🎃 Hush, Bush Baby. Don't You Cry 🎃

Let me tell you one boarding school tale—one common that you might've probably heard, or perhaps a little mystery one could never tell. I caught a glimpse of it one night, but perhaps it wasn't reality. You could never tell...

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"Long, long time ago an old man told me, where ever thy foot step upon, you shall find mysteries."

Maybe he thought of this while joking around, but here in the dorm room I hear strange cries. Cries of a baby child even at this midnight in a school where none of such is supposed to be heard at this time.

My eyes look around, but I alone stand awake while the others seem undisturbed. What is this sorcery? I'm but a fifteen-year-old, why have my village people hunted me down. But what be this strange sensation of pity I feel towards this cry. Do I go or do I stay? Why am I but the only one awake?

I pat my bedmate on the cheek, expecting a sudden jab for I disturbed his blissful sleep. He remained still as Olumo Rock. Worried, I pulled up his hands, but they were cold as dead. No movement, but his heartbeat still running. Perhaps a little water splash will do? But to no avail, he sleeps out dry. His snore only got more mix of soprano.

Away my foot moves forward.

Clink! Creak! Clank! I'm out the door.

My body keeps moving, unsure where I'm headed. A cutlass in my right hand, anointing oil in that armpit. Torch in my left hand, a blanket wrapped around like a cloak. Locust beans in my right pocket, broom hanging somewhere around. Is this a child rescue or an evil spirit exorcism? Truth is, you can never be too careful.

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In the middle of the bush is a baby who cries. His eyes cute and he's neatly wrapped in white and placed on a mat.

My mind two-way traffic began a drum-beating spree. Who put this child here, will conscience let me be if I don't pick this child up? But I had come this far, it's not time to turn back.

Towards the child I went and asked, "Where is thy mother, how could she abandon you here?"

I untied his white for I noticed an unusual hair. I opened the cloth and what was before me... Do I call this human or animal? It has the face of a child, but it is but a demon.

I turned around to run but saw the dorm no more. The flashlight began flickering as if it were a zombie movie. My trousers couldn't stop drinking my pee.

I touched my armpit to take my anointing oil to anoint my broom. Ready I was to use a technique I learnt from watching Fear Files: spread out the locust beans and sprinkle the oil on the broom. Make a circle around you and the evil spirit will flee.

I did as I watched, but as I rotated 360 with my face now in the direction of the baby, I noticed something... Let it not be a huge beast I'm going forehead to forehead with, I prayed.

I looked up and all my heart could call for was a group of three words: "Mommy save me!!"

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Seven doors, seven trials.
Seven hardship, seven great evil spirits.
Seven torments, seven calls for death.
Seven stabs.

Seven repeats of same words and a take-home lesson he added:
"Never trust the stranger that chooses to knock your house by midnight."

Seven days felt like seventh million years. The night never felt so long, I thought I might never see the day. Seven days spent wishing death be gifted to me. Seven days of weeping, seven days of teeth gnashing and wailings. Seven days of promise to myself to trust no man. Seven days regretting my bad deeds. Seven days questioning my existence. Seven days of darkness... but it soon came to an end.

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On the light at the tunnel end I find myself awake in a hospital. My parents joyous that I had awoken.

On the TV news it said that I was kidnapped and the culprits had been captured. I tried to explain what I had saw but I was deemed suffering from amnesia.

"Perhaps I had suffer so many traumatic scenes," they said. "We will offer him to the psychiatrist that he might get enough therapy."

Seven more months to tell me my sufferings weren't real. Perhaps I had no choice for I really wanted to be free from this chaotic curse. The curse that came from my second night at the boarding school. The curse of suffering and pain that came with the act of good will.

Beware thou who dwelleth at the boarding house. For a spirit waits close to the bush behind your dorm. His cry might drag your sober heart, but listen not. For if thou answereth the stranger that calls by midnight...

You shall suffer that which you cannot share.

_{original text plus images created by me
Truthfully I had written another but my heart said this stood out more.
I hope it blessed your heart with a little fear.}

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For the night is full of evils
Stay safe ski least hunger be the least of thy worries👾👻

Have a nice night my beautiful readers, may your night be nice, peaceful and clear.
And to the dead we say RIP💀