Chichi’s uncle joined them, shouting for the guys to stay back. Chichi’s aunt was behind him looking angry and ready to fight, too. Sunny moved after them as they all exited the club. Once outside, Sunny was shocked to see that Sasha, Chukwu, and Chichi’s uncle were all laughing. Even Orlu looked mildly amused.

“Damn,” Sasha said, holding his aching belly. “Chukwu, I don’t think I have ever seen four grown men afraid of one younger man. I don’t even care, you get some dap for that. No doubt. Respect, respect.” He grasped Chukwu’s hand, slapping his other hand over it.

“I saw them coming at you,” Chukwu said. “You had all their ladies, and you don’t even look twenty.”

“It’s my American swag,” Sasha said with a lopsided grin. He coughed and held his side.

“Are you all right?” Chichi’s uncle asked.

“Yeah,” Sasha said. “I managed to flex at the last minute. It’s nothing a night’s sleep won’t cure.”

They quickly got into the car in case the guys Sasha had angered came out for more. Sunny was just glad to leave that place earlier than they would have. Exactly an hour later, after the short drive back, showering in lukewarm water, brushing her teeth, and climbing into bed, Sunny closed her eyes. Chichi was already fast asleep, having taken an even shorter shower before Sunny. Ten minutes later, Sunny heard someone riffling through her and Chichi’s bags not far from her head.

For a moment, Sunny just lay there in the darkness, reluctant to get up and switch on the light. She was exhausted and comfortable. Maybe I’m just hearing things, she thought. There was an air conditioner in the room that clanked and loudly dripped water. But the more she lay there, the clearer the sound came. Crinkle, crinkle, rummage, rummage.

Her juju knife was in the pocket of her night clothes and slowly, she reached for it. The light suddenly switched on. And what Sunny saw on her backpack shocked her, but only for a moment. It was a large black bat. And it was clutching her wallet, her glasses in their hard green case, and Udide’s Book of Shadows in its strong sharp claws.

Without thinking, Sunny did the swift juju Sugar Cream had taught her for getting rid of those large wall spiders Sunny hated so much. She missed and the bat scrambled up the windowsill. “Oh no!” she breathed. She nearly dropped her juju knife but managed to grasp it and work the juju again. She caught the pouch in her hand and threw it at the bat as she said, “Stay there!” The bat dropped the book on the sill and her glasses and wallet fell to the floor. The bat was flattened right on the windowsill.

“Good thinking, Sunny!” Chichi said, looking impressed. She was standing at the light switch.

“You heard it?” Sunny asked, pressing her forehand. She’d had to focus her mind to a point to rework the juju correctly because of the doubling, and the effort was rewarding her with a throbbing headache.