Everything around me suddenly felt unreal, like a nightmare disguised as reality. I didn't know what exactly to do at the moment.

Alhaji Mentus was still there staring at me, and before I could turn my back, I saw an ambulance driving into the hospital. A lot of people were rushing outside to see what was happening.

I stopped a lady who went out and asked her what was happening exactly. She responded swiftly, “There is one man outside. He has serious nose bleeding.”

When I heard this, the first person that came into my mind was my husband.

“Yes. That's my husband,” I said, pushing her out of the way. I didn't even allow her to finish speaking. I walked out.

But she held my hand, and what I received was a slap.

“Learn how to be grateful, and behave in public,” the lady retorted, leaving me there. I felt embarrassed, but I proceeded to the hospital gate.

Unfortunately, it wasn't my husband. I stood there with millions of thoughts swimming in my head.

Where would Ebuka be? How can my husband vanish like that? If he wasn't there in the hospital, then where else could he be?

Why was I asked to come to the hospital? Is there anything I need to know?

These questions kept lingering in my head. I decided to call that same number, but it wasn't going through.

I went back to the hospital corridor to check if I would see Alhaji Mentus to ask him about my husband. But to no avail, Alhaji Mentus was nowhere to be found.

What I saw was a written note:

“You brought this upon yourself. Nevertheless, we're doing it this night. You're now mine, Amaka.”

I didn't know someone told me that this note was from Alhaji Mentus. I felt pained and as if someone stabbed me in the back.

This was when the idea of going to see a pastor came. I didn't know any anointed man of God, but Mama Goodnews did. I swiftly went back home to meet her.

When I got home, I didn't even go into my apartment. I went straight to Mama Goodnews to tell her everything.

I noticed something—my husband's shirt was in her house. I didn't really pay attention to what I saw.

“Mama Goodnews, I don't know what is happening to me,” I sobbed.

“Haven't you seen your husband?” she asked with curiosity.

I told her everything that happened. I told her I had not seen my husband in the hospital. They said there was no patient with such a name.

She couldn't believe what she heard.

“Wait! Amaka, so you're telling me that my son is lying to you or he's now a kidnapper?” she bawled.

“Please! You need to hear me out, Mama Goodnews. I never said such. I only came here to ask you for something,” I replied, in an apologetic tone of voice.

So I told her about going to see an anointed man of God—not just anyone claiming to be a servant of God.

“Amaka, if you're looking for a man of God, I've got you covered. I know a very powerful and spiritual man of God,” she said with an energetic tone of voice.

When I heard this, I felt a little bit of relief because the Bible said that:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition... present your requests to God.”

“How can I meet him? I mean today,” I asked with eagerness.

“No problem. I'm ready to take you there. But take your bath and wear clothes that will cover your body. Remember, you're going to see Pastor Break-It-And-Move-On Musa,” she advised.

“Okay. I'll be back in ten minutes,” I responded, faking a smile.

I went to my apartment and showered. I wore a gown that covered part of my body as Mama Goodnews instructed.

She took me to Pastor Break-It-And-Move-On Musa.

“You’re welcome, Daughter of Zion,” Pastor Break-It-And-Move-On Musa greeted the moment we approached and went inside his office.

Pastor Break-It-And-Move-On Musa looked at me quietly for a long moment.

Then he finally spoke. “I know why you are here,” he said calmly.

My heart tightened. “You came because your husband is missing… and because something is following your life.”

I swallowed hard. “How… how do you know all this?” I asked fearfully.

The pastor stood up slowly and walked closer to me.

His voice dropped. “I also know Alhaji Mentus is not just a madman,” he said.

My body went cold.

Then he pointed at me. “And I know the only way your husband’s situation can be stopped.”

I leaned forward slightly, hoping for relief.

But what he said next broke me completely.

“There is only one condition,” he said firmly.

My chest rose. “You will come here at 12 midnight.” My blood froze immediately.

Silence fell inside the church. My mouth opened, but no words came out. The candle beside the altar flickered violently.

Outside the church, a dog barked loudly in the darkness.

The pastor stepped even closer. “There is a condition,” he said, his voice low.

“What condition?” I asked, already afraid.

He paused for a long moment…

“Tonight, at midnight… you must return here.”

My hands trembled. “For prayer?”

He looked at me coldly. “You will understand when you come.”

To be continued…

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When I finally regained consciousness, I found myself lying alone inside the uncompleted building.

The last thing I remembered was fainting in Alhaji Mentus’ arms.

Fear gripped me immediately as I struggled to stand up from the dusty floor. My head was aching badly, and the red towel wrapped around my chest was already stained with dust and sand.

I looked around nervously, but there was no sign of Mentus anywhere.

The entire building felt strangely silent.

The first person that came into my mind was Ebuka.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps coming from upstairs.

“You’re a sweet woman, Amaka,” Alhaji Mentus said while climbing down the staircase slowly. “So this is what Ebuka has been enjoying all these years.”

Pain and anger rushed through my body immediately.

I stood up aggressively from the floor and glared at him with hatred burning in my eyes.

“I hope my husband gets better,” I muttered angrily while adjusting the red towel across my chest. “Because if anything happens to him, I will descend on you.”

Mentus laughed softly, but there was something disturbing about the sound.

I didn’t wait to hear another word from him.

I stormed out of the building into the dark lonely street.

The moment I arrived home, I noticed the door was no longer locked.

My heartbeat increased instantly.

“Who could have opened the door?” I whispered to myself fearfully.

I rushed inside immediately.

The atmosphere inside the house felt wrong.

Terribly wrong.

Then I noticed blood stains scattered across the floor.

My breathing stopped.

The room was empty.

The bed was rough and scattered.

The cloth I used earlier to wipe Ebuka’s nose was lying helplessly on the floor.

But Ebuka was nowhere to be found.

Fear swallowed me completely.

“That means the bleeding became worse after I left…” I whispered shakily.

At that point, I didn’t even know what to do anymore.

The first person that came into my mind was Mama Goodnews, our closest neighbor.

I was about calling her when suddenly, my phone started ringing.

Unknown number.

My hands trembled immediately as I answered the call.

“Hello… please, is this Amaka, Ebuka’s wife?” a strange male voice asked from the background.

“Yes,” I replied quickly. “Who are you? And how do you know my husband?”

My heartbeat became uncontrollably fast.

“Madam, your husband’s condition is very critical,” the voice replied urgently. “Your presence is urgently needed.”

Immediately, Alhaji Mentus’ words echoed loudly inside my head:

> “Don’t bother taking him to the hospital. Nothing will stop his predicament unless you do the right thing.”

Confusion flooded my mind instantly.

Who could have taken Ebuka to the hospital?

Besides, I had already done the right thing… hadn’t I?

Honestly, everything was becoming too complicated for me to understand.

“What’s the name of the hospital?” I asked quickly. “I’m coming immediately.”

“Riverside Hospital, Real Estate Road,” the voice replied. “And come alone.”

The call ended immediately.

It felt like thunder exploded inside my chest.

Why should I come alone?

Fear and confusion battled inside my head at the same time.

But at that moment, my husband’s life mattered more than anything else.

Suddenly—

KPO! KPO! KPO!

A loud knock landed on the door.

I rushed nervously to open it.

Standing outside was Mama Goodnews.

But her facial expression wasn’t bright at all.

“Your husband was bleeding seriously,” she said with a sad tone. “So my son helped carry him to the hospital.”

“Which hospital?” I asked immediately.

Mama Goodnews shook her head slowly.

“I don’t know, Amaka. I didn’t follow them.”

She sighed tiredly.

“I need to go back inside. My husband needs me too.”

The moment she left, I immediately rushed to Riverside Hospital.

The moment I entered the hospital, I ran inside like someone being chased by death itself.

“Nurse!” I shouted breathlessly. “Where is Ebuka? Somebody called me that my husband is dying!”

The nurses exchanged confused glances immediately.

“Which Ebuka?” one of them asked.

“My husband!” I cried desperately. “He was brought here this evening!”

The nurse checked through a register and frowned.

“There’s no patient here with that name.”

Fear exploded inside my chest instantly.

“What do you mean there’s no patient?” I shouted. “Somebody called me from this hospital!”

The nurse looked genuinely confused.

“We didn’t call you, madam.”

My breathing stopped completely.

Coldness spread slowly through my entire body.

With trembling hands, I brought out my phone and checked the number again.

Unknown number. No name. No trace.

Then suddenly, a familiar laugh echoed softly behind me. My blood froze instantly.

Slowly, I turned around and standing quietly at the dark end of the hospital corridor was Alhaji Mentus.

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Fear gripped me immediately I saw the blood dripping from Ebuka’s nose. The first thing that came into my mind was:

“Blood of Jesus!”

Blood continued dripping slowly while Ebuka struggled to breathe properly.

“Amaka…” he called weakly, holding his chest tightly. “I don’t feel fine.”

Panic swallowed me completely.

I quickly grabbed a cloth and pressed it against his nose while my hands trembled uncontrollably.

Outside the door, Alhaji Mentus remained standing silently like a messenger waiting for judgment to be completed.

Then he spoke again in a calm but terrifying voice.

“Before six o’clock… find me.”

My heartbeat skipped instantly.

“What are you talking about?” I asked fearfully.

But Mentus didn’t answer.

Instead, he slowly turned around and began walking barefoot down the lonely street.

Then he stopped briefly and spoke without looking back.

“Don’t bother taking him to the hospital. Nothing will stop his predicament unless you do the right thing.”

Different thoughts rushed through my mind immediately.

I thought about taking Ebuka to the nearest prayer house, but fear of the old woman’s warning held me back.

“Wait!” I shouted desperately.

Mentus stopped again.

“If you truly want your husband to survive,” he muttered quietly, “come to the old bridge before six o’clock.”

And with that, he disappeared completely.

“Amaka… I’m not alright,” Ebuka said weakly from inside the room. “Please take me to the hospital.”

I honestly didn’t know what suddenly came over me.

Instead of panicking like a normal wife, I began acting strangely.

“Papa Ijeoma, calm down,” I said nervously. “This is probably malaria and typhoid. Let me prepare fresh agbo for you so it can flush your system.”

Even as the words left my mouth, I knew I wasn’t behaving normally.

It reminded me of Mama Monica, the woman who ignored her husband’s sickness until it became too late.

Ebuka looked at me in disbelief.

“Are you sure you’re mentally okay?” he asked weakly.

“Oga, calm down first,” I replied hurriedly. “Let me prepare the agbo.”

I walked outside with only the red towel still wrapped around my chest.

Deep down, I knew this was all connected to the old woman and the covenant.

But fear had already taken over my senses.

I don’t even know what happened to me afterward.

The next thing I did still shocks me till today.

I went back inside the house, locked Ebuka inside, and left with the keys.

Though the bleeding had reduced slightly, his face looked pale and lifeless.

He screamed my name repeatedly, but I ignored him completely.

Part of me believed I was protecting him because if the neighbors noticed his condition, they would immediately rush him to the hospital.

At exactly 6 p.m., I arrived at the abandoned uncompleted building where Alhaji Mentus usually waited for me.

But he was nowhere to be found.

“Where is this madman?” I muttered nervously while searching around the dusty building.

There was no sign of his presence anywhere.

Only the sound of dry leaves moving across the cracked floor echoed through the empty building.

Fear slowly tightened around my chest.

“Mentus?” I called quietly.

Still no response.

I walked deeper into the building while my footsteps echoed loudly against the empty walls.

The atmosphere suddenly felt strange. Too strange.

It felt as though somebody was watching me from inside the darkness.

I quickly tightened the red towel across my chest and turned around slowly.

Nothing. But the coldness in the air kept increasing.

My breathing became uneven immediately.

I was about leaving when suddenly, a strong hand grabbed my waist from behind.

I nearly screamed.

Before I could react, another hand covered my mouth tightly.

My heart almost jumped out of my chest.

Then I heard his voice close to my ear.

“Why did you break the rule?”

Alhaji Mentus whispered angrily as his grip around my waist tightened.

Fear swallowed me completely.

The cold breeze swept through the uncompleted building while his fingers tightened around my trembling body.

I tried to speak, but no words came out.

The madness in his eyes suddenly looked different.

Darker. More terrifying than before.

Slowly, he pulled me closer to himself.

My breathing became heavy immediately as my body started feeling weak.

The entire building suddenly felt cold and uncomfortable.

I could barely stand properly anymore.

My vision became blurry instantly.

And before I could understand what was happening to me, my legs gave up completely…

I fainted right inside Alhaji Mentus’ arms.

To be continued…

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The stinking Alhaji Mentus was the last person anyone would imagine I would sleep with after repeatedly promising my husband that I would never share my body with another man.

I married Ebuka at a young age after he impregnated me shortly after my WAEC examination. Life was difficult for us. Ebuka had no stable job except helping a Hausa merchant, Alhaji Mentus, at the bridge market.

Whenever Mentus refused to pay him, we would go to bed hungry.

Sometimes, Ebuka would break down in tears.

“Don’t cry, Ebuka. Everything will be fine,” I would say, holding his trembling hands.

But the next morning, I would wake up only to realize he had already left the house in search of another hopeless day.

One fateful evening, I went to pluck fresh waterleaf from our neighbor’s farm when I suddenly saw an old woman holding a faded picture of my husband.

Fear gripped me instantly.

I turned to run, but her voice stopped me.

“I’m not here to harm you,” she said calmly. “I came to help you.”

My heart pounded heavily.

“What are you doing with my husband’s picture?” I demanded.

At first, she refused to answer. But after much pressure, she finally agreed to explain everything on one condition — that I followed her to her temple.

“Why would I follow you? I don’t even know you!” I shouted.

“Because I’m trying to save your husband,” she replied before disappearing into the bush path.

Curiosity swallowed my fear, and I followed her.

Deep inside the forest stood a dark ancient shrine covered with red cloths and burning candles.

The moment we entered, the old woman turned toward me slowly.

“Listen carefully, child…” she began. “Your husband carries the shadow of death upon his head.”

Cold fear rushed through my body.

“Every night you return from Alhaji Mentus,” she continued, “your husband wakes to another sunrise.”

My breath caught instantly.

“But the day your body belongs to Ebuka alone… is the day death will remember his name.”

Goosebumps covered my skin.

“If you choose faithfulness to your marriage, your husband will die in your arms,” she said. “But if you continue to stain your vows with another man, Ebuka will continue to live.”

Tears gathered in my eyes.

“What are you saying?” I cried. “Why would I sleep with another man just to keep my husband alive?”

The old woman moved closer and lowered her voice.

“Because your husband is not an ordinary man.”

The shrine suddenly became cold and silent.

“Long before Ebuka was born,” she whispered, “his spirit was tied to an ancient covenant connected to Alhaji Mentus.”

My legs trembled.

“I don’t understand…” I muttered weakly.

She raised the faded photograph again.

“Ebuka carries a powerful ancestral spirit. A death walks beside him like a shadow. The only thing delaying that death… is the bond between you and Mentus.”

I stepped backward in horror.

“No… that’s impossible.”

“Listen carefully,” the woman said firmly. “The day you stop going to Alhaji Mentus, the spirit protecting Ebuka will leave him… and your husband will die.”

Tears rolled freely down my cheeks.

“But why him?” I cried. “Why must it be that madman?”

The old woman’s expression darkened instantly.

“Because every sacrifice demands a price.”

A strange wind suddenly swept across the shrine.

“The moment you begin this journey with Mentus,” she continued, “his mind will slowly be taken from him. The burden meant for your husband will shift into his soul. Little by little, madness will consume him… until the streets begin to call him a lunatic.”

My knees became weak.

“So… Ebuka will live because another man will suffer?”

The old woman nodded slowly.

“One man must lose himself for the other to remain alive.”

She suddenly grabbed my wrist tightly.

“You don’t have much time,” she whispered.

“Before the next market day, you must begin the sacrifice… or prepare to bury your husband.”

Suddenly, a violent wind blew through the shrine.

The candles flickered wildly.

And for the first time in my life…

I heard Alhaji Mentus screaming my name from deep inside the forest.

To be continued… 🌑

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The moment I heard him call my name outside our window that night, my heartbeat increased instantly.

My husband’s facial expression changed immediately.

“Baby… what is that man talking about?” Ebuka asked suspiciously.

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

For a moment, I completely froze.

“I—I don’t know who he’s referring to,” I stammered nervously. “Besides, Alhaji Mentus is mentally unstable.”

Ebuka sighed softly and wrapped his hand around my waist.

“Yeah, I know,” he replied calmly. “Come back inside so we can continue what we were doing.”

As he pulled me closer, I glanced outside the window again.

Alhaji Mentus was still standing there in the darkness.

But this time, he wasn’t laughing like his usual self.

He was staring directly at me.

And strangely… I could see pain in his eyes. Real pain.

My body suddenly became weak as the old woman’s warning echoed loudly inside my head:

“If you choose faithfulness to your marriage, your husband will die in your arms. But if you continue to stain your vows with another man, Ebuka will continue to live.”

Fear swallowed me completely. My mood changed instantly.

I wanted to tell Ebuka everything, but the old woman had strictly warned me never to reveal the secret to anyone.

For a brief moment, I tried to ignore everything.

I ignored the warning.

I ignored Alhaji Mentus.

I ignored death itself.

All I could see was my husband holding me tightly like he was afraid of losing me forever.

Slowly, I allowed myself to rest in his arms.

That night, for the first time in many weeks, I gave myself completely to Ebuka.

Afterward, silence filled the room.

Only the sound of our breathing could be heard in the darkness.

Ebuka pulled me gently against his chest while the kerosene lamp flickered quietly beside the bed.

But suddenly, his body became strangely hot.

Very hot.

He sat upright immediately and wiped sweat from his face.

“Are you okay?” I asked nervously, sitting up beside him.

“I don’t know,” he replied weakly. “My chest suddenly feels heavy.”

Fear gripped my heart instantly.

Ebuka stood up from the bed, but immediately staggered and held the wall for support.

“What’s happening to me?” he muttered weakly.

My breathing stopped completely.

Then the old woman’s terrifying voice echoed inside my head once again:

“The day your body belongs to Ebuka alone… is the day death will remember his name.”

I stared at my husband in horror as sweat continued pouring endlessly down his face.

And deep down inside me…

I knew something had followed us into that room.

The next morning, Ebuka could barely stand up from the bed.

His breathing had become heavier overnight, and despite the cold weather, his entire body was soaked in sweat.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked nervously while helping him sit properly.

“I just feel weak,” he replied quietly.

Fear tightened around my chest immediately.

The old woman’s warning refused to leave my mind. I quickly looked away so Ebuka wouldn’t notice the panic written all over my face.

Suddenly, KPO! KPO! KPO!

A loud knock landed on the door. Both of us jumped slightly. Ebuka struggled to stand up while I rushed nervously toward the entrance.

The moment I opened the door, my blood ran cold instantly.

It was Alhaji Mentus. But something about him looked completely different.

This time, he wasn’t smiling.

He stood silently outside the house staring directly into my eyes.

Then slowly, he raised his shaking hand.

Wrapped tightly around his wrist was a red thread identical to the one the old woman wore inside the shrine.

My heartbeat nearly stopped.

Before I could say a single word, Mentus spoke softly:

“You broke the rule last night.”

My legs almost gave up beneath me.

Fear exploded inside my chest immediately.

Then suddenly, “Amakaaa!”

Ebuka screamed painfully from inside the room. I turned around in panic. And the moment my eyes landed on him, my soul nearly left my body. Blood was dripping slowly from his nose.

To be continued…

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With only a red towel wrapped around my chest, I quietly stepped out of the house after everyone had gone to bed. Another terrible night of sacrificing my body to the stinking Alhaji Mentus had begun.

When I arrived at the abandoned uncompleted building, he was already waiting impatiently for me.

The moment he saw me, he grabbed my waist tightly.

I closed my eyes as he held me through the cold silent night.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I surrendered myself for the sake of my husband’s life.

While Ebuka slept peacefully at home, I carried a burden nobody would ever understand.

Later that night, when I returned home, the door was locked.

Fear gripped my chest immediately.

I didn’t even know where to begin explaining if Ebuka caught me outside at that hour.

Suddenly, NEPA took the light.

Within seconds, darkness swallowed the entire compound, and somehow, it made the night feel even more terrifying.

I quickly checked where we usually kept the spare key, but it was nowhere to be found.

My heartbeat accelerated with panic.

I was standing outside in nothing but a red towel.

How was I supposed to explain this?

Helplessly, I sat inside the kitchen, praying Ebuka would eventually wake up to urinate like he usually did at night.

Luckily, just as sleep began to drag my eyes shut, I heard the sound of the door opening.

Without wasting time, I quietly sneaked back into the house before he noticed me.

I didn’t go straight to bed.

I knew he would suspect something.

So I rushed into the bathroom and pretended to be bathing.

About fifteen minutes later, I came out and saw Ebuka sitting quietly on the bed. He looked worried.

“I was looking for you,” he said softly. “You made me scared.”

Relief washed across his face the moment he saw me.

“I started my menstrual period,” I lied quickly. “I didn’t want the smell to disturb you.”

He nodded slowly.

This was the painful life I was living.

Ebuka had no idea what I was doing just to keep him alive.

That entire night, sleep completely abandoned me.

Guilt flooded my mind endlessly.

I was sharing what belonged to my husband with another man.

Not just another man…

but a mentally unstable man feared by the entire street.

“Why aren’t you sleeping, babe?” Ebuka asked after noticing my restlessness.

“Nothing,” I replied weakly. “It’s just menstrual cramps.”

“Sorry about that,” he whispered, gently rubbing my stomach. “You’ll be fine.”

His kindness pierced my heart deeply.

At that moment, I felt like the most deceitful woman alive.

But I was only obeying the rules meant to keep him safe.

I lay beside him staring at the cracked ceiling while the old woman’s warning echoed repeatedly inside my head:

> “If you stop going to Alhaji Mentus… your husband will die.”

A cold shiver ran through my body.

Beside me, Ebuka turned slowly and wrapped his hand around my waist.

“Are you awake?” he whispered softly.

My heartbeat quickened immediately.

“Mmm,” I answered weakly.

He pulled me slightly closer, but fear tightened around my chest.

For weeks, I had avoided him without explanation.

Whenever he reached for me at night, I pretended to be asleep.

But tonight felt different.

Tonight, I could sense suspicion hiding inside his silence.

“Amaka…” he called softly. “Did I do something wrong?”

Tears gathered instantly in my eyes.

If only he knew that loving him the way a wife should… could become the very thing that killed him.

Suddenly, a strange wind pushed through the window.

The kerosene lamp flickered violently.

Then, from outside the house, I heard a familiar voice laughing in the darkness.

Alhaji Mentus.

Before I could react, Ebuka sat upright immediately.

Then the madman’s voice echoed again from outside:

“Amaka…come let's go and do it. I missed your soft and succulent body.”

To be continued… 🌑

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