Mrs Williams wasn't sleeping in the same room with the twins.
She had no idea what the children were up to. Even as she was
asleep, she didn't dream about it.
In the other room, Udoka became dumb coz she couldn't believe
her sister. But when Monica repeated her question with all
seriousness, she was forced to stand on her feet.
"You mean we are going to the Dark Forest by this time of the
night?"
"Yes" Monica had put on her jean
trouser trying to wear a top.
"Why tonight?" Udoka glanced through the window. She saw
nothing but darkness.
"He said it must be tonight"
"Who said?"
"I don't know. I want to free myself from this nightmare?" Monica
slowly moved closer
to Udoka. She placed her two hands on her shoulder then looked
into her eyes. "You always wanted to go the Dark For.."
"But not at night?" Udoka interrupted.
"It doesn't make any different. Our
father had dreams about the forest and was killed in the process
of knowing what lies in it. Now, i am having the same dream.
Don't you think there is something about the forest
whether good or bad that God wants our family to know since it's
over twenty years our father was killed because of the same
reason? Yet, one of his daughters is having the same feelings and
dreams about the forest? The time
has come for us to know what God wants us to know about the
forest. Please, as my blood and twin sister, follow me to the
forest"
Udoka was motivated to concur with her sister. She had never
heard Monica spoke with such morale. Therefore, she said, "Let's
do this"
"Thank you" Monica smiled and
gradually brought down her hands from her shoulder.
Udoka also changed to a trouser
and picked up a machet while Monica handled a torchlight. They
gradually sneaked out of the house then headed to Ndiogoro land.
:
11:30pm
The twins stopped at the road that leads to the dark forest. Monica
glanced at her sister. She remembered the exact words
Adaku said when they were on their way to Ndiogoro: THIS
ROAD LEADS TO THE DARK FOREST OF NDIOGORO LAND.
STRANGERS DON'T ENTER THERE.
"What?" Udoka brought back her senses.
"I'm no stranger" Monica replied. Udoka reasoned her response
then had a clue of what she remember: Adaku's words.
"Let's go" Monica hurried up followed by her sister. The ray of
light from the torch shone at a close range. The more they
hurried, the darker the road. Before them at a far distance was a
thick forest. As they drew closer, Monica began to shed tears. Yet
she never stopped walking. The tears poured down like rain and
her lips vibrated.
"Why do you cry, Monica?" Udoka
stopped.
"I don't know" Monica also stopped.
"I don't understand"
"Neither do i"
They became quiet staring at each other. Udoka collected the torch
from her. She moved to the forefront while the sister followed
her. As the silence lingered, darkness darkened and tears poured
down from Monica's eyes, she called, "Udoka"
Udoka stopped, turned and flashed the torchlight on her face then
waited for her to continue.
"Udoka.." Monica sniffed in tears. "I want you to understand
something. Always have it at the back of your mind that i love
you and mother so much. You have
been both my brother and sister. Don't you ever forget.."
"Stop!" Udoka began to shed tears too. She couldn't bear it
anymore. Her sister's words touched her innermost heart. "Stop
speaking as if you are going to where i won't be able to go. We
must complete this journey. No going back" she hugged her
tightly. Immediately, a strange wind began. Lightening strucked in
the atmosphere and rain began to fall. But they continued.
:
12 midnight
The twins came to the heart of the Dark Forest of Ndiogoro land.
They stood at a spot without knowing what else to do or where
to go. The only thing seen was
darkness both front and back. Tall tress and other shrubs dangled
towards the wind. By then, the rain had stopped falling but
drizzling. They could hear the sound of different insects from both
far and near. The torchlight suddenly fell from Udoka's hand but
she quickly picked it up and said, "Now what?"
"Put off the light" Monica instructed.
"What?! Why? Can't you see how dark this place is?"
"Just do it!" Monica shrieked.
Udoka stared at her for a moment. She reluctantly turned off the
torchlight and that created room for the darkest hour. Both
couldn't even see each other. All they could hear was the singing
birds and moving air.
"Monica.."
"Quiet" Monica interrupted Udoka. She fixed her eyes on the
ground expecting to see what she sees in the dream. As she
stared at the dark ground, she began to see a very tiny bright ray
of light sprinkling out of the ground.
"Can you see that?" she smiled.
"What?" Udoka asked.
"Look down. What can you see?"
Udoka also fixed her eyes on the ground. "Oh my God!" she
exclaimed. She moved forward and shuffled dead leaves away to
take a better look. "They are like stars! What are they?" she asked..
:
TBC
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