AWAKENING PART TWO.

"Allow me to lay eyes on the boy believed to ensnare us," she said, reaching toward Ohi, but a forceful impact of a stone struck her hand. The queen winced in agony as dark, viscous fluid oozed from her hand, mingling with the seawater.

"My queen," Belle swum close to the queen, clasping her hand. Meanwhile, Ohi rose to his feet; all the stones in their vicinity began orbiting him like satellites around an axis, while the surrounding water swirled along with the stones, forming a miniature tornado. The Queen and Belle recoiled, their shock evident in their eyes. "I won't perish, not here, not now," he declared, opening his bright brown eyes and fixing a determined gaze upon her.

"Look at how you squirm under my hands" Idoga laughed as he licked his lips and tightened his hand around Atika's neck, she was struggling, trying to wriggle out of his grip but his hands kept tightening around her neck, she gasped as her eyes started to bulge out.

"Easy there, Idoga. Release her; we can't end her life just yet," Obi remarked, a sinister smile playing on his lips. He detected an unusual presence in the air, something unfamiliar despite his frequent visits to this forest. However, dismissing the sensation, he focused on more pressing matters.

Struggling to breathe, Atika clutched her sore neck, tears streaming down her cheeks, dampening the branches and moist sand. He crouched beside her, forcefully lifting her chin to meet his gaze. "Tell me, where is the parchment?" he growled. "It's in the sea where I reside. We only have a portion of it," Atika stammered in response.

Obi and Idoga exchanged meaningful glances, silently communicating. Sensing this momentary distraction, Atika focused on thoughts of her sister, realizing the importance of confidence in her current situation. Determined to quell her fear, she closed her eyes, seeking inner calm amidst the turmoil.

The forest descended into deeper darkness, the air growing colder, and the sounds of chirping, hooting, croaking, cawing, and howling intensified as the creatures of the night claimed their domain.

"I can assist in finding the parchments," the girl proclaimed, drawing the attention of both men. "Hehehe! How do you plan to assist us?" one of them sneered, licking his lips and sliding his hands into his pockets. "Idoga, let's hear her out," Obi suggested, exhaling a cloud of smoke before inhaling it back in. "As you wish, Obi," Idoga acquiesced, tipping his hat and stepping aside from the girl.

"The parchment we possess was stolen from Yewa," Atika disclosed, observing Obi's widened eyes. "So, are the rest with her?" he inquired. "No," Atika shook her head. "It's divided among the gods for safekeeping." Obi appeared perplexed, his intimidating aura intensifying as his dog approached, scrutinizing the girl, trying to discern any falsehoods. Her fear intensified as she couldn't determine which of the three creatures was the most terrifying.

"I'm absolutely sure," she asserted, attempting to display confidence despite feeling insignificant before them. "Good, because if you're lying, my dog will have a feast," Obi threatened, the dog growling menacingly, revealing its sharp teeth. Obi sensed that strange sensation again, its presence growing stronger. "Oh! Can I add her nails to my collection? Then I'll have 20 mermaid nails," Idoga exclaimed, leaping around with childlike excitement. "Certainly," Obi agreed, causing Idoga to ecstatically spin in circles.

Atika gazed at the figures before her, astounded by how she found herself in this situation. "If what you say is true, you will be granted immortality by our mistress," one of them declared. "I have a sister, she's the queen, and I wish for immortality to be bestowed upon her," Atika replied earnestly.

"Your choice," Obi shrugged indifferently. Atika finally breathed out in relief, placing her left hand on her chest, a weight lifted from her shoulders.

"I sense something in the air," Idoga abruptly stopped his excited movements, his expression turning grave. Obi muttered a curse under his breath.

A powerful ray of bright light surged forth, enveloping the entire forest and nearly blinding them. The beams of light shot upward into the sky. Obi rubbed his eyes, gradually restoring his vision to normal. He gazed at the cylindrical column of light ascending into the sky, squinting to discern a figure floating within it. "Sister!" Atika panicked, rushing toward the sea. "Where are you going?" Idoga trailed after her. "A new guardian has awakened," Obi declared, clenching his fist, seething with anger.

AT THE SEA.

"I won't perish. Not here, not now," he declared, fixing his bright brown eyes on them, eliciting awe from the assembled mermaids.

The queen smirked, commanding, "No one shall intervene." Raising her hand, she uttered incantations, directing a force toward Ohi. It shattered the tornado, causing Ohi to stagger, but he swiftly regained his balance. The queen hummed contentedly. "You're not as feeble as I presumed. I admire that," she remarked, a smile adorning her unpleasant countenance.

Ohi launched rocks and stones at her, yet she effortlessly evaded them, darting through the water with such speed that Ohi couldn't react in time. With a powerful punch, she sent Ohi hurtling backward, crashing into the wall, his back taking the brunt of the impact. Despite the pain, he staggered to his feet, only to receive another forceful kick that shattered his jaw, blood flowing into the sea, a testament to her ferocity. Her followers regarded her with reverence, affirming her status as their queen, while the fish darted erratically, seeking shelter.

Struggling to stand due to unbearable pain, Ohi refused to yield. "Tough, huh!" he quipped through the agony. He hurled another barrage of stones and rocks in self-defense, knowing it was his only means of protection. However, the queen's speed and viciousness surpassed his efforts. Her sharp fingernails grazed his shoulders, causing him to flinch and grimace in agony. A sense of realization dawned upon her, prompting a smile to form on her face.

"You're the new guardian! I've been so dim-witted not to realize it," she exclaimed, her fishtail swishing with delight. Belle, taken aback by the revelation, felt a surge of euphoria at the thought of the praises she would receive from the queen.

Meanwhile, the queen delivered another kick to Ohinoyi, prompting him to recall the events that transpired at the hut.

"You're finally here," the boy greeted as Ohi sat up, utterly perplexed. "Who are you?" Ohi stammered in confusion. "Isn't it obvious? I am you, and you are me," the boy replied matter-of-factly, leaving Ohi utterly befuddled. "What do you mean?"

"I am the other part of you, your powers. I've been waiting for you to awaken me for six years," the boy explained, but Ohi struggled to grasp the situation. "We don't have time for a lengthy explanation." The boy approached Ohi. "You're the savior of humanity."

"What?" Ohi recoiled in shock. "If you die, humanity will perish," the boy stated, causing Ohi's eyes to widen in disbelief. Struggling to find his voice, Ohi protested, "I can't do this. I can't."

"You don't understand. If you die here, this city's fate will mirror what happens if you fail. Your family will perish too," the boy explained urgently, leaving Ohi completely taken aback.

The young boy held his hands. Soon the setting changed, he was in front of his house, it was on fire, he saw his father's body on the ground, half of his body was burnt and he was still bleeding. "Father Ohi ran to his father's side he crouched down as he looked at his lifeless dad, a huge explosion took place, and all the windows of the house busted into smithereens, all the houses in the neighborhood were ruined, and bodies all over the ground, He pushed open the door of his house, the smoke was choking him, but he didn't care, he saw Beni dead on the ground not far from her was Bisi, Ohi was about to run mad, he grabbed his hair as he fell on the ground.

"This can't be happening. My family was alive and well when I left them," Ohi uttered, tears streaming down his face, the overwhelming pain making it difficult for him to speak.

"It hasn't happened yet. If you die here, your family will also perish in about 6 months," the boy explained further, causing Ohi's eyes to widen in shock. "Your grandma and mother's bodies are in your grandma's room. Do you wish to see them?"

"No, they won't die. None of them will," Ohi denied vehemently, shaking his head, his mind reeling from the unbearable revelation.