Chapter 7

Jesse playlist

Always there to Help

By PST Paul Eneche

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Outskirt of Umumiri

My babies ohhhh...please don't take them away"

That was the cry that made Jesse jet up from his sleep it was the middle of the night he had found some trees close to the road where he had parked his car to sleep through the remaining hours of the night .

"Please ...my babies...don't kill my boys please"

It was a woman voice

"Ngozi please let's go back those masquerades will kill us" it was now a male voice

Agony was in the air Jesse sensed it as he brought out his bible and annionting oil he locked his car curiously he walked quietly tracing the voice not too far from where he had parked his car he saw a distant figures covered in outrageous clock moving into another part of the bush as the cries of two babies echoed through the night.

Ngozi rolled down on the ground held by a man who was trying to stop her from going after them

"Nooooh..." She screamed

"Please my dear put your self together ,CHI will give us another one"

"Noooh ...it took me years to have a child..Oshimiri cannot just decide to take both from me"she mourned pushing his hands away wanting to bolt after the masquerades

" Ngozi please,it is our tradition that the birth of twins is sacrilegious and to be offered as sacrifice,let them go"he mourned along with his wife

"Afam nooo...oshimiri cannot take my twins from me oh...they should kill me first...After eight years of barrenness, is there no god,

Is there no god that can save us,where is the CHI that you claims gives children can't he protect what He gives"

Afam had succeeded in restraining his wife as he rocked her and they mourned together for their helplessness and loss he looked around the deserted road how far they had chased the masquerades from the midwife house to the bush that led to Oshimiri stream it was forbidden for any ordinary being to see the rock that decorated the stream except the priest of Oshimiri and his assailants.

Today was meant to be a day of joy for the birth of their child after eight good years of Barrenness ,what else could make a man to break down in grief and cry like a woman ,the gods which his forefathers had dedicated their lives to have brought nothing but miseries upon miseries on them

"Ooh...Oshimiri I curse you...I curse the day I was born into this land"

Jesse forced himself to ignore the two couples as much as he wanted to console them, he decided to follow the cloaked masquerades not knowing where he got the confidence from but he sure wouldn't allow them to harm those babies.

They stopped in a big river where a rock decorated as an alter stood he noticed as they danced round and round in incantations

They placed the babies on the rock as Their cries rang out through the night.

Suddenly the wind picked up around Jesse dancing round him with every dirt he couldn't imagine Jesse held his hand to his eyes

" what was it with this wind"

he thought to him self

But the wind couldn't touch him they only hovered around him he noticed

But something was wrong the masquerades were coming towards him with cutlass ,maidens too appeared around him with calabash that oozed smoked as they danced round him.

"I warned you to leave this land" A sadistic laugh echoed in the wind as Jesse saw himself knocked down hard to the ground ,because of the excruciating pains he gave in to the cloud of darkness that eveloped him .

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ABUJA

Charlie screamed at the horrible sight that stood opposite the room she couldn't tell if it was a beast or a man for the figures changes at every given moment ...this was a demon a very dirty ugly demon standing before her naked he had horns of a cow face of a human and the .body of an animal the smell around him was so foul that Charlie felt bile rise in her throat.

While she screamed the demon gave a sadistic laugh

"I get that same reaction from every woman"

Then he gave a serious glare that looked murderous and hungry

"Now take off your clothes and come to me"

"What...what are you talking about" she shivered feeling her skin crawl

"Give your womanhood to Otubana and receive his bounties"

He said impatiently as he advanced towards her his hands wrapped over hers like manacles she felt him all over her, Charlie screamed so loud sure she had lost her voice she pushed the beast hard she landed on the floor

"Get away from me you dirty pig"

Struggling to her feet she bolted out of the room.

Out of the thatched house

Out into the bush she ignored Ajoke who called after her ran after her as thorns marked her skin breathing heavily crying in anger and disgust as the memory of the horrible beast was stamped on her head his touch still lingered on her.

"For goodness sake stop charlie what's wrong with you" Ajoke grabbed her hand forcing her to halt

"You should have told me I was going to offer my body to the most disgusting pig I have ever seen...Jesus I feel so disgusted right now, is that what you are into, you actually let that beast to...oh God I can't even say it" she looked at Ajoke for the first time with judgemental eyes she was running mad

"Oh shut up Charlie" Ajoke said annoyed

"Instead of you rattling about how hypocritical I am or my choice of life you should be greatful I did everything to help you get to the rux of your problems, but now I can see insanity runs in your family" Ajoke snapped

"You are the one insane Ajoke,I feel so disgusted the more I hear you talk"

"Be great full you did not drop dead the instant you ran out of that place,I don't ever want to see your cursed feet around me again,go solve your problems yourself... Nonsense woman...and if you ever mention this to any soul I will show you my true claws,,,Rubbish"

Ajoke matched back to the thatched house

Charlie manages to find her way back home,the gateman Jubril was surprised to see her in such a pathetic state

"Wayo !madam menene"

He inquired looking at her bruised skin and rumbled clothes

She ignored Jubril found her way to her bedroom ,hours spent in the bathroom she knew the whole water in the world was not enough to wash away the dirt she felt inside or the memories that remained thick in her head.

Charlie broke down into tears for the umpteenth time that day she didn't fail to realise she was loosing everyone

Every one so close to her

"Why was I born into this world if negativity was signed into my destiny" she lamented as the running shower poured on her.