BEFORE THE FINAL MEAL

BEFORE THE FINAL MEAL

A Folkloric Horror Novel by Darlington U.

In the ancient village of Okpare, every child grows up with one terrifying rule:

Never answer your name when the forest calls after sunset.

For generations, the people have feared Egbelu Forest-a place where the trees whisper, the dead are never truly gone, and those who disappear are never found.

When Adaobi is born beneath an impossible moon, an old prophecy awakens. As she grows into a young woman of extraordinary beauty and kindness, the villagers call her the Moon Goddess, believing she is blessed by the heavens.

They are only half right.

Far beyond the edge of the village, something ancient has been waiting for her.

When the mysterious and impossibly charming Obinna arrives, Adaobi falls deeply in love, unaware that their meeting was destined long before she was born. As strange deaths, terrifying visions, and unexplained disappearances spread across Okpare, the line between folklore and nightmare begins to disappear.

With an ancient guardian fighting to protect her, a cursed forest hiding unspeakable secrets, and an evil older than history determined to claim her soul, Adaobi must uncover the truth before she is led to a feast from which no one has ever returned.

Because some invitations cannot be refused...

Some promises were made before birth...

And some meals are served only once.

Before the Final Meal is a haunting blend of African folklore, supernatural horror, mystery, romance, and psychological suspense-a chilling tale where love is the deadliest trap, the moon remembers every secret, and the greatest monsters are the ones who smile.