Chapter 10

In Chief Ashanti’s compound, Owusu one of the elders rushed in and he meet up with a maid. Owusu stopped before the maid as he was breathing heavily due to long-running and said to the maid, “Where are they?” The maid responded by pointing under a tree where other elders were. Without wasting time, Owusu rushed to where the other elders were.

Owusu rushed and sat on the empty sit to where the council of elders was. Before them, Akyaa and Mayra were standing silently. For some serious cases, it was a mandatory for all clan of elders to be present when order are addressed. Chief Ashanti the head asked the ladies, “Now tell us what did you both saw?” Akyaa first faced Mayra for some second who was silently facing her too. Then Akyaa turned back to Chief Ashanti and responded, “It was a witchcraft drawing on the ground that was drawn by blood.”

Owusu faced Fante who was sitting beside him in suspicion then faced back the ladies and ask, “Can you explain more what you saw Akyaa.” Akyaa responded, “It was drawing by blood.”

The council of elders all faced Akyaa silently where Chief Ashanti broke the monotony by facing Mayra and said, “Mayra can you explain what you saw?” Mayra clears her throat where the other elders faced her where she said, “I was talking to this lady when I saw some blood drops on some leaves where I followed the drops until they led me to the site. And there we found the large circle drawn by the blood which had a star in it and every corner of the star there was a human skull.”

It was heard for Akyaa to explain that because people in the community in that error were not educated and the one that were educated they had low wisdom. But overseas the Europeans were educated at the time.

Chief Ashanti moved back a little bit on his sit and said, “It is the same thing with the last one we saw.” Owusu responded, “That means we did sentence the wrong person.” Fante responded,

“Don’t say that may be he was not alone.”

“But we were quick to make that judgment.”

Akyaa who was still standing in front of them walked out while she was wiping of tears. She could not stand the fact that her only friend was killed due to mistake or wrong accusation. This caught the clan of elders’ attention and they all silently looked at Akyaa as she was leaving. Owusu added still as they were all Akyaa, “The boy he was her best friend.” Immediately Mayra turned and rushed to Akyaa to go and calm her down.

Agona one of the councils of elders asked as Mayra was moving away, “What is she doing here?” Chief Ashanti responded, “She is here due to this war we are fighting now.” Agona then asked, “And where are the others?”

Owusu said to Agona, “Your questions will not help- us now.” It the story reach to the people would led to tension and fear that would in turn bring war. Chief Ashanti added, “We now know the one who is doing this is out there but now this should be a secret between us.” Everybody immediately faced him in a strange way where Chief Ashanti stood of the seat said, “Ok this time I will not break that.” Then Chief Ashanti walked to where the ladies were under a tree.

To where Mayra and Akyaa were, Mayra was rubbing Akyaa’s back who was crying and saying, “Just let it out.” Then immediately Chief Ashanti stopped beside them and said, “Akyaa I know this is painful for you but no one should know it.” Akyaa faced Chief Ashanti and nodded her head where she saw Osei her boyfriend at distance.

Akyaa rushed to him leaving Mayra hanging and gave Osei a big hug as she was crying. Osei still as he was hugging Akyaa he asked, “What's wrong my love?” Akyaa pulled of the hug wiped tears off her eyes and said, “I just don’t want to lose you in my life.” Not expecting the good words coming from her mouth after swearing that she will never forgive him he acted more concern by asking, “Was that the reason that was making you cry?”

Akyaa turned to Mayra who was still under a tree looking as if she was fine by that. Mayra did not shown any awkwardness near the two couples where Akyaa faced back Osei and said, “I realized the mistake that I did by pushing you away.” Osei asked Akyaa referring to Mayra,

“Who is she?”

“I only know her name she is Mayra.”

“Let’s go somewhere else.”

“I don’t trust her the way she is looking at us.”

Akyaa walked with Osei away as they were both holding hands. As they were walking away, Akyaa was talking to Osei,

“Am sorry last time I pushed you away a have now accepted the reality Ofori is dead.”

“Am sorry for that.”

“It’s ok he is long gone furthermore you are not the one who sentences him to death.”

Akyaa suddenly stopped before Osei looking joyful and said, “Let’s run away from the village.” Osei responded, “That is a good idea.” Akyaa pulled Osei away.

It was in the evening and Mayra with her book and pen was sitting on a rock enjoying the beautiful sunset. Ama appeared behind Mayra sat beside her and enjoyed the sunset. Ama asked, “What is the book for?” wanting to keep her book secret she responded,

“Nothing.”

“Here females are not taught to read.”

Mayra faced Ama and responded softly,

“Don’t worry I will teach you.”

“How was your day?”

“It was challenging because I thought you will be the one walking me around the village.”

Ama after handed over Mayra by her father she only show her around her father’s compound then because of her boyfriend that would be odd if she had gone with Mayra, she run away. She moved closer to Mayra's ear and whispered, “I was enjoying my day with my secret boyfriend.” Then Ama moved back faced the sunset and added, “You are a youth I know you do understand these things.”

At a distance, Chief Ashanti called Ama where, before she walked away she said to Mayra with a low tone voice, “Remember that is our secret,” then she walked to her father. Mayra responded by silently nodding her head.

Immediately Ama reached to her father who was standing with a serious look he asked her, “Where were you?” Ama reacted by quietly shying off where Chief Ashanti noticed. Chief Ashanti after seeing the delay of the answer he added “Am only concerned about you because there was another case that was found of a witchery which was followed by some killings. This community is no longer safe because the enemy is out of losing.” After the previous encounter with the craft, the community was no longer a safer place for the people, knowing that Ama was his only daughter he was not ready to lose her.

Ama facing the ground responded, “But father am a tough lady.” Rudely Chief Ashanti responded, “Ama I don’t want to hear any buts.” then Chief Ashanti entered his hut leaving Ama hanging, she turned to Mayra where Mayra quickly turned away where Ama noticed her. As they were talking she sneaked in to a daughter and father conversation.

Ama walked quickly to Mayra she had that self-possessive to her father and rudely asked’

“What are you looking at?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t enter in my family business.”

“By the way what he is telling you is true because I was the first witness.”

“Of what?”

“What your father just told you.”

This made Ama pause for some second looking confused. At first she did not believed what her father had said because he was used to create stories whenever he did not wanted her to be close to him. The darkness was falling and it was about to gate late. Ama said politely to Mayra, “We should get in now you know what's happening.” Mayra reacted by standing and followed Ama into the hut.

It was late in the evening and Akyaa and Osei were walking slowly as they were chatting. Osei was saying, “Do you remember the first time we meet?” after the long evening together they had catch up and forgot the other one mistakes. Akyaa laughed as she responded,

“All I remember is this polite nice guy.”

“I was humble five years ago.”

“I even thought to friend zone you at first.”

“I only wanted this thing to be special that’s why I was slow.”

“Slow! And within the first week, you started showing me how you all men are the same.”

“How same?”

Akyaa stopped beside her homestead gate where also, Osei stopped his journey facing her as if he was not contempt by the minimum time. He faced her direct in a seductive way where she smiled and responded, “You know what am talking about.” Then she gave him a soft nice lip kiss and softly said, “Now I have to say goodbye.”

Osei could not be satisfied with the peck, he moved closer to Akyaa and gave her a long kiss. As they were kissing Akyaa’s mother disrupted the good moment by shouting, “Akyaa!” in good luck she did not she could only see her daughter’s back. Being found by her mother in such situation it due would be judged as a fail in traditions norms that she preferred to be punished than the long conversation that her mother used to give her. She turned her mother quickly to play cool as he laid down and responded, “Yes mother.” He also had to play low because he did not want his lover to be in problems.

Akyaa’s mother shouted back, “Who is that with you?” She confidently responded, “No one mother,” as she moved into her home. When After laying to Saarabi that he was, moving in Saarabi walked into the hut where Akyaa rushed back to the gate. She was not contempt with the goodbyes.

Osei walked out of his hiding place while saying, “Phew that was close.” Akyaa without fearing the woman who walk at the pathway at night where they were known as gossip ladies, she moved closer to Osei to fell his warmth. After a moment of hug Osei backed off the hug and responded,

“Love I have to go will meet tomorrow.”

“It is still early.”

Akyaa gave Osei a soft kiss and said, “Love I don’t want to disappoint my mother.” The kiss was so warm to confuse him gazing smiling to her as she walked away.

To where Osei was standing facing Akyaa, he noticed a distance man was standing facing him. Quickly he responded by starting walking away quickly while facing back toward the man. The man still at the same position he faced him. After some few steps away, the strange man missed off Osei’s look. Suddenly before him, a bat flew to his face where he fell on the ground banged on a rock and fell unconscious.