Writers 
Chapter One — The Knock
The first time the woman knocked, Amaka was alone.
It was exactly 12:07 a.m.
She knew the time because she had just checked her phone.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Amaka froze.
Nobody visited their village at that hour.
She slowly sat up on her bed and listened.
Nothing.
Then—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
This time, the sound came from the wooden door at the front of the house.
“Who is there?” Amaka asked.
No answer.
She reached for her phone and turned on the flashlight.
Her mother had warned her many times.
“If you hear someone knocking after midnight, don’t answer.”
Amaka had laughed when she first heard it.
Now she wasn’t laughing.
She moved toward the window and looked outside.
The compound was empty.
The moonlight fell across the dusty ground.
Then she saw her.
A woman was standing beside the mango tree.
She wore a long white dress.
Her hair covered her face.
Amaka’s heart stopped.
The woman slowly raised her head.
And even from the window, Amaka knew one thing.
The woman was smiling.
Then her phone rang.
Amaka screamed.
The caller ID showed:
MAMA
Her mother had died three years ago.
Chapter Two — Don’t Open the Door
The phone continued ringing.
Amaka stared at it.
“Mama…”
The call stopped.
Immediately, the woman outside disappeared.
Amaka ran to the bed and covered herself with her blanket.
For several minutes, there was silence.
Then a voice came from outside.
“Amaka…”
She stopped breathing.
It was her mother’s voice.
“Amaka, open the door.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Mama?”
“Open the door, my child.”
Amaka stood up.
She took one step toward the door.
Then she remembered her mother’s warning.
If you hear someone knocking after midnight, don’t answer.
She stepped backward.
The voice changed.
“AMAKA!”
The door shook violently.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Amaka screamed.
Then suddenly—
Silence.
She waited.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Five minutes.
Nothing.
Eventually, she fell asleep.
When she woke up at sunrise, the front door was still locked.
But something was written across it in red.
Five words.
YOU SHOULD HAVE OPENED.
Chapter Three — The Old Woman
Amaka ran to her grandmother’s house.
Her grandmother listened without interrupting.
When Amaka finished, the old woman became very quiet.
“Grandma?”
“Did you open the door?”
“No.”
“Did you answer the woman?”
“No.”
Her grandmother sighed with relief.
“Then you still have time.”
“Time for what?”
The old woman looked toward the forest.
“There is something in this village that should never be invited into a home.”
“What is it?”
“Nobody knows its real name.”
“Then what do people call it?”
Her grandmother whispered:
“The Midnight Woman.”
Amaka felt cold.
“She comes to people whose families have broken an old promise.”
“What promise?”
Her grandmother refused to answer.
Instead, she took Amaka’s hand.
“Tonight, you must not sleep alone.”
“Why?”
The old woman looked directly into her eyes.
“Because she will come again.”
Chapter Four — The Second Knock
That night, Amaka stayed with her grandmother.
They locked every door.
They closed every window.
They turned off all the lights.
At exactly 12:07 a.m.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Amaka’s blood ran cold.
Her grandmother grabbed her hand.
“Don’t speak.”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Then came the voice.
“Mother…”
Grandmother’s eyes widened.
The voice continued.
“Mother, please open the door.”
Grandmother began trembling.
Amaka whispered, “Who is that?”
Her grandmother covered her mouth.
The voice changed.
This time it sounded like Amaka’s father.
“Open the door.”
Then her younger brother.
“Amaka, please!”
Then her mother.
“My child…”
Amaka began crying.
Her grandmother pulled her away from the door.
“Those are not our voices.”
Suddenly, the knocking stopped.
A long silence followed.
Then something whispered directly behind Amaka.
“You promised me.”
Amaka slowly turned around.
The room was empty.
But her grandmother was staring at the floor.
There were wet footprints.
They started at the front door.
And ended beside Amaka’s bed.
