chapter thirteen

Adaora's pov

I felt a chill crawl up my spine. The way Ifeoma whispered, the way everyone around us spoke in hushed, fearful tones it made my skin prickle.

"What do you mean something is holding her down?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ifeoma swallowed. "Her neighbor said she screams at night, saying something is sitting on her chest, pressing her down. Her parents tried taking her to the hospital, but…" She hesitated.

"But what?"

"She bit a nurse."

I gasped. "What?!"

"She was fighting, thrashing like a mad person," Ifeoma continued. "They had to tie her hands."

I took a step back. My heart was pounding now. This wasn't normal. Boils, maggots, teachers dying mysteriously, strange marks on their bodies…

"Do you think…" I licked my lips, my throat suddenly dry. "Do you think this is spiritual?"

Ifeoma hesitated, then nodded slowly. "People are saying it's because of the competition. That maybe…" She glanced around and whispered, "Maybe someone used juju."

My blood turned to ice.

Juju. Black magic.

I shook my head. "No, that's ridiculous."

"Is it?" Ifeoma challenged. "How do you explain all this? The teachers, Anita, the boils, the—"

"I don't know!" I snapped, rubbing my arms. "But it can't be juju."

Ifeoma sighed and took my hand. "Let's just go to class."

We walked to our classroom in silence, the whispers and stares following us. I could feel them everyone watching, speculating, wondering.

As we settled into our seats, Stella leaned toward us. "Have you heard?" she asked.

Ifeoma and I exchanged a glance. "What?" I asked.

"They brought a pastor to Anita's house."

I felt my stomach drop.

"And?" Ifeoma pressed.

Stella's face darkened. "He ran out."

I froze. "What?"

"He ran out," she repeated. "They said he was sweating, shaking. He told them, 'This is not ordinary,' and refused to go back inside."

A shiver ran through me..

Ok let's go and eat it's break time.

after eating I went to the bathroom,

I pushed open the bathroom door and stepped inside, heading straight for the sink. The food stain on my uniform was small, but I didn't want to walk around with it. I turned on the tap, splashing water onto the fabric, trying to scrub it out.

The room was quiet, the distant chatter of students echoing from the hall. I sighed, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My face looked tired, my eyes slightly puffy from the weekend's stress. I just wanted this day to end.

Then, suddenly—

A cold hand grabbed my wrist.

I gasped, jerking back in fear, my heart leaping into my throat.

When I turned, Princess was standing there.

Her eyes were wild, her face pale and filled with terror. "You did this!" she hissed.

I blinked, confused. "What?"

She gripped my arm tighter, her fingers digging into my skin. "You did this to my sister," she whispered, her voice shaking.

I tried to pull away, but she held on. "Princess, let go of me!"

Tears spilled down her face. "I was with Anita that night. I slept beside her." Her body trembled. "She kept screaming in her sleep. She called your name. She—she saw something I didn't see. Then suddenly, the room… it became wet."

I froze. "What?"

"I woke up, and there was water everywhere." Her voice dropped lower, filled with fear. "It wasn't from the ceiling. It wasn't from the windows. It was just… there. And Anita—she was crying. She was begging something to let her go."

I stared at her, my blood running cold.

"Please," she sobbed, falling to her knees. "She's my only sister. Let her go! Whatever you did, undo it!"

I shook my head rapidly. "I didn't do anything!" My voice came out high-pitched, panicked.

Princess gripped my legs, sobbing harder. "Liar! You're a witch!" she screamed.

The word hit me like a slap.

A witch.

I shoved her off me and bolted out of the bathroom.

Behind me, her voice echoed through the hallway, her cries ringing in my ears.

"You're a witch! You're a witch!"

I ran and didn't look back.

What was happening to me?

I suddenly remembered the way Ebuka had once called me the same thing.

A witch.

Was I?

I didn't stop running until I reached the classroom. My hands were shaking as I grabbed my chair and sat down, breathing heavily. My heart pounded in my chest, my mind racing.

Princess's words wouldn't leave me alone.

"You're a witch!"

"She saw something that I didn't see. The room became wet."

I gripped my desk, trying to steady myself.

What was she talking about? How could the room just fill with water? It didn't make sense.

I felt Ifeoma's hand on my arm. "Adaora, what happened?"

I looked at her, my throat dry. Before I could answer, the classroom door burst open.

It was Princess.

Her eyes were red from crying, but now they burned with anger. The whole class turned to look at her as she pointed straight at me.

"You!" she shouted. "You cursed my sister! You made her sick! You're a witch, and I won't let you get away with it!"

A few students gasped. Murmurs spread across the room.

I stood up so fast my chair scraped against the floor. "I didn't do anything!" I yelled back.

Princess stalked toward me, her hands clenched into fists. "Then why did she call your name? Why did she say she saw something? Why was the whole room wet?"

I shook my head, my eyes burning with frustration. "I don't know!"

Ifeoma stood up beside me. "Princess, stop this nonsense!" she snapped. "You can't just accuse someone of witchcraft!"

Princess let out a bitter laugh. "Oh? Then explain why my sister, who was perfectly fine, suddenly woke up screaming Adaora's name? Explain why the teachers who helped Anita cheat are dead?" She took a step closer, her voice dropping into a chilling whisper. "Explain why water was all over the room like something… something unnatural was there?"

The murmurs in the class grew louder.

I felt cold.

Something unnatural?

Princess wasn't just throwing random accusations she was scared. Whatever happened to Anita, she truly believed it was my fault.

But… how?

I clenched my fists. "I didn't do anything to your sister."

Princess scoffed. "Then prove it."

I frowned. "What?"

She wiped her eyes and straightened. "Come with me."

I hesitated. "Where?"

"To the hospital," she said. "Come and see Anita." Her gaze darkened. "Let's see if you can still deny everything when you see what's happening to her."

A heavy silence fell over the class.

I felt Ifeoma's grip tighten on my arm. "Adaora, you don't have to go," she whispered.

But I did.

Because deep inside me… I needed to know the truth, too.

I swallowed hard, my heart thudding in my chest. The whole class was staring at me, waiting for my answer.

Princess's eyes burned with fury, but beneath that, I saw something else desperation.

I could feel Ifeoma's grip on my arm, silently telling me not to go. But I had to.

If Anita really called my name… If the room truly filled with water… If something unnatural happened…

I needed to see it with my own eyes.

"I'll go," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

Ifeoma turned to me in alarm. "Adaora—"

"I need to know," I whispered.

Princess scoffed. "Then let's go."

She didn't wait for me. She turned and stormed out of the classroom.

---

The Hospital.

The air was heavy with the scent of antiseptic, and the dim hospital lighting made everything feel colder. As I walked beside Princess, I felt my stomach twist with nerves.

We reached a private ward, and she pushed the door open.

I froze.

Anita was lying on the bed… but Dark, murky water pooled on the floor around her bed. The sheets were damp, sticking to her trembling body. Her face was pale, her lips cracked, her skin covered in deep, rotting sores.

Her body shook violently, as if she were freezing. Her hands clutched at the wet sheets, her mouth moving as she muttered something over and over again.

I took a slow step forward.

She was saying a name.

A name that made my blood run cold.

"Adaora… Adaora… Adaora…"

Princess turned to me, her face filled with pure rage.

"Explain this."

"I did nothing, Princess," I said, my voice shaking slightly.

Princess wasn't listening. Her hands trembled as she pointed at me with wide, accusing eyes. "You did this! You cursed her! My sister wasn't like this before. I was with her last night she kept shouting your name. She saw something I couldn't see. The room was wet, Adaora. Wet! Please, what did you do? Let my sister go!"

She dropped to her knees, crying. "She is my only sibling! Please, let her go!"

I felt sick. My stomach twisted painfully. "I didn't do anything," I whispered, but Princess kept wailing.

The nurse stormed in. "Oya, all of you, move out now!"

We obeyed. Even Princess followed, though she kept throwing glances at me, her face full of fear and desperation.

But as we stepped into the hallway, I remembered my book. My hands were shaking as I turned back.

"I forgot something," I muttered.

I walked back inside.

The moment I did, the air changed.

The room was colder. Thicker.

Anita was sitting up, staring into empty space, her lips trembling.

She turned sharply, her bloodshot eyes locking onto mine.

"Please," she whispered. Then her voice rose to a scream. "Tell it to let me go!"

I flinched. "What?"

"Say it! Tell it to stop!" Anita's voice cracked, her body shaking violently. "Please, Adaora, I won't disturb you again! You were the queen all along! You were the prettiest! I was just jealous! I was afraid everyone would see it—that you deserved the crown more than me!"

Her hands clutched her arms, and my stomach dropped.

Her skin.

It was turning dark, bruised, rotting.

Maggots squirmed from open sores.

I choked on a scream.

"Just say it!" she sobbed. "Say it before it's too late! Please, Adaora, tell it to stop!"

My breath came in quick, panicked gasps. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst.

I looked around wildly there was nothing there. But the air felt wrong.

I didn't believe in this. I wasn't a witch.

I wasn't.

But something inside me the same thing that made Ebuka call me a witch, the same thing that made Princess beg me on her knees—whispered that this was real.

I clenched my fists. My voice was hoarse when I finally spoke.

"If something is really disturbing Anita… please stop. I beg you."

Silence.

A strange stillness filled the room. The air grew lighter. The pressure in my chest lifted.

Anita let out a weak breath and collapsed back onto the bed.

She was shaking, but her lips curved into something almost like relief.

"Thank you," she whispered. Then, with a voice so broken, so small.

I grabbed my book and ran.

I ran out of the hospital room,

Princess was still outside, her arms crossed, her glare sharp enough to cut. "What took you so long?"

I shook my head. I couldn't speak. My throat was dry.

She narrowed her eyes. "What did you do in there?"

"Nothing," I whispered. "I just… I just picked up my book."

Princess stared at me for a long moment, then let out a frustrated breath. "You're lying."

I didn't answer. Because maybe I was.

Something had been in that room.

Something that listened to me.

Anita had begged me to tell it to stop. And when I did… everything had gone quiet.

I gripped my book tightly and turned away.

I needed to leave. I needed to breathe.

What was happening to me?