3.1 | Undead

14

February 24, 2020.
Bariga, Lagos, Nigeria.

I left Dami's shrine more shaken up than I'd been before I went there. Her words haunted my mind, sending sharp arrow like emotions—fear, sadness, uncertainty—piercing my mentality in the most painful way.

It was difficult to believe a word she said because I knew the person—or ghost she was talking about. And Bukola did not have the ability to kill. She just couldn't. I was certain of that.

Which was why, when she'd suggested I'd bind Bukola by the spoon in order to thwart whatever she was planning, I told her to give me enough time to think about it. Consider my options. I had to speak to Lara and Yemi about this and see what they had to say.

I also needed to avoid Stephan and his constant questioning about my actions.

I threw the door to my house open and hurried in, Stephan hot on my heels. His shoes made stomping noises against the titles as he did.

"What's there to think about?" He asked in an obviously exasperated tone. It was like he was trying to help me and I was refusing him. But it wasn't true.

I appreciated everything he was doing, and yes, I knew that Bukola could be dangerous but how dangerous could she be. While she was alive, she had the purest soul ever. Now, some juju worker was trying to change that image of her.

My tone was low when I turned to him and said, "Bukola's not that kind of person. You're jumping into conclusions here."

Stephan's eyes went wide, his nostrils flared and his face turned red. It was almost funny, except it wasn't.

"You're being blind!" He raised his voice, throwing a hand in my direction. From the corner of my eye, I saw Yemi and Lara come out of the kitchen, bearing mixed expressions on their faces.

Stephan glanced at them for a second before going back to glaring at me while I balled my hands into fists.

Obviously, this was working him out and maybe, the thought that I was declining this "opportunity" as he had called it seemed to bother him a lot. He ran his fingers through his dark hair and closed his eyes, exhaling deeply to calm down. And then he tried again.

"Jacob," he said. He stepped forward and grabbed me by the shoulders, like he could magically shake me out of whatever daze I was in. But I knew I was right. His stare bored into mine. "Bukola is a ghost now. That transformation changes people. It changed my ex and it has changed yours too, believe it or not."

"I know her," I told him, slowly removing his hands from my shoulders. "Bukola can't hurt me."

Stephan scoffed stepped back, running a hand over his face while chuckling humorlessly. When he looked back at me, he wore a mocking smile. It annoyed me to the bone.

"So you think because she was sweet and caring while she was alive she's going to care now? Well, this is breaking news: she doesn't. She's just obsessed with you. And if you don't do something fast, she'll kill you." He pointed to me. Then to Yemi. "She'll kill him." Yemi gasped. Stephan pointed to Lara whose eyes were already wide. The love of my life swallowed, I could see the fear in her eyes when Stephan said, "she'll kill her too. And it'll be all your fault because you couldn't let go of the stupid feelings you have for an undead ex."

The moment he'd said that, I knew Lara heard it, and only God knew what she must have been thinking. Stephan, as per the usual, didn't appear to care, instead he dropped another venom- coated bomb.