Echoes of my youth

Chapter five

5th February, two days prior to the disaster of 7th , I started having acting like someone possessed with uncontrollable desire to either steal or cause havoc. I stole Arnold's feeding money that he kept in his cupboard, not only that I laid abusive words on him, calling his mum a harlot and that he wasn't a legitimate child of his parents, He wasn't the only one that I abused, I once abused my English teacher in front of the entire class.

"You just an old fat pig and you will die poor " those were the words I could remember, He immediately took me to the staff room where every teacher took turns to beat me up, the worse part is that I didn't feel any pain, rather I laughed at them in a way to provoke them.

What happened if I can recall is this.

4th February, I went to night class, everyone in the class were acting strange, and despite the hot weather, I felt like I was in a deep freezer,

"Arnold can't you feel this cold" I asked my friend

"No, I can't, maybe you just having a fever" he replied

"No am not sick, I just had a treatment last month", I said

"Guess it's back". he answered.

"let's continue reading, you know we have physics test tomorrow and I don't want to fail". he added

Me too I said.

"Don't you find it odd that Christopher is using a pencil to write, he hardly does". I added

But he's using a pen. where did you see a pencil. Arnold said

At that instance, Christopher smiled at me wickedly. That smile looked familiar. The boy's smile. I immediately ran outside, only to be stopped at the door by the senior that was assigned to our class for the night.

I was asked to pick pin as my punishment for ten minutes. After that duration, I was sent inside.

"Why did you run out like that . Arnold asked me. "Are you ok".

"Am not ok, Christopher is acting strange and you can't see it". I said

But Christopher was acting strange Arnold said

"Nevermind I will focus on reading my book" I answered.

The night went smoothly and we went to our dormitory and then, The lights out. Due to tiredness, I slept at the stroke of lights out.

Then I immediately had a dream, The scene was in our house, my parents were having a good time, dancing and my siblings watched them with smiling faces. Then I saw them all turned dead in front of me, every single one collapsed on the floor. Then I heard a melody, it sounded like the one my neighbors son's doll that he used to brag to us who couldn't afford one. I followed the sound and got into a dark room void of anything.

"Anyone here" I asked

I immediately saw my headmistress on her favorite chair in school, filled with joy I ran to greet her, but I was stopped halfway.

"Don't come any closer to me, you thief" she shouted

I felt so bad hearing those words from her

"But I did nothing ma'am, I have changed for the best" I replied.

You think so.

Then I had a sudden flashback

Remember I said that she died mysteriously, yes she did.

When she gave me that rosary and requesting me to make her a promise, the little boy was there, he was listening to everything she said.

When I left her office with the promise of returning, he forced her to fall asleep, then he took her heart out spiritually and that was how she slept and never woke up.

I immediately regained consciousness

"You were responsible for my death" my headmistress said

"I didn't do anything ma'am, I never had anything in mind to hurt you". I said weeping bitterly

"Forgive me ma'am, am sorry" I added

"Am hurt here son, you were a cursed child. nothing good comes out from you".

"Look we have here" A voice interrupted " you have come to see me"

Who are you. I asked trembling

It's me your best friend. the voice replied

Elijah? I asked

The voice laughed, "No it's you."

My best friend is Elijah Ekok and you are not my friend. I immediately added.

In one instant, the little boy appeared in front of me.

I crawled back in shock begging for help from my headmistress who just stood there watching me battle for my Life.

"The time has come for you to die". The boy said

"please help me" I begged for my life

Immediately I woke up from sleep, sweating due to the nightmare.

I said a little prayer and went back to sleep.