Chapter 3: Shadows for Midnight

Around 3 a.m., James wake up say he wan use toilet. He yawn, stretch, waka go bathroom with sleepy eye. You know those 3 a.m. wake up, everywhere dey still, even mosquito dey sleep.

After he finish, as he dey go back bed, na so he hear the sound again—"creak… clunk"—from downstairs. E clear this time—like say person no even dey hide. The sound cut through the night air, sharp.

James just wake up sharp sharp. Soldier reflex. Eye wide open, body tight. He pause, listen well.

He gently wake Campbell, point downstairs, whisper, "I go check. You carry the boys enter their room, lock door." His voice low but strong. He no wan panic the family. He just dey give order as if e dey field.

He open drawer, carry pistol, quietly commot for bedroom. James no dey play with security. He get small black box wey dey under bed—inside na pistol, all the police paper dey complete. For Lagos, e no easy, but Navy man get level. He always dey keep papers for the safe, just in case police wahala ever show. Tonight, e thank God say he no relax security.

As he leave room, he load the gun. E cock the gun slow, make sure no sound go attract attention. Finger steady, Navy training show. He hold breath, waka close to wall, eyes dey shine for the darkness downstairs. He dey move like dem dey patrol for Bonny Camp—silent, sharp, no room for mistake.

House dey dark, but James eye don adapt. He dey move like cat, back flat for wall, every step dey calculated. Again, "creak… clunk." This time, e near well, he hear am clear—na real person dey open or close door. E sound like person wey no dey fear, or wey don dey familiar with the house.

Goosebumps just full his body: "So person really dey inside house!" James swallow spit, but e no let fear control am. The way e dey move, e dey ready for anything.

But as trained soldier, James hold himself, grip gun with two hands, begin search room by room. He enter parlour, shine touch small. Nothing. Enter guest toilet, push curtain, check behind door—empty.

But everywhere empty. He dey almost doubt himself, but the air still dey heavy with tension. He dey move from one room to another, dey sweep with his torchlight. Even small closet—he open all. Nothing. He check children wardrobe, open laundry cupboard, everywhere empty.

Wetin dey happen… He dey try reason—if person dey hide, dem suppose make mistake. But the silence dey choke. Confusion catch James, he enter first-floor bathroom, open cold water, wash face, dey try clear head. He splash water, dey look himself for mirror, try calm his racing heart. He dey remind himself say e no suppose dey panic.

As he look mirror, he notice something strange. Something flash for mirror back. At first e think say na towel, but e no sure. For the mirror, he see the laundry room door wey dey opposite bathroom. The angle dey weird—he fit just see door edge, small frosted glass dey middle.

Through the frosted glass for the door, he fit see… one dark human shadow. The shadow just dey there, motionless, like say e dey look am through the glass. E tall, e wide, e no move. James heart just freeze. The person just dey look am through the frosted glass, no move, dey inside laundry room. No sound, no movement. E be like spirit, but James know say e real.

James turn quick, but the shadow just disappear sharp sharp. He rush turn, gun ready, but nothing for corridor. Shadow just vanish like say e no dey there before. He still hear small sound like person dey move. Floorboard just make that soft "kpakpakpa", like slippers for tile. James ears dey sharp, he dey calculate where the sound dey go.

"Who dey there? Show yourself!" He raise voice, Navy style, make sure if na human being, the fear go catch am. James no waste time—he raise gun, point am at laundry room door. Finger dey trigger, heart dey race. He dey wait to hear even pin drop. Time just freeze.

For him mind, na only him and whatever dey for the house dey exist. All memory of sleep just fly. He wait ten seconds. No movement. Ten seconds wey feel like one hour. Sweat dey drip for his forehead. He no fit hold am again—he rush enter laundry room, gun ready, but shock catch am… nobody dey inside.

He push door, almost scatter am. Light on, nothing. Just pile of clothes and washing machine. No shadow, no figure. Nobody. E be like ghost?

James check everywhere again, still nothing. He even open washing machine, check behind curtain, nothing. He dey wonder whether na his mind dey deceive am. He never see this kind thing before for his life. For all his military training, na this house dey shake him pass. He dey reason if dem need prayer warrior or exorcist.

That night, James and Campbell carry mattress go their sons’ room, lock door. Dem no want risk anything. Dem pack pillow, duvet, even torchlight. Na so all of dem squeeze for one room, lock door with padlock join. James stand guard, dey wake up from time to time. He siddon for chair, pistol dey hand, dey watch door. Every small sound, e go check window. Campbell dey hold the children, dey pray inside her mind. Lucky for them, nothing happen again.

From that 3 a.m. till morning, everywhere just dey quiet. No sound, no movement. God just give them small peace.