Adure || πš‹πš’ π™²πš•πšŽπš–πšŽπš—πš π™Όπš’πš›πšŠπšŒπš•πšŽ

FS Review
6


Ije opened her eyes, grabbed the oil lamp at the far end of the hut and turned to Adure, her daughter, who was trembling on the floor. It was the stillest hour in Uli, and the air was thick with the eerie screeching of crickets. Adure's eyes were completely white, and dark boils speckled her light-skinned face. Ije shrieked. She knew Adure was about to die for the seventh time.

She flung the lamp, placed Adure on her back, and moved out. Ije's husband, alongside her fellow wives, pleaded, but Ije said nothing. She set off for Udemmili with Adure on her back. She now had the red madness of a hen who dared to battle with the hawk to rescue her chick.

“Mama, will I die?” Adure asked.

Tufiakwa, mba, no. My daughter, you won't die,” Ije said, her voice firm with authority as though she had become Chi—the giver and taker of life.

Ije tightened her face as soon as she heard the gushing of Udemmili stream.

Nwanyi Mmiri, you have taken six of my children. Please, spare this one," Ije cried, hands spread out over the waters and to the unseen queen of the coast.

The waters stirred, and the Ogbanjes—girls with ash tails and flowing hair—came out. They swam around the stream with the bustling energy of excited children. 

Adure cried, and her tears dripped on Ije's shoulder.

“Give us our sister,” the Ogbanjes commanded in unison.

Ije retreated a step, hands trembling. "No... Never!"


Authored by: Clement Miracle

Clement Miracle hails from Abia State, Nigeria. He is a creative writer who majorly writes literary fiction. He aspires to study Education and Mathematics at the University. His hobbies are singing, reading, and watching family dramas.


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