Choices in the Dark

Volume I: Children of the Earth

Chapter 7: Choices in the Dark

Alozie felt the weight of the Oracle's words echoing in his mind as he and Olaedo left the temple, the scent of incense still clinging to his clothes. The prophecy had chosen him, and yet the path ahead remained shrouded in mystery. The Oracle had given him no clear answers—only riddles, warnings, and a heavy burden that settled on his shoulders like a cloak made of stone.

As they descended the hill in silence, Alozie couldn't help but feel that every step was leading him closer to something he wasn't ready to face.

Olaedo broke the silence first. "What now?" she asked softly, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

Alozie stared ahead, the fading light of the setting sun casting long shadows over the landscape. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice flat. "The Oracle said that I must choose my path carefully. But how do I choose when I don't even know what's at stake?"

"The Oracle speaks in riddles," Olaedo replied, though her tone was far from reassuring. "But she's never wrong. Whatever choice you make, it will have consequences. For you… and for all of us."

Alozie stopped, turning to face her. "That's what scares me. What if I choose wrong? What if I bring ruin to the kingdom, to the people I care about?"

Olaedo reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "You're not alone in this, Alozie. We'll figure it out together."

He nodded, grateful for her presence, but deep down he knew that the burden of the prophecy was his alone to bear. No matter how much support he had, the choices were his to make—and the consequences, his to endure.

As they continued their descent, a figure emerged from the shadows at the edge of the forest. It was an old woman, her hunched frame barely visible in the dim light. Her eyes were clouded with age, but there was something sharp and knowing in her gaze as she approached them.

"You carry the weight of the spirits, child," the woman said, her voice low and raspy.

Alozie's heart skipped a beat. "Who are you?"

The old woman smiled faintly, her wrinkles deepening. "I am but a messenger. The spirits have spoken to me as they have spoken to you."

Olaedo tensed beside him, her hand instinctively reaching for her dagger. "What do you want?"

The woman ignored her, her focus entirely on Alozie. "The path before you is not what it seems. The Oracle has given you a warning, but she has also given you a choice. Be careful, child of the earth, for there are those who seek to twist the prophecy to their own ends."

Alozie felt a chill run down his spine. "Who are you talking about?"

"The forces of darkness move in the shadows," the woman replied cryptically. "There are those who would see the prophecy fulfilled for their own gain. Beware of them. Trust in the spirits, but do not trust blindly. Your heart will guide you—if you allow it."

Before Alozie could respond, the old woman turned and disappeared into the trees, leaving him and Olaedo standing in stunned silence.

"What was that about?" Olaedo asked, her voice tense with suspicion.

Alozie shook his head, his mind reeling. "I don't know. But I have a feeling things are about to get even more complicated."

Adanna's Defiance

At the palace, Adanna paced her chambers, her mind racing. News of her confrontation with the guards had reached her father, and she knew it was only a matter of time before she was summoned. The defiance she had shown in the village—protecting the boy from the king's men—had been a calculated risk, but now it seemed to be spiraling out of control.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

The door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped into the room. It was her younger brother, Obinna, his wide eyes full of concern. He was barely twelve years old, but already he showed the wisdom of someone much older.

"Father's furious," Obinna said softly. "He's been talking with Udochukwu all evening. I think they're planning something."

Adanna frowned, her mind immediately going to the Oracle and the prophecy. She had heard the whispers of the council—the growing fear of the child born of the earth, the unrest spreading among the people. Her father's paranoia was driving him to desperate measures, and she feared what lengths he might go to in order to regain control.

"I know," Adanna replied, her voice heavy. "But I couldn't stand by and let them take that boy. He's just a child, Obinna."

Obinna nodded, though his expression remained troubled. "I don't blame you, sister. But be careful. Udochukwu is dangerous, and Father listens to him more than anyone else now."

Adanna sighed, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I know. But there's something bigger at play here, something Father doesn't understand. The prophecy—it's not just a threat. It's a warning. If we don't handle this the right way, we could destroy everything."

Obinna's eyes widened. "Do you really believe the prophecy is true? That the child of the earth will bring about great change?"

Adanna met her brother's gaze, her own eyes filled with a quiet determination. "I do. And I believe we need to find that child before Udochukwu does. If he gets his hands on them, he'll use the prophecy to seize power for himself."

Obinna looked down, his expression thoughtful. "Then what are you going to do?"

Adanna paused, her mind racing with possibilities. "I'm going to find the child. And when I do, I'm going to protect them—no matter what."

Udochukwu's Ambitions

Meanwhile, in the dimly lit halls of the palace, Udochukwu stood before the king, his face a mask of calm as he laid out his plans.

"Your Majesty," Udochukwu began, his voice smooth and persuasive, "the people are growing restless. They fear the prophecy, and with each passing day, their loyalty to the throne weakens. We cannot allow this uncertainty to fester any longer."

Eze Nnobi sat on his throne, his face lined with worry. "What do you propose, Udochukwu? The prophecy speaks of a child who will change the kingdom, but we have yet to find any trace of them."

"That is precisely why we must act," Udochukwu replied, his tone measured. "The child of the earth must be found, and when they are, we must ensure that they serve the throne. If we control the child, we control the prophecy."

The king frowned, his eyes narrowing. "And how do you intend to do that?"

Udochukwu's lips curled into a faint smile. "The Oracle has already foreseen the child's arrival. We must be ready to manipulate the situation in our favor. There are ways to twist the prophecy, to make it work for us. The people will follow the child—if we make them believe that the child is loyal to the crown."

Eze Nnobi leaned back in his throne, a deep sigh escaping his lips. "You speak of dangerous things, Udochukwu. The spirits do not take kindly to manipulation."

Udochukwu's smile faded, his expression turning cold. "The spirits care only for power. And so should we, Your Majesty. If we do not act now, the prophecy will slip from our grasp, and with it, the kingdom."

The king stared at him for a long moment, his mind clearly torn. Finally, he nodded slowly. "Very well. But tread carefully, Udochukwu. The spirits may be watching."

Udochukwu bowed deeply, though a glint of triumph flickered in his eyes. "Of course, Your Majesty. I will ensure that the prophecy serves us—no matter the cost."

The Winds of Change

Night had fallen over Umudike, and the village was quiet, the stillness of the evening broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. Alozie and Olaedo had returned from the Oracle's temple, their steps slow and heavy with the weight of all they had learned.

As they walked through the darkened streets, a sense of foreboding settled over Alozie. The old woman's warning echoed in his mind, her cryptic words haunting him like a shadow he couldn't shake.

"There are those who seek to twist the prophecy…"

He glanced at Olaedo, her face pale in the moonlight. "Do you think she was right? That someone is trying to manipulate the prophecy?"

Olaedo's brow furrowed. "It's possible. The prophecy is powerful—it could be a tool for anyone ambitious enough to use it. We need to be careful."

Alozie nodded, though unease gnawed at him. The Oracle had told him that his choices would shape the future of the kingdom, but now it seemed that the stakes were even higher than he had imagined. Forces were moving in the shadows, and he was caught in the middle of a game far larger than himself.

As they reached the edge of the village, Alozie stopped, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

"We can't stay here," he said quietly. "Not anymore."

Olaedo turned to him, her expression startled. "What do you mean?"

Alozie's jaw tightened, resolve hardening within him. "If the prophecy is real—and if people are trying to twist it—we need to stay ahead of them. I can't just wait for the spirits to decide my fate. I need to take control."

Olaedo's eyes widened. "Where will we go?"

Alozie looked out into the distance, the wind whispering through the trees like the voices of the spirits.

"North," he said, his voice filled with quiet determination. "To the mountains. To the source of the prophecy."