Part 6: They Pushed Her Off A Cliff… Nobody Was Ready For What Came Next
Part 6 — The Woman Beneath the River
Amara could not breathe.
Cold water surrounded her.
It pressed against her skin, filled her ears, and pulled her downward into darkness.
She tried to scream.
No sound came.
Her arms moved desperately through the water, searching for something solid.
Nothing.
Then a hand grabbed hers.
Amara opened her eyes.
Nkiru.
Her sister was floating beside her.
But Nkiru was not drowning.
She was standing.
Standing beneath the river as though the water had forgotten how gravity worked.
Amara stared at her.
Nkiru pointed downward.
Amara followed her finger.
Below them was a massive stone doorway.
It had not been there moments earlier.
The doorway was covered in symbols.
Five circles.
Five names.
And beneath them, a sixth symbol.
A symbol neither woman recognized.
Amara’s heart began pounding.
Nkiru mouthed something.
Amara couldn’t hear her.
Then the water around them suddenly became clear.
The darkness disappeared.
They were no longer beneath a river.
They were standing inside a vast underground chamber.
And there were people everywhere.
Women.
Men.
Children.
All frozen in silence.
All watching them.
Amara slowly turned.
At the far end of the chamber stood the woman who looked exactly like her.
The woman who had called herself the mother of the prophecy.
She was holding the black-eyed baby.
And beside her stood Amara’s mother.
Alive.
Amara’s knees nearly gave way.
“Mother.”
This time, the word escaped her mouth.
Her mother smiled.
But there was sadness in her eyes.
“You finally remember me.”
Amara stepped forward.
“You were alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you let me believe you were dead?”
“Because if you knew I survived, they would have come for you.”
“Who?”
Her mother looked toward the woman holding the baby.
“Her.”
Amara stared.
“Who is she?”
The woman smiled.
“My sister.”
Nkiru stepped forward.
“Your sister?”
Amara’s mother nodded.
“Her name is Nkiru’s mother.”
Nkiru froze.
“What?”
The woman holding the baby laughed softly.
“That is not my name.”
She stepped closer.
“My name is Ebele.”
Nkiru stared at her.
“You are my mother?”
Ebele nodded.
“I gave birth to you.”
Nkiru’s eyes filled with tears.
“Then why did you abandon me?”
“I didn’t.”
Ebele looked toward Amara’s mother.
“They took you.”
“Who?”
“The elders.”
Amara’s mother lowered her head.
“They believed one of you would become the chosen daughter.”
Nkiru looked at her.
“And they chose Amara.”
“No.”
Her mother shook her head.
“They chose neither of you.”
Amara frowned.
“Then what happened?”
Her mother looked toward the black-eyed child.
“They chose what would be born through you.”
Silence.
Amara stared at the baby.
“That child?”
Ebele smiled.
“Not a child.”
The baby’s eyes opened.
Black.
Completely black.
Amara stepped backward.
“What is it?”
Ebele whispered:
“The prophecy given flesh.”
Nkiru shook her head.
“No.”
“You have spent your entire life believing destiny belonged to you.”
Ebele looked at Amara.
“But destiny was never yours.”
She looked at Nkiru.
“Nor was it hers.”
Then she looked at the baby.
“It belongs to what comes next.”
The baby began crying.
The sound echoed through the chamber.
Every frozen person around them suddenly turned their heads.
Amara felt a chill.
“Who are these people?”
Her mother answered.
“The ones who came before you.”
“Are they alive?”
“No.”
“Then why are they here?”
“Because they were never allowed to leave.”
Amara looked around.
Faces from Abara’s history stared back at her.
Old chiefs.
Priestesses.
Warriors.
Women whose names had been forgotten.
All trapped beneath the river.
All waiting.
“Why?”
Her mother walked toward her.
“Because every generation believed the prophecy could be controlled.”
She touched Amara’s cheek.
“And every generation was wrong.”
Amara stepped away.
“What did they do to us?”
Her mother’s eyes filled with tears.
“They divided your memories.”
“Why?”
“To keep the prophecy asleep.”
Nkiru looked toward Ebele.
“And the fifth daughter?”
Ebele answered:
“She was never meant to be one of you.”
Amara frowned.
“What?”
Ebele pointed toward the baby.
“The prophecy spoke of five daughters.”
She paused.
“But the elders misunderstood.”
“The fifth daughter wasn’t a person.”
Nkiru stared.
“Then what was she?”
Ebele smiled.
“She was a doorway.”
The chamber shook.
A deep sound came from beneath the floor.
Amara looked down.
“What was that?”
Her mother stepped backward.
“The river is coming.”
“What does that mean?”
“The barrier is breaking.”
Ebele’s expression suddenly became serious.
“The child has awakened.”
Amara looked at the baby.
“Why?”
“Because you returned.”
“Why does my return matter?”
“Because you were the first.”
Amara shook her head.
“The first what?”
Her mother whispered:
“The first daughter to survive death.”
Amara’s face went pale.
“And Nkiru?”
“The second.”
Nkiru stared at her.
“Then why did the river bring us back?”
Ebele answered:
“Because the river needed both of you.”
“For what?”
Before Ebele could answer, the entire chamber shook violently.
A crack appeared across the stone floor.
Water poured through.
The frozen figures began screaming.
Amara covered her ears.
The sound was unbearable.
Then one voice rose above all the others.
Mama Chineri.
“Run!”
Amara looked toward the crowd.
Mama Chineri stood among the dead.
She looked exactly as she had when Amara was a child.
Young.
Strong.
Terrified.
“Mama Chineri!”
The priestess pointed toward the doorway.
“Do not let the child reach the surface!”
Amara looked at Ebele.
“What child?”
But Ebele was already moving.
She handed the baby to Nkiru.
Nkiru caught it instinctively.
The moment she touched the child, she screamed.
A vision struck her.
She saw Abara burning.
She saw the river overflowing.
She saw Kade standing alone.
She saw Goi, Chidima, and Ada kneeling before the shrine.
Then she saw Amara.
Standing above all of them.
Wearing a crown.
Covered in blood.
Nkiru screamed.
“No!”
Amara grabbed her.
“What did you see?”
Nkiru looked at her.
“You.”
“What about me?”
“You were standing over the village.”
“And?”
“You were holding the crown.”
Amara’s face tightened.
“That’s not possible.”
Nkiru shook her head.
“There was blood everywhere.”
“Whose?”
Nkiru looked down at the baby.
“I don’t know.”
Then the baby smiled.
And whispered:
“Yours.”
Nkiru dropped the child.
But before it could touch the ground, a shadow caught it.
Amara’s mother.
She held the baby against her chest.
Her expression had changed.
“She’s awake.”
Ebele looked terrified.
“What?”
“She knows.”
“Knows what?”
“Who she is.”
The baby’s black eyes opened.
It looked directly at Amara.
Then it spoke.
“Mother.”
Amara froze.
“I am not your mother.”
The baby smiled.
“Not yet.”
Above the river, Kade woke beneath a pile of broken stone.
His head was bleeding.
His sword was gone.
He tried to stand.
The village was almost completely underwater.
Goi was lying nearby.
Ada was unconscious.
Chidima was nowhere to be seen.
Kade looked toward the shrine.
“Amara!”
No answer.
He stumbled toward the entrance.
Then he heard something behind him.
Footsteps.
He turned.
The chief elder stood in the water.
His clothes were torn.
Blood covered his face.
But he was smiling.
Kade raised his fists.
“Where is she?”
The elder laughed.
“You still think this is about Amara.”
Kade stepped forward.
“It is always about her.”
“No.”
The elder looked toward the river.
“This is about what she carries.”
“What does she carry?”
The elder looked directly at him.
“The key.”
Kade froze.
“The key to what?”
“The world beneath this one.”
Kade’s face hardened.
“You’re insane.”
“Perhaps.”
The elder smiled.
“But you will believe me soon.”
Then he pointed behind Kade.
Kade turned.
Goi was standing.
Her eyes were black.
Ada stood beside her.
Her eyes were black too.
Chidima emerged from the water.
Her eyes were black.
All three women looked at Kade.
Then they spoke together.
“Bring us the queen.”
Kade stepped backward.
“What happened to you?”
Goi smiled.
“She called us.”
“Who?”
“The river.”
Below the river, Amara watched her mother carefully.
Something had changed.
“You’re afraid.”
Her mother did not answer.
“Why?”
“Because she has awakened.”
“The baby?”
“Yes.”
“What is she?”
Her mother looked at Ebele.
“Tell her.”
Ebele shook her head.
“You tell her.”
Amara stepped between them.
“Tell me what?”
Her mother finally spoke.
“The prophecy began with a lie.”
“What lie?”
“The elders claimed a chosen daughter would bring prosperity to Abara.”
“And?”
“They were wrong.”
“Then what was the truth?”
Her mother looked toward the baby.
“The chosen daughter was supposed to open a passage.”
“To where?”
“To the world beneath the river.”
Amara stared.
“What is that place?”
“A kingdom.”
“Whose?”
Her mother whispered:
“The forgotten.”
Amara looked around.
“The dead?”
“No.”
“The ones who were erased.”
Amara frowned.
“Erased from what?”
“History.”
Her mother pointed toward the frozen people.
“These were not all dead.”
“They were removed.”
“Why?”
“Because they knew the truth.”
“What truth?”
Her mother looked at her.
“There was a kingdom beneath Abara long before Abara existed.”
Amara’s heart raced.
“The river kingdom.”
Her mother nodded.
“And its rulers made a covenant.”
“With whom?”
“The first priestess.”
“And what did they promise?”
Her mother’s voice became barely audible.
“One daughter from every generation.”
Amara stared.
“Why?”
“To keep the kingdom asleep.”
Nkiru stepped forward.
“And if the daughter refused?”
Her mother looked at her.
“The kingdom would wake.”
The baby began laughing.
A deep rumble shook the chamber.
The frozen people started moving.
One by one.
Their heads turned toward Amara.
Then their mouths opened.
Thousands of voices spoke at once.
“Choose.”
Amara looked at Nkiru.
“What do we choose?”
Nkiru shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Then Mama Chineri appeared beside them.
She looked directly at Amara.
“You do.”
Amara stepped forward.
“Mama Chineri.”
The priestess smiled.
“Your mother tried to save you.”
Amara looked toward her mother.
“But she failed.”
Her mother lowered her eyes.
“She could not save both of you.”
Amara looked at Nkiru.
“What does that mean?”
Mama Chineri answered:
“Only one daughter can return to the surface.”
Nkiru immediately stepped forward.
“Then it will be me.”
Amara grabbed her arm.
“No.”
“You have Kade.”
“You have a life.”
“So do you.”
Nkiru shook her head.
“But you are the one the kingdom wants.”
Amara looked toward the baby.
“Then perhaps I should stay.”
“No.”
Nkiru’s voice cracked.
“That’s exactly what they want.”
The two sisters stared at one another.
For the first time, they understood.
The prophecy wasn’t asking them to kill each other.
It was asking them to choose.
One would return.
One would remain.
But neither knew what would happen to the one left behind.
Then Ebele stepped forward.
“There is another choice.”
Everyone looked at her.
Amara’s mother shook her head.
“No.”
Ebele’s voice was firm.
“It is time.”
“No.”
“The girls deserve to know.”
“What choice?”
Ebele looked toward the black-eyed baby.
“Someone else can take the sacrifice.”
Silence.
Amara’s eyes widened.
“Who?”
Ebele looked at the child.
“The mother.”
Nkiru stared.
“You?”
Ebele nodded.
“I opened the gate.”
She looked at Amara.
“And I can close it.”
The baby began screaming.
The entire chamber shook.
The frozen dead started moving toward them.
Mama Chineri shouted:
“Now!”
Ebele lifted the baby.
She walked toward the black pool.
Amara stepped forward.
“Wait.”
Ebele looked back.
“If you sacrifice yourself, what happens?”
Ebele smiled sadly.
“You live.”
“And the baby?”
“She sleeps.”
“And Nkiru?”
“She returns.”
Amara’s eyes filled with tears.
“You’ve been waiting for this.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I was the one who caused all of this.”
Amara shook her head.
“No.”
Ebele smiled.
“I was the first mother who believed she could control destiny.”
She stepped into the black pool.
The water rose around her.
The baby screamed.
Nkiru cried out:
“Mother!”
Ebele looked at her.
For the first time, her face softened.
“I’m sorry.”
Then the water swallowed them.
The chamber erupted.
A massive wave crashed through the underground kingdom.
Amara grabbed Nkiru.
“Hold on!”
The stone walls cracked.
The frozen people disappeared into the water.
Mama Chineri screamed something Amara couldn’t hear.
Then everything went black.
Kade was standing in the flooded village when the river suddenly stopped.
The water froze.
Completely.
Every wave.
Every ripple.
Everything.
Then the surface began glowing.
A figure emerged.
Kade’s heart stopped.
“Amara.”
She was floating above the water.
Her clothes were torn.
Her hair covered her face.
Her eyes were closed.
Kade rushed toward her.
He caught her before she hit the ground.
“Amara!”
Her eyes opened.
She looked at him.
But something was wrong.
Kade immediately noticed.
“Where is Nkiru?”
Amara said nothing.
“Amara.”
She slowly looked toward the river.
“She’s still down there.”
Kade’s face fell.
“What happened?”
Amara shook her head.
“Mother sacrificed herself.”
“Your mother?”
“Yes.”
Kade pulled her closer.
“Then it’s over.”
Amara looked at him.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because the gate didn’t close.”
Kade stared.
“What?”
Amara looked toward the river.
“It opened.”
A low rumble came from beneath the water.
The villagers froze.
The river began turning black.
Amara whispered:
“Something came through.”
Kade drew his sword.
“What?”
Amara looked at the surface.
Then she saw a hand.
A woman’s hand.
It slowly emerged from the river.
Then another.
A figure climbed onto the bank.
Amara stared.
It was Nkiru.
Alive.
But she was not alone.
Behind her came hundreds of people.
Men.
Women.
Children.
All dressed in ancient clothing.
All carrying weapons.
All stepping out of the river.
The villagers screamed.
Kade looked at Amara.
“Who are they?”
Amara’s face went pale.
“The forgotten.”
Nkiru walked toward them.
Her eyes were different.
Not black.
Not human.
They glowed faintly in the darkness.
She stopped before Amara.
“We have a problem.”
Amara swallowed.
“What happened?”
Nkiru looked toward the river.
“Mother closed one gate.”
She looked behind her.
“But she opened another.”
A terrible sound came from beneath the earth.
The ground shook.
Buildings collapsed.
And from the distant forest came the sound of thousands of footsteps.
Nkiru looked at Amara.
“They’re coming.”
“Who?”
Nkiru’s voice dropped.
“The armies of the forgotten kingdom.”
Kade tightened his grip on his sword.
“Why are they coming here?”
Nkiru looked at Amara.
“Because they believe you stole their queen.”
Amara frowned.
“I don’t understand.”
Nkiru whispered:
“Neither do I.”
Then a messenger came running through the flooded village.
“Your Majesty!”
Kade turned.
“What?”
The messenger was terrified.
“Someone has reached the palace.”
“Who?”
The messenger looked at Amara.
Then whispered:
“A woman.”
“What woman?”
“She says she is the true Queen of the river kingdom.”
Amara froze.
“Who?”
The messenger swallowed.
“She gave us her name.”
Silence.
Then he said:
“Ebele.”
Amara’s eyes widened.
“That’s impossible.”
The messenger shook his head.
“She is alive.”
Amara looked toward the river.
Nkiru’s face had gone pale.
“Then…”
Amara whispered.
“Who did we see sacrifice herself?”
Neither woman had an answer.
And far away, beneath the palace, a woman’s laughter echoed through the tunnels.
A voice whispered:
“You believed the sacrifice was me.”
Then the palace doors slammed shut.
And the war for the forgotten kingdom began.
