10. Reality

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The Anosike Compound.

The loud wailing of the woman from the room hit the man so hard in the chest that he felt like he could get a heart attack. He peeked inside from the window and saw her still lying beside her daughter who was still on the bed, asleep, or perhaps, dead.

“Anosike,” one of the men standing with him called. “Won't you go in and console your wife? You know you're not supposed to leave her alone in such a state.” The man said, and he sighed, folding his arms around his chest.

“Let him be. The women are there to console her.” Another man said. And they all went silent. Each one of them thought of what could be done to revive their friend's daughter from her deep sleep.

“Chai… how can someone be asleep for as long as 24 hours? This is almost midnight.” The first man who had spoken lamented.

“This has never happened before. Never!” Another said.

Mr. Anosike, who was listening to everything they were saying, couldn't speak. All he could do was think and endure the pain. At this point, he was supposed to be dipping his chaplet inside water, and praying. But he couldn't do it. Not when the incident had only weakened him.

“Belinda o!” They heard the woman's loud wail, and everyone rushed inside the room. Mr. Anosike didn't. All he did was peek through the window again. And there, he saw his wife on his daughter's leg, her hands on her head while she wept. The other woman tried to console her, but it was all to no avail.

And he turned to his daughter. She was still the same way she had been since morning, when everyone in the family had woken up. They would have declared her dead, but she was still breathing. Yet, she had not woken up.

What could he describe such a thing as?

Nkposhiri forest.

“What do you mean, save me by teaching me a lesson? How can you do both? And what the hell are you talking about, old woman? I do not get all of this, nor do I want to get it. All I want is for you to help me get to the shrine. But if you don't want to, let me go, please.” I begged, feeling so tense all of a sudden. I could feel myself sweating in a place where the cool breeze kissed my body.

“Oh dear, but I'm not holding you.” She said, bringing back that smile of hers that irked me. Yet, she was right. She wasn't holding me. And at the thought of that, I began to walk straight ahead, even though I didn't know the way to my destination.

“Whomever it is you're hoping to meet at the shrine is standing right here in front of you.” I suddenly heard her voice so close to my ears, sending me a chilly feeling. Immediately, I turned, and she was right in front of me, so close.

“Jesus!” I fell back to the ground. And suddenly, she burst into loud laughter that echoed right there in the forest.

“Haven't you ever thought that all these could be a dream?” She asked, but I couldn't respond. I was still recovering from shock.

“Listen to me, little one. This journey you ventured on, will save you from a greater pain in the future, and will also teach you a lesson if you do not heed to what I'll reveal to you.” She said,

I tried to stand up, but her loud voice said… “Sit down” was like a command, and I suddenly obeyed in fear.
   
“Your husband was killed by his cousin, his uncle's eldest son.” She dropped, and I froze.

“What? I thought…”

“Oh no, you thought wrong. His uncle is completely innocent. Of course, he wanted the land too, but after begging your husband for ten years, and he refused, he gave up and decided to purchase land somewhere else. Little did he know that his son wasn't ready to back down. The accident that killed your husband was orchestrated by him, with his mother.” She said,

Listening to everything, I couldn't breathe. I found myself feeling restless all of a sudden at the same time sweating profusely. How on earth could people be so wicked? That little piece of thrash, Simon, could do this? Oh, God. Who would have thought?

While I thought about all these, I could feel my insides boiling with rage already. I was really going to kill him once I got out of here alive.

I got up immediately.

“There's nothing you can do because this is all a dream.” She broke out.

“Excuse me?”

“Once you awake from your sleep, you have two options; either you go ahead and repeat the mistake, or you take another step to a different life.” She said, but before I could open my mouth and ask, she disappeared.

Where did she suddenly go? I stood there staring at the forest on confusion. I didn't totally understand her words. What was she saying?

I was scared of roaming the whole forest alone, so I just sat on the floor. And all of a sudden, I began to feel drowsy, until I fell to the ground, eyes shut.

Hellooo... 🤭
Just a chapter to go and we're done.

What do you think will happen in the next chapter?

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