Chapter 9: Return to Darkness

For road back, Musa Okoye face dark, no talk. E dey drive rough, no music, no laughter. The road dey silent like grave. Zainab quiet too, dey play with her plastic gun. Her small fingers dey touch trigger, eyes lost. I dey look her, dey pray say better life go find her.

Back for bungalow, Musa Okoye say, "Aisha, carry Zainab go upstairs!" Aisha come quick, hug Zainab, whisper for her ear. The two waka go, door close soft.

Musa Okoye turn, slap me. The slap loud, pain sharp. I no cry, I just dey look am.

"You wan be Zainab mama? You no reach!" E grip my neck. "If Inspector Tunde no show, I go kill you soon, witch!" E voice low, like thunder before rain. My heart no shake. I just dey smile. I just smile, blood from my nose enter my mouth, red my teeth. I resemble demon. The blood drip for my chin, my teeth red. I use tongue dey taste am. For my mind, I dey tell myself—no be today wahala start.

Musa Okoye release me, I fall for floor. My head hit ground, pain spread for body. But I no cry. Dem drag me back to cell. For corridor, I dey count step, dey plan escape wey I know say no go happen. That same darkness, same wet, same silence. Somehow, I feel small peace there.

For darkness, I dey safe from eyes wey dey judge me. Na only me and my memory. I curl for corner, lost. The cell hot like boiled moi-moi, everywhere dey smell of old urine and burnt garri. I dey hear distant generator, smell fried plantain from far. For this darkness, na only my stubborn spirit refuse to die.