Act Of Faith - Season 1 - Episode 31

Episode 4 years ago

Act Of Faith - Season 1 - Episode 31

• ” Morgana baby” I started as the call got connected, ” Hey Gabi, what do you want, I know you need help” She said, I wonder how she knew, yeah , I only called her Morgana baby when I needed help. ” I greatly need your assistance here in Atata” I told her squeezing my mouth and praying silently that she doesn’t turn me down. ” In what aspect?” She asked , ” Like in unravelling the serial killer stuff” I told her, ” Okay, I will be there in two days” she answered to much of my surprise. ” Yeah!! Thanks,Israel is also coming” I told her, ” Yeah let catch some fun ” She laughed and we ended the call. It was in the night of the same day, I had called israel earlier and he had willingly accepted to come the following day, his main reason was to see Adanna and not because of our self developed mission, I will have to keep Adanna from him. Now back to Alvana, he seems to know everything, firstly, my mark, and now he knows fighting in public is not good for the nature of my Job. Alvana is up to something, maybe he is hiding something, something I will soon find out.
•It was 12:00am, the time most people term midnight, I was all dressed in black, I also had a mask on. I had a secret mission to accomplish that night, a self mission. I wanna pay a visit to Eze Ani. I hid my gun in its normal place and my knives were also hidden in my jackets. I jumped out of my window and escaped out of my father’s compound to the night. I knew the shrine of Ani, I had come across it when I was much younger and I could still remember it vividly. I walked like a shadow, I couldn’t even hear my footsteps, I took guard in trees when I suspected any movement, I kept on looking behind to see if I was alone, I would sometimes turn abruptly and point my gun to no one in particular, the road to the shrine was more like a jungle, I sometimes had to jump obstacles to avoid falling, this was how I moved until I got to the shrine of Ani. I met the chief priest backing the shrine, he was reciting some incantations, something I couldn’t understand, the leaves were rustling vigorously, the trees seemed to be responding to his incantation as they shook both left and right. I thought I felt the presence of the gods as the cool breeze of the night swept through me, for once I felt scared of the night, everything seemed strange. I stood behind him but outside the shrine, he didn’t feel my presence nor even suspected anyone was around or behind him, he continued with his nonsense as he chatted more loud and laughed at some instance getting me more scared ” Eze Ani, the chief priest of Ani, I greet you” I said in a thick voice, he turned immediately to me. ” Hmm, who have you killed this night?” He asked looking directly at my face, I looked at myself again and realized I was dressed like the perfect picture of who Adanna had described to me that had attacked her, my dressing have certainly confused him.


Iwas shocked by his question, even if I had suspected he had something to do with the killings, I had secretly prayed it wasn’t true. ” Eze Ani, the chief priest of Ani, I greet you” I said again as I took off my mask. He looked closely at my face and then opened his mouth in shock. ” The son of the palm wine tapper” He called, more like a whisper. ” Yeah the son of the palm wine tapper” I answered laughing, “Eze Ani, I come in peace ” I walked into the shrine. ” Aru, Abomination, go take off your shoes ” He shouted but I laughed the more. ” The Abominations you have committed are more than this” I told him while he hit his iron staff in the ground to show he was angry. ” Eze Ani, I will go in peace only if you tell me what you have to do with the deaths going on in this land, I already know you are involved, so save yourself the chief priest of Ani” I brought out my gun. ” No man holding the talking pipe comes in peace” He countered, the talking pipe was what the people of Atata call a gun. ”

Thank God you recognize the talking pipe, dont force me to use it on you” I stood up facing him, he wasn’t looking scared. ” I think you don’t know in whom presence you are standing, I Am Eze Ani, the messenger of the gods of the skies and the sea, Ani , dont force me to strike you” He boasted hitting his iron staff on the floor again ” With the sort of abominations you have committed, I dont think Ani the great god will be willingly to protect you this time, Eze Ani, I will say again, I come in peace” I told him pointing the gun at him. ” Eze Ani doesn’t know peace” He shouted as he hit the staff on the ground again, this time more angrily. ” Fine then, a man who makes peace impossible, makes violence inevitable ” I cocked the gun, ” Eze Ani, you can save your self from the clutch of death, if only you tell me those responsible in punishing the people of Atata” I was more gentle this time. ” Eze Ani cannot be forced to speak what he doesn’t want to speak of” He laughed. Out of anger, I shot his leg, to much of his surprise , the bullet affected him and he fell down holding his bleeding legs. ” Eze Ani, I told you the gods have left you” I laughed while he looked at me in fear. ” Now will you tell me or allow me talk with the talking pipe?” I asked him as I bent low with a smile. ” Eze Ani isn’t a coward, I rather die like a man” He boasted. ” So be it then ” I released a bullet to his chest, he opened his eyes to look at me, ” Gabriel Omiyi!! The gods were right” He fell his final fall, Eze Ani dies. Immediately his back touched the ground the leaves shook vigorously, the earth shook, the thunders clapped, the clouds opened and the rain poured heavily, The priest of Ani is dead.


I turned back in fear and started the journey back home, the rain drenched me, the fear of the night gripped me, I thought I heard strange voices speaking to me like trying to say ” You have killed the messenger of Ani” although I knew they were mere illusions, but I was scared. I entered into the compound, no one was outside. I climbed in through my window and changed my cloth, I then slept like nothing had happened.


• ” Ewoo!!! the gods should take me also” the cry of my mother woke me up, I sprang up and took a glance at the time, it was 9:45am, I could hear people wailing and crying outside. I stood up and wore something, I then walked out to the compound only to meet people gathered in the compound, there was a body on the floor, the body was covered with white cloth. My mom was on the ground and my dad was just sitting shaking his head in pain and resting his hands on his walking stick. ” What is happening here?” I asked no one in particular and no one answered me. I turned to John and Charity who were also crying, ” What is going on here?” I asked John, he just pointed at the covered body. Someone was missing among them, it was Linda. With shaking hands and trembling lips, I opened the body and truly, it was Linda. I opened the remaining part of the cloth , and right there, on her waist side was the sword Mark. I could not cry, the tears refused to flow, I just sat on the floor in pain and anger, the Serial killer has visited me. It was like a sort of revenge, I killed the chief priest and he killed my sister. I walked to my dad who sat on a bench shaking his head, ” how did this happen?” I asked him, ” We met her like this on her bed” He replied and tears fell down his face. I didn’t know what else to do, I just stood in the middle of everyone with arms akimbo as memory of Linda flash back to me. ” Ogbakpo, when you grow up, will you have sense?” She had asked me once, when we were Much younger. I couldn’t hold it anymore as tears finally fell from my eyes. I regret ever going to the shrine the previous day, if I had been at home, I might just have been able to protect my sister, it was my fault. ” It happens” I heard a voice behind me, I turned and it was Alvana standing close to me, I didn’t notice he had come. Adanna who also present, she was busy consoling charity and John meanwhile she was also crying. ” Why my sister?” I asked him, I was now angry. ” It could have been anyone else” he patted me. ” But not anyone from my family. ” I shouted, ” No one ever wished it was from their family” He told me. ”


The rain at the middle of the night was a bad omen” He said, ” Yeah, it brought death upon my sister” I told him. “Maybe something worse than that might have happened” he looked at me straight in the eye, his stares were intimidating, it was like he had known what I had done. Suddenly, a young man ran into our compound ” The chief priest is dead!!!” He shouted as he ran into our compound, his news brought shock to everyone and the wailing increase, the mean present could be heard shouting ” Abomination, Aru!!” .” I knew it, I told you something worse had happened, the great Eze Ani is dead” Alvana told me. ”


That’s bad news ” I supported as I walked to where my sister’s body was being wrapped and prepared to be taken to the forest of Ani. The forest of Ani happens to be another mystery I have to solve, from my little findings, I have come to a conclusion that the bodies weren’t taken to the forest of Ani, they were rather transported to the city. Though I am not sure of this, but that seems like the possible happenings. There is only one way to find out, Visit the forest of Ani.


AS NARRATED BY MORGANA
I had initially planned to visit Atata the next day, but when Israel told me he would be leaving today, I decided to go with him. I think it will be safer if I go with him than go alone. We had to wake up as early as 4am, I was with a school bag containing all needed for a spy. We had to beg Christo, a worker in Newriton to drive us to the slow and steady bus park. The reason behind begging Christo was so that he could bring the bike back , I trusted him, so I believe he won’t tell anyone of our whereabout. There was only one bus in the park, on the body of the long bus was the inscription, SLOW AND STEADY. It looked more like a wooden bus, Gabriel had told me about it, I never believed him, but now, seeing is believing. Myself and Israel sat at the extreme back, I actually love the back seat, you can sleep peacefully at the back seat. Gabriel had also told me that, the slow and Steady bus do stop most times to drink water, I hope to see that today. ”


Wait, you mean there is no A.C in this bus?” Israel asked me, ” People in Atata dont know what A.C is” I replied as I la!d on his shoulder ready to cover for the short sleep I had the previous night.


The bus soon started and the journey began, as Gabriel had rightly said, the bus moved slowly, and Steadily. ♪ Hello my friend have you been, yesterday are back again ♪ the radio of the slow and steady bus echoed. ” Hey driver stop this song” A man just in front of us shouted and everyone turned to him. ” For the past two years that i have been travelling with this bus, this is the only song they have been playing, dont you have another music?” The man asked angrily while the rest of us bursted into laughter. The driver didn’t mind him as he nodded his head to the song.
°°

” Am really sorry” Adanna told me holding my hands and standing in front of me, Alvana was some distance away from us. ” its okay dear, am fine” I cleaned the tears off her eyes. ” Dont wipe my tears, you are also crying” She wiped my face. ” Its a pity it has to be my sister,..” She interrupted me ” She was my best friend, she do beat boys for me whenever they come..” Her voice broke and she bursted in tears, she rested her head on my chest as she cried ” Hey Adanna, its okay” I patted her head, ” Am sorry” she apologized as she lifted her head off my chest. ” Jason didn’t come to save her, he should have come” She continued while Alvana turned to us. ” Adanna, you shouldn’t blame Jason, you were only lucky he saved you” Alvana advanced towards us while I nodded, ” Yeah, Jason is human like us” I supported Alvana while Adanna nodded. ” Let me go and console the children, they are crying again” Adanna left us to Charity and John, who were like doing a crying competition. ” You need to be strong bro, Death is a must” Alvana patted me, though his words were strange. ” Thanks bro, thank you. Alvana, how did you know that the nature of my job doesn’t allow me to fight? Do you even know what I do?” I asked him, he smiled to reveal his complete sets of white teeth, ” Yeah, I know what you do” He told me, I was shocked but decided to hide it with a smile, “Adanna told me you work in a chemist, and at that, you know how dangerous fighting is and the damage it does to the body” He smiled while I nodded in relieve, ” Yeah, I was only moved to anger” I told him but he wasn’t looking at me anymore, he was looking beyond me. I turned back and traced his eyes to what he was looking at, the guards from the palace had come to take my sister to the forest of Ani. ” I won’t allow that” I walked towards them, Alvana followed. ” Drop her, I won’t allow you take her to that forest, she deserves a befitting burial” I shouted as I pushed one of the guards away, he fell down to the ground. ” Stay away young man” The chief guard shouted as he drew out his sword, I took a step closer to him but Alvana held me back, ” Let them take her” He smiled.

*

No, they can’t take her away” I released myself from his grip as I went towards the chief guard. ” She is my sister, my property, I decide what I do with her” I stood face to face with him. ” It’s a law that anyone killed by the gods should be thrown into the evil forest of Ani” He countered, ” Let the wrath of Ani, be upon me and my family” I shouted as I carried my sister’s body away from them, ” Abomination!! Aru!! All this city boys dont know what they bring upon themselves” An elderly man exclaimed as he stood up to go ” I won’t be a part of this Abominable act” he added, I wasn’t shaken by their words, I carried her body to a corner of the compound where I plan burying her. ” Oyinbo, what are you doing?” My dad was behind me, he had been following me all along. ” Dad, they can’t take her away” I countered as I watched the guards leave the compound angrily. ” Oyinbo, she is now a property of Ani” My dad continued, ” Let Ani come and take her itself” I walked away. The only elder remaining was Adanna’s father, iche mologwu. Its surprising why he hasn’t gone with the fellow elders. I walked over to where Adanna was with my siblings, ” Am proud of you” She told me as I sent John and charity inside. ” Why is your dad still here, I thought he was a good custodian of the laws of the land?” I asked her, ” He knows it isn’t the gods killing the people, I told him about my experience at the stream that night” she answered trying to force out a smile to cover the tears that was already forming in her eyes. ”

You know Gabriel, you shouldn’t be challenging the gods” I heard Alvana’s voice from behind, ” I won’t let them take my sister” I stood up to face him. ” okay , I will be going now, I need to get to the farm ” He said while I nodded and shook his hands. ” Thanks for coming” I told” him as I escorted him to the entrance of my compound. ” Adanna, don’t you think you should start going home?” I asked as I returned to her, ” That’s my house over there, I can’t stay till when I like and are you in any way trying to chase me away?” She tried smiling, ” No, I just thought you should go fetch water and help your mom with the house chores” I suggested, ” But my mom is still here, dont worry we aren’t in a haste” She countered and walked towards Charity who was sitting in front of my parents hut, her hands were placed on her cheek, she was about to cry again. I saw Adanna carry her up and placed her on her laps, she started petting her.


” Hello” I said as i picked up my phone , it was israel on the line. ” Hey Gabi, can you believe this is the 6th time the slow and steady bus is stopping to drink water today?” Came his angry voice, ” I can’t believe it ” I simply replied. ” Hey, why the moody voice?” He asked, ” I lost my sister” I answered, ” My God, Faith, Linda or Charity?please tell me you are just pranking me” His voice was now also moody. ” Linda, the fighter” I replied him as I forced tears from dropping from my eyes, ” Gabi, am sorry about that, how did she die?” He asked, ” The Serial killer” the tears finally dropped. ” Then he should also be ready to pay with his life” Israel’s Voice echoed, it wasn’t his normal voice, that was how he do talk whenever he gets angry. ” He will surely pay, he will” I supported and ended the call. Not less than five minutes, Morgana call came in ” I heard the news bro, am sorry, take hearth you are a man” She started without even greetings, Israel might have called her to tell her. ” Thanks Morgana, I should be expecting you tomorrow ” I told her, ” No, am coming today, am in the same bus as israel” She explained while I smiled, ” Okay then, will pick you at the park” I told her. ” Dont worry, the killer will pay” She assured before putting an end to the call. I kept the phone In my pocket and went to get a shovel, a shovel to dig Linda’s grave. I started the digging alone, my father and Adanna’s were in a corner of the house discussing and some women were with my mom consoling her. ”


How should I help?” I heard Adanna from behind, “You have helped me enough, just go and rest” I replied. ” No, I have…..” The beating of the town criers gong interrupted her. ”