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The next morning, Kira sat in bed, propped up by pillows as the soft chime of her phone signalled an incoming video call. It was her parents. They were away for a week and had been desperate to see her after three long days of radio silence, no doubt spurred on by Koa's dodgy explanations. Kira sighed, rubbing her tired eyes before pressing the button to accept the call.
Her mother's face appeared on the screen, eyes wide with worry. "Kira! Oh, thank God! Finally! We've been so worried. What happened to you?"
Her father was already in the background, leaning over her mother's shoulder with a scowl, no doubt aimed at Koa. "Why didn't you pick up sooner? Three days, Kira. Three days!"
Kira offered a tired smile, the tension draining from her. "I'm fine, Mom, Dad. Really. Koa told you, didn't he?"
Her mother sighed dramatically. "That boy said something about a rash on your face and being too upset to talk to us. Kira, we already booked a flight back!"
Her father's face softened a bit. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Kira nodded. "I'm good now, promise. Just needed some time to myself." She chuckled lightly. "Though you might have to cancel that flight—there's a storm in Seychelles, right?"
Her mother huffed. "Yes, we're stuck here for a bit longer. Lucky for Koa! He's going to hear from us when we get back."
Kira laughed. "Don't be too hard on him. He's been taking good care of me. Spoiled me, even."
Just as she said that, Koa popped into the frame, waving a kitchen towel. "Hey, I'm innocent! I didn't do anything wrong!" He flashed a mischievous grin.
Her parents shook their heads, though Kira could tell they were relieved. After some light-hearted scolding and banter, the call ended, and she felt lighter.
Later that day, Koa presented her with a plate of bean cake, one of her favourite local desserts. Kira's eyes widened in delight. "You made bean cake?"
"Of course," Koa said, beaming with pride. "I know you've been craving it."
Kira took a bite, the flavors bursting in her mouth. She hadn't realized how much she missed the dish. "This is amazing, Koa. Seriously, you're the best."
"Don't mention it," he replied, sitting across from her, watching her savour each bite. "You've been through a lot. The least I can do is keep you fed."
Kira smiled softly but deep inside, her mind wandered. Despite Koa's efforts to lighten the mood, the strange dreams—or rather, memories—still haunted her. That morning, she had looked at the symbol on the back of her waist again, it was the exact same one from her dreams. It was real. She was sure of it now. The memories were of a past life.
After finishing her meal, Kira excused herself, feeling restless. Koa offered to clean up the dishes while she headed upstairs, but peace and quiet didn't come easily. She paced around Koa's room, hugging his pillow tightly, her mind racing.
She couldn't shake the memory of Frost, the eerie yet familiar way he looked at her the first time they met. There was something there—something deeper. Her fists clenched at her sides as she stood, the urgency building in her chest. She had to confront him. Now.
Determined, Kira quickly changed into a pair of ripped blue jean shorts and a lilac camisole, slipping on her black sandals. She tied her long braids in a neat ponytail, her reflection in the mirror different to the turmoil swirling inside her. Without a second thought, she headed for the door.
Just as she reached the bottom of the stairs, Koa appeared, drying his hands with a dish towel. His brow furrowed when he saw her. "Where are you going? You look like you're on a mission."
Kira grabbed his hand, her eyes filled with determination. "Come with me. I need you."
Koa didn't hesitate for a moment, albeit his concern growing, but he didn't ask questions. He simply nodded and followed her out the door. They hopped into the car, Kira driving with an intensity that made Koa's worry deepen. He glanced at her from the passenger seat but kept quiet, trusting her instinct.
They pulled up to Frost's apartment building, and Kira wasted no time pushing the buzzer. The door swung open, revealing Kamdi. His eyes widened in shock, and he immediately recoiled, almost as if the sight of Koa frightened him. He backed away, eyes darting between Koa and Kira.
"Kamdi," Kira said with a sharp edge in her voice. "Where's Frost?"
Kamdi hesitated for a split second before stepping aside, allowing them to enter. Koa's eyes followed him, sensing the tension in the air.
The sound of tapping filled the room as Frost emerged from the back, shirtless, his lean body toned and muscular. His white, pupil-less eyes gazed straight ahead, unseeing but aware. He held a walking stick in one hand and had headphones around his neck, his face unreadable.
Kira's heart pounded as she watched him pour water into a glass from a jug on the dining table. Frost paused, his nose flaring slightly as if he sensed something amiss. His brow furrowed briefly before he turned toward them, tapping his stick on the floor.
"You're here," he said hoarsely, his voice holding a quiet gravity.
Without warning, Kira strode up to him and slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed through the apartment, leaving everyone in stunned silence. Kamdi's mouth hung open in disbelief, while Koa rushed forward, his arms circling Kira's waist to pull her away.
"Kira, what the hell?!" Koa's voice was filled with shock, but she pushed him off, her chest heaving with anger.
Frost didn't flinch. His cheek twitched slightly from the impact, but he remained still, his expression cold and distant. "I told you not to forgive me," he said quietly, his voice strained with something that sounded almost like guilt.
Kira's eyes blazed. "So you know then?"
Koa and Kamdi exchanged confused glances, but neither of them dared to speak. The tension in the room was thick, almost suffocating.
Frost stood unmoving, his lips tight. "What good would an apology do? It won't change anything."
Kira's patience snapped. She stormed forward again, slapping him once, twice, each blow harder than the last. Her hands shook as she struck him, her rage spilling out in waves.
"You bastard!" she screamed, her voice breaking with pain. "How could you? How could you do that to her?"
Frost's stoic expression faltered for the briefest moment, his grip tightening on his walking stick until his knuckles turned white. He took a deep breath, but the tremor in his voice betrayed him. "I… I had no choice."
Kira's knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. "You destroyed her… you destroyed me," she cried, her hands clutching her chest as if trying to hold herself together.
Koa, unable to stand by any longer, rushed to her side, pulling her into his arms. "Kira, stop. Please," he whispered, his own voice shaking. He held her as she sobbed, his protective instinct kicking in full force. "What is going on?" he demanded, looking up at Frost, his eyes dark with fury.
Kamdi, too, approached Frost, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Frost…"
But Frost simply sank into a chair at the dining table, his expression unreadable. He stared down at the floor, his breathing shallow as he gathered his thoughts.
Finally, Koa stood, his eyes flashing with anger. "Explain. Now."
Frost exhaled slowly. "It started over a thousand years ago… in Mmiri village. There was a great famine, a war that ravaged the land. The king, Ogugua, consulted the oracles, desperate for a way to save his people. He was told to journey to the Agbogugu forest, where he met a sage—a man who had just lost his wife and was mourning her death. The sage offered Ogugua a deal."
Kira's sobs quieted, and she listened, though her body still trembled.
"Every hundred years, Ogugua would offer up one of his subjects to the sage, a woman, in exchange for the safety and prosperity of his kingdom. The king, desperate to save his people, accepted. And that deal… it still exists."
Koa's fists clenched. "What does this have to do with Kira?"
Frost's voice dropped. "Kira… was one of those women. In another life." He swallowed hard, his own voice betraying the pain he tried to hide. "And I was the one who… killed her"
Kira's heart raced as the weight of Frost's confession settled over her like a dark cloud. Her pulse quickened, and her thoughts swirled in a storm of emotions. She tried to focus, but the memories, the visions, all of it hit her like a punch to the gut.
"You killed her?" Koa's voice was sharp, cutting through the silence. His eyes, normally full of warmth and protection, were now blazing with disbelief and rage. "What the hell do you mean by that?"
Frost remained still, his blind eyes unwavering, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of sorrow. "It was the only way to stop him, her suffering, and save the people. To stop the destruction."
"Your suffering or hers?" Kira's voice came out in a sharp hiss, filled with resentment and disgust. She looked at Frost like she was seeing a monster in human form. "Was it your decision to make, or was it your father's? Which one of you decided that a fifteen-year-old girl should be the price paid to save an entire village?"
Frost's face tightened, and for a moment, he seemed to be battling with an answer. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost pained. "My father... he didn't have a choice. Neither did I."
Kira scoffed, folding her arms tightly against her chest as if trying to protect herself from the past. "Of course he didn't. He had no problem sacrificing a young girl who hadn't even experienced her first night with her so-called husband."
Koa, still standing protectively beside Kira, was clearly lost in the confusing conversation. He looked back and forth between Kira and Frost, his brow furrowed in frustration. "Okay, wait. Hold up. Can someone explain this in a way that makes sense? What exactly happened?"
Frost drew in a deep breath, the weight of centuries in his voice. "Over four hundred years ago, I was betrothed to marry a young woman named Lotachukwu. Her father was a wealthy merchant, and her marriage to me was meant to secure political power for both families. The village was on the brink of war, and the king was desperate, drafting young men into battle. Lota's father was among them. With him gone, her mother joined the women of the Blessed to pray for their husbands' safe return.
"They feared for Lota's safety, and in their haste, they arranged her marriage to me, the son of a powerful chief, a man aspiring to become the next Onowu. She had no choice. Her father's wealth, her future, everything was handed over to her and her husband. But…" Frost hesitated, his voice faltering slightly, "He didn't love her. He never did. He… loved someone else."
Frost's words hung in the air like a bitter truth, and Kira's heart clenched. She didn't need him to say it—she already knew. Her memories, clear as they were, whispered the truth in her ears.
"She was locked away in her quarters, ostracized by his family, who considered her unworthy," Frost continued, his voice growing quieter. "He didn't visit her, not for months. She was isolated, and they tortured her with their words, making her believe she was less than nothing. And when he finally saw her again… it was to end her life."
Kira's laugh was harsh and bitter. "How convenient. A tortured young girl, murdered by the very people who should've protected her. And all in the name of what? Saving the village? You cowards let her die. You burned her alive!" Kira's voice cracked, and tears streamed down her face as she remembered the agony, the betrayal, the horror of her past life.
Her anger broke Koa's heart. He pulled her into his arms, cradling her tightly as she sobbed against him. He couldn't stand to see her like this, broken and vulnerable, reliving the trauma that had haunted her dreams for months.
"So it was you," Koa muttered, his voice filled with disgust as he looked at Frost. "You're the one who killed her."
Frost's blind gaze seemed to fix on him, and he nodded. "Yes. I take it you've read the diary, then, Nazam."
The name hit Koa like a punch to the chest, sending a shockwave through him. "Nazam," he whispered, the very same name his sister had mentioned while dreaming. "You… you wrote that diary?"
Frost nodded solemnly. "I left it for you two, passed down through your family, for when you and Kira are reincarnated. I owed her a debt—a debt I could never repay."
Koa's mind was reeling. Everything he had read in that diary, all the strange, ancient stories he thought were myths, were actually real. The events had happened centuries ago, and the weight of that truth crushed him. "So you're Muna? The man cursed to live forever until you paid back your debt?"
Frost's expression darkened, and he nodded again. "Yes. After I killed Lota, A shaman had appeared to me. She cursed me to live until I could repay the life I had stolen. I lost my sight because I felt guilty watching her die, and my hair grew white. It was my punishment."
Kira's tears had stopped, but her hands shook as she processed everything. "How do you know all of this?" she whispered, her voice hoarse. Her phone rang but she ignored it
Koa hesitated, then gently cupped her face, wiping away her tears. "Grandma gave me the diary before she passed. She told me to keep it hidden, to only share it with you when the time was right. I wanted to tell you, Kira, but… I was scared. The dreams, the deaths, everything was happening exactly like the diary said. I didn't know what to do. I had been so conflicted, I knew this was driving you crazy, and I pretended like I knew nothing about it. The coincidence was just too much and alarming. I feared it would consume you even more and crush you. It killed me to hide all these from you, but I genuinely thought you'd be better off not knowing. I.... am sorry... I didn't mean for things to turn out like this"
Frost's voice interrupted them. "The deaths in the village, the famine, the wars—they weren't accidents. The sage's wife was a powerful witch, burned alive after bringing death and destruction to a neighboring village. When the sage made his deal with King Ogugua, he used the village's strife to resurrect her, reincarnating her soul into another woman's body. Each time she returned, chaos followed. War, famine, death… all of it was to keep her alive."
Koa's voice trembled with anger. "So you thought killing Kira would stop this….? The witch's spirit?"
Frost shook his head. "It wasn't just that. We found out that the sage who later became known as the shadow believed Lota's body was the perfect host—one that could hold his wife's essence forever, as others couldn't hold her essence but only last for one hundred years. If she possessed Lota's body, there would be no way to separate them. That's why we killed her. But killing her only weakened the shadow. It didn't stop it. Now, with Kira's reappearance, he's growing stronger again."
Before anyone could respond, Kira's phone rang again. She again ignored it, but when it rang again, she sighed and picked it up.
It was the hospital director from Hope General Hospital where she and Koa volunteered.
Her eyes widened as she listened to the voice on the other end of the line. "What? No, that's impossible…" Her voice trailed off, and a sense of urgency flooded her.
"I'm on my way," she said before hanging up.
Koa frowned, concern etched across his face. "What is it?"
Kira's face was pale, and her voice was barely a whisper. "It's the Old woman from the Hospital. The one who reads the future. The hospital director just said she's passed on''
Without wasting another second, Kira and Koa hurried out of Frost's apartment. Frost remained seated, his hands gripping his walking stick tightly, his face expressionless but for the small twitch in his lips. Kamdi stood behind him, watching silently, knowing there was much more yet to unfold.
Frost's phone vibrated in his pocket, pulling him from his racing thoughts. The name "Ebi" flashed across the screen. He tapped the side button, answering the call.
"Frost, we've found something," Ebi's voice was urgent. "All nine victims visited Hope General Hospital before their deaths. I also heard from a reliable source that Oke had been following a lead, but unfortunately, the person he was tailing passed away. He's got evidence, though, and he's getting closer to the truth. We need to move fast. Nonso and I are already heading to the hospital."
Frost's heart skipped a beat. "Hope General Hospital?" he muttered under his breath. That was the same hospital Kira and Koa had just rushed off to. He didn't waste another second, snapping his phone shut and turning toward Kamdi, who had been silently watching him.
"We need to go. Now."
Kamdi, sensing the urgency in Frost's voice, nodded, grabbing his jacket. Within minutes, they were speeding toward Hope General Hospital.
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Meanwhile, in the hospital director's office, Kira sat across from the elderly man, her brother Koa beside her. The director handed her a small, crumpled piece of paper and a picture of what looked like a forest with what looked like a map drawn at the back.
"This was left for you by Mary," the director said, his voice sombre. "Before she passed, she made me promise to deliver this note to you. She said it was urgent."
Kira unfolded the paper slowly, her eyes scanning the contents. It was a strange drawing, a reversed pentagon with a symbol eerily similar to the one burned into her waist. Around it, there were what looked like incantations, written in a language she couldn't understand. She passed the paper to Koa, her face a mix of confusion and fear.
"What the hell is this?" Koa half whispered, half speaking out, studying the strange symbols.
The director sighed. "I don't know what it means. All I know is that Mary was insistent that you receive it and that you understand the message. She kept repeating that you have until midnight. I have no idea what she meant by that."
Just then, the director accidentally knocked over a glass of water, causing papers to scatter across his desk. He cursed under his breath and quickly apologized, fumbling to clean up the mess. In his rush, one of the folders slipped from the table, landing at Kira's feet.
Kira bent down to pick it up but froze when her eyes landed on the photos spilling out from the open folder. Her breath caught in her throat. The pictures were of two of the victims—a female teacher and a high school student. Both were smiling at the camera, but what really caught her attention were the notes scribbled on the back of each photo. Notes addressed to her, thanking her.
Koa noticed her sudden stillness and came over to look. His eyes widened when he saw the messages on the back of the photos.
"Kira… are these…" he stammered.
"They're thank-you notes," she whispered. Her hands shook as she flipped through the rest of the folder. Each victim had left her a note, thanking her for helping them through their struggles, whether it was with their mental health, physical scars, or illness. Even Somi had written her a note of gratitude.
Just as she picked up the folder to ask the director about it, the door to the director's office swung open with a loud crash. Kamdi and Frost strode in, with a frantic receptionist trailing behind them, trying unsuccessfully to stop the intrusion.
"You can't just barge in like that!" the receptionist protested, but Frost ignored her entirely, his walking stick tapping firmly against the floor as he made his way inside. Kamdi shot her an apologetic smile, though his eyes were filled with urgency.
"I tried to stop them," the receptionist muttered, casting a worried glance at the director, who was now standing with his mouth agape, staring at the intruders.
"It's fine," Kira said, rising from her seat. "They're with us."
The director, still flustered, addressed Frost and Kamdi. "How can I help you, gentlemen?"
Frost and Kamdi flashed their IDs. "We're with the investigation into the recent murders in Mmiri," Frost explained. "We need to see the information Kira's holding."
The director's face turned pale. "Wait... murder investigation? What's going on here?"