The Awaken on Bunce Island/The Cursed Return

Part One:Homecoming

Title: The Cursed Return

Part 1: Homecoming

The air was thick with excitement as the boat skimmed over the calm waters, carrying one of Sierra Leone's greatest success stories. Justin, a renowned footballer for Chelsea, was finally coming home after a decade of fame and fortune. For Justin, returning to his roots was a long-overdue journey, a chance to reconnect with his homeland and share his story with the world. With him were his girlfriend, Rebecca, and his two best friends, Quavo and Kiddo. The three had been inseparable since childhood, and this reunion felt like the perfect opportunity to celebrate his success.

Justin had dreamed of turning his homecoming into a mini-documentary, a way to share the beauty and mystery of Sierra Leone with his fans. To capture it all, he brought along a film crew led by Samuel, a seasoned cameraman known for his documentary work across Africa. Samuel and his crew were excited for this assignment. Documenting a football star's journey back to his roots was a dream job, especially with such a unique location.

After days of reconnecting with family in Freetown, Justin's gaze turned to the distant outline of Bunce Island. Twenty miles upriver, the island held a grim history, once a slave trading outpost in the late 1600s. Over the years, it had become an eerie and abandoned place, shrouded in stories of restless spirits and cursed land. But for Justin, Bunce Island was simply a fascinating historical site. He wanted to show the world the resilience of his people.

"I'm telling you, it's going to be incredible," Justin said, glancing at Rebecca as the boat neared the island. "A piece of history nobody ever sees. It's time to share it."

Rebecca managed a brave smile, though a chill settled over her. "It feels... strange. I don't know, Justin. There's something unsettling about this place."

Quavo laughed. "Come on, Rebecca! It's just an old island. Probably some ruins and nothing else. Plus, we've got Samuel here to catch all the action. Right, Samuel?"

Samuel grinned from behind his camera, his eyes fixed on the island's silhouette in the distance. "Definitely. This place has stories. Imagine the footage we'll get."

As the boat docked, an eerie silence settled over the group. The beach was deserted, with tall grass and vines overtaking crumbling walls and dilapidated structures that once housed the island's terrible history. The air felt different here, dense with an unspoken warning, as if time itself had stopped.

They made their way toward the abandoned fort at the heart of the island. Despite its decay, the structure held an almost menacing presence, looming over them as if watching their every move.

Samuel's camera captured every moment-their footsteps echoing in the empty corridors, the creaking of decaying wood, and the way shadows seemed to shift when they weren't looking. He leaned over to Kiddo. "Ever heard the stories about this place? Some say it's cursed."

Kiddo chuckled, though his voice trembled slightly. "Yeah, cursed or haunted or whatever. Just rumors, right?"

They reached the center of the fort, and Justin paused. There, among the cracked walls and fallen stones, lay a strange marking on the ground-a circle, lined with dark stains that had soaked into the stone over centuries. None of them noticed the faint outline of a handprint beneath the dust.

"It's getting late. Let's set up camp here for the night," Justin suggested, masking his own unease.

As they began unloading their gear, a gust of wind swept through the fort, carrying whispers only Samuel heard. He paused, gripping his camera as a chill ran down his spine.

"Justin, you ever hear that?" Samuel asked, trying to laugh off his unease.

"Hear what?" Justin replied, busy setting up his tent.

"Nothing," Samuel muttered, dismissing it.

But as the sun dipped below the horizon and darkness blanketed Bunce Island, they would soon learn that they were not alone. This cursed land had its own way of welcoming visitors-and it was only a matter of time before they discovered its horrifying secrets.