Dreaming

Lex soroh 

Cassandra woke up in the eerie stillness of the abandoned mansion, whispers echoed through the empty halls. Shadows danced with malevolent intent as a forgotten melody played on a piano with no pianist. Each step taken resonated with the haunting memories of a family long gone, yet their presence lingered, trapped in the decaying walls. As the clock struck midnight, a spectral figure materialized, recounting a tale of betrayal and tragedy that echoed through the corridors, sending shivers down the spine of anyone daring to listen.

It was a tale long lost to time and the wind, but the ghost of the mansion hunts the living and stray people who find themselves there either in reality or Dreamworld. Like Cassandra does that faithful night, she couldn't imagine the horror of the long-dead past.

The spectral figure's voice booms and reverberates like a loudspeaker and the wall of the mansion shakes as if there is an earthquake. Cassandra's teeth rattled as the voice kept coming closer, she was stunned to hear such malice in a long-dead voice. She tries to come to reality but can't because the spectral figure refuses to release her until he is done with his tales. As the tale progresses and the voice boom more intense, she can bear it no more and keeps clawing at her face wanting to wake, but then it doesn't work and yet she keeps on it till she starts bleeding and chunks of flesh start falling from her face and then the screaming started, she thought she was hearing it from afar until she notice she was the one screaming. 

A figure materialized and told her to call the spectral figure name three times and she would be free. But she couldn't because she didn't know his name and so she kept screaming until her throat went raw and she started bleeding from her mouth and nose. She was shocked by bleeding in a manner she couldn't control. That is how they found her dead in the morning on her bed with her face imitating a screaming person.

SILENT ROAD

Jessica was working on her computer in the office, she had a deadline to meet and she was tired of the workload she had accumulated and she needed to be done. Suddenly her screen goes blank and a message pops up "YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN" Then the screen goes back to normal, she is stunned and she shakes her head hoping she is not dreaming. She admitted she was tired and maybe imagining things, but she concluded that she couldn't finish the work that night. She checked the time and was shocked to see two pm-midnight. She hurriedly closed her computer and roundup her things to go home, she can't believe she is alone in the office and wasn't aware when others left. 
She closed her office and locked the door, she take the lift from the 50th floor, when she reach the down floor, the door man was glaring  at her without any embarrassment, she raised her eyes to his face to asked what was wrong but shocked on her own words when she noticed his eyes, his eyes are blank with pure white. She hurried out trying to put a distance. A cab was parked a few meter and she hurried to hailed it but stop on her track when she saw the cabbie face, like the door man, his eyes were blank staring too and his meter have the same word as her computer "YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN".
Jessica is now afraid, she ran along the silent road alone and with no idea what is happening. Her regular coffee shop display have the word "YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN JESSICA". She ran and ahead there was a turn. if she take it, she will be in her friend Dave home. As she take the turned on a full speed without slowing, she bump into a man and lost her balance, but before she could fall, he catch her and smiles. 
Jessica was unprepared to see such handsome face, his eyes were dark and his face is as smooth as silk, he has a firm jaw line and a pointed nose with fit with his lean face. His hair is shoulder length and cascade over his face as he bend to catch her from falling. 
Do I have something in my face? He asked her.
She blushed not knowing she has been staring for long. I'm sorry I don't know what is wrong, everything is getting out of control.
Hmmmmmm... really like you bumping into me at full force.
Sorry, who are you?
You really don't want to know "Jessica".
Her head snap to his face with a speed unbelievable with eyes bulging and mouth gaping she asked how did you know my name?
Hahaha Jessica after all I send you a message.
So it was you?
Actually it wasn't me, but my father.
Who are you really?
Can't say but let me advice you, move forward and don't step back or you will be taken.
Taken by who?
No who but them, and he point behind her.
Jessica turned her head but saw no one, she turn back and the man wasn't there again. Her nerves were so jumpy and ran ahead this time she will never stop for anything, as she ran she heard a voice shouting "Mark my son where are you"? 
Please Mark, it is me your granny. Don't leave me here alone 
Jessica stop on her track, she reason all those she has meet has blank stare, what if this woman is facing same situation as me? What if we can worked it out together? And so she ran to the old woman.
Ma'am what is wrong?
It is my son "Mark" 
What happened to him?
He got angry at home and walk out, everyone know the night is not safe, I need to find him before others do.
I'm heading to the next street, will look around and if I see him, I will tell him where you are, so just wait here.
Okay thank you, young lady.
And she hurried on after rounding the street, she saw a figure moving ahead. And she hurried on. From a few meter she called "Mark"?
The figure stop and turned, she was relieved to see it was a young man her age.
Sorry who are you?
My name is Jessica, I saw your grandma looking for you and I offer to check.
Okay, where is she?
Just a few street back.
Sorry I'm new around here, I lost my way back, can you lead me to her?
Sure.
And Jessica step back with him. While they were walking back, she noticed the landscape changing and now there is mist, were there used to be building. She notice a bridge ahead across a river and then she stop abruptly.
What is wrong "Jessica"?
This is wrong.
Why? This feel like home.
And she turned to look at him, only to notice the man she bumps into earlier. She screams but he silence her with a wave of his hand.
I told you not to take a step back right. You can speak now 
She was still screaming when she wakes up.

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NIGERIA ECONOMY

Nigeria is a great country and so abundant with both human and mineral resources in every geo-political zone in the country, yet Nigeria is the worst place to live on earth. I know most of my readers don't know about a country called Nigeria, just Google it to get idea and insight. Nigeria gain her independence from the British colonist on 1st October 1960 and by 6th of July 1967, the country was plugged into a civil war which last till 15th of January 1970. Let us take note between 1960 and 1970 is just 7 years. This shows that right from start Nigeria is a failed state the country can never progress on her own or by the rule of her leaders right from independence. History says Nigeria civil war was caused by political, economic, ethnic and cultural tension right from when British start decolonization from 1960 to 1963 and the tension escalated during the first military coup and the counter coup that follows with the oppression and intimidation of the Igbo's in Northern Nigeria. 

Nigeria is bordered by Niger Republic to the North, Chad and Cameroon to the East and Benin Republic to the West and the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic ocean to the south.

The North is rich with fertile soil for Agriculture and mineral resources such as Gold and many other trace elements, while the South is rich with crude oil and gaseous resources. Yet till date Nigeria have never annex her resources for the betterment of the citizens or the country. The only thing the leaders are good at is how to steal and accumulated wealth at the expenses of the country which has been going on for so long that this present generation is bearing the brunt of the decision made by a greedy few. Today there is no middle class in Nigeria and the cost of living is so high that almost 85% of the population can't afford the simplest of food such as Bread, Noodles and Grains. The country currency is in shamble and have no external value, there is no power supply and neither is there any portable water. 

Nothing is affordable in the country and nothing is working, everyday people lost their job and you see babies crying because there is no food, many people are out of school and the cost of house rent is insane, higher than everyday income. Everyone is confused and most don't know what to do. The country  and it's citizen are hopeless yet the leaders don't care, all they are interested in is how much they can embezzled. None of there kids are in the country so they don't care how bad the situation is, they knew they can run anytime if things get out of hand. 

Today we don't know if we really have a president, there has been protest yet the president have never address the public neither has the public seen him. The way things is going, I can only say Nigeria is a ticking time bomb.

ALONE IN THE WOOD

 

Kate couldn't remember how she got to the woods, the last thing she remembers was returning home from school and going to her room to change. She was baffled and couldn't even identify any landmarks and she believes she hasn't been in the area before.

While she was contemplating she turned around and was shocked to see darkness approaching from her back slowly in a steady stream, then she looked around a gasped when she noticed both sides of the path she was, shrouded by a thick mist. She whimpers and tries to call out but the darkness threatens with a sudden snarl and she retreats running forward away from home and safety. She kept running with tears and sweat streaming down and blinding her, but she never dared to stop especially when she heard a mad cackling laughter in the mist, she put on more effort trying to outrun the darkness and the mist. Suddenly she saw a kid of three a few distance she ran with her last strength full of hope knowing there was a kid, there was an adult. She ran and tried to call the kid but the kid could pay her no attention because her back was facing Kate.

Kate ran more and when she reached the kid she was slow and called her.

Hello... Where are your parents?

But the kid neither turned nor answered her. She tentatively moves an inch and places her hands on the kid's shoulder. And then the kid turned and Katstumbledle with a whimper and a sudden gasp she hit the ground, she could not believe her eyes. The kid has no face, there is no eye or nose, neither is there any mouth for her face is faceless. Kate tried to scream but no words came out of her mouth and then the kid turn and pointed toward Kate.

As she turned her head she couldn't hold the terror that flooded her and her face contorted with such fear she lost her grip. Standing behind her was a face right out of a nightmare, the head was big in a skull shape with no skin but bones, the right eye socket was larger than the left, blood was dripping from the right eye, and the left eye was dripping with maggots. The mouth is large with a set of pointed teeth and the breath that comes out of the mouth of something long dead. The skull is split in the middle with fluids spilling out.

He snarl and laughs with a sound like two stones grating together.

Kate nearly gags when the thing clamps a claw-like hand on her neck with a viciousness that takes the breath out of her.

So Kate who will you choose between No Face Bunny and handsome face me it asked. But know this, there is a rule, if you chose no face Bunny, you will be dead in twenty-four hours it cackled and if you chose me, your mum will sacrifice her life to save you he whispered to her.

Kate whimpered and tried to shout, as she opened her mouth the darkness envelop her and then she was screaming No No No.......when she opened her eyes she was on her bed waking up from a nightmare while her mum was standing at her door with a look of concern on her face.

Kate was relieved to know it was only a dream. As she stood up from bed and went to the bathroom she saw writing in the mirror. ARE YOU SURE IT IS ONLY A DREAM? DREAMS CAN BE REALITY YOU KNOW.

She fainted.....