The Haunted Trail: Flash fiction contest courtesy of #stach

First of all, I must confess that I'm really relishing the opportunities afforded me by these writing contests on steemit. It is really improving my writing skills.
I'm grateful to @stach for this opportunity as I'm hoping I've produced something good enough to be considered amongst the winners.

So here goes nothing....

The Haunted Trail

She beckoned at him to follow. Instantly, Chidi turned away from the group and followed the woman down the narrow trail that led to the ancient shrine. A cold draught of air hit his face as the clouds darkened and the voices of his cousins, arguing, faded away.

The last time he saw Uju was five years ago when he last visited the village. Then she was pregnant. He wanted to ask how her child was but he felt a lump rise in his throat to stop him from speaking.

They soon reached an isolated hut, he had never seen before. In front of it laid a baby, crying. It must be her child, Chidi reckoned.
With one deft movement, she placed the baby in his arms and shooed them away.

Chidi returned to the shouts of Ola, his cousin who had been looking for him.
He told her he had just been with Uju and her baby.
Couldn’t Ola see the child in his arms? He asked raising the bundle in his arms to her.

It was a blood stained log in his arm.

Uju died at childbirth, five years ago, a perplexed Ola told him.