Michael drove through the open, rusty iron gates, and the old house came into view, shrouded in a misty atmosphere that seemed to cling to everything it touched. The air was heavy with the scent of dry leaves and sand, a smell that was both earthy and decaying. He pulled into the garage, a structure that seemed to be sagging under the weight of years of neglect, and they began to unload their heavy luggage. Nina gazed around the uninviting environment, her eyes widening in dismay as she took in the sheer magnitude of the yard's neglect. To her, the sight was a total turn-off, a far cry from the beautiful, well-manicured lawns she was used to.
The quiet, eerie yard stretched out before her, the only sound the soft crunch of gravel beneath her feet. The trees, once green and lush, now stood bare and skeletal, their branches etched against the sky like bony fingers. The ancient, massive house loomed above them, its windows like empty eyes staring back. And the old, broken flower pots, with their sharp edges and faded paint, lay scattered carelessly on the ground, a testament to the yard's long-forgotten beauty. Nothing about the yard felt right, everything seemed out of place, and Nina couldn't shake the feeling that they were not welcome here.
"Guys!" Nina called out in a loud, trembling voice, her eyes fixed on a spot in the misty garden. She had seen something - an ashy figure hiding behind a bare, leafless tree. But as she pointed, her voice faltering, she realized there was nothing there. The others turned to her, concerned.
"Are you okay?" Jayjay asked, staring down at Nina, who looked like she had seen a ghost. Her eyes were wide, her face pale, and her voice shook.
"Nothing... I was just..." Nina stuttered, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She had seen things before, but never like this. She shook her head, chiding herself for the false alarm.
As they walked towards the house, Nina couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. The yard was eerily quiet, the only sound the soft crunch of gravel beneath their feet. The trees seemed to loom over them, their bare branches like skeletal fingers reaching out.
"Everybody, attention please!" Michael's deep voice boomed across the yard, silencing the murmurs of the adults. They turned to him, their faces expectant.
"No matter how bad this house looks," Michael announced, his voice firm, "we are all going to live here." The words hung in the air like a challenge, and loud gasps filled the air.
The group exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared to protest. They all respected Michael, and most of them had benefited from his generosity in one way or another. They nodded, reluctantly agreeing to his plan, but their faces betrayed their doubts.
"Excuse me," Otitochukwu tittered, raising her hand hesitantly. "Is there electricity? My phone is low." She asked, and a murmur of wonder rippled through the group. Why was she worried about electricity when they were all about to spend their stay in this wreck of a house?
Michael's sharp reply cut through the whispers. "Yes, there is electricity." He faced the audience of surprised and petrified adults, who keenly waited to hear whatever he had to say.
Just then, Kevin spoke up, "Mike, I need engine oil. The keyhole is rusty." He moved the last suitcase to the door, his voice practical amidst the eerie atmosphere.
Michael replied, "Check the trunk. I think I might have a little left in the gallon." He turned back to the waiting audience, his expression unreadable.
Nina stopped halfway at the doorstep, her eyes fixed on the gigantic, horrid-looking old house. It was unlike any house she had ever seen - unwelcoming and unpleasant to behold. The peeling, dirty paint seemed to hang off the walls like tattered skin. The dust-covered windows, adorned with iron bars, stared back like empty eyes. Even the big, old, brown Chinese door seemed to loom over her, its intricate carvings twisted into a snarl.
Everything was off about this house. Nina's mind raced with questions. Why was this house so old? Why was it shrouded in mist, unlike the other houses around? Why would anyone choose to live in this house? And what was the name on the gate trying to remind her of? The words "ODEGHE" echoed in her mind, but she couldn't place them.
As they stepped into the house, they found themselves in a spacious, yet old, living room. The cushions, torn and brown, seemed to sag under the weight of time. A sturdy, brown hardwood table stood in the center of the room, its surface scratched and worn. Above, a massive chandelier hung precariously from the damp, soggy ceiling, its crystals dulled by years of grime. In the corner, an old Akira Japanese TV set sat atop a low stool, its boxy shape and faded screen a testament to the room's 90s era.
"This place is creeping me out," Tonia whispered, her voice barely audible as she scratched her neck and nearly tripped on the broken tiles.
"Me too," Nina agreed, her flashlight casting eerie shadows on the walls as she swept it across the room.
Michael's response to the cameraman's hushed comment was dismissive. "It's not old or abandoned, a little cleaning will do." But Nina scoffed, her disappointment palpable.
As she walked up the creaking stairs, her fluffy flats making barely a sound, Nina couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The stairs themselves were dry and reeked of rotting wood and dead insects. The walls, adorned with odd black and white portraits and photos, seemed to loom over her. One particular portrait caught her attention - an old family photo, its subjects' faces obscured by dust.
Nina wiped away the dust, revealing the faces of a beautiful family of five. The husband, tall and dignified in a black coat and goatee beard, stood beside his plump wife, who wore a lace gown. Their teenage daughter, dressed in a cotton dress, smiled warmly, holding hands with her little sister, who wore a Winnie the Pooh Bear polo and jean shorts. And then there was the young man, tall and handsome in khaki trousers and a straight-ironed white shirt. Nina's eyes lingered on him, his face stirring a memory she couldn't quite place.
"Babe, what are you doing here?" Michael's voice startled Nina, bringing her back from her thoughts. She had been lost in the old family photo, wondering about the young man's identity.
"When did you come...here?" Nina stuttered, balancing her kicked-off breaths.
"I just walked past you and you didn't even notice," Michael said with a quirky smile, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Ook, where are the others?" Nina asked, staring at the pictures on the wall, her mind still reeling from the discovery.
"Downstairs, cleaning, of course," Michael responded, walking towards her. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Nina smiled weakly, feeling a little embarrassed. "Nothing, I just thought about our wedding."
Michael wrapped his hands around her shoulders, his touch warm and comforting. "Nina, where have you been?" Sofia asked, staring at Michael and Nina as they walked down the stairs.
"Don't tell me, I totally understand," Sofia grinned, walking past them with a rat that lay dead in the dustpan.
Nina's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow! When did you do all these?" she asked the adults, who were cleaning and dusting the house with remarkable speed.
"Thirty minutes ago," Otitochukwu replied from the door side, where she struggled to jerk the iron bin open. "Only God knows how long I was gone," she added, much to Michael's hearing.
"Stay here, I'll be right back," Michael said, planting a kiss on Nina's forehead as he made his way to the door.
Nina stood transfixed, watching helplessly as the adults cleaned. The house was looking much better, she agreed, but the feeling it gave her disturbed her. As a biologist and lab technician, she knew about the environment; she could read and tell the nature of living, non-living things, and places. And she knew right there that the house hadn't welcomed them; it instead gave her an eerie feeling.
"Nina, I love this place; it's giving this nineties vibe, and plus, there is electricity," Judy said, approaching Nina and chewing the steak she held in her hands noisily.
"I guess I feel the same," Nina lied, feeling Michael had done her an injustice by bringing her to the wreck of a house.
"You should come outside; the boys are roasting barbecues in the yard," Judy smiled, placing her manicured hands on Nina's shoulders. But she quickly noticed Nina was moody. "Cheer up, babe; you're supposed to be the happy one here."
Nina felt a little better at Judy's words. She was going to be married in a few days, after all, and all her days of being addressed by her mom and siblings as single were over. She was someone's wife, and that someone was Michael. She smiled, walking towards the door to join the others.