MOTHER MAKES US have custard for breakfast, that alongside bread with eggs. I can manage the bread and eggs but custard ranks on my least favorite foods. I stare at the yellow food mindlessly, my thoughts on what happened the night before, the creature that came from the ground, how it possessed the man and attacked me. Everything plays on and on, like I am there again, like it is before me and I cannot protect myself this time. The claws outstretched towards me and just a little bit more and I will become sliced human, just a little bit. . .

"Victory!" I jerk at the firm sound of my middle name. Mother only uses it when she wants to make a point, is worried or getting annoyed. With the frown on her face I think she is annoyed, but then again, her eyes wear worry above the bags under her eyes. She saw the injury on my arm when she came into my room this morning and obviously thought I made the cut myself with how she began to ask me if I was feeling okay and wanted to talk.

"Ma?"

"What are you thinking about again?" She questions before she takes a bite off her bread.

"Well. . ." there is no way I can possibly tell her all that is happening.

"Probably about how she will get punished for wearing a sports outfit on a non sports-day and when they hear she has not washed her other outfit for two whole weeks, then they will put her on the assembly ground and make an example of her to all her juniors," Eni gives a cheeky smile, and his face wears innocence.

"Shut up!" I growl at him.

"Daddy says you are not to tell me to shut up, I am to speak my mind at all times, that is the only way I can grow to understand myself and be vocal, especially since all they teach me in school is things I already know." Mother chuckles at his reply and I sneer.

"Don't talk while eating at least."

"Don't talk when you know you are lying." He gives a close lip smile that makes his full brows go up and I bite my tongue to keep myself from responding. He is threatening.

"Mummy, can you tell him to stop disturbing me?" she laughs silently before she speaks.

"Okay Einstein, you've made your sister scared, can you eat up. The both of you, so I can take you to school and get to work."

"But you worked overnight, and you're not even a doctor." I frown.

"Well. . .some things have been happening lately around town, I can't explain it exactly, but the hospital is short on staffs and they need more hands. So eat up and let's go." Mother stands, then makes her way to the kitchen leaving only my brother and I alone.

He doesn't let a minute go by before he speaks, "You know you are the one making Mummy work so much lately?"

"Me?" I manage to take a spoon of the custard into my mouth to stop me from talking and regret the decision immediately. Hate. Custard. So. Much.

"Yes," he nods, "With fighting people and stuff, this superhero business of yours."

I sigh then. After I found him in my room or rather, he saw me come into the room in a very unconventional way, he threatened to tell our parents. That is until I bribed him.

"Will you not say it out loud?"

"Don't worry, Earth-Girl," he gets off his chair, holding his used dish in his hands, "Your secret is safe with me, as long as you hold up your end of the deal." The little devil smirks at me just as he makes his way to the kitchen. The deal is to give him all home-works from school (that I was glad to do, like who makes a deal like that, its a win for me), and do whatever he wanted anytime he wanted (this, I hated).

At school, I had to join the juniors to pick litters just because I wore the wrong school outfit, and that was not the most annoying. It was the fact that Kitan was the one who assigned me the job, as the prefect on punishing duty for the day. Although if it were his female, she would have given me worse. I hardly know why half of the female population of my set would want to make my life tough just because I am friends with him.

"Can I go now. . .Prefect?" I hold up the heap pf litters close to his face to annoy him a little bit. I am the only one left because I made the juniors dispose off my dirt and they almost reported him to a teacher for almost letting me go. It was not like he could not have talked his way out of it, but he wanted to see me suffer.

"Prefect? That's a first. You never called me that before," I look away, getting impatient. Lebechi was nowhere to be seen with my uniform.

"Well, you're imposing your power on me now, can I go? Classes have started already and I may miss the Civic Education class."

He laughs briefly, his eyes turning into a partial slit. "You. . .worried about any class that does not have drawing?" When I look his way, he stops. "Sorry, I'm sorry. I, I just want to find out if you are okay, after...yesterday."

"I am. Mother took care of the injury believing when I told her I fell."

"Not that, the psychological. Did you sleep at all?" I look at my shoe, I could not. When I closed my eyes, I saw the creature before me and I had to watch Shazam, repeating it over and over when it ended, just so I could drown the screeching sound.

"I couldn't," he confessed, that is when I notice the bags under his eyes. "Lebechi too, we were up all night."

I raise a brow at the statement, "Did y'all sleep together or something?"

"No fowl, video call. I watched the video from your body cam, trying to understand and I helped Lebechi access deep web to find out stuffs about the ring. I was almost mad, if not for Lebechi who kept company, and made me talk. She actually isn't that bad, I'm sure Kaka will be happy she's in our midst and can be our cl--"

"Now you want to replace Kaka with Lebechi?" I say calmly, but inside of me I am boiling. Just after meeting her, maybe we have spent a few days together doing this superhero thing, he wants to use that to forget the one from birth. "You go ahead. This is why I refused to talk to you again, you can easily move on like it is not our fault."

"But it isn--"

"Soothe yourself Irekitan, I was even going to tell you I am done with playing hero. So now, lets go back to me avoiding you." I shove the litters into his hands, not caring whether he caught them. I was done with this friendship. On the way to class, I see Lebechi running towards me, my clothes in her hands.

"I am so sorry, I woke up late because I only just slept this morni--" Without waiting for her to complete her speech, I take the clothes from her.

"Good for you, thank you." My voice is cold and I know she notices because she does not follow me into the toilet when I go change.

For the rest of class until break time, I am bodily present only. Somehow, it feels like Kitan has betrayed the friendship pact between Kaka and us, even if there was never any verbal or written one in the first place. As class captain, Lebechi is asked to share our notebooks collected by our English teacher, she use the moment to ask me if anything is wrong but I ignore her. From my seat, I catch her looking over her shoulder to watch me. I am glad to have my seat far from her.

When the break bell rang and our teacher exites, I rush out as quickly as I can, my intention to avoid any talk with her. She may have an harmless intention being both my friend and Kitans, but it was not something I wanted. So, I head behind our class building, where there are a bunch of broken tables and chairs which I think I can hide behind, at least until the break is over.

I rest my back on the wall, not caring if the wall is washed up to stain my white shirt. I think of Kaka, her smile, her scolding eyes when I do something she believes is stupid and how she always had something wise to say. It felt like she was an old soul in a young body. I bring out the ring from my pocket and start rolling it around my pinky unconsciously. My mind wanders back to the previous night, my ears hear the screeching noise and I sigh. Kaka would have found a way to tell me those kind of creatures are only in comics I read or movies I watch. But it was real, as real as the ring in my hand.

Why me? I begin to question when Lebechis voice rings out which tells me she is approaching where I hide. She must have seen me run this way, still, it will be hard for her to tell I am here. The best thing to do is stay silent so she would leave after she does not find me.

"Amadin, are you here? Kitan told me you said you are giving up. If it is what you want, I would support you either way." She says, I see her a few distance from my hideout.

"I'm sorry for pressuring you into doing it in the first place, it was just. . .amazing, to find out what I read about truly exists, you know. My Mother kind of thinks I am crazy, she doesn't tell me.. ." she laughs briefly, "but the way she looks at me, I swear she thinks I am not her child again. It's only my father who manages to believe my shit."

I chuckle under my breath.

She pauses briefly, "Or maybe he just pretends because he has a lot to makeup for. This is stupid, I am talking to myself." She adds in a hurry and turn around to leave. Deep down, I am glad she came to look for me and will try to talk to her later, for now I wanted to have sometime to think about my decision.

But then, I hear a rough voice that definitely does not belong to Lebechi. "What is best student doing at the back of class?" I cannot see the male who is talking because Lebechi blocks the view. I frown and wear the ring properly so I would not loose it (not like I can) and then sit up so I can have a better view of the situation through the legs of the chairs and tables.

"Leave my way Darey," I grit my teeth, If it is him, then it is not a very good situation. Darey and his boys (I call them Darey and the cockroaches, because the only one with a slightly clean uniform out of the four of them is their leader) were an obnoxious group detested by most people, they were the truants, the rebels who think such acts are cute and made them get the bad boys tag. They did things which were considered funny—like stealing record books of teachers—but were definitely not. And they assumed every girl they come across was ready to have their body touched for their pleasure.

Disgusting.

"Why will you leave when the party just started, fatty?" The snicker from the rest of the boys tells me they are behind him.

Lebechi coughs and I can perceive the faint smell of cigarette. Again,with the disgusting bad boy acts.

"Don't make me report you to Vice Principal for smoking on school property," her voice is firm, this makes me wonder if I should make an appearance, but there is only so much I can do. She is tougher than me.

But you have powers now. I shake my head, I should not use that on these people.

"You want to report us?" Darey is the only one who speaks, "What connection do you have with that old man sef? Do you. . .you know, for him!" All of them chuckle as they make choking sounds. I still struggle to see what exactly they are doing.

"Get out of my way, now, before you regret it."

"Oh, wait. . .she think sey she fit make us regret," Darey speaks in Pidgin English and his crew snicker at Lebechi. "Darling, cause you are big like hippotamus no mean sey I no fit wozz you slap." He warns or threatens, I can't tell exactly.

"Nobody go even hear you or even care, you are the blow job giving student after all, pretending to be a saint and shit."

Lebechi only says, "Get out of my way," her voice is laced with hurt and I think of what to do. Get up and confront them? They are a dangerous bunch, but I can take them, which will be at the risk of exposing my new identity.

"Oya, let's make a deal. Let's press breast and you can pass," the boys agree among themselves, then for the first time one says, "She get big breast sef, all of us fit press at the same time."

"Touch me and see what happens," I can sense the fear in Lebechis voice, she still feels her big stature can intimidate the boys, but Darey and the cockroaches are proving to be the dare takers we all know them for. She walks back and I catch a glimpse at the boys looking like the hyenas in Lion King.

"Let me see what you can do," I am fed up, I should have gotten out of there since, I don't care if I hurt them now. I feel disgusted and angry. So I stand up and cross over the pile of tables and chairs, but my skirt is hooked to an unnoticed nail and I fall to the ground, only using my hand to prevent my face from hitting the floor.

"Amadin?" Lebechi is surprised.

"Isn't it our lucky day? Two girls in our spot." Darey sounds like he hit jackpot. I get up quickly and examine the brief stain on my uniform shirt.

"If you know what is good for you and your cockroaches," I say with my head slightly bent, I may have small frame, but I was about to be the one who intimidated them. "Run like the dirty pigs you are."

Darey laughs, his crew too, "Ant is calling us cockroaches? What can you do?"

I smirk, then stretch my hand towards their direction, I feel a surge of energy flow through me, all the way to the tip of my fingers and something epic about to happen, all before Lebechi decides to be logical. "Guy, stop it. You did not get it to be facing useless boys like them. Remember what happened yesterday, you cannot use it if we are not sure if that thing will come again."

Her words are actually reasonable so I sigh then put my hand down. They are really lucky.

"Darey get out of the way," Lebechi tells him more firmly, her strength back to her voice.

"So you both are all mouth and no ta--"

The bell must have been very low or we were too focused on the entire situation because a teacher sticks her head from one of the classrooms upstairs and tell us to get to our class or we will have to serve some punishments. With the eyes of the staff, Darey and his gang can not do anything except move out of our way. Lebechi goes first and then me. I expected the teacher to have her eyes on us until we leave the back of the building but somehow that does not happen. The next set of things happen in top speed. Darey hits my buttocks with a smug laughter in his throat, I turn around reflexively and slap him. Only it is not an ordinary slap since I am wearing the ring, he flies back, hitting two of his crew. The three of them topple into the pile of abandoned tables and chairs.

"Shit!" I say aloud.

"Amadin." Lebechi cautions but has amusement in her voice.

The other two cockroaches stare at me and their clique, and at me again. They have fear written all over their faces, then they rush to help the groaning boys.

"It. . .it just happened," I can tell Lebechi is happy it did because of the grin plastered on her face.

"That was deserved, lets go before a teacher com--"

We both hear it, the sound of something breaking and we turn to find the source. The floor is cracking, dividing even, a long zigzag line spreads from where the boys are nestled to my feet, faster than I could count. The best thing to do is to flee at that point but all I can do is stare and watch, hoping it is not the same thing that happened at the car store. The one of yesterday was short, this one is long and I can see the orange illumination. I know what will happen next, I should run, I tell myself or is that Lebechi?

There is a loud burst of wind, then the same creature from the previous night appears, looking much uglier in daylight. One was fearful enough, but when two other ones just like it comes up beside it, my entire being is consumed with fright. They swipe at me when Lebechi pulls me, making feet move since they appear and just as we round the building, I catch sight of them disappearing into the the bodies of Darey and the other two who were not affected by my slap.

Lebechi must have either forgotten the creatures posess the body of who they enter or completely ignored because she drags me to class and we sit down on our respective seats, pretending like nothing strange just happened. Our Government teacher walks into class, his glasses sit close to the edge of his nose as he scrutinizes us. As usual, he has no book in his hands, it amazes us how he can give such long notes all from his head.

"Where did we stop?" He turns to the board and writes the subject and topic, knowing what we discussed the last time. He only asks for formality sake.

"Constitution, Mr. Ilesanmi." One of my classmates say using the mans name. I am only partly in class, my eyes cannot stare at the door, something will happen soon. I bow my head and steady my breathing, while my hands shake as how the earth cracking open replays in my vision.

"I know it is Constitution, where in the note did I--" The pause makes me raise my head to look at the teacher. His eyes are on the door frame and at the door is Darey, with the two others, obviously not themselves. But no one else knows this except Lebechi and I.

Mr. Illesanmi cocks his head, "And are you three a part of this class?"

None of them respond, they are breathing heavily and their mouths are ajar. I am not sure but I think their tongues are moving slightly, like living things, But their eyes is unmistakable, deep black, no spec of white. I look to Lebechi who looks to me, color drained from her face.

"Does anyone know these people? And why they stand before my class like some sort of robots without brain?" The teacher asks.

"Sir, they are Commercial students, but they take Government." Another of my classmate explains.

"Young men," the teacher looks back at them, it looks like they had been scanning the class, in search of. . .me. Their bodies perk up once they catch my eyes and soon they make moves to come my way. "Am I not talking to you?"

Mr. Illesanmi does the most reckless thing, but it is not his fault since he has no idea they are anything but students at the moment, he smacks the back head of one of them. The boy does a full body turn to face him while the entire class snickers in amusement. I have my brows furrowed in worry.

"I am talking t--" the Government teacher does not get to complete his statement when he is hit straight in the chest, thrown to the white board in process and hitting it with great force that makes everyone gasp, no more laughter in the air. Then they all turn to look at everyone and give a frightening shriek. None of my classmates wait for the next thing to happen, they begin to scream and run out of class, and sure enough the rest of the classes will not confirm what caused the commotion. Only Lebechi and I remain, but I am the one the possessed boys have eyes on.

They screech one more time before advancing towards me, and all I actually do is stare until Lebechi shouts, "Run, Amadin."

I jump over my seat unto the next chair, apologizing internally for stepping on the bag placed on it. Darey and co are not slow, soon they are right beside me, which makes me wonder if Zombies are as fast as they since they are almost like one at the moment.

"What is happening?" I manage to ask as I jump from table to table trying to avoid the hits of any one of the three things.

"They are associated with the goddess, something is wrong with the underworld." That is all she says, in her hands is the teacher chair, it weighs a bit but she hurls it at one of the boys and he falls, hitting the table and chair beside him with his head. Suddenly, the ugly creature evaporates from his body and the next minute bursts.

What the hell? It is just like the man.

"I think the only way to rid them from their bodies is to hurt them, to the point of unconsciousness." That changes everything, I did want to always hurt Darey and his crew when they made me annoyed, so it is the perfect opportunity, since I am helping them in the process.

"Alright knuckle heads," I start to say but stop. If I use the power would more of them appear again? I voice my thoughts to Lebechi who is trying to pick up a chair but unlike the teachers which is separated from the table, this one isn't.

"We don't know that yet, so perhaps you should not."

This is going to be harder than I thought.

The two come at me and I kick Darey as hard as I can in the head, he falls to the ground, almost like he is unconscious but nothing comes out of him. There is no time to focus because the other is in the air, wings out of his back and the sight disgusts me, as well as scares.

"How is he able to do this?" I jump to the ground just as he swipes at me with clawed hands. Now he looks like a demonic flying cockroach.

He swipes at my face but I duck just in time, rolling to my side before I bump into the leg of a chair, I groan. Why did it have to be me who is given the ring?

"Amadin look out," just as Lebechi shouts, I pick myself up, along with the conjoined table and chair and hurl it towards the flying boy. They collide instantly and the weight drags him to the floor, I wince at the sound his body makes on impact. But sure enough, the creature rises from his body and explodes the next.

I breath heavily, looking around the classroom and to the poor Government teacher "Shit."

Outside the classroom, Irekitan appears, he too is breathing like me and it shocks me that the most athletic person in school can pant as much as he does. "I-I came as fast as I could when I didn't see you both in the sports arena."

"Y-you're too late," Lebechi pats her chest with an uncomfortable look etched on her face. Kitan walks slightly into the classroom and sees the scenario, Darey is in front of the classroom, his chest moves slightly to indicate he is alive.

"What happened?"

"They were being an ass and Amadin kinda super slapped him, ground opened and three of those creatures from last night appeared."

"Damn," is all he says at first, he looked around the classroom to the other two of Dareys crew. "So it happens when she uses the power, that site was accurate then," he begins to say when my eyes catch sight of the open eyes of Darey, they are still black. There is no time to warn him, so I hurl myself, just in time, to stop the claws about to be dug into Kitans chest. There is force in the possessed boys attack and we are out the door, tumbling down the railing straight for the ground. It is almost like the time I jumped down from the administration building, but it is just not of my own free will. I close my eyes ready to feel the impact, I hear the sound of body hitting the ground and assume it is Dareys, then wait for my own.

Maybe it is a painless drop, but there was lots of pain in that last jump and I had to stay bedridden for three weeks then be on crutch for a few months. That is when I open my eyes and see myself a few meters from the ground. No earth shields me this time, I am floating, on my own.

"She can fly," one of my buddies say from up above, amusement in their voices. "I knew the powers were not complete."

"Amadin you can fly," Kitan calls to me like I am not the one experiencing it.

I can fly, I can really fly. I grin and lift myself up so I can face them, it takes a little wobble but soon I stand up straight (on air), then place my hands on my waist, "This Superhero can fly."

They both grin back at me, all I want to do is float around school and down the street to explore the reality of being able to fly, but then I feel a harsh sting in my chest and I become dizzy.

"Is. . .is that blood?" Lebechi squints in my direction with her hand pointed at me, I frown and look towards my chest, although my shirt had dirty marks from falling to the ground all of today, but now there is a soaking red stain spreading all over it.

"Shit, you're right," is all I can say before I feel strength leave me and my eyes roll back.

•••

Shit, as our dear heroine likes to say.

So, I found Cloak & Dagger and stubbornly watched the show even when I was told it was canceled (anyone who sees Aubrey Joseph and doesn't trip is not okay, I said it). And now I got an idea.

I already know the end for the book and the end will give birth to another book, not about Amadin and co, but as a result of the good/bad decisions she makes at the end.

And I have no idea when I'll write it because I'm about to loose my self discipline and begin a pressing book  (will be announced as soon as I can get a few chapters penned).

Are you as excited as I am?
Do vote, comment and share.

Lots of love
Ciao