Seven Ways To The Abyss

A life interrupted

The next few days were blissful for Sofia. Amaline was surprisingly nice most of the time, and for a moment, Sofia let herself imagine that life could stay this peaceful. However, it didn’t take long for her to realise that something wasn’t quite right about the older woman.

For someone as successful and self-assured as Amaline, her paranoia was unnerving. She seemed to believe that everyone was out to get her—even Sofia. This distrust often sparked exactly the kind of arguments Sofia desperately wanted to avoid. The tension reached its peak when Amaline discovered the fifty thousand naira Mr Benson had given Sofia. Convinced it was stolen, she had whipped Sofia without listening to her protests. No explanation could convince her otherwise.

It wasn’t until later, when Amaline found all her money untouched, that she apologised. But instead of words, she opted to make amends with a lavish shopping spree, buying Sofia clothes, shoes, and a few gadgets. Sofia accepted it, not because it erased the pain, but because it was the closest thing to reconciliation Amaline seemed capable of offering.

Despite these occasional setbacks, life had been mostly good—until now.

---

"You should start school."

The words, spoken at the dining table, shattered the fragile peace Sofia had begun to enjoy. She stared down at her half-eaten meal, suddenly nauseous.

"Ma?" she asked, barely managing to get the word out.

Amaline, seated across from her, didn’t so much as glance up. “What grade were you in before you came here?”

Sofia’s mind raced. She’d never been to school before—she’d never needed to. Everything she knew came from experience or, more disturbingly, from the people she’d feasted on. The thought of sitting through hours of lectures on topics she likely already knew felt unbearable.

“I’m done with school,” Sofia blurted, hoping the lie would end the conversation.

Amaline finally looked up, scepticism written all over her face. “You’re done with school?” Her voice carried disbelief. “How old are you?”

“Fourteen,” Sofia answered timidly, suddenly wishing she’d chosen a more plausible lie.

“And you’re done with secondary school?” Amaline raised an eyebrow. Sofia shook her head silently. “Do you have your WAEC result?”

Sofia’s heart sank. “No, ma.”

Amaline laughed softly, though there was no humour in it. “Then how am I supposed to believe you?”

Sofia dropped her gaze, her puppy-dog eyes pleading for Amaline to let the matter rest. But Amaline wasn’t easily swayed.

"Can you rewrite the exams?" she asked. When Sofia nodded, Amaline stood, clearing her plate with a finality that signalled her decision was made. “I’ll put you in SS2—to be safe.”

---

That night, as Sofia tried to calm her frustration, she heard Amaline call out, “The entrance exam for the school is in three days. Since you’ve already ‘written your WAEC,’ this shouldn’t be a problem.”

Sofia clenched her fists, her frustration mounting. “Okay, ma,” she muttered.

“Oh, and it’s a gifted school,” Amaline added as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

A gifted school? Sofia’s mind spiralled with questions. Why a gifted school? Why not a regular one? I don’t want to deal with competition… and what if the entrance exam is too hard?

“No problem,” she replied through gritted teeth.

In her room, Sofia tried to calm herself. She knew she’d do well—absorbing knowledge from others had ensured that—but she still didn’t want to go. Resigned, she pulled out the phone Amaline had bought her and began researching entrance exams for gifted schools. Everything looked manageable, but she still needed to prepare.

She studied for hours, diving into every subject she could think of: business, science, fine arts. When her head felt like it might burst, Amaline appeared with a stack of books. “Study every page,” she said before leaving.

---

Damian

Far away, Damian stood in the shadows, his body humming with newfound strength after feeding. He tilted his head, listening to the sounds around him—the hum of cars, rustling leaves, even the distant chirp of crickets. But one sound stood out above the rest: the frantic heartbeat of a Jagreel.

A smile played on his lips as he followed the rhythm. His senses led him to a white and gold modern house, its warm glow spilling onto the street from bright lights. He leapt to the balcony of the second floor, his gaze falling on a sleeping figure.

It was her.

Damian’s resolve to kill her faltered as he watched her. She seemed so fragile in sleep, her face soft and peaceful. He hesitated, his hand reaching towards her almost instinctively. But before he could touch her, she grabbed his wrist. Her grip was firm, though her breathing remained even.

He froze, half-expecting her to wake, but her eyes stayed closed.

Even in her sleep, she’s dangerous, he thought, pulling back. He stepped away from the bed, his focus sharpening. He could end it now—strike her down before she could fight back. Yet something in him hesitated, a quiet voice silencing his bloodlust.

He leapt down to the street, a small smile lingering on his lips.

“There’s always later,” he murmured to himself before vanishing into the night.

Hey guys!
Hope you liked this chapter, it took a lot of time, also please don't forget to vote comment and share

Also for those of you who don't know what WAEC is. It stands for West African Examination Council. And Is an exam that all West African are obligated to write to get into university 😊

Okie I love you always bbye