I always hear about voodoo. They always talk about juju. It was always something I never believed in. I thought it wasn't something real. I believed it was just the figment of their imagination. I never saw it as anything or regarded it as anything. What you believe in comes to work for you. So, that's what I thought. These weren't just talks; they were fighting my thoughts. These stories were coming to life.
Was I actually seeing this? As I ran past trees, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching out to snatch me, my legs were bleeding, my knees were weak. The moon cast an eerie glow over the campus, making the trees seem like sentinels guarding some ancient secret. I was tired, gasping for air, my chest seizing, I was dizzy, but I just couldn't stop running. They were after me; they were chasing me.I stumbled upon a tree and landed on my face. They were all closing in on me; they came down on me, scratching me and bruising my face. I screamed as I got tapped by a cold hand.
Only to open my eyes and find myself in my hostel... it was all a dream. I said it, I knew it - it was all just talks, a figment of the imagination. None of it was real. "What happened to you, Annie?" my friend said to me, her voice laced with concern. I felt a sharp pain then I looked at my skin... it was all scratched and bleeding, my legs were bleeding as well.
The clinic's antiseptic smell filled my nostrils as I sat on the examination table, my heart still racing from the ordeal. Does that mean that the dreams actually affected me? Is it some kind of juju? Does it mean that juju actually exists? These were the thoughts running through my head as I went to the clinic for medical attention.
Students were all staring at me, their faces a mixture of curiosity and concern. But I cared less, my thoughts too clouded to pay attention. My bruises were all cleaned up and wrapped. It was painful, but I had to endure.
As I approached my guardian house,I was so scared as I past dried up trees,it's shadows reminding me of my JuJu encounter,very dry leaves filled the ground,due to the harmattan season, every sound from this dry leaves made me feel like they were here again to snatch me,I was feeling nauseous and tired.the cool evening breeze rustling my braided hair, I felt a sense of unspeakable fear wash over me. I was scared every step I took; every sound I heard was scary to me as I approached my guardian's house.
As I sat in my guardian's house, the dim light of the setting sun casting a golden glow over the room, I felt a sense of unease wash over me. What did I actually do to provoke the spirit? I asked myself, still trying to make sense of the strange occurrences.
My name is Annie Adams, and I'm Nigerian-American. My mom is American, and I've lived in the United States with both my parents all my life,till now I'm fifteen years, however my parents they got divorced, and I chose dad over mom,mom was always more interested in her work,and didn't think about me and dad at all,I had to move to Nigeria with my dad. He enrolled me in a secondary school,in east Nigeria,a federal secondary,with high discipline and competition,he said they will teach me Morales and how to associate with others,a boarding school, a school that was grandma's alma mater, a school grandma warned him not to enroll me in. Her reasons was witchcrafts was everywhere,she sounded delusional every time she began talking about it,I really wish he listened, now they are coming for me.
I had to go call Grandma; I needed answers. She always talked about how haunted she was in that school. She tried discouraging Dad from sending me there, but to no avail. She always tried telling me about it, but I never believed nor cared to give full listening ears to her stories. Though I listened a little, now it's hunting me.
I finally reached my guardian's house and called Grandma. I always favored more than other children my guardian was guarding because I am an American Nigerian. She came to me as she saw the drops of sweat on my head; I was feeling nauseous. "I need to speak to Granny," I said. She immediately dialed Grandma's number and gave me the phone.
"Grandma, they are coming for me," was all I could say; my voice was shaking. "Granny, your stories are true," I said. "I will come to your school first thing tomorrow," she replied in a bold voice and cut the call.
My guardian was confused. I stood up and left before she questioned me. As I lay in bed, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was watching me. I tried to convince myself it was just my imagination, but the scratches on my skin told a different story.
The darkness seemed to press in around me, making me feel claustrophobic. Suddenly, I heard a faint rustling sound coming from the corner of my room. It was soft at first,it grew louder and more intense.
I tried to sit up, but a strange, unseen force pinned me to the bed. The rustling sound grew louder, and I felt a presence closing in around me.
And then, just as suddenly as it had started, everything stopped. The rustling sound ceased, and the presence vanished.
I lay there, panting and trembling with fear. What had just happened? Was it the juju again?
As I slowly sat up and looked around my room, I noticed something that made my blood run cold. On the wall opposite my bed, in letters that seemed to be written in blood, was a single, chilling message:
"I'M WAITING FOR YOU, ANNIE."
