Chapter 8 A cruel world

Leaving the forest with mother and child comfortable hidden( the first requires for any animal taken from it alive; that's why hunters completely kill before taking it home), I promised to check on them tomorrow.

The sky have darkened, a promise of rain on it's way; if care's not taken I might be drenched before I reach the protection of my house.

I increased my pace to avoid the onslaught of the brewing rain.

During the moon shining, rain starts pouring oge( that's what hours are called in Mabudazou) after it shows it's signs, but during the moon falling( the season we're in now) we can't predict the exact time for the rain fall.

It might start pouring now or it might not start it's downpour till Abali; which is more than two goes from now.

Carrying my heavy bag of goodies( I took more herbs and fruits on my way out the forest), I start the journey home.

A journey that took me two oge to go will take me three oge to return because of the heavy bag am carrying.

Humming I continue on my merry way; singing makes me loose momentary focus on my soroundings, it makes the journey less strenuous to me.

"And where do you think you're going to witch",

before I can register what's happening, he've already caught my hair in his fist.

Letting go of my bag of goodies ( it has a covering) I clutched at him in pain, "please let go!", I begged.

Instead of letting go like I requested, he tightened his fist on my hair, "and who are you to tell me what am to so and what not to do? ", he seethes in anger.

" No one! ", the pain too unbearable for me to make more sentences.

A situation as this one is why I wished I was gifted with more than the gift if healing.

Papilo is the only person in the entire Mabudazou I fear; he's my worst nightmare, a Payne in my healer's arse.

He doesn't make his advances on me a secret whenever we're alone, but with others he acts like the scum of Mabudazou ( it should be Otito since my father came from there).

I've evaded his advances in me; it's just a matter of time before he gets what he wants( I will be dead then; I can't be alive and watch him degrade me).

"You look so different with your new hair color", he murmurs in my ears, as he mercifully let go of my hair, "you're Lucky am in a good mood".

Papilo in a good mood is like when an Aguiyi is in a good mood; it always ends ugly.

Straightening my hair, I bend down to pick up my basket. It's not over, and I know it, it's just a matter of time before he burst.

The cup is almost filled; it's running over is about to start.

When he saw I wasn't replying to his word, he looks down at me with anger, "and you dare ignore me?", he kicks off my basket, "you don't ignore me when am talking to you!".

Standing up in anger, I glared at the insolent male, "what do you want me to do? should I bow down because you're talking to me?", I realized too late who am actually talking to.

A sound was heard in the otherwise silent forest; my cheeks throbbing in pain.

"Don't you dare talk back to me again!", he slaps me again, adding more indescribable pain to the one I already have.

"Am sorry", I look down at the floor; all fight having gone out of me.

What did I do to deserve the life am living? did I commit a crime on my first world that made the gods punish me so?.

Why didn't I die with either my mother or father? why am I still alive in this cruel world?.

Why does it have to be me people pick on? why can't I have a moment of peace in this world?.

"Am sorry love", he cradles my face to his chest, " am sorry for hurting you".

It's true I said I've never had a human contact aside from Soso; I said those words because Papilo is not a human, he's a beast walking among men.

Making soothing sounds, he tries to calm me before his mission will start.

He always finds me out when he's in need of something from me; something I don't willingly give, and will never do, not even in death.

"I just want to go home, please let me go", I plead although I know he won't honor my request; he takes what he wants despite all my pleas.

" It's just for a little time love, and you will go home", he caresses my hair, "just a little time with you, a time we both will enjoy and you will go home".

This is always what he says; never for once have he honored my request not even when am entertainment my moonly visitors.

"What of your Obi? she will be very angry if she hears of what you're doing", I try to discourage him from what he intends to do.

Laughing he looks at me with a narrowed glare, " she won't know of it if you'd only tell her", he tilts his head, " moreover she won't believe you even if you did; it will always be my words against yours".

"Please Papilo, I want to go home; I've had a long day today ",

"You spend time all day at the forest just for people who doesn't want you, but when I whowl wants you request for a little with you, you always refuse until I take it by force".

" Please", I try to remove my wrist from his hand, but he kept a tight grip on me.

Wiping my tears with his big finger, he licked it, " you're the one seducing me with your actions; you're truly a witch since you managed to seduce a married man. You Rabel is a temptress".

With those words, he pushed me to the hard dirty ground, " and I don't care if I take what I want by force; so far as I get it, am satisfied".

" Please", I struggled to get out of his hold, but his grip was still tight in me.

"Stop struggling, it will be better for you if you'll remain docile; it will be faster and quicker that way", he licked my ears.

Kicking him on the place the sun doesn't shine, I quickly stood to my feet, away from the male clutching himself.

Forgoing my basket of goodies ( my life is more important to me than the basket; I will escape now and return later to collect it if he haven't thrown it away) I took to my heels.

If am lucky I might meet a hunter on the way( the hunter won't save me since am the town's witch, but Papilo won't chase after me with an audience present), that's the only way I know I can be safe from him.

He won't chase me home since he knows I have neighbors who live not that too far from me.

"Where do you think you're running to witch?", he grabs me by my hair, "you can't out run your destiny Ashawo).

Forcing me to the ground, he had his way with me.

Tears on my eyes, gushing freely down my face, I lamented on the cruelty of life.

How did I end up like this? what did I do to deserve this? a life of constant pain and misery.

A life not worth living; a life I've sacrificed so much for yet it have done nothing but bring me more pain and sorrow.

A life so cruel, it gave me no happiness.

A life you're shunned for being who you're; something I don't control, but was born with.

A life I do so much for so I can be called one of its own yet it drags me into the apiti( dirt mingled with water).

Spitting on me, he stood up " you're always as great as you were before. You must have bewitched me for me to want you more than I've wanted any female in my entire life", adjusting his Akwa, he smiles down at me, " expect me next Izu Uka", he leaves without so much as a back ward glance.

I've become the shell of who I was when I left the forest; a shell of the girl who's major focus was on getting herbs for her patients.

A girl who wants nothing more but to be accepted into a world that clearly hated her.

A girl who wants to experiment maternal love more than anything in this world.

A girl who's happy to die alone if the villagers can just give her the love she wants.

A girl who smiles despite the I'll treatments of her people on her.

A girl who starts each Ubochi with a smile on her face.

A girl currently lying in pains.