Chapter 76: A Hidden Passage
990words
Dapo, with strong determination, looked carefully at each corner of the empty warehouse they used as their temporary base. He searched for clues or anything that could help them to take down this secret group.
One afternoon, he is looking at the old dirty map in the warehouse. Suddenly, something unusual catches his eye: there is a small symbol on this map too! This surprises him very much because it looks like a secret sign or clue to hidden treasure perhaps. He thinks about what it might mean and why no one saw it before. It is very difficult to notice; it stays in the corner of the map. This symbol, he saw before at Olumide mansion.
Feeling curious, Dapo began to look at the symbol. It showed a complex design and hidden messages. He remembered reading ancient books about the Olumide family and their ties to occult practices. Maybe this symbol is a clue for finding a secret room.
Feeling a strong need, Dapo returned to the Olumide mansion. It was very dangerous, but the possible benefits were too great to miss this opportunity. He walked into a big mansion at night when it was dark outside, and his heart was beating fast with excitement.
The big house was dark and frightening, only the noise of old wood making creaky sounds. Dapo walked slowly, his senses very alert. He finds a place where he sees this sign for the first time. After looking carefully at the walls, he discovers a hidden panel there.
He used his hands to push the panel, and it moved open, showing a thin path. He felt excited but also scared at the same time. He took a deep breath and stepped into the unknown.
The passage was very dark and wet, with a strong smell of rotting things in the air. He moved forward, his flashlight making a path through the darkness. Finally, after a long time of feeling endless, the path brings us to a big round room.
The room felt very strange. In the centre, there was a large stone altar with many detailed carvings on it. Many shelves stood near this altar, filled with old items. But what caught Dapo's eye were the murals on the walls.
The pictures show scenes from old times, with characters looking like they were part human and part god. There were images of creating, destroying, and transforming things. But clearest were the stories about difficult times - challenges that reveal how strong people can become.
Dapo suddenly understood as a bright idea came to him: these were Orunmila's challenges. The pictures on the wall—seem like some kind of guide or steps for the ritual that Eki was joining in.
When he saw the murals, strong feelings of respect and curiosity filled him up. This was a special time because maybe here was where he could find what he needed to beat the secret group.
But when he looked more inside the chamber, a bad feeling started. He felt something was there - dark energy seemed to come from the walls of the room. It felt like someone was observing him.
Dapo felt much curiosity about the mystery of the chamber. The paintings were so detailed, looking like pieces of a large puzzle. He worked hard to decode the symbols for many hours and comprehend their significance.
When he looked closer, a rush feeling started inside him. He knew these wall paintings were very important to stop the curse. If they can understand the challenges, it will help Eki in her mission to liberate Olorun.
However, unusual feelings come to him as he goes deeper into his study. The air seems to turn colder and heavier. He felt a spirit around him, a shadowy force observing him.
All of a sudden, the lights in the room begin to flicker and then completely go out. This makes everything very dark inside the chamber. Fear got hold of him very strongly when he took his flashlight, and its bright light cut through the complete darkness. The murals appeared to glow with a strange light – their images looking twisted and threatening.
A noise went through the room, a soft growl that brought chills to his spine. In the darkness, something large and menacing started moving.
Dapo's heart was beating fast. He grabbed his flashlight, and the light from it moved around the room. In the faint light, he sees two eyes glowing back at where his flashlight pointed. A low growl came back, but this time it was nearer.
Scared changed to powerful adrenaline. He needed to escape from that place. He twists his body and starts to run, his footsteps make much noise in the quiet room. The creature gets nearer, and its growls become stronger.
He came out quickly from the hidden room, closing the panel with a strong push. He leaned against the wall, breathing heavily and attempting to calm down. His heart was thumping in his chest and his body shaking.
He nearly did not escape from death. Inside that room, no persons were present; it held something from the darkest places, an ancient and evil power.
He went back to the main part of the mansion, his thoughts moving quickly. He must tell Eki about what he found out, and they both need to be very careful now. The secret society was more dangerous than they had imagined.
When he went into the night, a feeling of worry came over him. The battle for the city was not done yet - it was just beginning now.
