Chapter 10: It Is War

Dr. Obi opened the oldest part of the archive that night.

The room was below street level and smelled of dust, damp paper and old wood. She unlocked three iron cabinets before finding a thin file hidden behind a false panel.

“Someone did not want this found,” Dr. Obi said.

Kofi stood near the door, watching the corridor. Adisa and Zara remained beside the table as Dr. Obi opened the file.

Inside were handwritten records from the early Covenant.

The first register had been built as a seal.

Every child who stood on it gave up a small piece of destiny. The Covenant called it an offering... though no child had ever been told.

Those pieces held shut a gate beneath the Lagos hall.

Zara looked at Dr. Obi. “Did the Council know?”

“The earliest Council did,” Dr. Obi replied. “Whether the current elders know is another question.”

“What is behind the gate?” Zara asked.

Adisa picked up the final page.

“The Hollow One.”

The name made the candles on the table go out.

Kofi lifted one hand and relit the nearest flame.

Dr. Obi continued reading.

“The Hollow One was not born as a spirit,” she said. “It formed slowly—from stolen destiny, regret and abandoned purpose.”

Adisa read over her shoulder. “It feeds on people who no longer know who they are.”

“And Taiwo wants to free it,” Zara said.

A sound came from the corridor.

Small footsteps.

Kofi turned toward the door. Fire gathered around his fingers.

A boy stood in the entrance.

He could not have been older than twelve.

His eyes were black.

Dr. Obi whispered his name.

“Daniel...?”

The boy smiled.

When he spoke, many voices came out.

Bring the two Ori to the gate.

His body began to shake!

Blood ran from his nose.

Zara moved toward him.

Adisa caught her arm. “The spirit is breaking his body.”

“Then I do not have time to be careful!”

Kofi kept the flame raised. “Tell me when to burn it.”

“No,” Zara said. “There is still a child inside.”

She held Daniel’s face.

The darkness within him turned toward her.

Zara looked beyond it.

She found a frightened boy trapped beneath the noise.

“Daniel,” she said.

The spirit screamed!

Dr. Obi stepped closer. “Zara, his pulse is weakening.”

“Daniel—come back!”

His real name appeared inside Zara’s mind, bright and clear.

She called it again.

The darkness tore free from his mouth and struck the ceiling.

“Now!” Zara shouted.

Kofi burned it.

Daniel collapsed into Zara’s arms.

He began to cry.

Dr. Obi knelt beside him and checked his breathing.

“He is alive,” she said.

A black symbol appeared on the floor beneath them.

Elder Taiwo’s seal.

Adisa stared at it. “He knew we would find the file.”

Dr. Obi looked at the others.

“This is no longer an investigation.”

Zara carried Daniel toward the stairs.

“No,” she said.

“It is war.”