It was George’s first week in Mombasa. He got the transfer 3 months ago and while he initially wasn’t into the idea of picking up and moving away from his entire life in Nairobi, he took it because it was a promotion…and it paid.

He wasn’t superstitious in the least, but he couldn’t help remember all the stories he’d heard about this city by the ocean. He refused to recall them in detail, deciding instead to focus on the hype part…I mean; Mombasa was where people from Nairobi went to have a good time. Like Vegas.  Also, there was also the fact that Mombasa had its own timeline. No hurry in Mombasa, he’d heard, and he was all for the life of Party every weekend and endless Mnazi. That’s all he was going to think about period.

His company provided accommodation in the form of an apartment not far from the beach. He was mega stocked when he realized he could see the Indian Ocean through one of the bedroom windows. It was a 2 bedroom apartment and the room in question was the smaller one. He debated using it as the main room but decided against it in the end.

His apprehensions, always lingering at the back of his head, melted away as his first week drew to a close and nothing happened. He gained his baring and learned his way around, starting to build up acquaintances and settle into the environment.

Friday evening, he went out with one of his co-workers named Musa, who was a native of Mombasa. He took him out to a joint not far from his new apartment and George got his first taste of the nightlife in Mombasa. There were lots of tourists…lots of skimpily dressed girls, none of whom would even spare him a glance. He didn’t believe Musa when he said don’t bother and tried to chat one up, and was sent packing back to their little corner with a withering sneer and a wonderfully colorful tirade of expletives in fluent Kiswahili.

Musa laughed it off then proceeded to salve his bruised ego with drinks. Musa then proceeded to shre some warnings with him as a newcomer. Musa had a very Big brother vibe as he very seriously , and soberly, told him to beware of the beautiful ones. Especially at night.

“Usidanganyike…” He said, “ Ama utaona mazingaombwe, na lazima uombewe zikuache.” He said seriously, as Georges eyes clapped onto an unbelievably beautiful girl across the floor. George, already buzzing, laughed out loud, but Musa could see he wasn’t paying attention as his eyes remained glued to this girl. As they left that night with a light buzz, Musa walked him to a nearby stage and ended up leaving first as his Matatu came first. But before he left, he reminded him again to be careful and this time George brushed him off with a fed up scowl. As George stood there, mind immediately going back to the girl in the club, he heard footsteps approaching.

He turned to see the SAME girl walking towards him. She gave him a mysterious smile as she approached and George was entranced. When she opened her mouth to exchange a greeting with a tongue tied George and her voice was like a spell. 4 hours later George woke up groggy and naked in his own bed. He blinked painfully, groaning wondering what was happening. His memory was hazy but he remembered that siren at the matatu stage. Everything in between then and now was a blur.

As his senses returned to him he quickly realized that 1. He was naked and 2. His crotch burrrrned. The pain radiated from the center of his groin with a steady intensity that scared the shit out him. Freaking out, he threw back the covers and looked down to see a black cat which promptly hissed and sprung up to his face leaving some nasty gashes across his cheek and forhead. He Jumped out of the bed screaming like a madman and flew to the light switch, flipping it on. The moment he did, the room was flooded with light and…there was nothing. Not even a cat hair in sight.

Slightly disoriented by the series of events he looked around carefully wondering if he had imangined everything when the piercing pain drew him back to the present. He touched his face and his hand came away with blood and looking down at the now nearly unbearable pain in his crotch saw that his groin was shredded and bleeding profusely…

Instantly light headed with terror, he felt ready to pass out, but caught himself knowing he needed help. He could barely walk so he reached for his phone and called the only person he was close to in this city. Musa arrived 20 minutes later and took him to hospital. The doctor exchanged silent glances with the attending nurses and Musa once he explained the situation, but said nothing as they proceede to treat him.

He spent his entire first weekend in hospital and was released Sunday evening into the hands of a grim Musa. They both knew what the other was thinking but neither of them was apparently willing to start the conversation. But after a while Musa just came out and said what he thought.

“ Nenda ufanyiwe maombi…” He said seriously as they gingerly climbed the stairs to his apartment. George remained silent and when Musa tried again he brushed it off with a violent “leave me alone!”

Musa fell silent and left as soon as he got him to his door. George was pissed. He was pissed off, and he would never admit this, scared. He had spent the past 2 days thinking on what happened and he couldn’t explain it. He wanted this to just be a case of a stray cat sneaking into his house while he was drunk and out but where did it come from and where did it go? It had literally disappeared without a trace. Sure, he was disoriented, but even Musa hadn’t seen anything.  And why had he been naked? Why did it come after him like that…?! Could it still be in his apartment?!

It couldn’t be true…IT WASN’T REAL!!!! He called his mom, but couldn’t tell her somehow. He called his older brother but couldn’t admit what happened because he knew he wouldn’t believe him AND he would laugh at him for acting like a b****. He forced himself to toughen up, but in the silence of the night, when he started hearing things,… voices, He dialed the only person he knew wouldn’t laugh. He needed prayers.