Slow distant music could be heard from the living room, children giggling and the terrible alarm went off as Hakeem snapped out from his slumber. He could smell breakfast and mum yelling at the kids.
" Stop playing with your food kids,your aunty will be here to get you soon ".
Aunty Suzy had been married for over twenty years without issues, she takes her nieces to her home every weekends.
" Hakeem!!,have you changed your mind going to the village?"
" Oh my God!"
He rushes to the bathroom,had a quick bath and minutes later joined his mom in the dining.
" I almost forgot mom,where's daddy?"
" He'd soon join us,he's at the porch reading news papers"
" speak of the devil"
" Hakeem you're still home?".
" I thought you'd take me to the bus park dad?"
Hakeem hurriedly finished his food and asked for a napkin.
" I wonder how you're immune to heartburn" whispered his mom.
" Is there anything i can do to stop you from going to that village?,if you want to see grandma, i can arrange for her to come here".
" No mom,its not about seeing grandma,i want to know my root"
" I have never been to the village before, neither had my siblings, i'm turning twenty next month and you think its okey?, no mom, ive made up my mind, nothing can stop me now".
" I know how you feel son, when you get to Akada village,make sure you call this number, his name is Agbo, he's an old friend", his dad handed over a small note to him.
" I'll do just that dad". He hugs his mum who lackadaisically gave him a hug. He hanged his huge bag pack like someone going away for months and followed his dad to the car,holding his twin sisters as they played.
" Aunty Suzy!" both the kids shouted, racing towards the gate to be carried by her.
" Good morning aunty"
" Keem, you're about to leave right?"
" yes ma" Hakeem grinned.
" Greet your grandma for me okey?,and don't forget to bring yams, its now expensive at the market. safe journey my boy" she waved and went inside the house with the kids.
" young man, hop in or you'll miss your bus".
He's father sounded the horn as Hakeem slammed his door shut, they drove out of the compound onto the dirt road and sped away.
" Enugu! enugu!" yelled sweaty men with raggedy clothes at the middle of the park.
" That is your bus Hakeem, sit inside while i go pay for your ticket"
His father returned moment later with his ticket and handed it over to him.
" Hey, remember all what I've told you, don't talk to strangers and...
" This is not my first time travelling dad, i got this" he cuts in.
" Okey, give your grandma this" he dipped his hand in his pocket and gave Hakeem a bundle of one thousands naira notes.
" Tell her its for her upkeep and yours for the time being".
Hakeem never bothered counting the money, as other passengers became interested in their conversation.
" Call me when you arrive" he winked and hurriedly went into his car and drove away.
About half an hour later, the bus became full and ready to leave, a preacher began praying and leading people to repentance by the side of the window,while other passengers gave him money,he looked at Hakeem for a moment and was about saying something when the bus began moving, he followed the bus down the road, running not caring about the dust being blown into his face, saying to Hakeem through the window
" Bro pray hard!!, bro pray!". Until he could no longer keep up.
Everybody was amazed and someone asked
" Do you know that preacher?"
" No, i don't!" he replied.
Surprised by the preacher, Hakeem thought maybe the stunt he pulled was to probably get money from him. Few hours later, the bus got to Enugu as passengers covered in sweat hurried to get off the bus for comfort.
" Excuse me, where can i get the bus going to Akada Village?" Hakeem asked security man at the park in Enugu.
" Are you going to Akada village?, are you a pastor?".
" No I'm not, i'm visiting my grandmother".
" People don't go to Akada by this time of the year ".
" but why?" asked Hakeem curiously.
" I can't tell you my child, its forbidden to even talk about it".
" sir can you please show me the vehicle going to Akada" Hakeem insisted.
The old man gazed at Hakeem for a while, later he called out to somebody from a distance.
" Kunle!, you have a passenger ".
A man could be seen jogging towards them, and without asking questions, he took Hakeem's bag pack and loaded it in his old Peugeot 504 vehicle.
" Sir, you're the last passenger, get in lets get going before night falls" the driver suggested.
Soon the car started and sped away, now hungry but he wouldn't buy anything to eat at the roadside because he will vomit. passengers stopped one by one after an hour ago until Hakeem was left alone with the driver.
" Sir are you a priest?".
" why does everyone keep asking me that?, do i look like a priest to you?" he asked the driver
" sorry don't be offended, i just needed to know. where will i drop you?"
" drop me at Saints Luke secondary school".
Its already 6;49 pm and its already getting dark.
" how much is your money?"
" One thousand"
Something began howling in the bushes nearby,the driver out of fear jammed the passenger's door and sped away into the darkness,leaving Hakeem in total amazement.
" What is wrong with this people?,well my luck"
He dipped his hand in his pocket to get his phone to dial Agbo's number to come get him, but his battery was dead, now desperate. he took his bag and began heading into the village.
He heard footsteps behind him, he stopped. everywhere was silent, he continued walking and the footsteps continued then he felt a tap on the shoulder, he almost got a heart attack.
" Hey, it seems you're lost" asked a girl in her early twenties.
" Yea, i sure am. Thank God, i was beginning to think there's a curfew or something" he tried to be funny.
" its Masquerade season, people don't go out while its gets dark".
" that explains why the driver ran away without collecting his money" he laughed.
" and you're not scared?" he asked hoping for a reply.
" Hakeem!" called out a voice from the group of men approaching them.
" My name is Agbo, your father called and asked if you've arrived the village, so i brought some men in search for you, thank the gods you're okey" he sighed.
" I'm fine uncle Agbo as you can see, are you also scared of masquerades that you brought men along with you?" Hakeem couldn't control his laughter.
" Masquerades?, who told you that?"
" I thought you said its masquerade sea....son" he turned to ask the girl he was talking to earlier but found no one.
" Did you forget something?".
" No, there was a girl that escorted me from saints Luke's junction to this place, i cant find her".
" A girl by this time? quick!, hold his bag and dont stop until i tell you to" Agbo commanded. They ran as if they were being chased by hostile bull.
They got into a compound and ran into a house,all gasping for air, Agbo slammed the door shut, waking mama from her sleep.
" Hakeem my boy, is that you?"
" Yes grand ma" he walked towards her and she gave him a warm hug.
" What on earth were we running away from?" he asked unlocking himself from mama's embrace.
" Mama, i think Hakeem had an encounter with Karaba!" he said with a trembling voice.
Grandma gasped in shock as she ordered...
" pull off your clothes, Hakeem and come outside with me. Agbo bring me a bucket of water and tell your friend to go get me Ugu leaves from the kitchen now!".
" who's Karaba" Hakeem asked.
" No time for questions, remove your clothes young man". He removed his clothes, leaving only his underwear on.
" here's the water and Ugu leaves.
" She hurriedly dipped the leaves into water three times, and began reciting an incantation, she began dipping the leaves into water and started sprinkling the water on him.
" This boy is far from your reach Karaba, you're not welcomed in this compound she recited. Minutes later she took him in and warned him sternly not to wipe the water off his body.
" they should dry on their own" she said.
" what was that mama?".
" That was a cleansing ritual".
" But why" he asked shivering.
" You met Karaba the sorceress, legend has it that when you see her, you'll become her prey and she'll not stop until you die. The ritual i just concluded is to fortify this compound and you also so she doesn't come to this place, as long as you're in this house, you're safe".
" But mama, she looks harmless and nice".
" she's a witch, my son. she has the power to take any form, so don't be fooled.
Hakeem became terrified, if Agbo and those men hadn't show up, he would have been story by now he thought to himself.
" How did John even agree to this?, he knows quite well that Akada is not safe by this time of the year" grandma murmured.
" Dad was against it, mom too, but i insisted. I'm sorry mama".
" Its okey my boy." She stood up and went outside, minutes later she returned with a tray and beautiful designs of coloured metal plates.
" Here you go, i know you must be hungry" she grinned. He smiled as he collected the tray.
" Thank you ma".
"Agbo, you and your friends can spend the night here, its not safe out there".
" yes mama, we'll head out tomorrow morning.
*********************
As dawn breaks over the village, a cock crowed at the window as the sun began to rise, thereby waking Hakeem. Suddenly a knock at the door.
" coming", he staggered to the door and opened. to his surprise
" Hakeem"
"Hey, you're the lady from last night. wait!, how'd you know my name?.
" May i come in?" she let out a smirk
" No!!, close the door, Hakeem!" grandma screamed!.
