THE JOURNEY SERIES — HOW I WENT FROM A 7-YEARS OLD BORN AGAIN KID TO A KLEPTOMANIA

Episode 3

One warm afternoon, my siblings, cousins, and I were all on our way home from school. We were so joyful singing our favourite song. Ayomide, my cousin, started the song and we all sang along. The song was about kids who were having fun and playing so much one of them fell into the ditch. We all had a laugh when we got to that part.

The irony was about to take place. We kept this on. Ayomide sang so cheerfully with his back against the road and facing us was his cheerful face and loud voice. Before we could caution him that he was close to a gutter, he fell into it and immediately got swallowed by the ditch.

I was so shocked I became so confused by what just happened.

“What just happened to Ayomide?” I thought with so much fear

We all screamed for help. My sister and Ayomide’s started crying. I became so clueless. Then we all heard a growl from behind. It was a creature I had never seen before in my life. All I saw was something so ugly with teeth. Sharp teeth! My sisters and I were consumed by a new feeling that held us spellbound and we couldn’t move. The creature roared at us like it was announcing its presence.

“Run!”, I screamed to my sisters.

They both took off and I tried to distract it. My instinct of watching too many movies kicked in. I told them to take the other route home. I promised to lead the creature away and find Ayomide. I watch them take the other route with maximum speed, while I made the creature run after me in the other direction. I ran down the street like Usain Bolt.

Trust me, I’d beat the 100 meters record with that dashing speed. Then I realized something, there was no one on the streets. The creature wasn’t even behind me anymore. I was conflicted. It felt like the world had ended and the beast of Armageddon had been released. I was worried about my sisters and Ayomide.

I had to go back to find Ayomide. I just couldn’t leave him in the ditch. He had to be alive somehow. I ran back, but slowly this time. I got to the spot where Ayomide had disappeared and dipped my hand in the muddy waters. Something grabbed my hand. I panicked but didn’t scream. I pulled whatever it was out with all my strength. Lo, and behold, it was Ayomide looking like a creature conjured from black stone.

His voice was muffled, but I was so sure it was him. His school bag was strapped to his shoulder. He kept gasping for breath as he vomited a lot of liquid black substance.

“Ayomide, we have to go before the creature finds us.”

I threw him on my back and started running home. This time I took the route our sisters took. Suddenly, I heard the growl again behind me. The creature was back. I ran with all my might but the creature kept catching up. Ayomide begged me to drop him and save myself. I couldn’t do that. I saw an uncompleted building nearby and entered. I dropped Ayomide on the floor.

I went to the top of the building to have a better look at where the creature was. I saw nothing. Then I heard Ayomide scream. I felt his scream in my soul. It was as if someone yanked the life out of him. I was scared to my bone. I ran downstairs and saw no remains of this boy.

I cried in silence. I couldn’t shout. I didn’t understand what was happening.

“Save me, God!” I cried in silence. Wailing on the inside.

Within a second, I felt the breath of something behind me. Before I could turn, the creature bit my calf. I screamed back to life. My mom and uncle held me so tight. Apparently, I had been fighting in my sleep for almost an hour. They were trying to wake me up, but I wouldn’t bulge.

After several minutes of prayers and anointing my head and body, I was calm. All of a sudden, Ayomide screamed from six rooms away. We all stayed in the same compound. We were both having the same dream. Our sisters were safe because immediately I told them to run off, they had woken up.

Ayomide was convulsing so badly we thought he would die. One way or another after so many prayers, he was revived and we both narrated the ordeal. I remembered clearer than he did. It was one of the worst nightmares I ever had. And the only one I remember till this day.

Till we left that school, we avoided that route going home. And we never spoke of that dream to anyone.

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