The room

~ MILES' POV ~

"Nnamdi!" My mother banged on the door, wailing uncontrollably.

That was the first time I had ever heard her call my father by his name.

"Nnamdi don't do this to me! Please!"

Despite her cries, my father didn't budge instead, his heart hardened with his mind set only on one thing - to punish me.

He had make sure to lock the door of "the room" and no matter how many hours my mum was going to shout or cry, he wasn't going to listen to her. Not even if heaven was going to come down today.

"Nkem! Don't do me like this...I beg of you. Á nà mụ ayé gi nà aha Chineke!" She continued banging her fists on the door while the pitch of her cries increased.

My father moved to crossed his hands behind his back and took gentle strides to stand in front of me. I was on my knees, my head bowed down, and bare chested.

"Since the day you were born, I had my fear, my doubts, and insecurities too," He began. "What kind of a child is this? I asked myself. As you grew older, many things were unveiled to your mother and I. We came to understand you and were willing to do all that we could to protect you and keep you safe. Maybe God had a reason for giving such a child to us, I thought again."

"Dad it's-"

But I was cut short immediately.

"I am not done talking!" He thundered. Today was the very first day, I had witnessed anger eat up my dad faster than mucous could to stale bread.

He continued.

"Miles, this is not the 1st time nor the 2nd time or even the 3rd time that I have made my warnings clear to you. All your life, I have been laying do's and don't's. I have given you warnings yet your disobedient self never paid heed to my words. A word is enough for the wise, they say. But I...I have uttered more than a million words to you yet! Yet Miles, Yet! You proved to be lesser than a fool! What were you thinking?"

"Dad, she needed help. Something I could do for her," I blurted out and raised my head.

"She?" My dad squinted his eyes. He paused for a moment as though trying to process the information I had just given him.

Then, a chuckle escaped him then he walked over to a corner.

"Who is this she?" He asked, stressing "she."

I looked sideways and cursed inwardly.

"She's someone...I saw her dream and it...it was sad. She wasn't happy and wanted to take her life and...I thought I could help. I knew I could help so I did. You may have warned me, dad but I feel like this is the most I have ever made good use of my powers for," I said.

Another chuckle escaped him. His hand suddenly pulled out a whip from the corner in which he stood. It was a whip that every Nigerian child dreaded more than the infamous "cane."

This whip was the one known as koboko.

He brandished it and took similar gentle strides back to where I knelt.

"And you felt your decision was far greater than all my warnings," He raised both eyebrows with widened eyes.

"It's not like that. I was just..." The words came out subconsciously. "I just felt pity...for the first time. It's so complicated."

"Oh so you felt pity and what do you want me to do?" He poked his head forward in disbelief. "I should clap for you. Oh yes, my foolish son has finally come to feel pity. Just wow, Miles!"

I remained silent.

Dad never really bothered much about me. All he was bothered about were my powers - How I used them, when I used them, and why I used them. He was always watching out for the rose tattoos on my back and now that a seventh one appeared...

I didn't even understand him any longer. He had the same mentality as his family did towards me yet he acted like he cared for me.

Now, he was punishing me for doing something right just because he felt insecure? What was his reason?

"Now tell me, how do you plan to save yourself? How do you plan to get rid of that seventh tattoo? How do you plan to make an appeal or even do something at all? How Miles?"

A strong lash of the whip went across my back and I pursed my lips in pain.

What would he get out of punishing me like this despite knowing how it was all going to end?

"Say something!" He barked at me and another lash came upon me.

I slightly winced in pain.

"I have nothing to say," was all I said.

It was as if my response doubled his anger level and he started whipping me without a pause. My back hurt and I could feel the tension in my muscles increase.

I bit my lips while doing all I could not to let out a sound of pain. I couldn't afford to see my mum hurt because of me.

"Nnamdi o!" My mum continued crying, her voice already cracked. "Nnamdi has killed me o! Chimo. Nnamdi I say open this door now!"

Despite that the sound of the whip coming in contact with my flesh resounded.

*.*.*.

~ TILDA'S POV ~

"Alright. Give me another fantastic pose," The photographer spoke while aiming for another shot.

Every one of us hurriedly switched to a different pose. However, I was a little sluggish.

I did not want to be a participant of this but Miriam and Kiki had done so well to convince me.

"Perfect. Another one," The photographer smiled after getting a right shot.

We switched to different poses once again.

"Hey fine girl. Adjust your arm a little," The photographer called out to me.

Reluctantly and with a roll of my eyes, I did as he was told.

Today was Mum and Richard's wedding anniversary and the first thing on our list... well, on their list was to take a family photoshoot.

My mum and Richard were dressed in traditional yoruba lace attire while Sharon and I were dressed like girls of nature.

We both wore knee-length flowing white dresses and our natural hair were styled into afros, adorned with beautiful flowers.

"And the last one."

Finally...

The last picture was taken and we moved out of the studio to the room were the printed pictures were handed over to Richard.

"See how beautiful I look!" Sharon pouted her lips as she took photos in the car that drove the two of us back home.

There was another car in front of ours that drove Mum and Richard.

I rolled my eyes and opened my phone, anticipating a text from Miles. I hadn't heard from him since yesterday and I was starting to get worried.

Even though I was used to him waltzing in and out of my presence, this time it didn't feel like everything was alright.

"Girl you go killi pesin abeg e o. Beg e o. Beg e oooo. Girl, I'm in love with your booty bounce," Sharon sang alongside Rema's song, "Bounce" while making a video of herself. "Eeeeeeh! Fine girls on top!"

I could only sneer at how much of a nuisance she could be.

I couldn't even wish to go home at that moment because the true dread of the day would be at home. They were hosting a house party for their anniversary.

God, will I die today?

I cried inside of me.