"Why don't you just find out for yourself?" it taunted, jerking its chin toward the mask. "Go on. Rip it off."
Nnenna's hand hovered above the mask for a second, but then she shook her head. "No."
The figure blinked. "No?"
"I'm giving you a chance to be better," Nnenna said, her tone calm yet resolute. "That chance begins with you saying it yourself. Tell me who you are."
The figure went quiet. For a brief moment, the dark energy around it flickered, like a candle struggling against the wind.
"You… would give me another chance?" it asked, the disbelief in its tone clear.
"Even after everything I've done?"
Nnenna didn't answer. Her silence spoke enough.
The figure's laugh this time was hollow. "You do realize," it said slowly, "I'm the one responsible for your parents' deaths, King Ikechukwu's death, Somto's death, Carl's poisoning, so many attempts on your life?"
Nnenna's eyes darkened, but she didn't move.
