CHAPTER ONE
1387 Words
Dad, Dad, Dad, she called; what's wrong?
Why aren't you answering Mom, please come.
Something is wrong with Dad.
He is shaking and vomiting in his sleep, she screamed.
It was 12:45 AM at the time and she had not slept it was holiday time and she was watching a movie while her mom, little brother and dad were sleeping, her father was in the parlour with her when he fell asleep on the bed at the corner of the parlour close to the window she sat on the couch facing the bed her father slept on when she saw her father convulsing and vomiting.
She is a 12-year-old girl, moving closer to observing what is wrong with her father.
She screams again at her mom.
Something was wrong with Dad; her mother woke up from her room in fear that what she had prayed against was not happening; the man was dying.
My love, she called out to him but no response.
"My love", she kept calling, crying, and trying to wake him up, but nothing was working; he was still jerking uncontrollably and vomiting some dark substance.
The girl was in shock as to what was happening.
She could not cry or move.
She just stared at her father, shaking.
Why is this happening she asked as she was scared.
Her 7-year-old little brother was crying as he woke up to the commotion and noise.
Sister, what's wrong?
The boy asked his elder sister, but she said nothing as she held on to him, looking at her father.
Mrs William, her neighbour, called while knocking on their door open, the woman said.
Isabella stood up and went to open the door while crying.
My husband is dead, she said, "my husband is dead she said, walking in the embrace of her neighbour.
Why did he have to die?
Why? Why, after all our efforts and money we spent on the surgery, taking care of him for the past seven years?
Above the top of the house was a very bright star-like light resting above the roof, and then came another kind of light from the house.
It was as bright as the one above the roof.
The light from within our house flew towards the one above the house as if waiting for it before the two lights flew up into the sky with immense speed, and all this was seen by Haven, whose father just died.
"Tino, did you see that?" Haven asked.
See what Tino inquired
"That two stars just now, that went up into the sky from our roof".
What are you saying?
There are stars everywhere in the sky because it's dark, Tino replied.
"No", not this kind of star; this one is different.
They were closer to our roof and flew back into the sky," it was moving" Do you understand what I'm saying?
No, I don't Tino replied.
One was above our roof while the other came from our house and met with the one on the roof and flew away.
Didn't you see that? Haven asked.
No, I didn't see anything like that. Are you okay, Haven?
Yes, of course, I'm fine, never mind, forget anything I just said.
That's strange, I know I saw what just happened.
Haven, go inside and bring some clothes and blankets for your mom and little brother, her aunt instructed her as she consoled her sister.
After Haven's mother opened the door for her neighbour to come in and had calmed down a little, she took her phone to call her two oldest sons, Zander, Elias and her older sister, Alice, to inform them about her husband and their father's demise.
30 minutes later, her older sister arrived, rushing towards Isabella to console her, for she couldn't take away her pain but only console her sister.
But Aunty Alice, it's too dark, I can't go inside.
What if there's a ghost inside? Haven asked her aunt.
What ghost, there's nothing like a ghost, my love, go inside and bring what I sent you, please.
Tino, could you please follow me inside to get the clothes and blankets? I can't go inside alone; I'm scared she said.
Okay, let's go Tino said, bringing along a touch to collect the item.
Zander, what's wrong? You just got a call from your mom; what happened, his fiance, Tracy, asked, feeling concerned.
" my father just died," Zander said.
No, no, no, no, how will Mom take this Tracy said.
I know, right, he said with his head bowed, facing the ground; with all that has been happening, now this, how will she cope?
Her moving from the city to the town was heartbreaking and devastating because of her warehouse and shop that was burnt to the ground with nothing to hold on to; now this is happening.
What is the reason for this many problems after another? God, are you seeing all this happening?
It's all going to be okay, my love, it's going to be okay, ok.
Come, let's sleep; we will make preparations to go visit Mother in the morning.
It's 1:30 am, so come to bed, please, hmmm? Okay, Zander said.
No, s**t s**t s**t, Elias shouted out, furiously hitting the table.
Elias, what's wrong, Sophia asked are you okay?"
My father is dead.
"No", Elias's wife, Sophia, cried out.
What are we going to do now? It's still too early to go out; we will move first thing in the morning.
Come, let's sleep, Elias said to his wife, ok
************
It's time for bed, little Tino and Haven; yes Aunt Alice, the children's voices intermingled as they both replied to the remarks.
"Goodnight, Tino and Haven. Sweet dreams and sleep tight."
Good night Aunt Alice.
Alice, what am I going to do now?
Everything I have worked hard for 25 years of my life is gone.
Where am I going to start from? Who will I turn to now?
My husband is gone, and the children how will they live well without a father they are just 7 and 12 years old
I have nowhere to go for help or anyone else to rely on, what will I do
Isabella, it's okay, it's all going to be all right
Please calm down, please think of your health and the children, please Alice said consoling her sister
Come, rest your head on my lap. I need you to sleep, even if it's for a little bit, hmmm?
What about the kids? Isabella asked.
I already put them to sleep.
Okay, thanks.
Isabella rested her head on her sister's lap as she drifted into sleep closing her swollen eyes slowly
I see you have been asking stupid questions about what will you do now that your husband is dead.
Nothing, you will do absolutely nothing.
Your husband dying and your business destroyed is just the beginning, you will see pain and despair ah ah ah ah ah ah
Who is there? Who are you Isabella asked, scared and trembling. Why are you doing this to me? What did I ever do wrong? When did I offend you? Isabella asked the invisible voice.
Oh, you did nothing, but your husband did, and you and those children of yours will pay dearly, a malevolent spirit said, laughing devilishly.
In cold sweat Isabella woke up, trembling and crying.
What was that? Who was that? Isabella asked herself.
God forbid, nothing like that will ever happen.
*************
Darkness envelops the little girl's dream world.
She lies helpless on a cold, damp ground.
Suddenly, ethereal hands emerge from the shadows, grasping for her.
A thousand icy fingers wrap around her legs, hands, and throat, pulling her in opposite directions.
The girl's small body stretches, contorted in agony.
Her screams echo through the desolate landscape.
The malevolent spirits' grip tightens their fingers like skeletal branches.
Her eyes widen in terror as the hands drag her deeper into the darkness.
The girl's vision blurs, filled with swirling shadows and faces twisted in malice.
The spirits' grip grows stronger, pulling her toward an abyss.
Her small form struggles, but the hands hold fast, relentlessly in their grasp.
Fear consumes her, and her dream world dissolves into chaos.
Leave me alone; what do you want? Haven screamed, waking from her nightmare.
- Writer
