nobody

..And Lot's wife looked back and was turned to a pillar of salt... Genesis 19:26


I closed the bible and decided it was too late for me to understand anything this late at night or not?

I didn't want my step-father to get back from his office to meet me here reading the bible or even trying to understand any part of it.

"God does not exist, he is just a fairytale,no listen carefully, he is a story the whites used in oppressing us during the colonial times,to imprison our minds,to.."

"That is not true Father, our teacher says that God is all powerful, all.."

Wham!

I stepped back a little, my cheek burning, then going numb.. i was used to it. The slaps,the yelling, the play pretend whenever Mommy got back from her long trips and the icing on the cake.. the women he brought back with him, but this was a week ago and now it's midnight and he isn't back.. i couldn't pray for him to meet misfortune on the way.. to be hit by a drunk driver while racing..or to be captured by occultists looking for prey or to be taken away to hell by unseen forces. I am a christian, a daughter of God one who will be chosen with his Son and many other angels to defeat the devil and his followers.. i will not harbor bad thoughts around me.. maybe, maybe not.

It is past two now.

Father is yet to arrive and before it strikes three, the power holding company will interrupt the power supply but i don't care.. my room is always dark anyway.. i don't get to see much of the light but it doesn't hurt. I love the darkness, i feel powerful in it..breath taking power.. energy moving around me.. licking my humanity away.. Fr.Amadi says this is very bad.. that only evil people like the darkness, so i ask him..

"if only evil people should be linked to darkness,why did God create it?"

He doesn't answer, he only prays for me and looks at me with pity. I just stare at him, wondering on his ignorance.

There are footsteps approaching the door, It will be Father.. my fine step father.. the only thing beautiful about him is his face.. his inner self is filled with evil and i know it.. i can feel it.. does this make me evil too?

Father enters into the house with a man, probably his co-worker and yells for my name.

Lucy! Lue!

I pretend that i cant hear his ugly voice calling my name, like i said the only beautiful thing about him is his face. He will call me three times and after i will respond

Llluuuccccy!!

I get up from my bed and rush like a thief been chased by an angry mob and finally see him down the stairs staring at me with anger plastered on his face, his co-worker sitting by the door watching me walk to him.

"Yes father"

"Didn't you hear me call your name twice?"

I say nothing.

"are you deaf?"

"no father i heard i was just busy but i.."

Wham,wham!

My cheek drains it all and his co-worker comes rushing to me before i fall. He catches me right on time and makes me stand well.. he looks at my father and says many things before leaving with a disgusted look.

Father doesn't take this well and after he leaves he rushes into his room to bring his fine belt to beat life out of me.. it is not new.. i have tasted fire before so nothing surprises me anymore.

"Lie down"

I lie.

Father delivers 24 fine strokes on my back and after tells me to stand up.

"Remove your dress"

My mind races.. since when has he beaten me and later tried to nurse my wounds?

"dont let me repeat myself.."

Mechanically i start to remove it... my satin dress falls to the ground and he stares at me with evil lustful eyes..

"come closer"

I go to him and he touches me in many bad ways.. my body is'nt mine anymore..

Father rapes me there and i don't say a word.. i didn't struggle, i lie back on my bed like a log after he threatens to kill me if i tell anyone,i only plan for revenge.

I will kill him first.

I won't look back like Lot's wife.

I will stab him in all the places he touched me and let my evil be born.

Fr.Amadi didn't pray enough.

Happy birthday Souloho19.
Age with grace
Bigger you i pray.

Lovely story Debbie
Keep the fire burning

The César Egido Serrano Foundation is the non-profit Foundation convener of this initiative, and whose objective is to use words and therefore dialogue as a tool for understanding between different cultures and religions. The competition first prize is $20,000 for the best short story. All entries will be evaluated by an international jury of great prestige, and the finalist’s stories will be published. A maximum of two stories per person of no more than 100 words each, should be submitted from the following link:

https://www.fundacioncesaregidoserrano.com/en/activities/short-tales-contest/5-edition/participation-form/lang/en-GB

If you consider it appropriate to inform your contacts, and one of them is winner in the contest, you will also get a $1,000 prize.

Each participant recommended by you, should enter the following identification code in the registration form:

43760

The Museo de la Palabra is a heritage site of the Fundación César Egido Serrano, it is located in Quero, Toledo (Spain), on the first route of Don Quixote.

While submitting your stories please enter the code above and here too "43760" as i have decided to inform you all.

Thanks

Wanderlustafrik:
After copying each story and checking the word count through word processor, the following are the shortlisted contestants :

Jetjacky
ProFuhrer
Lillyjoe
GSteve001
Yungbrowhne
Illicit
Cmyname
Poik
Wroxxane
Kenlisa

PS: These people kept to the word count but canvassed for votes. OluwabuqqyYOLO chipapii

Review still ongoing. Winner will be announced...

Geosilye she writes onemanlegion why is your name not up there?
Did you miss the word count? Or canvassed for votes?

I missed the word count , I think mine was lower..

Gearing up for the next competition

Wanderlustafrik:
Geosilye OneManlegion kindly pm me.

Souloho19 SheWrites marianneada chipapii

Chipapii things are looking good for you.
If everything is at is now by noon tomorrow,kindly pm me your details for your prize.

Hii WanderlustAfrik

How do i contact you?

Wanderlustafrik:
Im definitely a fan now@ Geosilye.

Feels
(this is also reverse poetry which can be read from top to bottom and bottom to top.. lol )



My mind is a web
An eternity in tiny threads
Spin by spiders of unstability
Guilt and depression

My heart is an iced room
A room carved out by untold tears
Frozen by anger
Hate and hurt

My head is a wide path
Walked on by jealousy
Anxiety and fear

My soul is lost
Standing on a junction
Led by unanswered questions
Self-denial and emptiness

Foolish Lover


The smell of petrol is breath taking
The tyre round my neck chokes me
And the ground shreds my knee
Blood begging to be released.
For you I did things
A fool wouldn't dare to do.
But the eyes of the people
Surrounding me
Are not sharper than the daggers
That I feel in my heart.
If I received the call
Of your betrayal
A minute earlier
I would not have come here
To pluck where I didn't sow
The shouts of the women pierce my ears
And the kicks from the men deform my soul
For you I stole
And now for you I die
The fire tearing me apart
Is not worst than your lies
Deceit and greed
My soul will haunt you down
Till your last breath.

11.Dark Stories

(19 years ago)

Day:30th April 1998

"Well congratulations,you are a week gone.it was hard to find the fetus but after checking properly we found the baby after sometime we will be able to determine the sex of the baby..now make sure you eat lots of fruits and vegetables and also take proper exercises,come for check up every.."

I was not even bothered about the information Dr.Paul was passing to me,i kept thinking of this new being in me..my child.How was i going to explain to my parents,what would they think of me?i had a promising future at Silver Flag school and as the head prefect i was not expected to have this child,this thing would tarnish my image,it would degrade me in the eyes of many..but we only had sex twice..and after that promised not to have sex till we were married..i rubbed my tummy,i stared at Dr.Paul. He was still giving me more information on how to take care of the baby and this and that until i my lips parted

"Dr.Paul i don't want this child"

He stared at me. His face a mixture of displeasure and pity. He dropped his glasses,went to this mini fridge brought out two bottles of water,sat down and breathing out loudly,gave me a bottle to drink from.

I looked at the bottle and then watched him drink his. He is just 32 and after graduating from medical school and completing his masters abroad in Canada came back to continue his pratice.

I had a past with him,something that would have become a future if not for the pressure from my friends to get a boyfriend after he left me to study medicine abroad.

I waited two years for him and heard nothing from him.i finally gave up waiting and accepted Amadi's request..the health prefect in our school.
Paul came close to me and lifted my shameful head..his eyes were more gray than brown and i felt them penetrate and read my inner thoughts..He stroked my hair..my long soft hair,the hair i was supposed to braid today but i had lied to my mum about going to a salon so as to come and confirm for myself if I was pregnant..

He kept stroking my hair and i dropped a tear..

"Paul i dont want this child,please do something about it..my whole life will go down in flames and.."

My tears started dropping..a lump gathered in my throat suffocating the air and i could not talk or breath..i just kept sobbing and it reduced to tears.

"Tell me what happened Chi and i'll see what i can do"

I managed to clean my tears and started narrating my ordeal with Amadi..how he had promised to marry me and have children..

"The first time was during food and nutrion period when everyone was at the kitchen in school.i was down with a fever and Amadi offered to take me to the sick bay as my boyfriend and the school prefect,after checking with the school nurse,she requested that i rest there and made Amadi watch over me while she attended a meeting"

I paused and watched Paul's reaction..it was still the same..pity.I sighed and continued

"Amadi laid me on the bed and sat by me.he was really nice and i dozed off,just then i felt something hard squeeze my breasts..i..i thought i
was dreaming so i ignored it..it was a nice type of feeling anyway..but then something touched my legs and i opened my eyes and found
Amadi's hand over me..he was smiling and the way his face was i couldn't explain.i didn't do anything i just stared at him,i never asked him to
stop because i was enjoying what was happening..then he unbuttoned his shirt and i saw how beautiful he looked..i sat up on the bed and touched him too..he smiled and then started opening my shirt and then he kissed me..i said nothing but i responded and i felt no shame..i liked every bit of it..He pulled my bra away and my twins stood erect..he circled them with his fingers and drew me closer..our skirt and trousers were the only walls left..then he laid me gently on the bed and kissed me all over,my body was all warm and i was happy..he sucked life out of me and pushed me in him..it was the same the second time but that time i pretended to be sick and we did it all again.."

He looked at me and touched my lips and hugged me and then he whispered..

"i'll marry you"

I cried

10b.Darkness

I woke up after something heavy landed on me. My eyes spread wide open to see Madam Tina furiously staring at me. She had something in her hand,"if i could only see what it was" i said to myself.
I got up and finally my vision cleared.
Phahh!
I received the dirtiest slap from Madam Tina,my face was customised to her slaps and beatings but no not this slap,this deadly slap sent shock to every part of my body and then my eyes burst out tears,my eyes were probably bloodshot. I could not speak,i just stared at Madam Tina with wet anger until she raised her hands to my face.

"What is this?!" she shouted

I looked at her hand,it was the drugs i was supposed to take tomorrow,my death day,the day i would float away,the day my tears would dry up,the day..
Tuwaii!
My ears recorded the sound of another vicious slap and i felt my face melt..it was the same spot that she had delivered the other slap.."why me?" i thought. She kept on asking what the drugs were for and i could not even stammer a reply.
i know that she knows what they are for because once while cleaning up her room i saw something of a nursing degree certificate in her room,it was beautifully decorated.. "Edochie Valentina Obioma bestowed on this day with so and so.." my mind did not wander far when i felt something hit my hand sending me to the floor..i crashed on the floor and i felt my nose bleed..blood pouring out it..my head was running in circles..i was still on the floor..i felt my vision blurring out,my breath becoming short.
Madam Tina was hiting me,kicking me with her legs,my tummy,my head..my entire body was on fire..i didn't stop the tears..they flowed freely..she kept saying things about how i wanted to kill myself and let the neighbors put the blame on her..i couldn't say a word. My mouth was bitter and my lips were salty with tears.

"Let me die already am tired of leaving anyway"

And then darkness came upon me and i could feel my heart stop..
i could feel my life slip away..it felt like dying a thousand times..and then all i could think of was why i was even ever born..
Peace came upon me..

10.tales
I stared at poor Faith on the sofa,she had manged to sleep after consoling her. It was 4:30 pm and i had finished my duties,what was left for me was to turn on the generator because the light company had failed like always.
I had to wake her up before madam tina gets back from the meeting.she might probably bring a friend or two to discuss about some other things because she hates staying out late at night and is always back from wherever she goes to before 6pm except on saturdays in which she goes out with aunty patricia to God knows where. Aunty patricia is her friend who has refused to get married and prefers to be single. she is kind and noisy but is beautiful too. The last time she went out with aunty patricia,she came back home with a man and locked her room. I could hear faint sounds but i didn't bother going to check up on her because of the strict orders i was given in which i was not to disturb her till later in the night for dinner.To my amazement that day,madam tina came out to cook a delicious meal of yam pottage even after i had made boiled yam with fried eggs. After she made the pottage,she took out some for her and the man she came with and even asked me to eat out of it. I was so happy,seeing the dried fish and everything made my head bounce..i never felt so satisfied in my life. To cut the story short,the man later left after asking madam tina about me..i dont know what she said but i know he will be back this saturday,probably when i am found lifeless here in this house.
Several tears splashed on my face as i remembered the drugs i was going to take two days from now..my whole life i just wanted to be happy but it felt impossible..
"Faith..Faith wake up..come your mum might be worried about you..come and start to go ohh" i mumbled to her
She stood up and yawned..her eyes were so beautiful..if i was a man i would kiss her..kiss all her worries and tears..just if..
"Irl thanks for today and am glad i have you..i had this dream and i couldn't believe but i was with Tony and we were happy. I had this child in my arms and we were just..never mind i decided on keeping my baby..he'll always remind me of Tony..i'll cherish him forever..*smiles*i know it's a boy..i'll let my mum know too..killing it wouldn't be the best..my mum can explain to my dad and after giving birth i'll still continue schooling. Anyways i just want to let you know that i will be going back to school next week and oh yes i have something for you but tell madam tina ohh..make she no come think say na guy give you.."
She paused a bit and continued
"i love you Irl"
I stared at her and her face lit up with smiles..her eyes were beautiful again..i stared at the gift she brought from her handbag..it was a smartphone..a samsung s5..it looked beautiful and no one but her gave me gifts..
"Thanks Faith..thanks a lot hopefully when you get back we'll talk more..well hopefully.. anyway i love you so much,i forgot to tell you too that i'll be going to register for a name..i chose Genny..do you like it?"
"yea it sounds beautiful..but Genny..you'll still be Irl to me anyway..so till next we meet..ahh your phone *laughs* has my contact stored in it already and i have already registered a sim for you too i used my name if you dont mind..Irl take care and always remember that even if you feel alone i'll always be one call away..okay?"
"yea sure..bye faith"
"bye Genny.."
And then she left..
i stared at the phone..i felt bitter sweet.. i dont know why i started crying but i kept crying and i cried till i remembered the generator i was supposed to turn on..i wiped my tears and went to turn it on.After pulling severally,the lights came on and i walked inside to meet madam tina with the some of her friends as usual.. i greeted them and bought madam tina's dinner at her request and served the drinks to her friends..i remembered the phone and went to display it to madam tina while she had just finished dinner..she started at me and asked who it was from and i told her..she smiled..she always liked Faith i know she wished she was me..she sent me off and after talking with her friends,she told me to lock up the doors and we both went to sleep..it was late at night when the light company brought back the light and i went out to turn off the gen..i laid on my bed and tried to sleep..
I stared at my drugs and sighed..
"I hope tomorrow turns out nice"
That night I saw Faith showing me her baby boy and Myc smiling at me..i didn't forget the woman i saw too in my dreams..