Befriending
A Ghost
Episode 19
Declan Davies
*
A lot of things was running throu-ghmy mind as I drove Sasha home ….
I was unhappy and confused at the same time but was trying so ha-rd to hide my pain so Sasha won’t be worried………
The happenings of that fateful night still felt like a mystery no one can explain .
There were lot of questions I nee-ded answers to ;
How did Daphne body get un-der the bridge if she was killed in Sasha room? Who the hell could have killed her? Did Cory really know about the killer , if yes why did she not say anything? Why did the chief police try to cover up the case?….
I tried to think but couldn’t as my br@in felt so foggy
Damn! This is worst than I had imagine!
Can I keep this? Sasha suddenly asked and I glanced at her
Keep what? I asked
This picture. She answered , holding up a picture in front of me
One glance at the picture, my ne-ck turned red
What are you doing with it ?I asked with a frown
Nothing, I just wanted to have a picture of Daphne. She answered Innocently
Where did you get it from? I continued
Actually It fell off from the cu-pboard and I picked it . I confessed and he scoffed
Are you trying to say you took the picture without anyone permitting you! I retorted and she nodded slowly
You are just impossible!
Can I keep it? She repeated and I sneered
Would you return it if I ask you too! I retorted
No. She answered
Then you can keep it ! I agreed and she beamed happily
Thanks so much! She said with a large grin and I smiled inwardly…….
She was Daphne friend after all so she can keep it……..
*
*
Getting to the house , I parked out in front
She opened the door and then faced me
Will you come pick me up tomorrow? She asked
Do you want me to? I asked back and she nodded
Fine! I will , just wait up for me at the bus station. I instructed and she smiled lightly
I leaned over to give her a brief ki-ss and her cheeks instantly became red…
I chuckled softly
Do you blus-h after every ki-ss ? I asked teasingly and she gave me a playful glare
Good bye Declan! She bade and before I could say anything, she alighted from the car and ran all the way to the front door of her house
Funny! I muttered
Starting the car , I drove heading back to my house……
*
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Cory Abel
*
*
After school hours, I headed straight to the taxi station.
I was so sad and lonely ….
My life felt so empty , I was like a moving corpse, yes a moving corpse…….
The nightmares didn’t stop instead, it became worst as I kept on seeing Daphne in my dreams……
She always pleaded with me to help her and it got me really scared …….
But what can I do, I am a girl who also nee-d help …..
*
Getting to the taxi station, I flagged down a taxi and and got in
Silver estate. I called and the driver nodded before driving off
I rested my head on the back seat and then allowed my mind drift off to what happened on that faithful day , The 12-03.
*
We were just done with exams and Daphne who was my best friend pleaded with me to go with her to the photo studio…
We got to the studio that day and I watched Daphne take her pictures…
She was so Crazy about pictures which make me sometimes wonder how she manage to maintain her an excellent grade , yes an excellent grade ….
She was so brilliant and so you know , she always help me study………
*
After we left the studio, I received a message from Racheal telling me to come home ASAP so we can’t both get ready for the night party……
I never wanted to attend the party but I had to since I had no choice so I pleaded with Daphne to go with me …
She bluntly refused saying she had lot of reading to do and then reluctantly agreed when I kept on pleading……..
*
The party was so much fun from the beginning, I was chit chatting and laughing loudly with Daphne while Racheal was with her Declan and his friends…….
But all of a sudden, Racheal stood up from their midst and ran up the old looking stairs with tears rolling down her eyes ….
I sat down and watch her without making any move to go after her not until Daphne gestured me to………..And that was the beginning of everything…….
how I wished I never pleaded with Daphne to go with me to that stupid party! how I wish I left her to do her reading!how I wish I never went after Racheal! then Daphne would have still be alive …
We are here. The driver announced distracting me from my thoughts
I looked out of the window and took a de-ep breathe
I really nee-ded help ! I really do !
alighting from the car , I paid the driver and then walk slowly like a zombie to my home …..
*
*
Declan Davies
*
*
On getting home, I drove into the compound and parked out in front
I alighted from the car and walked to the front door
I was about knocking on it when I noticed it was slightly ajar , then I pushed it opened and walked in ….
I met my mom seated on the sofa with her hands cu-pping her cheeks
I sighed softly knowing she was worried about something
hey mum! I greeted
She look startled for some moment and then quickly composed herself…..
hey baby! When did you get back? She asked with a dim smile and I smi-rked
What are we having for dinner? I asked changing the conversation and she smiled lightly
And why did you ask! She retorted faking a frown
I just want to know if I will come down for dinner or not . I drawled and she scoffed
And do you think I will allow you sleep on an empty stomach! She retorted in a huff,
Jeez mom! I just asked a simple question, what are we having for dinner? I repeated and she sighed
Macaroni and cheese . She answered dryly and I nodded
Alright mum! I nee-d to go freshen up ……
Taking few steps to the staircase , she asked
Do you know Daphne college lover?
I turned back slowly to face her
What did you say mom ? I asked to be sure I heard right
Do you know who Daphne college lover was ?She repeated
I stared at her for some moment and then shook my head slowly
I don’t think there was any so- called lover. I said picking my words…..
0h my gawd!Then if there wasn’t any lover , does it mean it was my baby did not commit sucide? She asked with a tiny voice and nothing slowly…….
Then what happened to her? Was her death staged? She asked in a rush and then broke down in tears
I stared at her not knowing what to say
What if something terrible happened to my baby? She continued and without saying anything, I moved closer to her and pulled her into a hu-g ……….
Oh Daphne! My poor Daphne! She kept on saying as she cried
I held her ti-ghtly as she vibr@ted in my arms ……
Please don’t cry mom , it is going to be alright. I as-sured and was at the same time trying ha-rd not to cry …….
But what if ………. She paused for some moment and then pulled out of the hu-g in a huff …
Are you alright mum?
If there was no such thing as a college lover, then why did her friend make mention of it? She asked , wiping her tears with her palm….
And why did your principal also make mention of the so- called boyfriend . She added
My principal! I repeated and she nodded
he came over to the hospital two days after the incident and told me to leave the case to him , that he will make sure Daphne lover pay heavily for damages. She explained and I smi-rked
I guess he was just trying to make you relaxed and …. I tried to say but she cut in
No, he sounded so eager , it was like he wanted the case to be settled and forgotten
Forgotten! And why would the principal want the case to be forgotten? Is he trying to……. wait a minute! The principal and chief police are friends! Was he the one who asked the chief police to close the case as sucide , if yes , why did he do it ?is it because of his school reputation or was he scared of the truth coming out ?……dang it! Why did I not think earlier on?…..
*
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Sasha Alfredo
*
*
Laying on my bed, i was watching daphne dance to one of my favourites music when my phone suddenly rang….:
What the fuc-k! She cursed loudly and I chuckled
Sorry I will soon be done with the call!
Checking the caller , it was Cory
I wide-ned my eyes in surprise, why is she calling , I thought she was angry with me ……..
I received it on the third ring
Hello Sasha. She greeted first
Hi! I responded
There was awkward silence for a while and then she asked
Why weren’t you in school today?
Oh! That! I was a little bit indisposed. I lied
Awwww! Sorry dear , I hope you are getting better now
Yes!
Alright, Will you be in school tomorrow? She asked
Sure !
Alright dear! Make sure you take care of yourself.she said and ended the call…..
Who was that? Daphne asked
Cory. I answered and she scoffed
Why is she calling? I thought she was angry with you
No! She was not angry, she was just avoiding me. I corrected and she rolled her eyes
Whatever! Can you please continue the music , I want to dance ……
I smiled
I was about playing the music when another call came in
Not again! Daphne queried tapping her invisible foot on the tiled floor
It was my Declan and I received it immediately…..
Hi Declan! I greeted first
Sasha! he called back , his voice sounded so hoarse as if he was ……
Are you smoking? I asked to be sure and the line went quiet
Declan! I called and he sighed
Yes. he answered and I scoffed
But why? You promised to change because of …. I tried to say but he cut me off …..
I am in pain Sasha , I am not happy, i have been trying to bottle up my feelings but I don’t think I can anymore….
Calm down Dec and tell me exactly how you feel. I said trying to calm him down and he sighed
I feel like my heart is about to explode, I feel so pained knowing Daphne case was a well planned murder …..
Well planned murder! What do you mean by that?
You see my mom told me somethings when I got home and putting two and two together, I have a feeling that Racheal father was also involved in it …..
Racheal father! I repeated
Yes ,the principal ………
TBc…