Wormwood

The supermarket

The children weren't up yet after all the gyrations of the previous night. So I quickly cleaned up and went down thinking no one was up till I got to the veranda to meet Udeme and Vincent smoking on oris cigarettes.

'Good morning sah.' They chorused

'Good morning, go get ready we leave in 30minutes, wake Ntekim so she can clean up the house--it's a mess in there.'

Ntekim came to see us off as we drove out of the garage unto the once glorious streets of Calabar. Two years ago these streets were bubbling with life especially during the festive season coupled with the biggest street party. Almost all nations under heaven trooped to experience it live. But all that was in ruins now I looked nostalgically as we drove past the stadium now littered with nylons and overgrown grasses taking up residence on the roads. At the top of the stadium by the edge there was a reflection coming off the lens of the gun of a sniper taking down cars and raiding them afterwards, so I diverted into another street to avoid a gun battle. We drove through the streets of Marian or what is left of it, the pedestrian walkover just by the famous market had fallen across the road giving thugs the ability to rob cars that slowed down. More clubs were opened; it was as if people didn't quite understand the kind of mess humans who were left behind are in--last week we almost tried saving a woman who we thought was in trouble, only to find out when we got there that they were just humping each other in an abandoned car. When we got to the supermarket, the security was tighter than that of Aso Rock.

'The security here is crazy' Udeme commented

'Yeah because they are also selling illegal items.' Vincent answered observing an item closely.

'Let's just get what we came here for and leave.'

'What do you people want to buy? You've been standing here long enough, it's either you buy or we throw you out!' A guard said

'Calm down soldier, we're all the same here.' I tried to sweet talk the soldier

'Bros there's no more love for the brotherhood, everything we do now is for survival. But I'll cut you guys some slack for the fact that you're fellow men in arms.'

'We will still need each other very soon for what's coming.'

'I'm aware of what's coming, when that time comes hopefully we'll be alive to unite and fight, but for now I have to work to survive and feed what's left of my family and you're making it harder than it should be so get what you want and leave.' He scolded

'Thank you' I said smiling 'Alright let's split up, we'll be faster if we do. Both of you should get as many guns as the car can carry while I get foodstuffs and things for the green house.'

'Yes sah' they chorused

It was a slow day with stoic demeanours, a mother was scolding her five year old child, the men were just vigilant and uptight. Just when I was gathering the last supplies a sonorous oik aged man walked into the supermarket, the guards tried to restrain him but he started vibrating violently emitting a deafening pitch as he screamed. Some people managed to run out with goods they didn't pay for, others that were too close to the man were on the floor struggling with the painful sound. Just then the man shapeshifted into an uncanny creature with ears about 8 inches long, his skin glittered like tiny stars, his teeth were tiny and sharp like that of a piranha. I had fought something much worse I said to myself so I wasn't really disturbed but continued to pick my supplies.

Back at home, the neighbours were fighting for their lives with similar creatures to the one in the store. Mrs. Ntekim told the children to double check for weak points while she ran to get her husbands side arm and pomp action, Mmaette and Udoette held pocket knives just in case.

'Mmaette what are you doing?' Ntekim asked

'I'm going to call my father.'

'Okay, that's smart.'

'Hurry mama I'm scared.' Udoette cried

'Hello! Dad?!'

'Mama, are you okay?'

'Dad come back quickly, something is attacking the neighbours and it's getting closer!' She shouted

'Mama I didn't hear you clearly.' I said before the line made static sounds

'Daddy can you hear me?! Come back please something is attacking the neighbours and it's coming here.' She said sobbing softly before the reception cut abruptly

'Hello! Mama! Mmaette!' I shouted

'Major wetin happen?' The captains asked as they ran to me

'We need to get home now, the house is under attack. Have you grabbed everything?'

'Yes sah.'

'Listen sah.' Vincent hushed

'What?' I asked

'It's too quiet.'

'Let's go now.' I said

As we ran for the door, Udeme almost died from shock when he opened the door to see other creatures like the one inside the store breathing heavily with the bodies of unfortunate people who ran out of the store. I looked behind and saw the once old man now a vicious looking creature feasting on the body of a soldier, we made a quick dash for the car dumping all supplies in the back and driving violently bashing everything in our way. The creature in the store led the attack, chasing the jeep. We shot at them but they were too many, some came from the front. One managed to dive in from the back and buried it's teeth in Vincent's shoulder, he screamed and lost his gun in the chaos so he took out his knife and stabbed it while I shot it's head and pushed it out.

Hi guys, I apologise for not posting for awhile now. I'm back now and I'll try to post more often. Enjoy! And don't forget to vote..😙