Behind Her Smile - Season 1 - Episode 3

Episode 5 years ago

Behind Her Smile - Season 1 - Episode 3

“No, please don’t kill me,” Miriam screamed. Her feet pounded the ground, kicking dirt backward and she trudged forward, leading her pursuer in hot pursuit.
Brandishing a cutlass, her pursuer dashed after her with every ounce of his vigor. The ground trembled underneath his feet. His wrapper around the lower half of his body danced around in the air as his legs flew apart. A white paint formed an eerie trail along his nose bone, and on his clean shaven head were white dots, having the appearance of fireflies.

Tattoos snaked around his arms, and beads of cowries hung down his neck, wrists and ankles, jingling rhythmically. Heart thundering, Miriam tore her way through rows of trees.

Tears stormed out of her eyes, leaving cold trails down her cheeks. “Please don’t kill me.”

“The royal offspring must die,” the man said.

An average human would be breathless from running an endless race, but his voice held no trace of exhaustion.

“I must kill the offspring. The fulfilment of the prophecy is here!”

Miriam panted. Her legs wobbled underneath her. They could not run another lap, and she knew how pointless it was to keep running. Perhaps this was it. Perhaps she was destined to die today, by his hands. Why keep running from the inescapable?

She turned around to face the man. Their close
proximity made her shiver. Her eyes sq££zed shut as he raised his blade in the air. sU-Cking in a deep breath, she embraced her end. She stood motionless, waiting for the blade to sink into her skin.

Footsteps rushed toward her from behind. Before she could register what was happening, someone shoved her sideways. Gasping, she fell on her side.

A maddening pain spread across her ribs, forcing a silent scream from her mouth. Something thudded on the ground beside her. Her eyes flew open, only to find her savior writhing on the ground.

Grunting, he clutched a gaping hole in his chest. Blood oozed out like water gushing out of a faucet.

“Michael!” she screamed till her lungs burned.

“No!”

She scrambled to his side and knelt beside him.

She looked around in search of the man who’d tried to kill them, but he was gone. There was no sign that he’d even been here, save for the damage he had inflicted on Michael.

Her frantic hands found Michael’s wound and pressed down on it.

“We need to stop the bleeding. Michael, I’ll go get help. Please, stay with me. I’ll go get help.

You will be alright. Don’t die on me, please. Don’t you dare leave me behind, I beg you.”

She could feel his heartbeat, slow and barely
noticeable, but it was still there. She had to save him. If she left now, then there was a greater chance of saving him. She made to stand, but the feel of his trembling palm against her cheek held her back.

Michael,” she breathed. Her tears glided to his hand. “Stay with me.”

He smiled weakly. “I miss you so much, “Miriam.”

“I miss you too,” she said, her voice wobbling out of control.

“Please stay with me. I beg you. Don’t do this to me.”

“I love you.” he said

“I love…” she started, but the words died on her lips as Michael’s hand dropped from her face, thumping lifelessly on the ground. His eyes stayed locked on hers, but they were cold, distant, lifeless .

No,” Miriam screamed, shaking her head. She would not accept this. She couldn’t lose him. She gripped his shoulder and shook vigorously, but he stared at her, unblinking. He would never breathe again. Her Michael was gone.

“Please stay with me. Michael, you can’t leave me just like that. I love you and I miss you so much. Please, I beg you.”

***

“Please wake up,” Miriam cried in her sleep.

“Miriam!” Esther yelled. She shook Miriam’s arm, but Miriam didn’t budge. Amara and Ella stood around the bed on which Miriam lay, their faces painted with fear.

Miriam gripped fistfuls of her bedsheet and
rolled on her side, muttering some incoherent words.

“Miriam please wake up!” Amara shouted.
Miriam bolted upright in bed, a loud scream
tearing her lips apart. Her eyes, round as doughnuts, swept around the room. She gazed at her roommates, and then fixated her eyes on the wall.

Ooh,” Ella groaned. “These your village people have come again abi?”

“Ella stop,” Esther said. “Can’t you see that she had a terrible dream or are you blind?”

Esther sank down in the bed beside Miriam and patted her back. Sweat streaked down Miriam’s body, drenching her cotton night gown. She blinked off a bead of sweat strolling into her eyes.

“Are you okay?” Esther asked.

Unable to find her voice, Miriam could only nod.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Esther asked.

“Should I get you water?”

“I’m fine,” Miriam muttered.

“What did you dream of?” Ella asked.

Movement around the door caught Miriam’s eye. She turned toward the door just in time to see a figure walk through it. Hyperventilating, Miriam pointed at the door with a trembling hand. Her eye balls rolled back in her head and she collapsed backward, losing consciousness.

“God!” Amara flattened her palm on her
chest.

“Miriam!” Ella called, moving to touch her.
“Miriam, please wake up. Oh God! What are we going to do nah?”