Days went by, but the voice kept haunting Yara whispering strange, unsettling words whenever she found herself alone. It never relented.
A month passed, and Zayun and Moze were sent away by Zera and Walda to live with an uncle in the neighboring town, where they were to continue their religious studies and officially be ordained in the church as servants of God.
But Egen remained behind, even though he, too, was preparing for priesthood. It was harvest season. The tall maize plants in the garden stood brown and brittle, ready to be collected.
A few men had been hired by Zera and walda to help, and Yara was usually left with them in the field. That day, she sat quietly at the collecting point, counting baskets and watching for any signs of theft. Her feet were covered with a cotton cloth while she leaned on the temporary makeshift that the men had made for her.
From a distance, Walda observed her. Concern in her eyes, she approached and sat down on the mat beside Yara after exchanging greetings.
"You look troubled lately," Walda said gently. "What's the matter? You're too young to carry this much stress."
Yara sighed, turning a cob of maize slowly in her hand. Her gaze dropped, avoiding Walda's eyes. "I think I'm fighting something… spiritual," she murmured. "And maybe it's following me."
Tears welled up in her eyes. She wiped them away quickly with her elbow.
Walda's expression softened. She reached out and draped an arm around Yara's shoulders. "You have a mighty God. Nothing will harm you," she said reassuringly.
Just as Walda was about to ask more about the voice, they heard Zera calling from the house.
"I'll go check on Grandma. I'll be back soon," Walda said, giving Yara a warm pat on the back and a quick hug before leaving.
But as Walda approached the house, Zera met her at the doorway, an amused smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"What's gotten into her today?" Zera asked quietly, raising an eyebrow.
Walda giggled as she lifted her dress slightly to step over the doorway. "She says something spiritual is attacking her."
Their eyes met, and the two women shared a moment of laughter.
"What spiritual?" Zera exclaimed "This girl never ceases to amaze me," Zera added on, her smirk lingering.
Walda was tall and thick-bodied, with a tender, round face and glowing dark skin. As the last-born in the family, she had become the de facto caretaker in Zera's absence. Yara's mother was the third born, but Walda handled most affairs in the household.
The two women settled into their favorite chairs.
"In a few hours, I'll be away for some days," Zera said calmly. "You'll need to make sure no one notices my absence not around the home or in the community."
Walda tilted her head, her hands resting lightly in her lap. "Someone died? Or is this about business?"
"I'll tell you when I return," Zera replied, pulling out a tiny folded cloth. Inside it was money. She handed it to Walda. "Use this for any household expenses."
Evening crept in. The maize harvest was nearing its end, and most of the crop had already been moved to the granaries a few meters from the garden. The workers encouraged Yara to return to the house, their job nearly done.
As she walked home, halfway between the garden and the house, a sudden swirl of sand and wind rose around her in a tight spiral. She bent forward, shielding her eyes with her elbow. Her heart pounded.
Then fingers. Cold and human like slid across her elbow. She gasped, shaking herself and trying to see through the dust. But the storm thickened, and her vision blurred.
A whisper came with the wind.
"Shhhhhhh…"
Darkness pressed around her. Her toes dug into the earth as she staggered forward, determined to get home. And then silence. The wind ceased, the sand settled, and only her reddened, tear filled eyes remained.
From the side window of the sitting room, Walda had watched everything. Her face was cold, unreadable. She stepped back from the window.
Beside her, Egen stood still, his eyes locked on the path where Yara had just walked. He, too, turned and followed Walda silently into the inner part of the house.
Two days later, Zera returned in the dead of night. No one in the household was aware of her arrival except Walda and Egen.
In the quiet of Zera's room, the three of them gathered. Not many words were exchanged between them. Instead, they knelt, each clutching prayer beads, and began to pray.
They prayed all night.