Half past midnight, 1997 somewhere near River Benue.
"What kind of fever is this one? your temperature is not even dropping." Shade looked at her crying five year old son on the bed.
She and her eldest son of eight didn't get a wink of sleep because her youngest son was running a temperature. She had wrapped wet clothes on his legs and forehead and rubbed palm kernel oil all over his body but it was to no avail and he kept shivering and crying.
She felt like screaming, her husband was still on duty and she could only wait until the day breaks to go to the hospital or knock on her neighbour's gate since he owns a motorcycle.
"Mama, his body is getting hotter." Her eldest said in a whisper.
Shade sighed and got to her feet, "by God grace it'll be okay. Stay with your brother, Femi, I'll go ask Baba Tunde for help." Femi, her eldest, nodded and Shade turned, leaving the house with a lantern in hand because NEPA had taken light sometime in the night.
***
Though Shade was scared, she refused to turn back. She walked briskly to her neighbour's gate and knocked until she heard Baba Tunde's footsteps.
"Who goes there?"
"It is me, Mama Femi, your neighbour."
He unlocked the gate to let her into his compound. "What happened? Why are you outside by this time? Is everything okay?" He bombarded her, immediately she stepped into the compound.
"Sorry to disturb you Baba Tunde. it is Kunle, he is running a temperature and his father has gone to the station on night duty."
"Ah! This is serious. Let me get my keys from the room." He rushed into the house to inform his wife and get the key to his new ladies motorcycle.
"Hurry and get on, a child getting sick at this hour is not a joke." He passed her a helmet.
Tears brimmed in her eyes, had she known that Baba Tunde would be willing to take her to hospital in the middle of the night she wouldn't have taken this long to come ask for help. "Thank you."
***
"Femi, come and wear your slippers, we're going to the hospital." She called as she strode towards the bedroom.
she entered and froze. "Baba Tunde is…." Her heart came to a stop when electricity was suddenly brought back and she saw her youngest son on top of his brother. Femi was fighting and struggling beneath him as he sunk his teeth into his neck and ripped out a chunk of his flesh.
It felt like a complete nightmare looking at her sons; one was fighting for his life with his neck opened and blood spurting out and the other chewing on his brother's flesh. She was trembling with fear.
"Mama Femi, What is taking you so long?!" Baba Tunde demanded as he stepped into the bedroom. She wished Baba Tunde hadn't spoken. The evil being that was her son turned and Shade nearly cried out at the sight she was met with. His eyes were clouded over and his face covered with his own brother's blood.
He stood up and turned slowly towards her and Baba Tunde who had peed his pants because of the horrific sight before them.
His movement was jerky as he took a step with his arms reaching for them.
Shade flung the lantern and shouted one word, Run.
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