The next morning, Ebirien woke up like nothing had changed.
The sun rose.
Women swept their compounds.
Children prepared for school.
But something was wrong.
Not loud. Not obvious.
Just… wrong.
Tare sat quietly in class, staring at the wooden desk in front of him. He hadn't slept. Not really. Every time he closed his eyes, he heard the voice again.
I am what you swallow.
He pressed his fingers against his temples.
"Stop," he whispered under his breath.
But the voice didn't stop.
It didn't speak either.
It just… stayed.
"Tare!"
He looked up suddenly.
The teacher was staring at him.
"Where is your homework?"
The class turned.
All eyes on him.
Tare blinked. He had done it. He remembered clearly. But his bag felt… lighter.
"I—I did it," he said quietly.
The teacher frowned. "Then where is it?"
Before Tare could answer, a voice from the back of the class spoke.
"He's lying."
It was Kola.
Of course it was.
"He didn't bring anything," Kola continued, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. "He never does."
A few students laughed.
Tare felt it again.
That pressure.
That heat in his chest.
Different from before.
Stronger.
"I'm not lying," Tare said, his voice shaking slightly.
Kola stood up slowly. "Then show it."
"I… I can't find it."
"Exactly."
The teacher sighed in disappointment. "Tare, I expected better from you."
That hurt more than the laughter.
Because it felt final.
Like a judgment.
Inside Tare, something moved.
Not like a thought.
Not like a feeling.
Like something waking up.
Kola laughed again. "He's useless."
And that was when it happened.
The window beside Kola shattered.
Glass exploded inward without warning.
The entire class screamed.
Kola jumped back, falling to the ground as sharp pieces scattered around him—but none of them touched him.
Not a single cut.
Not a single drop of blood.
But his smile was gone.
Silence.
Heavy.
Impossible silence.
Everyone turned slowly… toward Tare.
Because he was the only one not surprised.
Tare's heart pounded.
"I didn't—" he started.
But the words felt weak.
Because deep inside…
something whispered:
You did not stop it.
The teacher rushed to the window. "What just happened?!"
No one answered.
Because no one understood.
Kola stood up slowly, his face pale.
He looked at Tare.
Not with anger this time.
But fear.
"You… you did that," he said.
Tare shook his head quickly. "No! I didn't!"
But even as he said it…
he wasn't sure anymore.
The rest of the day passed in a blur.
No one spoke to Tare.
No one laughed at him either.
They stayed away.
Far away.
Like he had become something dangerous.
After school, Tare walked home alone again.
But this time…
he could hear it clearly.
The voice.
Stronger than before.
You felt that.
Tare clenched his fists. "Stop talking to me."
You liked it.
"I didn't!"
He hurt you.
"That doesn't mean he deserves—"
The voice cut in sharply.
Deserves what?
Tare stopped walking.
Because he didn't have an answer.
The wind picked up around him.
Leaves rustled violently.
And for a brief moment…
he saw something in his shadow.
Not his shape.
Something else.
Something darker.
That night, the town felt different.
Quieter.
Like it was waiting.
Kola could not sleep.
He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the glass shattering again.
He heard his own words echoing:
He's useless.
He turned to his side.
Then froze.
Because something was in the room.
Not visible.
But present.
A whisper filled the air.
Soft.
Cold.
You spoke. He swallowed.
Kola sat up quickly. "Who's there?!"
No answer.
Just the sound of his own breathing.
Then—
The ceiling cracked.
A thin line at first.
Then wider.
Then spreading.
Kola screamed as a piece of the ceiling broke and crashed down beside him.
Dust filled the room.
His parents rushed in.
"What happened?!"
"I didn't do anything!" Kola cried.
But his voice shook.
Because deep down…
he remembered.
Back in his house, Tare sat in the dark.
Wide awake.
Listening.
Feeling.
Understanding.
"I didn't touch him," Tare whispered.
The voice replied calmly:
You didn't have to.
Tare's chest tightened.
"What are you?"
A pause.
Then the answer came:
I am your anger… finally heard.
Tare closed his eyes.
And for the first time in his life…
he was afraid of what was inside him.
Because it was no longer silent.
And it was no longer weak.
It was awake