Uh oh! With a title like this, it looks like something really crazy took place! Time to see what it is…

The red Daewoo Matiz stopped in front of the entrance of the Ebenezer Apostolic Church. Taking the fare out of his pocket and handing it over to the driver, Faisal opened the door and stepped out of the car. He looked around as the car sped off, and saw all the other mourners clad in black, entering the church.

He put on his dark tinted glass and dusted some dirt off his sleek black kaftan.

Well, the black kaftan that belonged to Jahwad, actually. He had taken it without his permission and knew there’d most likely be a fight once he got home, but that was the least of his worries. His focus was on the solemn occasion before him.

Jake’s memorial service.

To say that the shocking murder of Jake had broken him was an understatement. And it went deeper than just the fact that the only person he considered a friend at that point was dead. The truth was that Faisal now felt lost and lonely.

The unloved loner he was, the Slash Kings had been all he could ever cling to. Being part of this terrifying group that utilized his horrible behaviour had given him a sense of belonging. An identity, if you would say. To them, he had been accepted as the brash bastard that spewed bile on a regular basis, and that made them the comfort zone he could dwell in. Even when Ambradu left, he and Jake were about holding the fort and keeping it going. He was convinced that at least, the two of them would make it work, as Jake still embraced his fiery attitude.

But now that Jake was dead, there was nothing.

Nobody to turn to. No comfort zone to fall back on.

And he had no idea where or how to start over.

That was why he hadn’t set foot in school since the news of Jake’s death. He had no desire to show up. He just sat at home, in his bedroom, binging on sweet snacks and drinks. No calls from concerned teachers were answered, and from fellow students, most of whom were probably ordered to call him. There was certainly no student on that campus who cared an iota about him; his absence was a relief to them, in fact.

As he entered the compound of the church premises, he felt that pang of abandonment and loss. Not just of a friend, but an identity he had clung to for so long.

He was now just a lonely, miserable young man, despised by many for being an unlovable and unbearable homo sapiens.

***

Ambradu stood with his parents in his black suit at the back of the church building, looking around with bloodshot eyes as fellow mourners paid their last respects to the young boy in the coffin at the front of the altar.

He had already passed by it, and seeing his bosom buddy lie motionless in there was one scarring memory that would never, ever depart from his brain.

Having wiped his tears after being consoled by his parents, he took some time to stand at the back with him and just try to pull himself together. As he busily observed those entering, looking out for classmates in particular, he froze when one young boy his age, wearing dark shades, a sleek black kaftan, and black trousers, entered the church.

Faisal!

He hadn’t shown up at school since Jake’s murder, and nobody knew how to get in touch with him. Ambradu sighed a sigh of relief upon seeing him. After the words of that demon kid, each day was filled with trepidation and frightened anticipation that something terrible would happen to him. So it was a relief to know that he was fine.

But he had to warn him of the impending danger ahead.

Yeah, he’d dismiss it, but Ambradu did not want to remain silent on this. It just felt like there would be blood on his hands if he just stayed mute.

“Paapa, please excuse me for a moment. I want to see one of my friends.”

Having excused himself, he walked briskly after Faisal.

***

“Faisal! Faisal!”

He turned to see who it was that called him.

His expression darkened after seeing it was Ambradu.

What the f**k does he want?

“Faisal! Look, I know we’re not on good terms right now, but…”

“Nigga,” he cut in, “I no dey won detty my body for here. Abeg, me then you no get any business. Clear off.”

“Look, look, I beg you, I know you hate me, but please, I need to warn you, you need to be careful right now, you see…”

An outstretched hand from Faisal brought an end to that rapid-fire speech.

“I don’t think you heard me, motherf**ker. So I’m going to repeat this one more time. I’m trying to be on my best behaviour over here. So you better stay the f**k away from me if you don’t want any bedlam in this bitch.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

***

Ambradu sighed as he walked away.

As expected, he wouldn’t even begin to listen to him. He stood there, rubbing his face and shaking his head.

Well, I tried my best. I tried.

Maybe he would try and speak to him again after the service. Or try again another day.

Whatever he decided on would just have to work. Because he had no idea when the demon would strike, and despite his claims, he still believed there was a way out for Faisal.

Let’s just wait and see...

***

“Jacob Yoofi Yorke was a special child. The apple of the eye of his parents, there was nothing they would not do for their son. Bringing him up in the ways of the Lord, they trained him to become a young man who loved prayer, the word of God, and living a godly life…”

Faisal looked around as the pastor read the biography of his late friend. The church was packed to capacity. From family members to fellow students of the school, Jake was being paid some last respects by many.

He glanced at the front, where his parents and siblings were seated. Mrs. Yorke looked morose and at her wit’s end and Mr. Yorke had the look of a man whose world had been shattered.

So much for being ‘praying parents’. I wonder what happened to their prayers that night, he thought to himself, a level of scorn in his mind.

As he continued to look around, he noticed a dark spot on the altar.

He squinted to see what it really was, and a slight chill went down his spine when he saw what it was.

A moth.

That’s strange, though. Moths no dey come around at this time of the year. Ah, well, abi e no come near me, so…

His thoughts drifted off as he saw it fly off the altar and fly around in its typical disorganized style.

He frowned as he saw it hover around the head of the pastor reading the biography.

It landed on his shining bald head, yet neither he nor anyone else seemed to notice it.

Faisal looked around, wondering why nobody was saying anything.

Or nobody won tell am sey this damn moth dey ein head top? Well, inobi my matter anyways…

Another rude interruption to his thoughts, as a moth from elsewhere, settled on his shoulder.

The intense moth hater he was, he freaked out.

Where the f**k did that moth come from? Faisal thought in annoyance as he hurriedly swatted it away. The lady sitting next to him looked confused, giving him the side eye.

He ignored her look as he straightened himself and focused on the casket at the front of the altar as the pastor continued to read on.

He stared at it forlornly, shaking his head a couple of times. Damn it, Jake. Inobi that day naa we say ibi new beginning give we? Now see. You just lef this world like that. How, my nigga, how?

He sighed to himself. This was just so unfair. So unfair.

As he kept his eyes on the casket, he noticed something.

Two moths flying about, settling on it.

Ah, but where from these moths? he wondered in frustration. Am I missing something? This no be the season moths dey come, or?

“Excuse me,” he gently asked the lady seated next to him. “This is just random, but um, this isn’t moth season, is it?”

The lady looked at him strangely, then shook her head. “No, it’s not.”

“But how come there are moths flying about?”

Her look became even more puzzled. “Moths flying about? What do you mean? There are no moths flying about.”

“But-“ he stopped himself, feeling rather irritated by the way she was staring at him. He could tell she probably thought he was on drugs or something. He simply stayed mute and returned his gaze to the coffin.

Seconds later, he looked around.

More moths.

Flying in the direction of the coffin.

Aside from the fact that those insects made his skin crawl, Faisal just couldn’t understand how nobody noticed the presence of those disgusting flying things.

To the left: quite a number of moths.

To the right: quite a number of moths.

Looking both ways and feeling instantly uncomfortable, he looked up to the ceiling. No sign of moths gathered at the top.

He looked back down and murmured loudly, “What the f**k is going on?”

Those seated next to him turned to give him a dirty look. They were clearly not pleased to hear a teenager dropping F-bombs in the house of God.

What had his attention, however, was not their judgmental looks.

It was the fact that the moths were starting to gather on the coffin. And they were increasing in number.

How in the world could nobody see what was happening? Was everyone else acting plain dumb? Were they this ignorant? Is this how stupid these religious folk were or something?

He stood to his feet. “What’s going on?” he demanded loudly.

Now everyone turned to look at him, including the pastor, who was almost done reading the biography. Confusion was written on everyone’s face, clearly at a loss as to what this young boy was on about. What did he mean by what was going on?

He pointed at the coffin, a stunned, demanding look on his face. “You mean you all don’t see them? You don’t see the moths gathering on the coffi-“

He was cut short by a sinister laugh. A laugh that echoed throughout the auditorium.

Looking around in fright, he said, “What’s that? Who’s that laughing?”

He looked to the left, to the right, behind him, and in front.

It was the last place he looked at that he found his answer.

And it was a frightening one.

In front of the coffin stood a boy.

A boy clearly of an otherworldly frame, with devilish eyes and an evil smile.

A boy he recognized too well.

It was the boy that told them they’d regret beating him up! The boy who received a second beatdown from him and Jake!

He opened his mouth.

FOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL!!

“AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!”

***

“No, no, no, no, no, please no, not here, not now. Pleaseee,” Ambradu murmured tearfully at the unpleasant scene unfolding before him.

Why did it have to happen here and now?

The ceremony had been going on as expected: the few songs sung before the pastor began reading Jake’s biography. The atmosphere had been a solemn one. Then suddenly, Faisal had sprung to his feet, talking about seeing moths gather on the coffin, only to flinch in fright at someone allegedly laughing.

The fact that there were no moths in the auditorium and his reaction to someone ‘laughing’ meant only one thing.

The Kingsley demon boy had come for Faisal.

Everyone looked on in shock as Faisal screamed, scrambled out of the pew, and fell to the floor, his eyes wide with fright as he whimpered things nobody but him could hear. Some of the ushers approached him, seeking to hold him.

Some of the pastors rushed off the stage to attend to the boy as some decided to switch to prayer warrior mode, ever ready to deal with whatever demonic entity it was that had decided to interrupt a quiet and solemn remembrance service with its unwarranted torment of this young man.

As the sounds of tongues filled the auditorium, Ambradu silently and fervently prayed that these fiery prayers would somehow defeat the demon child. Because this was the wrong place and the wrong time…

***

You thought you’d get away with what you did, didn’t you? I told you you’d regret laying your hands upon me! I told you!

Faisal was trembling as the demon child roared at him. This was the most terrifying thing he had ever witnessed in his life.

Held tightly by some of the ushers, he could barely move as those evil eyes glared at him. It was clear this demonic being was furious at him. And he was absolutely powerless to defend himself.

Now all those dismissals about supernatural stuff seemed pretty stupid. Because logic certainly could not explain this.

Never in his life had Faisal ever regretted laying his hands upon anyone. But as he stood there, that was certainly his first time. Now as he flashed back to those two times he had this young lad at his mercy, he wished he had just ignored him and gone his way.

“Please, please, Mr. Demon Boy,” he whimpered pitifully. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I beat you. I swear I’m sorry…”

Save your breath, fool! It’s too late! Your destiny is sealed…

Still trembling, he began to hop about, trying to break free from the grasp of the ushers. Of course, they held on tight, ensuring the pastors could pray for him and deliver him from this evil spirit.

“In the name of Jesus, we bind you, you foul spirit…”

“Shalabamagozabala…”

“OUUTTT, thou foul spirit of the underworld!”

For the first time in his life, Faisal welcomed these prayers, hoping to God they would make a difference.

Please, these pastors are wasting their breath! You’re already in my hands now. It’s too late!

His eyes widened and paled in horror as the demon child suddenly increased in size, the moths on the coffin all growing huge with him. He stood before the altar as a giant, with the moths now the size of flying pigs.

The ultimate definition of repulsive for Faisal.

“NO NO NO, PLEAASEE!! I BEG YOU, I BEG YOU, I BEG YOU…”

ATTTAAAAAAACCCCCKKKKKKKK!

Upon the roared instruction of the demon child, the extra large moths made a straight beeline for him.

That did it.

***

It was the most disturbing blood-curdling scream anyone in the church auditorium had ever heard.

And the strangest show of breaking free from the grasp of ushers they had ever witnessed, also.

“THE BIRD IS IN THE HOLE! THE BIRD IS IN THE HOLE! THE BIRD IS IN THE HOLE!”

That was the cry of Faisal as he broke free from the grip of the three strong ushers holding him. Falling down, he looked up, let out another spine-chilling scream, sprung to his feet, and burst out the door of the church auditorium, still screaming that weird phrase.

As the overpowered ushers went after him, members of the congregation looked at each other in shock and amazement.

What had just happened?

This was meant to be a remembrance of a young boy who had been murdered by armed robbers. How had this come about? Why was he screaming that strange phrase? What did it mean?

Or was he one of the robbers? Did he have some intel and had been exposed by the spirit in the temple?

All these questions hovered around the minds of many.

Except for Ambradu.

As he broke down and wailed painfully, neither his mother, father nor anyone else in the auditorium knew that his bitter tears weren’t due to the inexplicable interruption of his best friend’s service, or that a friend of his had probably just lost his mind.

It was because he was utterly distraught at the fact that all this would never have happened if they had chosen not to roam about Barnes Road that fateful day. They wouldn’t be there if they hadn’t encountered Alvin, pushed him around and gone after that strange boy, and beaten him up. The three of them would have been fine if they had just chosen to live like normal teenagers.

But no. They hadn’t. They lived as bullies, and now, here they were.

Jake was dead, Faisal had probably lost his mind, and Ambradu was the only one left.

They had messed with the wrong one, and this was the fruit they had reaped out of what they had sown.

Damn!! Crazy stuff right there! That boy really knew what he was saying when he said they’d regret it! Who would’ve thought it would escalate this badly? Well, let’s see how this ends…