Chapter 4: No Be Only Dream

Knock dey come from my door.

I stand up, wan ask who dey, but I remember wetin I just see for computer. I pause.

God abeg, cover me o, make wahala no jam me for night.

I hold breath, tiptoe, and thank God say NEPA don bring light back, so everywhere no too dark. Barefoot, I tiptoe reach the door, peep through the peephole.

Na Uncle Musa.

Na my neighbour from opposite flat, Uncle Musa, dey knock my door.

I rub my eye, look again—e no fit be. But na him face be that, no mistake.

The more I look, the more e no pure. Uncle Musa face no be as e dey before—eyes empty, mouth bend for that same weird grin.

No be exactly like the photo just now?

I freeze, my body stiff like log.

Cold just run me from back, goosebumps full my skin.

Outside, e be like Uncle Musa sense something, e press him face near the peephole.

I see the oily patch him forehead leave for the glass, and my stomach twist. Him knocking come dey loud, turn to pounding:

Bang bang bang—

One rough voice come out, e sound like machine wey dey jam:

"Open... the door..."

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

Uncle Musa just dey hit the door—e be like say e go break am.

"Seyi... open the door for me..."

My heart pound loud for my ear. Should I call vigilante?

E be like say Uncle Musa fit break enter any moment—too late to call anybody now.

My eyes dey find anything wey I fit use defend myself.

I see my mama old umbrella for corner. My mama always talk say umbrella no be for fight, but today, e go try. I reach hand small, dey plan how I go take use am as weapon if wahala burst.

"Wetin dey happen, wetin dey happen?"

Na Aunty Grace from next door.

Her wrapper tie for chest, hair net still dey head. She hold her toddler for hip, the pikin dey suck thumb, eyes wide.

"Old Musa, which kain wahala be this? Why you dey knock Seyi door for night? My pikin dey cry because of your noise!"

Through the peephole, I see Old Musa turn to her, mouth still dey that weird way.

He smile at Aunty Grace as she waka come.

Aunty Grace step back small, purse lips. "I just dey find am for something."

"Ah ah, your smile dey somehow o!"

Aunty Grace stop, fear catch her for the way Old Musa dey smile, she no even fit near.

She look am up and down. "No dey knock him door. Seyi fit dey sleep. If you need am, find am tomorrow."

"E no good to disturb neighbour for night like this."

Aunty Grace just talk am and waka quick. Under her breath, she mutter, "This man don craze finish, I swear."

She hurry enter her own flat, lock the door sharp. I hear her bolt slide from inside.

From the peephole, I see Old Musa dey look her as she dey go, e be like e dey think something.

His shoulders drop, but next thing, e face turn back sharp sharp.

He lean, press him big eyes near the peephole.

Chai.

Fear catch me, I jump back small.

My hand shake, I dey sweat for palm. When I peep again, Uncle Musa no dey there.

Impostor, abi...

My body finally loose, weakness just full my leg.

With energy, I push the shoe cabinet go block the door.

I plan go check my computer again, maybe I miss clue.

Whoosh—

One breeze enter my parlour from balcony, curtain dey fly. Harmattan breeze just enter anyhow, scatter my curtain like say na masquerade dey dance.

Which kind breeze strong like this?

My body still dey jumpy, the wind shock me join.

I hold my bedroom door handle, pause.

Better close that balcony sliding door. No trust this place.

No iron bar for balcony, just glass railing for safety.

I turn, close the balcony door, lock am well.

I peep out small, see the compound below dey quiet, only distant dog dey bark somewhere. Hmm, better hang this bell here.

I carry the bell from parlour hang for door handle. If anybody try open from outside, bell go fall.

I go back my room, lock door.

After I restart, computer homepage dey normal again.

Where the software?

I move mouse everywhere, but the impostor test software don disappear.

The mouse dey click loud, my mind no settle.

E be like the impostor don target me.

Worse, the impostor dey live just next door…

Ugh…

My phone vibrate for table. I check the caller—one strange number.

My phone begin ring that popular Fuji tune, but fear no let me pick.

I no answer, I no cut, just put am for silent, make e dey vibrate.

I throw the phone under pillow join, as if e go muffle the sound.

After small time, the person tire, hang up.

Whew…

As I just relax, phone vibrate again.

Still that same strange number.

I no fit pick.

My body hot and cold at the same time. I remember the warning from the software, I off my phone, throw am one side.

Then, gbam, I dive under my duvet.

E be like say once you hide for under blanket, nothing fit touch you again.

I curl for there small.

As the cover warm, my heart wey dey beat anyhow, begin calm down.

Kai, I wan pee.

As bed just dey sweet, na that time the urge come.

I look the bedroom door, force myself hold am.

Who know wetin dey outside?

My eye shift go the iced tea bottle wey dey my bedside…

I bite my lip, shake head. God abeg, no shame me today. I squeeze leg together, try sleep again.