{Battle Field}

The stench of raw blood filled the horizon as the sky was dark red.

The sound of wails, screams, the whooshing of strange beings who moved like a blur echoed violently.

The strange beings had red eyes that shone with the blood lust. Smooth hair, pale faces, and shades of dark spots underneath the eyes.

They moved at insane speed, making it seem like they were a blur.

The strange beings attacked humans, sinking their sharp fangs, into their necks as the humans began to dry up.

This mayhem continued as the strange folks weren't tired, one bit.

Instead, the more they sank their bloodstained fangs into the innocent humans who were trying to scamper away, the more they got stronger and faster.

Sound of gnashing of fangs, missed with the hollow screams of humans, washed over the whole vicinity. 

Just then, a gunshot was heard as these strange beings halted on their tracks...

{Real World}

"Derek! Derek!" a feminine voice rang out as a young lad maybe sixteen to seventeen, jerked up.

"I'm coming mum" the young lad who was known as Derek, replied.

He cursed silently as he got out of his bed.

Derek was an average guy when it comes to height, white  like a American who had a set of glittering teeth.

His hair was thick black as they weren't that bushy.

The sun gleamed, casting its rays as they penetrated through the glass window.

The room was what you call a boy's room.

Magazines littered on the floor...

Pictures of rappers like 6ix9ine, Pop Smoke, Drake, Juice Wrld, and Eminem were hung on each corner of the room.

At another corner were pictures of vampires, werewolves, and frames of Zeus, holding a lightning bolt.

It was evident that Derek was a lover of anything supernatural.

"Derek! when you're coming downstairs... make sure you switch off your room lights. I don't want the Meteor to run out fast!" the feminine voice rang again.

"Okay, mum" Derek replied and headed towards the bathroom.

He splashes water on his face and began to unclad, ready to take a shower.

*

*

"Hey Mum" Derek greeted as he climbed down the stairs.

A dark-skinned lady who sat patiently on one of the dining chairs raised her gaze,  towards Derek.

"You this boy..., why didn't you tell me you were going to have a bath?" Mrs... Justina retorted, folding her arms on her chest.

"But mum,  you thought me that hygiene comes first" Derek replied, with a smirk. 

"Fine fine. You win!" Mrs....... Justina sighed.   Derek then took a seat,  living the last one empty.

"What's the point!" Derek scoffed with anger.

"Why the sudden outburst Derek?" Mrs....... Justina asked as she paused eating.

"Why exactly did my father go! for the past seventeen years you said he went for a meeting and would come back. He left with no trace of him! is he a spirit!" Derek blurted out angrily, right from kindergarten, I watch my mates have a perfect family. my case different!"

Immediately Derek uttered these statements, Mrs. Justina's eyes became misty as tears began to trickle down her cheeks.

And Derek hated it.

He hated seeing his mother in tears...

"I'm sorry mum. It was just mood-swing... I didn't mean to make you cry" Derek apologized.

"And it's okay if you don't wanna talk about it. I just wanted to know what my father looked like" Derek added and gulped down the saliva in his throat.

He then picks a piece of Àkàrâ

African bean cake

and began eating it, filling his spoon with Àkâmù

Pap

.

{Benson Apartment}

"Bolaji! what are you still doing in that room of yours,!" a Nigerian lady screamed with all her might, as she fried eggs in a pan.

"I'm rechecking my luggage!" a dark-skinned guy replied as he bit his lower lips.

He grabs his pad and began to play FIFA 2021 with his PS4.

Just as he was about to strike a goal using one of his players, he felt someone snatch the gaming pad from his grasp.

It was his mother!

"So this is the rechecking?, eh Bolaji?" Mrs. Titi yelled in anger.

"I..I..I.." Bolaji stammered as he scratched his head. Racking through his brain, to sort out a suitable lie.

"Wait!.. Oluwa!.. my egg!" Mrs. Titi exclaimed as she flung the gaming pad away.

Luckily, it landed on Bolaji's bed.

Mrs. Titi then dashes towards the kitchen, in a bid to protect her egg from the merciless flames which were halfway burning the eggs with its hot blazing heat.

"Nigeria sha" Bolaji chuckled as he picked up his gaming pad.

Without any prodding... He dug the pad into one of his luggage and dash into the bathroom to have a bath.

.

{Stella Mansion}

At the commercial part of Ogun state, stood an enormous mansion.

Everything about it screamed of money as it was owned by a very successful business lady who had a lot of fashion malls scattered around.

A black Venz Model honked at the huge gate as a Hausa man swiftly ran towards the gate.

"Ahh... Small Madam" the Hausa gatekeeper saluted.

"I don't have time for you silly jokes! Just open the damn gate!" a teenage girl between the age of fifteen, snapped angrily.

"Don't be angry" the Hausa gatekeeper, apologized.

"Stupid Hausa man" the teenage girl rolled her eyes.

After about some seconds, the gate parted ways, granting the Venz vehicle, access to driving into the spacious compound.

"Felix! bring out my bags!" The teenage girl barked as she alighted out of the already stationary vehicle which was already parked at the garage which housed fleets of expensive cars.

"Yes madam Shola" the driver who was known as Felix, replied.

Shola pops a dip of her hands into her fancy purse and fetches out a wrapped chewing gum.

She unwraps it and shoves it into her mouth, chewing it.

"Shola! Shola! Shola!" A young Nigerian boy screamed in happiness as he came to hug Shola.

"Whoa! Ayo! you've grown bigger!" Shola bemused as she took the little boy who was known as Ayomide, into her arms.

"What did you buy for me!" Ayomide asked, exposing his eighth set of dentination.

"Don't worry... Let's get inside... It's a surprise!" Shola replied as she began to advance towards the huge duplex.

"Yay!!" Ayomide screamed in joy as he broke from Shola's arm and scurried into the duplex.

"Don't run Ayo... If not you would fall!" Shola yelled, but she was barely heard as Ayomide was already far ahead.

"Hmph!" she sighed as she gan to ascend the stairs, leading to the third parlor upstairs.

"Shola how are you?" Mrs. Stella smiled.

She was seated on a sofa, watching a Nigerian movie from the huge plasma TV.

The AC wasn't left out as it distributed its chilly air to the huge parlor.

"Hey Mum" Shola replied as she popped a bubble.

"You know, I hate it when you chew chewing gums in my present" Mrs. Stella replied.

"Ah... Whatever!" Shola rolled her eyes and spat the gum on the Italian tiles.

Out of a corner, a maid dash in and scrubbed the gum out, from the tiles.

"So, how was your stay at Lagos?" Mrs. Stella enquired.

"The best experience of a lifetime" Shola replied.

"No wonder you're now a spoilt b*tch" Mrs. Stella replied.

"Whatever you say mum" Shola replied.

"You're hungry right?" Mrs. Stella asked.

"Nah... I bought sùyà on the Lagos bus" Shola replied.

"Nonsense... Becky, Bring Shola's lunch to the dining table" Mrs. Stella said.

"I'm not hungry!" Shola replied.

"Did I say it's an option? You're eating, and that's final" Mrs. Stella finalized.

A light-complexioned maid carrying two trays walked into the dining area and dropped the trays on the dining table.

She uncovered the trays, reviling a plate of steaming appetizing Egusi soup and two wraps of fufu/akpu

Nigerian dishes

"So, go and eat!" Mrs. Stella ordered.

It was evident that she was a strict lady.

"I can't finish this!" Shola grumbled.

"Eh... What? then that means no University for you in Lagos" Mrs. Stella threatened.

"That won't work mum... I've already written my Matriculation Exam and Jamb, and I've been given admission already!" Shola sticks out her tongue to her mother, mockingly.

"Really? don't you know that with my money, I could bribe the board of Admins to transfer your admission to a University in the remote part of Ogun state...Money rules!" Mrs. Stella boasted.

"No! don't do it, mum...I'd eat!" Shola pleaded as she sank her butt on one of the numerous dining chairs.

"You think you're wise...You don't know me too, was once a teenager like you!" Mrs. Stella chuckled inwardly as Shola began to eat.

.

{Benson Apartment}

Bolaji belched as he carried the already empty plate to the kitchen.

He had just finished having lunch which was rice and egg stew, with his mother.

"What are you doing Bolaji?" Mrs. Titi asked from the kitchen, as she gulps down water from a cup.

"I'm washing the plates ma" Bolaji replied.

"You know, I'm off to the university...This is my parting gift to you" Bolaji replied.

"Awwn...You're the best son I could ever wish for" Mrs. Titi smiled as her eyes began to get misty.

"And stubborn at times" she added, making Bolaji frown.

"I'm not stubborn!" Bolaji defended.

"Yes, you are!"

"I'm not!"

"Yes, you are!"

"Hmph... Okay, I'm stubborn. You know that it's not good to argue with Elders" Bolaji sighed in defeat.

"Seems that my hours of counseling paid off" Mrs. Titi boasted with pride.

"And... I think I have more to say to you!" she added.

"Oh...Kay" Bolaji replied as Mrs. Titi sat on one of the kitchen stools.

"As you go to the university.Know your standards, my son... Don't follow those rich fellows who go about bragging.

Know the kind of home you come from. Avoid those social vices and abide by the campus rules.

Never lie, steal or commit murder for it's a sin to God and both Man.

And lastly, have self-control...Be conscious of the decisions you make..Don't be fast to make decisions. Instead, think... What would be the advantage or disadvantage that would get triggered if you make that decision.

If it has more disadvantages, dispose of that idea of decision" Mrs. Titi advised.

"I would heed to your advice mama"

"That's my boy,oya now carry your luggage, so that we won't miss the bus...Ibadan to Lagos isn't a child journey" Mrs. Titi said, jerking up.

"Okay mama, let me finish washing the plates" Bolaji replied as he resumed washing the plates, scrubbing the plates with the soapy sponge.

"Okay, I'm at the parlor, waiting for you" Mrs. Titi replied, leaving the kitchen.

.

{ Mrs. Justina Abode}

Derek walks out of the house and into the hot blazing sun, with his mother.

"I'm so going to miss this place" Derek smiled sadly.

"I'm also going to miss you too," Mrs. Justina said as they both began advancing towards the main road.

"That reminds me...When I'm gone, who's going to look after you? I don't want you to be lonely" Derek said.

"Don't bother about me,I'd survive the loneliness...Moreover, I've got the next-door neighbors" Mrs. Justina replied.

"You mean those bunch of old couples?" Derek scoffed.

"At least, I won't be that lonely" Mrs. Justina replied, letting out a silent chuckle.

"Even tho, you still need a maid!" Derek said.

"Hush... The train is here now!" Mrs. Justina said, jolting Derek to race towards the incoming train.

"And... You told me how your dad looked like hun?

He was just like you

Green eyes

Body without spots

Brave

Muscular

and...

He was an ocean..." Mrs. Justina was saying, when the train honked as pedestrians began to flood into it.

"He was an ocean what?" Derek asked.

"I would tell you when you come for the holidays...Now go! make you no go miss the train!" Mrs. Justina urged, with a little touch of pidgin English.

Derek then rushes onto the train as the door slid shut.

The engines roar into life as the train began to move than the railway track, slowly.

Mrs. Justina waved at the train as it began to move faster till it was out of sight. Leaving behind, thick white smokes as they hovered around the atmosphere.