Joel's POV

I walked back to where Zaria, Lyla and Charles were. Since the show down with Ada, Zaria has been awfully quiet and I was incredibly scared. Scared that Ada's words would have cut too deep. Charles noticed me coming and came to meet him half way.

"Where did you go to?" He asked me.

"I went to confront a tiny demon." I replied him while looking over his shoulder to Zaria. "She still isn't talking?" I asked Charles who shook his head.

"Lyla and I have tried to get her to speak but nothing is working."Charles sighed then looked at me. "How come we didn't know anything about Sam? This is all too confusing." Charles said. I ran my hand through my face in frustration.

"Her parents made her not to tell anyone. I guess they were trying to protect their reputation." I chipped in and Charles grimaced.

"That's messed up!" He exclaimed in anger. I sighed and walked past him to where Zaria and Lyla was. Lyla was holding her hands and speaking encouraging words to her.

"Babe." I called Zaria, sitting close to her and she rose her head up from where it was rested on the table and looked at me.

"Guys, can I have a time alone with Joel, please?" She said. Lyla looked at me then at Charles before dragging him away, leaving Zaria and I alone in the class room. She looked at me. There were no tears of any sort but I feared something was about to happen.

"Zaria, what's wrong?" I asked, taking her hand in mine. They were cold and I so desperately wanted to warm them up.

"I think we need to take a break." The muttered and my eyes went huge as saucers.

"A break?! Why? Because of Ada?" I asked her and she shook her head. Her lips were quivering and it seemed like she was cold.

"No, because of me. Ada just blurted out my secret to the air for whoever has ears to hear and though I'm not showing it but, it's taking a toll on me." She said, tears dropping in beads from my eyes. I was quick to cup her face in my hand.

We are not doing this again. Not again.

"Hey! Let's not do this again. This is why I'm here, okay? This is why I'm with you. To help you get through anything and everything, no matter the cost. I promised to stay and I'm not going to leave you." I said emphatically.

"I'm not asking you to, Joel. I just need a time for me alone. You don't have an idea what I'm going through..." She trailed off.

She's not breaking up with me is sha?

"That's why I'm here, to help you hurt even less, to take the pain away if I can. Don't do this." I pleaded with her desperately. She pulled me close and pressed her forehead against mine and we stayed that way for a while, no words said.

If this is what she wants, what she needs to heal, then I shouldn't stop her.

"Remember what I said. I'll call you at any sign of danger. I Promise." She whispered.

"I'll be there." I told her. I pulled her in for a hug and held her close to me. She held me tight and I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. I made a promise to myself.

I'd never let anything happen to Zaria.

******

Zaria's POV

Exams came and went and everyone went home on a three week holiday. Joel and I tried to keep away from each other, just stealing glances at each other from time to time. Joel texted occasionally to know about my well-being until I decided to take a time off social media. Especially with the fact that Ada was also trying to reach me.

I stayed in doors most of the times because I didn't have a reason to go out. I kept to myself, only coming out when I needed food. My parents didn't actually care because they were never around. Sam, well... I tried my best to avoid him at all cost. Aisha tried her best to crack me open. I only told Aisha that I needed space. Even though I wanted to, I still couldn't open up to Aisha about the harassment.

I didn't have the courage to.

The nightmares were getting stronger by the day. I was beginning to feel much more scared than I already was. I felt something big was coming but I had no idea what.

***

"We would be back in two weeks. Aisha take care of your sister. Sam, I trust you. You can take care of yourself" Amina Coker simply said, patting Sam on the cheek and hugging Aisha before walking out to join Femi Coker in the car. I scoffed.

I got nothing. No hug, not even a pat on the back. Shows how important I am in the family. Aisha gave me a pitiful smile but I his my sadness behind a nonchalant shrug. Just as I was about going back in, Aisha called me.

"Hey, I have a seminar I need to attend on the 25th to the 27th. We are having a retreat for all associations of lawyers around the country and it would hold for three days." Aisha informed Sam and I.

"Well it's just a seminar. No biggie." I shrugged.

"Actually, it's in Calabar." Aisha deadpan and my eyes bulged out of it's sockets as I realized that I would be alone with Sam for three days.

"All the way Calabar?! Is it compulsory? Must you go?" I asked frantically. I saw Sam from the corner of my eyes smirking but I chose to ignore him.

"Well no..." Aisha trailed off and I began to rejoice inwardly.

"But I am part of the committee and it's kinda compulsory for me to be there. So I have to go." Aisha flashed me a sympathetic smile. I groaned and then sighed.

"I understand. When will you be back?" I asked her and she told me on the 28th. I nodded. "Alright. I will just be in my room." I replied and walked to my room.

I desperately wanted to tell Aisha everything but It was like an invisible force was holding me back from doing so. One thing I was sure of though...

Sam is up to no good.

***

Aisha soon left for Calabar and left Sam and I alone in the house. I tried to avoid him at all cost and at the same time taking precautions because last time I was alone in the house with Sam, bad things happened.

I didn't go to bed until I was sure Sam was asleep, even if it meant sleeping by 4:00am in the morning. I also locked my door every single time, especially when I dressing or anytime I'm in the bathroom.

Soon it was the 27th, the day before Aisha would get back. I was really happy because Sam hasn't tried anything with me and now that Aisha was going to be back, he wouldn't even dare think about it.

Though sometimes, I caught him looking at me in a way a uncle should never look at his niece and it terrified me.

4:00pm. Friday, 2018

Sam had gone for his classes and I was alone at home. It's was 4:00pm and everywhere was dry. I was certain that the guys were having a get together of some sort. I was so tempted to put on my phone and place a call to Lyla, or Joel to know how they were doing but each time I picked her phone, I would drop it back on my dresser.

I needed this break. It would help me. It is helping me

Since there was nothing to do, I decided to take a quick rest. I didn't know when I fell into a deep sleep.

***

She was running towards me, screaming for me to help her. Though I still couldn't see her face but her voice, just like always, sounded dangerously familiar so I wanted to. I stretched my hand forward for her to hold but suddenly I was far away from her . She came closer again, the man in black gaining in on her.

"Come on!! Hurry up! He is gaining in on you!" I told her, stretching my hand forward again, but like before I was far away from her again. I cussed under my breath.

"Zaria!! Save me! Save us!" She screamed as she started to run towards me again but I could see her strength failing.

"Us?" I muttered under my breath.

What is she talking about.

"Zaria!!!" She screamed again as the man in black closed in on her and caught her.

"No!" I yelled. His laughter rang through the dark woods and I shivered in fear at the sound of it.

Suddenly everything started to look clearer. It was still dark but suddenly I saw part of the girl's face. The man in black smirked at me. I could only see his teeth.

"My sweet pumpkin..." He growled and I froze. That name. "You could never stop what was coming. You can't save yourself from me. You are mine."

"Who.. Who are... Who are you?" I stuttered, suddenly shivering.

"Isn't it obvious pumpkin. You are a very smart girl. You can figure it out." He clamped his hand around the girl's neck. Suddenly it was so hard for me to breath.

"Allow me to introduce you to my prey." He carried her by her neck and brought her to the mysterious light, so that I could see her face. My breath caught in my throat as I my eyes came in contact with hers.

She was...

Me!