Ini

𝕮𝖍𝖖𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕾𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖊𝖓

The morning sun blazed their skin as they reached Cross roads in the bush area. Only few people were seen on the streets, but most of them were present at the Market square meeting. Both Inioluwa and Ayo were surprised at how empty the streets were–even the market square meeting was eventually moved to the chief's house. The people were too afraid of the ojuju that crawled through the streets.

Inioluwa used her hand to shield her eyes from the sun, as she looked at both roads. She shut her eyes for a while, as she silently prayed for direction and the cold wind that came from one road told her something.

It told her that that way led to the river.

"This way." She stated, pointing at the left road as she was certain that it somehow led to Baba Ade. Ayo was totally confused, but he said nothing to counter her, as he had a feeling that she knew the way. He walked behind her, his hand hung on the straps of his bag.

"This place is hot ooo." Ayo lamented, after walking a few steps and Inioluwa found herself laughing. She stopped as she waited for him to catch up with her. When he got up to her, she said,

"I remember when I travelled to Kano to visit my uncle. All the little makeup I wore practically melted away." Ayo's shoulders shook with great laughter as they continued walking down that path.

The bushes rustled slightly and Ayo halted in his steps, his head turning from left to right as he wondered where that sound originated from. Inioluwa stopped too, when she realized that he was no longer walking with her.

Ayo heard the same rustling again and was able to spot out where exactly it came from. He walked a little closer and Inioluwa was still confused about his sudden movement, until she heard the same sound. Her eyes grew open when she heard a slight growl and Ayo backed up a few steps.

"Ayo, shut your eyes!" Inioluwa yelled, and the ojuju came into view immediately Ayo shut his eyes. It growled again and lunged at Ayo, who was still stationery with his eyes shut, but Inioluwa was quick to push it away from him. It scratched her arm, as she pressed its head against the sand filled road.

"Ini, what's going on?!" Ayo screamed, as he could hear the struggle on the ground and Inioluwa commanded that he doesn't open his eyes and that he should stay put.

It screamed under her, as she tried to crack its tiny head open. Her nose was scrunched up, as its scaly face irritated her. It looked somewhat like a lizard, with its four feet and long black tail, but its power was vested on his saliva. Anyone who caught sight of the ojuju or got spat on by it would go into deep sleep, except he or she were extremely lucky.

"I'm not afraid of you!" She screamed at it, as she stretched her head and grabbed any rock she could find. She raised her hand and smashed its head with the rock, it wailed in pain but still put up a fight. She smashed it, and smashed it over and over again, its black blood plastering over her face. Even when it was dead, her anger didn't let her stop. She disfigured its face with the rock, before she stopped. Her chest rising and falling in rapid breaths as she got up and stomped on the creature. But that time, Ayo had already opened his eyes.

He watched as she stomped on it, before pulling it by its tail and tossing it back into the bushes. Her hands were tightened into a fist as she recalled Mofe, and how he had gotten himself in that predicament. Her anger only grew, as she remembered how helpless and dead-looking he was.

"Are you okay?" Ayo asked, after a while, but she said nothing in response as she began to yell at one who always watches her–she yelled at Orisa Ife.

"Listen to me, I'm not afraid of you or your silly creatures. Do your worse, because I am tired of being afraid, I am tired of you taunting my family. Bring them all, and I'd bash their heads in. You're not all mighty, you're definitely not God. So go ahead, try your luck but you'd only end up six feet under."