Episode 8 | The Test She Never Knew She Took
253 Words
Ibukun had learned early that silence was safer than questions.
She woke before dawn that morning, as she always did, slipping quietly from the thin mattress she shared with her younger sister in the servants’ quarters. The sky outside was still dark, the air heavy with the promise of rain. She tied her scarf neatly, washed her face, and whispered a short prayer before stepping into the main house.
“God, please,” she murmured, “let today be peaceful.”
Peace, however, was not on Agnes Jones agenda.
By mid-morning, Agnes sat in the living room, her tablet balanced elegantly on her lap, a cup of herbal tea cooling beside her. She watched Ibukun pass by twice—once carrying folded laundry, the second time sweeping the hallway—before she spoke.
“Ibukun.”
Ibukun stopped immediately. “Yes, ma?”
“Come.”
Ibukun wiped her hands on her apron and approached, head bowed respectfully.
“You are how old now?” Agnes asked.
“Twenty-two, ma.”
Agnes nodded slowly. “And you attend church regularly?”
“Yes, ma.”
“Any boyfriends?”
Ibukun’s cheeks warmed. “No, ma.”
Agnes studied her carefully, as if examining a piece of fabric for flaws.
“And you’re… untouched?” she asked calmly.
Ibukun froze.
“Yes, ma,” she whispered, barely audible.
Agnes leaned back, satisfied.
“Good.”
That single word landed like a verdict.
(Was she being chosen… or sacrificed?)
Look out for the next episode...
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