Chapter 3: The Shadow in the Village
Kwame couldn’t help but feel drawn to the village. The old woman had warned him, but there was something about this place that made him feel both scared and alive.
He looked at the broken houses, the vines covering everything, and the eerie silence that seemed to hang in the air. He needed to understand what had happened here, and more importantly, he needed to find the Guardian of the River before it was too late.
“I will find him,” Kwame whispered to himself. The village was quiet, but it didn’t feel empty. It felt like the villagers were still there, hidden in the shadows, watching him.
As he walked through the dusty streets, he felt a presence behind him. He turned around quickly, but there was no one there. Only shadows.
Kwame walked faster, his breath quickening. The whisper returned, this time not as a voice, but as a low, growling sound. It came from everywhere—around him, above him, even beneath his feet.
Suddenly, he heard something louder—a door creaking. Kwame froze. Slowly, he turned towards the sound. A small, wooden door at the end of a dark alleyway was opening by itself.
Kwame’s legs felt heavy, but he walked towards the door. As he stepped closer, he saw something inside the room—movement. Something or someone was waiting for him.
Before he could reach the door, the growl became a roar, and a shadow darted across the alley in front of him. Kwame gasped and jumped back, nearly tripping over his own feet. What was that? Was it a spirit, or something worse?
He had no time to think. The village seemed to close in on him, its streets twisting and turning like a maze. Every corner he turned led to more shadows, more whispers, and more danger.
Kwame had to find the Guardian of the River—and fast. But the closer he got to the heart of the village, the more he felt like something was pulling him in, making him stay forever.
READ ALSO: The Forgotten Village – Part 1
Chapter 4: The Guardian’s Warning
Kwame found himself standing in front of a huge stone door, hidden deep in the center of the village. The door was covered in strange carvings—symbols he had never seen before. The air was thick, and a cold chill ran down his spine.
“Kwame…” The voice came again, but this time, it was clearer, louder, and it sounded almost like it was right behind him. He turned around quickly, but there was nothing there.
He took a deep breath and stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest. Slowly, he pushed the door open. Inside was a large room filled with ancient statues, each one more frightening than the last. In the center of the room was a massive stone chair, and sitting in it was a tall, dark figure.
His face was hidden in shadow, but his glowing eyes stared directly at Kwame. “You shouldn’t have come here, child,” the figure said in a deep, rumbling voice.
Kwame’s legs felt weak. “I’m looking for the Guardian of the River. Is that you?” The figure’s eyes flickered, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I am the Guardian. But you are too late. The river has already chosen its new keeper, and once it chooses, it never lets go.”
Kwame’s stomach twisted. “What does that mean?” The Guardian stood up, his shadow stretching across the room like a living thing. “It means you may never leave this place, Kwame. You’re already part of the village now. The spirits have marked you.”
Kwame’s mind raced. “What can I do? How do I leave?” The Guardian’s eyes burned with an eerie light. “There is no escape unless you do something no one has ever done before.”
Kwame’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you want me to do?” The Guardian’s smile grew wider. “Prove you can survive the village’s curse. Only then will the river allow you to go.” Kwame didn’t know if he was ready, but he knew one thing for sure: He couldn’t give up.
Chapter 5: The Path of Trials
Kwame’s heart pounded in his chest as the Guardian’s glowing eyes bore into him. “Prove you can survive the village’s curse,” the Guardian repeated, his voice cold and distant. “Only then will the river allow you to go.”
Kwame didn’t understand. What did the Guardian mean by surviving the curse? Was it some kind of test? He looked around the dark room, the statues of ancient spirits staring down at him, their eyes seeming to follow his every move. The Guardian stepped forward, his long shadow stretching across the cold stone floor.
“Go,” the Guardian said, his voice like thunder. “The village has already chosen you. If you want to escape, you must pass the trials.”
Kwame felt a mix of fear and determination surge within him. He had no choice now but to follow the Guardian’s command.
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, the heavy stone door closing behind him with a loud thud.
As he stepped into the village, the air felt thick with an unseen force. The whispering winds were gone, but the weight of something ancient hung over him.
He didn’t know what these trials would be, but one thing was certain: He had to face them, or he would be trapped forever.
The village seemed empty now, the buildings silent and still. There were no more shadows lurking in the alleyways. But Kwame knew better. Something was waiting for him.
He walked towards the center of the village, where a large tree stood, its gnarled branches twisting into the sky. The tree was unlike any tree he had seen before, it seemed to breathe, its leaves rustling even though there was no wind.
As Kwame approached, the ground beneath him trembled. The earth cracked open, revealing a deep, dark pit. The pit was filled with shadows, swirling and moving like a living thing.
A voice echoed from the depths of the pit, cold and sharp. “The first trial awaits you, Kwame. Do you have the courage to face the darkness?”
Kwame swallowed hard. He didn’t know what this trial was, but he knew one thing: He had to face it. “I’m ready,” he said, his voice shaking but determined. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and jumped into the pit.
No responses yet