1 Valerie

In a particular neighbourhood, a quiet surrounding, was a house that stood tall and beautiful in the moonless night.

In the house was a young girl on her bed. She was writhing as beads of sweats appeared on her forehead and if one was to touch her skin, it'd burn like fire.

' Valerie...

Valerie... ' they called her

' why are you running away from me??

I won't hurt you

come on' he said and she shook her head, he gave her the creeps

' Valerie!

Valerie! ' he called her trying to reach out to her

" no no no" she murmured, she didn't want him to touch her, his touch was painful, she could feel it from where she was.

Then the scene changed and Valerie found herself in the arms of a light skinned woman, her grand aunt.

' don't cry child

it's gonna be alright

you are now one of them

you are now one of them' she said to her in their native language

one of them??

As in one of the seers?? she opened her mouth to ask when suddenly she felt extremely dizzy and her mind went blank. The dreams had stopped.

It was just two hours to the next day when this happened.

And as usual Valerie woke up with a headache as a knock came on her door " Valerie, are you awake honey? " she heard her mother ask before she opened the door and stepped in with a cup of brewed green tea. There was excitement dancing in her mother's eyes as she placed the cup on the table by her bed side " how was your night dear?? " she asked but Valerie as usual could not say anything but nod, her head ached madly.

" I brought you your tea here have it" her mother said and lifted the cup of steaming green tea to her lips.

" what did you see?? " she asked when Valerie had taken some sips from the tea knowing the tea had worked its magic.

Valerie stared at her mother from the corner of her eye. It was no surprise to her, her mother was even more excited about what she dreamt of than herself.

She was the mother of a seer after all.

" I saw grand aunt" she said leaving the other part of the dream out as none of her family members thought it was important, they'd say it was just her imagination and the part where she saw any of her late family members was the main deal.

" really what did she say?? "

" the same thing they've all been saying that I'm now part of them"

Her mother smiled " yes it's a confirmation that you are truly what we said you are, a seer, my little seer" she said caressing her face " drink up, shower and come down for breakfast I'll go call your grandma and tell her who you saw this time" she nodded and watched her mother leave the room.

Valerie sighed gulping the liquid wholly.

Some minutes later Valeria was walking down the stair cases from her room that led to the sitting room as she heard her parent conversing loudly

" she saw Flora last night" her mother said

" nothing else?? " she heard her father ask and immediately knew what her mother's next words would be as it was not the first time they were having such a conversation

"And why would you even ask that?? that's not how seer things work, it's one step at a time"

"you've been telling me that for a long time now Eva, when will she start seeing more useful things like proclaiming the future of my business?? " Valeria frowned as it was the first time she heard her father speak that way.

" Jonah!" Eva exclaimed not pleased with her husband's selfish thoughts of their daughter's ability, yes they all had expectations but speaking about it was what she'd never do and to her daughter's hearing too.

She only hoped Valerie did not come to know.

" she's your daughter! "

" the more reason she should try her best to foresee the future for us, if my business progresses, she benefits from it as well so stop making it sound like I'm being selfish, I am sure you have your own selfish thoughts on this" Jonah said as Eva looked at him incredulously " you're un... "

" good morning mom good morning dad" Valerie interrupted walking into the dining room and Eva kept quiet on what she was about to say " morning dear" she replied motioning her to sit but not without sending a glare her husband's way.

" How was your night Valerie?? " Jonah asked his daughter not lifting his eyes off the plate of food in front of him " It was alright" Valerie replied and the table fell silent as no one spoke not until they were done eating, tension in the air.

" mom can you drop me off at Eyare's house, we have an assignment to do together?? " Valerie asked wiping her mouth " sure come on" Eva replied from the kitchen as she had also finished eating and Valerie stood up from her seat and left the dining hall without saying a word to her father.

Eva glanced at her husband from the kitchen and saw his expression,

" she probably heard you" she remarked a pleased look falling on her face at the angered expression on his face " take care"

When they arrived at Eyare's house, Eva said to her daughter " don't mind what your father said, he's just tensed, you know his business has not been going too well lately" Valerie nodded and got out of the car before her mother could say anything more and Eva watched her till she was received by a girl who looked ecstatic to see her.

" Valerie! it's so nice to see you again, how have you been?? " a chubby dark skinned woman exclaimed when the girls stepped into the sitting room and pulled Valerie into her arms " good morning ma"

" morning dear you've come to see your friend eh?? "

"yes ma"

" eyaaa nice girl! I'll send some biscuits and fruit juice for you later okay?? "okay ma thank you" Valerie replied a smile spread across her face, "what about me?? " Eyare asked feeling left out and her mother chided her saying " you've been eating all that since before she came, don't you want her to have some, don't be stingy Eyare" the girl pouted not pleased with her mother.

And as they walked up to her room, She could not help saying " you must share your snacks with me when mommy brings it or else... "

" Or else what??" a voice boomed from behind the girls " don't forget she's the one helping you with your assignment, so if you have any atom of sense try to please her instead" it was Eyare's elder brother, Dominion

" And did I ask for your opinion, ajayi no salary you'll not mind your own business! " The girl spat not in the least repentant " come on let's go Val" she said pulling Valerie along with her not giving the chance for any further interaction.

An hour later the girls were almost done with their school work when Eyare excused herself to the toilet as she had been pressed for a long time.

" Ahhhh... " a girl's high pitched scream was heard followed by loud pleading words " please don't touch me please please.... " And almost immediately Eyare's brother came running into the room her mother and a servant girl trailing behind " Valerie what happened?? " he asked but the girl was as silent as a dove as her eyes were wide a glassy look in them " Valerie?? " Eyare's mother called moving cautiously towards the girl as all thoughts that crossed her mind was it was Valerie who screamed.

" where's Eyare?? " the servant girl asked no one in particular and panic sipped into Dominion's veins, he glanced around and his eyes fell on the toilet door, with a bang he stepped into the toilet and he was taken aback by what he saw....