"You just have to use your sense. It's hard on everyone too. If you think killing yourself will help solve things, you're wrong. So wrong!" Mom has been yelling since we got back from the hospital.

Kath rolled her eyes. "Mom, she's sorry. Things are harder on her too."

Mom picked up her bag and started to walk away. "Just imagine what would've happened if Kath didn't take you the hospital."

"She didn't die."

Mom looked back. "Your dad has been calling since ugh. You know how this can ruin his political career, abi? It has started ruining everything already."

Kath pressed her lips together and talked when Mom was out of sight. "It's fine. So, Dara called. Can she come now?"

I shook my head. "I don't want to see anyone. Did you hear about the place that vanished sometime ago?" I asked.

Her face lit up. "Of course. I had the video clip back then but they said it was a demonic invasion."

I scratched my head. Demonic invasion. "Nothing else?"

"Heard the President set up a committee of drug addicts to investigate it... They all died of overdose. Nigeria ehhhhh."

I recalled Detective Dave's words. "They didn't see it as fishy?"

She hissed. "What's fishy in drug addicts dieing of overdose? Though they were seven... Or it was the demons that killed them too sha," she laughed, "why are you asking about it?"

I smiled. "I heard the news and was shaken."

"Where? Hmm it's Nigeria's top secret. If they hear it from your mouth ehn they even shut down a TV station that was broadcasting it o. Don't say it outside," she said with a serious tone, "you should rest o. Let's go to the room."

I nodded and we both walked to her room. Mom had said I won't sleep alone again. Her room was entirely different from mine. The walls were pink and she had many dolls. It was neatly arranged, she even had sticky notes on each drawer and wardrobe.

She caught me looking around. "You can see I'm not disorganized like you."

I took that in well. "Obviously," I sat on the purple sofa, "why are you acting nice?"

"I know I've been mean and with all that's happening, you have every reason to be suspicious but... I'm not Sonia. I never liked her."

I looked around again. "Are we cool?"

"Yes. Oh Kelvin called to ask about you too, he's worried. You should call him," she hugged a blue fish doll tight.

Kelvin... "Where's he? I've not seen him for long."

"His best friend is getting married. He had to go for wedding preparations," she dropped the doll and walked over to the table that had so many books on it, "you're lucky, you know."

I looked up at her. "Lucky? Are you kidding? With all that's happening to me?"

She picked a novel and sat on the study chair. "Sometimes I wish it was my life that had such drama... imagine the attention that comes with such drama."

"You're a psycho."

She shrugged. "Joshua loves you too. I know he's a driver but, he's so hot and his charisma..."

I could hear the silent 'I love him and I'm jealous' in her voice. I was silent and focused on my fingers instead. "Do you know if he was a twin?" I asked, trying to figure out if he was lying about being Siamese.

"Nope. Just one kid sis. Jenny or Jenna. Loo--" she was interrupted a faint knock on the door, she got up.

"What are you doing here? Who even let you inside this house?" She shouted.

"Please... I had to sneak in. Your mom will probably kill me if she finds me here but I really need to speak to Karleen."

Sonia?

"Why should I help you?" Kath asked, still holding the door.

Kath opened the door and Sonia walked in. She wore a loose pink top on baggy jeans, she had bags underneath her eyes and her face was all swollen.

I stood up, angrily. "Get out! I mean it."

Kath hurried to my side, her eyes were pleading. "I'm sure you'll regret sending her away without listening to her part of the story."

"Why should I listen to her?!"

Kath paused. "Because it would help you to find the bad guy."

I swallowed. She was right. "So?" I faced Sonia.

"Thanks, Kath."

Kath raised a brow. "I didn't say she should forgive you."

Sonia nodded. "Can I talk with her alone?"

I shot her a 'like seriously' look. "So you can finish what you started?"

Kath sighed. "I'll leave you two. It's not like the bitch can cause any more damage."

I wanted to talk but F interrupted my actions. "Let her go."

Kath walked out and Sonia looked up. She looked so indecisive.

"Will you spend the whole day staring at me?" I asked.

She exhaled shakily. "I guess not. All those things I said are true though. You took everything I ever wanted away from me," she held on to her top as if it gave her some strength.

"Was that why you betrayed me?"

She shook her head. "No. I understood that everyone couldn't be lucky. I was one of the many unlucky ones."

I eyes for seconds and sat. "So?"

"When you guys went missing, I was arrested as the prime suspect. Dad was of course worried about the upcoming election and it was a bad time for my family so when you got back, I was released and my parents forbade me from seeing you. Everyone knew how difficult Jummy's parents were, they were powerful too so no one wanted to get on their bad side. Especially when you had a political career to save," she looked down and sniffed, "I so much wanted to see you and ask what happened but I couldn't. Then that day, Dad had some important visitors. They requested to see me, they told me what I needed to do..."

"What?" I was curious.

"Get close to you. Remove everything that will make you regain your memories and implant that bloodstained jewellery that matched Jummy's."

I closed my eyes. "You stole the diary?"

"I didn't."

I shouted. "Stop lying."

She was trembling. "I gave them information about it but I didn't know they'll take it. That's why I tried so hard to make you look for it but you didn't take me serious and it was gone before we got to your room," she cried, still holding on to her top.

I remembered the day at the hospital, she really tried convincing me but she didn't try enough. "So, who took my diary?"

"I swear I don't know but that person is in this house."

"This house?"

She nodded. "Yes. They have someone in this house that always watched us. I couldn't warn you about it because I didn't know who it was."

I caressed my fingers nervously, remembering the times I'll enter the room and feel lingering presences, the times I'll see human figures then room to my room and meet no one. Someone was here! Someone was monitoring me!

I licked my lips. "How did you get the bloodstained earring?"

"They gave me. They thought it was enough with my testimony and Joshua's to jail and execute you but Joshua ruined it."

I stood up again, tasting the saltiness of my tears. "You knew their plan, yet you agreed to witness against me? You were supposed to be my friend!"

Her whole demeanor crumbled. "I'm sorry, Karleen. They'll kill you anyways!"

"Who on earth are they?!"

She blinked. "The FOOTPATH. Their the most powerful cult group in Nigeria."

Now, I understood what the footprints were all about. "Why do they need me to die?"

She let go of her top and opened her hand. In it lay a crumpled white paper. "This was all I could steal. You're the last instrument they need for their forty year project to happen," she gave me the paper with shaky hands, "this isn't about Jumoke's death. It's about our country vanishing, the begin of their eternity kingdom. We're all going to die anyways."

I stared at the printed paper that had faint footprints all over. Everything would take place on the 22nd of January. Exactly four months after our disappearance.

"Can they be stopped?"

"Yes but it's unrealistic."

"Why?" I was desperate.

"Two conditions. If you stay alive and if you find this woman... " She brought out a photograph from her Jean pocket and gave me.

The woman was ebony skinned, she looked like she was in her death throes.

"She's Joshua's mother. I don't know how true it is but that's the information I could gather."

"Do you know who the Dread is?"

She was surprised that I knew that much. "No. No one knows who he is except himself. He's their leader."

"What did you get in exchange of betraying me?" I asked.

She paused. "They found out an interesting information about my Dad that can ruin his political career. I had no choice."

My eyes dilated in shock. "Won't they ruin him now that you're telling me all these?" I was worried.

She laughed, sadly. "I ruined him already."

I was confused. "What do you mean?"

She smiled. "You have a big heart, Karleen. I know you can stop them. For Jumoke and I, please stop them. Goodbye," she turned to walk away.

I held her hand. "Where are you going?"

She smiled brightly this time, like she was enthusiastic about where she was going. "You'll join me there... Someday."

I watched her slowly walk away. She opened the door, took one long, last look at me and smiled. She left.

"Go after her!" F commanded.

A tear fell.

"Please, go after her." F pleaded.

I crumpled the paper and photograph and called for Kath to join me.