Every night, I sneaked out of my husband’s room to go and meet Alhaji Mentus, the famous madman in our street..
The moment I heard him call my name outside our window that night, my heartbeat increased instantly.
My husband’s facial expression changed immediately.
“Baby… what is that man talking about?” Ebuka asked suspiciously.
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
For a moment, I completely froze.
“I—I don’t know who he’s referring to,” I stammered nervously. “Besides, Alhaji Mentus is mentally unstable.”
Ebuka sighed softly and wrapped his hand around my waist.
“Yeah, I know,” he replied calmly. “Come back inside so we can continue what we were doing.”
As he pulled me closer, I glanced outside the window again.
Alhaji Mentus was still standing there in the darkness.
But this time, he wasn’t laughing like his usual self.
He was staring directly at me.
And strangely… I could see pain in his eyes. Real pain.
My body suddenly became weak as the old woman’s warning echoed loudly inside my head:
“If you choose faithfulness to your marriage, your husband will die in your arms. But if you continue to stain your vows with another man, Ebuka will continue to live.”
Fear swallowed me completely. My mood changed instantly.
I wanted to tell Ebuka everything, but the old woman had strictly warned me never to reveal the secret to anyone.
For a brief moment, I tried to ignore everything.
I ignored the warning.
I ignored Alhaji Mentus.
I ignored death itself.
All I could see was my husband holding me tightly like he was afraid of losing me forever.
Slowly, I allowed myself to rest in his arms.
That night, for the first time in many weeks, I gave myself completely to Ebuka.
Afterward, silence filled the room.
Only the sound of our breathing could be heard in the darkness.
Ebuka pulled me gently against his chest while the kerosene lamp flickered quietly beside the bed.
But suddenly, his body became strangely hot.
Very hot.
He sat upright immediately and wiped sweat from his face.
“Are you okay?” I asked nervously, sitting up beside him.
“I don’t know,” he replied weakly. “My chest suddenly feels heavy.”
Fear gripped my heart instantly.
Ebuka stood up from the bed, but immediately staggered and held the wall for support.
“What’s happening to me?” he muttered weakly.
My breathing stopped completely.
Then the old woman’s terrifying voice echoed inside my head once again:
“The day your body belongs to Ebuka alone… is the day death will remember his name.”
I stared at my husband in horror as sweat continued pouring endlessly down his face.
And deep down inside me…
I knew something had followed us into that room.
The next morning, Ebuka could barely stand up from the bed.
His breathing had become heavier overnight, and despite the cold weather, his entire body was soaked in sweat.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked nervously while helping him sit properly.
“I just feel weak,” he replied quietly.
Fear tightened around my chest immediately.
The old woman’s warning refused to leave my mind. I quickly looked away so Ebuka wouldn’t notice the panic written all over my face.
Suddenly, KPO! KPO! KPO!
A loud knock landed on the door. Both of us jumped slightly. Ebuka struggled to stand up while I rushed nervously toward the entrance.
The moment I opened the door, my blood ran cold instantly.
It was Alhaji Mentus. But something about him looked completely different.
This time, he wasn’t smiling.
He stood silently outside the house staring directly into my eyes.
Then slowly, he raised his shaking hand.
Wrapped tightly around his wrist was a red thread identical to the one the old woman wore inside the shrine.
My heartbeat nearly stopped.
Before I could say a single word, Mentus spoke softly:
“You broke the rule last night.”
My legs almost gave up beneath me.
Fear exploded inside my chest immediately.
Then suddenly, “Amakaaa!”
Ebuka screamed painfully from inside the room. I turned around in panic. And the moment my eyes landed on him, my soul nearly left my body. Blood was dripping slowly from his nose.
To be continued…
Episode 4 drops soon.
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