When she found herself isolated somewhere in the middle of a Forest, her reaction was that of any normal human- Panic. It was a windy, chilly, moonless night. The sounds that came from the rustling of leaves, chirping of crickets, and the swooshing air made her all the more nervous. She was a few seconds away from emptying her bladder.

She did exactly that when she saw the figure that approached her from the darkness. It was an eerie combination of man and tree. Its legs and hands were tree branches that sprouted out of its human torso. Its hair, leaves and flowers that rested on its human skull. The half-tree/half-man walked towards her with all the gait of royalty. And, although, she was quite tall herself, she felt like a dwarf being in close proximity to the figure.

When it opened its mouth to speak, a great, raging wind swept across the Forest, rustling the fallen dried leaves, causing the branches on the tall trees to move this way and that.

”Oluronbi” It called ”Your time to fulfill your end of the bargain is long overdue”

Oluronbi’s heart skipped, raced and bounced all at once. She knew exactly what it was talking about. She remembered what desperation had driven her to do years ago. She knew how she had, without thinking much of the repercussion, made a promise she was now unwilling to go through with

”Please” she begged ”I need more time. He’s my first son”

”You have had more than enough time!” The figure retorted ”Give us what you owe to us”

”Please” she pleaded once more, this time on her knees. ”It’s not easy for me. Please”. Hot streams of tears accompanied her pleas. She now wished she never made that promise those years back. But, of course, she had to. She had to do just anything to save her marriage. She was barren, desperate and on the verge of being thrown out of her home by her impatient in-laws. The bitter memories replayed afresh in her mind. How her husband, at that time, had promised to stick with her,but she knowing it was only a matter of time before, even he, turned against her. He was, after all, an African man and needed children to continue his legacy. It was this desperation that drove her to make a bargain with the Iroko god. The term was simple: the Iroko god would bless Oluronbi with children, and, in return, she would give back the first of the children as an offering to the Iroko god when he turned 10. It was now there years since the act was due.

”We have run out of patience, dear child. Give to us that which is owed to us. If you refuse, we will take not just him, but we will take the others too.” It threatened ”Remember, a promise made is a debt owed”
Oluronbi bolted awake from her nightmare drenched in her own sweat. Her first action was to dash out of her room, straight into her son’s . When she got there, she met him sleeping peacefully on his bed. The clock on the wall said 11:49pm. Only a few minutes to her son’s, Adekunle, thirteenth birthday. She placed a hand on his chest, where his heart was, just to confirm that he was still breathing. He was. Seeing her son sleep so blissfully, her resolve hardened even more. There was no way in Heaven or Hell she would give up her son to that blood-thirsty, monstrous deity. She wished her husband were with her, and not away in Ilorin for some business meeting.