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2024-10-29 19:42:56Daniel woke up hours before his alarm rang. At first he laid awake, looking at the ceiling in confusion. Then he remembered. He wasn't at home in his room; the different ceiling pattern reminded him of that. Plus, his room didn't have two bunk beds with four people in them. Furthermore, his room wasn't this small and crampy. Nope, this was definitely not his room. It was, however, his dormitory at his new boarding school. He continued to stare at the ceiling. It reminded him of the ceiling patterns in his room back home. It reminded him of how much he missed it. He always thought about his neighbourhood, his friends, even if he didn't have a lot, and most especially, his room. It was his sanctuary, his escape from the outside world. It was as neat as he wanted, whenever it wasn't, his Mom was suddenly on his neck.
"I don't understand why a 16 year olds room looks like a 6 year olds play ground," she'd say on such rare occasions. She'd also go ahead and scold him for living like a pig. But he didn't care. Those were times he wanted to be left alone in his messy room. Mom... Daniel thought about her all the time. He wondered how she fared, how she was able to keep it together back home. He never thought he'd miss her so much; he had often taken her company and attention for granted. Now, all he had were memories. At least until she makes the long trip from Bayelsa to Lagos to see him during visiting days. He still couldn't understand why she couldn't find a school closer to home. She just had to thrust him far into the Badlands. "Lagos is a wonderful place, dear," she said the day they left for the airport. "Great scenery, an amazing beach. And the people there are very hospitable as well." She smiled mischievously. "It's where I met your father." And I guess it's where you want me to meet your future daughter-in-law, thought Daniel. He only smiled back at her. But Mom knew him better. "I know you're nervous. I am too. You're going so far away, and I won't get to see you everyday. How do you think that makes me feel?" "It didn't have to be like that," retorted Daniel. He obviously didn't like the idea. "I know," his Mom replied. "I just want the best for you. And even if I have to go to the world to get it, I will." Daniel didn't look convinced."Hey," she tilted his head so that he could look at her. "It'll be okay." She smiled again. "I'll visit you as often as possible. And whenever you want to come home, just let me know. I'll be there in a flash." She snapped her fingers to buttress her point. "That's reassuring," he said sarcastically. Daniel's Mom just laughed. She knew her son would adapt nicely. He was the kind that was stronger than he looked. And he had been through a lot worse, so a boarding school was child's play in her opinion."I love you." That was the last thing she said before she left him here. Now, he wished he had hugged her a little more. Maybe told her that he loved her too. Oh well, he thought. There'll be another day. His alarm finally rang. 5:45am. It was loud enough to startle his roommates; one almost toppled out of his bed."Oboy! Wetin dey occur na?" A lanky, dark skinned boy drawled from the lower bunk underneath Daniel. "It's almost 6am. You asked me to set the alarm, remember?" Daniel replied. He had already climbed down from his bed and made for his towel. He then fumbled in his drawer looking for his toothpaste and toothbrush. "Na wa," lamented the thin boy. "No be you wey talk say make him put alarm?" another complained.Daniel grinned as he walked to the door. A typical Monday morning.
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The Malediction Chapter One
Emerald Secondary School was described as the best of it's kind in Lagos State, and was known as one of the best in the Nigeria. Well known scholars had graduated from there, which consequently boosted the school's reputation over the years. E.S.S. was also notorious for scooping trophies from competitions all over the state and across the country due to the intellectual capacity it's students boasted. It was the complete private school: spacious classrooms that could occupy more than a hundred students at once, fully equipped laboratories and student workshops, sporting equipments and playing fields for different kinds of sports, well furbished hostels for boys and another for the girls, with well qualified teachers from all over the country and beyond. It was the kind of school that the politicians, top government officials and successfully wealthy businessmen took their children to. Friends of the students who attended the school were prone to be envious, many parents were rea
The Malediction Chapter Two
The news about Daniel Ayibatari spread across the school like wild fire. He went from the kid that no one knew, to the student that everyone talked about. The story about why he was found unconscious differed from mouth to mouth, the most outrageous being that he belonged to some secret cult, that the injury on his arm was probably a sign of initiation. Nevertheless, he was penalized for being outside after lights out. Esther Edwards was one of the first people who heard about the incident. At first, she was scared. She thought her dear Bayo was the one who was caught. Then she found out it wasn't him but someone else. She was still clueless on who it was, until she saw Daniel scrubbing one of the toilets belonging to the staff. So that's the guy, Esther thought. She remembered that he was the impatient guy who accompanied Bayo that night. Serves him right, she concluded. Esther didn't have time to think about Daniel's predicament, she already had hers to w
The Malediction Chapter Three
Another week, another mysterious occurrence. This time, involving a girl named Esther Edwards. She was found lying unconscious on the bathroom floor in the girls hostel. Fortunately, she was alive and breathing. When rushed to the sick bay, the nurses discovered an injury on her left forearm. It seemed like a cut from a sharp object; probably a knife. The school authorities were pressured to take her to an actual hospital after she laid unconscious for days. After the 5th day, the decision was finally taken. Esther was transferred to the hospital.Wednesday, the following week.Bayo sat in his class listening to the lectures for the morning. The truth was, Bayo didn't hear a single word the teacher said. His body might have been in the classroom, but his mind and thoughts were elsewhere. He was too busy thinking about the past few weeks.After Daniel's weird incident, Esther was next. Bayo frowned at the thought. He didn't know if anyone else could see it, but he sensed a pattern. B
Latest Chapter
- The Malediction
Chapter Three
Another week, another mysterious occurrence. This time, involving a girl named Esther Edwards. She was found lying unconscious on the bathroom floor in the girls hostel. Fortunately, she was alive and breathing. When rushed to the sick bay, the nurses discovered an injury on her left forearm. It seemed like a cut from a sharp object; probably a knife. The school authorities were pressured to take her to an actual hospital after she laid unconscious for days. After the 5th day, the decision was finally taken. Esther was transferred to the hospital.Wednesday, the following week.Bayo sat in his class listening to the lectures for the morning. The truth was, Bayo didn't hear a single word the teacher said. His body might have been in the classroom, but his mind and thoughts were elsewhere. He was too busy thinking about the past few weeks.After Daniel's weird incident, Esther was next. Bayo frowned at the thought. He didn't know if anyone else could see it, but he sensed a pattern. B
- The Malediction
Chapter Two
The news about Daniel Ayibatari spread across the school like wild fire. He went from the kid that no one knew, to the student that everyone talked about. The story about why he was found unconscious differed from mouth to mouth, the most outrageous being that he belonged to some secret cult, that the injury on his arm was probably a sign of initiation. Nevertheless, he was penalized for being outside after lights out. Esther Edwards was one of the first people who heard about the incident. At first, she was scared. She thought her dear Bayo was the one who was caught. Then she found out it wasn't him but someone else. She was still clueless on who it was, until she saw Daniel scrubbing one of the toilets belonging to the staff. So that's the guy, Esther thought. She remembered that he was the impatient guy who accompanied Bayo that night. Serves him right, she concluded. Esther didn't have time to think about Daniel's predicament, she already had hers to w
- The Malediction
Chapter One
Emerald Secondary School was described as the best of it's kind in Lagos State, and was known as one of the best in the Nigeria. Well known scholars had graduated from there, which consequently boosted the school's reputation over the years. E.S.S. was also notorious for scooping trophies from competitions all over the state and across the country due to the intellectual capacity it's students boasted. It was the complete private school: spacious classrooms that could occupy more than a hundred students at once, fully equipped laboratories and student workshops, sporting equipments and playing fields for different kinds of sports, well furbished hostels for boys and another for the girls, with well qualified teachers from all over the country and beyond. It was the kind of school that the politicians, top government officials and successfully wealthy businessmen took their children to. Friends of the students who attended the school were prone to be envious, many parents were rea
- The Malediction
Prologue
Daniel woke up hours before his alarm rang. At first he laid awake, looking at the ceiling in confusion. Then he remembered. He wasn't at home in his room; the different ceiling pattern reminded him of that. Plus, his room didn't have two bunk beds with four people in them. Furthermore, his room wasn't this small and crampy. Nope, this was definitely not his room. It was, however, his dormitory at his new boarding school. He continued to stare at the ceiling. It reminded him of the ceiling patterns in his room back home. It reminded him of how much he missed it. He always thought about his neighbourhood, his friends, even if he didn't have a lot, and most especially, his room. It was his sanctuary, his escape from the outside world. It was as neat as he wanted, whenever it wasn't, his Mom was suddenly on his neck. "I don't understand why a 16 year olds room looks like a 6 year olds play ground," she'd say on such rare occasions. She'd also go ahead and scold him for living l