Mrs. Ruth stood outside the ominous black mansion, her breath hitching as her eyes scanned its grotesque features. The building seemed alive, pulsating with a dark energy that made the air feel heavy. The whispers had led her here, insistent and commanding, their chilling tone still echoing in her ears.
"The hidden treasures are here. Go… go," they had hissed, followed by an eerie chuckle that seemed to vanish into the very walls of the mansion.
Ruth's resolve did not waver. She tightened her shawl around her bruised arms, each step forward accompanied by the sensation of something tearing beneath her skin. Her fingers grazed the massive black gate, its red stone structure glowing faintly as though imbued with life. Before she could push it open, it creaked and fell away on its own, revealing a grim path that led into the mansion's shadowed depths.
She hesitated, her senses screaming for her to turn back. But the image of Mirabel, her terrified face, her pleas for help,flooded her mind, and Ruth pressed on.
As she stepped through the gate, a horrifying sight greeted her. Limbless figures dragged themselves across the ground, their eyeless faces turned toward her as they groaned in desperation. Their pale, lifeless skin glistened unnaturally under the dim, flickering lamps.
They reached out to her, their voices rasping like dry leaves in the wind. "Help us… save us"
Ruth's stomach churned, her knees weak at the sight. She recoiled but forced herself to remain steady. These grotesque beings, whatever they once were, would not deter her from her mission.
"I'll help you when I can," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But I must find my family first."
She stepped over their clawing hands, careful to avoid their grasp, and moved deeper into the mansion. The air grew colder with each step, the stench of decay and death assaulting her senses. She wrapped her shawl tightly around her nose and mouth, willing herself to endure it.
The whispers came again, soft and insistent, guiding her to a dimly lit hallway where lamps flickered against ancient stone walls.
Every step Ruth took was a battle. The bruises on her arms throbbed with agonizing intensity, the cracks deepening as blood seeped from them. She paused to catch her breath, leaning against the cold stone wall.
The whispers grew louder, almost scolding her for stopping.
"Keep moving," she muttered to herself, her voice strained. "This isn't going to stop me."
She staggered forward, her body shaking but her determination unwavering. As she continued, the hallway ended abruptly, revealing a gaping pit that stretched into blackness. The edges of the pit glowed faintly, as though imbued with some kind of dark magic.
"How do I get down there?" Ruth murmured, peering into the abyss.
Before she could form a plan, an unseen force wrapped around her body. It lifted her gently, as though cradling her, and carried her down into the pit. The descent was disorienting, the air thick with the scent of earth and decay. When her feet touched solid ground, she was in a cavernous dungeon, the walls slick with moisture and faintly glowing runes etched into the stone.
The moment Ruth entered the dungeon, an alarm seemed to resonate through the mansion. A low, bone-rattling hum vibrated through the walls, and distant roars echoed in the distance.
Above, Chief Mina's voice bellowed, his fury palpable. "Close every exit! Release the guardians! Capture the intruder!"
The whispers around Ruth grew louder, more urgent. "Go to the prison. Find him. Hurry."
Ruth stumbled forward, the bruises on her arms glowing faintly as if reacting to the dungeon's energy. Shadows moved along the walls, and strange figures began to emerge, their twisted forms snarling as they pursued her.
But no matter how fast they came, an unseen barrier seemed to shield Ruth. Every time a creature lunged at her, it was thrown back by an invisible force.
Chief Mina's rage thundered through the air. "Who dares trespass in my domain?"
The whispers led Ruth to a massive iron door etched with intricate symbols. She pushed it open with all her strength, and the sight before her made her heart stop.
The room was lined with cages, each containing men who bore the marks of captivity. Their eyes were hollow, their spirits broken. Among them were Mirabel's spiritual leaders, their once-proud forms now hunched and chained to the walls.
But at the center of the room, sitting tall despite the heavy chains binding him, was her husband, Obianuju.
"Obianuju!" Ruth cried, rushing toward him.
He lifted his head, his weary eyes softening at the sight of her. "Ruth…"
Before she could reach him, her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground. Overwhelmed by the stench of despair and the weight of her own pain, she sobbed uncontrollably.
"You've come so far," Obianuju said gently. "But you must not give in now."
Through her tears, Ruth looked up at him. "How can I save you? Save Mirabel? I'm not strong enough for this."
Obianuju shook his head. "You're stronger than you know. But you must listen to me carefully."
Obianuju's voice was steady, though his chains rattled with every movement. "Chief Mina cannot be defeated by strength alone. The key to saving Mirabel and freeing us lies in a puzzle—an ancient one that only you can solve. Go back to Mirabel's former apartment in Bayelsa. Look for the empty chocolate box in her room. Inside, you'll find a red ribbon and a puzzle."
Ruth frowned, confusion etching her face. "A puzzle? Obianuju, I don't…"
"It won't be easy," he interrupted. "No one has ever solved it, not even Mina himself. But you have to try. That puzzle is the only thing keeping this curse alive. If you solve it, you'll free Mirabel and me and finally break the eternal bondage."
The walls of the dungeon trembled as Chief Mina's voice echoed closer. His fury was a storm, shaking the very foundations of the mansion.
"You must go, Ruth," Obianuju urged. "Pinch your wound, focus on home, and don't let go until you get there."
Ruth hesitated, her heart breaking. "I can't leave you here like this."
"You must," Obianuju insisted. "Your strength will grow with time, but right now, Mirabel needs you more than I do."
The walls cracked, and Chief Mina's monstrous form appeared, his claws scraping against the stone as he snarled.
"Where is she?" Mina demanded, his eyes blazing with fury. "Where is your weak, cursed wife?"
Obianuju straightened, his voice calm and defiant. "She's not weak. And she's going to end this."
Mina laughed, a deep, menacing sound that shook the air. "That foolish woman will fail. The puzzle has stood unsolved for centuries. Let her try. She'll be back and when she returns, I'll have Mirabel invoke her soul into one of the slaves."
Ruth closed her eyes, ignoring Mina's voice as she followed Obianuju's instructions. She pinched her wound, the pain sharp and searing as it spread through her body.
"I'll come back for you," she promised, her voice firm despite her tears. "Both of you."
In an instant, she disappeared, leaving behind only the faint scent of jasmine.
Mina roared, his claws slashing through the air. "You think she'll succeed?"
Obianuju smirked, his expression one of quiet satisfaction. "She's not just my wife. She's more than you can imagine. And she'll be back to finish what you started."
Mina's laughter filled the dungeon, dark and cruel. "Let her come. When she does, I'll use her to destroy what's left of your precious family."
But deep down, even Mina couldn't shake the unease growing within him. Something about Ruth felt different—dangerous.
And so, the battle for Mirabel's soul continued, the shadows watching, waiting for the storm to break.