Fake spirit

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One sunny afternoon, I found myself walking alone along a bush path, deep in thought. The area was quiet, with only the sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling in the breeze. I didn’t expect anything unusual to happen — I was just passing through. But as I ventured further, something strange caught my attention.

Out of nowhere, I saw a girl standing under a tree, talking to herself in a language I couldn't understand. She was acting very weird, moving her hands in strange patterns and mumbling things that sounded like chants. At first, I thought she might be rehearsing for a school play or maybe talking on a Bluetooth device. But as I got closer, I realized she wasn’t holding any phone. Her eyes looked wild, and her whole presence gave off an eerie feeling.

Curious and slightly concerned, I asked her, “Who are you?”

She turned to face me slowly and, with a serious tone, replied, “What have you come to do in the evil forest?”

I was shocked for a second. Evil forest? In this present-day Nigeria? I looked around, confused. This didn’t look like any “evil forest” to me — just bush and red sand. I looked at her and said, “Are you seriously asking me that in this Nigeria that we are in right now?”

She nodded, maintaining her creepy expression. I didn’t know whether to laugh or run. So I just replied, “You must be crazy.”

Without flinching, she looked me dead in the eye and said, “You will pay with your life.”

That’s when I got slightly annoyed and a bit amused. I didn’t have time for Nollywood scenes. I told her, “Get out of here before I use you to make pepper soup.”

To my surprise, instead of being scared or insulted, she burst into strange, loud laughter — the kind that makes you question whether you’re still dreaming or awake. She laughed uncontrollably, and I just stood there, unsure of what to do. But the way she was laughing… I couldn’t help it. I found myself laughing too.

So there we were, two strangers, in the middle of the bush, laughing like maniacs — one possibly mad, the other confused but entertained.

After a few moments, I caught my breath and told her, “Abeg, get out of my way.” She didn’t protest. I calmly walked past her and continued on my journey, still wondering what exactly had just happened.

Was she mentally ill? A prankster? A spirit? Or just someone having a weirder day than me?

Till today, I don’t have the answer. But one thing I know for sure: next time I decide to take a bush path, I’ll think twice. You never know who — or what — you might meet out there.

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