Chapter 4: The Truth Begin Show

Next day, dem call family meeting. James no waste time. After breakfast, he call everybody to dining table. He use Navy voice: "Everybody, come. We need to talk."

Na there the couple hear things from their sons wey dem never know before: The boys look each other, then begin talk. The way dem talk, you go know say the wahala pass ordinary child play.

E come be say the boys don notice say some of their things dey miss for some days, then suddenly reappear. The small one talk say his toy car dey disappear, then after some days e go see am for another room or under bed wey he no fit reach. Like the small boy Lego set just disappear one day. The Lego na his favourite. E pain am well when e miss. The way he dey talk, you go see small tears for his eye.

After half week, e reappear for his bedside—but person don build am into another thing. Instead make e see him normal police car, na spaceship e meet. He swear say no be him build am.

"My Switch too. When I get am back, all the games don wipe." The elder boy vex. All his saved games, progress, everything just go. E pain am, because na only him dey use the Switch. The elder boy talk say he think say na his brother dey do prank, dem even fight because of am. Dem begin shout, even Campbell separate them. Na that time dem realize say e pass normal wahala.

"No… something no pure for here." The two boys just dey look each other, voice low. Even Campbell body cold.

The couple just dey fear more as dem dey hear all these things. James dey squeeze hand, Campbell dey tap table. Fear dey show for everybody face. For Naija, once children join talk, na real matter. Dem sure say: person dey inside house. Nobody doubt again. All the evidence dey point say something dey wrong.

But how the person take dey hide, dey live with them, and nobody catch am? James dey try reason—maybe person dey ceiling, or dey hide for one small store dem never check. Campbell dey already dey plan call pastor.

Even if house big, e no fit hide person like that. Dem dey wonder how person dey chop, dey sleep, dey waka about without trace.

The one wey fear pass: wetin the person want? If na thief, e for carry gold. If na ritual, e for show sign. But this one, e just dey, dey disturb their mind. E no dey steal, e never do any violence. He no beat, he no threaten. But the disturbance just dey grow. E be like ghost just dey follow the family, dey watch dem for corner.

For Campbell mind, e dey feel like say eyes dey for wall, dey follow every move. Because dem no know the reason, the thing come fear them more. For Naija, anything wey pass understanding na spiritual. When you no know the motive, na that time fear dey reach peak.

"No, if dem no solve this thing, I no fit stay here again." Campbell voice dey crack, eye dey red. She dey hug her sons, dey cry small. Even the small boy dey sob. James nod. He self know say the thing don pass their power. He just dey reason say his Navy training no fit help for this kind wahala. Time to find help.

But one thing wey he never do: call police. For Naija, people dey always fear to involve police, especially big men. Dem no like wahala. But this one pass private matter. Maybe as Navy man, he feel say e small for police matter—he think say he fit handle am. E dey pride, but safety come first. He no want make dem begin talk for Navy base say him house get jazz.

But he no wan risk the children. After he think am well, he decide: He look Campbell, look children. Decision clear—safety first.

First, carry everybody go his parents’ house for Abuja stay small. Abuja house na fortress—his papa na retired general. For there, nothing dey happen without permission. E better make everybody rest small. Wait make the CCTV arrive, then come back. Once dem get extra eye, e go easier to catch anything wey dey happen. For now, better make family dey safe.

That morning, he take leave from work, the whole family run comot from the house. No time. Dem pack small bag, carry only important things. James call one trusted driver, dem hit road sharp sharp. Even security man shock as dem dey rush go.