THE DARKNESS SEASON 2

DARK HOME.


As darkness falls upon us, I will be the pillar of light that guards this world.


Agege, Lagos State, Nigeria.


The wind was chilly tonight, cold and filled with the uncertainty of terror that had plagued them for the last few days. The Honda drove steadily on the newly made road,  as the night stayed silent before them.  Flora had fallen asleep on Jayson’s legs as he stared outside the windows. Only few buses and cars remained on the busy roads tonight. Charles sat at the passenger  seat, constantly checking on Toyin behind him. Kunles eyes stayed fixed on the road. Flora had described how to get  to Miss Adunnis apartment. Flora and Victoria had known about Miss Adunnis for years, they would here tales of her voodoo and black magic. Most people in the community referred to her as a witch, of course none directly to her because of the fear of what she could do.
Flora could remember how she warned Victoria not to go, how she pleaded with her to let her mother rest, if only she had listened, maybe all this would never have happened. Now she was in a sleep, perhaps one she didn’t want to be in, but her exhaustion must have gotten the best of her.
She woke up in a forest, the trees making rustling and creaking sounds, taking away the silent of the night that the crickets had already taken. She felt at peace here, safe for some reason. She just stood there watching the trees dance and move around her, it amused her, a smile broke from her lips, her chiseled face shaping beauty as they brightened her eyes.
“You will be safe here.” A voice said from behind Flora, it was a woman’s voice, soft and gentle like a caring mother. Flora turned around, her heart beating against her chest, yet no fear creeped into her mind. It was her again, the woman she saw in her last dream in the police cell. She looked so familiar, like they had met before, like they had a bond.
“You have seen the powers at play my child. The darkness that has plagued the world since we crawled on this Earth. Since our little hands supported us on the ground. Since our tiny lips held unto our mothers breasts.”  The strange woman said, her cloths seeming like a mixture of gold and the color of brown. Her face filled with worry and fear. Her eyes looking into the deepest parts of Flora. Flora stood there, her eyes fixated on her watcher. She knew this woman, her face was too familiar, it moved and scratched at the back of her mind.
“As darkness falls upon us, I will be the pillar of light that guards this world.” The woman said as Floras eyes turned open. The car had come to a stop, Jayson tapped her gently to wake her up. How many hours was I asleep for? she thought to herself. The car was parked in an almost rural area. The houses were scattered around and surrounded with Miles of tall elephant grasses.
“Well, I guess it’s live or die at this point.” Charles said as he walked towards the gate the car was parked in front of. The gate reawakened many memories of her and Victoria in Floras head. They had lived here years ago, the two families relocated at the same time, it was just like fate wanted to keep them together. The guilt of how she had told the police all the things she said about Victoria crumbled down on her. She wanted to throw up, to cry, but yet she held it all in, somehow holding it all together. They all got down from the car and walked towards the gates. It was open, it’s rusted metal frame shaking as Charles pushed it open. They walked in, slow and cautiously. Kunle still held on to his pistol, he knew it had no use against what they faced but he felt a bit safer with it. A long field laid before them, plants and trees scattered around like in a forest. Down the road a small house was seen, almost completely covered  by the surrounding trees and bushes. Small candles lighting up from inside the house, revealing patches of light.
 They all walked towards the house, their hearts beating harder with every step. Toyin searched the house with her eyes, slowly checking every window. Charles arrived at the door first, his hands shaking as he knocked on the wooden door. The air was silent in those moments, like all the animals of the night were dead, like the air went dry and filled with death. Charles knocked again, this timer harder than the last. A creaking sound came from the  door as it slowly flung open. The sitting room could be barely seen from there, old furniture and scattered Ornamentals filling the room. They all walked in together, staying as close to each other as they could, Jayson looked behind as he was the last to enter. Kuncle turned on the torch light he held in his hand, he had salvaged it from his car earlier. He walked past Charles and lead the gang in, his gun pointing into uncertain darkness. They all browsed through the spacious living room and wondered into the rooms.
“ We have to check all these rooms, there are just three of them.” Kunle whispered, fear still evident in his voice.
“Yeah, maybe we should split up so we’ll cover more ground.” Charles added, his voice Swift and convinced.
“No, we are safer if we are together, we’ll check the rooms together, one by one.” Toyin said holding on to Charles arms.
“ She has a good point.” Flora spoke, looking at Toyin, nodding as she took her gaze to kunle.
“No problem then, everyone stay close.” Kunle said as he pointed both his torch and gun to the first room. They all walked quietly, making each step with precision as they got nearer to the door. A sound came tearing through the silence of the night. It was a rumbling sound, like someone was running in the house. They all turned in shock and fright. Kunle turning his torch to the room the sound came from. His gun shook as he pointed it, nothing could protect him from those things if they came around, he knew this and it scared him.
The door flung open as Miss Adunni ran out, panting quickly, blood dripping down the side of her head, she was sweating, her eyes wide, she was frightened. Kunle put his gun away as quickly as he could, as he walked towards her.
“You are here already, you’re late my children.” She said gently as she limped forward. She held her side, there was blood dripping down.
“Mama, are you okay?” Flora asked walking to her carefully as she stared at her without blinking. Miss Adunnis white hair bright over her head, it gave her away in the dark.
“Omo mi, I am fine. we are running out of time, they are here, you must know what you have to do.”  Miss Adunni said as she continued to limp forward, her body shaking as she walked, it seemed like every step she made was full of excruciating pain. Flora wondered how she knew they were coming but deep down she knew this woman was no ordinary woman.
“Come with me quickly, I must protect you my children.” Miss Adunni said as she continued to the living room. They were all uncertain but they followed her regardless, walking slowly behind the injured woman.
“Those wounds look serious, she could bleed out.” Toyin whispered, to Charles as they walked but Charles waved her away. He probably didn’t want her to say something or maybe he wanted to know something.
“Protect us from what mama?” Charles asked, his heart still beating hard against his chest. This all made no sense, they came here for answers and now they followed an old woman to a place they knew nothing about. The sound came from behind them, it was something like a roar and a scream. They all had heard it before, it’s how those creatures sounded, those green eyed monsters were here. Flora could not bear it, she screamed and cried, her tears rolling down her cheeks very quickly.
“You had to ask.” Kunle said as he continued walking forward.
“Quickly, we must hurry!” Miss Adunni exclaimed, her steps hastened as she grunted in pain. Toyin ran forward and put her right arm around her shoulders and helped her walk.
“ Ese omo mi.” miss Adunni said as they walked. They went past the living room and through the kitchen, they got outside through the backyard. There was a small room there, a symbol on the door, it was made with white chalk.
“Open the door.” She said, her voice shaking under her breath, she was getting weaker, she was dying, Toyin could tell.
“How long before your back up gets here kunle!” Toyin shouted as they all walked hurriedly to the door.
“They are ten minutes out, we just need a secure place!” Kunle replied as he watched the house they just left closely. The candles still only showing little patches of light. They heard the roar again, this time deeper, darker. They were more than one.
Flora joined Toyin  to help Miss Adunni, she couldn’t die, she was the only one left alive who could actually explain what was going on. Flora glanced at the house and saw the green eyed monsters staring at them from inside the house, they were about six of them, just standing by several windows. Their green eyes shinning in the dark.
“we have to hurry, they are watching us!” Flora Exclaimed as they approached the door. Kunle and Charles pushed the door open and walked in, Miss Adunni could barely walk, she struggled in as they closed the door behind them.
“Bolt the door.” Miss Adunni said as Toyin helped her seat on a chair. The room was spacious, the floor bare and empty. Only a chair and shelves filled the room, books and various sculptures and clothing raking in there hundreds.
“Is this a shrine?” Jayson asked as he looked around, the paintings and strange items had caught his attention.
“ You all are not ordinary, the power of light flows in your veins and they want it, they want it to claim this world. Whatever happens you must protect this world.” Miss Adunni said, she was going unconscious now, blood pooling the ground around her.
“She’s going to die kunle, we need that ambulance here now.” Toyin said trying to put pressure on the wound.
“What do you mean mama? What kind of light are you talking about?” Charles asked as he moved closer to her.
“Light that can fight that darkness that is.” She answered, her eyes looking into Charles. Charles felt a chill go down his neck, it was that sick feeling again. Those creatures where here. Heavy bangs came from the door, there were no windows in the room, the only way in or out was the door. The roars came again, close and loud, they wanted to get in.
Miss Adunni stood to her feet, her face dripping both sweat and blood. She got up with all the power she had left in her.
“Mama, seat down you have to re-.” Toyin tried saying as Miss Adunni cut her short.
“No, I must protect you all, you are our only hope now.” She said as she opened a bag that was rested upon a shelf.  She brought out a white chalk and handed it to Flora.
“All of you come together and hold your hands together.” She said as she dragged Flora to one side.
“ Draw a circle around us. Make sure it’s a complete one. If there is a small gap in the line we will die tonight.” She continued as she stood at the center of the gang. The wooden door was almost fallen, the bolt could not hold out anymore, they were about to get in. Flora drew the line and checked again for any gaps.
“No matter what, stay in the circle, it will protect you.” Miss Adunni said as Flora entered the circle she had drawn on the ground. The door flung open, flying forward with it’s hinges. They could all see them now, the tall creatures that had haunted them for days, somehow they seemed to multiple every time they met. They could all see the seven feet creatures hurriedly enter the room, their green eyes filled with hunger, with need for their blood. They could all see the fangs as they all snarled and roared around them, their long claws and glistering skin that seemed like it was burnt with flame. Kunle held out his gun again, this time willing to fight to the very last, his heart was ready to die as he went. One of the creatures tried to attack but it couldn’t, the chalk some how held it back. Charles looked in both horror and shock, the old woman was actually trying to protect them. The creatures pulled down their hoods, their faces ugly and terrifying, their heads big with pointed ears that pointed upwards. They circled them now, watching them in silence, their green eyes starring into their souls. One raised his hands and the others followed as a green  light came from their hands, it moved around the circle, pressing against it.
“kneel quickly and hold your hands tightly to each other. No matter what happens, do not break the bond!” Miss Adunni shouted as they all fell to their knees holding their hands as tightly as she could. Miss Adunni knelt in the middle, blood still dripping from her side and head. She closed her eyes and raised her hands up as the green light stretched and moved around  them, it was breaking the chalk line.
“ina ti awọn igba atijọ, daabobo wa lodi si okunkun!” Miss Adunni shouted, with all the strength she had in her vocal cords. She kept on repeating it over and over again, chanting it.
“what does it mean?” Charles asked looking at Toyin who knelt behind him. Toyin didn’t look back at him, her eyes were fixated on the creatures that stood before them, their green eyes starring blankly, watching them as their power sort to consume them.
“Light of old, protect us against the darkness.” Toyin answered, looking at him now.
Flora looked at Miss Adunni, whatever she was doing, it was drawing power from her, weakening her, she was dying.
“Say it with her! Say it with her!” Flora Exclaimed as she chanted the same words with miss Adunni. Toyin and kunle joined in immediately after, their hands shaking now, fear gripping the very foundations of their beings. Jayson joined in, his Yoruba wasn’t strong but he could manage. Charles knelt there, just watching them, he couldn’t speak Yoruba that well. His eyes went wide when he saw the chalk turn into a bright white light, it grew from the ground, spreading across the room, pushing back the green light that encircled them. In no time, the green light and white light fought against each other, their powers pushing harder and harder against each other. A scream came from miss Adunni, her voice screeching as she held on to the white light. The creatures roared now, the white light was gaining on them. So much energy, so much power, some much strength, all in one room. The white light overcame the green and immediately after, there was a bright explosion.  As the brightness gradually disappeared, Miss Adunni  fell to the ground, the creatures were gone. Charles could feel the coldness of death moving away, the shiver on his neck left swiftly, they were gone. Toyin and Flora knelt besides her, trying to keep her awake. The sirens of the police and ambulance filled the streets now, kunle could feel relief creep into his chest.
“Hold on mama, I’ll bring them here quickly, just hold on.” Kunle said as ran out of the room.
Flora cried, all the tears she held in all broke out, she couldn’t take it anymore, she wanted things to go back to the way they were. Miss Adunni held her hand, she could feel the warm blood against her palm.
“Look how grown, you have all become.” Miss Adunni said with a smile on her face.
“You know all of us, how?” Toyin asked, looking at Flora.
“I’ve known you all, since you were nothing but babies.”
“How?”
“The same blood flows through us my child.”
“we are related?” Toyin asked looking around.
“That’s not possible, I’m Igbo.” Charles answered as he stood to his feet.
“what about Victoria, what happened to her mama?” Flora asked as she held her more tightly, her tears dropping on Miss Adunni.
“Something came to this world through her, her light drew them. Just like it drew the ones that haunts you all now. The gates have been open and you must close it.” Miss Adunni said as she coughed, blood spilled from her mouth, she was dying, she needed help quickly.
“Kunle, where are you!” Toyin shouted as the voices in the house became louder.
“Mama, don’t worry, don’t say anything again.” Toyin continued holding her other hand tightly as she laid on the cold ground that had turned into a pool of blood.
“No!” she said,
“You must close the gates, only you can save this world. All my works are in all the books here, my powers, my spirit senses, everything. You must learn quickly to win.” She continued as more blood came from her mouth.
“I don’t understand.” Flora said, tears still going down her eyes.
“As darkness falls upon us, I will be the pillar of light that guards this world.” Mama Adunni said as her eyes went blank, she exhaled one last time as life left her body. Toyin shouted at the top of her voice in frustration, Jayson looked at the lifeless woman who had just saved them in horror, he couldn’t understand anything that was going on, he couldn’t comprehend how many deaths he had seen in the last few days. He just sat on the floor with his back against the wall, his hands on his head. Charles just stood there looking at her. Floras tears stopped, she had heard that before.
‘As darkness falls upon us, I will be the pillar of light that guards this world.’
It was the woman from her dream who had said it, was this all connected?
The paramedics rushed into the room and asked Flora and Toyin to move aside. Charles walked to Kunle who stood outside the door.
“she’s dead.” He said as he walked past him and stood in the open field. Kunle just stood there watching them try to resuscitate her. They all came here looking for answers but now they had more questions.

To be continued…