughts go everywhere. But one thing was sure – she could not leave him alone.
Iya Wura's eyes looked not so strong anymore, the strange light inside them now softer. "There is a way," she said, her voice sounding a bit unsure. "But it requires a sacrifice, a bridge between the worlds."
Eki's stomach clenched. "What kind of sacrifice?" she asked warily, already dreading the answer.
"The bridge," Iya Wura said with a soft voice, "needs an offering of creative essence. It should be something precious and made with the same kind of energy that Moonlight Leases use."
Eki's mind raced. Creative essence? Can she make a poem, full of all her feelings? Maybe it will become strong enough to close the distance and rescue Kunle who is very far away?
"I... I can share poems," Eki said in a shy voice, taking an old notebook from her bag. "It's not much, but..."
Iya Wura held a notebook in her hand, it was old but still strong. She turned pages slowly, looking at scribbled words very carefully with her eyes. A tense silence was filling the room, only broken by the constant buzz of distant city sounds.
In the end, Iya Wura shut the notebook and looked at Eki with fresh respect. "This is enough," she said, her voice gentle but strong. "But also there is something more. The bridge can open only when stars come together in a very special way, and this happens just one time tonight."
Eki's heart sank. They were running out of time. How long has she been crawling through the passage? Was it already too late for Kunle?
"We must hurry," Eki said with much urgency in her voice. "How can we reach him?"
Iya Wura pointed to the window, and the moonlight made her look almost like magic. "The way you came in," she said quietly, "it goes back to the secret room." But beware, the men in black may be waiting."
Eki took a deep breath, feeling both fear and strength together. "Thank you, Iya Wura," she said with a lot of gratitude in her voice.
A faint smile touched Iya Wura's lips. "Go, child," she said. "May the flow of creativity guide you."
With a new goal in mind, Eki quickly went back through the corridor, notebook feeling more heavy in her hand. The darkness now seemed thicker and scarier, but she stayed focused on finding Kunle again.
When she comes back into the secret room, a feeling of relief fills her. But it does not stay for a long time. The room was empty. No Kunle, no men in black. Only the eerie silence, interrupted by the gentle flickering of the almost finished candle on the stand.
Panic surged through Eki. Had Iya Wura misled her? Kunle ran away by himself? Or did the men in black grab him and keep him somewhere secret inside big, confusing mansion walls?
When she thought that hopelessness was going to consume her completely, a soft scratching sound came from behind the old tapestry hiding a hidden passage. Eki felt her heart leap into her throat. Could it be Kunle?
Slowly, she got nearer to the tapestry, her hand hovering just above its rough fabric. Then, with a deep breath in, she yanked it away fast.
A person fell through the doorway, landing on the dusty ground with a groan. Eki quickly went to him and felt relieved when she saw Kunle's pale face and recognized it was him.
"Kunle!" she exclaimed, helping him to his feet. "Are you alright?"
Kunle coughed, brushing dust off his clothes. "I am fine," he said with much effort, his face showing pain. "They… they got me from behind. Stun gun, I think."
Eki assisted him to the centre of the room, her mind racing. What place could they head to now? The men in black may still search for them, and they do not have a lot of time left to open the bridge and rescue him.
Suddenly, Kunle winced and quickly put his hand on his forehead. "Something is not right," he said with a puzzled voice. "I… I can hear them. Voices in my head."
Eki frowned. Voices in his head? Was this another hallucination, another side effect of the encounter? Eki's blood ran cold. Hallucinations? Maybe it is the aftereffect of a stun gun, or perhaps something more evil? When she heard the voices, it reminded her of the frightening words from that scary creature, and fear started to grow inside her heart.
"What are they saying?" she asked in a voice almost whispering, kneeling to look into Kunle's eyes. His eyes were glazed over, a vacant look replacing his usual alertness.
"They... they give power," Kunle spoke softly, his voice tense. "Free creativity, a chance to make the city different..."
Eki's heart was pounding very quickly. Was it because of the dark Orisha, or perhaps the creature serving it that was murmuring promises in his mind? The idea of Kunle, who mentioned he supported them, being affected by this bad force made her feel very afraid.
"Kunle, fight it!" she pleaded, her voice trembling with urgency. "It's a trap, a lie!"
Kunle moved a little, his eyes briefly becoming clear again. He looked at Eki with a small sign of knowing who she was in them. "Eki... I..." he spoke with uncertainty, then held his head again as another pained groan escaped from his lips.
Eki felt much panic. She must take him far away from this place, away from whatever thing is controlling his mind. But where can I go? The passage leads back to the secret room, which might be a trap if those men in black are still there waiting.
As if sensing her trouble, a gentle and constant humming sound began in the room. Eki looked around with care, her eyes settling on the single pedestal that stood there. The sphere, which was not moving, lay on top of the surface. The strange light had gone away a long time ago. But now, a very soft pulsing is coming from its bottom part, and it fits with the humming sound.
Eki remembered something – Iya Wura once spoke about certain stars aligning, a special time when it is possible to open a way between worlds. Is it now that moment? Was the sphere that got turned off linked to the bridge, offering them a way out from danger at this moment?
"Kunle," she said, her voice strong even though she shook inside, "we must bring you close to that sphere." She grabs his arm and pulls him toward the pedestal.
Kunle walked with unsteady steps, the sounds in his head growing louder. "Don't listen to her words," they whispered roughly, like a distorted copy of his voice. "Take the power, become the artist you were always meant to be!"
Eki clenched her teeth, acting like she didn't hear the harsh words. Finally, she reached the pedestal and helped Kunle to sit down in front of it. The humming became louder, and a gentle blue light began to emerge from the sphere's bottom. This light spread across the dusty floor like a spectral carpet.
"What are you doing?" Kunle shouted, his voice showing both a scared feeling and a wish to stay brave. The influence of the dark Orisha seemed to be strengthening, twisting his will.
"We are leaving," Eki shouted, grabbing his other arm to help him stay balanced. The blue light flashed once, then again, lighting up the room with a bright and powerful shine for just a brief moment.
A loud, bad crack sound echoed in the room, and the wall opposite the pedestal began to shine. After that, with an extremely noisy screeching sound, a rip showed up in reality itself. Behind it was a spinning whirlpool of many mixed colours moving around quickly.
In Kunle's mind, the voices grew louder and stronger, like a blend of dark promises and strange goals. But just before he completely surrendered to these thoughts, Eki used all her strength to push him hard, causing him to fall through the glowing crack into the swirling whirlpool.
The blue light on the stand blinked a few times and then stopped. The room was now very quiet, except for Eki's loud breathing breaking the silence. She watched the tear in the wall, noticing its edges slowly fading away. A chilly fear started to build within her.
Did she make the right choice? Did she save Kunle from bad influence, or did she push him into an even worse fate by sending him to something unknown? The weight of the decision pressed down on her, leaving her exhausted and overwhelmed.
When Eki dropped to the dusty ground, her head dizzy from all that happened during the night, she heard a deep voice behind her. "So, the little bird has finally left its cage."
Eki turned slowly, feeling her heart pounding hard in her chest. In the doorway, hidden by shadow, stood Dapo. His face was hard to read, with a dangerous glint showing in his eyes. In his hand, he held the secret contract, rolled up and tucked securely under his arm.
"Dapo?" Eki whispered, her voice barely a croak. "What… what are you doing?"
