Chapter 8: Fear Don Tie Wrapper

Fear grip me, my leg nearly give way.

Na only God know how I take hold myself—my body wan fall, but I pin am for wall.

But I know—I no fit make sound, if not, e go catch me.

I dey remember gist of pikin wey shout for block, disappear, nobody fit explain. My mind dey play tricks.

Who know wetin e do 402, who know wetin e go do me.

I dey reason whether make I pray Psalm 91, or just dey shout Jesus.

But I remember—the peephole na one-way.

Thank God say engineer try for us—na only inside person fit see outside.

So even if I dey look, and e dey look from outside, e no fit see me.

Na so hope begin rise for my chest.

As I think am, I calm down small.

I dey whisper, dey talk to myself, 'No fear, he no fit see you, calm down.'

But I still no know wetin dey happen.

That kain tension wey dey tight for chest—like say person dey press remote control for your heartbeat.

So I strong my mind, look peephole again.

I gather liver, wipe sweat for face. I dey act like say I be soldier.

But wahala—

I no see anything. Corridor empty.

No single shadow, no footsteps, the corridor be like cemetery.

The 404 man don vanish.

I reason say maybe him get ninja leg, or e just waka go hide for staircase.

E fit run go like that?

E quick no be small. I wonder whether na spirit or na real human being.

Even though everywhere look normal, my mind still dey shake.

My hand dey tremble, sweat dey my palm, but I dey form strong.

But fear no gree me move.

I dey imagine say if I open mouth, wahala fit enter room.

I grab my phone, see say 504 don send more messages:

E dey drop back to back, as if e self dey fear.

[Na so, I feel say that last message no be from 402, na 404 guy send am.]

[But how we wan prove am now? For this kind midnight, wetin we go do?]

[How about I try call 402?]

E even ask whether to use Truecaller, or just flash am small.

I reply fast: [No call am! You never call am, abi?]

I dey whisper as I type. I dey sweat like say I just run relay.

To be honest, na myself I dey fear pass that time.

Na that kain fear wey dey sweet and bitter at the same time—you dey want know, but you no wan know.

If na 404 guy hold 402 phone, and 504 call, na wahala be that.

That kain mistake fit land person for trouble wey pass police matter.

Especially as I just see wetin happen—I sure say 404 man notice something, na why e come my door.

I dey try remember whether I talk or make noise, but I know say I lock up.

But I never talk for group, never make sound, so maybe I dodge trouble.

My mind dey jump, but I dey pray make nothing cross my door.

And if e catch us, na me dey nearest—who know wetin fit happen.

For Lagos, once you dey nearest trouble, na you go first answer police.

I never stay here reach, I no know if my door strong.

My landlord never even change lock, na old key I dey use. I dey reason say if person kick am, e fit burst.

Thank God, 504 reply:

[I never call—wetin dey? If I call, e go clear whether na him send last message.]

E dey reason safety, but e still dey ginger for action.

[E no dey sleep, but if I no sure say na him send am, I no fit sleep.]

True true, fear dey catch all of us, but e dey reason well.

I just breathe out small.

Small relief enter my chest, but I still dey alert.

As long as e never call, e better.

No need make wahala multiply for block.

By then, I don dey plan to call police.

For this kind matter, na only government fit solve am. I dey scroll for 112, dey try remember if police dey answer call for night.

But to make sure 504 no go spoil things, I talk everything wey just happen…

I dey type fast, dey send voice note join, because hand dey shake.

God abeg, no let wahala jam me for this block.