Chapter 2

We had just moved to a town called Iyo-Rong in Andoni, Rivers State, and things quickly turned upside down for our family.

We had been quite wealthy when we lived in a more developed town than this remote island. Poverty was widespread here, leading to high rates of theft, kidnapping, cultism, murder, and all sorts of audacious crimes.

"Mum, how long are we going to stay here?" Francis, the first son of Mr. and Mrs. Chima Paulinus, asked in frustration as he looked around.

Little Annabella, Clara, Helene, Isabella, and Samuel simply stared at the strange surroundings in confusion. They had never lived in a place like this before.

Clara gently patted her younger brother Samuel to sleep in order to avoid any disturbance while the others unpacked.

Mrs. Chima sighed as she pulled out a bag.

"Honey, don't worry. Things will be fine. Let's go inside," she said with a warm smile.

Francis still looked unconvinced.

"But Mum..."

"Enough of it, Francis!" she cut him off sharply, trying hard to control her anger.

"Alright, everyone, let's go inside," their father said from behind them as he carried a heavy bag of clothes.

After arranging their belongings, they all sighed in relief.

"I'll be going out to meet some new friends I made. Maybe we can get something out of it," Mr. Chima finally said as he stood up.

Mrs. Chima nodded while the children stared blankly at him.

He left, and immediately the children turned to their mother.

"Where is he going?" they asked in unison.

"To work, of course. He was transferred here while still serving as a corporal. You don't expect him to abandon his job, do you?" their mother explained.

"Oh, I see," Francis replied, leaning back in his chair.

Clara watched her mother carefully. She knew her mum wasn't telling them the whole truth, but asking questions would only annoy her further.

Quietly, she walked over to Samuel and gently patted him as he slept. "Alright, let me prepare something for you all to eat before your father arrives," Mrs. Chima said as she walked out of the room.

As she stepped outside, she accidentally bumped into the landlord.

"Aww, sorry. I didn't mean to!" she apologized immediately.

"Nah, nah, it's okay," the old man waved it off quickly.

Curious, Clara rushed over to see who her mother was talking to.

The man looked old, yet surprisingly strong. Clara watched him closely, feeling uneasy for reasons she couldn't explain.

"Hello, little girl," he said, flashing a broad smile.

Clara instinctively stepped back. The strong smell of snuff and alcohol nearly made her wrinkle her nose.

She rubbed her nose with her index finger while the old man kept staring at her in a way that made her uncomfortable.

Noticing Clara's uneasiness, Mrs. Chima quickly interrupted.

"Uhm, landlord, how is your family?"

"Oh, they're fine. Well, I'm all alone now. My wife is dead, and my children are abroad," he replied with a grin.

Clara felt a chill run through her body as she looked at him.

This man is so creepy, she thought.

"Oh, I see," Mrs. Chima replied politely.

She gently nudged Clara back into the room and closed the door behind her.

Clara paced around the room restlessly. Even with the door shut, she couldn't shake off the strange feeling the old man had left behind.

"What's he still doing there?" she muttered.

She peeked through the wooden window.

To her surprise, the landlord was still standing outside.

His face looked tense, his eyes strangely fixed on the door. His lips moved rapidly as though he were muttering something under his breath.

Clara strained her ears, but she couldn't make out a single word.

"Oga Landlord!"

Her mother's voice suddenly rang out.

The old man jerked as though he had been caught doing something wrong.

"Ah! I'm leaving, I'm leaving," he stammered before hurriedly walking away.

Mrs. Chima watched him disappear into his apartment.

She shook her head.

"God forbid. Anything I don't know will never know me or my children," she whispered to herself before walking inside.

Before her mother entered, Clara quickly left the window and sat on a nearby chair.

She noticed her mother silently praying under her breath while repeatedly shaking her head.

Soon, dinner was ready.

Mrs. Chima served rice to her six children, and they all ate while waiting for their father's return. Mr. Chima arrived with his friends, chatting excitedly. They poured all kinds of sea creatures into a large basin and began sorting them.

"Francis! Anna! Clara! You people should come outside! Your dad is back!" their mother called.

The children rushed outside.

"Wow... gross!" Anna exclaimed in disgust.

Francis immediately smacked the back of her head.

"As if you won't eat it later," he said.

"But it looks irritating," Clara chipped in.

"That's because it just came straight from the sea. It hasn't been sorted yet. Come on, join them. Separate the fish, octopus, crayfish, and prawns. And don't stain your clothes," Mrs. Chima instructed.

The children exchanged reluctant looks before squatting down to help. They sorted the sea creatures alongside the older men, who couldn't stop chatting and laughing.

Before long, they were finished.

Mrs. Chima cooked some of the octopus and served it to the men. The children watched with watering mouths, hoping to get a taste.

Unfortunately, their mother served them crab soup instead.

"Yikes! Isn't there any better meat than this?" Annabella complained while chewing a crab leg.

"It's made that way. Stop complaining and eat your food," Francis replied.

Clara simply watched them argue. One thing she loved about herself was that she wasn't picky when it came to food. Everything eventually ended up in the stomach anyway.

She quietly ate her crab while Annabella continued whining and Francis kept teasing her.

After dinner, everyone ate to their fill. Mr. Chima's friends returned to their various homes, and the family prepared for bed.

---

"Meow... meow..."

Clara's eyes snapped open.

She sat upright immediately and looked around the dark room.

There was nothing.

Slowly, she lay back down.

"Meow... meow..."

The sound came again.

"The blood of Jesus!"

She heard her mother's frightened voice.

Mrs. Chima sprang to her feet and immediately began praying while lighting candles.

Clara watched silently.

Why must that sound come here too?

It was the same strange sound they had heard in their former compound back in town.

Why was it happening again?

The thought unsettled her.

She didn't want another round of sleepless nights.

Their former compound had been terrifying enough.

Almost every night, strange noises echoed through the darkness. Mysterious lights flashed around their room, and unexpected knocks rattled the gates and doors.

Many nights, the frightened tenants would gather for impromptu prayer vigils.

Clara didn't want any of that here.

She wanted peace.

She wanted sleep.

Why did every place they moved to seem troubled?

Mrs. Chima continued praying for a long time.

Eventually, the strange sound disappeared.

Relieved, Clara drifted back to sleep.

* * * Next Morning * * *

Mrs. Chima woke her six children for morning prayers, which they observed together before beginning their daily chores.

"Landlord, good morning," Mrs. Chima greeted warmly as soon as she stepped outside.

The old man turned and glared at her before looking away again.

"Ahh, what's wrong with him?" she muttered to herself.

"Landlord..."

"I don't need your greeting! Ah-ah!" he snapped angrily.

Mrs. Chima frowned.

"Are we quarreling?" she asked in confusion.

The old man simply adjusted himself in his chair and continued staring at her.

"Ha! God, please help me," she sighed before walking away.

After finishing their chores, the children gathered inside to watch movies on their father's phone since there was no electricity.

"All of you should listen," Mrs. Chima interrupted.

Francis groaned.

"If you try that nonsense with me again, I'll slap you," she warned sternly.

"Sorry, Mum," Francis replied immediately.

"You people should be careful in this compound. I'm going out now to see if I can locate our church around here. Maybe we'll start attending and give this man some space."

The children nodded.

"None of you should go outside until I return. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, Mum," they replied.

"Good. I'm going now."

She left immediately.

The children exchanged looks before returning to their movie.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Who's in the house?" came their landlord's voice.

Francis stood up immediately, but Clara grabbed his arm.

"Mum said we shouldn't go outside, remember?" she reminded him.

Francis hesitated.

"So we're just going to ignore him?" Helene asked.

"Yes. That's the best idea," Clara replied.

Helene rolled her eyes and hurried to the door before anyone could stop her.

She opened it.

"Ah, little girl! I thought nobody was at home. Where are your siblings?" Mr. Godfrey asked.

"They're inside," Helene answered.

"Alright then. I just wanted to check up on you children."

He smiled, pinched her cheek lightly, and patted her head.

"Good girl."

Then he left.

The moment Helene shut the door, Clara rounded on her.

"Seriously? Helene, are you okay?"

"He only came to check on us. What's the big deal?" Helene huffed as she collapsed onto the bed.

"Mum warned us not to answer the door, didn't she?" Francis said.

"But he—"

"Will you keep quiet?" Annabella cut in with a hiss.

"I'm sorry," Helene whispered, lowering her head.

"I'll still tell Mum," Clara declared firmly.

Helene scoffed.

Francis shook his head while Annabella remained silent.

Not long afterward, Mrs. Chima returned.

"Why isn't the door locked?" she asked immediately after greeting them.

"Helene answered the landlord!" Clara blurted out.

Mrs. Chima frowned.

"I don't understand."

"After you left, the landlord came. Helene opened the door and talked to him despite your warning," Clara explained.

Mrs. Chima's expression darkened.

"What did I tell you before I left?"

Before Helene could answer, a sharp slap landed on her cheek.

"Mum! I'm sorry—"

"Sorry for what?" Mrs. Chima interrupted angrily. "You people don't know anyone in this place, yet you're behaving carelessly!"

Helene burst into tears.

"This should be the first and last time I hear such a report."

She sat down and opened the nylon bag she had brought with her.

Inside were several fruits.

"Francis, get me a bowl, some water, and a knife."

Still upset, she watched Helene, who sat quietly with tears in her eyes.

Francis quickly obeyed.

Mrs. Chima washed the fruits and shared them among the children.