I once f0ll0wed my friend to paint a house in Agbor, Delta State. Segun had told me that Mr. Freeborn was a wealthy man with multiple houses. That he managed to secure a painting contract successfully through a strong connection he had in one of the houses.. He mentioned that I could earn 40k if I join him paint five to six rooms, that the more I paint the higher the pay. As a hustler, I agreed to the deal, knowing the financial relief that ₦40,000 would bring. At that time, this page you're currently reading this story from had not even existed.
The day I got to the house was a Saturday afternoon. It was a newly constructed two storey building with different flats, with the lower level already painted on a light blue hue..One could even mistake it to a hotel. Meanwhile, extravagant and costly artworks of strange men and weird animals embellished the surroundings.
Segun asked if I wanted to paint on the lower, middle or upper floor, and I chose the middle floor since I wouldn't want any disturbance from anyone. So we ascended the stairs, accompanied by one of the agents who had the keys. He unlocked the second-to-last room by the right.
When I stepped inside the room, my whole body began to scratch me to the point I quickly pulled my top. Segun noticed my mood since we were behind the agent but chose not to mention. The paints and necessary tools were already Inside.
"You fit paint this one because person don Rent am already. Electricians will come and wire the rooms very soon. The man wey don already pay go enter next week." The agent spoke to me and left with the keys.
As soon as the agent left, Segun whispered to me "bro waeti sup? Abi you no well?"
"I no know yet but I believe something is weird. I can't tell for now." I answered him, gazing at the P.O.P above.
"Nicholas when you don paint this one finish call me make I show you another room. Yesterday we dey here reach 9pm. You know that settlement is based on the number of rooms you paint. Or Na only this one you won paint today?"
"No naa Segun, 9pm nkwa. Ahh Na all-night I dey do? I dey with you boss just that before 6:30pm I don move. No need to rush. Anywhere I stop today, I continue tomorrow or time no dey again?" I explained. That moment the itching had subsided.
"There's time sha, anyway, I'm heading downstairs to meet my boys. If you have friends that can join you tomorrow, bring them. There's serous work here o". He stated. "No problem," I said as he shook my hand and departed. I changed my clothes and began work few minutes past 1pm. No one was on the third floor.
I painted a portion of the living room and quickly went outside to buy a sachet of water to drink. Upon my return, I noticed that certain areas I had painted appeared to have cleaned themselves, as if I had never painted them before, which left me curious. Placing my ears against the spots, I began hearing sounds that I couldn't understand. As I reached for the rolling brush and dipped it into the paint to repaint the spots, the door quickly shut and locked itself.
