I, Adunni-Ade Olanipekun, the first girl and the only daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Olanipekun, with two younger brothers. I am from Odhiesa village but reside in a small community. The people in my community are very hospitable and loving — any stranger is welcomed. But Akote community… that is a different story. That place is full of witches and wizards. Their customs and traditions are worshipped like gods, and even the smallest crime could bring death as the punishment.

One night, after our festival, everyone went back to their homes, but I could sense something strange. The whole community felt like a nightclub party — spirits moving about like traders in a busy market. I couldn’t sleep. I sat on my bed, frightened and tense. My body was soaked with sweat, dripping into my bed as though I had wet it.

I got up and tried peeping from my window, but I made the biggest mistake of my life. My eyes met one of the spirits roaming around like a security guard — and it is well-known in our land that we must never let our eyes meet theirs, or we face dire consequences.

Suddenly, my room became windy, so windy that it felt unbearable, like the air itself was trying to drag me away. I froze. It felt as though a ghost was right there with me. My heart pounded like a restless drum. I was like a confused dog gone astray.

I jumped back on my bed, trembling like a little fiery spark about to die. But then, I sensed a strange movement coming closer. I didn’t move. I didn’t even breathe. I folded myself tightly like a baby wrapped in linen.

And then — it climbed on me. Its cold fingers gripped my neckand in a chilling, broken voice it said:

Why did you look at me? You must die."

In that moment, my heart nearly stopped. It felt like the ground should open and swallow me whole. I screamed — but no one heard me. Yet something strange happened… the moment I screamed, I felt something leave me.

Then I remembered what my mum once told me: “Spirits hate noise. They hate screaming.”

Still, I was helpless. My heart pounded like a ticking clock. I tried to raise my head and breathe, but then I felt a touch behind my back. I didn’t move. My neck couldn’t turn. My whole body was like an iroko tree rooted deep into the ground.

The objects in my room started falling. My door kept opening and slamming shut on its own. The movements around me grew louder, stronger, more chaotic — and then, I saw it.

A dead body, right beside me, smiling and grinning, showing its yellow, decayed teeth.

I began hearing murmurs, whispers… like barbarians chanting in a forbidden tongue. Again, the spirit’s voice returned, but this time it echoed inside my head. I felt like I was losing my mind.

I kept saying, “I want more… I want more…” without even knowing why. And before I understood what was happening, I became a vampire— drinking and sucking the blood of the dead. My ears opened wider, my senses heightened, and I felt charged in the spirit. But deep inside, I knew something wasn’t right.

Then, I heard them call my name:

“Adunni… Adunni…”

One of the spirits said:

“You’re one of us now.”

I screamed in pain, “No! I’m not one of you!”

They laughed, a wicked, sharp laugh that cut through my bones. One whispered:

“Now we know… you are the sacrifice we have been waiting for.”

Suddenly, I was no longer in my room. I was in a bushy, dark area, trapped, alone. I screamed for help, but no one came. I turned around in circles — 360 degrees — but saw nothing. Then, I felt myself being dragged. Left, right, forward, backward — like I was caught between **life and death**.

One of the spirits said:

“It is your destiny. It is your father’s legacy, your bloodline… you must follow it.”

I shouted back, “I can’t do this!” I ran, but it was pointless — my legs carried me nowhere. Suddenly, I fell into a deep pit, my hands reaching up for rescue… but I was alone.

I rolled down violently until my back slammed into a sharp stick. I gasped for air, my neck stiff, but I turned slowly — and there I saw a figure, tall and bent, shaped almost like a stick itself.

I was terrified. It moved closer. I tried to run, but one of them grabbed me. It forced my mouth open and dropped a strange, warm drop of blood inside. It began to chant in a language I couldn’t understand.

And then — my body changed.

My eyes turned **red**, my nails sharpened into knives, my veins became **black**, and my teeth grew like that of a lion. My entire being transformed.

But inside, I was still Adunni. I didn’t understand why this was happening. They kept saying:

“This is your destiny. You cannot change it.”

But I refuse to believe that.

Because I am human.

And no matter what they say… "I will fight".

Yet, even now, as I breathe… I can still  hear them whispering my name.

Adunni… Adunni… it’s not over

Some truths don’t scream… they whisper — and when the silence spoke, nothing was ever the same again.”