THE RESEARCH

CHPTER 3

The man, whose name was Mr. Andrew was a researcher while his wife was a seamstress. The two women became close friends as they chatted together and did the house chores together while the men hanged out and took strolls together too.

Mr. Andrew went into the house with Mr. Ronin. He was working on something as they sipped hot coffee when Mr. Ronin saw something familiar.

He immediately asked Andrew to scroll back again slowly. What he saw shocked him. He saw a house that looked same as theirs, nothing changed.

But what shocked him was how come the house existed for as long as 20 years without it looking all old. Everywhere was still in place. He then read the heading and it said "the haunted house".

Under it were the stories of people who lived in that house and some of their phone numbers. Mr. Ronin became interested in wanting to meet at least, one or two of its occupants before.

They made arrangements with Mr. Andrew but made sure they said nothing to their wives to avoid them being worried especially "the pregnant one" as described by Mr. Andrew.

The next day, they went to one of the former occupants house. They were warmly welcomed and had a little and brief discussion before they asked about the house. He was surprised and asked them why asking that question.

Mr. Ronin then explained to the man known as Mr. Philip. He explained all the strange things that had been happening in the house especially to his pregnant wife.

At the mention of "pregnant", the man got interested and scared about the talk. He asked if his wife got pregnant in that house and he replied in the positive. He heaved a very long deep sigh that made them scared and worried.

Mr. Andrew asked if all was well and the man told them that danger lurks with that pregnancy and he was advised to tell his wife to abort the baby immediately.

Shocked at what he said, they chorused "why?". Mr. Ronin couldn't lose his only baby. He explained to them that was his first pregnancy and what has the pregnancy got to do with the strange happenings in their matrimonial home.

Their host patiently and kindly explained everything that happened to him while living there and why he said so. They listened to him attentively, as if not wanting to miss any word he said.

This was my story.

My wife and I moved into that house on 4th December, 1994. That was 27 years ago. From what we later learnt, some prostitute ladies were the former occupants of the house. A fire accident happened, which made them to vacate from the house but it was later renovated and that was when we moved in. According to the news we got, a woman died in there with a baby in her womb too.

Since it was a long time it happened, everything got renovated and people moved into the other houses and that was when we too moved in there newly. My wife was already carrying my baby then, it was twins. Unfortunately for us, we lost the pregnancy when it was eight and half months old.

She conceived again and this time, it was a single embryo. The pregnancy was different. It was all strange and different. We prayed, went for several tests but everything proved abortive. It was later suspected that the problem was from that same tree you just mentioned.

My wife and other couples who lived there and came to me as you just did also had same experience. There was nothing we could do. We had our child but it was a living hell. We gave birth to a monster instead of a baby.

She do disappear and appear most of the times especially at night. We didn't know then until we saw it happening in reality. That tree has so much power, is not ordinary and that's why I advice you to abort that your baby before it's too late.

Mr. Ronin asked him why didn't they cut down or burn the tree instead of abortion or anything. He replied him and said if it was that simple, he would have done it years back. The tree has special powers as I said which no one can pull down. If anyone dares to, they die. Mr. Ronin was now convinced on why those men died as he told them.

It'll kill anyone that dared it and collect the body to avoid suspicion. Ronin asked why it didn't do that for those dead men. He said he doesn't know, probably it had a reason which was less important than their own lives. Their lives were in danger. Ronin asked them if relocating was a best idea and he said it wasn't.

"That baby in your wife's womb is not your child. It was given to you by that tree. All those babies that were aborted by those prostitutes living there before are in that tree. Their spirits operates around the house and the best thing to do is to kill that child before it's too late.

They want to come back into the world in order to get revenge. They will trouble your house and marriage. They will destroy you and others out there. I have warned you!" He said and left for his room.

Confused Ronin and his friend had to leave the house with fear. Andrew told him to do as Philip had said. It was their first pregnancy but they had no choice if that child would bring terror to their home. Convincing his wife on this was going to be difficult.

How she loved and cared for the unborn baby. He made up his mind to get rid of it before it was too late. If it was God's destiny for them to be parents, he'll do just that and if it wasn't, all glory to him.

Mary and Serah were watching movie and chatting excitedly when their husbands came in. Mary jumped on her husband immediately she saw him and told him that they could go back to their house as she got a call from the police earlier that day as she kissed him.

Seeing the worriedness on his face and that of his friend, they asked both of them if all was well and they said nothing. They both sat down as Ronin went towards his wife and sat next to her. He didn't know how to break the news to her. With the help of Andrew being there and nodding convincely, he broke the news to her.