When the voice finally arrived at their location, it revealed its true form. Before them stood the ghostly figures of Rotimi and Chichi, who had met their demise at the hands of the creatures that had captured them earlier. Their bodies, partially exposed through their tattered clothing, were a grotesque sight - cooked to perfection, with some areas still covered by the remnants of their attire. The sight was almost unbearable to behold.
"I told you, we are here," the two figures said in unison, their voices dripping with malice as they addressed Mike, TJ, Amina, and Bisola, who were utterly bewildered by their appearance. "Hehehehehehehe!" They let out a mocking laugh, their voices echoing through the desolate landscape. "We are here. Aren't you happy to see us?" They continued to laugh, their cacophonous voices filling the air and resonating beyond the immediate surroundings.
As their laughter persisted, John's remains reappeared, joining in the macabre chorus. Just as the group's unease was reaching a boiling point, another figure emerged from the shadows. It was one of Mike, TJ, Amina, and Bisola's colleagues, who had tragically lost his life in a motor accident five years prior. The ghostly figure appeared exactly as he had in his final moments - minus one leg, a gruesome reminder of the circumstances surrounding his death.
It was at this moment that the horrifying truth dawned on the group: the figures standing before them were indeed ghosts, and they had stumbled into the realm of the dead. Every deceased individual here seemed to manifest in the form they had taken before their last breath, a haunting reminder of their mortal demise.
"Come! Come! Come!" The ghosts chanted in unison, their voices cracking with an otherworldly tone. Those who still possessed hands stretched them out, beckoning the living to join them. As the ghosts continued to call out, another group of spectral figures emerged from the darkness, surrounding Mike, Amina, TJ, and Bisola. The initial four ghosts stood aside, seemingly acting as some sort of macabre leadership.
The sight of each ghost, frozen in the state they had been in before their passing, was a traumatic experience that made the group's stomachs churn. Amina and Bisola, unable to contain their revulsion, began vomiting, their bodies convulsing in response to the sheer horror that surrounded them.
As the ghosts continued to surround them, Mike, TJ, Amina, and Bisola began to feel a strange sensation. It was as if they were being pulled towards a specific point in the realm. They looked at each other, confused, and started to move forward, unsure of what lay ahead.
The ghosts parted, allowing them to pass through their ranks. As they walked, the landscape shifted, and they found themselves in a vast, dark chamber. The air was thick with an otherworldly energy, and the group could feel it resonating deep within their bones.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was an ancient being, with eyes that burned like stars in the darkness. The being spoke in a voice that echoed through the chamber, "You have been chosen. You have a crucial role to play in the balance of the realm."
Mike, TJ, Amina, and Bisola exchanged skeptical glances. "What do you mean?" Mike asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"The realm is out of balance," the ancient being replied. "The living and the dead are not in harmony. You four have the power to restore the balance, but it will come at a great cost."