DNA

URACIL

It was a Saturday, a weekend in the house of the Quansah’s. In the sofa was Thea Do-Raal in human form sitting and enigmatically admiring the comic streak on the television. She had no idea what was going on, but she just sat there in the hopes of meeting the family soon. Maggie and Abena were not in the house at the moment. They had gone to the market to get a few stuffs, while Philip, Kwesi and Yaw waited for them to come back.  Earlier last night, Thea had been formally introduced to the whole family including Koby Offei and Sarah as an auntie - a friend of Philip and Maggie who had come to pay them a visit. The children were surprised and excited at the same time though, Thea did not look familiar to any of their parents. Philip had explained that, she was a good friend and should be treated as a part of the family. Thea was humbled with the introduction as she also honoured by the accolade that had been showered on her. So, Thea was now officially not a stranger in the Quansah house. As she sat in the sofa, Sarah moved clutching a drinking tray in her hand and delivered it to her. Thea looked at the drink and thanked Sarah. 

“I am grateful.” Thea said. Sarah just nodded and quickly moved away. Minutes later, Yaw and Kwesi moved together and joined her on the sofa. It was obvious the brothers were up to something. Thea turned and smiled at them.

“Where is your Dad?” Thea inquired. “Dad will join as soon, as soon as mom and Abena return.” Yaw said. “Auntie, can we ask you some questions?” 

“Yes, go one I love questions?” Thea replied ecstatic. Yaw then took the bottle containing the soft drink and gave it to Kwesi. Kwesi took the bottle, looked around hoping no one has seen him and brought the bottle close to his mouth. He then blew cold air around onto the bottle and within a twinkle, all over the bottle was covered with ice. Kwesi then retreated impressed by what he had done.

 “Great Kay, you did it.” Yaw intoned elated. Thea looked on not so impressed.

“Wow, how did you do that?” Thea inquired like she was totally naïve. “We used a little trick. We practiced it last night and I wanted him to show you what we can do.” Yaw said. “That is great. So how can I take the drink now that it’s all ice?” Thea inquired.

“Don’t worry auntie; we will get a new one for you.” Yaw said. “Now since we have done a favour for you, here comes the question we wanted to ask you. Where do you come from? And how do you know my Dad?” Yaw asked, and the questions engaged the mind and the ears of Thea like lightning bolt. Kwesi looked on quiet and reticent. Thea laughed at the question and remained quiet for some time. She then replied.

“I come from very far away and your father… he is a brother to me.”

-------

Kaneshie Market, Accra Central. 

Kaneshie market was the most popular central market complex in all of Accra Central, Ghana. Whatever one needed could be found as long as you find the right spot to purchase the item. Abena and her mother walked briskly in the seventh floor on the Central market building. They had arrived some few minute ago and were just about to get what they needed and go back. Philip and Maggie had agreed they get some new clothes for their visitor – Thea Do-Raal. Maggie and Abena got to the shop of interests. It was a cosmetic and clothing shop, that was inundated with all brands of clothing and apparels. Abena and her mother entered and moved about, eyeing the best of cloths for their visitor. The shop attendant recognized Maggie and beckoned her with her hand that she was busy with other clients. The shop was huge and had a couple of clients all moving about scanning the clothes that interested them the most. Abena tarried along with her mother.

“Wow mom,…this is beautiful. It has those symbols in it.” Abena said pointing to a golden- orange braided cloth.

“Yes, it is. It’s a traditional Akan cloth called Kente. The weavers of this cloth learnt it from the wisdom of the master weaver himself, Kweku Anase.” Maggie said, moved closer and admired the cloth more. Abena looked on still excited.

“And what about the symbols in it? What are they?” Abena inquired. “Those are called the Adinkra symbols. Every symbol has its own meaning and virtue in the Akan tradition. You think this cloth will be good enough?” Maggie inquired.

Abena shrugged and smiled, “yes, it is mom. I like it.” Maggie looked on and smiled. “Write its number then we will go on and make payment and take it home.”

Thirty minutes later, Maggie and Abena were done with their cloth shopping. All payment had been made and they were not on their way back to Maggie’s car and then back home. Abena and Maggie walked on the exit arcade of the shop and got to the elevator. They stood there for some time and then the elevator opened. Two people moved out as Abena and Maggie walked in and initiated a command to their destination as the ground floor. As the elevator moved all that could be heard was a large rumble and explosion. People then started screaming and bellowing.

Outside the elevator, a transformer had just blown, and the elevator had stopped moving. The screaming begun to increase as it was observed that a side of the market was in flames. After the transformer blew, the interrupted surge of the electrical power had incited by a fire outbreak. Four adjacent shops were now on fire and the clients inside kept screaming and bellowing for their lives, as others looked for the opportunity to escape what they could not escape. The shops were in flames and the screams were not going down.

Inside the elevator, was total darkness. The light was off since the power was cut off. Abena and her mother did hear the sudden interruption of the elevator but had no idea what had caused it. A light suddenly flicked up. Maggie was holding her torch on her cell phone, while Abena stood at the side of the elevated wholly petrified by the darkness.

“Abena are you alright?” Maggie said and pulled her daughter closer into her arms. “Are you hurt?” Maggie inquired again as she got more apprehensive.

“I am okay mom. What is happening?” Abena inquired. Maggie lifted her cell phone which was now the light in the elevator to the top, hoping she may find the fault for the abrupt halt of the elevator. But she did not find anything.

“I do not now, honey. It seemed the elevator has stopped descending.” Maggie replied. “And the light is also off, meaning?”

“The power supply? The power of the elevator just went off.” Abena quickly theorized. “That may be true. Shshshshs….” Maggie shushed Abena to be quite. That is when they heard the screams and the wailings of the other people in the market complex. Something cruel and macabre was happening to them.

“Mom…what is happening?” Abena almost sobbed. “I do not know honey. I need to call your Dad. We will need his help.” Maggie said and tuned off the light plunging the elevator into darkness again.

The fire blazing in the four shops was augmenting. Though the people inside the building tried, they could not combat the fire. The whole of Kaneshie was now in total mayhem. Benevolent citizens who had noticed the fire and the total black out of the market complex had called in the police and the fire service. Some citizens also valiantly rushed into the building with the hopes of saving some of the victims who were in the shop the fire was blazing in. It was chaos everywhere.

Still in the elevator, the only light that was lighting the whole place was the cell phone torch light of Maggie. She had just finished talking to Philip about their situation. But they could not just stand there and do nothing. They had to at least try to free themselves. Abena was just scanning the rectangular room they were locked in at the moment.

“Mom we have to do something.” Abena said. “We need to use our powers.” Abena added. Maggie let out a deep breath, “I agree with you Abena, but how. We are sealed inside the elevator which is made up of high tensile metals – aluminiun and stainless steel if I am correct.” Maggie said.

“We could still try. I will do my usual screaming. With hopes I get the door to open by itself.” Abena said.

“Okay, and what about if it does not work out?” Maggie inquired. “And that is where you come in mother. You will use your telekinetic powers as Dad called it. Try to open and bend the metals at the door.” Abena said. Maggie looked on tentative.

“Okay, that is a fair. We can try. Shall we?” Maggie said. Abena nodded her head and then within a twinkle, she let out a shout generating her sonic acoustic sound waves that were all directed to the door of the elevator. Most of the sound was deflected while others dissolved outside through the crevices of the elevator door. Abena looked on unimpressed. She then tried again and again. But the same results were obtained. Abena had been able to create a dent in the room door. Abena quickly moved to the door and moved her hands at the dent she had created.

“It worked partially.” Abena said. “Now stand back and let me also try.” Maggie said and quickly hurled her telekinetic energies and directed them towards the door of the elevator. The force was consistent and rapid, as Maggie continued channeling more internal telekinetic energy. Some of the metal started crackling and some becoming feeble. Maggie having gotten an idea then decided to direct the telekinetic energy towards the door. The energy was rapid as it kept on knocking many of the metals off their original path. Then Maggie stopped after she was wholly exhausted. Abena look at her exhausted mother and quickly moved to the exit and noticed the door was almost opened. A glare of elation swept across Abena’s face. She quickly moved back, but her mom was already one the floor, wholly exhausted.

“Mom, the door is almost opening. You have to try it again.” Abena lamented. But Maggie was weak now. “No, I cannot, I am exhausted.” Maggie replied in a sad tone. Abena was getting apprehensive.

“No mom, you have to.” Abena tried coaxing her mother. Then suddenly a distortion was heard. The police and the ambulance had arrived. But the screams of the other victims in the fire was still palpable. Then a hard c***k was heard again by Abena and Maggie. The elevator was automatically descending by itself. Abena became more petrified and moved more closely to her mom. Maggie also heard it and but could say little about it. The speed at which the elevator was descending was increasing. If nothing was done about it, Maggie and Abena may die.  

“Mom, we are going down, and speed is too much, something bad can happen.” Abena was lamenting. Still lamenting, a surge of electrical energy suddenly appeared in the elevator. Abena saw her first.

“Dad!” Abena quickly moved and embraced him. Philip was finally there. But the elevator was still coming down. “We need to get out of here. Maggie, Abena hold onto me strong.” Philip said, then within a twinkle, Philip teleported Maggie and Abena from the elevator and the appeared outside the market complex. The civilian who saw them appear quickly moved back. Philip helped Maggie to rise to her feet as they moved towards the car. In the front seat of the car was Yaw. Thea also materialized from the side of the car and muttered.

“Very good Philip. You did what I told you. Now use the same technique to help others in the fire.” Thea said in her human form. “I will take care of your wife and daughter.” Thea said and moved closer to Maggie. Philip nodded his head and then teleported away again. Abena was now calmed seeing her mother was okay. She was also happy to see her auntie around. Maggie and Thea then took the back seat. Abena quickly moved to the front to Yaw and inquired.

“Where is Kwesi.” Yaw looked on and smiled. “Dad took him with him to help quench the fire. You know he can blow cold air…” Yaw said.

“I know that Yaw.” Abena interrupted, and opened the door of Yaw’s seat. “Do you have any Mint Gum?” Abena inquired. Yaw shook his head beckoning no to the question.