I had been a ghostwriter for nearly 3 years at that time, but I had never had the opportunity to work with a client from Kenya before. When I received an invitation for a project from a Kenyan client, I was thrilled to work with someone from my home country.

Upon receiving a message from a client via this popular writing platform, requesting articles on a peculiar topic, I didn’t initially give it much thought. After all, it wasn’t the first time someone had come to me with a strange request. But this time, things quickly spiraled out of control.

The client, who called himself “Mr. X,” was from Nairobi’s Gigiri suburb, as per his profile details; home to the most expensive houses in the capital.

He was very specific about the topic he wanted me to write about; bizarre and otherworldly creatures that were said to inhabit a nearby forest within his residence.

I had always been a thorough writer, and I believed that the more information I had about the said creatures, the better my article would be. So, I asked Mr. X many questions about the creatures and their behavior, hoping to gain a deeper understanding of their world. Little did I know that my curiosity would put me in grave danger.

I was hesitant at first, but the offer was too good to pass up. I had never been paid $200 for a 1000-word article, so I agreed to take on the project.

As I delved deeper into my research, I found myself becoming more and more intrigued by the mysterious creatures that supposedly lurked in the forest near Mr. X’s mansion. I went back to Mr. X to get more information and confirm that my findings were correct. He seemed so satisfied by my curiosity, and keenness.

To be fair, I was doing my job.

Right in the middle of article 2, strange things started happening.

I began receiving odd calls and messages from unknown numbers, all of them claiming to be Mr. X. The first time he called, I could barely hear his voice over the sound of strange noises in the background, like rustling leaves or the sound of footsteps. When I asked him to speak up, he spoke in a low and whispery tone, as though he didn’t want to be overheard.

The conversations were always cryptic and brief. Mr. X would ask me if I had made any progress on the article, and if I had any more questions for him.

Whenever I tried to ask him about the creatures or his own experience with them, he would always deflect, saying only that he had seen strange things in the nearby forest and that he didn’t want to talk about it.

But it wasn’t just what he said that was unsettling; it was the sounds in the background of the calls. I could hear twigs snapping, and what sounded like whispers or muffled voices. I couldn’t tell if these were just background noise or if Mr. X was deliberately trying to scare me😥.

The tone of Mr. X’s voice was always ominous, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was watching mw even when I wasn’t on the phone with him.

Despite my growing fear, I pushed on with my work, determined to finish the project and get paid. But as I delved deeper into the mythology surrounding these creatures, I began to feel like I was being watched. Every time I went from my office to the kitchen or living room, I felt like something was following me.

Then one night, as I sat at my computer, in my little office working, my doorbell rang. When I looked through the glass on my door, I saw a shadowy figure standing right opposite my neighbor’s staircase (If you’re Kenyan you definitely understand our apartment structures).

If you know me you know my eyes barely see shit sometimes😂. At this particular moment, I wished it was one of those moments; but you can’t lie to your intuition you know.

 I froze, quite literally, too scared to move or make a sound. But then the figure spoke, and I instantly recognized the voice. It was Mr. X.

“I’ve been watching you,” he said in a low, menacing tone. “You’ve been getting too close to the truth. I can’t let you finish that article.”

What would happen next? Would I uncover the truth, or would I be consumed by the darkness I had unwittingly stumbled upon? Only time would tell. To be continued…