Nigeria is generally a dangerous place, with kidnappers roaming around, corrupt people in power, and even ritualists seeking the lives of others.
And it seemed out of place for two kids, one fifteen and the other twelve, to be traveling by road to God knows where.
But with the shift of things lately, people had become unbothered. The nation had been relatively calm for a while.
Why?
Because there was no need for chaos anymore.
Everyone now had a major purpose.
Arriving at their destination, which was Borno State, Harry nudged his sister, who had been asleep since the beginning of the eight-hour journey.
"I wonder how this girl can sleep like this," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "I hope she doesn't carry this habit into dangerous places."
Priscilla stirred, her eyes half-open.
"Are we there yet?" she asked sleepily.
"No, but we're about to be," Harry replied. "Gather yourself. After we get down, we'll look for a hotel, then begin our research on where exactly we should go."
He paused, then added with a mix of amusement and annoyance.
"I have a genuine question, Priscilla. What kind of jolly party are you attending in your dreams? Because I've never seen anyone sleep like you do, especially with all the bumps we went through."
Priscilla rolled her eyes and ignored him, choosing instead to search through her bag.
Not long after, the bus finally stopped. And They alighted.
Priscilla immediately shivered.
"This heat is terrible," she said. "How do these people even survive here?"
"Let's go," Harry replied quickly. "We don't want attention on ourselves. We're children, you know, even if people our age are roaming the streets."
They began walking, blending in as much as they could with the movement around Maiduguri. Motorcycles passed, traders called out, and the air felt heavy, not just with heat, but with something else neither of them could explain.
After a few minutes, they found a small roadside driver and negotiated their way to a hotel.
The hotel wasn't anything special.
Just a quiet building tucked away from the main road, somewhere between University of Maiduguri and the busy areas leading toward Monday Market Maiduguri.
It was good enough.
And more importantly, it didn't attract attention.
The receptionist at the hotel, had a peculiar expression, looking down at the two kids, one with a scrawny build and the other who would bite you, it you stare at her candy for long.
Inside the room, Priscilla dropped her bag and stretched.
"I'm sleeping again," she said immediately.
Harry turned sharply. "You're not serious."
"I am."
"We didn't travel eight hours for you to continue your dream adventures," he replied.
"We have work to do."
She sighed but sat up anyway.
"Fine. What exactly are we even looking for?"
Harry reached into his bag and brought out his phone.
"That's what we're about to find out."
A few minutes later, they were both seated on the bed, going through articles, local forums, and saved messages.
At first, nothing made sense. Just normal headlines. Politics. Economy. Security updates.
Then
Priscilla frowned.
"Harry… look at this." He moved closer.
"People going missing?" Harry said slowly.
"Not just missing," Priscilla replied. "Look at the dates and the locations."
Most of them were around the outskirts of Maiduguri. Some near quiet roads. Some closer to less crowded areas.
"And look at this," she added, scrolling further. "These places… they're not normal spots. Some of them are areas people usually avoid."
Harry leaned in closer.
She continued, "Routes leading out toward isolated zones, places that are considered unsafe on a normal day… even areas close to abandoned settlements."
"And now people are going there," Harry said.
"And in numbers," Priscilla added quietly. "Not running away from danger… but toward it." There was a pause.
Then Harry's expression shifted slightly.
"That lines up with the reports."
Priscilla glanced at him. "You mean the disturbances?"
He nodded.
"Faint ones at first. Barely noticeable. But consistent. All coming from deep within those same locations."
Priscilla's grip on the phone tightened.
"The resources," she said under her breath.
Neither of them said anything for a moment.
Because they both understood what that meant.
Not ordinary resources, but something far beyond that. Something people could use to grow stronger, if they were willing to face the hurldles that is guarding them.
He leaned back slightly.
"And some of them don't come back," she added.
Harry nodded once.
"Because not everyone is strong enough to take what's buried there."
Silence settled in the room again.
Then he spoke, more firmly this time.
"This is why we came to Borno State. The disturbances here are recent, which means whatever is buried hasn't been fully claimed yet."
Priscilla looked at him.
"So we're early."
"If we're careful," Harry replied.
She exhaled slowly, then gave a small nod.
"Then we go to one of those locations."
Harry's gaze hardened.
"We don't just go. We prepare. Whatever is down there is already drawing people in. That means competition… and danger."
"And we're ready for that?" she asked.
He didn't hesitate.
"We have to be.
Priscilla slowly lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"You know…" she said softly, "that sleep I had in the bus… it didn't feel normal."
Harry looked at her.
"What do you mean, you are not even normal yourself ?"
She turned her head toward him.
Her expression looking very sleepy.
"It felt like something was pulling me. Not just sleep… more like I was being drawn somewhere and it is doing it now."
Harry's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then with one of his leg, he kicked her hard to the side of the bed, because very soon she will be sprawled on the bed and there will no where for him to lay down.
After settling down and having a shower, he lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, he thought about his parents at home, and the burden he has to carry.
Very soon sleep took over and he was gone.