ELIANA

ELIANA Eliana raced down the forest path, her breath ragged and her heart pounding. She glanced over her shoulder, but nothing was there. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was right behind her. She couldn't stop. Frantically, she opened the front door, shutting the door closed, causing the pictures on the wall to rattle. She slide down the door, panting, in relief. She glanced over arm, the arm that was bleeding seconds ago. And nothing, nothing was there any longer, not even the bite from earlier, nor the blood dropping from it. Her eye brow raised and drawn together, lips slightly parted before she let out a loud scream. From no where someone began to call her name " Eliana Eliana!!!!!" Her body being shook frantically. " Jesus, Jesus " she jerked up from her sleep. Pushed Juliana, her twin sister off. Juliana slip off the bed, her body hit the ground, giving a silent thud. "Ahhh" Juliana screamed in agony and anger. " Eliana are you mad, are you crazy " she screamed " Juliana, what did I tell you about foul words" their mother's voice, Eniola, echoed from the sitting room. " Okay. Ma" she shouted back. Lifting her body off the ground. " Are you insane " she lowered her voice. Eliana curled up on the bed, her eyes scanning every part of the room, as if she was still in her dreams. " Eliana, are you okay." She paused to observe her, "Did you have a nightmare" Juliana moved up to her, hugged her " It's okay" She kept repeating until every of her nerves relaxed in her arms. " Are we not supposed to pray after a nightmare" Juliana whispered "This is not just a nightmare Julie, This is the 5th time I would be having this vision this week" Eliana disengaged from the hug, resting her back. " A vision? " she sat back also, folded her legs " Are you now like a prophet?" smiling " Woli ni, I'm serious here Julie. " " okay, I'm listening " settling into the bed " This vision has been coming since we visited grandma" " wait" her hands hold up in the air. " Has grandma bewitched you" She whispered. Eliana rolled her eyes. " I knew it, that woman is too old, she should just go and die" her voice low " Julie" Eliana shouted in caution. " Can you learn to focus when someone is talking " she frowned " okay continue " Eliana paused for a moment to get her thoughts back. " I was bitten by something" she shook her, trying to recollect. Juliana nodded, eyes glued on her, " I don't know, Julie, I've been feeling strange since then, different visions, dream and sometimes I see things far off" she paused " I'm scared" Julie moved closer to her holding her hands. " we should probably tell mom. I mean, though all you said I find it difficult to believe" " Julie" " Listen, this is not some Hollywood or drama where something will bite you and you will turn to some paranormal human after seven days. But.." she lifted a finger to cut Eliana short before she could even open her mouth. " Mom always have answers to things, I am sure you will be okay after drinking anointing oil or probably go see Prophet Michael " Juliana moved till she got to the edge of the bed, got down from the bed "Is that all you have to say" Eliana asked, scoffing. "What else do you want to say" she shrugged. " Mama come outside we have lots of work to do" she bounced out of their room. Eliana cupped her face in her head. ................... " Ouch" Julie screamed. Holding her fingers up, as blood kept dripping from it. " Mom, i've injured myself" she screamed. Every vein in Eliana popped out, her eyes widely opened, as though she was compelled by a force, uncontrollable within a split of second she is already standing beside Juliana, her eyes still glued on the dripping blood. She slowly bent over. " Hey, do you even know how to talk" Eniola walked out of the kitchen, holding the kitchen first aid box. Julie's gaze met Eliana, who was more focused on her blood. She licked her lips " Hey girl, move back" Julie push her back. She became conscious, standing still. Understanding what just happened to her and how fast she had moved to Juliana. She raced out of the sitting room " Eliana, stop running " Eniola shouted. " She has been acting strangely lately. Since we came back from grandma's house " Her mother stopped midway, raised her head to look at her. " Strange, how strange " her voice firm. " Mom, I think she just needs kabashing " " How strange, Juliana" her mother shouted. Juliana flinched at her mother's outburst. "Mom" she called " she said she has been having visions, dreams of an old ancient woman calling her like giving her some ancient books" she shrugged, nonchalantly Her mother stood up immediately dropping all she was doing. " You guys should have told me earlier " She rushed out in the path Eliana took, to her room. Juliana sat still, trying to understand what just happened. "Eliana, Eliana" her mother kept calling till she opened the door, there sat Eliana panting, curled up on the bed. Eniola rushed in, she hugged her. Eliana released herself into her mother's embrace. " Mom, I think I need prayers, " she said crying " This is becoming real. Vampires are not real. Wolf are not, those things are not real. We are Nigerians " She said whimpering, Eniola kept her held in her arms. " It's okay Eliana" she kept patting her back. " Mom, what am I becoming?" She asked, eyes on her mother, Eniola looked down at her, her eyes couldn't hold the gaze for long. She shook her slightly, the right words caught up in mouth. She opened her mouth and closed it severally, until she finally whispered " Ẹda Ọrun" " meaning?" " A vampire " Juliana screamed from the door. Her eyes widely opened.