Chapter 4: Aku's story

"After I turned down my mother's offer, she reported me to our kinsmen. None of them could convince me to accept the offer. I don't know what came over me. It was as if Ajonwa's story is mere folklore. I made up my mind to come here after hearing their stories and all the pains Ajonwa has caused my community. No one has ever made an attempt to kill him. 

Mazi Idika invited me to his house and shared his painful story with me. According to him, his four daughters were kidnapped at once. The girls rejected all the men that were found for them. One day, their father returned from the farm and met an empty house, his beautiful daughters were nowhere to be found. 

He said the people of Ohanta were thrown into mourning when the news of disappearance circulated the whole village. The three sisters were known for their kindness. They help those who had no help in farming activities. 

After two market days, Mazi Idika received news that one of his daughters died after she was sexually abused by Ajonwa. Her corpse was sent to her father. Her body looked as though she was devoured by a wild animal. 

After some seasons, another of Mazi Idika's daughters was killed because she was found crying in the shrine. Her corpse was also returned to their father. This contributed to the untimely death of Mazi Idika's wife. The old man has not set his eyes on his two daughters till today.  They are as good as dead to him."

"I was still a young girl when that incident happened," Anine added. Aku stood up and paced around the bush with tears in her eyes. She came back and sat beside Anine who also had few drops of tears on her cheeks. 

"Mother, I came here for revenge, I came to kill Ajonwa". Aku confided in a lower tone. 

Anine quickly sealed Aku's mouth with her palm. Aku tried to remove her palm, but she could not she stood up immediately as if she was going to war already. Tears roll down her cheeks. Anine wiped Aku's tears with her sackcloth. 

"Sit down Aku". Anine ordered. 

"You can kill Ajonwa if you do not allow him to kill you first. You need to put up the best behavior, while you draw your plans. Who knows, you might succeed." Anine said. 

Aku sat down on the log of the tree and continued her story. 

"Another elder invited me to his house. He told me that the people of Ohanta have done everything within their power to reduce the number of virgins that disappear from the community every season. This includes marrying their daughters off at a very young age, paying the men handsomely to accept brides that are not their choices. 

As I was coming back from his house, I heard a strange sound in a nearby bush. I took a closer look and was horrified. The bulls have come for me. They stood and gave me a prolonged gaze as if they were trying to tell me that my time has finally come. "The folklore is about to become a reality," I whispered to myself. 

Before I knew it, the three bulls began to run towards me. There was no way I could escape, and I can't just disappear like others, so I had to side-step the bulls and ran in the opposite direction. I was able to get past the bulls by running in zig-zag. With that, I offset the bull's kinetic charge and disrupt their momentum. All I wanted was to see my mother before I leave and I succeeded."

"I narrated everything the elders told me to my mother and also disclosed to her that I would like to be taken to Ajonwa shrine, to avenge all the pains he caused my people." 

"Shut up!" My mother shouted at me. 

"Ajonwa is a destructive spirit, he ultimately destroys people to the core and kills them when they go against his orders. You are just a child Akum! Please you need to leave this village since he has not come for you. I know a man from Ndikwe community, he is a very good friend of your father. Although he has not visited since your father died and I'm not sure if he is still alive or not. I have told your sisters we are leaving tonight."

"It is too late Mother," I said to her. 

"Why Akum wha..t do you mean?" My mother asked with fear in her eyes. 

"Look outside they are here already," I responded. 

"Udenze! failed you, your daughter is gone!"

My mother soliloquized on the sight of three Ajonwa bulls that were patiently waiting for me outside our cottage. My mother expressed a great shock and sobbed uncontrollably. All through the night, we could not sleep or go outside to urinate. My mother cried till the break of day. I vowed that every single tear my mothers shed that night must be avenged. I was scared half to death, but I courageously stepped out of our hut. My face contorted with rage and fear. Rage because I lacked freedom in my own community - a wicked deity has the final say over my life at the moment. 

Rage because I'm about to be used as a sex slave to a wicked deity who deserved to be punished, destroyed, and not to be given pleasure. Rage because I am an innocent virgin who committed no crime by choosing to be a virgin.

Fear because I am about to stand face to face with a deity who has been existing since the time of my forefathers. I began to imagine what his face looked like, the size of his phallus that has sent many virgins to their untimely death. I was scared half to death, but my courage and mission overpowered my fears. I turned, bid my mother farewell, and departed with the bulls. 

The Chief Priest led me straight to the inner chamber after spelling out the rules and regulations. They all loved and admired my courage, none of them knew what I'm here for. The pain I felt when Ajonwa came on me cannot be explained." Aku narrated. 

"What did he do when he saw the blood?" 

"He licked the blood, his eyes became red and I noticed his strength went out of the way and I could not stand him anymore he left me and promised to return," Aku explained. 

"Did he return?" 

"Yes, and I was told to go back to the inner chamber to complete my course. I could not, but I place my mission and courage before me and left for the inner chamber the second time." Aku explained. 

"Akum, let's go inside, I shall tell you my story tomorrow," Anine said. Aku stood up and Anine led her to her chamber.