Manifest

Thirty-eight

It was disheartening to imagine the only person he could possibly pray to for guidance was currently the one person in the most vulnerable position. Would it be inappropriate to call on Jesus to help save a pagan god? Eddie needed a miracle and all his options were bad.

Eddie retraced his steps to the hut where he'd appeared with Abasi Isong and Enyong, earlier. There were two mbono standing outside the hut. It had to be where Enyong was. If it wasn't, Eddie would keep looking. But he had to start somewhere.

"I HAVE THE TUSK!" Abasi Isong said as mbono clapped and cheered. "YOU CAN REST EASY."

That wasn't good news. The tusk was supposed to be with ekpo. Enyong needed to wake instantly. He could solve this whole thing. He had worship. He'd be a match for his sister.

Mbono began to leave, following the chief out of the gathering. Luckily for him, the two mbono standing outside Enyong's hut left, as well. As soon as they were well away, he ran into the hut, hissing as he stepped on a stone. He hopped around in the hut, lifting the affected leg off the ground. Seriously, Eddie was going to start wearing sneakers to sleep, just in case he got abducted again.

There was a lit lamp in Enyong's hut, by the corner. Enyong was lying on the bed, mkpo ufok protruding from underneath his shirt. Eddie lifted the shirt and threw it away. Enyong didn't wake. How long was he supposed to wait? What if someone came back and saw him?

He poked his head out of the hut and an mbono's eyes caught him. He quickly withdrew, but he could hear her hurried footsteps approaching. If she came in and overpowered him, she'd know Enyong was free of mkpo ufok. He couldn't let that happen. Eddie ran out of the hut as she followed. He went around the hut when she fired and waited by the time she came after him, he shocked her by smashing her gun hand against the wall and lifting her by the neck.

He closed his eyes to see into her mind, but he shook back when he felt a spark between them. He let go of her as lights and colors sparked behind his eyes, dazing him. She punched him and his head cleared up a bit. He couldn't control her. Not yet. Maybe he had to wait. If he calmed down, he'd be able to do it again. For the moment, he had to do something else. When she tried to hit him again, he rolled under her arm, picked the gun on the floor, stood and fired.

As the mbono dropped, Eddie walked backwards, dropping the gun on the floor as he raised his hands in shock. No. No, Eddie could not believe he'd just shot someone's child to death.