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Lista Austin, Lekki (2025)

26/04/2025

I’m Back Again
Continuation of CITY OF SHADOW

Episode 9: Ebuka’s Haunting

Ebuka sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the floor. His heart pounded like a drum in his chest. He had barely slept in days. Every time he closed his eyes, he felt a dark presence lingering nearby.

It started small — a flicker of movement just at the edge of his vision, a shadow darting behind trees, a figure watching him from the corner of a room. But tonight, it grew worse.

Earlier, as he washed his face in the bathroom, he glanced up at the mirror — and froze. A third eye, bloodshot and wide open, stared back at him from his forehead. He stumbled back in fear, blinking hard. When he looked again, it was gone.

“What is happening to me?” he muttered, gripping the sink with trembling hands.

That night, as he lay on his mattress, the room grew unnaturally cold. The curtains fluttered even though the windows were shut. Ebuka pulled the blanket up to his chin, every muscle in his body tense.

Then he heard it — a voice, soft and chilling, right beside his ear.

"You were chosen. You cannot run."

Ebuka bolted upright, gasping. He spun around, but there was no one there. Only darkness pressed in from every corner of the room.

He wanted to scream, but fear locked his throat. Somewhere deep inside, he realized — whatever had marked him, whatever had opened that third eye in the mirror — it wasn’t finished with him yet.

Ebuka clutched the small amulet his grandmother had given him years ago and whispered prayers into the night, but he knew it wouldn’t be enough.

The shadows had found him.
And they were waiting.

18/04/2025

TITLE: CITY OF SHADOW
Writer: LISTA AUSTIN
Episode 8: The Price of Power

Chijioke’s life changed overnight. The charms he received from the native doctor had begun to work like magic. He no longer struggled for attention or opportunities. Suddenly, he had a brand-new car parked outside his one-room apartment, sleek smartphones in both hands, and a wardrobe filled with designer clothes he never dreamed of owning.

Money flowed in like a river during rainy season. Businessmen begged him for partnerships, and politicians started calling him “Odogwu.” People in the neighborhood whispered about his rapid rise, but no one dared to ask questions. Fear had gripped them. Even his own family didn’t recognize him anymore—he walked with the confidence of someone who had dined with spirits.

Women, too, surrounded him. They came in all shapes and sizes—light-skinned, dark-skinned, older, younger, rich, poor—all drawn by the aura of power around him. He changed girlfriends like clothes. Clubs welcomed him with VIP treatment, and waiters ran to serve him before he even ordered.

But with all the wealth and attention came something else—a shadow. It started subtly. He couldn’t sleep well at night. He’d hear voices whispering in his ear. At first, he thought it was the stress of success. But it became worse.

He woke up one night and found one of the bracelets the native doctor had given him glowing in the dark. His heart pounded. That was the same night he had a terrifying dream—he was in a graveyard, dancing with faceless women, while something cold crawled up his legs.

He told himself it was just a dream.

But the next morning, he found a scar on his thigh—like something had scratched him while he slept.

Still, he pushed the thoughts aside. He was living the life others could only wish for. But deep inside, a quiet fear began to grow.

Something was coming.
And Chijioke had no idea how high the price of power would be.

To be continued…

17/04/2025

City Of Shadows
Episode 7: Marked

Back at the compound, the atmosphere was heavy, and the air smelled of burnt herbs and blood. Chijioke sat shirtless on a wooden stool inside the shrine, his heart pounding as Baba K chanted in an ancient tongue. A small clay bowl filled with black liquid sat beside a glowing coal fire. The old man dipped a sharpened stick into the mixture, then leaned over Chijioke’s chest.

“This mark go give you power and protection,” Baba K murmured, his voice gravelly.

With slow, deliberate strokes, he branded a strange symbol onto Chijioke’s skin — a serpent coiled around an eye. The pain was immediate and blinding. Chijioke gritted his teeth, refusing to scream, but tears streamed down his cheeks. As the symbol sizzled into his flesh, the fire in the room flared unnaturally.

“You are now connected,” Baba K said as he wiped his hands. “But power dey come with price. Make sure say you ready.”

Chijioke nodded, though his mind was spinning. His body felt hot, like something ancient was crawling under his skin. He stumbled to his room, collapsed on the mat, and drifted into a restless sleep.

That night, the compound was quiet — too quiet.

Suddenly, Chijioke’s body je**ed violently. He began to tremble, his limbs twitching uncontrollably. A guttural growl escaped his throat as his back arched. His eyes shot open — blood red, glowing in the darkness. His breathing became ragged, and his fingernails grew long and sharp like claws.

He let out a deep, inhuman roar that echoed through the compound, waking some of the others.

In the shrine, Baba K sat with his eyes closed, breathing calmly, as if expecting the disturbance.

“E don start,” he whispered to himself. “The spirit don enter.”

Chijioke thrashed on the floor, his body no longer his own, as a shadowy figure loomed over him in the darkness — watching… waiting.

To be continued…

15/04/2025

Writer: LISTA AUSTIN
CITY OF SHADOWS
Episode 6: Escape Attempt

Ebuka packed his small bag with trembling hands. The weight of his reality had become unbearable. The walls of the small compound house seemed to whisper at night. Shadows danced longer than they should. He had stayed too long. He knew it.

That night, when the power went out—again—he took it as a sign. With nothing but his wallet, an old torchlight, and a few pieces of bread, he slipped through the back gate and into the darkness.

The air was thick, like it was watching him. Every creak of the dry leaves under his feet echoed louder than it should. He didn’t care. He just needed to get away.

He took the main road and walked fast, past the silent houses, past Mama Nneka’s provision store, past the mechanic workshop. Then he reached a T-junction. He turned right.

Ten minutes later, he was back on the same street.

The same broken-down bus with its shattered windshield.
The same old beggar sitting by the gutter, muttering words no one understood.
The same brown dog barking madly behind the same rusted gate.

His chest tightened. He turned back the way he came and ran. Left at the junction this time. He didn't stop running until his legs ached.

Again, the same street.

The bus.
The beggar.
The barking dog.

“What is this?” he gasped. His breath fogged in the night air, though it wasn’t cold.

Panic set in.

He tried to speak to the beggar, but the man only stared at him with cloudy eyes and whispered, “You were not supposed to leave yet.”

Ebuka took a different route, cut through someone’s backyard, jumped over fences, and ran into the bushes.

Still—he came out… back to the same street.

It was like the entire world outside that place had crumbled, leaving only this loop.

Then the dog stopped barking. The beggar stood. The bus door creaked open.

A voice echoed from somewhere in the dark.

“You can’t leave, Ebuka. You opened the door. Now you must finish what you started.”

Ebuka dropped his bag. His torchlight flickered.

In the distance, the streetlights buzzed and dimmed.

He wasn't just trapped in a place. He was trapped in something deeper.

And someone—or something—was watching.

To be continued…

13/04/2025

Title: City of Shadows
Episode 5: The Ritual Begins

The moon hovered full and white in the sky, casting eerie light over the rundown building on the outskirts of the city. An owl hooted from a distance, and the wind carried strange whispers through the rustling trees.

At exactly midnight, the rusted iron gate creaked open. They were summoned.

Chijioke and Ebuka stood uneasily among five other young men, all lured by the promise of wealth, fame, and power in the city that devoured the innocent. The inside of the building was dimly lit with red candles, the air thick with incense and something darker—something that smelled like blood and secrets.

Baba K emerged from the shadows, his tall frame cloaked in dark fabric. His dreadlocks hung wild around his face, and his eyes glinted like a predator in the night.

“Today,” his voice boomed, “una go prove loyalty.”

He reached into a leather bag and handed each of them a black robe, woven with strange symbols that seemed to move under the candlelight. The other men took the robes without hesitation.

Chijioke accepted his with trembling hands, his mind racing but his heart firm. He wanted to belong. He wanted to escape the shame of poverty and the whispers of failure. This was the price.

Ebuka looked at the robe, then at Baba K. He took a step back.

“I no do,” he said firmly.

Silence fell.

Chijioke turned sharply to him, eyes wide. “Ebuka…”

Baba K's face slowly darkened, the smile on his lips vanishing like smoke in the wind.

“No be everybody wey enter city dey go back house,” he said ominously, his voice low but deadly.

The candles flickered as if reacting to his words. One of the other boys started to chant. Two others closed in on Ebuka.

He stepped back again, fists clenched. “If una wan kill me, kill me. But I no go sell my soul!”

Baba K hissed, raising one hand. The room suddenly grew colder. “Your soul?” he said with a mocking grin. “Your soul no even get value yet.”

Then he turned to Chijioke.

“You,” he said, “follow me.”

Chijioke hesitated, his eyes flicking to Ebuka—his friend, his brother from the village. But then he looked down at the robe in his hand and stepped forward.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered to Ebuka. “I no fit go back.”

And with that, he disappeared into the dark corridor behind Baba K.

Ebuka stood alone now, breathing heavily, surrounded by eyes that no longer looked human.

Behind the corridor, the ritual was about to begin.

To be continued…

Get all episodes here Lista Austin

12/04/2025

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Episode 3: The Locked Door
Curious, Chijioke crept to the door. It was locked, but he peeped through the crack—and saw men in black robes surrounding a symbol drawn on the ground with blood.

He staggered back, frightened.

“Don’t open that door,” Baba K warned the next morning, “or you go regret am.”

But it was too late. Chijioke had seen too much.

Episode 4: Ebuka’s Doubts
Ebuka begged Chijioke they should leave.

“I no trust this man, Chi,” he said. “There’s something evil here.”

Chijioke hesitated. Baba K had promised them connections and a job in an oil company.

“We just need to endure a little,” he said. “We go blow soon.”

That same night, Ebuka had a nightmare—a faceless creature dragging Chijioke into a pit of fire.

To finish episode 3 and to get episode 4 make sure you shaaree this

11/04/2025

CITY OF SHADOWS
Episode 2: The Red-Capped Man

The next morning, the man with the red cap approached them with a wide grin.

“I be Baba K,” he said. “You boys dey look for work, abi? Make I help una.”

Chijioke, ever the optimist, nodded quickly. “Yes, sir. Anything we fit do.”

Ebuka hesitated, his eyes scanning the man’s worn agbada and the glint in his eyes. Something felt off, but he didn’t want to sound ungrateful. “We dey try survive, sir,” he said quietly.

Baba K laughed heartily. “Una go survive well-well. Just follow me.”

He led them through winding streets until they reached Mushin. The house Baba K stopped at was tucked behind overgrown shrubs and broken gates. Its walls were cracked, the paint peeling like sunburned skin. It looked abandoned.

“This place?” Chijioke asked.

“Yes na,” Baba K replied. “Na here be the headquarters. Plenty boys don make it from here. Una time don come.”

Inside, the air was thick and musty. But there was food on the table—hot, steaming rice with thick stew—and two thin mattresses in a room with barred windows.

“Make una rest. Tomorrow work go start,” Baba K said, winking. “Opportunity full ground.”

That night, as the boys lay on their mattresses, full for the first time in days, the sound of low chanting drifted through the walls. At first, it was faint—like a hum—but it grew louder, layered with drums and strange whispers.

Chijioke sat up. “Wetin be that?”

Ebuka didn’t answer. He was already at the door, pressing his ear against it.

The chanting was coming from the room next to theirs.

Suddenly, the smell of burning herbs filled the air. A deep voice called out in a language neither of them understood, followed by cries—soft at first, then desperate.

Chijioke’s face turned pale. “I no like this place.”

Ebuka grabbed his wrist. “Tomorrow, we go find way comot here. Something no pure for this house.”

Behind the door, the chanting rose to a fever pitch… and then stopped.

Dead silence.

Then, a whisper—right outside their door.

“Una don enter.”

To be continued…

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10/04/2025

CITY OF SHADOW

Episode 1: The Departure

It was a dusty morning in the quiet village of Umuele. The sun had just begun its slow rise, casting a golden hue across the narrow footpaths. Birds chirped high in the mango trees, and the rhythmic bleating of goats filled the air. The scent of woodsmoke lingered as women began their morning routines, sweeping compounds and preparing breakfast over firewood.

At the small, rusted signpost that marked the village motor park, two young men stood with sacks over their shoulders. Chijioke, tall and lean with restless eyes, adjusted his worn-out cap and looked around with anticipation.

"City life is where things happen," he said with a confident grin. "We can't waste our youth here chasing goats and farming yams."

Ebuka, shorter and broader, shifted uncomfortably, his grip tightening on the handle of his bag. “I just hope we’re doing the right thing,” he murmured.

“We are,” Chijioke replied, slapping his friend's back. “Lagos is calling us. You’ll see.”

They had spent the past year saving money—doing odd jobs, helping elders in their farms, and even selling firewood—to gather enough for the journey to Lagos. It wasn’t much, but it was all they had. Chijioke dreamed of becoming a big man with cars, suits, and maybe even his own business. Ebuka’s dream was simpler: he wanted to send money home and build a better life for his mother and younger siblings.

As the rickety bus to Lagos pulled up, puffing black smoke into the air, they climbed in, their hearts pounding with hope and fear. The journey was long and uncomfortable. The bus groaned with every bump, and the humid air made sweat cling to their backs. Along the way, they passed countless towns, unfamiliar landscapes, and rows of traffic that stretched endlessly.

It was nearly midnight when they arrived in Lagos. The city didn’t sleep. Horns blared, music blasted from roadside bars, and the streets teemed with people. It was chaos—beautiful, terrifying chaos.

With no relatives in the city and no money for a hotel, they wandered around until they found shelter beneath a bridge near Ojuelegba. The rumble of passing vehicles echoed above them, and the air stank of exhaust and urine. Still, they were too tired to care.

Using their bags as pillows, they lay side by side, staring at the concrete above.

“We made it,” Chijioke whispered.

Ebuka didn’t respond. He stared into the darkness, his mind racing with doubts.

Unseen by them, a figure emerged from behind a pillar. He wore a red cap and a long coat that fluttered in the night breeze. His eyes glinted in the dim light, and his lips curved into a wicked smile as he studied the sleeping boys.

“They’ve arrived,” he whispered to himself. “Just as the spirits said…”

Then he vanished into the shadows, leaving the night undisturbed—except for the sound of fate beginning to stir.

F0!!0 for more stories Lista Austin

10/04/2025

NEW STORY COMING SOON
“City of Shadows”

It follows the journey of Chijioke and Ebuka, two village boys who enter city life with hope, but end up tangled in a chilling n!ghtmare.

Dropping by 12noon

Don’t forget to sh@ré

31/01/2025

Episode 22: Success and Sacrifice
Nneka sat by Ada’s hospital bed, holding her daughter’s frail hand. The beeping of the machines had once been a source of fear, but now, each sound reassured her—her little girl was getting better.

The doctor’s words echoed in her mind. “She’s responding well to treatment. If this continues, she will recover fully.”

Tears of relief slipped down Nneka’s cheeks. After months of struggle, she had finally given her daughter a fighting chance. But the battle wasn’t over.

Outside the hospital room, she met Chief Olayemi in the waiting area. His face was weary. "Nneka, we have a problem," he said, lowering his voice.

Her stomach tightened. "What is it?"

"The cost of the extended trial treatment is far more than what I anticipated," he admitted. "I’ve paid what I can, but there’s still a large sum left. More than I can cover."

Nneka’s heart sank. "How much more?"

Chief Olayemi hesitated before telling her the amount. It was staggering. An impossible figure for a woman like her.

She pressed a hand to her forehead. "I don’t know what else to do, Chief. I can’t keep living like this, under constant fear. Maybe I should return to Nigeria and avoid any further legal trouble."

His brows furrowed. "You can’t be serious. Do you know what that means? If you leave now, everything you fought for will be lost. Ada might not get the care she needs."

"I know," she whispered. "But what choice do I have? I’ve done everything—things I never imagined I would do—to save my daughter. Maybe this is where my road ends."

Chief Olayemi sighed deeply. "You’re not alone, Nneka. You have people who care about you now. Your community."

Later that night, as Nneka sat in her tiny apartment, staring at the documents that detailed the remaining hospital bills, a knock at the door startled her.

She opened it to find Mama Kemi, her neighbor, standing with several others from their immigrant community. They had been following her struggles, witnessing her sacrifices from afar.

"We heard about Ada’s treatment," Mama Kemi said, holding an envelope. "It’s not much, but we all contributed what we could."

Nneka’s hands trembled as she took the envelope, her eyes welling with tears. "You did this for me?"

Mama Kemi nodded. "You are one of us now. We help our own."

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Nneka hugged her tightly. In that moment, she realized something—she wasn’t just fighting for survival anymore. She had found something priceless in this foreign land: a family that stood by her, even when everything seemed lost.

And for the first time in a long while, she felt like she belonged.

30/01/2025

Episode 21: A New Threat
Nneka had barely begun to feel a sense of relief when another storm hit. Just days after securing the final funds for Amarachi’s treatment, a loud knock on the door shattered her moment of peace.

She opened it to find two police officers standing there, their expressions stern.

"Mrs. Nneka Okafor?" one of them asked.

"Yes," she responded, her heart pounding.

"You need to come with us for questioning. There’s an allegation against you."

Nneka’s legs nearly gave way. "What allegation?"

"Mrs. Caldwell claims you stole valuables from her home before disappearing. Jewelry, cash, and some expensive designer bags," the officer explained.

Her breath caught in her throat. "That’s not true! I left because she—" She stopped herself, realizing she couldn’t explain without revealing her secret dealings.

"Save your statement for the station," the second officer said.

Amarachi, still weak from her illness, clung to her. "Mommy, what’s happening?"

Nneka forced a smile. "Nothing, my love. Stay inside with Obinna." She turned to the officers. "Can I at least call someone?"

They exchanged glances before one of them nodded.

Nneka quickly dialed Chief Olayemi, her voice trembling as she explained the situation. "Please, I need your help."

By the time she arrived at the station, Mrs. Caldwell was already there, seated with an air of superiority.

"You thought you could run away after robbing me?" she spat, her eyes burning with hatred.

"I never took anything from you!" Nneka shot back.

The officer in charge gestured for silence. "We need to investigate before drawing conclusions."

Just then, the door swung open, and Chief Olayemi walked in. His presence commanded respect.

"Officer, I personally vouch for this woman," he said firmly. "Nneka has been working for me, and I can assure you, she would never steal. In fact, I have reason to believe Mrs. Caldwell is simply trying to frame her out of spite."

Mrs. Caldwell’s eyes widened. "You have no proof of that!"

"And you have no proof that she stole from you," Chief Olayemi countered. "Unless, of course, you’d like to present evidence?"

The officer turned to Mrs. Caldwell. "Do you have any surveillance footage or witnesses?"

Mrs. Caldwell hesitated, her face flushing with frustration. "She was the only one with access to my room!"

"That's not proof," the officer said. "Without evidence, we can’t hold her."

Nneka let out a shaky breath as the officers dismissed the accusation. But as she turned to leave, Mrs. Caldwell leaned in close, her voice dripping with venom.

"This isn’t over."

A cold shiver ran down Nneka’s spine.

Chief Olayemi placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Stay strong. I won’t let anyone harm you."

But Nneka knew one thing for sure—Mrs. Caldwell wasn’t backing down. A new threat had just begun.

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