Chapter 7: Night of Fear

Na one villager wey go cut wood for bush find the body—dem don cut am scatter. Story spread like harmattan fire. Dem say the body hack, ground stain. All the blood don dry. Dem say the person die about one day ago.

Elders dey shake head, women dey shout, dey clap, dey dance round compound. Death don land again, silent, wicked.

Fear grip me, my mind fly go the blood wey I see for Baba Ngozi hand that afternoon, and all the principal talk. My thought dey race. Na warning? Coincidence? Skin dey prick.

I quickly pick phone, find network, call Uncle Bala. Network stubborn, bar dey flick. I stand by window, phone for sky like prayer. Call no gree go. Only beep dey ring. I curse, heart dey pound.

Heart dey beat fast, body dey shake. I fit hear my own pulse, sweat dey my palm. Every sound dey make me jump. That moment, school rusty iron gate make loud noise. The screech echo for compound, hair stand for neck.

Fear catch me, I shout, "Who dey there?" Voice loud but crack. Familiar voice answer from outside—deep, calm, familiar, cold. "Na me, Aunty Morayo. Open the door."

Breath catch. Name dey my lip, shaking. Baba Ngozi. I clutch pole, sweat dey back. Old story full my mind. Baba Ngozi dey outside. His shadow long for moonlight. E be like say the night self dey fear am.

I sharply grab pole, waka slow to door. Every step heavy, mind dey scream. I remember every warning. "Old Baba, wetin happen? School rule say we no fit open door for night."

Voice steady, knuckle white. "Oh, nothing. I hear say dem kill person for Igbokwe village, I dey fear say the killer fit run reach school, so I come check if you dey alright, Aunty Morayo." He smile, but mouth no move. Eye sharp, dey search.

"I dey fine, thank you." I try sound calm, hide the shake for my voice. "No wahala, but I think say e no safe make you dey alone for school. Make I escort you reach house?" Offer gentle, but steel dey under.

"No need, I sabi small taekwondo. If any criminal..." Words trail, heart dey hammer. I keep body between am and door, dey pray make morning quick. I stand, back straight, eye alert, dey wait for him next move, ready to shout. Air thick—like before rain, like when big thing wan break. I grip pole tight, trust God and my sense to see me through this night. I stand for door, pole for hand, heart dey beat like talking drum—tonight, only God fit say who go see morning.