TORTURE (A struggle Between Deities And Humans)

FIRST PAGE.

Her body dangled midair, her hands bound to the chain above that suspended her feet from touching the ground.

Her face was bruised and battered, the clothes on her body were now thread bare her body was exposed in inches her full breast out to the world.

She still clinged to life even though her body wanted an out her face was disfigured her body bruised and battered deep cuts ran with fresh blood from her maggot infested body her soul was dead already, the blood was more visible on her face and her back, where flesh laid open striped off thier domain by a whip.

Sergeant Musa sat behind his desk in the dimly lit room filled with smoke and stench of blood, his cigarettes was the only comfort he found in this hell he called a warehouse.

With each puff occasionally, his eyes will dart towards the woman that hung not far from him he will sigh hating to look at her again and again.

Soon the door opened and a bulky looking man with a big tummy walked in followed by two boy soldiers, his attire revealed he was a man of significance one of the very rich patrons that had made a name for themselves by selling drugs in the city.

The sergeant walked up to him and greeted with a little bow "Good afternoon chief Gbenga", the man gave him a wryly smile and turned to his asset the woman on the chains walking up to her he examined her closely her slow breathing's and her body constantly trying hard to fight death.

The chief cleared his throat and spoke to her "Kemi!, he called out she struggled to raise her eyelids since they where too heavy with dried blood and scattered hair, she fought hard to look upon that familiar face, the voice she had grown accustomed to.

She had losed all respect for the man that had turned her into a killer made her life a living hell.

" The struggle is over Kemi; the man added while looking at her body which was decaying as the days crawled by.

"My team will be here soon to establish the factory and start drilling the oil, and you, you will die here of hunger and thirst the only way you can be saved is if I grant you pardon," the man said proudly a dark smile creeping into his monstrous face his bulky figure choking a laugh.

Kemi body trembled as she tried to speak and coughed up blood on the process it was dark blood; it landed to the ground and spattered tiny droplets of it's on the legs of chief Gbenga and sergeant Musa.

The two men looked at her expecting her to speak her mind she was a lady of resolve from their dealings with her not someone to easily give up because of one failure, even now if they should let her arms free she will pick a knife and drive it into his heart those hatred in her eyes the burning desire to see Gbenga bleed like her community people.

Oh!, her poor lovely grandmother she could still see her screaming in her head "Kemi run!!" as she was shot from the back by a masked man for a moment the world has stilled before her eyes, the only woman who had taken care of her from childhood when her parents died mysteriously of a strange illness that plagued the Village.

Kemi had grew up to a hard life, without parents she had no choice but to join her grandmother in her farm since it was the only way the family could come up with sustainable resources for thier daily living.

Life was hard, the farm produce some years where bad times like this it was the pen that helped them out they will sell off goat that where matured to the slaughter house to make a living and grandma sold vegetables too, as Kemi grew into a beautiful woman she waxed strong and resilient too, the farm work became part of her, She started helping out other people in their farms to earn wages.

While other girls lazied about awaiting suitors or went to the city to search for greener pastures Kemi busied her day out working in farms and taking care of her ageing mother, the old woman who never agreed to be old still defied kemi's order and made a garden for herself at the back of the house since she wasn't allowed to go to the farm anymore.

Well It was one of those normal days in the farm Kemi was digging a hole she could put all the cleared bushes into so it will dry properly before burning it, she had not really digged deep when black liquid coming from the ground soon took over the hole and forced her to stop digging, she was frustrated that no matter how she tried scooping the liquid and pouring it away more kept coming in greater quantity; she had to abandon the hole and dug another but the same thing happened.

Getting angry and very frustrated she stomped back home to look for her only male friend Emeka, he knew everything by name maybe he will be able to tell her what was blocking her progress at farm work.

When she got to Emeka house, she was told by his neighbors that he had gone out to drink palmwine from a local joint where people hanged out to eat catfish peppersoup and brewed drinks.

Alcoholic beverages and palm wine which most matured men enjoyed, was being sold at the spot, it was a comfort ground for married men.

She didn't know which of the anger to contain in her heart wether that of the liquid stopping her work or of Emeka that would never sit at home she walked to the joint anger visibly written on her face, when Emeka saw her coming with that agility it felt like a warrior coming with a spare in hand.

Even though it was just a weeding hoe. He stood up quickly and worked towards her "uhmm Ke!Ke!; he began as he fondly called her, Why are you here?" he asked she snorted her eyes filled with fury as she glared at him he shrank back avoiding a slap.

He was familiar with her temperament, Since he was the only person she had grown to tell her worries and found comfort in his arms.

Most times she had unleashed her anger on his innocent Self, for nothing sake he will bear it smiling at her puppy eyes, he had grown with a desire to care for her not as a little sister but as a white flower which had choosen him.

He had burning desires to own her but who will cage a fiery lion like her, though he knew her love language and knew also she had affection for him she wasn't just ready yet to walk that part, he knew and respected her wishes.

"why don't you sit at home for once?" she yelled, she walked to his back and looked closely at his buttocks "or do you have a tail?" she asked emeka who looked a bit embarrased, he had no idea as to what had infuriated her to this extent.

"If not that am taking control of my self I would have hit this hoe, on your blockhead" she threatened emeka who looked quiet and intimidated as a cat that was about to cry for being yelled at.

Her eyes soften a bit, she didn't plan to be this dramatic afterall but seemed to always get on her nerves, "Follow me" she gave the command and started walking away Emeka who dared not talk or refused threw away the cup which still had his palm wine in it and ran off to catch up with her.

Her heart was still heaving up and down and she kept grumbling under breath, no word was shared between them not untill they got to the farm.

Kemi walked towards the hole and gestured with her finger at the liquid that was now filling the holes,"Any idea what this is?" she asked.

Emeka stopped dead in his tracks mouth wide open he knelt close to the hole and dip his middle finger in the liquid and brought it close his nose, his eyes widened in excitement, his hands trembling he looked at Kemi with awe all over him, Kemi was surprised at his reaction she expected an answer not a reaction so she could keep working on her farm.

"We are rich" emeka finally voiced out jumping into the air and dancing frantically "We are rich, we are rich" he kept saying with every shout, he made a his funny dance.

Kemi who found the dance interestingly funny burst into a long round of laughter and waved him off, "You and who are rich?" she asked amidst threatening tears and choking, emeka stopped dancing and asked her "did you know what this liquid is?", "if I knew it you won't be here" Kemi answered sarcastically Emeka who was so anxious started explaining "this is wealth, this is our resources it's crude oil" he broke the news.

Kemi eyes widened in shock a hot wave ran through her spine a sudden cold feet overtook her she stood still not knowing If to be happy or sad, if dancing was advisable or crying was the best. "

We have to tell the chiefs about this Goodnews Kemi" he added so that they will look for a company for you and make you a shareholder that way you can profit off it and the community too, you won't have to work this hard ever again."

Emeka smiled as she ran into his arms hugging him tightly he patted her hair as she let it all out sobbing in his arms.

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Kemi looked at chief Gbenga a smile perched at the end of her lips, "it is not over yet, instead it just begun and killing me wont end it; I will come for you chief even in death I will come for you, I will lay this lands to waste and avenge the blood of my brothers on you and all those who made me cry this is my resolve sir; she paused as she coughed again blood on the floor, she looked at him a deadly zeal in her eye "Watch me make your life a living hell, with the same tools I was tortured with will I scourge you until life seeps out of you.

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YEARS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BACK

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It started like a normal day, Though uncertainty could be felt looming in the air, the villagers still went about discreetly offering words of advice and comfort to cheer fellow neighbors; all will be well was the national anthem as the windy morning turned into a sunny afternoon.

A loud shout was heard it was a cry of fright, the villagers scampered away every one running for thier dear lives.

The warriors of the neighboring community had gained entrance into thier lands, meaning the battle ground had been compromised, the horror on the face of everyone gave way to a fight for survival parents in search for thier children and infants weeping profusely, Swords and woods clashed together as both young and old fell to the ground, hut where been set ablaze, young girls been raped, youthful boys slaughtered as lambs, the was mercy for none as both young and old where slayed it was a fight for dominion a quest to own more territories and slaves.

The king of the neighboring community had broken his truce with the people of "Atam" Village over a price of land that he claimed was his and when the king of Atam was not ready to give it up he had declared war, the Atam people had not been cowards and had fought back for a long time many innocents have died as the war progressed, and casualties were on both sides but things turned bad for Atam thier resources had ran out, and the battle at the Frontline was not in thier favor that day the neighboring village had dealth a big blow on thier warriors and breached the protective barriers thus gaining access into Atam.

The villagers had no where to run to than to flee into the forests but this blood thirsty men having a killing instinct that was bigger than amnesty they pursued the villagers into the forest.

Sali was only five years old during this period her parents had carried her into the forest joining a small group of escapee's that where in search of a place to hide, they had not found a suitable hideout when a group of those savage dogs caught up on them, Sali watched a man head leave his shoulders.

The terror in her eyes when blood stained her clothes, her father picked her up and ran deeper into the bushes everyone scattered in different directions.

Sali was separated from her mom, her father gave her up to another group even though she protested with a stream of tears.

He went back to search for his wife whom he presumed might be in danger, by this time lots of people had already been killed it felt like nature had decided the fate of the people.

Just then a loud cry was heard it echoed all through the land everywhere fell silent as everyone froze eyes moving frantically in search of where the shout came from.

it sounded like a woman in agony, it resounded from each corner and the eerie feeling that came with it seemed to create a stagnant pressure on both they warriors and the terrified villagers, the sky immediately was clothed in red as thick as blood, the sun was replaced by a blood moon and it seemed to be descending.

Another wonder took place the sky seemed to shred as if struck through with a sword and slashed open to connect to another dimension, out of the hole descended what looked like a fiery serpent with two heads and wrapped itself around the moon, it opened it mouth and a chilling sound echoed the pressure of it bringing all the warriors to thier knees then the serpent spoke with a terryfing voice "I am oyuleko, the deity and the keeper of the people of Atam who dared trespass into my territory and forced my kin to summon me?" The beast echoed with rage the ground was shaking awaiting the eruption of a volcano.

The warriors where shaken to thier groins unable to stand the pressure they took to thier heels but it was too late, a flame descended in form of a wooden sword and slayed everyone of them including those found in the battlefield when it was done killing the enemy of the Atam people it vanished.

The serpent unwrapped itself from the moon and slowly made it way back to the open sky.

The blood moon changed was replaced by the sun and the chill presence dissipated immediately.

The villagers went on thier knees to thank thier god for victory, "but who had summoned it?" They asked one another.

Grandma sali concluded her storytelling to the kids that gathered outside her hut to learn about the ethics and cultural revolution of thier homeland, the children were eager to know more about who had called on the deity they celebrated every month end, but grandma sali only smiled and told them to go home and come the next day for more.

Kemi who sat close to the old woman could see tears on her face, she had noticed her Grandma Crying after telling old stories of war and origin to her and other infants but grandma would not tell her why no matter how many times she asked.

T.B.C