That night, Priscilla laid on her bed. She had been going to the living room at intervals hoping to meet Maureen’s absence. She had made up her mind to sneak out of the house with only a few of her things.

Felix had already retired to his room leaving Maureen all alone in the living room. The movie Maureen was watching was so interesting and she never moved from where she sat.

Time was going by quickly and Priscilla needed to act fast. She decided to walk back to the living room and distract Maureen. But when she walked into the living room, the stars shined on her because Maureen had already switched off the television. No one was there in the living room.

Priscilla walked back to her room in a haste. She carried her little hand bag where she had already stuffed her valuables. She then tiptoed out of the house. When she got to the gate, the gate wasn’t yet locked with a key. She unbolted it and left the house without alerting the gateman.

It was already getting dark as night was falling. Priscilla was lucky to see a taxi . She stopped him and hopped in immediately after telling him where she was going. As she entered, she sighed a sigh of relief.

Maureen walked towards Priscilla’s room and discovered that it was open. She called her name and no one answered. She alerted her husband telling her that Priscilla had left the house. She wondered what Priscilla was scared of and why she left the house in a haste after pleading with her to stay for a week. She called Priscilla’s number but it didn’t go through.

Felix was furious but he tried to hold it in. He never uttered any word as Maureen kept complaining about Priscilla leaving their house.

Felix walked into his room. He wanted to use the opportunity to end the lîfe of Priscilla. He made some incantations then Priscilla appeared inside his mirror. She was still inside the taxi she had boarded. Felix picked up a wooded staff tied with some fetish stuff. He pointed at Priscilla but nothing happened. He tried again and again but nothing happened. That was strange to him.

As Felix kept wondering what was going on, the messenger appeared.

” You can’t harm her. She’s not under your roof. You only have power to manipulate her but you can’t kîll her when she’s not under your roof. She saw what was not supposed to be seen under your roof ” He said then disappeared abruptly.

Felix needed time. After midnight, the charms he used to hold his mother’s spirit won’t be potent anymore. He was scared and angry at Priscilla at the same time. He raised the staff high up, said some words over and over and over again. Then he dashed the staff on Priscilla’s image showing inside the mirror.

*

” Mmmemmemme ” was the sound Priscilla made as she tapped the taxi man when she wanted to tell him to drop her.

The taxi man was surprised because Priscilla spoke to him a few minutes ago when he had picked her up. He applied the brakes and turned to look at Priscilla. He saw Priscilla was surprised at herself talking like a dumb. Priscilla tried talking again but she didn’t make any sense.

As Priscilla tried to talk more, she couldn’t help but shed tears. The taxi driver was sorry and scared at the same time. He didn’t want to be blamed for what he knew nothing about. He came down and opened the door for Priscilla to come down. Priscilla came down from the taxi still trying her best to talk and explain things to The taxi driver. But he just needed to leave the scene to avoid being suspected as a yáhûû boy. He shook his head in pity for Priscilla, entered his car and drove off without taking the money she wanted to give him.

The taxi man had seen many people fake things just for a free ride but Priscilla looked so genuine including her tears.

**

That night, Felix was scared to his bone marrows. He left his room to that of his wife. He laid beside her holding her tight. Time was speeding by and mid night was approaching.
The charms would wear off soon and he didn’t know what was going to happen next.

*****

Mrs Abisola never moved from where she laid and that was what Priscilla never noticed. Felix had blinded her with money that she never saw the life draining from her mother.

Mrs Abisola came to live with her daughter just one month after her marriage with Felix and her life never remained the same.

She never wanted it, she never asked for it but it happened. By the time she realized, it was already late and no turning back. If only she and her daughter were alert.