Nia's heart stopped as her uncle stepped out, his face hard under the flickering light. The cult men had scattered, but his presence hit her like a punch—family, yet tied to this mess. "Uncle Tunde?" she whispered, her voice shaking. Dami grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "Stay sharp," he muttered, stick raised. Temi leaned on Zainab, her leg still weak. Kofi groaned, clutching his bleeding arm. Amina gripped her dagger, eyes narrow. The scout shifted, uneasy.
Tunde raised a hand, his sleeve showing that same serpent tattoo. "I tried to keep you out, Nia," he said, voice low. "But you're too deep now." Nia's stomach turned. The journal glowed in her hand, The blood ties the trap, it read. Her cut hand throbbed. "You're with them?" she asked, anger rising. Tunde shook his head. "I'm against them—your dad was too. But I couldn't stop the Master." He pointed to the cave. "He's in there, waiting."
Dami tensed. "Why trust him?" he snapped at Nia. She met his eyes, the push-pull hitting hard—Dami's doubt versus her uncle's words. "He's family," she said. Temi nodded, grimacing. "We need all the help we can get," she said. Zainab grumbled but agreed. Amina stepped forward. "He's telling the truth—your dad trusted him," she said. Kofi leaned on the scout. "Let's move," he rasped.
They followed Tunde into the cave, the air thick with damp and smoke. Nia's heart pounded, Dami close, his hand brushing hers. "Watch him," he whispered. She nodded, the warmth steadying her. Inside, the Master stood by a stone altar, cult men around him, chanting low. The shadow flickered behind him, weak but growing. "You brought guests," the Master said, smirking.
Nia held the journal, Break the trap with light, it read. She lit a branch with her lighter, the flame small. "We need to get closer," she said. They crept forward, but a cult man spotted them. "Intruders!" he yelled. The fight kicked off fast. Dami swung his stick, smashing the guy down with a thud. Zainab stabbed another, her knife quick. The scout hurled a rock, nailing a third. Amina slashed with her dagger, Kofi blocking a hit with his good arm. Temi chucked stones, her aim solid.
Nia waved the flame, the shadow flinching. The Master turned, his eyes cold. "You again," he said. "Your dad's blood won't save you." Nia's anger flared. "Tell me why he died!" she shouted. The Master laughed. "He stole our power—paid with his life." The shadow lunged, claws out. Nia read from the journal, "Light breaks the dark!" The flame flared, shoving the shadow back. Dami took down a cult man, his stick cracking. "Keep going!" he yelled.
The Master raised a vial, blood sloshing inside. "Your dad's legacy—mine now," he said. He dumped it on the altar, the shadow ballooning big. Nia's stomach churned. "Stop!" she yelled. Amina charged, dagger up. The Master blocked, shoving her back hard. Zainab jumped in, stabbing a cult man. The scout and Temi fought, Kofi punching one down. Nia pressed her bloody hand to the journal. "By blood and light, break the trap!" she shouted. The glow blasted out, the shadow screaming as it shrank.
The Master staggered, the vial smashing. "You don't get it," he said, voice fading. The cult men backed off, looking lost. Nia ran to Amina, hauling her up. Dami grabbed her hand, his grip firm. "You nailed it," he said, pride in his tone. But the Master smirked. "The ritual's on," he said. The ground shook, a new shadow rising from the altar. Tunde shouted, "It's a trap—run!"
They bolted, dragging Kofi and Temi. The cave rumbled, rocks falling. Nia glanced back—the Master vanished, the new shadow towering. "Keep moving!" Dami yelled. They ducked into a side tunnel, the scout leading. Temi stumbled, Zainab catching her. Amina slashed at a falling rock, clearing the path. Kofi groaned, leaning on Nia. The tunnel shook, dust choking the air.
Nia held the journal, The trap seals with blood, it read. She slashed her hand deeper, blood dripping. "We need to fight it," she said. Dami shook his head. "You're hurt!" he snapped. She met his eyes, the push-pull hitting—his care versus her drive. "It's the only way," she said. Temi nodded. "Do it," she rasped. Zainab and Amina agreed. Tunde looked grim. "Your dad would," he said.
They turned back, facing the tunnel's end. The new shadow loomed, claws out. Nia read aloud, "By blood and will, seal the dark!" The glow flared, the shadow roaring. Dami swung his stick, hitting a cult man blocking them. Zainab stabbed another, the scout throwing rocks. Amina slashed, Kofi punched despite his pain. The shadow slashed back, grazing Temi's arm. She cried out, falling.
Nia rushed to her, pressing the journal to Temi's wound. The glow pulsed, the shadow shrinking. The cult men retreated, shouting. The Master's voice echoed, "You can't stop it!" The altar glowed red, a ritual circle lighting up. Nia read again, the light exploding. The shadow vanished, but the circle pulsed, chanting rising. The Master appeared, his eyes wild. "The ritual begins," he said, raising his hands. The chapter ended with the cult men joining the chant, the circle glowing brighter—cliffhanger locked.
They fought to break through. Nia dodged a cult man, Dami swinging his stick. It cracked against him, the guy dropping. Zainab kicked another, her boot thudding. The scout blocked a swing, pushing back. Amina slashed, taking down a man. Kofi punched one, his wound splitting. Temi threw a rock, hitting a leg. The circle's glow grew, the shadow reforming.
Nia checked the journal, The ritual traps the soul—break with blood. She slashed her hand again, blood mixing with Temi's. "By blood, break the seal!" she shouted. The glow surged, the circle cracking. The Master laughed, "Too late!" The shadow lunged, claws aimed at Nia. Dami tackled her aside, the claw missing. Zainab stabbed a cult man, the scout whacking another. Amina shielded them, dagger flashing.
The chanting peaked, the circle flaring. Nia read the last line, the light blasting out. The shadow screamed, the circle shattering. The cult men fell, silent. Nia sank, exhausted. Dami held her, his arms tight. "You did it," he said. But the Master smirked from the shadows. "The ritual's set," he said. The chapter ended with a dark mist rising, the Master chanting—cliffhanger locked.