Fear finally chose for them.
It did not announce itself with screams or shadows. It came quietly, wearing reason, wearing safety, wearing the lie of control.
They bound Seyi at dawn.
Adaeze did it herself—rope wrapped tight with soldier's precision, jaw set, eyes refusing to meet his. The shadow-mark did not resist. It only pulsed once, like a heartbeat acknowledging a decision already made.
"This na temporary," Imade said, though her voice lacked conviction. "Until we figure how to move forward without tearing the world open."
Seyi looked at them all calmly. "You no trust me."
Silence answered.
---
The twins stood apart, fire and water restless but contained.
Kafé's hands trembled. "Fear make una choose this."
"And fear go make am worse," Taye added quietly.
The elder leaned heavily on his staff. "Better one danger restrained than many lives lost."
Seyi nodded once. "Logical."
That hurt more than anger would have.
---
They moved toward the Pathway again—slower now, fractured. The jungle pressed closer, branches snapping under unseen weight. Zoba's pendant flickered erratically.
"Something dey wrong," she warned. "Shadow dey agitated."
Before anyone could respond, the ground collapsed.
A rift tore open beneath their feet, swallowing sound, light, and stone. The Resistance scattered, screams cut short as abyssal wind howled upward.
Imade hit the ground hard, breath knocked from her lungs. She rolled—and froze.
Seyi was gone.
The ropes lay severed, edges burned black.
---
Far below, darkness wrapped around him like cold water.
For the first time since the mark, Seyi felt something stir.
Not fear.
Anger.
Orunmare's voice greeted him softly. "See wetin dem choice do."
Seyi did not answer.
"You saved dem," Orunmare continued. "You stabilized breach. You bore mark. And dem bind you like threat."
The shadows loosened—inviting, not forcing.
"Come," Orunmare said gently. "No as servant. As solution."
Seyi closed his eyes.
---
Above, the Resistance regrouped in panic.
Imade scrambled to her feet. "Find am! Now!"
Adaeze stared at the broken ropes, horror dawning. "I did this…"
Ngozi's hands shook as she pressed them to the earth. "Ancestors cry," she whispered. "Fear don choose—and it don fail us."
The Pathway pulsed brighter than before.
Fed.
Waiting.
---
Deep in the abyss, Seyi opened his eyes.
"I no belong to you," he said slowly.
Orunmare smiled wider. "Not yet."
And the darkness closed around them both.
The consequence of fear had been claimed.