--Mischief

I heard Nene's footfalls seconds before I saw her, and ecstatic she declared

“Since we’re out of school let’s go swimming!!”

and coming within view, looked me in the eye then smirked, and said

“it wouldn’t hurt to do something different.”

She loved to do the little things which terrified me, and she derived a great deal of satisfaction in watching me fret about it. So smiling I caught her hand

“We aren’t allowed near the stream today, even I know that.”

But feeling her grip upon my hands tighten, and watching her little light brighten, her next words were expected

“Don’t be a coward”.

Nene lived for the thrill and the constant race to safety, away from the trouble she’d caused. Her laughter dripped of mischief, and the spark in her eyes never dimmed.

“Oh don’t be such a coward, I’m with you”

Were the exact same words which came before every chase in which we’d been the target.

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The path which led to Mbammiri was in no way distinctive, same dirt roads, same bushes, same as most other roads. And for a place which I’d already associated with the darkest of all entities, seeing some blood sprayed on its path, maybe a few severed heads, and the occasional red cloth with scary adornments littered around it, would have formed a better picture for me.