After the movie, they strolled noisily to the fast food café as they argued over the movie causing quite a stir.

“So” Ayuba drawled, drawing her attention, “Am I forgiven?’’

“Err, depends on what you did,’’ Omotola replied smiling.

He was about to reply when she suddenly heard someone yelled her name with so much force, startling and cutting everybody mid sentences.

The shoppers stopped to stare with their mouths wide open. A familiar looking youth strolled towards them, his tall frame and gold curls appeared out of place, they moved from his path as he made a beeline for the teenagers.

Somewhere at the back of her mind faintly recognise him, also noticing he had no wing at his back, “was he supposed to have wings? Who does?” his shrunken face was far from healthy but his eyes burned with so much intensity as he called her name again.

“Omotola snap out of this, all this isn’t real,’’ his sharp voice cuts a blinding pain through her head, forcing her to bend over in agony.

holding her head in her hands, the pain leaving behind a bit of memory as she remembered him then, her brother Logan. Ayuba, face anxious with concern holding unto her and was the only reason she hasn’t fallen down flat on her face.

“Guy, what the hell are you doing to her.’’

Logan ignored him as he moved closer, Ayuba stood in front of her protectively as Valerie and Bisola moved to either side of her, face mixed with concern and defiance.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Don’t get lost in this Omotola, all this is a sham, your body, your real body is at the institute. Remember the fight; remember your brothers and sisters, Binta, Babybaby, Orchid. Your family."

“My family is here,’’ she protested rather weakly as she struggled to make sense of her conflicted memories.

“They are just figments taken from your consciousness, imaginings morphed into a reality that puts you in comatose state to which you're already in danger of losing yourself in." he cuts in with a wave of his hand; you once had two plastic dolls named Valerie and Bisola.’’

“An Aladdin doll i renamed Ayuba,’’ she retched, her memories scrabbles on as the splitting headache intensifies.

“Everything will be alright sis,’’ Logan said, “don’t let the institutes virtual memory take over your real one, all this; he voice soothing as he waved his hand again, “all this may be the very life you dream of and wanted but you need to come back to us, don’t let Mugabe win.’’

“She’s not going with you’’ Ayuba growled, his face feral, “she belongs here, with me.’’

Logan ignored him, his gaze unwavering as he continued as if he wasn’t there.

“This is your sub consciousness Omotola. And only you can free yourself, I cannot pull you out by force, just don’t forget who you are.’’

Ayuba turned and held her, eyes wide in panic.

“Babe, “whatever this dude’s been telling you are all nonsense remember when we first met, regional school quiz competition, our first kiss, your mum had always hated my ass, remember when she sent your dog after me, surely you cannot forget your best friends since primary school, this guy’s talking crazy, you don’t have any brothers and sisters, you’re an only child for goodness sake.’’

For a moment, they all stared at her; genuine bewilderment on their faces, Valerie was on the verge of tears, her friends, her mother, this was what she'd always wanted all she had always dreamt about but she knew it was all lies, Omotola’s heart was torn as she made her decision.

“Sorry guys, all this seems to be too good to be true, I’m not a normal girl of fifteen goofing around and playing truants, I am a 5th generation prototype.’’ Logan smiled sadly; the pride on his face, enough to erase the remaining doubt on her mind.

“Get us out of here little sister.’’