Chapter 7: The Masquerade’s Lesson

One idea flash for my mind. The thing dey shine like bulb wey dem just fix new.

E fit be say when fake human dey open mouth for video, na to learn how the girl dey talk? E dey copy her voice, dey practice so nobody go suspect.

E possible. The kain evil wey dey this Lagos, e no dey finish.

No wonder e just scratch my door before. Maybe e dey try enter, but e never sabi talk well.

Maybe e never sabi talk that time. If not, e for just pretend say na my pikin or something, I go open door by mistake.

But…

That kind learning dey fear me. E mean say anybody fit be fake human now, if e learn your voice and face.

"Daddy, Mummy."

"Mummy, where you dey? Dem lock me outside."

...

"Daddy, Mummy."

"Mummy, where you dey? Dem lock me outside."

The voice drag me back to reality. The echo dey ring for corridor like juju incantation.

The small girl come out from elevator, dey repeat those two sentences again and again. E sound empty, no life for her voice. As if e dey play from speaker.

And the 701 couple just reach my door. I dey pray make them wise up, but Naija parents dey too trust their eye sometimes.

Dem answer am:

"Ah ah!"

"You no dey sleep? You really come outside."

My heart nearly jump comot for mouth. My chest dey drum, sweat full everywhere.