A PLACE OF TERROR Episode 1 – Blessing-Enejo Abrahams Elleywrites

A PLACE OF TERROR – Blessing-Enejo Abrahams Elleywrites

I had been posted to a place of terr0r for my Youth Service. A place where the bl00d of strangers are used as bath water and a place where people rejoice when they see the heads of strangers on a platter.

I alighted from a taxi that day and then struggled with my luggage as I crossed over to the other side of the road waiting for a vehicle headed to my location. Then, one slowed down as soon as he saw me.

“Yes, where?” the driver questioned stretching his neck trying to see my face.

“Ekpo” I said.

“Enter!” the driver let out.

“Please help me open the trunk let me drop my luggage “

I went to the trunk of the car as soon as he opened it, dropped my luggage and then came into the car to sit at the back seat with two other guys and a middle aged man at the front seat.

I greeted everybody and then the man at the back seat turned his head swiftly to look at me.

“Where did you say you were going ?” he questioned with his gaze still fixed to mine.

“Ekpo” I said and started to wonder why he asked.

“Are you from there?” he asked again.

“No I’m not, I’ve been posted there for my Youth Service” I said.

Then the two guys seated beside me brightened up as soon as they heard that.

“Are you serious? I’m going there too for the same purpose ” one of the guys said.

” Wow, Me too” the third guy voiced out adjusting himself on the seat.

“Are you serious? If it’s the same Ekpo I was posted to for my Youth Service some twenty years ago then you guys need to be sleeping with your Bibles glued to your chest” he said and then turned to the driver.

“Please park somewhere, I’ll drop here” he added.

As soon as we heard that I and the other guys turned and looked at each other.

The man brought out some money from his pocket and gave some to the driver.

“But sir, please tell us more about the place ” one of the guys said but the man totally ignored, turned his back and then left without uttering any more word and then the driver started the car and we proceeded on our journey.

I turned to the driver.

“Oga please don’t be offended. Do you know anything about that place cos I don’t seem to understand what that man just said”

“Me too” said one of the guys.

“Ah, I’m only a driver, not that I’m really familiar with that place ” he said.

“Ah, I don’t want any problems for myself o”

I said and the two guys busted into laughter.

“Forgive my manners. My name is Victor” I said.

“I’m Dare”

“My name is Okpanachi, but you can call me Okpas for short”.

“Nice to meet you both” I said beaming with smiles.

It was already getting late. We arrived Ekpo after few hours and we were taken to the bushy corpers lodge by one of the guys around.

“Can a human being stay here? I don’t think I can at all” I said running my eyes through the whole place.

” I swear. What’s this? Hel! no, I’m never going to stay in such a place.” Said Okpas.

“You just have to manage. I saw the headteacher of the primary school together with some pupils cleaning the room this morning. I don’t know why they didn’t clear these bushes” the guy who brought us said.

“Let me rush to the head teachers house for the keys” he added and then took off, and arrived after some minutes.

I was going to climb the varrander when I saw two cowries on the ground. I wanted to pick them but my mind replayed how the man in the vehicle had reacted as soon as he heard I was going to Ekpo, I didn’t bother to pick them and I also refused to call anyone’s attention to it.

We entered the room though it was neat and smelled fine with an average sized mattress by the corner but it had very dirty walls. I looked closely and then saw a mark on the wall that looked like bl00d stain and then I called the guys attention to it but he said it wasn’t, that he was very sure it wasn’t.

We dropped our bags and I then turned to the guy.

“Please, I am very hungry. Where can we get food around here?”

“At this time? It’s not possible to even get ordinary bread around here at this time” he let out.

“Hello, it’s just few minutes past the hour of 7. So how do we get what to eat then cos I’m famished and thirsty. Even water?” Dare questioned popping his eyes.

“Till tomorrow o ” the guy said, turned and then left.

That night we kept turning and tossing. We had money in our pockets but there was nothing to buy. We were like that till we finally slept off.

In the middle of the night all of a sudden, I heard a knock on the window. I paused and listened carefully to be sure I heard right and then the knock repeated.

I quickly picked up my phone to check what time it was, it was past 1am. I tapped Dare and Okpas and they both jerked up immediately, and then the knock came again. We looked at each other …

“Who is it?” Okpa’s questioned.

“Buy jollof rice” we heard.

“What?!’ I exclaimed.

“Buy jollof rice” the voice repeated, it was that of a little girl.

We clung unto each other immediately when the knocks wouldn’t stop, we started to sweat profusely and shivering at the same time and it finally did after like 20 minutes.

An hour later none of us could close our eyes. I became pressed and needed to use the toilet but our toilet was beside the building outside. I started twisting my legs together on the mattress we sat. When I could no longer hold it I had to voice out.

“Guys I’m pressed” I whispered.

“Pressed? Hold it till morning o please, may you not be unfortunate” Dare whispered back.

“Abeg get up lets go outside, I’m also pressed.” Okpas said and then picked up his torchlight.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked to satisfy my curiosity.

“The person that knocked on the door has since gone her way. Get up lets go ” he repeated.

“We are going outside together o, there’s no way I’m staying here alone” Dare said and we both clung to Okpa’s as he opened the door. He flashed everywhere and then turned to us.

“See, see, there’s nothing. Quit acting like women please ” he said already acting like a hero in a ch!nese movie.

We had only taken a few steps forward when he flashed the image of a girl standing with a trey on her head while bl00d was gushing out of her mouth and nose.

“Buy jollof rice” we heard again…

To be continued!

#OpraDre A PLACE OF TERROR A PLACE OF TERROR A PLACE OF TERROR A PLACE OF TERROR A PLACE OF TERROR A PLACE OF TERROR A PLACE OF TERROR A PLACE OF TERROR A PLACE OF TERROR A PLACE OF TERROR A PLACE OF TERROR A PLACE OF TERROR A PLACE OF TERROR

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Blessing-Enejo Abrahams Elleywrites