The Slave - S01 E03

2 years ago

The Slave - S01 E03

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 3

Ukeh didn’t know when he slept off on Nma’s laps. The sound of crying and wailing got him jumping on his feet. As he stood and wondered what was happening. Nma ran out of the kitchen to him. He held and looked closely at her before asking.

“I heard noises, what is happening? Why are people shouting and wailing”

Nma who seemed not to also know the reason for the shouting replied him fearfully

“I also do not know, You slept off while we were talking, I didn’t want to bother you so I allowed you sleep peacefully and I went into the kitchen to prepare something for you to eat when you wake up. It was the crying that I heard that has made me run out too”.

“Go back inside, Ukeh shouted while running off. “Go back inside and remain indoors, I will confirm what is happening. lock the doors tightly and do not open for anyone until I return.

With this he dashed out and Nma did exactly as he had instructed. She was an orphan who grew up under her grand mother who also passed on few years back. Her father had died before she was born and her mother joined him when she was only seven years old. She grew up as a lonely child because the villagers tagged her and her grand mother witches. She experienced great stigma amongst her mates. It was not until Ukeh became her friend that people started talking to her gradually.

Ukeh was a young warrior who took after his father who was also a warrior before his death. And so anyone that treats whoever or whatever Ukeh loves bad, is an enemy of Ukeh. And no one wants to be an enemy to Ukeh.

He was a smart, young, handsome and brave man. The girls all admired him and the elders listen to him because he spoke sense. Because of him Nma was able to live freely in the village.

Ukeh ran so hard as he saw people running too. They were all running towards the same direction and so it wasn’t difficult to follow. It didn’t take Ukeh much time to figure out that the noise and wailings was coming from his compound. He became even more terrified as he increased his speed.

When he got to his compound he saw a small crowd. He pushed through the crowd and when he finally came through he couldn’t believe his eyes. His own mother was lying lifeless with a big rope tied to her neck. She had been strangled to death.

“Noooooooo” Ukeh cried, who did this? Who did this to my mother?

The young men around tried to hold and console him as they all surrounded and tried to lift him up.

“Nti! Nti! Nti! Where is Nti? Where is my sister? Someone talk to me.

“They’ve taken her”

When Ukeh heard those words his heart skipped. He didn’t seem to understand the sentence.

“They’ve taken her, he repeated. Who have taken her? Who took Nti? Who took her?

He screamed with all his might.

Ola who was his best friend, held him by his shoulder and replied him.

“I was on my way from hunting when I heard your little sister screaming, I quickly rushed in here only to see three white boys carrying her away. I wanted to follow but then they pointed those thier sticks towards me, I couldn’t do anything. When they left, I ran to check on your mom but she was already gone. I believe she put up a fight with them and they had to shut her up by strangling her with that rope.

Ukeh was furious as he sprang up and ran inside the house, he grabbed a very long and sharp Cutlass and races inside the bushes. The young men who were around ran after him calling out to him but he didn’t answer.

Ukeh ran into the bushes, screaming Nti’s name, scattering and searching every tree, every grass, every space bit by bit, even the young men and women joined in the search, but neither Nti nor the white boys were seen.

Ukeh sat on the ground and wept like a baby. His greatest fear has just hit him like a rock to his face.