The shadows within

CHAPTER THREE: THE INVITATION The day passed in a blur for Oluchi. Even as she sat in class, pretending to focus on her English teacher’s lesson, her mind kept drifting back to what Farida had said. She found out something she wasn’t supposed to. And then she disappeared. Angela had been smart, careful. If The Shadows could silence someone like her, then what would they do to Oluchi if they found out she was watching them? A sharp whap on her desk jolted her back to reality. “Oluchi Nwosu!” She looked up to see Mrs. Adebanjo, her English teacher, glaring at her with arms folded. The entire class was now staring. “I hope my lesson isn’t disturbing your daydreaming,” Mrs. Adebanjo said sarcastically. A few girls snickered. “S-sorry, ma,” Oluchi muttered, lowering her head. She felt her cheeks burn as the teacher continued the lesson. But even as she tried to concentrate, something told her she wouldn’t be able to focus on schoolwork for much longer. Something was coming. Something big. --- A MESSAGE FROM THE SHADOWS That night, the school compound was eerily quiet. Oluchi sat on her bed, flipping through her notebook, but her eyes weren’t really reading the words. Farida was lying down, scrolling through her contraband phone under the blanket. The other girls in the dorm were either asleep or whispering about random school gossip. Then, just as Oluchi was about to close her book, something slipped under the door. A note. Her heart skipped a beat. She hesitated, staring at the small folded paper as if it were a live bomb. Then, slowly, she bent down and picked it up. Her fingers trembled as she unfolded the paper. There were only four words, written in red ink: “Meet us. Old classroom.” Oluchi’s throat went dry. She looked at Farida, but her best friend was still distracted by her phone. Should she show her? Should she ignore it? But even as she debated, she knew she had only one real option. She had to go. Because if she didn’t… The Shadows would come for her. And they wouldn’t be as polite next time. --- A JOURNEY INTO DARKNESS At exactly 11:45 p.m., Oluchi crept out of bed. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was afraid it would wake the whole dormitory. She glanced at Farida one last time, but she was fast asleep now, her phone lying beside her pillow. Taking a deep breath, Oluchi tiptoed toward the door. She stepped into the hallway, and the cold air sent a shiver through her body. The school at night always had a different feel—like it wasn’t the same place she walked through during the day. She moved quickly, her feet light against the tiled floor. Every shadow in the corridor felt like it was moving. Every creak of the building sounded like a whisper. By the time she reached the old classroom block, her hands were shaking. The door was slightly open. A dim, flickering light glowed from inside. Oluchi swallowed hard. Then, before she could talk herself out of it, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. --- THE INITIATION The room smelled of burning incense and something else—something metallic. At the center of the room, Senior Yewande stood, dressed in a flowing black robe. Behind her, Aisha and Chiamaka sat on wooden desks, their faces expressionless. Around them, twelve girls stood in a perfect circle, their heads bowed, whispering something under their breath. Oluchi felt her stomach turn. She should run. She should turn around and leave. But before she could move, Yewande spoke. “We’ve been expecting you.” Her voice was soft, almost gentle, but it sent chills down Oluchi’s spine. “You’re special, Oluchi,” Yewande continued. “Not like the other students.” Oluchi’s lips parted, but no words came out. “You see things, don’t you?” Yewande’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “You hear things. You know things.” Oluchi’s throat was dry. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Chiamaka chuckled. “Liar.” Yewande took a step closer. “You can be part of something greater, Oluchi. Something more powerful than you can imagine.” She gestured to the circle of girls. “These are your sisters. We are a family.” Oluchi’s hands clenched into fists. “What do you want from me?” Yewande tilted her head. “We want to offer you something… special.” She reached into her robe and pulled out a small dagger. The candlelight reflected off the silver blade, making it glisten. Oluchi’s breath hitched. Yewande held out the dagger. “All you have to do is take it. Just a small sign of your loyalty. A tiny sacrifice.” The circle of girls stopped whispering. The room fell deathly silent. Oluchi’s heart was racing. She could feel her own pulse in her ears. She knew what was happening. This was a test. If she refused… she wouldn’t be walking out of this room the same way she came in. Slowly, her hand lifted toward the dagger. Her fingers brushed against the cold metal. Then— The door BURST open. A strong gust of wind blew through the room, knocking over one of the candles. The flame flickered wildly, casting strange shadows on the walls. Every girl in the room turned toward the doorway. And standing there… Was Adaeze Ojo. The JSS2 girl. The one who never spoke much. The one people barely noticed. Her small frame trembled, but she held her Bible tightly in her hands. Her voice rang out, steady and clear. “Let there be light.” The candles flickered violently. The wind howled through the broken windows. And suddenly—without warning—every single candle went out. The room was plunged into total darkness. And then… A SCREAM. A bloodcurdling, ear-piercing scream. Something had gone terribly, terribly wrong. --- TO BE CONTINUED… Do you want Chapter Four?