~Alisa~

_ I remember how often I'd slit my wrist, just to get rid of the pain I felt, but I  felt even more pain, as I watched my own blood spill to the floor. And even now, I still had blood on all my whole walls. _
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That night, the strangest thing happened. I heard someone call my name, and I shivered because it sounded so frail, yet so threatening, at once. I had a nightmare. And in that nightmare, I recalled hearing someone repeatedly call out to me. First, it was calmer, then it became way too harsh. So much, that I got scared. Next thing, I was running through a dark passage, but on the floor were shards of glass which sparkled under the ray of light created by the moon. The voice got closer, and I heard footsteps approaching. The only way across, seemed to be through that passage, which had shards of glass over it.

Without thinking twice, I ran. And I didn't stop. But as I ran, and the glasses pierced my bare feet, the voice got closer. And closer. And closer. And then, a hand grabbed me forcefully from behind. A sharp pain landed me to the ground, and I finally took time to observe the cuts, on my feet, which were created by those pieces of glass. But what was even weirder, was that I didn't bleed immediately. Those glass particles remained in my feet, and when blood began to ooze from the cuts created by them, I felt someone deliver a huge blow to my back. Then, I woke up.

And I swore under my breath, because I was sure I could still hear the whispers from the creepy voice in my nightmare. Only this time, it sounded like creepy whispers, which were sprawled out from the shadows.

I couldn't sleep. And I was terribly scared. I didn't want to disturb Kambili, and I equally didn't want to die of my own fears. I turned on the light in my room, and got on my knees to pray. But the voice echoed in my head again, and it felt like someone was actually calling me.

"Alisa?" I shrieked, then realized it was actually someone at the door.

I got up on my feet, and opened the door to my room. I met Mrs. Ekwegh standing there, smiling at me. For some reason, seeing her face sent chills down my spine. I recalled my nightmare again, and I knew that voice sounded feminine.

What if it was a warning?

"I'm really sorry for disturbing you like this," she began, and I tried to act unaffected by it. I couldn't sleep, anyway. "It's just that, I want to talk to you. And since you're the only one who listens to me in this house, I felt it'd be best to speak with you instead. I didn't want anyone to know that I was coming to talk to you, and that's why I decided to come now. Please forgive me for intruding like this." She said, and I nodded.

"No problem." I choked out of me.

"Can I come in?" She asked, and I stiffly nodded my head, and stepped aside for her to come in.

She walked in, and I slowly closed the door. But I didn't lock it, because I felt I might need to run for dear life. Just in case.

"Come sit." She patted the space beside her. I gulped, and stiffly did as told. She smiled at me. "I want to ask a question."

I urged her to go on.

"With what Kamsi had said that day... Do you— do you believe him?" She asked, and I found myself wondering why she'd ask me that. Was she afraid that I knew she was a shady person?

"What I mean is," she snapped me out of my thoughts. "Do you think his father could do something like that? Do you think I could do something like that?"

I gulped again. I didn't know what to say.

She stared at me, like she was daring me to give a reply. Still, it felt like my words were jammed in my throat. "I need to know if I can confide in you. What I have in mind, it might not shake anyone else... But perhaps, maybe it'll shock you." She said, and I noticed how a mysterious smile found its way to her lips. What did she mean by that?

Okay, this woman is giving me the creeps.

"Tell me, you remember our deal. Right?" I nodded in reply.

"So you promised to help me. Now, I need it." She said, and got something from the pocket of her night robe.

"What's that?" My words came out as whispers, and I didn't even know why.

"It's a CD. I want you to have it. And please keep it safe. Guard it with your life, and no mater what," she looked behind me, like she noticed someone pass by.

I followed the direction of her eyes, and it trailed to the door. But I couldn't see anyone there. I got chills, instantly. "No matter what," she began again. Her voice was much lower than before. "Do not let Mr. Ekwegh get hold of it. Do not let anyone know I gave this to you. And whatever you do, do not watch it's content in this house. And I know you have every right not to trust me," she looked behind me again, and fear hooded in her eyes.

She stared at me again, and I noticed how scared she looked. "But this is a matter of life and death. What is in this CD, can change everything. So make sure you keep it safe." I was so confused, and I was so scared. Why was she giving me this? I didn't want it!

"I don't want it." I begged, but she shook her head, no, and placed both her hands on both side of my cheek. Her hands felt so warm, and I felt a little assurance.

"Look, Alisa, you aren't my biological child. I know that, but I'll never want harm to come to you. Never. And because you're the only one in this house, who'd listen... I'm giving it to you. You're my only hope, please." Tears fell out of her eyes. "And I know you must think I'm a crook, and I've got skeletons in my cupboard, but just trust me. A woman who has looked death in the eye, will never lie to you. Especially not now." She told me, and the second she mentioned death, I remembered my dream again.

Why was this happening?

"Take it," she looked behind me again, and I notice the same fear from earlier. "Please." She begged, without taking her eyes off whatever was behind me.

I turned to look, but she held my face in place. "Whatever you do, do not let Mr. Ekwegh get hold of this. Guard it with your life." She said, and got up, shakily. Her eyes still glued at whatever was behind me.

I got tensed, I felt like someone was watching me. I felt like ghosts were whispering into my ears, and I felt like someone kept whispering into my ears to trust Mrs. Ekwegh.

I looked her over, and didn't know when she forcefully handed me the CD. "I trust you, Alisa. I really do," tears sparkled in her eyes. "So please, do not let me down." And with that being said, she left my room.

With her gone, I stared at the CD in my hand. I felt like a person, whom I just couldn't see, was hovering around me. I was so scared, at the fact that the trees outside casted a scary shadow over my curtains, didn't help matters. The fact that I could still hear those whispers, wasn't helping either. I hurriedly locked my room door, and slid to the floor.

Where would I hide this? And why was Mrs. Ekwegh sounding so creepy? And why would she give me this CD? What was on it, anyway? And why did she warn me not to give this to Mr. Ekwegh? What was going on? What was wrong with this family?!

I had so many questions, and for the first time in a long while, I suddenly missed the orphanage. At least back there, life wasn't this creepy and weird. I didn't have to worry about the ghosts of the past, that lurked around this house. At least back there, I didn't have to worry about the screams in the shadows, or the whispers from unknown person, that kept echoing into my ears. This house, the death of the real Mrs. Ekwegh, Kamsi's words, this CD, and literally everything that has been happening ever since — they all meant something! But I just didn't know what. And I really wished I knew. But I didn't.

Once again, I stared at the CD, and couldn't shake off the feeling that I was being watched. By unknown eyes. And by unknown persons.

With fear in my eyes, I shakily got up from the floor. I paced back and forth, recalling Mrs. Ekwegh's words. "Whatever you do, do not let Mr. Ekwegh get hold of this. Guard it with your life."

My life? What did she mean by that? Did that mean that Mr. Ekwegh would kill me if he knew I had this with me? Would he throw me out? Was my life at stake?

I knew she had warned me, in the past, to be careful. And that all wasn't all it seemed, but this? This was way past extreme. This was madness! But this madness, meant I had to play it safe, or probably lose my life. And like Mrs. Ekwegh had said, she trusted me. What if this was her last hope on something? I didn't know what it was, but I didn't want to wait to ruin someone's life before finding out?

So I had to think. I had to think of a suitable place to hide the CD. And then it came to me. I had to hide it in a place which was obvious, and would be the last place a person would look for this. And that was, inside an old cookie  box, which I hid underneath the large flower pot on my window pavement. I dug out all the soil from the flower pot, and buried the cookie box, which contained the CD, underneath it. I filled the pot with the soil once again, and I made sure to leave no traces, and kept the flower pot back. I cleaned the floors with a rag, and made sure to leave no traces of sand on the floor. Afterwards, I lay back on my bed, and forced myself to sleep. Unfortunately, sleep seemed to have been far from me, because I just couldn't sleep. No matter how hard I tried.

* * *

I woke up really late, in the morning, and I was basically hurrying to get to school before my designated driver would leave for school.

"Alisa! Come down for breakfast!" I heard Kambili yell from downstairs. I groaned. I was still busying brushing my teeth, as fast as I could.

"I'll be down in a second!" I yelled back.

Or not.

I hadn't even taken my bath yet! So I quickly took my bath, and hurriedly got dressed for school. My tie was in my hand, and so were my shoes and socks. I'd barely tucked my shirt, but at least I'd buttoned it fully. With my tie, shoes, and socks in hand, I raced out of my room. I dressed on the way, like a maniac, and ended up falling at some point. When I was done dressing, I had to knot my tie around my neck, and finally got to the dinning room.

"Whoa! What happened to you?" Kambili laughed, the minute she recognized my awful dressing.

"I— I, uh, I had to hurry." I said, nervously, and tried fixing myself up. When I was done, I finally took a seat at the dinning table, after greeting Mr. and Mrs. Ekwegh.

The dinning room was silent, as we all seemed to be carried away with our meal.

"Later today, Christian and his parents will be here for dinner. His parents just got back from the States, so what better way to welcome, than to have them over for dinner?" Mr. Ekwegh suddenly said, and Kambili shrugged. I recalled Christian telling me his parents were close friends with the Ekweghs, some time in the past.

"Sure." She murmured, and continued eating.

Meanwhile, neither I, nor Mrs. Ekwegh, seemed to say anything. I continued eating my food, regardless of the looks Mrs. Ekwegh was giving me. I tried to act unfazed by them, but it was getting harder by the minute.

Hurriedly, I wolfed down my entire breakfast, and hurriedly bade them goodbye, and left.

The second I got to school, I noticed Christian had just arrived as well. I noticed he was speaking to someone inside a black Range Rover, and I wondered why he seemed so pissed. I didn't want to intrude, so I hurriedly walked into the school's building.

"Lisa!" I heard someone call me, and I realized it was Dabere.

I smiled at her. "Oh, hi. How far?" I said, and she grinned.

"I'm good." She said, and I nodded. I was about walking to class, feeling a bit awkward since I didn't have anything else to say, to keep the conversation rolling. But she stopped me.

"I'm waiting for my brother. Could you please stay with me?" She asked, and I shrugged.

"Sure."

We both waited, at a corner of the hallway. "Where is he?" I asked, tired of waiting.

"He should be on his way. He was talking to my mom, when I got out of the car." She said, and I huffed, and kept quiet.

A few more minutes passed, before I noticed Christian angrily stomping into the school's building. "There he is!" She smiled at me, and I widened my eyes in shock.

"You're— you're Christian's sister?!" I shrieked, and she looked just as surprised.

"You know him?"

"Know him?" I chuckled. "He's friends with my sister!" I shrieked, still shocked by the news.

Christian finally approached us, and I noticed he was way past pissed. "What did mom say to you?" Dabere carefully asked, and Christian gave a grunt.

"Nothing. Just like she always does." He muttered, and left.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked, and she looked worried.

"I'm not sure." She muttered, and I decided I had to get to class.

"I'll talk to you later. I have to go." I said, and waved her goodbye. Something about Christian's behavior, didn't sit well with me. But I didn't want to push it, I didn't want to irritate him, like last time. If it was worth it, he'd tell me.

The minute I got to class, I took my seat and settled for the day. The bell for the Assembly had already gone out, so I hurriedly got my things, and left the class.

"Where do you think you're going?" Yewande stopped me, and I sighed. I didn't have time for him, nor did I have time for his stupid arguments.

"To the Assembly. Somewhere you should be, too." I replied, and he snorted.

"I told you I'd pay you back for that embarrassment. So, here it is!" He yelled in my face, and I watched as he pushed a photo right in front of my face. I observed it, and it I could see Dabere, and some boy — whom I guessed was the so-called Tobenna — making out. And it seemed like a really heated make-out. I gasped, and tried snatching the photo from his hand, but he retrieved it quickly.

"If you do not want everyone in this school, to have a copy of this photo, then you'll do exactly as I say." He smirked, and I glared at him, with my fists clenched. Such a manipulative, melon head! "I told you you'd regret it. No one, absolutely no one, messes with me." He smirked again.

"Stop this, Yewande. I'm not in the mood for your stupid games. They're as dumb as you are"

"Tone that sass down, or else — I swear to God — I'll make everyone gets this photo. Teachers, students, and if I want, her parents will get it, too. So do not try me." He warned, and I felt defeated, and eyed him, helplessly.

When he noticed I wasn't saying anything, he grinned and increased his grip on my wrist. Such that his stupid nails dug into my skin, and I felt like they'd rip it. "I know you're friends with Dabere. And I also know you wouldn't want to see her embarrassed in front of the entire school," he began. Remind me why I chose this school again? "So if you know what's best for you, just obey every word I say. I have the upper hand now." 

"I hope you get what you deserve, Yewande." I snorted.

"Oh, I will. And I deserve what ever I want," he whispered into my ear, and I felt his disgusting lips brush against my earlobe. "Soon."

With that, he let go of my arm, and dug both his hands into his pockets. "I want you to meet me in the mini-garden today, at lunch. Don't dare be late." He warned, about walking out.

I glare at him, and gritted my teeth. "And why the f*ck will I do that?!"

He smirked, and slowly offered a smirk. "Because you have no choice, puppet. And don't dare act smart. I swear, you'll regret it." He turned away again, and I watched as blood trickled down my arm. He had hurt my arm, using his deadly, sharp fingernails.

"I effing hate you."

He laughed at me, and before he left, he warned me again. "Don't be late."

* * *

All through my classes, that morning, I couldn't forget Yewande's threat. I was so scared, and I had no idea what I was to do. As I watched as the teacher wrote problems on Differentiation on the whiteboard, I groaned. It was one of my favorite topics, but right now, I didn't even care to even give any attention to it. I was so worried about Yewande's stupid threat, and I couldn't tell Dabere because I didn't want her to worry as well.

"Alisa, please give an answer to the problem on the board." Startled, I stared at the teacher, and then at the board.

Differentiate, with respect to x,
(2x² + 14x )⁵/ (x -6).

The teacher handed me the marker, and I grumpily walked to the board, and solved the equation.

"God has saved you. If you had failed it, you definitely would have gotten out of my class. Now, get back to your seat and pay attention." She ordered, and I hurriedly did as told. I couldn't wait for this class to be over, and I couldn't wait for today to be over as well. Things had turned from bad to awful.

* * *

"You're late." Yewande barked at me, the second he saw me approaching. I rolled my eyes, and glared at him.

"I had things to do."

"I warned you not to be late, didn't I?" Did he expect me to reply that? I had no time for his nonsense, and I most definitely didn't have the time to bicker with him.

"I was busy." I simply said.

He chuckled. A chuckle which sounded much more devious than hilarious. "Sit."

I glared at him. "I'm not sitting with you."

"I meant on the grass." He deadpanned, and I eyed him with distaste.

"No."

He glared at me, and I watched as his eyes shot daggers and swords my way. I ignored it, and retaliated, with a glare of my own. "You do remember this, right?" He said, and brought the immoral photo of Dabere and that stupid boy. I cringed, and I felt like a helpless cat. I didn't have anything to fight against him, and I didn't want to infuriate him, either.

"What. Do. You. Want?" I asked, through gritted teeth and clenched fists.

"I want you to listen to me. You're the one b*tch in class who thinks she's such a savage. Who doesn't listen to me. And I hate that about you, by the way." He eyed me again.

"I'll be happy to let you know, that the feeling is mutual." I spat venom at him using my eyes. If only I could shoot acid from my eyes, I would've made sure to burn him down with it. I hadn't met someone so proud and arrogant, yet so stupid and dumb, all at the same time.

"Sit. On. The. Friggin. Grass!" He yelled at me, with his teeth clenched so tight, that I felt his jaw would snap in half.

Begrudgingly, I reluctantly sat on the grass. I couldn't believe what if been reduced to, but I compensated myself with the thought that I was doing this for a friend. "Good girl," he patted my fluffy hair, and I slapped his hand away and glared at him. "Behave." He warned, like I was some kind of puppy he just got. I hated this. I hated that I didn't have any choice but to listen to him. I hated him.

"Just friggin tell me what you want!" I yelled in frustration, and he smirked.

"Get up." My eyes twitched, at this, and I felt my blood boil to a hundred degrees. I felt like steam would shoot out of my ears, in any second, but that didn't happen.

"I said, get up." I knew he was enjoying my helplessness, and I wanted, more than anything,  to teach him a good lesson. But I had to endure his nonsense.

I got up, making sure to shoot holes into his head, with my eyes. "Good," he smirked. "Now, come sit next to me."

"F*ck you! I'm not doing that sh—"

"Don't test me." He hissed at me, and I felt like gripping his neck and squeezing the life out of him.

"I won't do it." I refused, blatantly.

"Then you'll be happy to—" I didn't wait to hear him threaten me again, I heaved a sigh of defeat, and sat down next to the large sized fool.

The size of his ego, could fit an entire country. I wished I could just punch him in the eye, or rip all his hair out — one by one. I wished I could just spit into his eye, or knee him in a place where the sun never shines. Anything to get rid of that large, toxic ego of his.

"You know? You have such a toxic attitude. I mean, why not learn to listen?" I glared at him, for this statement, and he chuckled.

"I love the fact that you're so pissed. It's so entertaining." Still, I didn't say a thing to him.

Not until he got close. "Personal space, please." I muttered, and tried scooting away from him, but he held me down.

"I give the orders, and you follow." How could someone have given birth to such a psycho?

I eyed him, trying — once again — to get away from him. But he held me in place.

"Quit resisting." He snarled into my ears. His closeness was so nauseating. I felt so suffocated by his presence.

His lips brushed against my earlobe again, and I felt like I'd just thrown up in my mouth. "You're too close." I glared at him.

"I know." He smirked, and I noticed the devilish glint in his demon-like eyes.

"Get away from me." I shoved him. Hard.

He grunted, and before I knew what was going on, I felt his palm on my face. He slapped me across the face, and I winced as the sting began to sip into my head. It felt like all hell would break lose, soon, if he didn't get away from me.

He was right in front of me now, and I still had my palm on the part that just got slapped. I couldn't believe he just did that. I was awestruck by it. "Get this, and get it straight. I will not be tolerating anymore of your sass. Let that stick into your stupid skull." He warned, and I felt the urge to slap him.

But I couldn't. I didn't want to be the reason why Dabere's life would turn out even way awful.

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall off. I'd heard worse. I'd felt worse pain. And that slap wasn't enough to break me. Especially not in front of the devil himself.

With the tip of his hands, he raised my chin and made sure I was staring at him, in the eye. I growled at him, and kept trying to not spit in his face. "I own you now." And without knowing it, he smashed lips with mine.

It was more of a painful kiss. More biting, than kissing. I felt like throwing up, and I felt my tummy churn with distaste. Unlike most first kisses, this one was far from romantic. This was torture. And I was sure it'd leave a dent in my memory. And the fact that it was stolen, made it way worse.

His forceful lips claimed mine like a trophy, and his greedy tongue kept trying to force it's way into my mouth. But I wouldn't let it. I bit on his stupid tongue, quickly making sure to remind myself to brush my teeth for an hour or two, afterwards. That did it. Because he redrew his goddamned lips, and glared at me. He couldn't believe what I'd just done that.

"Oops." I feigned innocence, and he glared at me, unable to speak properly, due to his throbbing tongue. I spat onto the ground, although I wished it were on his face instead. Afterwards, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, and shot him one last glare. He seemed to be dumbstruck by what had happened. But I didn't give a damn about what he felt. Or thought.

With that, I left.

* * *

The aftermath of that brutal kiss, left me shaken and uncontrollably angry. Each time it replayed in my head, I felt like racing back in time, and stabbing Yewande for it. He not only stole my first kiss, but equally traumatized me by kissing me. True to my thoughts, I made sure to brush my teeth for hours. I couldn't get the taste of his stupid, disgusting lips on mine, off my lips. I kept brushing, and felt my gums bleed, and finally felt the need to stop.

Ugh!

If I hated Yewande before, then I was certain I despised him now.

I was about laying on my bed, when I heard Kambili's piercing scream. My heart skipped a few beats, and I hurriedly ran out of my room and headed to the direction of her room. But she wasn't there.

"Kambili?" I called out, and walked down the empty hallway.

Again, I heard her scream. And I noticed that it came from her parent's room. I hurried over there, and to my horror, I found what had caused Kambili's screams. I was frozen by shock, and paralyzed by fear.

Right on the bed, was Mrs. Ekwegh, lying in a pool of her own blood.  A knife was implanted into her tummy, and her throat had been slit open. The walls had splashes of blood on them, and her wrists had cuts on them, as well. Blood trickled from the bed, and onto the floor. And I watched as the white sheets stuck to most of the cuts on her body.

I couldn't believe my eyes. I couldn't even scream, and I knew Kambili — although she hated her step-mother — didn't want her to die. She buried her face in her palms, and fell to the floor. I watched as tears trickled down her cheeks, and I still couldn't say, nor do anything.

I noticed something next to Mrs. Ekwegh's dead body, and as if compelled by an unknown forced, I walked towards it. To my horror, it had my name on it.

"Alisa?" Kambili's voice shook. "Don't go anywhere near her dead body." But I didn't listen.

The words drew my attention. On a white note, stained by blood, were the words: 'Alisa... Be very careful. You're next.'

I gasped, and Kambili rushed to meet me. The minute she saw the note, and read through it, she stared at me in shock. "No!" She cried, hugging me. "They can't take you too. No!" She cried again, and finally — as if drawn by an unknown forced — all my tears began to pour out of my eyes.

But even in my state of shock, I had questions going on in my head. Who killed Mrs. Ekwegh? And where was Mr. Ekwegh? And how was it possible that the assassin got in? How?! Could it have been him? Or did she kill herself?

"...What I have in mind, it might not shake anyone else... But perhaps, maybe it'll shock you."

Her words rang in my head, and a wave of terror filled me, instantly. Was killing herself what she meant by that?

And why were they out to get me? What did I have to do with all this?

"I'm scared. Who's doing all this?"  I heard Kambili say, but I was way too shocked to reply her. My tears never stopped rolling down my cheeks.

"I trust you, Alisa. I really do... So please, do not let me down."

Those were Mrs. Ekwegh's last words to  me, and at this point, I knew that CD she had given me, meant something. And I had a feeling, it had to do with her death.

I had to get rid of it.

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Can I get an 'omigosh'? Cause I'm pretty sure things are about to get nastyyy!😅

*A moment of silence, to mourn Mrs. Ekwegh.*😔🙊

Okay, any theories? And is anyone sad about her death? Cause I am😭💔
Who do you think killed her?

Did she kill herself?

And what do you think was on the CD?

And do you think Mr. Ekwegh is the villain?

Or do you think Mrs. Ekwegh was being shady?

What do you think will happen next? I'm pretty sure you're curious, so please comment.

Also, don't forget to:
Vote. Comment. And share.

Next update: whenever I get the chance 🙈
Sorry, guys. School's starting.

PS: first person to answer the questions, gets a dedication in the next chapter ❤️

Till next time,
Bye guys!❤️