Ex Vivo (#2 EX TRILOGY)

Chapter 21

Mama walked into Akoma's room and folded her arms across her chest. As soon as she closed the door shut, Akoma turned to look at her.

"What are you doing?" Mama asked. "I thought you were asleep."

"What's this, Ma?" Akoma asked as she straightened up after examining the box. "Did you buy a fridge or something?"

Mama smiled. "No. I think it's the weirdest discovery I have ever seen in the last few years in this world. You won't believe me if I told you. I am sure you're already hooked up, aren't you?"

Akoma frowned. "What are you talking about?" she asked. "I want to know where this Kissi comes from and why you're so close to him. You let him sleep in my room?"

"What's wrong with that? He rented a place quite far from here. Sometimes it's hard to let him go, so I let him sleep here for the night so that he can leave the next morning after some work on the farm together."

Akoma snorted. "So you have a boyfriend now, Ma? Seriously?" Mama giggled. "Don't laugh, Mama. This is weird. How long have you known him?"

"Well - not long enough, but he's been helpful, and he's kept me safe all this while. Are you jealous? He hasn't touched me. Don't worry." Mama laughed and walked past Akoma to close the wardrobe shut. "We need to talk about more serious things right now. What's been going on in your life since your last visit? You said you had done terrible things. Why were you silent? I thought you were - hmm." She averted her eyes briefly and sighed.

Akoma blinked. "I have not had it easy lately. Kumasi's not safe anymore, I guess. They said a lot of people have gone missing."

"Yes. University students. Over two hundred of them. More others are disappearing. We don't know why. It's creepy."

"University students?"

"Yes. I don't know what is coming to hit us next in this world. God help us." Mama sat on the bed and sighed, and she set her searching gaze on Akoma at once. "What terrible things did you -"

"Just survival stuff. Nothing much. You know how difficult it can be to be lonely and all. You found yourself someone, for example."

"Don't be silly. And what did you do?"

Akoma shrugged. "I've not been myself lately. There are times it feels like a nightmare, but - the thing is - there are traces left behind. I can't sleep peacefully these days."

Mama shook her head and smiled. "If you're not prepared to open up to me because of guilt, then I must say that the girl before me right now is an imposter. The daughter I know would have told me enough. You're hiding something from me."

Akoma sighed and walked closer to the windows. "Pray for me, Mama. I am not well. I am scared of many things that I feel you may not understand if I tell you."

Mama rose to her feet and shrugged. "I am sure you will come around when you're ready to open up to me. I will be in my bedroom if you need someone to talk to. OK?" Akoma nodded. "Welcome back, my dear child." She stepped closer to hug her before turning to leave. "And leave that box alone," she added before closing the door shut behind her.

Akoma stayed awake for the next three hours searching the internet for every news article about the missing people. There had been updates about more people missing and she streamed a live interview of the DCE whose son was killed.

"I don't know why anyone would walk into my son's life and kill him," the woman told the reporter. "I never knew the lady. I only saw a picture of her on my son's phone few days before I left, and I told him to stay away from her because I was not comfortable with her looks. I didn't know it would turn out this bad. I am so angry with myself right now for this loss."