May 12, 2074

I have always been fascinated by rain. The way it sends people scampering, the way it drizzles or sometimes pours, the puddles that form after and how it dries up when the sun comes up, all this had me awed. I loved playing in the rain, even though I usually fell sick after. But that all changed on this day, a day that changed everything for everyone on earth.

I jumped out of my princess sized bed and rushed to the window as soon as I became aware of the sound of it raining outside. I could hear the sounds as it hit the ground. Pulling open my curtains, I looked out and had to stop myself from falling off the chair I was kneeling on. It was raining but it wasn't just any normal rain, it was raining black ink. This had never happened before in Nigeria, and I'm sure it had never happened anywhere in the world. Though black inky substances had contaminated the air, water and everywhere, it had never rained ink.

Rushing to my bed, I picked up my phone from beside my pillow. My dad had bought it for me three months ago after the screen of my last phone had broken. It was the latest smartphone in the whole world, made by RICCO CORP, and could connect to anywhere in the universe. I logged into my social media and saw that all my friends across the globe were talking about the inky rain, it seemed to be falling everywhere. I put my phone in my pyjamas pocket and rushed downstairs to find my parents. When I bumped into a maid on the way, I gave her a stink eye and then continued on my way as she apologized profusely.

Mum and dad were not in their room so I rushed to our main sitting room. I met mum on my way there, her eyes were wide and even though it looked like she hadn't brushed her hair, she still looked radiant. My mum was a beautiful woman. She had been a beauty queen on two different occasions so she always liked to look prim and proper. The fact that her hair was not brushed meant the rain had shaken her too.

"Mum, it's raining ink," I said even though she probably already knew. I couldn't hide the awe in my voice. This was not normal...or at least I didn't think it was.

"I know, I don't understand what's going on."

"Where's dad?"

"I don't know."

We both went to look for him, looking through the rooms. We saw most of the servants at the entrance, pressed against the window and looking out. They were so transfixed on what they were looking at that they didn't realize we were in the room.

"Get back to work, all of you," mum snapped and I chuckled as I watched them rush about, bumping into each other.

We continued our search and finally found my dad in his study. His back was to us.

"Dad!" I ran and hugged him from behind.

He shook and then dropped to the floor, pulling me along. Mum rushed to my side and moved dad to lie on his back. I reeled back, shocked, when I saw dad's face. Ink was pouring out from his eyes and nose. My mind went to when I had first seen ink trailing down his nose, few weeks ago. Dad had assured me that nothing was wrong with him and his doctors were handling it but I overheard his doctor telling him there was nothing they could do, his blood was slowly turning to ink. I didn't know what it really meant. All I knew was that people were saying RICCO CORP'S machines were polluting the environment and people were dying.

Tears poured from my eyes as I watched my dad. I didn't want him to die. My birthday was in a few weeks, I was going to be turning ten and dad had promised to get me a gift. I didn't want to celebrate my birthday, this or future ones, without my dad. "Dad!" I called, pulling at his shirt.

Mum was at his other side, crying too as she moved her hands, touching his face, his chest, and everywhere she could. "You can't leave me. You can't leave me," she cried.

Dad started jerking as ink started pouring endlessly from every part of his body. It poured out of his skin as he twitched vigorously, crying out in pain. I sat back, shocked. As he groaned and writhed in pain, more tears flowed from my eyes. I didn't know what to do.

"Mum." I looked up and my eyes widened. She was crying but it wasn't tears coming out from her eyes but ink. "Mum!" I cried, rushing to her but she fell on the floor, jerking, before I got there.

I knelt between my parents, shaking them, crying and begging them not to leave me. I couldn't imagine living without them. They had always been there, no matter how busy they were. I remembered them being there for my ballet dancing, mum had taught me herself, I remembered how they attended all my school programs, putting their work aside for me. As memories flooded through my head, more tears rolled down my cheeks. I winced as my parents screamed louder, a high pitched, painful sound and jerked even more violently.

"No. Mum. Dad. No. Please. Stay with me," I cried.

I froze when I looked at my dad's fingers. It looked like he was melting and becoming ink. I shook my head, my throat raw from all my crying. Someone grabbed me from behind and pulled me away from my parents. I struggled, trying to get back to them.

"Ivy, stop. We need to go. You are not safe here."

It was my maid, Mrs. Abimbola. I kicked and screamed but she continued pulling me. She was used to my antics, in fact she was the only servant in the house who could handle me. I kicked harder, desperate to get to my parents. Mum too was now turning to ink. I bit Mrs. Abimbola's hand and rushed towards my parents as soon as she released me. Mum and dad were still writhing in pain while half of their body had already melted leaving an inky puddle behind.

"No, please, mum."

Mrs. Abimbola grabbed me again. This time her grip was tighter. I struggled but there was nothing I could do as she pulled me away. Just before we left the room, I turned to see that there was an inky puddle where my parents had been laying. Tears flowed from my eyes as Mrs. Abimbola carried me over her shoulders and grabbed an umbrella and a bag from the doorway. I barely took notice of the few servants watching us as she opened the umbrella and dashed out into the inky rain.

©Jesutofunmi Fekoya

Inked is available on http://iwritewithink.com. You can sign up to the website and download the book.

If you like this chapter, please remember to vote, comment and share.