THE GHOST IN AFRICA

ALL OVER THE PLACE

I still hadn't understood everything that had just happened. Far from it, I hadn't understood anything at all!. Where had they been for the past hours since I died? Did they have anything to do with the haunting earlier? I watched Adaeze floating all over the place; maybe she could give me some answers. Her hands were behind her, observing me now with the others with thye glint of suppressed humor glaring in her eyes.

To believe this fragile child was born in 1956, that'll make her about a hundred years old right! Okay, I might have exaggerated a bit but sixty-four is still a big number.

“I understand that it might take a while for you to process everything, Elias” Adaeze said. Someone snorted.

“So all along I’ve been living with ghosts in my room?” I raised my hands and dropped them in obvious frustration. The expression of the other children in the room made me feel like I had said something very stupid.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“Technically, this room used to be ours too before whatever happened to us did so um, it’s kind of ours too, you know” she replied. “Let’s just say you never knew your other roommates or bunkmates at times”

My eyes bulged in shock.

“Relax abeg, I’m just messing with your head”

“So everyone here died in this very room?" I asked.

“In this house? Yes. But in this very room, we don't know for sure"

"We need to tell him" Someone interrupted. It was the same person that had called Adaeze off earlier, the same person who had snorted. I was right. This is the trouble maker of the gang.

"Not now Usman" Adaeze retorted.

“He’s right, Adaeze, there is no time for sweet talking him. He has been tossed into warfare and he needs to girdle quickly or he’s a goner” The speaker was leaning on the wardrobe, with his hands folded across his chest. He wore nice round glasses on his unsmiling face.

“He needs time to process everything, . We can’t just toss everything at him all at once. Not right now.” Adaeze was addressing everybody now, not just me and Usman.

"Then when? We're out of time as it stands” Usman replied. I expected him to. “Look at the triplets" he motioned at three boys huddled together in a corner, "They haven't said a word in three years. Three years Adaeze!"

"In time we would, not now"

“Adaeze” It was the kid in the superman pajamas. “Are we really out of time?”

“No we’re not. Usman is only trying to scare us” Adaeze didn’t even look at him. Her eyes were locked on Usman as she spoke. Usman didn’t seem to mind the burning gaze she directed at him, he still wore the same frown he had on when he first emerged from the wardrobe.

"This is the ninth kid and just as the book says, he remembers nothing.” He shot at Adaeze, “I bet his parents remember nothing either, just as the book said"

"The book be damned!" Adaeze shouted, glowering at Usman.

"No, YOU BE DAMNED! Hell, we would all be damned Missy if we don't find a way to end all this any sooner than five days."

Silence followed the audible gasp. The two girls huddled together in school uniforms were getting dramatic in their whisperings now. They said a number of things I couldn’t hear and motioned towards me.

“I’ve seen the book, Adaeze” one among the girls began, “I know you have too. What I don’t know is why you are being sluggish about doing anything about anything?” it seemed to be an innocent question, but the accusation in her tone was as plain as day. For someone that appeared as cowardly she, it was quite a brazen accusation.

"It's almost dark, let’s move to the wardrobe" Adaeze commanded, completely ignoring her comment.

Usman started clapping, laughing as he did so. “Typical Adaeze, always running when it gets hot”

“I don’t want any trouble, Usman. Let’s all go in”

“I say we stay here. We all got questions to ask, don’t we?” There were unmistakable nods from different people. “Well then, let’s get them all cleared up. Or you have a problem with that Aboki?”

Here was my chance, presented on a platter of gold.

"Um… Adaeze" I ventured, "My mom... my ... my Dad".

"They're fine, Elias"

Somehow, I knew she was lying. Why? I had no idea. Usman was pacing angrily now with an obvious scowl on his face. “Why won’t you just tell the kid?”

“There’s nothing worth telling yet, Usman. I’d let him know whatever he needs to know with time.” Adaeze retorted.

This squabble had gone on longer than I could bear. I had just received the greatest shock of my life, or death - whatever, and these two considered now a perfect time to grapple each other’s throats. The one called Usman had the look of a rebel. He was the darkest of all the ghosts in the room with eyes too deep seated for a thirteen-year-old. His hands were always busy, either fiddling with some part of his body or each other. Right now, he glared at Adaeze like he could pounce on her any second now.

“Aboki,” It took a while to realize he was actually referring to me. This guy is a northerner, I guess.

“Yes” I replied, trying not to get vaporized by his stare.

“The house is cursed.” He started. Finally, someone with balls. Shhh… Mum would kill me all over again if she heard me think that.

“There...” He never got to finish that sentence.

A gust of wind suddenly rushed into the room, slamming the door shut. Pandemonium followed. Everyone was moving everywhere in a hurry, going over and under and through each other. The wind howled even louder still, vacuuming everyone towards the door as they struggled, screaming. The windows slammed back and forth, adding to the commotion that had already ensued. The lights flickered and went out.

I could swear I had heard someone laugh or maybe it was the wind. Strangely, I seemed rooted the spot I was, unmoving, savoring the horrific opera.

“Quick, to the wardrobe!” I heard Adaeze repeat. How? With all that has happened in the past half an hour, I wasn’t really surprised. The commotion now multiplied. Everyone tried finding their way in the blinding darkness toward the wardrobe, aided by occasional flashes of moonlight from the window whenever it swung open. What sort of darkness was this that robbed even ghosts of sight? I didn’t have time to ponder.

The door swung open as suddenly as it had shut earlier. The windows too remained open, and streaks of moonlight found their way in. The howling wind ceased its dreadfully horrifying solo and for a second or so everything seemed calm.

“Don’t look at it.” Adaeze commanded quietly, stressing every syllable. “Slowly turn away from the door and back away toward the wardrobe”

She shouldn’t have said that. Curiosity took over. I turned sharply toward the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever I’m not supposed to look at. “Come on, Elias” I heard her say, but she was too late. The sight was just too compelling for me to look away from.

At the door post was darkness, pitch black nothingness more magnificent than anything else I had beheld in my entire life; however short it had been. The darkness was so perfect, like the dead of a moonless night. Such clear unblemished darkness, thrumming steadily with life as it held me captive, seducing me to stare on. I did, smiling in awe. I heard it call out to me, softly, its voice caressing my entire being.

I moved closer and immediately felt peace swelling inside. The screams of the other kids gradually faded in my ears. All I now heard was the smooth silky laughter from the darkness. The wind now whispered the truth to me. Here was peace the other kids could not give me.

Someone tugged at me, trying to pull me away. Without turning back, I held the hand, and with surprising ease flung it toward the darkness, a favor if you ask me. It was one of the triplets. I knew because immediately, the other two shrieked in shock and went in after him, into the darkness. Double, triple favors.

I was nearing the darkness now. It felt like a grand homecoming.

“Aboki, come here!” Usman’s ghost hands immediately blinded me. Next thing I know I’m been carted off against my will towards a weird looking wardrobe. One that I had no memory of every seeing in this room! I closed my eyes and braced for impact. There was none.