“I have to be fast before the baby’s mom finds me.” The Madman said as he dug the soil.
Meanwhile, the Baby’s mom, Grace, was still outside chatting with her friend, thinking her baby John was still sleeping inside the house.
UNKNOWN TO HER, Little John was just few inches to his grave.
HOW IT STARTED…
For ten long years, Grace was married without a child.
Her neighbor and close friend, Njideka, also battled the same problem. Both of them were barren, and because of that, they became very close.
But in the tenth year of Grace’s marriage, something happened—something she never expected. Grace became pregnant.
The whole neighborhood shook with joy. Her husband danced around like a new boy. Women came to congratulate her.
Everyone was happy… EXCEPT NJIDEKA.
She acted happy. She hugged Grace. She laughed with her. But inside her heart, a dark fire was burning.
How can she be pregnant and I am still barren?
After all we suffered together?
Jealousy grew inside her like po!son.
Months passed, and Grace finally gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Njideka’s heart turned black completely. She planned something terrible… something no one would ever imagine coming from a friend.
She found a man known in the area as Madman, a rough-looking man who collected rusted irons and old tins for money. She approached him secretly and whispered her wicked plan. Giving him some cash.
THEN CAME THE AFTERNOON THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING.
One hot afternoon, Grace breastfed her baby, placed him gently on the small bed, and watched him fall asleep peacefully.
She decided to use the quiet moment to spread the clothes she had just washed. She left the door open, planning to return in a few seconds.
That same moment, the Madman walked into the compound pretending to pick rusted irons. People saw him but paid no attention; he was always moving around collecting scraps.
He walked slowly, looking around. Then he slipped quietly into Grace’s room. He saw the sleeping baby, lifted him carefully, and pushed him inside the big sack he was carrying.
Just as he reached the door to leave, Grace was returning from the backyard. Their eyes met.
“Good afternoon, madam,” he greeted, pretending to be harmless.
Grace smiled back innocently. “Good afternoon.”
But before she could enter the room, Njideka appeared suddenly.
“Grace! My sister!” she called loudly, blocking her path with forced excitement. “Come, come, let me tell you something!”
She kept talking, making her laugh, distracting her with unnecessary stories—anything just to give Madman enough time to escape with the baby.
When she finally felt it was enough, Njideka smiled to herself, an ev!l smile, and walked back into her room.
Grace entered her room—and the world stopped.
Her baby was gone.
Her heart dropped. Her hands began to shake. She searched under the bed, behind the chair, outside the door. Nothing. Tears burst out of her eyes.
“My baby! My baby!! Where is my baby?!” she screamed.
Neighbors gathered. Her husband rushed home and, in anger and fear, pushed her out.
“You are careless!” he shouted. “The child we got after ten years—lost in one day! Don’t come back until you find him!”
Grace cried until her legs were weak.
Inside her room, Njideka dialed the Madman.
“Make sure you bury the b@by alive tonight in the garden,” she whispered coldly. “Grace can’t have a baby when I am still barren.”
The Madman carried the crying baby and went deep into the forest where no one would see him. He picked up a shovel and began to dig.
Grace went to the church. She fell on her knees, crying like a wounded animal. “God, please… don’t let my baby d!e. Don’t let my enemies win. Don’t let them mock your daughter”
Deep in the forest, Madman continued digging, ignoring the baby’s cry, ignoring the mother’s pain—just because of fifty thousand naira.
“I have to be fast before someone sees me,” he muttered.
But little did he know… God never forsakes the tears of a mother in pain.
Don’t think someone is harmless because they appear dirty, some of them are de@dlier than you can think.
DO YOU THINK GRACE MADE A MISTAKE LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN?
To be continued…
SAVE THIS POST TO BE NOTIFIED ONCE THE NEXT EPISODE IS UPLOADED.
From Your Favorite Storyteller
JUDE MELODY 😊
