Chapter two

For the rest of the night, I couldn't sleep. I was up, trying to figure out the riddle. Whatever was going on, had claimed the lives of my sisters. I needed to think of a way out, or in three weeks, I would be dead too. Three weeks! It hit me. I would be nineteen in three weeks. I stared blankly into space, but no solution was forthcoming. Slowly, I reiterated the riddle, but it refused to make any sense to me. 

I grunted. Maybe I would have been able to think straight if it had not been for the bitter thoughts that kept on through my mind.

"I wish I could tell dad." I sobbed. I was left on my own, to figure out a riddle, of something that I knew nothing about. Although I knew he might be able to help, I was mad at my father too. "He isn't who I think he is. He was supposed to be my best friend. How could he keep something like this from me ?"

The following morning, I was up by seven a.m. subconsciously, the first thing that came to my mind was the happenings of the previous day.

I tried forgetting it, but I couldn't. I was scared of death. So much had changed in a few hours.

Before any of these had begun, I was never a believer in ghosts. Most of my I*******m posts were against ghosts. I had gained a generous amount of followers, by creating content and videos that proved that ghosts weren't in existence. People who loved my rallies and campaigns against ghosts followed me, and we even formed our hashtag. Like I always said, "There's no such thing as ghosts, It's all in your head."

 But with the way things were, reciting my motto was useless. I encountered a ghost last night, no doubt. I still needed to worry, about what would become of my mass of followers, when I stop preaching against ghosts. But that wasn't as important as thinking of a way to save my life. One of the biggest believers in ghosts was my younger brother kain. According to him, he had met with them tons of times. I never really cared to listen to his stories, but all of a sudden, I was interested in them. In fact, I knew just how he could help me, without actually helping me.

Although it was the number one rule at home, I broke it. I left my bedroom without making my bed. I never thought that I would one day need my brother's help so desperately, neither did I picture myself racing to his bedroom by past seven in the morning, to hear his ghost stories. 

"Kain! Are you there?" I was knocking on the wooden door that led to his bedroom.

"Yh! Kerah, is that you?"

"Uh-huh, can I come in?"

"Sure, It's open." I pushed the door backward, and it creaked open.

I walked into his bedroom. I was taken aback by the sight. Every inch of the wall was plastered with images of pop stars and hip-hop artists. His bedspread was the face of the most famous rappers in town. The other end of his room was his makeshift studio, where he stayed to do his ghost podcasts and to rap. It dawned on me that the seventeen-year-old meant it when he said he wanted to be a rapper. 

He had already showered and had eaten breakfast. He was combing his wavy black hair when I walked in. I knew he was in his final year in high school, and that he had major exams coming up. I also knew that the six feet tall boy needed to be in school before eight am. I shut my eyes and inhaled. 

Without thinking it through, I said.``Laser brain, I want to hear your ghost stories." I watched him recoil in shock, and a smirk plastered my face. I had no choice.

I walked Kain out of our house and offered him a ride in my car. For him, that was an exhilarating moment, to be seen cruising in a Lexus, model 360 and for me, that was a great opportunity to hear his incredible ghost stories.

We lived in a three-story duplex. Although the style was old, the building was barely thirty years old. According to Dad, he had bought the house during his honeymoon with mom. He told me that they used to live in the capital, but Tope city reminded him of a lot of ugly memories, and they had to travel down to Tramun, a less populated and quiet town. "That was many years back."He had said to me.

I slipped into a sleeveless blue dress, with a black denim jacket and blue jelly shoes. I didn't shower, but I didn't feel dirty either, I took a late-night shower the day before. "You look too simple," Kain said. I laughed and looked him over. He was wearing trendy baggy pants and his favorite hoodie. with Gucci sneakers. "Is Sophia taking the same class with you today ?" I teased. Sophia was his crush. A finalist in the same school as him. He rolled his eyes and instantly changed the topic.

"So! Laser brains, why are you suddenly interested in my story?"

"Don't you think I should be open-minded ?"I answered his question with a question.

Kain raised an eyebrow and sneered. "Well, my ghost stories are going to take a long time, because I know a lot of ghosts. I know Mira, I know lame Joe Joe, I know saint vera, I know Annie the weirdo.

"Annie, Like Anabel?" 

"Yes! Anabel."

"Tell me what you know about her." The drive to Tramun boys high school was just ten minutes, and I had already swerved in the direction of the school. I needed more time. Kain continued

"She barely ever makes sense when she talks. She is a pro at giving riddles, and she has a very cold attitude."

"How good are you with these riddles ?" I made a stop at a comfort shop and walked in, Kain followed suit.

"I have been able to solve every one that she gave me. Although the last one was quite funny." He laughed. "If my solutions are right then you are not the first child." He said that with a nervous tone. The look on his face indicated that he regretted saying it. I hissed, and he continued.

 

   "So kay-kay, why do you need all these details ?" I was not good at telling lies, and although I was expecting this question, I wasn't prepared. "I uh, I have decided to be more open-minded." Kain looked at me skeptically and shrugged. "If you say so, then it's a great idea." Although I needed Kain to help me solve the riddle, I was frightened of telling him about it. Because he was a very shrewd boy, it wouldn't take long for him to work out that I had encountered Anabel. We bought two mugs of coffee, and some doughnuts then headed back to the car. We had just seven minutes to get to his school on time and I didn't want to get him into trouble.

"Kenny" I started. He looked in my direction while fastening his seat belt. "In our house, where do you think young feet have never threaded upon ?"

Kenny was taken aback, and I wasn't surprised. He leaned on the car seat and shut his eyes. We have been virtually everywhere in our house, and we knew all the nooks and crannies, so it was a very tricky question. Kain tapped his jaw at intervals. If it weren't for how serious this was, I would have burst out in laughter.

  "Kerah!" Kain called out. "Do you remember that basement that we once saw mom sneaking into?" My eyes widened. He was right. "Oh my gosh kain you are a genius. " I said, clapping my hands with excitement. "I know!" He replied with a rude smile and alighted from the car. I was too happy to care, I couldn't wait to get home and rush into that basement. I could bet that my mother used that place as her evil hideout.