Chapter 4: The Girl Outside

E mean say… nobody send 401 warning? The thing dey waka on its own, dey find who e go catch?

For this kind midnight, how dem go allow pikin waka alone for corridor, dey shout like that? Even if na Ajegunle, this one pass normal.

I tag @701 for group chat sharp:

"Guy, why your pikin dey outside? I hear her dey shout o."

"Quick carry am enter—fake human just waka go your side!"

I wait for 701 to reply. I dey pace up and down, sweat dey drip for forehead.

But 701 drop voice note:

"Which one? We talk say na AI photo be that o."

"Abeg, you dey believe this kind thing?"

"My pikin dey sleep for house. Me and my wife just go buy small food—how she go dey outside?"

"Why una dey cause wahala this night?"

I hold my fist tight. Fear dey build for my chest like say something dey squeeze my heart.

That small girl…

With the way fake human dey move, e don finish am be that…

And now,

I no hear her voice again. Silence just thick like garri soak for morning.

My chest just tight. I type: "Sorry for your loss." My hand dey shake, but I type am.

701 reply sharp, drop one long voice note pass one minute. The way the thing long, e be like family meeting.

I no get strength listen. As e dey play, my body just dey cold.

Because me, I mean am—sorry for the pikin, no be joke. E pain me for chest, like person blow me for heart.

As I dey mourn the small girl, friend request land for my private chat.

Na from 703.

The message say: "604, I believe you. Accept me, I get important thing to show you."