Esosa

ESOSA: The War

'Mother where are we going? Where's is papa?' Looking at my mother in the eyes I knew something was wrong but my little mind couldn't think of anything. My feet was hurting because we have been walking fast through the bushes as if we were being pursed by an assassin. I heard Cry's and shouts and people screaming for their lives,everywhere was dark I couldn't see a thing
My only support was my mother, fear gripped my heart I hoped it wasn't one of those stories Ma'iso used to tell us when I go to the stream with her. I hope papa would be fine.
At last, we came out from the bushes and I saw people lying lifeless on the sand. Mother carried me up and hurried to the canoe. Before she got to the canoe, we were all surrendered by four armed men with blood stains on their faces. My mother dropped me down and immediately drew out her own sword. 'What is going on?' I said in my head. I could see fury written on their faces. They came one after the other attacking my mother. She wasn't skilled enough, they out wined her and almost killed her.
I ran to hold my mother, and begged with tears in my eyes, Sirs, please spare us!
They looked down at me in the eye,
Fear rained down upon me like July's rain. I knew I will eventually die, I prayed for a miracle. One of them with hairy armpits raised his sword........ Suddenly, I was woken with a tap . it was just a dream! I saw my mother standing in front of me with a smile across her cheeks,'Sosa, don't tell me you still have nightmares at day time?' I replied, 'No mother, your presence woke me up' I was scared to tell her what I dreamt, I didn't want to go to the priestess hut again,at least not today.
'Rise up child and eat your food before your stomach begins to wage war with you' she said while smiling at me. 'No mother, my stomach can't do that I control my stomach' I said this while tapping my stomach.
She laughed for she knew I didn't understood what she meant.
'I'm home', said papa as he dropped his traps in front of the hut and came in and kissed mother. 'Ahhh, why do y'all have to this in front of me? Alright I'm going to play'. my parents laughed and my mum said ,'you better come home early or you will miss dinner'

I ran to the nearest hut and I saw my age mates and decided to play. We played and spoke about many things. Isoken, told us about the dream she had which was similar to mine. We were all sacred. And prayed it didn't happen. That night I decided to speak up. Maybe, it was too late.

While sitting on the mat made by my grandmother, I stared into the burning light; thinking of how I will break it down for my mother to understand. I hoped she listens.
Papa came into the hut and stared at me, 'Esosa, you are as beautiful as your mother' he said this, while trying to place his gun at the corner of the room. I giggled and said,'papa I took mostly from you'. Mother came in to join us and as we were all eating and laughing, we heard noises and people screaming for help.
I was frightened, I hoped it wasn't what I dreamt that afternoon.

Iohen, my mother's sister came, rushing into our huts with her face filled with fear. She spoke in so much hurry,'Osaze, the kingdom is on fire. We have been ambushed,the king is dead! And they are killing the rest of us we need  to vacate from here now!' My heart started pounding,'this is it, it's happening' I looked at my father and my mother , they both carried their swords.  I panicked.
We all ran out of  the hut ,trying to escape to the next village.
We came out, huts were on fire, people were fighting, men were killed and their blood flowed like  stream of water.
The moon turned red as if it was soaked in  blood .                             I hoped this was another dream.
Father was caught up with two armed  men with masks on their faces. I wanted to help him out but what possibly could I do. I looked at mother, she too was also scared. Father gave her a signal to run away with me while he distracted the armed men.

She held me by the hand and ran into the bushes, I was still looking back at father while he fought with those two men until everywhere was covered with bushes.
Oh I heard a lot of noises
Drums beating heavily,
Cry's and shouts from the villagers and children. I wept silently, because I knew it was my fault. I hated myself.

We couldn't make it out of the kingdom. It was a well planned coup by the Esian kingdom. We were tied up like criminals into the garbage truck. I couldn't hold back my tears. I was scared.