She run further into the bush, faster than her legs could carry her.
She was determined to escape from her adversaries…
She was caught in between shouting for help or continue running…
She knew the former will not be a good idea, because it was late in the evening and as well the celebration of the “Olo” festival, which always keep the villagers inside their huts.
Tears strolled down her cheeks…
“Nwanyianu has killed me”, she said as she tripped over and fell flat on the ground.
They surrounded her, five of them, like a prey surrounded by its predators.
She pleaded, she cried, she begged…
She said…”I am motherless”.
Alas, they were men of the underworld and they could not hear…
They ripped off her clothes…
And in turns, they had their way…
Then she remembered her mother, when she was still alive, she had pampered and loved her so much being her only child.
She thought of Maduka, the absolute love of her life, who promised to come in three market days to meet her father for her marriage rites.
She thought of her friends, Uju, ihuoma and Nkoli… who always come around to help her with her numerous house chores.
She thought of her father Nwozor, he betrayed her…
Yes, the love he had for her vanished immediately he re-married after the death of her mother.
He was right there, sitting and taking his snuff when Nwanyianu sent her on an errand.
She thought he would stop Nwanyianu because of the time and the celebration of the Festival, but he did not.
There she lay, thorn beyond repair.
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Then she thought of Nwanyianu, her stepmother, how badly she always treat her especially when she started having suitors.
Then she thought of her step sisters, they were just like their mother, heartless like the devil.
Then she thought of Maduka again, the only person who had lighten her dark world with his unparalleled love.
He had been patient with her all these while…
She wept bitterly as she thought of how Maduka will receive the sad news.
Then she watch them leave, after putting her in deplorable state.
She knew she will not survive it..
She hardly move any part of her body…
Darkness had slowly spread its blanket over the land of Umuoma kingdom.
Then she begin to move her lips, raising her head to catch a glimpse of the moon which has appeared to bade her farewell.
She cursed them all, pointing at the moon with blood stained finger.
She cursed her assailants… from generation to generation.
She cursed her stepmother…
She wanted to say more… perhaps to say a prayer for Maduka to find a good woman who will take proper care of him or to pray for the acceptance of her poor wounded soul.
But she slowly turn over, and breathed her last, a look of pain on her tired beautiful face.
Her mother was waiting for her at the other end, a look of pain on her teary pretty face.
* * * * * * *
It was a cold fearful night, when the cry of a woman pierced the cold atmosphere sending shivers down the spines of the villagers.
“My daughters are dead ooh, Somebody help me ooh, Ifenyinwa Shouted as she wept bitterly.
At the next compound, a little boy wake his mother up from sleep.
“Mama, can you take me outside to urinate? he asked with a sleepy tone scratching his head.
“Nnanna, ask Adaora to do that, I am not feeling strong”. She was heavily pregnant.
Nnanna went to his sister’s room but came out to meet his mother immediately.
“Mama, Adaora refused to wake up he said stamping his little feet on the ground in anger as he finally urinated on his body.
This act alone annoyed Akwaugo as she quickly rushed to her daughter’s room.
There she met Adaora lying lifeless…
She gave out a loud scream and quickly went into labour.
It was midnight, so before the first cock crow about hundred families lost their daughters.
“She cannot be appeased”, until generations to come, Egwu the chief priest said to the worried villagers heaving loudly.
“She was killed, two hundred years ago” he finally said and left for his shrine.
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