A NIGHTMARE

Suddenly the staircase became too long for him. He ran up the stairs so fast that he was panting heavily when he reached the landing in front of his room. He kicked open the door and banged it close.

He laid his back on the shut door, flung his bag to one side and closed his eyes in a bid to calm his restless nerves. His heart was beating rapidly, he could hardly breathe. He stared outside through the glass panes; the sun was going down gradually, drifting into the evening. He quickly made a dash to his bed and laid on it with his school clothes still on.

***

"Oh George! Do you not think that you were too harsh on him?" Hannie's voice rang out from the across the table. George ignored her and came to sit down, staring at his almost cold coffee.

"I will go and make him something to eat. He is probably stressed out." Hannie said as she stood and went to the kitchen counter.

George was still silent. He had totally forgotten about the lawyer's text earlier that morning. The rent had been increased to an exorbitant amount due to the recent inflation in the country. He knew he could not afford it. It was better they moved to a place where the rent was affordable. He understood his son's protest. Their neighbourhood was a very homely and calm place.

Jason was born and raised there. Moving to another house in another neighbourhood would not only be hard to do but will be emotional as well. But they had no other choice. They were not so well to do but at least they could afford food and shelter.

He watched as Hannie carried a tray of food with some fruits by the side and began climbing the stairs to Jason's room.

"This woman must really love this only son of hers so much". He thought to himself.

He could vividly remember their first child. It was a girl and they named her Selena. She was just two months old when the doctors diagnosed her of a strange disease that they couldn't name nor cure. Both of them knew that it was the curse working but they were helpless. She died on the hospital bed at midnight. The night she died, it rained cats and dogs, with heavy thunder and lightning. That was a confirmation that the curse had come back to haunt them.

Their second child was a boy. He was born two years after the death of Selena. Hannie could not bear the loss of Selena. It took her almost a year to get over everything and live her life normally again. They named the boy Gregory, after George's grandfather. Gregory was their little ray of hope as he outlived Selena, but at the age of two, he died too under the same circumstances as Selena. Both George and Hannie were heartbroken again. It took them over three years to get over their grief and try for a third child. This time they made critical consultations from elders of the family. They were given assurance that the child would live if and only if some measures were put in place to curb the curse.

Jason was born past midnight on a calm night. There was no moon up in the sky and that was a good sign for the family, yet things could still go wrong if they didn't obey the instructions.

George shook his head in pity.

***

"Jason! Open up. I want to speak with you for a minute". Hannie coaxed, holding the tray of food in her hands. "I've got your lunch." She said. No answer yet.

"Jason honey!", She called out again.

Jason shut his eyelids tightly and pretended to be asleep. He was not going to open the door for anybody. He remained like that till his mother gave up and returned downstairs.

His mind drifted to the day's incident; how he was bullied multiple times that day and he could not do anything about it. He did not even feel hungry anymore.

His mind drifted and before he knew it, he found himself in a bushy path. The trees were all tall and monstrous looking. He looked around him with fear and could not find anybody in sight. He began walking down the road. He walked and walked till he got to a junction, still nobody in sight just monstrous looking trees and a few falcons. He walked down the road by the left and it was there he met a shriveled looking man. He heaved a heavy sigh of relief and walked towards him to ask for directions. The man was sitting on a rock, with his back facing Jason. He walked as fast as he could to reach the man. When he reached him, he proceeded to greet him.

"Hello sir! Please I'm lost. Do you mind giving me directions back home?" He asked. The man remained as quiet as a dove. He didn't move nor flinch at all.

"Sir please, I live at 14 Duotrope Street. Do you know where that is? And can you help me find my way back? I do not know how I got here". He said. No response still.

He walked closer and stretched his hand to touch the man, immediately the man charged up at him violently with tightly clenched teeth. His eyeballs immediately turned to balls of fire. Jason was scared to death and started running immediately. The man chased after him. Jason kept on running so fast till he tripped and fell.

The man pounced on him that instant and bit him deeply on the neck. Strange things began to happen to his body. His hands and legs metamorphosed into those of a wolf. His face took the shape of that of a wolf. He grew fangs too. He roared and howled. He could not control himself any longer. Suddenly, thick darkness ensued and there was calmness everywhere.