Chapter 9: Spirit Gate Battle

As I wan stand, I see person sit for my bed. Look well, na the male ghost.

E face dey blank, like say e no get life. Na as e look me, my chest freeze.

I shout, wan run, but door no open. I carry phone, call my best friend.

My hand dey shake, the ring dey drag. Tears full my face.

She panic, “Quick, fix the iroko wood threshold, bite your finger, drop three blood for am. Bow three times—your head must touch threshold, gbam, gbam, gbam. That one go hold the ghost!”

Her voice rush like wind, she no let me even ask question.

I say, “But ghost don enter already, threshold go work?”

My teeth dey knock. The ghost dey my front, I dey shake like ogogoro inside cold water.

She say, “No ask, no time!”

I hear the urgency, so I no argue. My best friend no dey joke with spirit matter.

I look—the ghost dey front me. I carry iroko wood threshold, swing am, e pass through am.

E cold touch my hand, I almost faint.

My best friend shout, “Quick, bite finger, rub blood for threshold!”

I no even look, I bite finger, blood rush. I rub for wood, e pain me but I no send.

I rush do am, swing threshold again.

Gbam! The ghost disappear.

E vanish just like that, like candle wey breeze blow. My head dizzy.

My best friend shout, “Quick, fix the threshold!”

She dey scream for phone, my ear dey ring. I no even reason, I dey move like person wey juju dey follow.

I craze, fix threshold, drop blood, bow three times, my head dey hit wood—gbam, gbam, gbam.

The pain clear my eye. I dey kneel, dey pray. "Mama, abeg, cover me! Jesus, save me!"

After that, I hold breath, look round.

Room quiet, nothing dey. Even mosquito no dey buzz. I still dey shake.

She say, “No worry, e dey outside now.”

Her voice soft, calm. I nod, tears dey my eye.

Na that time I relax.

My hand dey my chest, I dey breathe slow. I thank God say I still dey alive.

I remember my mama warning: 'If spirit dey chase you, no ever turn your back.' I hold am tight for my mind.

Outside, early morning muezzin begin call prayer. I know say I still dey among living.

But deep for my mind, I know say night never finish.