Chapter 12: The First Grave

Zara called her grandmother before dawn.

Folake listened without interruption.

Behind her, Zara could hear birds in the Ikoyi garden and the soft sound of a kettle being placed on a stove.

When Zara finished, her grandmother was quiet.

“There is one part of the Accra prophecy I did not tell you,” Folake said.

Zara looked across the archive.

Adisa stood near the shelves, watching her. Dr. Obi sat at the far table, reading the newly discovered records.

“An Ori does not rise alone,” Folake continued. “There are always two. One who understands the design... and one who holds it in place.”

Zara looked directly at Adisa.

“My counterpart...”

“Yes,” Folake answered.

The word moved through Zara like a memory.

She ended the call.

When she crossed the room, Adisa did not move away.

“My grandmother says there are always two Ori.”

His expression changed.

Dr. Obi looked up from the records.

Adisa kept his eyes on Zara. “What else did she say?”

“One understands the design. The other holds it in place.”

Their hands touched.

Every loose paper in the archive rose into the air!

Dr. Obi stood sharply. “What is happening?”

Portrait of a Lady and Gris Charnel filled the room.

A vision opened between Zara and Adisa.

Lagos was burning.

Spirits walked through streets filled with abandoned cars.

People lay on the ground—without names, memories or breath.

At the centre stood Elder Taiwo.

Behind him was something larger than the city.

Then Zara saw herself beside Adisa.

One of them was alive.

The other lay still.

The vision ended.

Papers fell around them.

A junior researcher opened the door, saw the mess—and stopped.

“I will come back,” she said quickly.

Dr. Obi pointed toward the corridor. “Close the door behind you.”

The researcher left.

Adisa pulled his hand away.

Zara watched him carefully. “You have seen that before.”

He did not answer.

Dr. Obi moved closer. “Adisa?”

Zara’s voice sharpened. “What are you hiding?”

“Not here,” Adisa said.

Dr. Obi looked around the sealed archive. “There is no safer room in this building.”

“That is not good enough!” Zara said.

Before Adisa could respond, an envelope appeared on the table.

The Lagos Covenant seal was pressed into black wax.

Dr. Obi reached for it.

“Wait,” Adisa warned.

Zara opened it herself.

Inside was a formal order.

Zara Osei and Adisa Okonkwo are required to appear before the Lagos Council.

Below it, written in blood:

Come home, or Lagos will become the first grave.