Chapter Seven

"Tessa, bring my phone from my bed, it has been ringing non stop." Mom told me immediately I entered the parlour.

I hurriedly brought the phone to her, where she sat with her big reading glasses on the dining, with her big Bible in front of her. I knew at once that she was irritated because she was reading her Bible, when reading it, everyone knew not to disturb her.. it was a law, once the Bible was in front of her, and you disturbed her, it was automatically up to you to try and get her in a good mood again. So in a way, I pitied this person that was calling her, I really hoped it would be important, or else her mood would be sour for the rest of the day.

"Come again" my mom demanded in a weak voice. My neck whipped to her direction, mom's voice was hardly shaky, it was firm, especially when she was reading her Bible.

"Oh my God!" My mom said collapsing into her chair. I ran to her side worriedly.

She was just trembling, mumbling something under her breath, she removed her big reading glasses and put her face in her palm. I watched wordlessly, as my mom shook, I did not understand, and had no clue what was going on, I did not know what to do.

"Mommy what happened?" I asked gingerly. I did not want her to shout at me.

But there was no response, I wondered what could have gone wrong, I picked up her phone, and checked her recent caller, it was Uncle Efe, my grandma's brother. It was puzzling, why would Uncle Efe call my mother, they hardly spoke, so what on Earth did he tell her for her to be this way.

"Mom, you are scaring me... What is it?" I asked. It was true that I was scared, I have never seen my mother like that before.

"Go.. go and..call..go and call your fa..father." mom stuttered. That was when I knew, she was struggling not to cry.

I ran without wasting time, trying to remember where Dad said he was going to right before he left the house. Then I remembered, he said he was going to watch the football game between my small polo and another polo.

When I got there, panting and sweating from all the running, I met my dad there, shouting at the players from the spectators side of the small field they used to host local matches.

"Dad! Daddy!" I managed to shout.

Someone tapped him, and he stopped shouting and came to my side.

"Furo.." he called me by my language name.

"Did something happen? Why are you here?" He asked worried.

"Mom.. said.. should call you." I managed to get out in between pants. I don't know how he knew it was serious, but he followed me immediately.

It was when we got home, I heard that my grandma.. my mother's mother had passed away.

The news of my grandma's death was a shock to my sisters and I. I was not so sure it was a shock to her daughter, which was my mom, because she did not look so shocked when the news of her death reached my mom's ears. I for one rolled on the floor crying, staining my cheeks with tears and snot.

Time for the burial rites came, we had to get her body from the mortuary, and children were not allowed, but mom had forgotten the identification slip that was given to them when they first brought the body, she forgot it in the car. She called me on the phone to bring it, as children were not allowed in the mortuary.

When I got close, my nose probably died from the smell of dead, decaying bodies. When I called Mom out, she said that it normally didn't see so bad, but a body was already decayed, they just took it away for burial.

When I got back to the car, the smell was stuck in my head, I couldn't get rid of it, no matter how I tried.

Exactly four weeks after the burial rites were concluded. I had a dream. And now I dreaded my dreams, I didn't want to dream anymore.

I was walking around, watching for a fire, or some occultists to pop up, but I did not find any, it got me worried, because I was not used to the fire, but at least I knew what I was expecting. I pinched my knee, in order to wake up, I didn't want to dream anymore, however, before I could properly pinch myself. I perceived it. That pungent smell, that smell that messed with my nose for a while.

The smell of death. I swallowed, what was this. I didn't even recognize the road I was on. I looked around, and suddenly my house was in view, I ran to it, even if I was sure it was not anything good, I just wanted it to be over.

When I got in, the pungent smell was stronger, I almost puked. I crossed my fingers behind my back, and wished with all my heart, that this was just a dead cat or dog. There was a closed door, it was our storage room in real life, the smell coming from it was stronger. I pushed it open, only slightly as it was strong, like something heavy was placed at the back.

I peeked from the tiny crack, there was a couch, someone was laying on the couch. I could only see the legs clad in black leggings. I tried to see who it was, I couldn't see it. I pushed harder. It moved an inch, I could see to the knees now.

"Hey!" I shouted frustrated, even if I knew the person didn't hear me. The smell was really really strong. It only meant one thing.. I didn't want to say it. So I pushed harder, and it opened, just when I wanted to see the face. I woke up.

I groaned frustrated. I wanted to know who it was. I really did want to know. The legs were familiar, I was almost certain I knew the legs.

The smell came again, I asked my sisters if they could perceive it, they said no. I got scared. Why could I perceive this in real life. I got so scared I had to tell my dad. And we fasted, and prayed. The smell stopped abruptly after the fast.

One afternoon, I came back from school, and opened the door, I saw Terra, lying down on the couch, wearing a black leggings, exactly the way it was in my dream. My eyes widened and I ran to her. Placing my palm on her forehead, I prayed and declared life upon her.

"Tessa, are you okay?" Mom asked.

I got up, teary eyed, she hugged me. I later learned that I was crying and praying for fourty minutes straight. But it was worth it..

Terra, was safe. And the smell stopped.