The Wrong Turn

By Tracey Chizoba Fletcher

In this dark fantasy adventure, an aimless young man finds his soul put to the ultimate test in the Land of the Dead.

At twenty-eight years old, Chike wasn’t so much living as merely existing. He took each day as it came, with no particular plan or purpose. But now Chike faces a choice that could be described as life-or-death . . . if it weren’t for the fact that he was already in the Land of the Dead . . .

Chike had been lost in thought when a simple wrong turn brought him to an abandoned house. By the time he felt the strange sensation of being transported, it was already too late. Now he must find the exit back to the Land of the Living, or risk forfeiting his soul. But something is terribly wrong in this strange other realm—something he could potentially set right . . . if he chooses to try.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: May 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781639843299

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The Wrong Turn

Tracey Chizoba Fletcher

The Wrong Turn by Tracey Chizoba Fletcher

Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved.

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Published by Pen It! Publications, LLC in the U.S.A.

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ISBN: 978-1-954004-59-7

Cover Design by Donna Cook

Edited by:  Dina Husseini

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Chapter One

To say I was at a crossroads was really an understatement. Never before in my two decades and eight years of existence, had I been as confused as to what to do next with my life. In fact, my stint on earth so far, could be aptly described as ‘merely existing’, and not living.

The point was further buttressed by Grandma’s outburst last night. It was pretty unexpected. Of course, I was used to the talk from my parents and siblings comprising of two elder brothers and a sister. I barely paid attention to their criticisms. My indifference elicited separate reactions such as: anger from the male gender, pity from my sister, and resignation on my mother’s part.

But Grandma!

Now, that was something I least expected. She had always treated me like an outsider, ever since my nonchalance to life had reared its ugly head as far back as I could remember. I took each day as it came with no plan or purpose. I refused to be part of anything meaningful; preferring to be an onlooker. My parents had tried several times to break me; with numerous visits to psychiatrists to see if the nuts in my head could be unscrewed. The final evaluation was that only something gargantuan or epic in nature could reverse, or change the place the workings of my mind had settled into.

Till this day, no such thing had taken place.

Next were the churches; to cast out whatever demons that was resident in me. I suffered a great deal of headaches with several hands, pushing my head, casting out whatever spells that had been wound over my life, with the inclusion of holy water sprinkled all over me. When I was declared free; my parents began enlisting me in all forms of activities, but were quite shocked with the results. I hadn’t changed, still. I was simply plain indifferent. I was comfortable waking up to good food, spending the day doing nothing, and sleeping at the end of the day.

All manner of punishments were inflicted on me, such as being starved of food, compulsory solitary confinement, denial to games and television. Eventually my parents wore themselves out, and practically gave up on me. I was left in peace.

My siblings moved out of the house as the years progressed, scoring different sorts of achievements. Time without number, I heard my father muttering under his breath, that I would have been better born an invalid, instead of been a healthy human being, and completely useless. I remained unfazed.

There had been no confrontation until yesterday. I was used to been ignored and it had stayed that way for quite some time. Grandma celebrated her 85th birthday yesterday and dinner was planned at home. My siblings came over. It was rowdy. Dinner was served and grandma blew her candles to the cheers of everyone. We settled down to slices of cake and wine amidst talk. My parents were questioning my siblings on how far they had come with their individual goals, so my mind closed off to the conversation. I was enjoying my cake when I suddenly felt something was off.

What was it?

Yes, the noise and cheerful banter had ceased. Everyone was silent.

When I looked up from my cake placed in a saucer on my lap, they were all staring at me. I felt foolish. What had I missed? I couldn’t comprehend why I had suddenly become the center of attraction.

What is it? I asked.

Of course, you didn’t hear me, you just sat down there and blanked out.

I turned to the sound of the voice. It was grandma speaking with so much venom in her eyes. She must have obviously said something earlier and I missed it. I quickly moved to rectify the situation while equally wondering what she could have said to me. She had never spoken to me directly in a very long time.

I am sorry Grandma; I didn’t hear you. Please, what did you say?

I would have been surprised if you had heard me, she replied. So, you actually hear and talk.  So your sensory organs are functional, she continued with sarcasm.

I don’t understand, I managed to blurt out.

That seemed to aggravate her.

She walked right across the room to me, and pulled me up from the chair, knocking over the saucer which broke into pieces upon landing on the floor with a loud crash. Grandma held me by the scruff of my shirt, and began shaking me quite violently. I never knew she had such energy. I looked around for help, but none seemed to be forthcoming. They all stared at the scene, looking quite taken by it. Their expressions spoke of shock.

I was jerked forward once more, so I returned my gaze to grandma. I opened my mouth to speak, but froze in mid-stride as I saw a motion from the corner of my eyes. Within a few seconds, I felt the sting of a slap on my face. Tears rushed to my eyes.

Grandma began shouting. What is the matter with you, Chike? What sort of mix up in your blood cells caused you to be this moronic, what error? Why are you different from others? How can you be comfortable living like this? You are completely, utterly useless! What is wrong with your brain? I will continue to hit your head until you snap out of this.