Chapter 11
In the morning the sun had already rose. Osei was unconsciously tied to a pole in the woods. Suddenly a man using a bow splashed water to him where he woke up to face two men who were before him. He tried to pull off but the rope were too strong for him to cut off.
Osei facing the men said, “Get me out of here,” where the men looked at him silently. After he was responded by silence he added with authoritative, “When I get out of here you will both pay for this.” He was rude but the men knew that he could not walk out off their hands without their consent. This made them sure that he cannot run away from them and they giggled at him silently.
Suddenly from Osei’s back, Owusu (his father) walked in front of him. Highly the reason for his kidnap would be because his father is rich who could pay a good amount of ransom money but to him it was confusing that it was his own father the head of the kidnap. Osei astonish asked his father,
“Father what’s wrong?”
“Son I love you but justice is the true way.”
“Father, what are you talking about?”
“Son whatever happens just know that I love.”
“Father get me out of here so we talk.”
“I cannot.”
Owusu turned to the sit and walked to them while Osei shouted, “Father what I have done?” Owusu like a man with no heart towards his son, he went sat on the sit and silently looked at Osei who was some few distances before him. Slowly the others elders walked to the other sit one by one until it was when Chief Ashanti was the only person missing. This was a sure that Osei had committed a crime that it was deadly that he was on the spot before all the elders.
Everybody silently faced Osei as he angrily faced them with no word. In his eyes, he did not know what the reason he was there was but the innocent face those are good in deceiving the most. After some moment, Chief Ashanti walked to the congregation stopped before Owusu and asked him with a low tone, “What is this?” Owusu stood and directed Chief Ashanti a meter away from the congregation.
Owusu then responded with a low tone,
“He is our first suspect.”
“Who brought him here?”
“Am the one.”
“Owusu don’t you remember we did the first mistake by a foolish suspect.”
“But I have clear evidence on this.”
“But what kind of a father are you?”
“Chief Ashanti is he is guilty I won’t say a word against his punishment.”
Chief Ashanti he believed in justice but it was painful if a father give out his only son, some time you stand with your blood in rain and drought. He was pissed off with the case where he faced the other clan of elders and said, “Disperse all of you now,” then faced the two men that were standing beside Osei and said, “Get him out of there.”
After the words, Chief Ashanti left leaving Owusu standing there watching Osei. Owusu stood there until Osei was fully untied where he walked away silently. Osei knelt on the ground lonely as everybody else walked away. He was wordless if his only hope can turn against him.
Immediately Ama walked and sat beside Osei who was angry kneeling on the ground. This meeting was supposed to be secret but to Ama things like this would not be secrets because they were conducted in there compound. They were best friends at young age where they were thought to marry each other when they grow up but being grown up it opens somebody to somethings new but still there was a spark friendship in them.
She rubbed Osei’s back to comfort him; it was odd in the situation because everybody was watching which would lead them to over think. He faced her and tried to hide his weakness by jumping off the topic by saying, “Don’t you see it looks awkward!” Ama giggled and responded,
“You look more handsome when you are angry.”
“Say what brought you here?”
“I came to check on you, my brother.”
“Last time I checked we do not shear a father or a mother.”
After some chats, Osei faced down and started wiping dust off his body wanting to go where he cut the chat by saying, “Ama I now need some own time to think so can you please go.” She placed her hand on Osei’s shoulder to stop him and said,
“Before I go I have something to tell you.”
“What’s that important?”
“I wanted to tell you that Akyaa loves you.”
“I know that.”
“I know we haven’t talk for a while but what you both did was not right.”
Osei noting having a clue what she is talking about, he curiously faced her and asked, “What do you mean?” Before she responded, she noticed at a distance Akyaa was rushing to where they were. Forgetting his last words, she said facing Akyaa, “Here comes your angel.” Where Osei also faced Akyaa as she was moving towards them.
News in the community speed so quick where it reached to Akyaa who was willing to do anything to her lover. Immediately she reached where both Ama and Osei were sitting. She assumed Ama faced Osei and helped him to wipe off dust. She was not social to Ama because of her high class where Ama was not social to her to. Akyaa asked her lover,
“What happened to you?”
“Some little mistake is the reason am here.”
“Sorry, my love for that.”
Osei smiled to Akyaa to pretend everything was cool and asked her, “And how are you love?” Akyaa before responding she first faced Ama deeply wanted her to leave so that they can have space with Osei. This is usually odd moment being a third wilier but Ama did not feel odd in the scene where she continued looking at the lovebirds. Akyaa then faced back at Osei and responded, “You are the one am supposed to ask you that question.” Osei gently held Akyaa’s cheek and said while smiling, “Love when you are fine I am also fine.”
Akyaa reacted by giving Osei a soft light kiss to his lips and said,
“I know you are laying now but it’s ok you will be fine.”
“I just cannot believe my father is the cause of all this.”
“What were they accusing you of?”
“It all about witchcraft, my father is convinced am the witch. I wish I would have stayed quiet about Ofori.”
“Stop blaming yourself Ofori is long gone and it was a wrong accusation to kill him.”
“I know and that’s why I will never forgive myself.”
Ama had rumors of Osei betraying his friend but it was not clear so all along, she had it on her heart but after listening to the lovebirds’ conversation, she had a clear statement of the betrayal where she broke their conversation by asking, “Ooh so it is true that you snitched your friend?” Akyaa turned to her protecting her boyfriend she rudely responded, “Can you please mind your own business.” Then Akyaa turned back to Osei and added, “Don’t worry I have forgiven you.”
Something crossed Osei’s mind where he suddenly stood faced Akyaa he said, “I am sorry but I have to go somewhere important.” Akyaa reacted by nodding her head as Osei rushed away.
Osei walked away leaving Akyaa and Ama silent, they had never talk or have a thing in common. Ama she was a talkative lady and social, she broke the silence by saying, “it is already a week since Ofori was sentenced to death and it seems people are forgetting him.” Akyaa faced Ama and said,
“Ama I respect you because you’re the daughter to Chief Ashanti but please don’t talk that about Ofori.”
“Stop acting as if you were a guardian angel to him and you were the cause of all his pain.”
“Who are you to talk about Ofori and you never knew his face.”
“I talked to him after your fathers ruthlessly punch him because of you, where I saw he was worth more than you saw him as.”
“I knew him since he was five I knew his dark side and his bride side his weakness and his strength.”
After the words, Akyaa stood and walked away looking angry. After she made some few steps away, Ama rose and shouted to her, “So you knew the love that he needed from you.” Akyaa knowing what she was talking about assumed and continued moving away.
On the other side, Osei went running and entered his hut quickly. Immediately he closed the door and sprung to the furthest corner of his room where there it was loaded with many things. Due to the congestion of many things at the corner, he took some time looking for a dagger that he previously hide their.
During the afternoon and Opokuaa the mother of Ofori was swiping the compound. Then suddenly Serwa walked behind her and said, “Mother!” she stopped faced Serwa her daughter and Serwa added, “Mother I have something to tell you.” Opokuaa not taking it serious she lightly asked, “What’s wrong my daughter?”
“They found Ofori innocent and they have sent their apologies.”
Opokuaa suddenly lose strength where she reacted by dropping down the broom and sat on the ground. Serwa sat beside her mother home responded, “I knew my son was innocent but he is already gone never coming back.” Serwa to comfort her mother she placed her hand gently on her mother and said, “At least now they have that guilt.”
Opokuaa turned to face Serwa as she was crying and responded,
“Will guilt bring back my son?”
“Be strong mother we need you.”
“I will rest the day I will see those who killed my son will be judged.”
Serwa stood faced her mother and said, “Mother there is somewhere I need to.” Opokuaa still as she was sitting on the ground she responded, “Ok but before you go can you please turn on the fire in the kitchen.”
Serwa went behind the kitchen where they used to keep firewood. As she was arranging the firewood aside, she heard some movement in a nearby bush where he paused to face the bush. The bush shook in a curious way, Serwa slowly walked to the bush in a curiosity wanting to know what was behind the bush.
As she closely moved towards the bush she noticed a bat where she pauses looking at it curiously. Then the bat flew around Serwa for some time, as she paused astonish looking at it. Suddenly it landed on her shoulder that made she spring back and fell on the ground. As she was lying on the ground she watched the bat flying away.