Chapter 5: Alone in the Flat

Officer Lawal ask me more question, I answer as I fit. Voice soft, but e no miss detail. For Naija police, some dey rush, but this one dey take time.

Later that day, after dem check everywhere, Awei room and parlour part seal am. Big red tape, "POLICE, NO ENTER" for door. House quiet, the kind quietness wey heavy.

Dem allow me enter, pack clothes; I plan stay hotel for now. I dey find black shoe, blue native, phone charger. As I dey pack, hand dey tremble small.

"You need help?"

Officer Lawal voice soft, e try show care. Before I go, e ask again. I shake head, thank am, talk say I no wan disturb their work. I just want make dem catch killer quick. I talk am small. I dey wish say Awei spirit go rest, make wahala no reach my body.

As I enter flat, everywhere just cold pass morning. Air thick. The kind cold wey dey chop bone under sun. Skin dey crawl, sense dey sharp. From balcony breeze, I dey smell Awei blood, dead body, and that spirit wey no wan go, all dey blow enter shirt, skin stand. For Naija, people go say, "If pikin die, e spirit fit hover." I dey imagine say Awei dey look me as I waka inside.

Room dey face back, sun no dey reach am for afternoon. I pull shirt tight for body. I dey wish say light dey, but darkness everywhere. Mind dey play trick. Early dry season, still cold. Maybe na my mind, but I dey freeze.

I talk small prayer for mind, "God, abeg cover me." For this kain situation, na only God fit protect person.

I just wan comot fast. I dey check time for wristwatch, dey rush. I pack everything for bag, no even fold well. I open room door, drag box from under bed, grab clothes, throw for bed. Finger dey shake as I touch shirt. I remember how Awei dey laugh say I no sabi arrange cloth.

Halfway, I go bathroom. As I waka, foot jam small bucket. I hiss, adjust. For Naija house, bathroom dey always get small step wey fit catch person.

Whoosh—water flush loud for small bathroom. I close toilet, ready to wash hand. As I flush, I hear something. At first, I think say na my mind, but sound repeat—soft, not too loud.

Click. I know that sound well. That lock na old type. E dey turn with small sound, like rat dey bite wood.

Na the door lock dey turn. I hold breath, heart dey jump for chest. My heart jump. Body stiff, hand freeze as I dey buckle belt. I dey always lock door, but I no remember if I do am now. For mind, I dey pray say make door lock. I dey try remember if I push am well as I enter. I lock am, abi I no lock am? The question dey bite me for head. Sometimes, if wahala wan land, na small mistake dey cause am.

The more I try remember, the more mind blank. Fear dey press chest. I dey sweat, even as cold dey everywhere.

I no talk. I hold breath, dey listen for outside bathroom. Na so I press ear near door, every small sound dey enter head. Seconds pass. Nothing.

My mind dey race. For Naija, silence sometimes mean danger.

Just as I think say na my mind dey play, I wan relax—

I talk small, "Abeg, no be juju." I try calm myself, but hand dey shake.

One small, sharp sound cut the silence. The kain creak wey fit come from old door, slow and sneaky. My heart beat double.

Creak—

Body stiff, I dey try remember where I keep phone. Heart dey beat anyhow. Sound loud for ear, hand dey tremble as I try grab cane for wall.

The door dey open. No mistake, person don enter house. Air change, like person bring wahala inside.

Person don enter. Mind dey replay everything Officer Lawal talk. If killer come back, na today e wan clean mouth?

All body stand. I dey pray, "God abeg, protect me." Body cold, head hot.

Whoever e be, e dey try control door, make e no make noise. I fit picture am, dey hold handle, dey open am small small. For mind, I dey imagine person dey bend, dey tiptoe, dey look around.

No be police. If na police, dem go shout, "Open, police!" This one dey sneak like thief.

Who e be? Mind dey calculate—neighbor, killer, or wahala pikin? Neighbour wey dey poke nose—or the killer? For Lagos, some people fit enter house anyhow, but this kain silence, e get weight.

As I stand for small bathroom, I dey find air breathe. Hand dey numb. I dey pray say make help land from somewhere. I dey squeeze palm tight, sweat dey drip.

Why e come—na to find evidence? Or to shut me up? Mind dey race, fit be say killer think say I see something last night. Or maybe e wan clean another thing for house. But I no know anything.

I dey curse my luck. If no be say I forget phone, I for don call police sharp-sharp.

Call police! Mind dey shout, but body no dey answer. Yes, call police. I search pocket, but empty. I remember say phone dey room. I find pocket, but pain catch me—I forget phone for outside.

Chest tight. I dey try no panic, dey reason what next. Wetin I go do now?

If I open door, na gamble. If I shout, e fit run or attack me. For Naija, sometimes to play calm dey save life. To form say nobody dey house no go work—box for bed, clothes everywhere, phone for room all show person dey inside. If I try hide, e go still catch me. Only option na to act like nothing dey happen.

That time, I hear soft sound. Slow shuffle, like shoe dey drag dust for ground. E dey closer. Sound of sand as shoe dey press floor, move small as person shift. Sense dey alert. I dey smell faint scent of perfume, not Awei own. Mind dey pick any small detail.

E stop for bathroom door. Chest dey squeeze. I dey hold breath, dey pray say make e commot. Heart nearly stop. Air thick, like say person dey watch me through door. E dey wait make I come out. Hand dey sweat, I dey try make leg no shake.

I force myself calm. My only hope na to pretend say I no know anything. If I panic, e fit finish me. Mind dey talk: "Just act normal, no let fear show for face."

I pretend say I just finish for bathroom…

Na so I wash hand, flush toilet again, clear throat. I open the door, chest tight—na only God fit judge who dey wait for me on the other side.