Chapter 18: Possession and Resolve

I carry petrol, pour am inside. Anything wey e be, to burn am clean no go bad. But before I fit light am, Ngozi wey dey hide for Aunty Li hand just rush come. She jam me, lighter for my hand fall enter coffin.

The way she take run, e be like say another force dey push am. Her mama dey shout, I dey try hold her, but the girl strong like say ten men enter her body.

"Ngozi!" Aunty Li rush try hold her pikin, but Ngozi don mad, dey scratch and bite me.

Her nail sharp, e tear my arm. I dey struggle, dey talk, "Blood of Jesus! Blood of Jesus!" For my mind, I dey remember my daughter again—if devil fit hold pikin, na wahala be that.

I catch her hand, see say her eye don roll back.

Her face don change, voice no be her own again. My heart dey beat, my hand dey sweat. Na so spiritual wahala dey start.

"Hold am!" I shout give Aunty Li, push both of them back. Then, no waste time, I jump enter the pit with the coffin.

As my leg touch ground, I raise my voice, shout, "God, guide me!" I grip that soul-beating whip, ready for anything wey fit come out. Something dey move for the darkness, and I know say this fight never start.