Chapter 2 - HEED THY WORD

The Saturday sun was dipping low over the estate, casting long, skeletal shadows across the church courtyard. My father stood by the heavy oak doors, his Bible tucked under one arm like a shield. He didn't look at me as I approached; instead, his gaze was fixed on the gravel path where Mina had just vanished."Deji," he said, his voice a low rumble that always commanded the room. "The new girl.""Mina, Dad. She's in the choir now." I tried to sound casual, but my heart hammered against my ribs.He finally turned to me. His eyes, usually warm and full of grace, were sharp—searching. As a pastor, he often spoke of "discernment," a spiritual gift that allowed him to see beyond the physical. Right now, he looked like he was seeing straight through my skin."There is a shift in the wind, son," he murmured, stepping closer. "A heaviness I haven't felt in this community for years." He placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip uncharacteristically tight. "When she speaks, do you hear her words, or do you hear the echo behind them?"I thought of her "witch" joke and that bone-chilling singing voice. "She's just… different, Dad. She's not from here.""Different is a word for a new suit, Deji. This is something else." He looked back toward the estate gates, his brow furrowed in a way that suggested he was already in a spiritual battle I couldn't see. "The Bible warns us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers in dark places. Be careful who you invite into your spirit. Not every beautiful face carries a beautiful soul."He walked away toward the parsonage, leaving me alone in the cooling air. For the first time, the familiar church walls felt less like a sanctuary and more like a cage. I looked at the billboard where my name sat next to the "Welcome" sign, wondering if Mina was still laughing at me from the shadows.