Chapter 1

My name is Mary, and I'm 21. Since so many guys stop and look at me, I believe I could pass for a particularly attractive woman. 

My hair is obviously too long for the typical African woman, who is tall and has dark skin. crazy huh?, I talk to spirits.

Actually, I had no idea that I would end up being in this situation.

A medical student at the University of Lagos, I had big dreams and ambitions. I was in my fifth year and looking forward to graduating soon when it became clear that life had other, more miserable plans for me.

One specific night as I was returning from school, everything began. 

I made the decision to stop by a nearby new supply store because I was hungry and exhausted and to buy some snacks and soft drinks.

It being just 8 p.m., the neighborhood seemed normally peaceful, but the nighttime darkness was unusually dense and, to make matters worse, there was no electricity. 

I complained, "Kai, Nepa!" when I realized I had some homework to finish. 

As I walked home, I hummed along to the music I had in my earphone.

I entered my compound and went straight to my room. Even its quietness confused me; after all, on a typical day, Frank, Chike, and a few other neighbors would be outside debating football or politics. As I jumped onto my comfortable bed, I immediately pushed the thought out of my head. I had just started to chew my Gala sausage when I heard a loud scream.

"No please!, somebody help!".

Anita's room was the final room where the voice was heard. As I activated the illumination on my phone and walked toward the source of the scream, I pondered what might be wrong. I thought it odd because Anita is a very reserved and quiet person. I hardly ever knew if she was at home or not.

"Hello Anita Are you okay? "I asked from the outside. I knocked three times and received no response before forcing the door open.

It was one of the most shocking things I had ever seen. The moment Anita's lifeless body washed up in front of me in a pool of blood with her neck broken, I remained still and unmoving, tears streaming from my eyes. To stop the scream from coming out of my mouth, I cupped my left palm over my mouth.

I wondered who could have committed such a crime. Anita was a shy girl who didn't deserve to pass away in that manner. I stood there for more than 30 minutes, thinking a lot while I did until I heard a loud thud from outside. I accidently banged my leg against the wooden furniture next to her bed as I was making my way to the door and heard what sounded like the door being slammed shut from the outside, I realized it was time for me to go find help. The room was suddenly incredibly dark, and I struggled to find my phone after it slid off. I also realized that it was cold.

I thought to myself as I bent over in the dark to get my phone, "I should hurry to my room, grab a few clothes, and head to Jane's." My hands brushed against my phone, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized it had gone off after it had fallen. I then turned it back on.

Unexpectedly, it said "battery low, 14 percent," and I groaned since I knew that once the battery in my phone fell below 15%, my flashlight would stop working. But, I reasoned to myself, it was completely charged before I left school today. I had better move quickly because, I reasoned, if I lingered in this chamber any longer, I might too become a victim of murder.

I turned up the light on my phone and walked over to the door. The door knob was hard and difficult for me to turn. I persisted in kicking, shoving, and battling with the door, but it remained closed.