Smith told me to prepare because he was taking me to somewhere. He invited his younger sister to come and take care of the baby while we were away.

We finally arrived at our destination. The native doctor used a sharp object to pierce one of my fingers and I cried out in pain. Blood rushed out and he told Smith to lick the blood and he obeyed.

Afterwards, he pierced Smith’s finger too and told me to lick the blood. I did as he said. He made some incantations. Then he told us.

“Both of you have become one flesh in the spirit. You are not permitted to betray each other. Another is that anyone that decides to opt out of this marriage will die. It is for better for worse.”

On our way going home, Smith told me that he made us to take the oath because of the love he had for me. I kept wondering what he meant by the love he had for me. I knew that he never loved me. I was the one that forced myself on him.

Few months after we visited the native doctor. I became pregnant. I was not happy for two reasons. The first was that Smith was still maltreating me. Secondly, my first baby was still tender. I refused to tell Smith that I was pregnant. I didn’t know how he found out.

“Linda, why did you refuse to tell me that you are pregnant? Is it that you not aware or you are deliberately hiding it from me?”

I was afraid to tell him the truth because it will earn me a beating. I decided to tell him lies.

” Smith, I can’t hide things from my husband. I wanted to be very sure before I tell you.”

“It’s alright, I want to confirm to you, that you are pregnant. But you cannot keep it. Bob is still small I don’t want anything that will affect him negatively.”

“Smith no’ I will keep my baby,” I protested

I have not completed the statement when I received a deafening slap at the left side of my cheek. More followed consecutively and everywhere turned black.

Smith ran to the room and brought a black liquid which he forced into my mouth. I didn’t have strength to resist him.

“Is it the same black liquid that he used to abort my pregnancy?” Nnenna asked.

“Exactly. I nearly died in the process but God saved me. Afterwards, I summoned courage and asked him why he forcefully aborted my baby,”

“Linda we are in this together so there is nothing to hide from you. I belong to a secret cult. You are the one that pushed me into it, so you have to bear the consequence. Sacrifices are required or else, I will lose my life. I had to use the baby in your womb. In the process your womb has gone too.” He informed me.

I gasped in horror.

“Ha! My suspicion has been confirmed. So truly I cannot bear a child of my own” Nnenna started wailing and Mrs. Smith started comforting her.”

“I’m so sorry. I caused everything. If I had waited on God’s time, this wouldn’t have happened. I’m sorry for all the pain that I have caused. Though, I remained the worst hit. The only thing that Smith needed me for was the sacrifice he used my baby and womb for. Since then till now, he never touched me. I’m just there because of the oath and my son.”

“I knew that your husband mistreats you but I never knew it is as deep as what you just narrated” Nnenna told her.

” My dear, I am passing through hell in that home. When people see me out there with designer’s cloth and big cars, they wished to be like me. But they don’t know what I am passing through. If I have removed my eyes from my friend’s husband, another man would have come to marry me. Even if I didn’t marry till now, my life will be better than what it is.”

“But is there no way out?” Nnenna asked.

“The only way out is dead. But I’m not even afraid to die. My only challenge is my son; Bob. Please wherever you go, don’t forget Bob. You are the sister that Bob never had,” she broke down in tears.

“It’s okay ma. Stop crying. I will not forget Bob, Nnenna promised.

Mrs. Smith later dropped Nnenna off at her friend’s house and went home.

When she got home, and parked her car, she heard her husband’s voice shouting. She had to run inside to know what was going on.

“Linda, warn this girl. Give her serious warning not to joke with me. If she tries it, I will deal with her.” Mr. Smith threatened. Afterwards, he stormed out of the sitting room.

“Joyce, what is the matter?” Mrs. Smith asked.

Joyce refused to talk to her.

“Joyce, are you not the one I am asking questions?”

“Ma, I am not ready to answer your question and you cannot force me to,” Joyce said firmly.

“Joyce, do you realize that I am the one you are talking to?” Mrs. Smith asked her.

“Yes and I don’t care. You are the one that tricked me and put me in this condition.”

“How did I trick you? Are you not the one that walked into this compound to seek for a job. You even lied that Nnenna is your friend because you needed a job.”

Kate came out to join them in the sitting room

“Ma please, go inside and relax I will talk to her,” Kate told Mrs. Smith. Thereafter, she held Joyce’s hand and led her to the room.

“Joyce, what exactly is the colour of your problem?” Kate asked her.

“I don’t understand what you mean by colour of my problem,” Joyce snapped angrily at her.

“You are the one that came here in search of a job. No one cajoled you into doing it. Why are you giving everyone stress?”

“Aunty Kate, are you trying to say that what oga and madam are doing is okay?”

“I never said so. All I said was that you made the choice to be here. Nnenna came here because of her mother’s sickness. I am here because my uncle sold me into slavery. It was not our fault, yet we accepted our fate. You were warned but you refused to listen why will you be giving us stress?”

“I can’t do what they want me to do. It’s over my dead body,” Joyce vowed.

“Really? I will give you a candid advice. Be careful of the man you a dealing with. He will kill you? One person that he does not play with in this life is Bob, his son. If he can turn Bob to what we are seeing today, he will not blink his eyes before killing you.”

*******,
Meanwhile, in Joyce’s village the mother was getting ready for a party. Her husband’s brother; Mr. Julius heard the rumour about the party but felt that it was false. Later he decided confront her about it. She sent for her but she refused to honour his invitation. After waiting for a while, he decided to go and meet her.

“Juliana, I sent for you but ignored me why did you do that?”

“Why would I not ignore you. Let me tell you. This is not the Juliana you used to know. Level has changed. My daughter has made me a millionaire. So, if you want to see me, you come to my house,” she boasted.

“What I’m I hearing about celebration of birthday. Is it true?”

“Yes, your informant is right. Juliana want to celebrate birthday. It is not my fault. It is my God that blessed me. Anybody that is not happy about it is free to go and hug electricity transformer.”

“You are a foolish woman. If you are wise, you will not be doing what you are doing. Your daughter brought money home, you didn’t care how the money came about, and you are busy making noise. Another is that instead of you to plan how to make judicious use of the money, you want to lavish it on birthday party. Ha! My brother never had a wife.”

“You opened your mouth and called me a foolish woman. I will show you what a foolish woman can do,” she threatened.