Anita_Montgomery

As Grace hastened down the hallway, the lightbulbs flickered ominously, casting eerie shadows on the walls. She ignored the blood-curdling screams and unsettling pictures that hung like specters, their macabre presence seeming to watch her every move. Her mind was consumed by the disappearance of her fiancé, whom she hadn't seen or heard from since she woke up the previous day. Her friends, too, were nowhere to be found, and the few she had seen met a brutal end, their mutilated bodies a grim testament to the horrors within.

What was meant to be her wedding day had transformed into a desperate fight for survival. Grace found herself trapped in her fiancé's house, with locked doors and windows covered in dust and iron bars, giving the place a foreboding, prison-like feel. She avoided gazing out the windows, fearful of what she might see. Every time she dared to look, a family of five stared back at her, their presence sending shivers down her spine.

The family's attire seemed frozen in time, their outdated clothes tattered and worn. The parents, if they could be called that, looked inhuman, their decaying skin jagged and twisted. The husband, dressed in a long, dirty black caftan, appeared older than his wife, who wore a dirty lacey pink dress that seemed to be disintegrating. The three children were equally unsettling. A teenage girl, clad in a dirty tank top and faded jean short skirt, wore a pair of reading glasses and held a little girl with hair styled with dried twigs and leaves in a dirty loose pink unicorn onesie. The family's jagged teeth and tightly clasped hands only added to the sense of dread that settled in the pit of Grace's stomach.

The final member of the family, a man in his thirties, wore a red polo shirt and blue jeans, appearing more vibrant than the rest of the family. However, his face was obscured by a black mask that covered his face and neck, shrouding his identity in mystery. Grace's frantic pace slowed as she entered the living room, her eyes scanning the walls adorned with ominous portraits and horrifying statues that seemed to leer at her. She shook her head in fear and disbelief, tears streaming down her face as she wondered what she had gotten herself into.

As faint footsteps echoed from the hallway, Grace's hand instinctively cupped her mouth in shock and horror. She crawled across the marble floor, seeking refuge behind the cushions in the living room. The buzzing bulbs and flickering lights only heightened her fear, causing her to squeak in terror as she contemplated the unknown fate that awaited her, just like her friends.


Read to find out more about the Dead house

DEAD BRIDE

Michael pulled into the driveway, and Nina's eyes lit up, recognizing her hometown, Abriba. To her, Abriba was a city of love, where every love story began. As they drove through, Nina smiled and took photos, cherishing the memories. She remembered trips with her family and her late grandmother, who passed away ten years ago.

Judy screamed in excitement, pointing at the "Welcome to ABRIBA" signpost. The streets bustled with people, elderly folks on porches, and young girls strolling around. Nina spotted an old woman selling cornmeal and asked Michael to stop. "Iya kaa (good day, ma)," Nina greeted the woman, who offered her cornmeal packages.

After buying all the cornmeal, Nina handed the woman four one-thousand-naira notes, saying, "Keep the change." As they drove away, Nina playfully tossed a piece of cornmeal, asking, "Who wants a taste?" The group enjoyed the cornmeal, and Michael steered the car onto a winding road, leading them to a secluded area.

Nina felt uneasy but recognized a faded signpost with the words "Ogozi Abriba." As they drove into a livelier section, Nina smiled, thinking about her upcoming wedding. Her phone beeped, and she answered, speaking with her mom about wedding preparations.

Michael stopped the car in front of a white two-story house, and Nina asked in surprise, "Babe, this is your house?" Michael replied, "Yeah, it's my house." Nina stared at the house, noticing the words "ODEGHE" on the gate, which sounded familiar.

Michael got out of the car, calling Kevin to open the gate. Jayjay chimed in from the back seat, "Nina, you're so lucky." Nina questioned, staring at her reflection in the rearview mirror, "Am I?" Sonia agreed, "Of course you are." Nina feigned confusion, furrowing her brows, "I don't get it." Sonia snapped her fingers, remembering something, and announced, "I'm going live on IG tonight, and my fans want to meet the bride." Nina sighed, feeling weary, and slumped in her seat. She thought to herself, "Sonia always pushes me to do things I don't want to do, just like in high school." Despite her reservations, Nina had no intention of saying no to her persuasive friend.

CHAPTER TWO