Chapter 2 2

We parked newly to a town called Iyo-rong in Andoni,Rivers State and things turned upside down for our family.

We were quite rich when we lived in a more civilized town than this remote island. There was much famine which caused the high rate of theft, kidnappings, cultism, killing and all manner of audacious acts.

"Mum how.lomg would we stay here??"Francis the first son of Mr and Mrs Chima paulinus asked frustrated with the way things were.

Little Annabella, Clara, Helene, Isabella and Samuel just kept staring at the strange looking place looking puzzled.

They've never lived in such a house before.

Clara patter her younger brother Samuel to sleep in other to avoid disturbance while others packed.

Mrs Chima sighed pulling out her bag,"Honey don't worry...things would be fine,let's go in"She smiled warmly as the little boy still had a questioning look.

"But mum....."

"Enough of it Francis!"She cut him harshly trying hard to control her anger.

"Alright everyone, let's go in"Their father said from behind carrying their heavy bag of clothes.

They arranged everywhere as they all sighed in relief.

"I'll be going out to catch some games with new friends I made....maybe we could get something out of it"Mr Chima finally spoke standing up.

Mrs Chima nodded while the kids stared blanky at him.

He left while the kids faced their mum,"where is he going?"They asked in utmost unison.

"To work of course,he was transferred here still a corporal,you don't expect him to leave his job"their mum explained.

"Oh I see"Francis exclaimed resting himself back to the chair.

Clara stared as her mum for a while,she knew mum was lying a bit but there was no need asking because it was of no use and it could add more annoyance to her mum.

She walked to where Samuel laid and patted him gently to enjoy his sleep.

"Alright lemme prepare something for you guys to eat before your father arrives"Mrs Chima stated walking out of the room as she bumped into the landlord.

"Aww sorry, I didn't mean to!"She apologized immediately.

"Nah.nah,it's okay!"The old man swiped it off quickly as Clara rushed to see who her mum was talking to.

He seemed old but strong, Clara watched closed feeling irritated and scared at the sight of him.

"Hello kid?"He shone his brightly brown 32 as she shifted back due to the excess scent of snuff and alcohol.

She rubbed her nose with her index finger while the old man sought for a perfect opportunity to touch Clara.

Mrs Chima realising this interrupted them seeing her child's uneasy-ness,"uhm landlord how family nah??"

"Oh fine but I'm just alone now,my wife's dead while my children are abroad"He explained grinning.

Clara could see his alluring dark aura.

This man is so creepy!-She thought.

"Oh I see"Mrs Chima smiled,she pushed Clara in a bit before moving out closing the door before her.

Clara walked to an fro in the room,she could still feel the man's aura around the door post.

"What's he still doing there??"She questioned peeking on the wooden window,She could see his gritted face,his eyes shining like they would pop out of it's socket as his lips moved rapidly.

It felt like her was saying something.

"Oga land lord!!!"Her mother's voice interrupted the engrossed man sternly as he shook to the call.

"Ah,I'm leaving,I'm leaving"He staggered out immediately .

Mrs Chima walked to the door,stared at the old man who entered his own apartment in haste and fright.

She shook her shoulders in rejection,"God forbid! anything I don't know will never know me and my children"She whispered to her self walking in.

Clara rushed out of the window to s nearby seat before her mum could come in.

She could feel her mum was praying inwardly as she constantly shook her head.

Dinner the rice was ready and Mrs Chima dished out to her sux children while they all are to their fill awaiting their father's return.

*******

Mr Chima came with his friends chattering, they poured all kind of sea creatures into a bug basin as they selected it.

""Francis! Anna! Clara!!,you people should come outside oh,your dad is back!"Their mum yelled from outside as the kids rushed to them.

"Waoh.. gross!!"Anna exclaimed irritatedly as Francis yanked her head aggressively.

"As if you'll not eat it"Francis said.

"But it looks irritating"Clara chipped in.

"That's because it's direct from the sea,it's not yet selected...come one,join them..keep the fish, octopus, crayfish and prawns differently,don't let it stain your clothes too"Mrs Chima interrupted the kids as their faces turned into a squeeze.

They squatted selecting them alongside the older men who couldn't stop laughing and chatting.

Sooner, they were done as Mrs Chima cooked the octopus giving the older men to taste.The kids salivated over it watching them but couldn't taste it as their mother ended up giving them crab soup which they didn't find funny.

"Yikes! Is there no better flesh in this??, this is annoying"Annabel whined frustrated chewing the crab legs.

"It's created that way,stop complaining and eat it!"Francis said to her.

Clara just watched them argue,good thing she wasn't a selecter when it comes to food, everything always goes to the stomach and the useless one out through the anus.

She are her crab with less concern while her older sister whined and her elder brother mocking her.

They all are to their fill they evening as everyone departed to their various houses while the family went to bed together.

"Meow... meow..."Clara could hear some car strange sound as her eyes opened,she sprang up immediately but couldn't see anyone or a thing.

She laid down on the bed feeling uneasy.

"Meow....meow"it came again.

"The blood of Jesus!"She could hear her mother's scream as she felt her standing up.

She began praying lighting up the candles,Clara watched her mum pray.

Why must the sound come here huh??

This was the same demonic sound they heard in their former compound in town,why must it start here too??She thought

She didn't want to have anymore sleepless nights.

Their former compound was something else with nothing to write home about.

At night there was series of alarming scary noises,brightly flashy lights straying around the room, unexpected knocks on the gates and doors, this frightened everyone and it sometimes leads to general compound night vigil.

She didn't want that here,she wanted a peaceful night sleep!why must everywhere be tormented??!

Her mum prayed for quite a while which made the sound vanish as Clara fell asleep.

******Next day*****

Mrs Chima woke her six children up for prayes which they all did in perfect Harmony.

They greeted each other and set off for their morning chores.

"Landlord good morning...."Mrs Chima greeted the old man warmly as soon as she came out.

He turned to her angrily then back to what he was staring at.

"Ahh!what's wrong with him??"Mrs Chima murmured to herself,"landlord...."

"I don't need you greeting!ah ah!"He fired up angrily.

"Ah,are we quarreling??"She asked puzzled which made the old man stare at her angrily adjusting on his chair.

"Ha!,God please oh!"Mrs Chima sighed walking out .

They all did their morning chores and moved in to watch movie on their father's phone since there was nothing like power supply.

"All of you should listen!"Mrs Chima came in between their utmost happiness making Francis grumble.

"If you dare me and Rey that nonsense again I'll give you slap!"She warned Francis sternly,"sorry mum"came his apologetic response.

"You people should be careful in this compound,I'm going out now, let me see if I can find our church here too,maybe we'll attend and give this man some space"She explained and they all nodded.

"None of you should go out until I'm back,do you hear me?"She warned while they nodded.

"Good I'm going"She stated moving out immediately.

The kids exchanged looks and shrugged it out while they continued with their movie.

Suddenly,they heard a knock on the door,"who's in the house??"their landlord's voice came up.

Francis recognizing the voice stood to his feet but was immediately dragged down by Clara,"mum said we shouldn't go out remember??",She reminded as he thought for a while.

"So we should just ignore Jim??"Helene chipped in."Yes it's the best idea"Clara stated as Helene hissed rushing to door to open it before anyone could stop her.

"Ah,young baby!, I thought no one was at home,where is your other siblings??"The landlord, Mr Godfrey asked immediately.

"They're fine!"Helene replied flatly."alright that's good,just wanted to check up on you guys"He smiled pinching her cheek a little,"Good girl!"He patted her head before leaving.

"Seriously??"Helene are you okay??"Clara yelled at her as soon as she closed the door.

"He only came to check on us what's the big deal??"Helene huffed collapsing in their mini bed.

"Mummy warned us not to go out didn't she??"Francis voice came up.

"But he.."

"Will you keep quite?!"Annabella shushed her immediately with a hiss.

"I'm sorry"Helene whispered in guilt,she lowered her head fidgeting with the hem of her dress, "I'll still tell mummy!"Clara stated firmly as soon as she sat down.

Helene scoffed silently,Francis shook his head while Annabella just kept mute laying on the bed.

Their mum arrived sonner than expected as she entered,"why's th door not locked?"She questioned as soon as they all greeted her.

"Helene answered the landlord!"Clara blurted out.

"I don't understand"The woman stated.

"As you left,the landlord came and Helene answered him despite our warning"Clara explained as Mrs Chima glared at Helene,"what did I tell you people before leaving??"She questioned landing a hot slap on the girl's cheek.

She wailed,"I'm sorry mum....I"

"You what??"She interrupted immediately,"you people don't know who is who here and you're busy doing nonsense!"She yelled out.

"This should be the first and last time I'll get this report again"She warned sitting down.She opened the nylon she was with and brought out some fruits,"Francis get me a bowl with water and knife"She ordered still angry as she glared at Helene who was still whimpering and avoiding her gaze.

He rushed and got a bowl which his mum used in washing the fruit as she shared it accordingly among them.