They Turned Every Villager into Rats

As she darted through the dense bush, three fireballs swooshed past her, narrowly missing her head and igniting two trees ahead. The witches were gaining on her, locked onto her position with a clear path to strike. Exhausted, Omar made a sharp turn, evading their attacks, and found a shallow river by the path. She threw Kachi the rat to safety, grabbed a bamboo stick, and leaped into the water.

The Village of Aani and the Disappearance of Omar’s Mother

Long ago, in the village of Aani, there lived a beautiful maiden named Omar. She was the pride and joy of her father, Oazi, a petty trader who traveled frequently for business, often spending days away from home. Omar’s mother had passed away when she was young, under mysterious circumstances during a visit to her maternal home, Umaku.

Umaku was no ordinary village. Nestled between two great mountains, it had a reputation for strange occurrences. About two decades ago, people began to vanish without a trace—children, maidens, even full-grown men. Omar’s mother had been among the first to disappear, sparking a wave of fear and sorrow throughout Umaku. Over the years, the disappearances grew more frequent, and the villagers lived in constant fear, especially at night.

Omar’s Determination

Omar had always been curious about the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. She refused to believe her mother was dead, instead suspecting something sinister and mysterious. One morning, her father announced his intention to travel to Umaku for a business deal. Fear gripped Omar. She begged him not to go, reminding him that it was where her mother had disappeared. But Oazi assured her it was a simple meeting in a public place, and he would return that same evening.

Days passed, and Oazi did not return. Omar was consumed with worry, checking the door every hour, hoping to see her father. On the third day, news of his disappearance reached her, and her heart sank. Determined to find her father and bring him back, Omar decided to travel to Umaku herself and stay with her elderly Aunt Ana.

The Mystery Deepens

Aunt Ana welcomed Omar with open arms, but her concern was evident. She warned Omar that Umaku was not safe, especially in recent years. Strange things had been happening, and the disappearances had become more frequent since the arrival of two beautiful maidens three years prior. Additionally, the village had seen an unusual increase in sightings of rats and rodents, though no one knew why.

Omar, however, was not deterred. She was determined to uncover the truth behind the disappearances and find her father. She began exploring the village, hoping to piece together the mystery. She visited Okocha, her father’s close friend, who advised her to leave Umaku for her own safety. But Omar, stubborn and resolute, refused to leave until she found answers.

As the days passed, Omar got to know the children who played near Aunt Ana’s hut. There was Kachi, who had a large birthmark covering her back and neck; Aki, who limped due to an injury; and Kiki, who was endlessly talkative. They became her companions in the strange village.

One evening, Omar noticed the children talking to a strange, elderly woman with a hump on her back. The woman locked eyes with Omar before leading the children to a blind spot where Omar couldn’t see them. The next day, the children’s mothers cried out in distress—the children had not returned home. Omar, suspecting the worst, decided to investigate.

A Terrifying Discovery

Omar spent days searching for the old woman. On the next market day, she finally found her. The woman had a hunched back, a wrinkled face, and piercing eyes. Omar apologized after bumping into her and decided to follow her under the cover of darkness. The woman moved with surprising speed, leading Omar to the edge of the forest. The woman disappeared into a mist, and Omar, driven by the thought of her father, pressed on.

In the forest, Omar stumbled upon a crooked hut surrounded by mist. She watched as a group of rats raced into the hut. Curiosity and dread filled her as she carefully pushed open the door. Inside, she found cages filled with rats—each with distinct human-like features. One rat, restless and seemingly trying to communicate with her, caught her attention. Omar realized with horror that these were not ordinary rats—they were transformed villagers, including the children she knew.

Suddenly, a voice rang out, and Omar quickly hid. A young maiden with abnormally large ears entered, threatening the rats. Omar’s heart raced as she realized the danger she was in. The maiden left, and Omar, trembling with fear, noticed one rat nibbling at her toe. It was Kachi, unmistakably recognizable by the large black patch on its back. Omar confirmed that the other two rats were Aki and Kiki.

Realizing that she couldn’t rescue them without being caught, Omar promised to return for them. Kachi, now guiding her, led her through a narrow tunnel to a chamber above the hall where the witches gathered. Omar peeked through the openings, witnessing the arrival of more witches and the start of a sinister meeting.

A Grim Fate

The old, wrinkled witch presiding over the meeting announced that the king of Umaku was launching an investigation into the disappearances. She ordered the witches to stop capturing villagers temporarily but promised them a feast on the next market day. Five grown men, captured over the last three months, would be eaten, and among them, Omar realized with horror, was her father.

The old witch also mentioned three women she had captured 15 years ago, offering them a choice to join the witches or die. Two had refused, and the witches planned to drink their blood on the same market day. Omar’s heart sank as she realized her mother might still be alive, held captive all these years.

In her shock, Omar accidentally made a sound, alerting the witches to her presence. Knowing her cover was blown, she quickly made her escape, with Kachi leading the way. The witches, now in pursuit, sent chills down Omar’s spine, but her determination kept her going. She darted through the forest, narrowly avoiding the witches’ attacks, and found refuge in a shallow river.

The witches, unable to enter the water, hovered above, searching for her. After a tense wait, they eventually left, and Omar emerged, finding Kachi almost strangled by a python. She rescued the rat and hurried back to the village.

A Desperate Plan

Back at Aunt Ana’s home, Omar recounted her ordeal, with Kachi adding details through squeaks and gestures. Ana, noticing a missing button on Omar’s dress, warned her that the witches could use it to track her. Omar hoped it was lost in the woods, far from the witches’ grasp.

Meanwhile, at the witches’ hut, the old witch fumed at her comrades for failing to catch Omar. One of the witches found Omar’s button and, with a wicked smile, prepared a finding spell. The hunt for Omar was far from over.