Chapter 10: Buried by Destiny

I quickly touch my palm-wood charm for waist—e dey burn. I just brace myself finish shoot. Lucky, nothing else happen, three hours pass.

I no talk, no smile, just dey reason everything. By the end, director say, 'Chijioke, you too try.' But I know say na only juju dey protect me.

By 3 a.m.—the time wey ghost dey waka—everybody dey tired, prop light dey blink, wan off.

"Abeg, everybody, make una ginger! Just one more scene, we go rest two days!" director shout with megaphone, dey try wake crew.

Some crew dey use energy drink, some dey chew kola nut, some dey pray. The air heavy, no breeze. Even the ground dey shake like say spirit wan vex.

For this scene, dem suppose bury me for sand. Director really dig pit make I lie inside, wan record as dem cover me, then dig me out. Just before shoot, Baba Fatai call. He say online people dey vex—dem dey accuse the crew say dem dey risk my life for hype. Dem say underwater scene no make sense, some professionals talk say better way dey to shoot am, suspect say crew dey endanger me on purpose. People even dey report to streaming site, dey demand refund.

News dey fly for WhatsApp group, Facebook—everybody get opinion. My phone dey hot, alert dey buzz. My wife dey beg me make I quit. But money dey drag me.

[Every money wey you spend dey put Chijioke for danger]

People dey type like say dem be judge and jury. Some dey use my face do meme. But I no send—na Chikamso I dey fight for.

Baba Fatai no send life, but as money fit loss, he panic. He tell director make dem protect me, so public no go vex more. Dem leave the first pit, go another area shoot.

Na so dem dey shift set, like say spirit dey pursue us. Na only God fit save man for Naija movie.

Next shots no concern me, so I rest near big pit. I light cigarette, dey check online comments. After all these years, I no be superstar, but I get loyal fans. Dem organise, dey report the viral video, dey try protect me. I touch.

As I dey scroll, I see one comment: 'Brother Chijioke, God hand dey your head. No spirit fit touch you.' My mind calm small. I smile, knock ash for ground, say small prayer.

"Brother Chijioke, your turn!" Ejiro shout from far, break my thought. I answer, off cigarette, wan waka go meet them—na so my leg slip, I fall back, roll enter pit. The loose sand for the side just begin pour, dey cover me alive.

Sand cold, dey enter my mouth. I dey struggle, dey shout, but na only God hear. Sand dey choke my throat, but inside darkness, I dey shout—God, no let my own story end here.