By Okoro Chioma

ebere was the dream of every young man that comes across her, she was beautiful, soft spoken and intelligent. but obinna never likes her. after they first came across in a friend's wedding, and almost every guy keeps staring at ebere apart from obinna. ebere noticed it. and she stared at obinna instead. went closer to his circle and tried being friends. her intelligent words captured the heart of women around too. but obinna was not interested at all. during the reception, a magician that came to present. said he can make anything come true. his magic tricks was awesome. and lots of people started requesting for his contacts including ebere. after much interaction with obinna Friends, ebere finally got obinna's contact. after the wedding, ebere was lot in her own thoughts, wandering why obinna did not notice her. she was unable to sleep throughout the night. in the morning, ebere call obinna and she explained who she was and asked he if they can be friends. but obinna told her they're already friends and that's why he gave her his number. ebere was so happy and keeps calling to check up on him. she become desperate for obinna's attention. obinna was already in love with another lady, ijeoma. ijeoma is a very beautiful woman, who is a teacher. understanding that obinna has no space in his heart for another woman. ebere started sourcing means to get into obinna's life. then she remembers that the magician at the wedding event stated that she can do anything. so she went to in search of the magician for help. after long search, she finally got to learn that the magician lives in a forest. very far from town. so she went to the forest alone in search of her. reaching the forest, she saw a small round hut with no door, just window. as she was going closer, she heard her name. ebere. she turned around and find no one. then an old woman with with very big eyes, short arm and two fingers came out from no where and she was scard. but she transformed into the young magician. ebere was still in shock. then she said, no need to be scared, this is part of my magic tricks. what do you want from me, she asked ebere. I want obinna, I want love, i want marriage . sure, the magician replied. but who is obinna, she asked. my heart rob. I want him to notice me, I want future with him. okay i will help you. wow, she screamed. how much should I pay? Please tell me the price, ebere asked. your beauty. ebere your beauty the magician replied. my beauty? how? how will he even notice me without my beauty? he will be madly in love with you, he will be begging to spend an eternity with you. how do I trust you. he will call you now, ebere's phone started ringing immediately. she checked and it's obinna Calling. the magician smiled and said Don't pick yet. decided now or go home. ebere paused for a moment and said. I want him. take my beauty and give me obinna. the magician said, go home and think about it. if you are still interested, shave your hair and bring it. ebere paused, and said, can I shave them now, cause am ready. I'm ready ma. please shave my hair. the magician Laughed out loud. the magician went through the window into the hut, she brought out a sharp blade and asked ebere to sit on the ground. ebere sat down immediately. and the magician started shaving her hairs. after a while, ebere started getting scared Because is getting dark and the magician is not yet done shaving her hair for hours. this is taking too long, ebere said, my parents will be looking for me. your parents? the magician asked, you won't be needing your parents. why ebere asked. the magician replied, Because you have choosen obinna over life itself. let the rituals begin. the magician brought out a Clay pot few fire woods and a black cloth. she asked ebere to set the woods and she stared dangerously at ebere for a while. and then she light up the woods and started turning the black cloth inside the pot. after a while, she added ebere's hair. and keep turning it. ebere started feeling pains on her head, and she stared screaming. help, help me. please stop ma. I'm no longer interested. the pain is too much. I'm dying. somebody help me. she keeps screaming at the top of her voice. but no body was there to help her. her skin turned green, and her eye purple. her nail black, her hands started increasing from ten fingers to twenty eight. her nose grow longer like that of an elephant with horns on her nose. her stomach so big like an over blown balloons. ebere kept shouting. I'm dying, somebody help me. then she fell down and fainted. opening her eye, she saw her old self in front of her and the magician was present too, ebere asked who was the other person that looks like her. the magician answered, uloma a cursed Magician, that lost her Beauty 400years ago. now she can go into the city comfortably. and enjoy Normal life after many years of living in exile. ebere said, from the looks of my hands, I look like a monster. how will obinna accept me now. uloma smiled and said, we keep to our words , no matter what. obinna is yours forever. the magician pick up ebere's phone and called obinna. he pick, and she said can we meet now. he said I'm driving, let meet tomorrow then. the magician said, no, let's meet now. drive to abaly forest. what? abaly is a dangerous place to come to, no ebere I can't. come now the magician said again. ok. obinna Drivers to abaly and call the number again.the Magician picks up and said, come, come you're very close. obinna stopped the car and came down from it. because he was finding it difficult to find a motorable path. his phone rang again, he picked, the magician said to him keep coming, you are already close. when ebere saw him, she became scared and wanted to hide. but obinna saw her too and shouted. my forever. you have captured my heart. I wish to stay with you for ever. TO BE CONTINUED.,..........