Chapter 12: The Spirit’s Warning

My sister-in-law just stand for bedside. I fit only see those red slippers, no fit see her face, but I feel say she sabi I dey under the bed—she dey look me direct.

Her shadow long for wall, like say she dey grow. The room dey choke with silence. I dey hear her breath, slow and heavy. I dey beg inside my heart, "Ngozi, abeg, I no get hand for your matter."

The thing fear me so tey my body dey shake anyhow. I no know how long she stand there. All I know be say, as day break, she finally turn go.

My heart count every second. I dey recite Psalm 23 for my mind. When she finally waka, my body weak, sweat dey everywhere.

As she reach door, she talk: "Chinedu, run. Run sharp-sharp."

Her voice sharp like nail scratch bottle.

The sound pierce my ear, my head dey ring. The way she call me, na warning. For our side, dead person no dey talk two times. I know say something big dey come.

She really know say I dey under the bed.

No hiding for spirit eye. I close my eyes, grip the cowrie. Morning light dey enter room, but fear still dey my bone. I know say this wahala never finish—night go still fall again.