CHAPTER TWO

OLD COMER
*
Doctor Herbert after medical examination and treatment explained to the Doyle’s that their daughter was experiencing a complex trauma, one caused by sudden shock and should be given a lone time to rest and recover. Before the doctor left, he prescribed more drugs and promised to be back the next day to check on his patient. Sewa was left alone in her room where she was deep asleep.
*
She looked around surprised on seeing she was in a strange place with strange creatures in it, oblivious of how she got there. At first glance, anyone would have thought it was a regular world of activity as the crowd went about purposefully in the large and rowdy setting, but up-close Sewa soon realized they weren’t the ordinary people she thought, there were all sought of creatures such as Zombies clad in rags walking animatedly, animals conversed like humans, dark spirits drifting around in their transparent bodies, other strange creatures she’d never seen before all went about their ventures like in the normal world. Some humans who dressed in black robes had their faces covered with masks. Sewa quickly got grip of herself while finding her purpose through the clumsiness, above her were blazing fires that formed the sky, dragons parading themselves around it like birds as they kept spitting more balls of fire into it occasionally. No one minded the creatures above nor the crawling reptiles sneaking around creepily, they all seemed engulfed in whatever they were doing not minding her presence even in her own stranger attire that made her appear ancient, confident and awkwardly powerful, it seemed she’d wore someone’s’ else’s body, she even had strange inscriptions all over her like tattoos. Like one walking into circles of freaks, Sewa kept tossing her eyes around while she wish for an explanation but there seem no one patient for that. Sellers sold strange things, many of it she had never seen and also the abominable such as human parts, blood, magic potions, fetus, coloured eggs and more bizarre things. The masked humans and as well the other creatures went about their needs. Sewa watched with disbelief, wondering what part of the earth it was. As she strayed along, she saw a woman seated alone by a corner calling for buyers, Like everyone else she was dressed in a long dark robe that covered her ground. The hem of her clothing was tatty with age, a string of dried dirt clinging to the bottom of her garment. She was old enough to be a great-grandmother, and her skin was dry and paper thin, wrinkled in some places and stretched to the point of splitting in others. Her face was haggard beyond any recognition. Sewa approached her enough to see she is blind, her face had those dark hollow spaces where the eyeballs ought to fill.

"Good day Ma" Sewa greeted.

The old fragile woman raised her head to the voice with a frown. "Mind your words” She said in raspy then paused to sniff the misty but hot air for a moment and then turned to Sewa more infuriated “there is nothing ever good about this day or this place". The woman paused and sniffed at Sewa this time, she flicking her black tongue towards Sewa for a moment. “Hmnn! How could one smell so old and dark and bloody and yet innocent, indeed a puzzle you hold in my heart and in that of my kinds, if I may...what are you?” she grumbled alarmingly but suddenly came up with a broad toothless grin as she got hold of herself “Forgive my manners, I’m simply lost of the freshness of senses, I wish you take no offence” she added but before Sewa could talk, the woman pointed to the things in display "What is it you want visitor? I will sell to you at cheaper price, for your kind is rear"
Sewa noticed the weird looking things on a tray that stank, flies swarm over it with an incessant buzz, things as black leafs, magic potions, bones, floating candles, beads of various colours and weirder are about twelve glass jars with bloody foetuses strapped inside each.
"What are those? aren’t they...?" Sewa asked pointing to the jar.
"Oh that” the woman turned to the jars like she could see what Sewa was referring to “Those are spirit child abandoned by their mothers.

“How?” Sewa asked perplexed.
“Through abortion, all are product of abortion. They end up here for those who need them for charms or those wishing to have them as children in the real world; will you like to have one?" She asked with a dark smile.
"No ma" she pushed back.
"How about love potion?" She points to a small glass tube of pinkish liquid amongst many others "It's very effective on any man, you have my words"
"I don't need it"
The old woman pulled out a gold shinny necklace from underneath her sleeves and began waving it to Sewa’s face purposefully, her smile widens as she turned to explain. "You will love this as many old and powerful witches such as you desire it, I have just one of it and its rear to find one this beautiful in times like this. The necklace if on you will enhance your hidden powers and will also keep you forever young"
Strangely, Sewa got intrigued and her attention drawn into the object, she slowly tried to torch but the old woman pulled it away before her hand got to it.
"Sorry witch” She grinned mischievously and whispered “I’m sure a witch as dark as you should know better that it's forbidden to touch ones goods before payment. You will have to pay the price first" she maintained her grin.

"But I don't have money"

The woman laughed cunningly. "In this realm, one does not spend earthly money, it has no value here. Just give me your right hand and think of your most cherished memory. that will be all"
Like one under hypnosis, Sewa offered her hand but suddenly the old woman screamed and let go as soon as she held onto it.
"What is it?" Sewa asked feeling more conscious of what just happened.
The old woman who appeared overwhelmed with shock quickly pushed back like a child burnt by fire. Panicky, she whispered "I have never encountered a witch filled with so much dark powers as yours. Who are you?"

...

"I am Folasewa Doyle"

The old woman seemed puzzled "That's not a name here. Every dark lord, witch and wizard has a unique name here in Abaddon, what’s yours?"

Sewa shrugged "I don't know".

A huge black python slowly crawled out from underneath the old witch and rested it heavy self on her lap.
“Elysia I thought you screamed...What happened?” the black snake inquired in it whispery tone.
In response, the woman pointed to Sewa who was yet to absorb the reality of a talking snake. The snake turned to flick its tongue towards Sewa threateningly.

Sewa stepped back.

“Oberon don’t!” the woman quickly cautioned knowing what the snake was up against “You will hurt yourself. She is too dark”

"Strange!" The snake acknowledges amazingly after moments of flicking and staring keenly at the young lady, "She taste too old and dangerous, nothing like a witch of this era I must say” it paused and continued like it had thought of something “What brings you here to the Pit of Life?"
"I don't know" Sewa looked around trying to define her purpose. "I just found myself here".
The woman seem taken aback even as she strokes the lengthy snake "That's not possible, no one ever just find themselves here in Abaddon it's either you initiated your way into the portal or someone else did it for you"

Someone suddenly stumbled pass Sewa and walked ahead, her jaw dropped as she watched pityingly the headless body of a man walking pass her with his bloody head in his grasps, the head which seem to have life of its own animatedly cried for help as it’s body sluggishly made way and disappeared amidst the mindless crowd.
"That man, what happened to him?" Sewa asked the blind old woman.
"How do you expect a blind bat like me to see, I can only feel with my hands and taste with my tongue, but if you mean the headless man then I can say he is heading for the mountain, his life must have been brutally cut short by someone from..." her statement was hindered by a rumbling sound within the unfriendly sky that seem to be turning dark.
Every creature on sight began acting in haste, many already vanishing into thin air, and those who were visible ran helter-skelter leaving Sewa in wonder.

“What is it?”

“This is not good” Elysia revealed with fear in her voice “It’s a sign that someone or something had torn it way through the portal into our world”.
“Who could it be?”

The blind witch turned her head to the sky for a moment like she was reading it, then back to Sewa “It seems no one yet knows who or what it is or it purpose but we must stay away till the Salicx finds that out" she replied while waving the displayed items into invisibility, Oberon the snake gazed at Sewa one last time and spite at her "Who knows, it could be you after all" it concluded contemptuously before vanishing along with his old witch. Sewa looked around; now alone she walked with caution and fear in a place that now seems frighteningly calm with nobody far in sight. As she searchingly walked through the deserted market, she felt the strong presence of something or someone lurking around her.
“Show yourselves!” Sewa ordered but amused at how she had suddenly grew courage even in her fear. She wondered why the tattoos on her were glowing.
Above her, potion of dark cloud poured from the sky and slowly took to seven human form without distinctive features, the Salicx also known as the Seekers, the protectors of the dark realm from foreign powers, all equipped with burning swords as they hostilely circled and approached Sewa. But before they could reach her, everything went blank after a sudden blast.


**

*
Unable to register where she was for a moment with bangs in her head, she attempted to sit up, but a familiar voice warned against it. Sewa looked around and was surprised but glad to see she was home in her room with her grandmother next to her. Ahead were her parents seated looking curious, they rushed up to her on seeing she regained consciousness, Sewa sat up even as she still felt dizzy.
“Mum, Dad…what happened?” she asked weakly oblivious of her last moment.
Mr. and Mrs. Doyle stared at each other and then back to their daughter who still had her inquisitive look on them.
“Sweetheart” Mrs. Doyle walked up to her “You were brought back from camp”.
Sewa frowned thoughtfully “Why?”
“They said you suddenly screamed while asleep shortly before you collapsed” she paused and added with faint smile “but nothing to be worry about as Doctor Herbert said it’s due to the stress in camp”
Earlier, the Doyles got wind of their daughter’s condition at 4:06am through the camp commandant himself who assured them of her proper health care in the camp clinic but Mrs. Doyle had reverently refused, she ordered for her daughter’s immediate return and so the couple had dropped every business related issue to tend to their girl.
“I collapsed?” Sewa asked unbelievably.
Mrs. Doyle slowly nodded and further explained how the event disrupted the camp just as she had read on social media “...but good to see you are fine and healthy” they hugged affectionately. “I had earlier warned your dad against this idea of you coming to Nigeria for that useless camping, I told him it was unnecessary for you in the first place since you will be working for the branch in London, but he refused saying he wants you to have fun” she turned to her husband with a straight face before continuing spitefully “And I hope he is satisfied that you had fun” she rolled her eyes displeased at him.
Chief Bankole Doyle a renowned distinguish gentleman kept his peace as usual; though he had his reservation but knew better than to say a word against his wife’s notion that moment, he truly had facilitated Sewa’s return from abroad for the camping exercise with of good intent, he believes that what happened to her daughter in the camp could possibly make her stronger on the other hand.
“And I am sorry about that” he apologized more to his daughter and kissed her before walking out of the room to go tend to a business call. Soon, one of the maids entered to inform Madam Doyle of the visitor that awaits her outside.
“And who is that, I thought I instructed you that I am not in the mood to receive visitors?” she queried furiously as she wasn’t expecting anyone nor willing to meetings.
“I am sorry Ma, but it’s the Governor’s wife” the maid replied quickly “I thought you…”
Exhilarated, Mrs. Doyle smiled proudly, surely the first lady must have heard about the tragedy in the camp. She sprang to her feet. And to the maid, “Tell her I will join her shortly”.
Mrs. Doyle offered her daughter to come with her to meet the first lady but Sewa shook her head tiredly not wanting to step out of bed.
“She would have loved to meet you in person” said Mrs. Doyle who so much desired to flaunt her only daughter to the woman of power whose son she hopes to admit her in-law.
“And I would have loved to meet her too mum…but I just want to be here for now”.
Mrs. Doyle sighed disappointingly before she dashed out from the room after checking from the mirror how well she looked the part.
With her grandmother alone in the room with her, Sewa sighed in relief and quickly covered herself up on the bed. Sewa’s grandmother Madam Ajike who had been in the room all along kept keen interest on her granddaughter and had observed something remarkable.
“Tell me, how did it happen?” Madam Ajike asked staring at Sewa observantly.
Sewa wasn’t expecting such a question, rather she wouldn’t be surprised if the old woman had simply joined her mother in damning the NYSC scheme and not wanting to ever speak of it for what it caused her granddaughter. Sewa felt too tired to talk about it but shockingly to her, she realized she couldn’t even revive the memory of that night.
Sewa looked disturbed. “I don’t know” she replied still trying to recollect the scene.
Madam Ajike seem not to be surprised, she held onto Sewa’s hand and stared keenly at her palm for a brief moment, she was thrilled as she traced the lines on the palm. “This is unbelievable, I should have known all along that you are one of us” her eyes now on Sewa.
“What do you mean grandma?” confused, Sewa asked.
Madam Ajike looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then back at her granddaughter keenly “You are a witch, one rear amongst our lineage, it is clearly written on your palm” she whispered.
Sewa was lost, grandmother’s words weren’t making sense and that got her scared. “Grandma, I don’t understand you”
Madam Ajike sat up closely to her while still holding her palm.
“How old are you?”
“I will be twenty-three next month”
Madam Ajike concealed her fear quick enough, she sighed “What sought of strange ability have you noticed lately of yourself?...something like controlling the weather, mind-twisting, shape-shifting, prediction, fore-seeing, invisibility, teleportation, which of these can you do?”
Sewa got scared, staring warily as she pulled back from Madam Ajike; she began to doubt if grandma was in her right senses, “I don’t know what you are talking about grandma”.
Madam Ajike appeared thoughtful for a while then smiled graciously like she had knitted an idea.
“I want you to close your eyes, think deeply and tell me exactly the last thing you saw or heard before you fainted, I want you to take your time and think”. She cupped her hands on Sewa’s head.
Sewa, though uneasy did as told, and then it all started coming back gradually as she slowly sank in trance, the entire scene started to form vividly in her mind, the darkness, the silence, footsteps, the strange voice...the man, she opened her eyes to her grandmother who was staring anxiously; she narrated everything as she remembered.
“Are you sure you heard him call you 'Daughter of Death?'” Madam Ajike’s eyes widen in fear.
“Yes grandma” she nodded innocently.
Madam Ajike grabbed Sewa’s palm again to look closely into it like she needs to confirm something. The old woman suddenly leaned back with visible fear on her like one who had just seen the forbidden, her eyes now on the young lady who seem bemused.
“How is this even possible?” the old woman exclaimed marvelously at herself.
“Grandma you are getting me scared”.
“Sewa, I do not mean to scare you…but you are not just any witch like I had thought” sounding stunned as she continued “you are the origin, you are the ancestral mother herself, you are Ikuku, one of the daughters of Death himself”.
“Grandma, I have heard enough” Sewa snapped impatiently “There is no such thing as a witch or a shape-shifter or a fore-seer or…or whatever you call it” she paused to catch her breath “I am not a witch” her head could bear it no more.
“I am sorry” Madam Ajike was remorseful seeing she had pushed the young lady too far, perhaps the information overwhelmed her, she looked away into the far space thoughtfully “I am just over whelmed by the realization and the magnitude of your abilities”
Sewa lay cozily on the bed, pretending to be asleep not wanting to mind the old woman’s words.
“Special women are born into my linage with a unique power beyond the ordinary" started Madam Ajike "it is believed that it started about nine generations ago by our ancestral mother Ikuku, rumor has it that Ikuku was born by Death himself where she existed as a warlock in her first life, they said she reincarnated thousands of years after into a powerful witch who lived to develop and protect her village during wars from external forces but before she died, she promised to return again, no one knew when” Madam Ajike turned to Sewa.
Sewa who pretended to be asleep couldn’t help but sat up; something was familiar about that narration, perhaps she had heard about it or read of it.
“What’s your power?” sounding curious, Sewa couldn’t believe she had asked, how ridiculous of her. She imagined how scared she would be if grandma decides to vanish into thin-air to prove a point. Or could she read minds...or even shape-shift? Oh my goodness! She thought.
“I have the ability to read ones palm clearly like a book and also fore-see few moments of the events ahead of me most rearly” Said Madam Ajike with a smile.

...

Sewa looked at the old woman with disbelief; she couldn’t imagine someone being able to see into the future, she desperately wish to put the woman’s words to test.
“I see you doubt my words” Madam Ajike said. She looked up at the wall clock that was then 5:03pm. “At exactly three minutes from now, your mother will come in with a small wrapped box of Olympic Chocolate and a silky purple gown gifted to you by her guest and then the maid would come in shortly afterwards with a tray of your dish but ooops…she would trip and fall”. She ended animatedly in a manner that got Sewa smiling.
Sewa’s eyes curiously danced from door to the wall clock not sure what to wish for, she wasn’t sure how to react if her grandma’s words plays-out but something in her wants it to be true.
Mrs. Doyle all smiles walked into the room towards her daughter with a long shopping bag and a small bowed parcel nicely wrapped, she couldn’t wait to have Sewa unveil what was concealed inside it, and of course it could be nothing less of exquisite. Mrs. Doyle excitedly brought out the cloth while speaking admirably of the First-lady’s gesture.
“I bet you that must be an expensive jewelry beautiful enough to go with the attire” Mrs. Doyle sounded assuring as she watched Sewa slowly peeling the parcel.
The three women had different reaction when the content of the parcel was exposed, Mrs. Doyle was disappointed, Sewa was puzzled, and Madam Ajike smiled.
“Well, chocolate isn’t too bad if you ask me” Mrs. Doyle consoled as she noticed how strangely her daughter kept staring at the small box of chocolate on her trembling grasp. While at it, the maid walked in with a tray of food, and while she was approaching a table to set down the dish, Sewa suddenly screamed her to caution but the maid tripped in fear and fell.
“Oh my gooooodness…it’s true” Sewa stared keenly at the older woman, and then body began to tremble, her temperature was at a rise, Mrs. Doyle screamed for help fearing her baby would die of fever and so did grandmother who joined in the call for help.

**

CHAPTER ONE

FIRST NIGHT

The room had eventually sunk into partial darkness caused by the yellow bulb noiselessly flicking in the dead of night, within the deafening silence one could easily hear the chirping of frogs and crickets outside the building and within were cracking sound of wooden bunks when the occupants roll on it or the snore coming from a corner in the four double-bunked room, everyone was fast asleep except Sewa who stared restlessly into the dark spaces around her.

As a compulsory services to the nation, Sewa had flown from London to partake in the National Youth Service Corp program in Kubwa camp Abuja. It had been fun like her father anticipated with plenty of new experiences she hopes to take back and hopefully share to a handful of followers of her new blog Sewageng, she made new friends and discovered many cultures and talent she never thought existed. It was supposed to be the last night of the three weeks camping activity and that had called for celebration through a lousy bonfire. In aftermath of the party, Sewa strangely kept rolling and tossing on her bed sleeplessly. She thought of engaging herself by continuing with a few chapters from Susan Parker’s Love A Million Time but thought against it as she couldn’t afford to dig into her luggage at a time for the book. A glance to her phone got her surprise of how long she had been awake. At 2:15am, the midnight cold had slowly drifted fast across the executive room when she pulled the blanket over her head, closed her eyes in hope for sleep.

Still conscious underneath the blanket, Sewa grew wary of the consequences, she would probably make a big fool of herself when she starts sleeping during the morning drill like it happened about a week before when she and other girls were up all night celebrating her Miss NYSC victory, she had felt useless all through the next day. Still her restless mind wandered from the thought of drills to the sporting activities, her favorite being Volleyball where she enjoys the position of Setter and sometimes the Libero if taller players were onboard, and then the mami-market which was her solace from all the stress…and yes the social gathering at night. She sighed as her mind wandered back as it seemed she heard something. Suddenly, she nervously looked around the room and saw no one, she pulled the blanket over her head panicky after swearing to herself she heard something strange. Noises from the frogs and crickets had stopped; even the bunks had managed to stop cracking. Sewa grew more uneasy by the awful silence that followed; she could sense something was off. Not long she returned under the thick blanket when she again heard something, it was a voice, a whispery voice of a man. She hurriedly sat up, but again she was met by silence as no one of the seven ladies in her room was awake. As she terrifyingly scanned the silent room, she almost questioned her sanity. Hesitantly, she withdrew underneath her blanket feeling all cozy and scared when shortly a voice inaudibly whispered again louder. Sewa froze not wanting to breathe under the cover as she almost screamed, but then she called upon her bunk mate.

“Becky wake-up, I think there is something bizarre going on in this room, I keep hearing this strange voice” Sewa whispered to the lady below her.
“What voice?” Becky asked drawlingly, half awake.
“A man’s voice, I think there is a man around” Sewa whispered with her eyes swiftly searching the room and so was Becky who strained her eyes into the dim-lighted room enough to see that all the lady were peacefully sleeping.
“I can’t hear any voice”
“But I swear I…” Sewa tried convincing Becky.
“I bet you had more buzz last night, good for you” Becky cuts in before falling head back onto the pillow.
Sewa took solace in the thought that it could be a hallucination as a result of the little liquor her mischievous camp bestie Becky and few other friends lured her into drinking the previous night. Or was it a dream? Sewa sat up to have a clearer view of the room for a while and concluded the voices must have been from her head seeing how normal everything appeared. With determination to fall asleep, Sewa again buried herself under her blanket as if that would shield all strangeness. After short moments of normalcy in the room, Sewa heard footsteps meticulously approaching her and then it stopped just around her corner, She was certain this time that it wasn’t in her head and that whoever it was had come purposefully.

But who could it be? Maybe someone is trying to steal from her, there have been news of theft in the camp lately, and she’d witnessed a lady disgraced after being caught red-handed stealing from another lady’s bag at mid-night. Many thoughts going through her mind on what to do, she could scream for help to alert others in the room, or she could just keep calm and pretend to be asleep, it wasn’t a tough choice though. But she felt something strange about this someone who still stood in her corner, she had a weird feeling that this someone outside her blanket had neither come to steal nor to kill but have come for something more, an unusual feeling overwhelmed her while she slightly pulled the blanket off her face enough to see that someone but to her dismay there was no one, nothing unusual. She was certain someone approached her corner and most likely stood there, but where is this person? Her eyes fearfully searching around for an answer as her heart rose. Sewa decided to sit up and keep watch till the day breaks, it was a chance worth taking that moment, she got her phone and played Candy-crush.


**
Dark clouds hover the battlefield where hundreds of soldiers and many more beasts of burden lay dead, the atmosphere had a malevolent air to it with wind howling past her in every way as she majestically pressed forward along two of her kind and chanting army. Her senses were heightened enough to hear every heartbeat around and the smell of blood was so strong she could almost taste it, she felt every inch of her body overwhelmed with a super force strong enough to sap out life from every creature miles around her, no emotion whatsoever. The opponents had fallen short before her enormous power, she felt more powerful as men dropped dead before her while she rode on a beast courageously into the heart of the battleground filled with cries, blood and mutilated parts of men who only had come to fight against the city of Baruu.

“Daughters of death, kill them all!”
...
Sewa jolted to consciousness, she was relief knowing it was a dream, a very strange dream where she felt engulfed in power. She sighed disappointingly when she saw everyone were still asleep, she had dozed off while on Candy-crush.
“What a night!” she grumbled dreading another night as this. As she intends to resume her game, the illumination from her phone made her eyes caught something standing by her corner, a human frame stood motionless like it had long being there waiting, she was aghast when she turned to meet a white bearded man clad in a long black cape with a rusty crown resting on his head, she stared disbelievingly at what appeared to be a character of a king that belongs to an ancient time, his blood-flecked eyes deeply hidden in its socket upon a lifeless face, one would easily pass him for a zombie with the many bloodless cuts on his pale body.
Petrified, Sewa stared eye-to-eye for a brief horrid moment. “Are...are you real?” she stammered, assuring herself the creature must be a figment.
“Find your sisters and guard the Corridor!” the creature spoke frailly before bursting into greenish particles that dissolved into thin air.
Sewa screamed loud enough to awaken the entire five thousand capacity camp before fainting.

CHAPTER ONE


Underneath the broad tree in front of the lecture theater were few of the students who’d shielded themselves from the scorching sun, many of whom had left the hall on hearing Dr. Augustus had postponed his long awaited and controversial topic on[i] Good Versus Evil: human as a victim[/i], the lecturer in his previous class promised it was going to be an interesting one and that made many Students of Religion Studies very disappointed when the class representative announced the postponement. While Sam along with some of his course mates who tend to be football lover took the spare time into arguing about who deserves to be the world best player of the season, he received a message on his phone and after he was done reading it content in disbelief he called the attention of the other four boys to it. That was the twelfth message he’d received from an ‘unknown’ within twelve hours. One after the other the friends read the message and all concluded it was one of those messages from fraudsters or a prank and he should ignore it and so Sam did.

By evening while Sam was heading back to the hostel from the cafeteria having filled himself with some junk food, he received another message on his phone from same ‘Unknown’, he read through it and wasn’t surprise to see same content as the previous seventeen. He ignored the message but still wondered how persistent the unknown sender could be by sending same content every hour, he wish he could reach out to whoever the sender was so he would punch him in the face, he really needed to vent on someone for his carry-over courses, lack of money to get the things he dearly needed, his mother’s illness that had got her bed ridden for months and no thanks to the fact that Cynthia his girlfriend dumped him for a Medical student who’d got all the things she’d desired, he really needed to vent.

By 10:30 pm while he was about to sleep, he’d received the twenty-second message already with same content, just that the latest one had the sender’s name in it, one Barrister M.O. Ariana. Shortly after he’d slept, a call came through by an ‘Unknown’.

“I’m sure you got my messages Mr. Sam” a soothing voice came from the other end.

“Who is this?” Sam asked while rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“For your own sake Mr. Sam, I’d need you to be at the address by 10:00am prompt tomorrow.

The line dropped before Sam had the chance to pour out his mind, he could neither call nor text an Unknown, he was puzzled to realize it had been a woman all along and not a man like he’d thought behind the text messages. Quickly, he sat up on his bed to read the message again with a sense of consideration.

Dear Mr. Sam
The Pella Family will appreciate your presence tomorrow for an important meeting at the Pella Villa, 26. Pella Avenue, Kumasi Metropolises, 10:00am prompt.
Barrister M.O Ariana.

So many things he’d wished to ask as it juggled through his mind, among it was how the caller knew his name, why send multiple text and most importantly was what business has he got with the Pellas? He knows almost nothing about the billionaire family except for the obvious fact that Professor Benjamin Okufo Pella just like the father before him Chief Henry Okufo Pella was a great illusionists of his time.
Few months ago, the nation was shocked at the news of Professor B.O Pella’s demise; they said he’d died in his sleep like he’d once predicted in one of his magical shows. He was the greatest showman of his time with countless stunts that would have cost any normal being a life. There were so many mysteries and controversies entwined to the showman’s personal life but even at that he seem to know how best to spin the controversies to his favor.

The next morning, Sam had ignored the invitation after convincing himself that the messages and call could be fraudulent but changed his mind after Nnango his best friend convinced him to give it a try promising to go along with him. They’d both left for Kumasi shortly after lecture that afternoon with handful of pepper-spray and pocket knives to defend themselves if anything goes the other way.
“No harm in trying, it would be an experience seeing what the Pella’s mansion looks like, the few people who ever entered the house said everything in it is of gold, I hope that’s true” Nnango was excited as he revealed to Sam in the bus on their way to Pella Avenue.
Pella Villa was indeed a marvel for both boys even from it entrance; none had seen a house so magnificent. Sam alone was led into the main house after showing the text messages to the security guards while his friend waited behind the gigantic gate. Sam walked into a large room of people who were all seated and seem to await him.

“You’re late, sit over there” a woman voiced to Sam while pointing at the only empty seat by the corner of the room.

Like one strayed into a trap, Sam stood still, petrified at the way and manner everyone in the room stared at him like he was in the wrong place. It was a gathering of family members who’d all been invited for a reason all of them except Sam seem to be aware about.

“Is this the person that’d kept us waiting for hours?” a man’s voice came from amongst the gathering in a tone tinted with disgust.

“Yes, it’s him and his name is Sam. Your late father wanted him and every member of his family present in the reading of his will” A pretty lady dressed in a professional suit and a straight skirt answered.

The last statement seems not to go down well with the gathering as it disrupted the silence in the room as many began to grumble. Sam was confused and uncomfortable by what was happening, he felt he’d indeed walked into a wrong setting while he still stood there.

“You mean dad had another son?” a bald headed young man asked looking vexed after staring at Sam closely enough to see the stricken resemblance of his own father.

“I’m not entirely sure Mr. Taibo, I simply sent for him on your father’s order.

Sam listened in disbelief, the man he believed to be his biological father died shortly before he was birthed, at least that was what his mother told him the last times he asked.

“I think you’ve got me mixed up with someone else” Sam found his voice.

“Sam, have your seat. I don’t have much time” the lady in suit stood up and grabbed everyone’s attention.

“My name is M.O Adrian, I’m Prof. Pella’s legal advicer and I’m here to coordinate the distribution of his properties in accordance to his wish” she pressed the remote to a big television set and it came to life immediately with the image of a man in it, many gasped at who it was.

“If you are watching this then be sure I’m dead” Professor Pella’s image began in a strong voice, “I trust my lawyer Ariana to have done a good job of getting you all together. I would love that every property in my name be sold and that whatever comes of it be shared in this order” Prof. Pella cleared his throat and continued in a calm tone “My first wife with all of her seven children be given 50 percent of it” an aged woman who had sat calmly all along smiled briefly with her grown up children around her, “Zarah my second wife with her five children be given 20 percent, my third wife Tefe along with her three children be given 15 percent, my other extended family members whom I share same ties be given 10 percent, my workers be given the last 5 percent” many in the room seemed satisfied at the deceased statement knowing how rich they’re about to become. “And to you Sammy” Prof. Pella suddenly spoke like he could see Sam in the corner he sat “I appreciate your presence, I know you have plenty of questions regarding who you really are, I’m sorry I can’t help you at the moment but I will want you to help me watch over my family as the dark days near”. As soon as Barrister Ariana switched off the television, everyone turned their curious stares on Sam who in turn only stared back in confusion.

Jacob, one of the older child of madam Zarah walked up to Sam and stared down at him in fury “How old are you booooy?”

“Eighteen…I turned eighteen last week” he replied bogarted.

Jacob smirked seeing the discomfort he was already causing the young intruder in the presence of family members whom he’d wished to show his supremacy as the preferred heir of the Pella’s dynasty. “So why does father want you to protect us like you’re some baby-sitter?”

“I don’t know, I have never met your father. I came here because I was invited”

“No!” Jacob snapped “I guess you came here because you thought you will be getting something from my father’s property, isn’t it?”

“That’s not it, I only came…”

“Good, then leave, you do not belong here”

The room seemed tensed as everyone watched with unspoken approval to Jacob’s action, Sam is indeed the intruder and should be treated as such. Sam was about to say something but thought against it as all eyes were on him, he could almost smell the hard air of hostility lingering in the air, he made a mental note to hit Nnango hard in his face for talking him into coming there. He lifted himself and walked out of the room, Barrister Ariana caught up with him somehow as he was about reaching for the main gate.

“I’m sorry for what transpired in there, I guess your sudden presence and Prof. Pella’s last word came as a rude shock to everyone but I’m sure everyone will be fine” said Ariana shortly before pointing a small envelope to Sam. “Prof. Pella shortly before his death instructed me to give this to you personally, I don’t know what it reads if you ask me”, she stepped closer and comfortingly held Sam’s arm “I know the situation seems too much for you to grasp at the moment but soon you will understand” she swiftly turned around and walked back into the house.

Sam pocketed the envelope as he walked out thoughtfully through the gate to go join his friend who already seemed curious to know all that happened.

**
****

By :Omotayo Suleman (ghostwritter)
osuleman11@gmail.com

09045956287

pls can someone explain why my stories aren't showing when posted...same issue keep coming up.

"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect" -Anais Nin

My name is Omotayo Suleman but you can simple call me Ghost, I have always wanted to write a story so deep enough to sink any reader into a world so different they wish they never revive from, I bet I will.
The story below is purely fictitious and a product of the writer's imagination. No one is permitted to copy or store the story through any means.
Readers can reach writer through osuleman11@gmail.com or lucidpublishers@gmail.com

good

Good to see someone finally caught my interest with a nice story as this after a long time. Kudos sister.

If you can have Larry's attention on this, then you've got mine too. OP please don't disappoint us.

*****
**

CHAPTER TWO

THE STRANGE BOOK


Shortly after the night class, comes the lights-out at exactly 10:05pm when all students must mount their beds to sleep, except for Saturday where student are given extra hour for social gatherings. I lay on the bed with the thought of what had happened in the day, I wondered if Elizabeth’s words were true, how such a little girl could be bold to make such prophecy. I heard many students call her a witch; they vowed never to speak to her after what they saw her do. I drifted my mind to something else, something appealing; it was to a beautiful girl in my class Feyintola. I had fancied her for her beauty and calmness since she joined the class a session ago. I found Feyintola attractive the very first day she was introduced to the class but I hadn’t been able to bring myself to tell her how much I admire her even with many chances that I had. I made a mental note to pour out my mind to her before the end of the term.

“Go to bed, lights-out!”

I could hear the chief guards Mr. Collins yelling for the umpteenth time in one of the dormitories. One by one, every room went quiet with lights switched off before I drifted to sleep.
*
The next day, I rushed into the school cafeteria and was served my breakfast, boiled yam with cooked egg on a tray. I walked through the hall for empty seat but everywhere seem occupied except for one in the senior section, I walked up to it and realized it was just next to where the Sweet boys sat. The boys all seem engrossed in their discussion as I approached the table. Solomon who had been talking all along suddenly paused as he noticed my presence, him and the rest of the gang lashed me an unwelcoming stare as I sat. I felt I had intruded into some kind of intimate discussion.
“I hope I’m not intruding?” I politely asked trying hard not to stare at them.
“Yes you are” Benson, the leader of the clique answered bluntly, sounding offended.
I was scared but wasn’t surprise, these boys aren’t my kind and I could never try to relate with any of them either if I have a choice, I looked around for a vacant seat but there was none except for the junior section which wasn’t appropriate for senior students to go sit. “I am sorry if I am intruding. Everywhere else is occupied as you can see” I retorted.

They all kept mute and stared unwelcomingly, hopefully waiting for me to stand up and leave immediately.
I got the message, picked up my tray and was about to stand up for another table far across the hall when Solomon gently held me back by my arm.
“Can you keep secrets?” he asked quietly. He had an intense stare at me like he was desperate for an affirmation.
“Solomon, I don’t think it’s a good idea to let this boy in, he is not even our age mate” Benson cuts in with a frown on him.
“We have no choice. Remember he is the only one around our bunk, so we have to let him in” Said Solomon. Solomon turned at me and repeated his earlier question with the same outlook.
I swiftly looked round into their faces, not sure what Solomon meant but I could see the doubt in their eyes as they accessed me. What’s happening? What are these boys up to? What sort of secret could they be hiding?
“Yes” I answered hoping to satisfy my growing curiosity.
“Are you sure?” Kolade inquired with his eyes darting all around me inquisitively.
“Yes of course” I nodded convincingly.

I could see the boys stared at one another, not sure if my words were enough to hold on to.
Solomon continued his narration to the gang, it was about a book which I couldn’t catch-up with. “Sorry guys, but you’ve lost me here. What book are we talking about?”

The boys looked displeased at my intrusion knowing Solomon would have to narrate all over again, and so he did with his attention more at me.
“There is this book I came across, it works like magic” Solomon began “It will grant you whatever you want by just wishing for it”.
I didn’t understand it but I kept an interesting appearance like the other boys. “Is it a Bible?” I asked.
“No”
“Quran?”
“No. This book is more than that. I saw it inside by wardrobe as I unpack the night I resumed, it a kind of strange book”
“Is it a story book?” I asked curiously.
Solomon seems taken aback; he frowned like he never expected anyone would ask such question, after few seconds of appearing thoughtful, he replied “No dumb head. It’s a book that can give you whatever you need by just wishing for it” he replied angrily.
I laughed knowing he had only made up such foolish story to scare me away, and his Sweet Gang knew I wasn’t taking that. How is that even possible?
“I tried it last night and it worked” continued Solomon, like he knew what I was thinking.
“So what happened?” the five other boys asked curiously almost in unison.
“Shuu! Keep your voices down. Do you want the other students to hear us?” Solomon cautioned. The boys shook their heads sheepishly in response.
“I was inside the female hostel yester-night” Solomon said and paused to meet our reactions and I guess it was just what he wanted, he had captured their attention. He smiled.
“But how did you do it? Did the guards not see you?” Akpan curiously took it from my mouth as much as he did for the others.
“I was invisible to any other person. I merely walked pass the guards into the female dormitory last night. I saw the girls, all of them. Few of them even slept almost naked. I wish you guys saw it” Solomon further narrated with so much excitement in his tone.
Their eyes lightened up with mouths almost drooling as Solomon narrated. I wish his words were true as I wouldn’t belief such tale. It sounded too good to be true. “I don’t belief you” I challenged. Solomon and his other member frowned at me.
“Get out of here you fool!!” Benson yelled at me. He was ready to make good use of his fist if I dare hesitate. I obeyed, quickly picked my tray and hurriedly walked away to go occupy a vacant seat afar, beside me was a young, dark skinny girl seated looking at me through her big concave eye glass like I had intruded her space, beside her on the table were five voluminous textbooks, she appeared too young to own such texts. She looked strange with her hairy head and buggy eyes by the way she stared weirdly at me. I remembered her. She is Elizabeth, the girl who made the prophecy and I guessed that was why she was seated alone, who wants a freak for a friend. She neither blinked nor uttered a word before she slowly resumed to munching down his food. I ate up and rushed out to class.
*
As the day rolled by with school activities kicking off in full gear, all I could think about were Solomon’s words, if they were real. I pictured myself inside the female dormitory, wondering what it’s like. Feyintola came to mind, “Oh… that will be a dream come true!” I gushed and sighed deeply as I lay on my bed ready for the lights-out.

*

While I was sleeping, having one of my usual nightmares, I felt someone tap me. I woke up and very surprised to see Solomon and his gang staring down at me amidst the dark while they directed their flash lights into my eyes.
“Wake-up sleepy head, it’s time to go”. Solomon hushed.
“Go where?” I sat up rubbing my eyes; it was midnight “What’s going on?” I was so confused.
“Just come along, we don’t have much time” he beckoned. The boys sneaked away out of the dormitory one after the other. I scrambled out of bed to follow them into a small abandoned building at the isolated part of the school premises; anyone hardly goes in there as it is an old store with many unwanted, damaged school materials covered in dust and cobweb inside it. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do this but I found myself walking into the dark stuffy room along with the boys. Six of us gathered around with our torches as we watched Solomon knelt and fumbling with strange wordings from a big old grimy book he had brought along. We were surprised at his actions but we stood to watch with growing anxiety. I noticed he wasn’t too familiar with the words by the way he read and he was a bit nervous like the rest of us. After a while, I noticed something, the weather slowly changed while he kept reading, a whispering wind began blowing outside. I felt strange chilly cold descend on me and so were the others shivering. An uncomfortable and numbing sense of fear pricked me. We couldn’t talk as Solomon had earlier instructed that we don’t say a word while he reads, even though he never told us the consequences, none of us dared it. We could only stare in fear. Solomon gently laid the book on the floor. He brought out a small knife from his breast pocket to punch his thumb and allowed his blood drop on the opened pages of the book. That came as a surprise to everyone, he never made mention of that in his tale.

Solomon shrugged “Relax guys, it’s just a drop, a little price we must pay” he said sounding indifferent as he looked at the nervous faces around him.
Then the whispering wind stopped, next was a grave silence that hovered within the store. I could swear I almost jumped out of my skin when I saw Solomon vanished into thin air. Every one panicked.
“Guys relax, I’m here” Solomon’s voice could be heard amidst thin air. We couldn’t see him even with the illumination from our torch-lights in search of him.
“How did you…?” I gasped
‘I am invisible, you guys can’t see me. I wished for it” his voice erupted proudly again.
We were all marveled with our eyes widened and jaws dropping. It’s real. I couldn’t belief it. I felt dreamy.
“You guys should wait here till I’m back” Solomon’s voice instructed before he breezed pass. We waited silently and anxiously in fear for several minutes in the dark stuffy space before Solomon suddenly puffed out from thin air into our midst grinning exhaustively.
“What happened?” Ali asked curiously.
“I saw them. Those girls are beautiful and sexy in their night gowns”. Solomon replied still brimming.
“So can we experience it?” Benson was eager to cut through his thumb already. I stood and watched as Solomon supervised while they took turn to go with five minute each into the female hostels. When it was my turn, I couldn’t do it as tempting as it was. Something wasn’t just right. It wasn’t just the drop of blood or invisibility that scared. I felt there was more to it.
Just before we retreated that night, Solomon made us all swear never to speak of what happened.

***
******

******
**

CHAPTER ONE

SWEET BOYS


It was a Sunday afternoon just few minutes past one and I was ready to resume school again after the long holiday. It’s going to be a two and half hours drive to Crownsville Model College so I had had everything packed and set for another thirteen weeks or thereabout away from home.
“I hope you won’t forget anything at home this time?” mother inquired for the umpteenth time as she climbed down the stairs from her room knowing how careless and forgetful I could be.
“No mum, it’s all packed” I assured her after going through my bags the third time for the day. I was set and ready to go.
Like her usual act, mother with the list of necessary school items on her had to go through my luggage again with me making sure I forget nothing like it happened previous terms and most importantly no contrabands. When she was done, she had the two maids and driver load them to the car. I noticed something was wrong with mother ever since she woke up that morning and it was obvious even as she tried to hide it under her usual cheerful appearance.

“Mum, what’s wrong?” I asked as we took the back seat ready to embark for the journey.

She expelled deep sigh as she stared into my eyes, I could see fear in hers “David, you need to be very prayerful”
Knowing my mother too well, that’s bad, my heart kicked faster. Her total expression got me uneasy “Mum, what is it?”
“It’s a dream I had, it’s so scary, something evil happened to…” she paused, shut tight her eyes and shook her head like she hopes to shake off whatever was forming in it, she opened her eyes “God forbid anything evil happen to you. I have prayed over it and I want you to always pray when you get to school”
I could see she was scared but I wasn’t. I had in the last couple of months had many nightmares but nothing evil came to past. Rather, things went even better without prayer. Like one of my teachers would say ‘Dreams are just figment of our imagination or utmost desire coming to play in our head, nothing to worry about’ and that had been my belief. I promised mum of increasing my period on prayers. She had no reason to doubt me for I still remain her precious little boy. As we journeyed far away from home, I couldn’t help but reminisce about my family. Father died seven years ago when I was nine, his construction company paid mother big for his life service and as well his gratuity, and mother was smart with the money, she made the best use of it by investing into companies with prospect like a good gambler and within four years, mother was richer. She had my elder brother go for his masters’ degree abroad and so did my elder sister in one of the best university abroad. I smiled at the thought of joining them as soon as I am done with college, mother had promised.

And there, the car halted at the school administrative building. My luggage was dropped and inspected by the school officials and I was cleared. Mother ensured she made virtually all the staff promise to watch over me as she tipped them generously. One of the school stewards under my mother’s request helped carry my luggage into one of the numerous hostels alongside many other students resuming for the term. Just before mother left, she called me aside, prayed for me and made me promise to be careful, prayerful and continue being her good boy, I did and soon watched her car exit the gigantic gate of Crownsville Model College.
*
Crownsville Model College strictly a boarding school at the outskirt of town is one of the best private colleges of over two thousand students of both genders. Students aren’t allowed out of the school for a whole academic term unless on extreme cases. I stood watching as exotic cars zoomed in and out while they dropped students, many familiar faces greeting one another, students bidding their relatives good bye, new students looking sober as they watched in awe their loved ones abandon them to the care of the school management. I felt nostalgic flashing back five years ago when I cried seeing my mother betray me to the hands of the school. I smiled realizing how I had coped and gotten better on my own, how time flies.

I met many familiar faces as I made my way into one of the dormitory. Many bullies and early comers had taken all the suitable bed space at the favorable spots leaving late-comers and weaklings to scramble for the unfavorable ones usually the under bunk and exposed spots. Surprisingly, the steward had help drop my luggage on top of a double bunk located right next to the window which was my best spot but there was a problem, it was beside some set of mischievous students I had known too well, they are a clique known as Sweet boys. I tried to find another space but every other spot had been occupied. The Sweet boys comprise of six senior boys all in final year, they are Kolade Ogunsesan a son of a chief, Akpan Nbaduke son of a former ambassador. Edward Tella, his mother is a multiple award winning journalist. Ali Dambako, grandson of a northern billionaire. Solomon Araga, is the only son of a very popular pastor. Benson Mayeolu also known as Biggy, one of the numerous sons of a senator, he is the leader of the clique. The school authority had most times overlooked the atrocities of these boys due to their parent’s affluence and generous contributions to the school’s development, teachers dare not beat any of the boys nor fellow students fight them, the gang was more like the untouchables. As I arranged my cloths into my wardrobe, I glanced across the bunk beside me to see the six boys happily cluster together, narrating holiday adventures, showing themselves all sought of contrabands they had successfully smuggled in, they had brought all sorts of high-tech phones, gaming devices, pornography magazines, perfumes, alcohols, India helms and many expensive stuffs I had no idea of. They would smile mischievously and hail one another as each narrates how he was able to smuggle it in.

Suddenly, the boys began chanting praises of one of them who was showing them something. I couldn’t see what it was but by the way they chanted I feared he must have brought in a gun or something worse.
I couldn’t report the boys and so could any other boys in the hostel knowing the gang had their ways with everything and most of all, it is against the hostel’s unspoken code to report a fellow student for contraband. It’s treason.
*
The next morning on the assembly ground, the principal Mrs. Wright addressed every new and returning student. Welcoming everyone into another academic session, she read out the school rules, explaining them one after the other in her high pitch voice through a mega-phone and while she was in the process of emphasizing the consequences of not abiding by the rules, one of the newly admitted female students from the junior section fell to the flood and began to speak in trance like one possessed, almost struggling with her words while she kept on shouting “It will happen!… The evil is here in our midst, it has come to take, to steal and to destroy, be ready!” she then fell unconscious.
Everyone began to murmur in panic with the assembly disrupted more by her words than her condition.