"Veronica, wake up."
Veronica opened her eyes slowly to see Hakim Bello's face staring down at her.
"Uncle Kim," Veronica said, getting up, making Hakim move backward.
"Why aren't you in school?"
Veronica placed the back of her hand in front of her mouth to cover it as she yawned. In no time she realized she was in the living room. But how did she get there? She had no idea. It was like there were blank gaps in her memory. Veronica had been experiencing it ever since she came to Ketu town, blacking out and waking up moments later with no idea of what she was doing before. But it was beginning to happen more frequently and also seemed like she was blacking out for longer hours.
"Eh, I'm tired I guess." She said as she stood up.
"Okay, but this is surprising... You have never slept on the couch before and you are mostly locked up in your room. Now you are here, napping on the couch and leaving your shoes on."
Veronica looked down at her feet and noticed she was still wearing shoes indoors. It had speckles of red sand all over. She didn't remember putting them on, neither did she remember going out or making any plans to go out in the first place.
"Erm, did you see me leave the house?"
"No," Uncle Kim answered. "I have been working on the leaked pipes since morning... Don't you remember putting on the shoes?"
"I-I don't know," Veronica answered. Just then her phone rang.
"It's mummy." She said as she picked up the phone.
"Okay, greet her for me... I have to get back to work."
"Okay," Veronica replied as she put the phone to her ear. "E kaasan mummy."(1)
"E kaasan omo mi." (2) "How are you doing today."
"I'm fine ma... Although I'm surprised that you are calling me by this time. Hope there is no problem."
"No there isn't my dear," Her mother answered. "It's just that a friend of yours came to see me today from Ketu... She said her name was Grace, do you know her?"
"Yes, I know Grace," Veronica replied, trying not to sound surprised. Why would Grace go all the way to meet her mother? Does her mother know about the killings now? "What did she tell you?"
"She told me you were hiding something so she came to me to find out the truth... Why did you change your surname? And why did you lie to them about who you really are?"
Veronica wondered for a moment how Grace found out about her surname then slapped her forehead as soon as she remembered how; her credit card.
"Don't worry about it mum, it was a stupid prank." She said, "But what did you tell her?"
"I told her everything, down to what happened last year with Cassandra."
"You told her about Cassandra, why?"
"I felt she had to know, I'm sorry... She told me you were in danger and it was important for her to know."
Danger? Veronica asked herself. What danger?
"I called to ask if everything is okay over there. Have you been noticing anything? How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine mum, it's okay."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes ma, I'm fine. Trust me."
"Okay, I have to go now. Your father and I will call you soon."
"Okay, bye mum."
"O dabo." (3)
Just after her mom hung up, the voice inside her head spoke up.
"So that was why Grace went to town with her brother, pretty tricky... It seems like I barely know what they are planning now that they don't talk to you often."
"Who the hell are you and why do you keep tormenting me like this?" Veronica yelled.
"If you haven't still figured it out even after your mum just told you Grace has, then you are probably the biggest fool of all time."
"Cassandra--"
"Hi there, it's nice to finally meet you."
"But how are you still inside me?"
"Well that is easy, I never left."
Veronica touched her face and other parts of her body to check if she was dreaming; it was clear that she wasn't.
"So you are behind all of this--"
"Yes ma'am." Cassandra cut in.
"But why? Why choose to be wicked?"
"I told you from the beginning, you and I are goddesses, and we should be treated like one; feared and revered everywhere you go. Our names should spark fear in the eyes of everyone and send cold shivers down their spine... But you-you never wanted to join me, not once! So, I decided to take matters into my own hands."
"No!"
"Yes! Since you are too weak to do what is needed, then I will do it for you... Don't worry, you will thank me later."
"No, you can't do this." Veronica objected. "I won't let you kill them!"
"Oh but you're too late darling," Cassandra replied. "I am in full control now, I always have... I also have Joana now and it's only a matter of time before I get all of your friends and kill all of them and then I will move on to your mum and dad... Oh my gosh! We are going to have so much fun together!" Cassandra said and laughed maniacally.
"No, please," Veronica said crying.
"Hush now my dear, don't you worry. This time I would keep you awake to witness everything that will be going on."
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
"Oh, Margret is here already," Cassandra said excitedly.
"Cassandra please, don't do this," Veronica begged.
Cassandra laughed.
"I promise I'm not going to do anything, not at the moment at least." She said and laughed again. "Now, sleep."
With that, Veronica bowed her head and closed her eyes. By the time it was opened, Cassandra had taken over.
A wicked smile cut across her face and then the doorbell rang again. Cassandra hopped with one foot after the other to get to the door and then opened it.
"Oh dear, you look terrible." She said to Margret who had a grey hoodie covering most of her face. "Did you run all the way here?"
"Yes, I didn't want to risk getting caught by the police," Margret answered.
"Okay, smart... Come in." Cassandra said as she opened the door wide.
Margret stared at her for a while. Something was off, she could feel it. Still, it was better than going to prison. She decided to go in.
_____________
Translations:
(1) E kaasan - Good afternoon
(2) Odabo - Goodbye