TEARS_Ap@rt
#EPISODE_05
Esther was shocked when she heard the intruder speak. A lady!
“Give me the baby and go your own way. I heard she isn’t yours.” The lady said and Esther’s mouth opened wi-de.
Who’s this?
“Who are you and what do you want?” Esther barked at the lady who re-moved her mask and smiled.
She was fair and beautiful and looked seriously familiar.
“Okay….you want an introduction? Fine..I’m I.J and I’m on a mission. Give me the baby and go your own way.”
“You…..you! I…I have seen you before…” Before Esther could finish her statement,the lady ran forward with a great speed and gave her a b!ow….right throu-gh her spinal cord.
Esther g@sped in sharply and knelt on the floor.
The baby was collected from her as she hit the floor and pas-sed out.
The lady looked down disgustedly at the baby and felt like killing her.
She looked around in the dark and felt a strange pres£nce.
She wore her mask and ran off… throu-gh the bush.
In the darkness there, Ifeoma’s ghost stood,her mouth wi-de open with shock .
She tried to reach out to her…tried to use her ghostly powers but failed…..who was that?
************
“I.J..are you sure about this one?” a thick voice belonging to a dark lady who sat beside the window…with a cigarette said.
The baby’s cries could be heard as she was placed on a chair.
I.J laughed.
“An an. Tessy… don’t you trust me? Can’t you hear her healthy cries?
You should know Kenny now. Yes,he was the one who hired me for this job. He found out that his fiancee was keeping a baby…so I was up to the task.
I found out that the baby was no longer with her but i got the whereabout of the baby and found out a nurse was the one keeping her…
And so ..you have no idea how what I’ve been up to.” I.J said, laughing.
She st©pped and looked around.
“Do you feel any pres£nce around?” I.J asked and Tessy nodded.
“But don’t worry.
You know no spirit can pene-tratethrou-gh our wall or overpower us.”
Tessy said, putting out the fire in her smoke as she took another one.
“This started right from the time I took the baby.
Do you think I’ve killed her instead of ma-king her pas-s out?” I.J asked.
“Then who cares? She should have known it was dangerous to have been walking on the road by this time of the night with an infant!
So back to the real matter….who are we selling the baby to cos I nee-d money…real quic-k ” Tessy asked and I.J laughed.
“Trust me, woman. I have a buyer alre-ady.”I.J said as Tessy looked at her, surprised.
“Tell me you are joking. Gosh!” Tessy laughed.” So… who’s it? Hope it’s a good pay?”.
“Yes. A million naira.” I.J replied.
“Wow!! What are we still waiting for? quic-k…there is no time and plea-se,carry that baby.
The cries can wake the dead!”Tessy Said and I.J laughed. She took Amarachi up and scooped her up.
“Shut your mouth!” She gro-an ed.
Tessy laughed.” Why are you complaining? Sebi you get pikin??” Tessy said.
“I hope my husband isn’t even around yet for I don’t have any lies to tell him this time. I’m even fed up of marriage and family.
I think I want to be on my own…just like you.” I.J said and Tessy smiled.
“You know what I’m into,right? You think you can do that?” Tessy said.
“I’m not talking about that and besides what’s great about that?”I.J asked.
“Become my lover then you will know how it feels.
Lesbianism is the best…it’s so sweet.”Tessy said l!çk!ng herl-ips.
“Oh plea-se,spare me that. What’s sweet? plea-se talk better thing. Happy lesbianism.” I.J said and Tessy laughed out loud.
“Na you sabi. Abeg,when are we contacting the buyer. I really nee-d some cash.” Tessy added as I.J smiled.
“Tommorow…till tommorow”.
***********
Ifeoma’s ghost stood beside a kiosk in tears. She was restless.
Helpless.
“Someb©dy help…my baby’s in trouble. She’s going to be sold out into slavery.. prostitution…. someb©dy should plea-se hear me out! Why can’t someone hear me?”
Ifeoma cried out pure tears this time.. instead of blood.
She stared at the people going and coming and tried to t©uçh them…she tried blocking their way but they walked right throu-gh her.
“My baby can’t die like this! She’s a great child…she’s destined for great things! Someb©dy… anyb©dy.. plea-se call the police!!”
Ifeoma cried against the air her tears flooding her face.
“I can see you. I can hear you…what help are you talking about?”
Ifeoma’s head j£rked up,her eyes wi-dening as she saw a young lady standing in front of her.
“You ..you….can…can…ca…can hear me!! You can see me?” Ifeoma stammered as she moved forward.
The lady smiled.” Of course. You are dead. Aren’t you supposed to be in the land of the dead?” The lady asked.
“Oh my God! She can see me!! She really can see me! Are you dead too??”
“No. I’m human but I can see people like you. Return to the land of the dead and rest.” The lady said.
“No!! plea-se..no!! I nee-d your help…my baby! plea-se she is in danger. I nee-d to save her…make sure she’s in save hands before I can rest.
I nee-d to inform my mother-in-law..that she has a granddaughter! plea-se!” Ifeoma said,her voice echoing.
The lady looked at her.” Me? To help you? How do you want me to do that?” The lady asked and Ifeoma looked straight into her eyes.
“Can…I…be able to t©uçh you?” Ifeoma asked.
“Try….I… don’t Know. You only have to calm down” The lady said, becoming scared with the look on Ifeoma’s eyes.
She had come in contact with spirit beings, not one had ever asked her for help.
Ifeoma slowly stretched her hand forward,and closed her eyes, thinking she would pene-tratethrou-gh the lady.
Her eyes opened in shock as her hand met with the lady’s arm.
“I made it! I can t©uçh you!” Ifeoma said, unable to believe it.
“Now what? Still,I can’t help you.” The lady said.
“You can. And there is only one way ……. borrow me your b©dy”…………..😲
*****#TEARS_Ap@rt******
#EPISODE_06
“What?? My b©dy! How do you want me to do that?”the lady asked, amazed.
“You can! Just….just…. help me, plea-se.” Ifeoma pleaded.
“I can’t! Do you want me to lose my own spirit? I’m sorry. I can’t help you.” The lady said,going away.
People had start looking at her, thinking she was going crazy.
Ifeoma frowned de-eply and disappeared, reappearing in front of the lady.
” Rita! You have to help me!” Ifeoma shouted, right in her face.
“Oh God! How did you know my name!” Rita said, marching away angrily. Ifeoma followed her.
“I Know whatever I want to Know. Now… help me!” Ifeoma snapped.
“Look. Enough of this. St©p following me! People have started thinking I’m going crazy!” Rita said and ran away, straight to her house.
When she entered her room and turned,she g@sped tiredly and frowned.
Ifeoma was sitting down on her be-d, waiting for her.
“Why did you follow me? I thought I made it clear to you that I can’t help you?” Rita asked, furiously shutting the door close.
Ifeoma stood up slowly,tears forming her eyes.
“plea-se…I beg you in the name of God Almighty. Save my baby….tell my mother in law that she has a daughter! Right now….they are taking her somewhere else!
plea-se..save her! If you won’t give me what I want…just…go there for me… plea-se!!”
Rita breathed in, looking at the ghost before her.
*********
Madam Kofta took another look at the baby in I.J’s hand and nodded.
“The baby’s okay and I’m going to take her.
So, according to bargain…I’m going to to pay the money into your account.
I.J nodded as she adjusted the cap on Amarachi’s head, looking around the house again.
She looked down back at Amarachi and noticed a de-ep dark mark just beneath her ear. A birth mark?
She wondered and shrugged it off. Of what use was it?
She looked at the house again.
It looked so much like a palace.
“Justina!” Madam Kofta called and almost immediately,a woman of about thirty seven c@m£ down from the stairs, standing immediately before madam Kofta.
“Yes,madam. You s£nt for me.” The woman, Justina said, bowing.
“Yes I did. We have a new baby.” Madam Kofta said, turning to look at I.J.” Give her the baby.” She said.
I.J stood up, handing the baby over to Justina who carried the baby, smiling at her cute face.
“So……take care of her and make sure nothing happens to get.
She’s going to grow up here…in your hands to be useful for me in the future.
Just like you took care of Kamsy,take care of her.” Madam Kofta said.
“Trust me ma. I will.” Justina said, taking the baby away.
“So”,madam Kofta breathed in.” s£nd me your account number.”
I.J smiled as she brou-ght out a cigarette first and light it…before texting the account number.
************
“Throw this mad woman out of my house!!” Mama shouted at Rita as she told them Ifeoma s£nt her to them.
“You have to listen to what I’m about to say. Your daughter in law,Ifeoma has s£nt me to you.” Rita said but mama was shouting.
“Who’s this one too! Have they s£nt you to come and kill me too?
Oh,I can see you were the one who killed my son and his wife! Someb©dy help !” Mama shouted.
Monica her sister rushed inside when she heard the noise.
Ifeoma’s ghost appeared and Rita glared at her.” Have you seen it,now? Have you seen what you caused?
Why did I even listened to you and come here! Now she thinks I’m mad!” Rita said furiously.
“Keep your voice down..why are you giving them further reason to think you are crazy? Just go straight to the point!” Ifeoma asked.
Mama and Monica stared around, wondering who this lady was talking to.
“Get out,young lady! What do you want?” Monica questioned, becoming scared.
“I should get out but…”
“plea-se leave!” Monica said opening the door for Rita who looked at them angrily and left the house.
Why on Earth did she have to come this far only to be thrown out like this!
Mama dropped on a chair and cried.” See them.
Enemy of progress. They have come to mock me! Ifeoma who’s now dead s£nt you message!
Aahhhh….Why is this happening to me! God,am I going to survive this?” Mama cried.
Ifeoma stood in the middle of the room,tears dropping from her eyes as she looked angrily at mama.” Why,mama? Mama why?
Why can’t you just try and listen to her! Save my baby!!”
Just then, Ifeoma g@sped as a loud clock rang from the sky. An alarm just went off.
Her time.
Her time was up on Earth….the second chance given to her to save her baby was up.
Ifeoma gave a loud wail as she disappeared, leaving a powerful wind behind that scattered the whole roof on Mama’s house.
Not only her house,but the whole of the village.
And throu-gh out that painful night….rain fell…flooding the whole place.
It fell and fell with a great wind for Ifeoma’s ghost was gone…gone never to return again.
*****FIFTEEN YEARS LATER*****
“Joanna!” A voice called from the kitchen but no response c@m£. “Joanna! Where’s this girl na?” The voice said and opened the kitchen door.
Justina c@m£ out going upstairs to Joanna’s room.
Joanna stood in the middle of the room, staring into space.
Amarachi’s name changed when she started living inside madam Kofta’s house.
She’s a grown up now, beautiful and so pretty.
She’s a tall girl and very fair in complexion.
Not once had she been let out of the house except when she was taken to school and brou-ght back home in a car but Joanna knew better.
The door suddenly opened and Justina c@m£ in and st©pped when she saw Joanna standing like that.
She was so strange Justina gets scared most of the time.
“What are you doing there!” Justina shouted.
Joanna stood still..not even glancing back to look at her. She continued staring.
“Aunty Justina…..you also had an idea about this?” Joanna suddenly asked.
“About what? What are you talking about?” Justina stammered.
“I’m soon going to be introduced into a business called prostitution….in Kofta’s brothel.
Right now, she’s ma-king preparation for me.
Once I finish my secondary school….I’m going to join the brothel as a payment for bringing me up.” Joanna said.
Justina was dumbfounded as she stared at Joanna.”How….how…..did you know about the brothel!”
Joanna slowly turned to look at Justina.” I thought you loved me. Why did you keep this away from me?
” You’ve been my nanny for fifteen years. Why are you allowing her use you like this?” Joanna asked and Justina looked at Joanna,unable to talk.
“She pays me very well. I don’t nee-d a family.
And you must do as we say too because you have no family either.
You have no where to go…no place to hide ” Justina threatened.
Joanna frowned and the bulb hanging up dropped to the ground and smashed into pieces.
Justina g@sped moving back. This was the third time she was noticing this.
Whenever Joanna frowned, violence happens.
Either something is falling and breaking or something is moving all by itself.
“You are shameless. Let me go.” Joanna said,her hands, ti-ght£ñing into a fist.
Justina was scared now but she controlled herself.
Come on… Joanna! This is just a child! She told herself.
“How dare you tell me I’m shameless! Mind you ….I took care of an homeless child like you!”
Joanna gave her a one sided smile.
“Really? Taking care of me so you can make me a prostitute?
Tell me..how many girls have you brou-ght up in this house for this purpose!” Joanna asked, looking intently at Justina.
“And why should I tell you? I have no reason to tell you but if you must know… you are the third child I’ve raised in this house.
Look, Joanna…just accept your fate. You are nothing without madam Kofta.
She’s the one who provided everything for you and you must pay her back.
This is your destination…your destiny is to become her worker….you must serve her!” Justina said,her eyes growing large at every word.
Joanna began shaking her head, moving back,her hands clenching.
“No!” Her scream sounded like an horn speaker.
Justina had to cover her ears as the air in the room bec@m£ h0t.
“No!!” Joanna shouted yet again and began to cry.
Immediately a tear dropped from her eyes…..rain began to fall…to fall… right inside the room…….
#TO_BE_CONTINUED…!!👇👇👇