THE COUNTDOWN

“It is time,” resonated a deep, raspy voice in a dimly illuminated hall. The grating sound reverberated within the walls of the vast chamber.

The hall’s sole source of light emanated from a rhombus-shaped crystal, suspended at its center. Emitting a feeble ray, it barely illuminated the surroundings, casting a faint glow onto the black, viscous liquid that enveloped the roughly hewn, colossal pillars scattered haphazardly throughout the seemingly endless expanse. This same slimy substance coated the hall’s walls, which possessed a crude and rugged appearance, almost as if they had been excavated by primitive creatures. The lack of refinement and sophistication was striking, devoid of the finesse found in human craftsmanship.

In close proximity to the crystal, near the base of one of the pillars, sat a pale-skinned figure. The being’s head was buried within its thighs, easily overlooked amidst the black, slimy residue that covered the majority of its body. With considerable effort, the being began to raise its head from its bowed position, struggling to free itself from the reluctant grip of the clinging liquid. The inky substance lashed out, seemingly angered, as if attempting to conceal the being once more. However, it stood up and bravely moved forward, eluding the grasp of the fluid.

Under the radiance of the rhombus-shaped crystal, the being’s appearance was fully revealed. Its pallid skin was particularly conspicuous, bordering on an ethereal hue. Towering in height, its elongated limbs and hands, combined with a distended belly, caused its body to sag, accentuating its protruding abdomen. Its oval-shaped head sported three pairs of vertically aligned eyes, leaving no room for a discernible forehead. Below these eyes, two nostril-like holes were present.

Surveying its surroundings, the being tilted its head to the right and voiced its confusion, saying, “Isn’t it? Am I mistaken?” Its three pairs of eyes blinked rapidly as it searched the hall in bewilderment. Taking a deep breath through the nostril-like apertures on its face, it murmured, “Only 7000 years have passed. How pitiful.” Pausing once more, the being closed its eyes, tilted its head to the left, and uttered, “Happy New Year?”

A slit, stretching from one end of its face to the other, unveiled two rows of pointed teeth as a high-pitched shriek, profoundly unpleasant to human ears, resounded. The sound reverberated relentlessly within the chamber’s walls. With a snarl, the being muttered, “Bunch of filthy animals. How dare they defile our home in such a manner? Celebrating such an insignificant passage of time.”

Directing its attention toward the now-dimmed crystal at the center, the being cast an upward glance at the rows of black orbs hanging from the hall’s ceiling. These orbs concealed beings resembling itself. Softly, its slitted eyes widened, forming an expression that could be interpreted as a smile to its kind. “Soon, very soon, we shall reclaim what is rightfully ours. Let them revel while they still can. And I suppose, Happy New Year,” it whispered. Retreating to the pillar it had initially risen from, the being resumed its seated position, fully enshrouded once more by the black, slimy liquid, as the crystal’s light gradually faded, leaving darkness in its wake.

Jayeola Ogooluwa,

500 level,

Faculty of Law.