Lineage

Titilayo Fatimilenyi Part 8

One fine Sunday evening, as the Titi and her family, were relaxing after a very sumptuous lunch, the doorbell rang. It was Tolu, Titi's sister at the door. She was the last person Bankole and Titi expected to see, ever. Tolu had come with a small suitcase. It looked like she was planning to spend more than a night was Titi's conclusion. 'This is not good,' Titi thought to herself 'why in God's name is she here.'  No hugs, as normal siblings would do rather both sisters just stood by the doorway, accessing each other. Titi was certain that her face did not show any sign of displeasure at seeing her sister after so many years. Neither did her sister show any happiness about the reunion. As Tolu watched her sister walk into her home, she could see that she had added some nice kilograms here and there. Tolu was a tall woman, and with the extra weight, it made her look huge and more intimidating, remembering how she would bully her when they were kids.

"Titi, long time. There is something different about you," Tolu remarked as she squinted her eyes as if to see more.

"I've added some weight compared to the last time you saw me," Titi answered. And so have you, she thought to herself.

"That's not what I meant. There is something different," Tolu insisted. She could not sense her sister. Maybe it is because Titi has not had the flesh for a long time, Tolu wondered.

Interrupting her internal inquiry, she heard her sister asking her a question. She decided it was not worth her time, after all, she was not here for Titi.

"Tolu, is every alright? Has anything happened to Mammy?" Titi asked.

"Mammy is fine, or are you expecting her to die?" replied Tolu, looking at her sister with contempt.

"Of course not, I was wondering how you found our home?" Titi asked.

"You and your husband moved out and did not care to tell any member of the family. Mammy has been worried sick about you all."

"We are sorry we kind of had to leave quickly because of my job. If I did not respond as soon as I did, I would have lost the position," Bankole answered, trying to bail his wife out.

"I don't care what happened. You could have told us. Mammy is only two hours away from where you live. We are family. Mammy has always tried to draw you close Titi but you always break her heart. I don't know why she keeps insisting on reconnecting with you so. Mammy sent me to come find you. We got your address from one of your colleagues at your previous station. She feared that your husband might have done something to you," turning to look at Bankole with total disregard.

"You and I both know that Mammy cares nothing about me and that is not about to change," Titi spat. 

Tolu completely ignoring the adults pretending to have just seen her niece. She had spotted Funmi as soon as she stepped into their house, but her resentment towards her sister was so much that she ignored the child. She had told them the truth about not wanting to come. Tolu need not come, for they knew exactly where they were. They knew that they had a child and now that the child is six; but it is time to get close to family again.

"Who is the pretty girl?" Tolu asked, grinning from ear to ear. 

She turned to Titi to show her face will disappointment written all over it. 

"You couldn't even tell us you had a baby. Titi is not good, we are family," she remarked.

"What is your name, pretty one? I know you don't know me but I am your mummy's older sister and you can call me Aunty Tolu, so what is your name pretty one? Tolu asked again.

Funmi feeling a bit shy. "My name is Funmilayo Dada"

"And how old are you, Funmi"?

"I am six and the half-years old," who is always excited to add the half year, showing off that she was not just six.

Titi knew that they have come for her daughter, who is almost seven. She hadn't told her husband about her training with Iya. She had kept it to herself. Titi believed it was better for her husband if he knew nothing about her business with Iya. Titi loved her husband so much and would not want to trouble him with her family problems. She would not allow this curse  to plague him when he had nothing to do with it except marry her. She would deal with this herself, it is her family. She owed it to her daughter and descendants to be strong and break the chain connecting them to this evil. 

It would be difficult for Titi to keep an eye on Tolu. She  simply can't follow her everywhere she went in the house, but she made sure that sister was never left alone with their daughter. They barely said a few words to Tolu and she didn't seem to care. Her focus was on Funmi and playing with her. Titi had showed her the guest room and have given her food. Husband and wife sat in silence watching in closely as Tolu played with their daughter. Finally Funmi fell asleep and her father took her to her room to put her to bed. Not long after that, the adults called it a night.  The night had a  different atmosphere, air felt heavy or maybe it was all in her head, Titi could not sleep. She remembered the nightmare of dark clouds, her meditation has helped overcome the fear.

Funmi was fast asleep when she sensed someone watching her. She thought it might be one of her parents but the presence never left. She opened her eyes and saw this scary creature by the foot of her bed. Its body frame was very skinny and had severe sagging long breast, for it was naked. Its face and neck were covered in black glossy scales and green eyes, with long thin hands. Funmi was transfixed by the creature and then it stretched out one of its long hands and its long fingers held under her chin, turning her head from side to side studying her. The creature let her go and disappeared immediately. Funmi screamed and suddenly went quiet again. 

 Meanwhile, Titi was experiencing sleep paralysis. She could not breathe, nor move any part of her body, not even her lips. She was trying to get up but could not. Then she heard her daughter's scream, it was then she felt the release and rushed to her daughter's room. She saw her daughter sitting upright, wide-eyed like she had seen a ghost. 

"Funmi! Wake up! Mummy is here" she pleaded with her daughter, shaking her out of her trance-like state.

Funmi snapped out of it, grabbing onto her mother tightly. She was shedding tears as she told her mother about the creature that was in her room and everything it said or did to her.

"Mom, it told me I would soon one of them and I told it NO! I don't want to be one of them, it is really scary."

"You told it No, I am so proud of you. You are so strong," holding her daughter. "It's going to okay. Mummy is here, nothing is ever going to hurt you OK. Look at me, do you remember those things are taught you to say? Good, we are going to say them together."

"I am strong, I am in the Light, darkness has no place in me. I walk in the Light. The Light shines in the darkness and vanquishes it. My Light defeats darkness."

"How about a nice cup of chocolate drink and some biscuits then we can both sleep together in your room," Titi suggested. 

Funmi was glad for the early morning snack and jumped out of bed very quickly. Titi knew the creature her daughter saw was her sister. She knew this time would come, and the time has come for her to protect her daughter. They must never give her the flesh. Very early the next day, Tolu was up and ready to leave, claiming that she had a few errands to run for their mother in another town and won't be coming back. Titi took her sister to the motor park to ensure she was actually leaving town. Fortunately for Titi, it wasn't a long wait. The car had been waiting for one more passenger. Tolu called out to Titi just as she was walking away from the car.

"Well done Titi, I didn't know anything good could come from you. Funmi is pretty and a special girl, mother would be very delighted," she said smiling. 

Tolu only smiled at Titi when performing her malicious deeds on her.