MY NIGHTMARE

THE ENCOUNTER II

That was strange! Daniel woke up looking blank, he could not remember what led to his unconsciousness. He told Rita that he was sorry for sleeping off while they were still discussing.

Rita looked at Cecilia who gave her a slight nod before she turned to Daniel.

"You and I were attacked by a demon. He was accompanied by three cats and came in form of a shadow. He knocked you out before changing to his true form", Rita explained. Daniel could not believe what Rita told him. He thought she was joking about the whole situation but the seriousness in her eyes confirmed it.

Three of them were still in the room when the light started flickering. Everything in the room started vibrating and falling like they were pushed by an invisible being. The curtains tore up on their own and the room was in a total mess. A strong wind blew Daniel out of the room and left only Cecilia and Rita who were scared to their marrows. Their house had become a hunted house.

"Do you think you can escape from my sight? Do you think you can face my wrath? You are mine, you belong to me body and soul, you cannot run away from your destiny. From the day you were born I chose you. I fortified you with powers, powers you do not know exist. You only harnessed your healing powers, what about others? I gave you all those gifts to get you ready for your future. Why do you want to anger me? Why are you endangering your life? Who is that Man???"' A disgusting smell of animal droppings filled the room as the voice echoed.

They quivered with fear and held each other in a tight embrace. Rita tried to figure out the reason for such question but couldn't connect the dots. She barely knew Daniel. She never imagined she would ever develop a soft spot for him, all she knew was what he told them and she never had the opportunity to make any investigation or inquiry about him, In fact, she was not interested in him. The question rather came as a surprise to her and if not for the tensed atmosphere, she would have termed it hilarious. Daniel? No! That could not be happening. The physical encounter with Ekwensu was only because Daniel came into the picture, maybe, his absence would take the torment away.

There was a deafening silence in the room. No one knew the right words to say, they were cautious not to get the dreaded Ekwensu angrier than he already was.

"Please forgive us, he is only a random person whose brother was healed and he decided to reciprocate the kindness by helping us. He is not related to us", Cecilia said with uncertainty in her voice.

They could not see him but his presence was felt badly in the room, they prayed to stay alive at the end of this horrible encounter.

After Cecilia spoke, they felt some sort of relief as it seemed Ekwensu left them that moment. The mother and child ran out of the room, they could not bear to spend another minute inside, they needed air.

Daniel was outside, tending to his injured pelvis. He sustained the injury when he fell over a grinding stone. The force pushed him real hard. Rita offered to help him but he was afraid to let her. She insisted on helping him and healed his wound at once.

"I think it's time for you to leave. Thank you for helping us run our errands, thank you for helping Mama take care of me. I do not want to put your life in danger. If anything happens to you I don't think I will forgive myself. A lot has happened of recent and I only think it is right for you to leave, to avert more danger", Rita said filled with regrets. Daniel looked up to her," I understand, I will go but I will return. We will fight this. I will not accept defeat. From the very first time I saw you, I felt a connection with you. You and I have an assignment together. I will come back for you. There must be a way out of this mess".

He stood up, picked his machete and sun hat and headed home. Rita and Cecilia waved him goodbye as he disappeared from their sight. Rita felt very bad and cried inwardly, she did not know she was shedding tears and sniffing her runny nose. She couldn't understand the reason for the sudden surge of emotions but they were real. She was missing him already and didn't know what to do about it."But I never felt a thing when he was here, why am I suddenly feeling like I have lost a vital part of me? Why do I feel empty? I barely know him, he is just a random man, I do not understand why I feel this way", she thought. Cecilia knew her daughter too well and at once understood her dilemma although she was surprised by the tears and her facial expressions. She wiped her tears and engulfed her in a full embrace.

He will come back my dear, I feel he is part of us already, what will be will be, do not cry my beautiful daughter. "Will he really come"? Rita asked.