MIDNIGHT MARE

Demon's Lair

“aarrgghh” I screamed as I came to reality. Realizing it had all been a dream was a big relief. I went to my bathroom to wash my face and as I stared into the mirror I began to recount all that I dreamt about “the crying boy”, “the faceless persons” and so on. I just had to snap myself out of it as I had much to do.

I sank my teeth into the akara which was accompanied by my soaked garri, the garri was so SOUR that it SLAPPED some senses to lagging cheeks. As I finished up, I realized that time was against me so I entered into the normal LATE HOUR RUSH mode so as to avoid being late for work. As I walked past my gateman, I remembered my dream and I thought I saw him “grin” which was unusual.

As I packed up to go home after a long day, Sam(short for Samson) walked in and asked what I would do with my night.

“sleep, of course” I answered as I rounded up my packing and was set to leave.

“you are joking, right?” he jeered “there will be a lot of life tonight or are you forgetting ITS FRIDAY!”.

I tried to ignore him as I’ve known that to be his usual behavior, going about trying to put a smile on peoples face not minding what they said about him(this made them call him Sam the “pulling”). I wasn’t about letting him walk me home, so I just nodded(positively) when he said he would come pick me up by 10pm.

As we walked into the “DEMONS’ LAIR” as the club was called, I was quick to see an inscription on the wall which read “YOU ENTER WITH BREATH AND LEAVE WITHOUT IT”. I called sam’s attention to this but he was already taken by the music and everything happening. He took me to the bar and asked the barman to be gentle with me that I was new, then he went off. I was so uncomfortable as I sipped my drink. Two men who had also come to the bar for drinks were telling these frightening stories to each other. I can’t seem to remember all but I remembered them talking about a boy who starred to the mirror until his reflection started running towards the other end. Then the other would start another. I decided I had heard enough and decided to look for Sam on the dance floor but not after hearing the story of “the cat with human hands”, it was said to kill specific persons so as to get specific parts from them. The last they heard of it was that it had taken a man’s tongue and could talk. As I searched for Sam I felt someone behind me and he whispered in my ear “JUST FOLLOW ME AND DON’T LOOK BACK” I was too scared to object. On getting outside, I dragged my hands out of his grip, then he said “WELL, LOOK BACK THEN!”. As I looked back, it was dark due to the frequent flashing of the clubs’ light but for the brief moment the light came on…………… I gasped! I could see a lot of scary creatures in human form although a few humans were there. Then I saw the men at the bar(bar man inclusive) grin the same mysterious way my gateman did. Just then the man(who led me out) said it is okay and as I turned to look at him I felt life leaving me this man no! this thing is a complete human only that he had the face of a cat. Just before I passed out, I felt him sink his teeth into my ear.

“aarrgghh” I screamed as I came to reality. Realizing it had all been a dream was a big relief. I went to my bathroom to wash my face but I felt something was wrong and as I stared into the mirror………….. I started stepping back as reality hit me. I could feel my blood becoming iced and every fiber of muscle in my body shaking as I realized that I HAD NO FACE!!!.

Ekarika Nsemeke