*CHAPTER ONE: IT LIVES BENEATH*
The sun had barely disappeared behind the Lagos skyline when Dammy decided to take a shortcut home. It was late. Too late to be wandering the backstreets of Mushin, but his phone was dead, the buses were full, and he was tired. The narrow alley behind an abandoned warehouse looked quiet—too quiet.
The path was dark and damp, the air thick with humidity and the smell of decay. He glanced around nervously. Trash bins, broken furniture, and forgotten posters from a decade ago decorated the sides. But something felt off.
That's when he heard it.
A whisper.
It was faint, almost like the wind brushing past his ear. But it said his name.
"Dammy..."
He froze.
"Who's there?" he called, trying to sound brave.
No reply.
Just eerie silence.
He moved closer to the voice, peering into the shadows. "Who's there?" he asked again, voice shaking. Still no answer. Just the wind… or was it something else?
Then, a sudden loud *clang!* echoed behind him.
He turned sharply, heart pounding. Nothing. At this point, Dammy was terrified and didn't know what to do. He scrambled in the darkness, searching for the door he came through, bumping into tables and chairs along the way. His hands scraped against cold metal, rough wood, even what felt like cobwebs strung across forgotten furniture.
He began to panic.
This time, without caring where the sound came from, he started running blindly into the darkness. He had no clue where the exit was. He just ran, hoping to find light—any sign of escape.
After what felt like minutes of running, he stopped to catch his breath. Sweat dripped from his face. The air felt heavier here. No windows. No light. No exit.
He was trapped.
In total darkness.
And then… something moved.
From the shadows, two red bloodshot eyes opened—glowing, unblinking. Behind them, the shape of something tall and monstrous emerged. Its claws scraped the floor. Dammy could barely see it, but he could feel its hunger.
It stepped closer.
Menacingly.
Dammy couldn't move.
His feet felt nailed to the ground. His breath caught in his throat. He was frozen with horror.
The creature let out a low growl.
Then—he ran.
Again.
Blinded by fear, he sprinted into the darkness. Tables crashed, chairs tumbled. He didn't care. He just wanted out.
Then—hope.
A distant light glowed ahead. Bright, golden, like the entrance. He ran faster, heart thundering. The light grew stronger. Brighter.
Just as he reached it—*he was pulled back.*
The creature's claws dug deep into his shoulder.
He screamed—loud and raw.
Pain. Despair.
*Is this how I die?* he thought. *Killed by something I didn't even believe in?*
As he struggled, a hand reached out from the light.
He didn't hesitate.
He grabbed it.
The creature growled, furious, yanking harder.
Then—*a burst of light* shot through the darkness, hitting the creature. It shrieked in pain, its grip weakening.
The hand pulled harder.
Dammy tumbled out of the dark into the light.
And then—silence.
He collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath. Blood ran down his arm. His vision blurred.
Before slipping into unconsciousness, he looked up… and saw the face of his rescuer.
A light-skinned woman with long, black, flowing hair stood above him, staring with calm, intense eyes.
And then… everything went black.