28/08/2026
THE NATIVE PRIEST AND THE VILLAGE BOYS — PART 8
The ground shook violently beneath their feet.
Ikechukwu grabbed Onyedikachi's hand.
“Run!” he shouted.
But before they could move, the earth suddenly stopped shaking.
The native priest stood completely still, staring at the wooden door.
“What is happening?” Onyedikachi asked fearfully.
The priest did not answer.
Instead, he walked toward the door and placed his palm on it.
His eyes widened.
“It has awakened,” he whispered.
“What has awakened?” Ikechukwu asked.
The priest turned toward them.
“The spirit that was buried beneath this village.”
The boys became frightened.
“But why?” Ikechukwu asked.
“Because someone has entered the forbidden forest and disturbed the ancient shrine.”
Suddenly, they heard footsteps coming from inside the passage.
THUD… THUD… THUD…
Someone—or something—was walking toward them.
The priest quickly pulled a small charm from his cloth and raised it toward the door.
“Whatever happens,” he warned, “do not open this door again.”
Then they heard a voice from inside.
“Ikechukwu…”
Ikechukwu froze.
It was the voice of his own mother.
“Mama?” he whispered.
The priest immediately covered his mouth.
“That is not your mother!”
The voice called again.
“Ikechukwu… come inside…”
Onyedikachi stepped backward.
Then another voice came from the darkness.
“Onyedikachi…”
This time, it sounded exactly like his father.
The boys looked at each other in terror.
The native priest shouted:
“Do not listen to them!”
Suddenly, the wooden door began to open by itself.
A black shadow appeared behind it.
The priest raised his charm.
“Stay behind me!”
But just before the door opened completely, a mysterious old man appeared from the darkness.
He looked at the priest and smiled.
“You have returned,” he said.
The priest's face turned pale.
“I thought you died fifty years ago…”
The old man laughed.
“I did.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
