#HauntedHotel Entry 11 - Hurting The Finger

I tried giving my cousin a ring, while simultaneously keeping a firm hand on the wheel. I had just arrived in Edo state for the holidays and it was dark, lonely and even threatening to rain. I was lost, confused and angered by the fact she wasn't even picking up.

I decided to call her boyfriend to alert him, so he could at least take me to her place, since it was my first time here.

"Bisola, see all the mess you've gotten yourself into" I scolded myself, sourly. That was when I felt it. While going through my phone, I had stumbled on something; something heavy. My phone fell from my fingers and made it's way under my car seat. I struggled to search for it, with the fear at the back of my mind that I might have injured someone. I finally gave up, deciding to look for it later on. My heart thumped heavily in my chest as I put the car to a halt and mentally prepared myself for whatever lay before me, literally.

As I made to open my car door, I screamed at whomever it was, grinning at me with his big white teeth that certainly made an impression. It was an elderly man who looked unkempt, had a cap on and he kept peering at me intently which scared me to bits.
"Who are you?!" I screamed, knowing he couldn't hear me with the window up. He made an expression with his hands, which I interpreted was supposed to imply he meant no harm.

I wound down my glasses cautiously when I felt he was harmless.
"Who are you?" He grinned at me again with his white teeth and I gulped, nervously.
"Mr. Dipo, caretaker. You hurt someone" I immediately remembered and got out of my car after putting on my headlamps to have a clearer view.
"I know, I'm so sorry. Is it serious?" I wrapped my blue shawl around my shoulders as it was drizzling already. I looked down at my bonnet, but didn't see anyone and heaved a sigh of relief.

"There's no one here, Sir" I said to him. "Look there. You hurt..." I looked at the direction he pointed. There was a severed, bloody forefinger very close to my tyre and I stepped back, sick. "...The Finger"

"You hurt The Finger" He said, repeatedly, like that was supposed to mean something. "I, I-" I stepped back, still staring at him. There was no white teeth, no smiles just a stern face and a menacing tone. Thunder and lightning struck, I saw murder in his eyes and I almost jumped out of my skin.

"No one hurts The Finger" He was approaching me, with a machete I didn't even knew he had. I hurriedly took to my heels and ran like my life depended on it, which it quite frankly did.

I didn't know where I was nor where I was going, but this wasn't the time to second guess myself. I stumbled across bushes and trees, while the continous echo of "The Finger" sent shivers down my spine. There were goosebumps down my arm and I silently cursed my cousin, who had put me in this predicament.
My feet hit a tree stump and I came crashing to the ground, panting heavily. I wiped the bead of sweat from my forehead and squinted behind me, looking for any signs of the Big White Teeth.
"No one hurts The Finger and gets away with it" The echoes drew closer and I sprinted once more. Everyone had warned me about the weird stuff that went on in Edo state but I didn't believe it up until now; when I was running through the dark from some weirdo who went on and on about his useless finger, bruised and wet.

Finally, I spotted a hotel. It looked rundown and creepy but it was brightly lit so I decided to take my chances. I ran towards it and barged in, still breathing heavily. At the reception a young man in a red uniform welcomed me with an uncertain expression on his face. I knew I looked a horrid mess, hence appreciated it when he conducted himself professionally and asked if I wanted a room.
"Yes, I'd like to spend the night here" I replied, still looking over my shoulder. "A single or double?" He asked bringing out a notebook. "Em... You see, I have no money with me here. But I assure you, I would pay up tomorrow... with interest." The edges of his lips widened into a smile to reveal the pair of teeth that looked familiar. The Big White Teeth! Before I could react however, he had already taken out a key and gestured for me to follow him.

"So, it's okay?" I asked unsure. He smiled at me once more and assured me it was fine. I wrapped my shawl tighter around my arms, shivering. The whole place was empty and you could hear a pin drop. He led me to a dimly lit room and handed me the key.
"Thanks" "Don't mention" He replied and scurried away.

I sighed, exhausted. I felt safer and prayed for morning to come so this nightmare could be over. I took a shower and went to bed; not realizing that the nightmare had just begun.

It was 2:00am when I woke up, panting. I knew this by the alarm clock on my bedside. I had just had a horrible dream. The Big White Teeth was chasing me, telling me I won't get away with it. I dreamt he had climbed up the hotel and entered in through my window. I sat upright and looked towards the window, unprepared for what I saw.
"Arghhhhhhhh!" The old man was grinning at me with his white teeth, in his left hand the head of a man, his eye sockets bored out. In his right hand a machete he swung dangerously. "He hurt The Finger" He said to me and in one swift move, used the head of the man to shatter my window.

I screamed and screamed till I could hear myself scream and was terrified for me. He threw the head at me, and it hit me on the bosom before falling to the ground.
"No one gets away with hurting the finger. No one." He entered through my window, continuously swinging his machete.

I turned to the door and made to leave but the receptionist who had let me in earlier walked in.
"Where do you think you're going?" He asked, flashing his own set of white teeth. He unveiled his machete too, only his was bloodied.

I was paralyzed with fear and knew instantly then and there I was going to die. In an instant of adrenaline, I picked up the alarm clock and sent it crashing on the White Teeth's accomplice. He fell to the ground and I made my escape. I ran out the hallway and fled down the stairs; noticing that they were bloody heads rolling down the stairs as well. The heads were smiling at me, flashing their big white teeth at me and I resisted the increasing urge to puke my gut out.

By the time I had gotten to the door, I saw the Big White Teeth had beat me to it.
"Say hello to your Maker" He sent the machete crashing down on me and I screamed so hard.

I arose from the disturbing dream, still screaming. I was still on the road, I had probably fallen asleep behind the wheel. It was morning, I noticed heaving a sigh of relief.

"You hurt something" The familiar voice stood at the window, grinning at me. I screamed, turned on my ignition and accelerated as fast as I could. I had to leave this town ASAP before I ran mad. I checked my rearview mirror to see what I had actually hit; it was a cat.

• Written by Janelle