Mask Of Dusk: Chapter 3

Timi Adebanjo’s curiosity about the Okafor estate grew with each passing day. The unsettling discoveries he had made thus far only fueled his determination to uncover the truth. He spent his mornings working on the architectural plans, but his afternoons were dedicated to exploring the mansion's hidden corners and delving into its mysterious history.

Adaeze's behavior had become increasingly enigmatic. Her charm, which initially seemed genuine, now felt like a carefully constructed mask. Whenever Timi asked about the history of the estate, she would deflect his questions with a disarming smile or change the subject. Meanwhile, Chidi's presence grew more frequent. He appeared anxious and paranoid, often muttering to himself and casting wary glances at Timi.

One afternoon, while studying old blueprints in the mansion's dusty library, Timi decided to seek out Nkechi. He found her in the kitchen, nervously cleaning a spotless counter. "Nkechi, can we talk for a moment?" he asked gently.

Nkechi hesitated but eventually nodded, leading him to a secluded corner of the kitchen. "What is it, sir?" she whispered, her eyes darting around the room.

"Nkechi, I need to know more about this estate. There are too many things that don't add up. Please, tell me what you know."

Nkechi glanced around again, as if expecting someone to burst in at any moment. "There have been... deaths," she confessed in a hushed tone. "Mysterious ones. People who worked here, guests. They all died under strange circumstances."

Timi's heart raced. "What kind of circumstances?"

"Some say the estate is cursed," Nkechi continued. "Others believe it's something more... deliberate. There were whispers of a cult that used to operate here, performing dark rituals. I found an old photograph once, showing people in robes, wearing masks like the one you found."

The hairs on the back of Timi's neck stood up. "Do you still have the photograph?"

Nkechi shook her head. "I hid it in the attic, but I can show you where."

They made their way to the attic, a dusty and dimly lit space filled with old furniture and forgotten belongings. Nkechi led Timi to a chest in the corner, opening it to reveal a stack of yellowed photographs and documents. Timi sifted through them, his breath catching when he found a photograph of a group of people in dark robes, their faces obscured by obsidian masks.

"This is it," Timi murmured, holding up the photograph. "This is what I've been looking for."

As he continued to search through the documents, he found a journal belonging to one of the estate's former caretakers. The journal detailed a series of rituals and sacrifices performed by a cult known as the Crimson Veil, who believed that the obsidian mask held the power to grant immense wealth and power to its wearer.

The more Timi read, the more horrified he became. The journal described in gruesome detail how the cult would lure unsuspecting victims to the estate, only to use them in their dark rituals. The entries ended abruptly, hinting that the caretaker might have met a similar fate.

Suddenly, Timi felt a chill run down his spine. He turned to Nkechi, who was trembling with fear. "We need to get out of here," she whispered urgently.

They made their way back to the main part of the mansion, but as they descended the stairs, Timi felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw an anonymous text message that sent chills down his spine: "Leave while you still can, or face the darkness beneath the mask." It was the second warning of its kind.

Timi's hands shook as he read the message. He glanced at Nkechi, who was pale with fear. The threat was clear, and Timi knew that whatever dark forces were at work in the Okafor estate, they were now aware of his presence.

The weight of the secrets he had uncovered pressed heavily on him. Timi realized that the only way to protect himself and those around him was to uncover the full truth, no matter how horrifying it might be. The Okafor estate held many secrets, and Timi was determined to unveil them all, even if it meant confronting the darkness head-on.