When the monster finally disappeared into thin air, the forest slowly returned to its natural silence. The leaves stopped shaking, the air warmed again, and the strange coldness drifted away as if it had never existed. But Jessica and Amina remained frozen for several long moments, their breaths shallow, their bodies trembling from fear and exhaustion. Jessica held Amina tightly, her hands shaking because she herself was terrified, yet she refused to let her friend fall again.
Amina could barely stand. Her injured leg throbbed painfully, and the fright had drained every ounce of strength she had left. Jessica gently placed Amina's hand around her shoulder and supported her as they stepped out from the bush, both of them exhausted and dazed.
"Come on, Amina, lean on me. We need to get you home," Jessica whispered, trying to keep her voice steady.
Amina nodded weakly, wincing with every step. "It… still hurts…"
Jessica tightened her grip around her waist. "I know. Don't worry, we're almost there. Just hold on."
They walked slowly out of the forest path and made their way back to the village. The sun was beginning to lower, painting the sky in soft orange and gold colors, but neither of the girls noticed. They were too focused on reaching safety.
When they finally reached the entrance of Amina's compound, the people nearby stopped what they were doing. They saw Jessica struggling to support Amina, both girls covered in dust, sweat, and fear. The villagers whispered among themselves, worry filling their faces. Mothers paused their cooking, fathers stood up from their chairs, and several children stared wide-eyed, sensing something terrible had happened.
Amina's mother, who was inside pounding yam, heard the commotion from outside. She hurried to the doorway—and her heart dropped the moment her eyes fell on her daughter.
Amina looked pale, tired, and shaken. Her leg was swollen, and she could barely stand without Jessica's help.
"Amina!" her mother cried as she rushed forward. "What happened to you?! Jessica, why is she like this? What happened? What did you two do?!"
Fear, confusion, and panic mixed in her voice.
Amina, struggling to speak, looked up at her mother through tired eyes. But Jessica answered first.
"Aunty… aunty, a monster chased us," Jessica said breathlessly, still panting hard. "It came from nowhere… it looked like a shadow and it was pursuing us. We ran as fast as we could, but Amina fell down and hurt her leg—"
Amina's mother gasped sharply. "A monster?! What kind of monster?! Where did you go? How did this happen?!"
Amina took a deep breath and managed to speak through the pain.
"Mother… I fell down… recklessly. Something pushed us—I don't know what—but it wanted to kill us. I think it was the thing Jessica saw. It wanted me."
Her mother's face changed instantly. Shock. Fear. Anger. Worry. All at once.
"What in the world were you doing there?! Where exactly did you go?!"
Amina swallowed. "We were just on the walkway, Mother. We weren't doing anything bad. The monster came from nowhere. We didn't expect it. We ran—Jessica helped me—"
"Ay! God!" her mother whispered, pressing her palm against her forehead. "This is why I warn you children every day! These forests are not safe! Spirits roam when people least expect it!"
Jessica shook her head, still breathing heavily. "Aunty, please don't blame Amina. It wasn't her fault. The monster… it followed us. If we didn't run, it would have caught us. It wasn't a normal creature. We both almost got taken."
Amina's mother took Amina from Jessica's arms, carrying her weight carefully. "Thank you, Jessica. Thank you for bringing her home safely. You saved her life today."
Jessicashook her head gently.
"No, aunty… it wasn't just me. We saved each other. If not for Amina, I might have fallen too. The monster would have captured both of us. We survived together."
Amina managed a small smile, tired but grateful. "Jessica… thank you for not leaving me."
Jessica smiled softly, brushing Amina's dusty hair away from her face. "You would have done the same for me. That's why we're friends."
Amina's mother nodded deeply, emotion swelling in her chest. "Jessica, you have done more than enough today. God bless you, my child. You are brave. Thank you for risking your own life."
Jessica lowered her head shyly.
"Aunty, I have to go home now. My mom must be worried. Amina… take care, okay? Rest well. I'll come check on you later."
Before leaving, Jessica placed her hand gently on Amina's arm. "Please stay safe. And… if anything strange happens again, tell me. Promise?"
Amina nodded. "I promise. Thank you for everything."
Jessica gave one last look of concern, then turned and walked away, occasionally glancing back to make sure Amina was safely in her mother's arms.
Amina's mother watched Jessica leave, then turned to her daughter again. "Let's get inside. You need to rest."
She carried Amina carefully into the house. The moment they crossed the doorway, Amina's father appeared from the corner of the room. His expression changed quickly when he saw his daughter limping, bruised, and holding her leg in pain.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice firm but trembling beneath the surface.
For a moment, Amina's mother did not answer. She simply led the child to sit on a mat in the living room. Then she rushed to bring out a small basin of water, herbs, and a cloth. She knelt and began cleaning Amina's wounds gently.
Amina winced as the cool water touched her bruised skin. Her mother examined her leg carefully, noticing swelling around the ankle and a sharp scrape on her knee.
"Thank God you didn't break your bone," she murmured. "But this wound is deep. How did this even happen?"
Amina looked at her father with tired eyes. "Father… it was a monster. A shadow-like thing. It chased us. We ran but I fell… and it almost caught us."
Her father stiffened, but he didn't look surprised—not even a little.
Instead, something flickered in his eyes. Something dark. Something like recognition.
But he quickly hid it.
Amina's mother continued tending the wound while she explained everything Jessica had told her, repeating the story word for word.
Amina's father listened quietly, his jaw tightening, his hands curling into fists. His face hardened with a seriousness Amina had never seen before.
Her mother noticed. "What is it? Why are you looking like that? Do you know something about this?"
Her father swallowed hard, then looked down.
But he said nothing.
Amina noticed the way he avoided her eyes—the same way he did the previous day when he returned from hunting with that strange voice and that shifting shadow.
She watched him carefully, confusion swirling inside her tired mind.
Her mother finished cleaning the wound and began dressing it with cloth and herbs. She whispered soft prayers under her breath, begging protection over her child.
"You will be fine, my daughter," she murmured, kissing Amina's forehead. "Nothing will harm you again, I promise."
But as her father watched from the corner of the room, his fists still clenched tightly, he knew something her mother did not.
He knew why the shadow came.
He knew why it called Amina's name.
He knew what it meant when it said I know who you are.
And even though he was burning with guilt and fear…
He couldn't say a single word.
Not now.
Not yet.
Because whatever the truth was…
It wasn't just Amina in
danger.
The danger was already inside their home.
And her father feared the truth more than the monster itself.