chapter two: Dark times
2026 Words
Chief came for Annabelle's hand in marriage, when Chief Donald came to discuss marriage. Uchenna, Annabelle's father, welcomed Chief Donald. Chief went straight to the point; he said, 'My friend Uchenna, I am here to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage as agreed.' Uchenna called Annabelle. Annabelle answered, 'Yes, Daddy.' She came, and Uchenna told Annabelle that Chief Donald came to ask for her hand in marriage. Immediately, Annabelle's father Uchenna told Annabelle the reason Chief paid them a visit. Annabelle's mood changed; she said, 'I will not marry him, Daddy.' Annabelle became sad and told her father, Uchenna, that he wants to sell her off to an old man, old enough to be his father. Annabelle's father, Uchenna, tried to make his daughter see reasons with him, but Annabelle refused, stating that she has a man that she loves and his name is Dominic. He is from our community, Akpugo, and he is well-behaved and a good man. Uchenna stood and said, 'Who is Dominic?' Uchenna and his daughter exchanged words in front of Chief Donald. Chief Donald stood up and said, 'Uchenna prepared your daughter for marriage as we agreed.' Chief Donald left their presence. Uchenna was confused. Annabelle went to the room to report the matter to her mother, Chioma. Annabelle's mother, Chioma, said to her daughter Annabelle that she was not in support of her marriage to Chief Donald. 'My daughter, we have to look for money to give Chief Donald back his money.' Annabelle said to her mother that she would hawk fruit so that they could raise money faster to pay Chief Donald.
The next day, Annabelle went shopping with her mother. Annabelle carried some fruit on her head in a tray to go and sell the fruit. On her way, she saw Dominic, and she was happy. They greeted each other. Annabelle asked Dominic about his family members. Dominic replied that they were fine. At one point, Annabelle stopped talking and appeared sad. Dominic asked Annabelle what the matter was. Annabelle said to Dominic that Chief Donald was coming for her hand in marriage. Dominic was angry and said, 'Why didn't you tell me Annabelle said she couldn't reach him?' Dominic asked why Chief Donald would do such a thing. Annabelle said that her mother had an accident. My father didn't have money to pay for my mother's medical bills, so he went to Chief Donald. He gave my father the money, and for three months now, my father couldn't pay Chief Donald back. That is why I have to hawk to fasten the payment to Chief Donald. Dominic promised Annabelle to help her make the payment to Chief Donald. Dominic asked Annabelle how much money they owed Chief Donald; she said 200k. Dominic said he would work hard to help Annabelle save up the money. Dominic helped Annabelle sell off all her fruit. Dominic took Annabelle to her mother's shop. Chioma, Annabelle's mummy, was in the shop when Dominic and Annabelle greeted her. Chioma, Annabelle's mummy, replied, 'My children, how are you?' They replied, 'We are fine, ma.' Chioma, Annabelle's mummy, asked Dominic how his mother and father are doing. Dominic replied that they are doing great. Ma, Dominic asked Annabelle's mummy about her health, and she said she is fine. Annabelle's mother said, 'I thank God for healing me.' So Chioma, Annabelle's mummy, said, 'Annabelle, my daughter, it seems you have finished selling the fruits.' Annabelle said, 'Yes, mummy.' She smiled and took the second set of fruits in a tray to sell. Annabelle and Dominic set out to sell the second set of fruits. While they were on the way, Annabelle saw her female friends; they greeted each other, and Annabelle and Dominic set off to the market square to sell the fruit before Annabelle finished selling the second set of fruit. It was already 5 PM in the evening, so Dominic took Annabelle home because Chioma, Annabelle's mummy, had gone home around 3 PM that afternoon. When Annabelle got home with Dominic, Uchenna, Annabelle's father, was sitting outside his compound. When Annabelle and Dominic returned, they greeted Uchenna. He was looking at both Annabelle and Dominic and said, "Good evening, Annabelle. Who is this young man?" Annabelle replied, "He is my friend." He asked Dominic, "What is your father's name?" Dominic replied to Uchenna, Annabelle's father, "Sir, my father's name is Mr. Obidike, the hunter, the popular bush meat seller in Obodoha Market." Uchenna shouted, "Oh, Obidike the great hunter, welcome my son! This one you brought Annabelle home!" Uchenna immediately asked, "My son, what is your name?" He said, "Dominic, sir." Uchenna said, "Dominic, what do you do for a living?" Dominic said, "Sir, I am a bricklayer. I work in buildings as a bricklayer." Uchenna shouted, "Oh, Chi! No, what is a bricklayer doing with my daughter?" Uchenna said to Dominic, "I don't want to see you close to my daughter. I don't want you to infect my daughter with your poverty."
Please stay away from my daughter. Uchenna looked at his daughter, Annabelle. Her father said, 'Annabelle, I don't want to see you with this young man again. He doesn't have anything to offer you, Chioma Annabelle's mother heard some noise outside and came out, asking his husband, 'Uchenna, what is it, Nnaayi?' Uchenna replied to his wife, Chioma, 'Is it not my daughter? She was brought home by this useless bricklayer, Dominic.' Chioma smiled and laughed while looking at her husband and said, 'Nnaayi, please take it easy on the young man. He is hardworking; he doesn't engage in bad activities. He earns a decent living for himself.' Chioma's mother was speaking well of Dominic. Chioma's mother said to her husband, Uchenna, 'Nobody knows tomorrow; don't look down on him.' Chioma, Annabelle's mother, said to her husband, Uchenna, 'Do you prefer to marry our daughter to an old man, Chief Donald, who is old enough to be her father? You and I know that Chief will not treat our daughter well,' Chioma, Annabelle's mother, said. Uchenna Annabelle's father said, "My wife, I understand what you are saying, but we need help. Who will help us out of this problem? We need money urgently to pay Chief Donald back; you know that. Don't blame me, my wife, for acting this way. I am looking for a better life for my daughter and a way out of our problem."
Dominic said, "Sir, I will help out." Sir Uchenna Annabelle's father looked at Dominic, saying, "Are you sure, my son?" Dominic replied, "Yes, sir, I will." Annabelle looked at Dominic with an eye of hope, the last hope they had. Uchenna said, "Well, if he can help us, no problem."
Chioma, Annabelle's mother, said, "My son Dominic, please, you have to get going; it is getting late. Thank you for helping Annabelle sell all her fruits today." Dominic replied, "Alright, ma," and he said, "Good night, sir and ma." Dominic left.
Annabelle's mother took Annabelle to the kitchen to make dinner: egusi soup and fufu. After making dinner, Annabelle's mother dished the food, and they all ate dinner. While they were eating, Uchenna, Annabelle's father, brought up Dominic's matter. Uchenna asked Annabelle, "What do you see in this young man?" Annabelle smiled and said, "Daddy, I love him. He is hardworking, outspoken, kind, and fears God above all. Daddy, he is obedient not only to his parents but also to outsiders." Uchenna said, "If that is the case, it seems he is from a good home. I only know his father as one of the great hunters. I never knew Obidike had such a good son. But my daughter, I just want a man who will take good care of you."
Annabelle's mummy replied, "Nnaayi, it's okay. After all, when you married me, we had nothing, and we are still managing. Besides, you were doing nothing then." Uchenna said to his wife, Chioma, "It seems you don't want me to finish this food you served." Annabelle smiled and said, "Mummy and Daddy, I love you both no matter what. Whether there is money or not, I love you both so much. I will make you both proud." Uchenna said, "That is my daughter." The next day, Dominic went to work to get his daily earnings, hoping to add to what he had saved so far. While he was on the ladder, he slipped off and fell to the ground, he died at the spot. Everybody rushed to take him to the hospital, but the doctor confirmed that he was dead. Annabelle, hearing the story from her friend, rushed to the hospital. Upon reaching the room where Dominic was admitted, she saw his parents crying and a lifeless body on the hospital bed. She was shocked and devastated; tears flowed down from her eyes to her cheeks. The next day, Dominic was buried. She lost all hope and made up her mind to marry Chief Donald, not because of love, but to settle her parents' debt.
The following day, Chief Donald came to Annabelle's house with his kinsmen to properly marry Annabelle. Annabelle was too young to marry a man older than her father, not because of love, but to use her father’s loan as collateral. Annabelle wept her eyes out; her eyes were swollen due to consistent crying. Her parents also cried that day; they felt helpless.
After two weeks, Annabelle started living in Chief Donald's house as his wife. Chief Donald started abusing her, maltreating her, and forcibly r****g her every night. She cried and begged Chief Donald not to abuse her. But Chief continued abusing her; her body was full of marks from the abuses and beatings. Every year that passed, she hoped that one day everything would be fine. She lost five babies in her womb through miscarriages and decided not to get pregnant again. Every night after they had s*x, she would take pills to prevent herself from becoming pregnant again.
One day, Chief Donald had a visitor named Frank. Frank was a very tall, dark, and handsome man. He was Chief Donald's cousin. He was based in Abuja. He attended the university at ESUT, Enugu State University of Science and Technology. He was raised by his mom, where he was taught never to hit or abuse a woman. When Frank stayed at Chief Donald's house, he noticed the abuse Chief Donald inflicted on his wife, which he had been against from the beginning. Frank felt pity for Annabelle and made her his friend. Until one day, Chief Donald beat her up so badly that she was hospitalized.
Annabelle opened up to Frank, Chief Donald's cousin. She narrated to Frank how she got married to Chief, and immediately Frank's eyes filled with tears. Due to the condition Annabelle was in, Frank prolonged his visit just to help her out of this situation. He filed a petition against Chief for domestic violence, but due to Chief's influence, the case was closed before it could go to court.From that moment on, Frank realized that apprehending the chief would be no simple task. He later came up with an alternative plan to rescue Annabelle. The chief was intent on eliminating his cousin, Frank, for opposing him. Consequently, Frank had to leave the chief's residence and check into a hotel.
Frank's mom, Ada, was a lawyer, a human rights advocate. She was abused, maltreated, and beaten when she got married to her husband. Due to her family background, she was able to leave her marriage and file for divorce, which she later won, and she was compensated. From that moment, she vowed to be a voice for those women who were domestically abused by their husbands. She won many cases and became famous throughout Abuja. Ada taught her child to never hit or abuse any woman. Due to the advice his mom gave him, he was determined to save Annabelle from her monstrous husband.
- Writer
