Chapter 9: Hope’s Last Stand

Chief Garba and me draw sword rush out. Plenty possessed people don enter Bronze Eagle Tower. Garba warriors no fit fight, dem dey die anyhow.

“Spirits no dey hear fight! Make we guard the Chosen One, dey retreat!” I shout.

Chief Garba carry the Chosen One, tell him sons to guard am—but true true, na to keep sons near the Chosen One be him aim. I see through am but no talk, join Chief Garba, gather remaining warriors, begin break out.

For palace corridor, blood dey flow, shout dey scatter. I see say even small pikin dey fight with cane like old warrior. The Lion and Panther Guard dem line up, chest out, but eye dey shake like goat wey see masquerade. The Lion and Panther Guard dey hold ground, sweat and tears full their face, but dem no gree run.

[Rule Two: If person don craze, abeg, no reject anything wey dem ask you.]

[Rule Three: If you dey for side of the one wey God don choose, na there sure pass. Na only him be hope.]

For battlefield, I understand these two rules. You no fit reject possessed people request, but if you near the Chosen One, dem no fit talk, dem dey mute. No rule power, dem just be strong flesh and blood. Lion and Panther Guard get experience—if we join hand, we fit survive.

My hand dey pain, my head dey hot, but my spirit dey strong. I dey thank God say rules get small loophole. Na so I dey chop down spirit, dey shield the Chosen One, dey hope say help go show before time finish.

I use spear finish one spirit, dey fight, then hear shout for back. I turn, see group of spirits break the Chosen One guard. Leader smile, raise hand, hold the Chosen One throat. The Chosen One face dey blue, struggle dey weak. One snap, the Chosen One body fall for ground. My head wan burst. The Chosen One don die.

The world slow down, like say rain stop for dry season. My spirit dey freeze, my eyes dey open wide, no voice fit come out. I dey pray make this be dream, but the silence heavy, the wahala real. Now, the only hope don finish. Wetin remain for us?

For my mind, darkness just swallow hope. But I swear, even if na only me remain, this story never finish.