The Girl Who Loved a Monster

The bus that carried Gloria Olagoke from lagos around 2:pm as it rolled slowly along the Express road. The afternoon sun was quiet hot in the sky, turning the orange soil into a glowing carpet and the green grass in a reflecting that stretched far into the distance. Gloria sat beside the window, her eyes fixed on the moving scenery outside and her earpod pluggedin. She listeningher Favorite artist Fireboy DML. They pass by by some brigdes and towns. Small houses made of old cement and rusted zinc roofs passed by one after another. trees swayed in the warm breeze, and goats and other animals lazily along the roadside. Her Sister, Aunty Peace Sat beside, a strong woman in her late forties whose face showed both kindness and strictness. She had been talking for the last twenty minutes about how peaceful Ajayi Town was, but Gloria didn't listened at all. Her mind was somewhere else. Two months ago, her life had been completely different. Then, her parents were still alive. Gloria swallowed hard as the painful memory tried to return again. She quickly increased the volume of music to distract herself. She had promised herself she wouldn’t cry again..... “Gloria bby,” Aunty Peace called her, noticing her dancing with head. You must marry Fireboy. She joke and both of the smile Are we not there yet "she asked. “We’re almost there.” Gloria nodded slowly. “Yes, Aunty.” The bus turned into a small road that looked less busy than the highway they had just left. The air suddenly felt quiet. Even the sound of the bus engine seemed louder in the stillness. After a few minutes, the driver stopped the bus near a small market area. “We don reach Ajayi Town!” the driver shouted. All the Passengers began to gather their bags and step down one by one. The small park looked simple. Some people selling fruits, vegetables, and roasted corn. Women sat behind baskets of tomatoes and peppers, calling out to passing customers. As there where still gathering lodged, something about the place feel so strange. It wasn’t the town itself. It was the people. Gloria noticed something unusual immediately. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry. Traders were packing their goods quickly. A woman who was selling roasted plantain poured water over his charcoal fire as if he needed to leave urgently. Gloria checked her. It was only around 5:30 PM. Why was everyone rushing? “Aunty,” she asked with curiosity, “why is everyone packing up so early?” Aunty Peace hesitated for a moment before answering. “That’s how people do things here,” she said simply. “Ajayi Town people like going home early.” But the answer didn’t fully convince Gloria. In our area in the Lagos, markets stayed open late into the night. People loved the night life.by this time children are still playing their exciting football game. But here, why is it different. Shes curious. The sky slowly turned golden as they carried their bags away from the bus park. They walked through a narrow street lined with small houses and tall fences. Some people are chatting outside there houses. While some cooking. But something strange happened as the sun sank lower. Parents began calling their children inside. “Kunle! Come inside now!” Bisi! are you inside the house!” Within minutes, the street became quiet. Gloria noticed it immediately. Even the children who were still playing suddenly stopped their game and ran home quickly. A boy kicked the football toward a gate before rushing inside. The ball rolled slowly to the middle of the road and stayed there. No one came back to take it. People started locking the gate. Gloria was wondering why? “This place is… different,” she murmured. Aunty Peace stopped walking and pointed toward a yellow, painted bungalow at the end of the street. “That’s our house.” The building was simple but neat. A tall mango and orange tree stood in the compound, branches stretching across the roof like protective arms. They entered through the metal gate. The compound smelled of fresh earth and leaves. Aunty Peace dropped her bag and stretched her back. Finally, she we are Home. She said. Gloria looked around quietly. Chickens scratched the ground near the tree, pecking at invisible grains. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked loudly. But again, something felt… wrong. The town had become too quiet. She looked up at the Time again. just 15 minutes to 7pm. The sun had just disappeared behind the hills. Yet it felt as if the entire town had suddenly shut down. Even the wind seemed to move more slowly. Gloria turned to her aunt. “Aunty…” “Yes?” Aunty Peace replied “Why is it so quiet?” Aunty Peace paused. At the moment, something like worry crossed her face. But it disappeared quickly. “Ajayi Town is a peaceful place,” she said. “You’ll get used to it.” Gloria nodded, though she wasn’t sure she believed it. Later that evening, after dinner, Gloria sat by the window of her bedroom. The room was simple a wooden bed, a small table, and a bookshelf that looked like it had been there for many years. The moon had begun to rise slowly in the sky. Outside, the street looked completely empty. No voices. No laughter. No footsteps. It felt as if the entire town had disappeared. Gloria rested her chin on her hand and stared at the forest in the distance. Behind the houses, tall dark trees formed a thick wall of shadows. That was the forest Aunty Peace mentioned earlier. She had said people rarely went there. Something about it made Gloria curious. Suddenly, A sound broke the silence. A long, strange howl echoed from the direction of the forest. Gloria froze. It didn’t sound like a dog. It didn’t sound like a wolf either. It sounded deeper. More frightening. Her heart began to beat faster. Another howl followed. This one louder. Somewhere nearby, a dog began barking wildly. Gloria quickly stood up and opened the window slightly. The cool night air rushed into the room. She leaned forward, trying to listen carefully. The forest stood silent again. But the uneasy feeling in her chest remained. A voice suddenly spoke behind her. “Close that window.” Gloria turned sharply. Aunty Peace stood at the door, her face serious. “Aunty… did you hear that sound?” Her aunt walked quickly to the window and shut it firmly. “Yes,” she said quietly. “What was it?” Gloria asked. For a moment, Aunty Peace didn’t answer. She only stared toward the dark forest outside. Then she sighed. “People here say strange things live in those woods.” Gloria’s eyes widened slightly. “Like what?” Her aunt hesitated again. Finally she said. “Some say… a monster.” A cold chill ran down Gloria’s spine. But strangely… Instead of fear. She's curious. Stay tuned tonthe next Chapter.