60 - The Pregnant Cry

"Toba, I'm not in support of you going to katsina alone". I remembered my mom telling me this. All I wanted to do was have fun and nothing else. Oh God! it was horrifying, I am all alone now, they are all dead and I am next to die. Whoever comes across this story.
I hope you'll never stay there. These were my final thoughts after I managed to escape from the land of the dead. It all started in June.
I had just graduated from University and still feeling fresh. Youth service was in October, I couldn't stay idle for 3 months, that was when different thought started coming. It was only right to travel to the northern part of Nigeria, there will be no better time than now, especially as I have lived in the south almost all my life, mostly in Lagos.
The thought of changing my environment got me really excited and I grabbed the phone and called Hassan my childhood friend, whom we both attended the same nursery, primary and secondary school before his father was transferred to katsina state. Hassan was so excited to hear I was coming and without a second thought he accepted my coming on behalf of his father. With that joy I started packing my things neglecting my mother's warning not to go to the north.
I had my full kit ready, firstly I subscribed my phone to keep my self busy I bought my favorite snacks and a drink (Gala and La Casera)to also keep my mouth busy. knowing fully well that I could literally spend the night on the road, I already had ear plugs on with the cool music I downloaded as I switch between browsing and listening to my cool music. Nature had to take its cause, as I was fast and asleep when a feminine cry woke me up, it was as if I was dreaming until the cry really pierced my ears, this time I quickly woke up and realized it was very dark.
I noticed a pregnant woman who was seating after the driver's seat, she was beautiful, with her pointed breast and pretty face. I was wondering if this was her first pregnancy, her sharp cry quickly ended my thoughts as she shouted "my water don break ooh"
I was confused as everyone was still fast asleep, it was as if I was the only one awake. I followed her eyes and noticed some liquid on the floor, she yelled this time" Bros, tell the driver please" the yelling actually woke everyone up.
We all had to quickly call the attention of the driver who have been ignoring all her calls.
We alighted from the bus and quickly reached a decision to save the woman's life and her baby. I now wished we did not stop. At this point, we took her to a clinic to put to birth while we look for an affordable hotel to rest for the rest of the night. The driver knew his way around, so in less than 30 minutes we had found a hotel. Could this be luck? We had seen a road side hotel which was going for as low as 1 thousand naira(1k) per night. I didn't know about the others but I jumped on the offer, all I was thinking about was (I can finally get to sleep and continue my journey the next day) but then I noticed something mysterious, I had seen a new born baby with its placenta walking, in a blink of an eye I didn't see this baby again, now I thought to myself(guy you tire sote your mind dey play tricks on you). I overlooked it, then paid my room and the receptionist gave me the keys to my room. I remember telling the receptionist that she looked like the pregnant woman in the bus, all she did was smile and say "You never can tell " I still overlooked this, I just wanted to sleep, then I climbed up to my room, opened the door, from that moment it felt like I wasn't alone. I still ignored my feelings, the time was 12:45 am and it was time to sleep, I set my alarm for 5:30 am and went straight to bed. I was enjoying my sleep until I started hearing a baby laugh, at this point I couldn't tell if I was sleeping or if I was awake, it was only right to stand up and check what was going on, I stood up in the dark, only to notice someone's eyes, white as snow staring at me, I tried shouting, I knew I was shouting but I suddenly couldn't hear my own voice, to make matters worse I started hearing continuous knocks on the glass window. Well I thought it was the window till I noticed it was from the mirror. Now the baby was crying out loud but it seems I was the only one, who could hear it,
I ran to the door but it wouldn't open, the baby kept coming closer, and this time I was sure the placenta was still there. Suddenly, from nowhere the mother appeared and called my name "Toba! Toba! Toba!" and after the third call I felt an internal shrive, I couldn't move anymore. She came close and placed her index finger on my forehead, I was too scared and I could see my whole life go in a blink of an eye. I could feel my life leaving me, I was powerless, then I heard a continuous bang on my door "bang bang bang" then the door cracked open very slowly, (I gasped for breath ) waiting to see if this was help. It was the driver, or what was left of him. No legs, no hands, no tongue and covered in blood, I barely recognized him, I could suddenly shout and move now, It was only right to shout but I didn't, I checked the time and it was just 3 am then I walked to the corridor and I could see the woman and her baby with razor sharp claws tearing another person apart, knowing they wanted to scare me and they knew I was watching and I was frozen. I finally went back into the room and I didn't close the door this time. I knew my fears were true when I started to hear the knock on the mirror again. This might be my last night.
To whom ever finds this, leave, quick. Don't look back.
Oh God! they are coming for me. I don't have much time. These have been my final thoughts and the last ones I might ever have. Please heed this warning. Be careful Where you go and who you help.

• Written by Sheba Ayo

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