Death And The Village

One of them grabbed me and held me up. The man started chanting then stabbed my side. I fell to the ground, they killed Seyi and I couldn’t let them kill me without making them pay for her death. As he wanted to carry me up, I pulled out my stiletto and hit him in the eye. I hit the other man in the neck and ran into darkness.”

“Why didn’t they catch you? Why should I believe you? You might be Death’s agent like Saraki who murdered his wife and children in cold blood.” I said and pushed Tayo behind me till she was touching the wall behind me, far from her.

“If I was an agent, won’t I have killed you since? I hid behind different trees as I ran till I found you. Please, I want justice for Seyi. She didn’t deserve to die. I should have protected her. I should have…” she fell to her knees and buried her hands in her palms.

Death’s agent won’t cry like this. I put down the knife and put Tayo to sleep. I lifted Sola and led her to the parlor. I began to redress the wound. She stopped crying and just stared. Even when I was done, she didn’t look at me or say a word. I stared at her blood filled clothes and shook my head. I should have believed her. I went to the room, brought out Temi’s blouse and trousers and handed it to her.

She smiled amidst the tears and nodded her thanks. I backed her as she changed. Thinking she was through, I turned and caught her wearing her blouse. Aside her bleeding side, she had the most beautiful body. Something in me stirred; it had been a while since I had a woman in my arms.

“I am sorry about Seyi and for scaring you.” I said. She nodded and we both sat down.

“Death took my wife last year. She was a doctor” I smiled. “Her mom made us move down to this place, her hometown, so we could treat the villagers here. When her mom died, she was the only medic here. She taught me everything I know, so I could help her. And Death took her. She was a good soul and Death took her.” I buried my face in my hands.

She touched me and I looked at her. My tear filled eyes mirrored hers. Her gaze held mine; it was as though Temi was gazing into my eyes. I couldn’t look away.

“Why didn’t you leave this place?” her voice was barely a whisper.

“Death cursed anyone who stayed to never leave. Sesan tried to escape last month. Death killed him and his family, just like he killed my wife.” I said.

“Death didn’t take her! A monster in human form killed her, just like he killed my sister!” She said. Her gaze heated up the air a few degrees.

“If a human killed your sister, why didn’t you call the police if you saw a man?” I rose up. My voice boomed in the shanty house.

“No service!” she rose up too.

A piercing scream shook the house. Tayo! I ran to the room, Tayo wasn’t there. The only window in the room was shut and no one had come through the door.

“Tayo!” I searched every corner of the house. They had taken my baby. Death has finally taken my baby.

“Listen, they might have taken her to that shrine we saw.” Sola said and I grabbed her throat.

“Where is my daughter?! Where is she?!” Blood entered my eyes and my vision blurred. I could only hear her whimpers as her life faded.

“I…k..no..w..wher..e is. L..et m–” she started becoming limp.

“Let her go, she can help you save our daughter.” I blinked. She was here. I let go of Sola’s throat and she fell down, coughing and rubbing her throat. I fell to the floor. I felt her around me.

“We can save her.” Sola said in between coughs. I gazed at her and Temilade smiled at me through her eyes.

“How do we do that?” I asked, focusing on Temi’s ethereal face.

“I know where they took her to. Follow me.” She said and got up. I got up too. She led the way as we hurried out of the house and into the darkness. She stopped some metres from the house and held her side.

“Let’s walk slower.” I said. She waved me off.

“Do you kno–”

“This way” She started walking towards in the left direction, towards the evil forest. She stopped when she noticed I was not following her.

“Are you crazy?” I said. “That is the evil forest.”

“I am not letting that girl die.” She pulled me and we walked into the night.

We walked for a long time. My legs were growing tired but I couldn’t stop, wouldn’t stop. Trees beat us and several smells assailed our noses but Sola kept leading the way with an energy I couldn’t fathom. We entered deeper into the forest; the moonlight was barely visible through the thick trees. I was beginning to doubt her sanity when she suddenly stopped. I saw the small light in a distance. She crawled and I did the same. We crawled till we were close to some trees and were able to see the light.

“Can you see that?” she whispered. It was a small clearing.

There was a big tree in the middle and a red cloth was tied on its trunk. The Village Head was dancing around the tree and was chanting something. He was wearing the garment of skulls and one of his eyes was covered with a black cloth.

“That bastard! He came to my house yesterday. He bought the girl sweets for heaven’s sake. He is her uncle! And he is doing this.” I said and Sola looked at me wide-eyed.

“He is a monster. He killed his sister, your wife. He killed my sister and probably many women. He will pay.” She said. Her voice was low but I could hear the fire in it and I knew The Village Head would be the one to get burnt.

My Tayo was tied to the tree trunk. She seemed unconscious. What had he done to my baby? A middle aged man and a youth with a bandaged neck were there, chanting too. They stood next to her. Beasts! What had they done to my daughter? I got up but Sola pulled me down quickly and I crashed into the shrubs.

“Calm down” she said. “Don’t rush in there. They will charm you and kill you.”

“They would kill her. We have to do something.” I said. Every second counted, they could kill her like they killed Temi. Oh my God, how was I so blind?

“How did they enter my house without me knowing?” I asked.

“The other old man has a powder in his pocket. When he rubs it on his forehead, he disappears. He did it in front of us before they killed Seyi. He disappeared and brought something back; a golden staff.” She said.

“The staff of Afere, that is good. Very good” It was then I saw it. The staff rested on the tree beside Tayo. It was perfect.

“What is the staff of Afere?” Sola asked.

“It is staff of office of the Village Head. Without it, he has no link to the previous village heads and can’t perform any ritual or anything at all.” I said, as a smile curved my lips.

“Can’t they build another one?” Sola asked.

“They can’t. The staff of Afere contained all the spirits of past village heads and it is the staff of their gods.” I said. A plan began to form in my mind. I grabbed Sola and lifted her out of the bushes. Sola turned to me, eyes wide. Temi smiled at me.

“What are you doing?” She said and tried to break free.

“Village head, I found her lurking in the bush.” The bastard froze then smiled when he saw Sola.

“Please don’t do this.” Sola said and tried to run but I continued to drag her to the shrine.

“Take her and give me my daughter.” I said. The other men looked at me but didn’t move.

“Please don’t this!” Sola said.

“Sayo, how did you find us?” The Village Head said. One eye staring at me awkwardly, the other hidden by a black cloth. Sola wasn’t lying; she had actually buried her shoe in his eyes.

It was too late now, only she can save Tayo. The Village Head glanced at Sola and she winced. She looked at me, her eyes searching my face but I continued to stare at the Village Head’s bad eye.

“Doesn’t matter, give me my daughter and have your precious sacrifice.” I said as Sola dug her nails into my arm.

“Give us the girl and I will give you your daughter.” He said. Sola struggled and tried to bite me. I grabbed her by the throat and pulled her towards The Village Head.

The bandaged man grabbed her hair while the other man cut the rope that held Tayo. He gave me, Tayo and I almost wept. What have they done to my baby? The bandaged man slapped Sola hard and I winced.

“You will pay for my neck.” I heard him say as I walked away from her.

“You see Sayo, this stupid woman ruined the sacrifice. The other girl was supposed to cleanse the land so that we can start the festival but she ruined it. Now she will pay with her blood.” The Village Head said.

“By festival, you mean killing seven innocent souls.” I said and began to walk away.

“Their blood is needed so that I can live a thousand lifetimes. You are welcome to join us, let’s rule this village together.”” He laughed.

“No, thank you.” I said and kept walking away.

“You are family, come and enjoy your birthright.” He said. I stopped.

“Alright, my wife can’t die for nothing.” I said and dropped Tayo where we hid. I went to stand close to the Village Head and we began to chant together. The bandaged man brought out his knife and was about to plunge it into Sola when I grabbed the staff of Afere and hit him hard on the head. He fell down, unconscious.

The other man tried to grab me but Sola punched him on the face and kicked him in between the legs. The man groaned and fell to his knees. I hit him on the head and he fainted.

“What have you done?” The Village Head asked. His cry was the first to disturb the once silent night. He stood looking at each of us. He picked up a charm and was about to say something when Sola grabbed her second stiletto.

“What have you done?” The Village Head asked. His cry was the first to disturb the once silent night. He stood looking at each of us. He picked up a charm and was about to say something when Sola grabbed her second stiletto.

“This.” She stabbed his other eye with her stiletto and he screamed. He began to strangle air, cursing and looking for Sola. I hit him with the staff and he fell down.

I grabbed Sola hand and we ran. We picked up Tayo from the hiding place and we continued to run through the forest till we got home.

I placed Tayo on the floor and shook her. She didn’t move.

“Tayo!” I said but she didn’t answer. I shook violently and slapped her face but she didn’t open her eyes. My tears fell on her face but she didn’t move. “Tayo! Please open your eyes, daddy is here. I have got you.” I said but she didn’t move. Sola fell to my side and brought something close to Tayo’s nose. She began to cough and opened her eyes. I grabbed her and hug tightly.

“Thank you.” I said amidst tears and Sola smiled.

“It’s nothing. Just vinegar” She said. I pulled Sola in for a hug and kissed her forehead. We packed our little belongings, left the house and went to Sola’s car.

Behind the wheels, I glanced at Sola. We had left the village and were driving on the major road, leaving my past behind. The staff of Afere rested on floor, close to Tayo who was sleeping on the back seat.

“We defeated Death.” I said and Sola smiled. I glanced at Tayo; Temi patted her head and smiled.

“We really defeated Death” I heard her say

Edidiong Andy

Nigerian

I'm a writer, poet, content creator and Mental Health advocate. I'm known by my penname Eddie Levi. My works have been featured in online magazines and anthologies. I was shortlisted for Christlit hub competition. My first novella SHE (Death's Curse) has sold many copies and still selling. I have organized seminars on mental health and been part of several editorial boards including the magazine of Writers Space Africa, Lesotho. I'm a member of Earnest Writes Community and Writers Space Africa as well many other writing Communities and families.