CHAPTER 18

Ezinne huffed and puffed as she walked. While the hill wasn't steep, she was still winded. That was what happened when someone in their sixties decided to hike up a hill.

Ejike who was almost a decade younger than she was doing a little better. No matter how much he slowed down his pace so she could meet up, he always left her in the dust minutes later.

For the first time, she regretted not letting Ogadi tag along. Ezinne was sure Ogadi would have an easier time climbing the hill, she was a limber youth.

She'd also have the foresight to dress sensibly, Ezinne thought ruefully as she gazed at her leather sandals which had begun to tear, thanks to the pressure she was putting on them.

As blouse got soaked with sweat that trickled down her forehead to the valley between her breasts, Ezinne wished there was some way she could fly up to the hilltop.

She laughed out loud at the fanciful notion, earning her a curious glance from Ejike.

She berated herself for thinking like a child, when the idea to Astral project hit her.

As she stomped on an innocent patch of grass, Ezinne began to consider the idea.

She could remain where she was, and her spirit would go up the hill and confront Ekere.

She was about to share her idea with Ejike when she realized how stupid it was.

What if Ekere decided to run? How would her intangible spirit stop him?

She ran her hand across her face as she sighed in frustration. She went back to wishing she could fly.

She looked up in the sky and saw a huge white bird. It was high up in the sky but it still looked big. She exclaimed and blinked, she had never seen such a bird in her life before.

When she opened her eyes, it had disappeared.

Ezinne stopped in her tracks and rubbed her eyes wondering if they were playing tricks on her, after all she wasn't wearing her glasses.

She decided she was probably seeing things that weren't there. She'd read somewhere that fatigue led people to hallucinate.

“Ezinne, hurry up,” Ejike called.

Ezinne snapped out of her thoughts to discover Ejike had given her a considerable gap. She apologized as she jogged to catch up with him.

“What is the problem?” Ejike asked as she caught up with him.

“I thought I saw something but I didn't.” Ezinne replied.

“It happens to everyone.” Ejike shrugged and they walked on.

* * *

When they finally got to the hilltop, Ezinne had half a mind to kiss the ground. Instead, she took a look around.

The hilltop was grassy and the narrow brook started out in the middle all the way to the edge. The harsh sun reflected on the brook, giving it a magical quality. The absence of human activities meant the brook was clean and clear. Occasionally, birds would descend and snatch fishes from the brook while others would chirp in the distance.

Ezinne would have thought the view to be idyllic had she not had other pressing matters on her mind.

“Where is Ekere?” Ejike asked, putting his hand to his brow as he stared into the distance.

“Where could he be hiding?” He mused. There were no trees, rocks, or shrubs that Ekere could hide behind.

Ezinne closed her eyes and concentrated trying to find Ekere. If they couldn't see his physical form, she could at least sense his malevolent aura.

Ezinne prodded and searched with her mind, encountering nothing. Just as she was about to give up she sensed something. Negligible though it was, she knew it was a demon she sensed. Their aura carried the grimy stain of the underworld which could not be hidden no matter how hard they tried. And Ekere was trying, Ezinne thought with a frown.

Not opening her eyes lest she get distracted, she began to walk towards where the aura was based, wading into the brook as she did.

Distantly, she heard Ejike call her name but she paid him no mind. Any little distraction could cost her Ekere.

When she stubbed her toe on a stone, she winced with pain and almost opened her eyes but she gave herself a stern lecture and continued.

Soon, Ezinne began to feel the aura strongly. With giddy excitement she noted she was close to Ekere.

“Ekere, come out! It's no use hiding!” She taunted.

She was about to take another step forward when Ejike screamed her name and she felt a manly fist clamping on her left arm, effectively hampering her movement.

Ezinne opened her eyes and wheeled on Ejike, “What is wrong with you? Can't you see that I'm trying to track Ekere?”

Ezinne's eyes flashed with anger as she tried to free her arm from Ejike's restraints.

Ejike didn't reply. Instead, he pointed.

Ezinne looked forward and saw that she was on the edge of the hilltop. One more step and she'd have gone tumbling down like Jack and Jill. Only this time, she was sure she'd break her neck not her crown.

Like every sensible human being, Ezinne had a fear of heights. She immediately took a few steps back.

“Thank you,” She said in a dazed voice to Ejike, “You saved my life.”

Ejike wiped sweat of his face and replied, “It's nothing. You'd do the same.”

Ezinne put her hands behind her head as she tried to comprehend that she'd almost walked into certain death.

“But I felt Ekere. I felt its presence strongly when I was at the edge of the hilltop.” Ezinne said as she looked down at herself. Her jeans were soaked and her leather sandals were nothing to write home about.

“What if it was a trap? What if Ekere was trying to draw us to our deaths?” Ejike asked.

Ezinne looked up at him, “Seriously? Ekere is just a demon.”

Demons were only concerned with possessing humans and subserviently serving their lord and master. Left to their own devices, they weren't that smart.

Ejike shrugged, “Do not underestimate Ekere. He is a very powerful demon. Or maybe Dike Aru is the one behind it.”

Ezinne nodded. There was sense in what Ejike said.

“So Zimuzo is wrong?” She asked squeezing the water out of her jeans.

“I've never known him to be wrong but there's always a first time for everything.” Ejike replied.

Ezinne sighed. So she had climbed the hill for nothing? And she would have to climb down? She knew descending was easier than ascending but it did nothing to warm her heart. She wondered if her legs would ever stop aching.

“We better leave. There's no need wasting time here.” Ejike said.

Ezinne nodded but gazed at the edge of the hill. She could still feel the demon's presence.

She knelt on the ground and peered at the edge.

“What are you doing now?” Ejike asked impatiently.

“Ejike, come quick!” Ezinne said.

Ejike hurried to where she was.

“What did you see?” He asked.

“Kneel with me and peer off the edge.” Ezinne ordered.

Ejike gave her a look that suggested she was crazy but wordlessly complied with her order.

“What am I supposed to be seeing?” Ejike asked after a while.

“The water.” Ezinne replied excitedly.

“I don't see any water.” Ejike replied with a frown.

“Exactly.” Ezinne said as she stood up and dusted the sand from her knees and then her hands.

“I'm not sure I follow.” Ejike said, following her lead.

“The brook runs to the edge of the hill. Why doesn't it trickle downwards?” Ezinne asked.

Ejike frowned, “Maybe it does and we can't see it from this angle.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. Don't you think so?” Ejike asked defensively.

“Of course, I don't think so.” Ezinne answered, hands akimbo.

“Ok. Then what do you think?” Ejike asked.

“That there's a shield there. The hill doesn't actually end there.” Ezinne replied.

Ejike laughed so hard some of the birds that were around them flew away.

“So you mean to say that the edge doesn't exist and Ekere is hiding on the other side of a shield?” Ejike asked incredulously.

Ezinne nodded furiously hating that Ejike laughed at her theory.

“That's not very logical.” Ejike said, still laughing.

“We're dealing with demons and a vengeful fallen god. They're not known for imbibing logic.” Ezinne said in a very cold voice.

Her words sobered Ejike and he quit laughing.

“Yes, you're right, but you have to admit your theory is a bit over the top.” Ejike pressed on.

“Oh, is it? Why don't I test it out?” Ezinne said angrily. She didn't like Ejike much at the moment. All he was doing was shooting her ideas without offering any.

“Umm...Ezinne. I don't think that's a great idea.” Ejike said uncertainly.

Ezinne ignored him and stepped into the shallow brook again, walking briskly till she got to the edge.

“Ezinne, don't do this!” Ejike called as he waded into the brook, running after her.

Ezinne broke out into a full run, splashing water as she dashed to the edge of the hilltop.

Just as Ejike was about to clamp his hand on her arm once again, Ezinne stretched her hand into the space before her.

“Jesus!” Ejike screamed as he saw Ezinne's hand disappear, causing the space before them to ripple slightly.

Ezinne held her breath as she put her other hand forward, probing. The other hand disappeared as well.

“Well, well, well!” Ezinne exclaimed. Although it felt good to be right, she was a little scared. If Ekere was strong enough to weave such a spell, what could they do to counter it?

“Can you still feel your hands?” Ejike asked, all the awe he was feeling evident in his voice.

“Yes.” Ezinne replied, “I'm going to try and see if I can step through.”

“Do you think that's wise?” Ejike asked skeptically.

“Stop doubting. I'll go in and if it's safe, I'll have you follow.” Ezinne said, impatient to know what was on the other side.

Ejike wiped sweat off his face, “Shouldn't I go in first, just in case it tries to attack?”

Ezinne shook her head, “Don't take this the wrong way Ejike, but I'm better equipped to fight Ekere.”

Ejike nodded although he didn't look happy.

Ezinne smiled reassuringly at him although she was scared too. Her heart palpitating furiously, she put her right foot forward. It disappeared across the shield.

She then closed her eyes and put the rest of her body forward. As she passed the shield, she heard a sound not unlike a bee buzzing.

When she passed to the other side, she opened her eyes and smiled.

The brook continued on to the real edge of the hilltop. From where she stood, she could clearly hear the sound of the water trickling down the hill.

She surveyed her surroundings and found it to be like the other side. The only difference was a very large tree whose branches reached out far and wide.

Squinting under the sweltering sun, Ezinne could make out some plastic chairs, a wooden table, and some plates.

She closed her eyes and searched for Ekere. She felt his presence but couldn't actually pin point it. Ekere seemed to be everywhere.

Although that sounded stupid to her, she wouldn't put anything past Ekere at this point.

Shrugging, she turned around and faced the shield. She couldn't see Ejike.

As she put her hand through the shield and made a beckoning gesture to Ejike, she wondered why Ekere had made the shield opaque on both ends.

Ejike came through a second later, looking very uncomfortable. As soon as he crossed through, he ran his hands all over himself to make sure every part of him made it through. When he was done, he looked around in awe.

“It's just like the other side.” He whispered.

Ezinne nodded.

“So where's Ekere?” Ejike asked, still looking around.

Just as Ezinne was about to reply, a child of not more than five years emerged for behind the tree.

He looked scared but tried to hide it as he looked at them.

“Why are you looking for my daddy?” He finally asked.