The Darkest Hour - Season 1 - Episode 20

4 years ago

The Darkest Hour - Season 1 - Episode 20

**
THE NEXT THREE MARKET DAYS
Faith, Adaku, Monica and Udoka began the journey to Ndiogoro on foot. Meaning they had to cross several rivers. The road was narrow with grasses at a very close range in a way they flung on the legs of the girls. They were in their best attire. Any little time, Adaku would stop and practiced dance steps she will exhibit at the festival. She would shake her butt vigorously and tell stories on how she will win the heart of all the men at the festival. Other girls laughed. Sometimes, Faith would join her in dance while the twins watched them hilariously. However, they had crossed few rivers and got to a particular one. It has a bridge were Adaku and Faith began to dance again.

“Wait oh” Udoka looked into the river from the bridge. “How many rivers have we crossed?”

“Just few” Faith stopped dancing.
“Do we still have another one to cross?” asked Monica.

“No, this is the last” Adaku also stopped dancing. “Please, let’s hurry up” they began to walk.

The girls approached closer to Ndiogoro land. They could hear the sound of drums and flutes from a distant. As they hurried up, Monica saw a narrow road. She stopped and stared at it thereby making the other girls to stop.

“Monica, what’s it?” Udoka asked.
“Monica, Ongini?” Faith added.
“This road leads to where?” Monica asked still staring at the road.

“It leads to the Dark Forest of Ndiogoro. Strangers don’t enter there.
“I’m no stranger” Monica said then the girls looked at each other.

Continues..
The story of the Dark Forest of Ndiogoro land was known across many villages. Both young and old had never tried to over emphasize it’s crucial endowment. But many, all most all had no idea of it’s content except the belief that the forest is a resident of their ancestors and brings about progress and luck to the land. God revealed the secret about the unknown content of the land to late Mr Williams due to his kindness and faith in Christianity but was killed in his quest to know what the secret was all about. But was that why he was killed? Who killed him?

Adaku averted her eyes from Faith in amazement. She drew closer to Monica and stood before her. She looked into her eyes making sure she was in her right senses.
Already, Udoka was beginning to sense that Monica would reveal their identity as citizens of Ndiogoro instead of Eziukwu because it’s not only their father’s land but also where they were born.

“Monica, stop this nonsense!” shouted Udoka. She wanted to drag her away from the road but Adaku, being so dramatic stretched her hand in prevention.

“Both of you are always confusing me. What do you mean by you are no stranger of Ndiogoro land?” she asked looking at Monica.
However, Monica had gone out from the face of the physical to the spiritual as she stood on the road with her eyes closed: she found herself running into the dark forest. The more she ran, the darker the forest became..

When Adaku waited for a reply without getting it, she shook Monica’s body vigorously before she came back to physical.

“Are you dreaming?”
“Leave her alone!” Udoka retorted and finally dragged her sister out from the road.
“You girls should take it easy nah” Faith interfered. “Are you both from Ndiogoro land?”

“No, we are not” replied Udoka.
“Then why did your sister say that she’s no stranger of the land?” Adaku persisted.
“It was a slip of tongue” Monica spoke up. “Please, lets keep going” she led the way followed by her sister, Faith and Adaku.

**

Ndiogoro land was really blessed by God. Christianity was practised but yet the traditions of the land were never neglected or forgotten. One could see old buildings renovated with modern facilities. Some were storey buildings while some were fantastic bungalows, yet, it was regarded as a village. At the centre of the village were different traditional musicians in action; masquerad of all sort danced and pursued people around with brooms, canes and marchets especially the young women. The king and queen, chiefs and elders on red cap could be seen on executive chairs. They nodded their hands rhythmically to the beat of the music. Among them was chief Dike, a brother to late Mr Williams and uncle to the twins.

The four girls admired the beauty of the land when they approached closer. Though only the twins seemed more enthusiastic about it. They watched each building and wished their father was still alive. Reaching to the festival ground, a masquerad with two horns pursued them.

“Jesus!” Monica first took on her heels before others followed her. On the run, she fell down then screamed in a loud voice as the masquerad hurried to her. It seemed like a dream but it was real! Meanwhile, other girls had scattered around. Before the masquerad got to her, a young man blocked him with money as a way to prevent him from hurting young helpless Monica. He danced traditionally and threw the money in the air. With joy, the masquerad jumped up and danced along with him.
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