"Sade thought she understood the spirit realm… until the river showed her the faces of everyone she had ever loved."
The blue water glowed brighter, reflecting her mother crying in the hospital, her brother holding her hand, begging her to wake up.
Tunde stepped beside her.
Tunde:
"The river reveals truth, not pain."
But Sade's voice broke.
Sade:
"Why does the truth hurt this much?"
A figure of pure light rose from the river.
Tall. Ancient. Watching her.
Spirit Guide:
"Child… your heart is divided. Until it is whole, you cannot return."
Before she could speak—
the spirit vanished like smoke in moonlight.
Sade shivered.
This place…
wasn't done with her yet.
Night fell inside the spirit realm—
soft, glowing, silent.
Sade and Tunde walked along a floating pathway of mist.
Suddenly—
A whisper curled through the air.
Whisper:
"He's hiding something…"
Sade froze.
Tunde pretended not to notice.
But the whisper came again, louder.
Whisper:
"The boy in white… he knows why you can't leave."
Sade's heart pounded.
She grabbed Tunde's wrist.
Sade:
"What aren't you telling me?"
Tunde looked away.
Tunde:
"This realm chooses who stays… and who returns."
"But sometimes… it chooses based on what we fear most."
Before Sade could ask more—
dark shapes moved between the trees.
Watching them.
Waiting.
"Not every spirit in the after-realm is peaceful."
From the glowing forest,
shadow-walkers emerged—
tall, faceless spirits shaped like smoke.
They circled Sade.
Tunde (whispering):
"Don't react. They're drawn to emotion."
Sade's voice trembled.
Sade:
"I'm literally made of emotion!"
One shadow leaned in, sniffing her like a wild animal.
Its voice echoed inside her mind:
Shadow-Walker:
"Your fear… is delicious."
Tunde stepped in front of her, aura flaring bright white.
Tunde:
"She is under my protection."
The shadows hissed—
then scattered into the wind.
Sade stared at him.
Sade:
"Who are you really?"
Tunde didn't answer.
They sat beneath a glowing palm tree.
The air hummed softly.
Sade finally spoke.
Sade:
"Why does this realm listen to you?"
Tunde sighed.
Tunde:
"Because… I'm not just a guide."
He lifted his hand.
A bright sigil appeared in the air—ancient Yoruba markings glowing like fire.
Sade's eyes widened.
Sade:
"You're a spirit… higher than the rest."
Tunde didn't deny it.
Tunde:
"I was assigned to you the moment your soul crossed over."
"But I stayed… because I wanted to."
Sade's breath caught.
There was something deeper in his voice—
something he couldn't say yet.
The ancient river spirit reappeared, its light blinding.
Spirit Guide:
"Sade, your body lives… but your time is fading."
The water projected a vision:
Sade in the hospital bed, doctors rushing, her mother praying.
Sade sobbed.
Sade:
"Please… I want to go back!"
But the spirit raised a hand.
Spirit Guide:
"To return, you must face the one memory you fear most."
The river darkened.
Thunder shook the realm.
A door appeared on the water's surface—
black… glowing… calling her.
Tunde grabbed her hand.
Tunde:
"Whatever is inside… I'm going with you."
Sade stepped through the door.
Instantly—
she found herself in a rainy street.
The night she died.
Her ghostly form watched her physical body lying in the road.
Her chest tightened.
Sade:
"I caused this… I was angry… I left the house in tears…"
Behind her, a darker version of herself appeared—
eyes glowing red.
Dark Sade:
"You blame everyone… except yourself."
Sade shook as the truth hit her like lightning.
Tunde:
"This is your shadow. Face her."
Dark Sade circled her.
Dark Sade:
"You don't believe you deserve to live again."
Sade fell to her knees, crying—
But then…
she stood up.
Sade:
"Maybe I made mistakes. But I still want to live."
Dark Sade cracked—
shattering into light.
The door opened again.
The river spirit's voice echoed:
"You have passed."