Song: Adiepena - KiDi
*Unedited* (Because Spotify isn't available in my country yet😡)
The rain had stopped sometime during the night. I was shivering. It was cold. Too cold. I never knew the nights got so cold. That was because I'd never slept outside before. It made me wonder about the homeless people. How did they go through each day, not knowing whether they'd get a safe, warm place to sleep at night?
The thought alone seemed so horrible. There were people in that mansion, and not one of them wondered what it would be like to sleep in the cold. I couldn't blame them though. I was them before that night. Now, I couldn't imagine how I'd spent every night comfortable in my own bed when there were people who scarcely had any clothes on their backs. People who didn't have any homes.
The sun began to rise as morning came by. The security guards were coming out. I didn't want them to see me stark naked, yet I didn't know where I could hide myself from them. I rushed to the small rose garden, feeling rose thorns ruthlessly prick me.
I was comfortable there for a while – though slightly bleeding from the thorns in my flesh – when I saw the gardener come out of his shed, ready to tend to his garden. I tensed, wrapping my arms around my body.
He was getting nearer by the second. I felt my heart jump into my mouth. I rushed out of the garden without thinking, seeing the gardener's eyes bulge as he took in my naked form. I ran past the guards who looked equally shocked on seeing me, and jumped into the pool with a loud splash. The pool was cold and dirty, seeing that it had been rained in the previous night.
I was still shivering, but it was worth it, seeing that the men couldn't see my naked form. I noticed one or two guards shoot me a smirk, but I ignored them. My pride was in shambles and I honestly couldn't care less if they saw anything. I just didn't want to be raped, which was why I was hiding myself from them.
The day pressed on, and in true Ghanaian fashion, the atmosphere became hot. Too hot. The sun was shining with all its might focused on me. Every other person had taken refuge under some shade, but I couldn't. If I came out of the pool, they'd see me naked.
The sun was more ruthless than I imagined. I submerged myself under the pool, almost sighing with relief when I felt my skin sizzle under the coolness of the pool. I was sure that it was my imagination, but I saw vapour rise from my body.
I came out when I needed to breathe, but soon, the heat had me submerging myself once more. The rest of the day was pure torture. I was hungry by the time the sun had set. Hungry and exhausted from submerging and emerging from the dirty pool.
When it was dark, Kofi came out. His eyes strode over to the pool, but I doubted if he'd even seen me. He went to speak to some of the guards, and the way they glanced at me, I knew he was talking about me. When he was done, he went to speak with the gardener, whose garden was a distance away from the pool and the front door. Maybe, if I made a run for it, I could get inside and grab some clothes before he inevitably kicked me out again.
Getting out of the pool wasn't as easy as I thought, and I made too much noise. There were eyes on me before I even made it out. I began to run, ignoring the shouts and footsteps behind me as the guards chased after me.
I was nearly at the door, when he appeared in front of me.
He couldn't have gotten there that fast.
My heart was racing with fear and shock just at the sight of him. The guards stopped, waiting, and watching to see what would happen next.
"How was your night?" Kofi asked, with no emotion on display.
I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself. There was no use begging him. He was a monster. "Good."
"Very well. I reckon you won't mind spending another out here?"
I kept mute, mentally slapping myself for opening my smelly mouth. I hadn't brushed. "I –"
"Okay, if you want to so badly. Goodnight," he said. He went in and slammed the door in front of my face.
I stood, staring at him through the door. As usual, his face betrayed no emotion.
"You'll regret treating me like this," I said. I wasn't sure if he could hear me through the door, but he probably could, because he heard when I begged him to let me in last night, and I heard when he so brazenly told me 'no'.
"I doubt it," he said. He retreated, going back in.
I turned around, shocked and vulnerable as the guards stared at me with hungry eyes. I was gripped with fear as I walked past them and went back into the pool. It was freezing cold. The temperature was lower than I thought it could go. I wasn't even aware that temperatures such as this were present in my country. My teeth were chattering and my body desperately craved rest after staying awake the whole night last night.
I climbed out of the pool, feeling light-headed. I wondered briefly if if I slept, I'd fall into a hypothermic coma, but I quickly berated myself. It couldn't be that cold. The pool was just cold, not freezing. If anything, I was just exaggerating. I dragged myself to the entrance of the mansion, knocking as much as I could in my weakened state.
"Please," I whispered, the hunger, exhaustion, and cold driving me up the wall. I knocked again, harder, but it was a big mansion and whoever needed to hear me knocking wouldn't care. I slumped against the door, falling asleep before I even realised.
When I woke up the next morning, the air was harsh and hot. My lips were cracked from dehydration. I could feel the harmattan coming. It would come after Christmas was past and the new year loomed.
I couldn't even imagine looking forward to the future. Maybe he was planning to kill me for ruining his relationship with his brothers. This was the cruellest thing he could've ever done, and to be honest, I didn't expect it. I thought he wouldn't put my wellbeing at stake. I thought I was priceless.
I was wrong.
Would this be how I die? If so, what a useless and pathetic life! The thought made me laugh, which turned into a nasty cough. The guards were out again, but I craved the coolness of the pool, not the cover it provided.
I was thirsty and hungry too. I was too weak to walk back to the pool. I didn't want to exaggerate and drag myself to the pool, so I summoned my last ounce of energy and pulled myself up and stumbled towards my destination. I sighed once my burnt skin came into contact with the cool water.
I was lucky I was blessed with melanin. If I weren't, the sun burning down on me would've probably killed me off by now.
I knew the pool water was filled with chemicals that probably weren't safe to drink, but it'd been mixed with rainwater. I inhaled the water, quenching my thirst. I began to cough as I had been drinking too fast. When my coughing fit was over, I drank the water slowly. I was too delirious to focus on the taste.
Night approached quickly, and this time, I climbed out of the pool and slept on the side. When I woke up the next morning, it was afternoon and the sun was beating down on my naked body. I groaned and climbed back into the pool. The sun wasn't so bad that day, and the clouds were doing a good job of covering it at regular intervals.
The front door to the mansion opened and Kofi came out. A white towel was draped over his shoulder and he was wearing a pair of sunglasses. He wore slippers and blue beach shorts. Behind him, the prostitutes were clothed in scanty swimwear – the females at least. The males wore beach shorts with respectable lengths, similar to that of Kofi.
"It rained in the pool. Won't it be dirty?" I heard one of the female prostitutes ask. I didn't think that Kofi talked to the prostitutes because he ignored her. Some servants came and arranged several of those poolside chairs I'd seen on television behind me.
None of the prostitutes acknowledged my presence. I was sure they'd been told something. They began to play in the pool, laughing and flirting. Barbie wasn't present, but Ginger was. She didn't even spare me a glance.
Kofi was resting on one of the chairs, with his bold sunglasses on. He removed them and I realised that he was looking at me. The prostitutes kept their distance because the pool was big enough to do that.
I was too hungry and weak to even bother about them. That is, until the males began to dive. I didn't care at first, but I realised that they all seemed to dive and chatter excitedly about something. It was then that I realised that they were looking at me. Blood rushed up to my cheeks as I blushed furiously. I pushed myself to the edge of the pool, pondering whether I should climb out or not. I glanced back at Kofi. He was looking at me.
I stayed at the corner, deciding that climbing out would be worse. The men continued to dive, making me cross my legs and cover my chest with my arms. It was when the sound of thunder boomed, shaking me to the core that they decided that their pool day was over. I was thankful, yet jealous that they would get to go back inside.
They began to climb out, sad that their day had ended. The males looked at me when they left, smiling smugly. I felt violated.
Kofi gathered his stuff and began to leave just as I felt my stomach begin to eat itself. I wanted to cry out, the indecision tightening my chest as he was coming up to me, but on his way to the mansion.
"Ko–Kofi," I murmured, my voice sounding foreign.
"Yes?" He asked.
"I..."
"You what?"
Would it matter? Would begging him matter or just wound my pride even further? "Nothing." I replied, looking down.
"Good," he said. He went inside.
I cried. I would've cried harder if I were stronger.
It was past dawn when it started drizzling. My tummy was rumbling angrily and my eyes were involuntarily closing. It was so cold that I was afraid to fall asleep, scared that I might actually go into a hypothermic coma. I banged my head against the bank of the pool. The pain managed to keep me awake for a while.
I heard a sound near me and I screamed as my eyes jerked open. I'd been so close to falling asleep. It was Kofi and he was holding a white towel.
I blinked up at him, confused.
"Get out," he said, ignoring my eyes.
I blinked voluntarily again. "W-what?"
"Would you like to spend another night here?"
"It's a-already m-morning," I would've pointed to the rising sun if I had the strength. I hadn't eaten in four days.
"Just get out," he said, already exasperated.
I didn't want to die, so I didn't annoy him any further. When I got out of the pool, I couldn't even stand on my feet. The fact that I could move was very surprising to me. I was barely upright for three seconds as he draped the towel around me, then I fell.
I relished resting on the ground as I tightened the towel around me. The warmth was very welcome.
"Get up," he said. His voice betrayed no emotion.
I didn't dare disobey him, not wanting to spend another night outside. I was sure I'd die. I pushed myself up, but I was only able to make it to my knees before I fell back, on all fours. "I can't." I murmured.
"Good," he said. He roughly threw me over his shoulder, and even though it was very uncomfortable with his shoulder digging into my stomach, I was grateful. I couldn't walk and I didn't want to stay a second outside any longer.
He sent me up to his room and my shivering became even more violent. The air conditioner was on full power. I was grateful when he turned it off. Surprisingly, he put me in his own bed, draping the covers over me.
"Sleep," he ordered. Who was I to disobey?
* * *
When I woke up the next morning, I was sure that my stomach had consumed itself. I felt weak and useless, as my body was completely drained of any kind of energy. Was this the kind of hunger my family was suffering?
The door opened. Kofi was already dressed and looked as emotionless as ever. "Are you hungry?" He asked.
It was very warm, but I was still naked and still traumatised. I didn't pull back the covers. I nodded in reply to his question.
"I wouldn't have asked, since you haven't eaten in a while, but you've been asleep for two days straight. Hungry people can't sleep that much." He eyed his watch.
"T-two days?" I asked. My voice didn't sound like it belonged to me.
"You slept the whole of Tuesday and Wednesday. It's Thursday."
"Oh."
He left the room and returned with a tray. It was a tray of oatmeal, baked beans, toasted bread, and bacon, topped with pineapples. He sat next to my sleeping form. "I think you're too weak to feed yourself, aren't you? It's your fault, really. You needed to be taught a lesson." He leaned closer to my face. "Don't ever get between my brothers and me again. Have I made myself clear?"
I nodded, eyeing the food hungrily.
"Good." He forked one of the cubed pineapples and fed it to me. I pushed myself up so that the food wouldn't choke me, keeping the sheets pulled up to my neck.
He fed me every last morsel of food that was on the plate. It wasn't much, especially for someone who hadn't eaten for almost a week, but I assumed that that was intentional. Maybe he hadn't finished torturing me.
"Take a shower. You smell terrible."
I nodded, pulling the towel around me. I didn't shower for too long, even though I was slightly stronger from eating. I just wanted to hit the sheets again. When I came back outside with the towel wrapped tightly around me, Kofi had changed the sheets and was resting comfortably on the bed. I stood on the small carpet at the entrance of the bathroom, feeling vulnerable and awkward.
Kofi spared me a glance. "Get dressed. Or don't. I don't mind."
I wouldn't be naked for a second if I could help it. I rushed into the walk-in closet, going over to my half of the room. I picked out the most decent dress I could find. It was a flair dress that reached my knees, yet the back of the dress dipped down so that you could almost see the top of my butt. I picked out some black cotton panties and quickly donned them, wearing the dress too.
I came out, waiting for him to tell me what to do. He lazily opened his eyes after a while and glanced at me. "I do have good taste. Do you like it?" He asked, referring to the dress.
I nodded. "Um, can I ask something?"
He grinned. "Go ahead."
"Did you buy all these yourself? I mean, handpick them?"
"I did."
"Even the underwear?" I asked.
"Yes."
I wondered how he knew what size I wore. I didn't expect the clothes to fit, seeing what happened the last time he got me clothes, but they did.
I stood quietly.
"Come," he finally said.
I looked at him. "What?"
"You look tired. Come to bed."
I stared at him incredulously. "What?"
"You want to sleep outside again?" He asked, sitting up.
"N-no," I shook my head, eyes wide with fear.
He smirked. "Then come."
I went up to the bed, cautiously. He shifted to the right side to make room for me. I scolded myself for even feeling scared. This was Kofi. He doesn't care for these carnal pleasures. He probably doesn't even feel them. I wondered if he'd feel aroused if I touched him.
I wasn't going to find out.
I daren't.
"I hope you've learnt your lesson?" He asked, just as I pressed my face against the pillow.
I nodded and turned my face away as tears began to flow down my cheeks.
"Good. The prostitutes have gone to work twice this week. This night is their second out. The auctions are held thrice every week. You've missed three nights of work already." I waited for him to continue. "All this will be deducted from your pay check, which means less money to be sent to your starving family."
I bit the insides of my cheek. I soon tasted the metallic taste of blood. I didn't want anyone to go through the hunger I'd gone through. Much less my family. "When can I start working?" I asked.
He was silent for a while. I could tell he was surprised. "The next auction will be Saturday."
"Okay," I replied.
"But you're still a virgin." He said.
"Maybe some of them will be fine with that."
He was silent for a long while. I was almost asleep when he said, "I didn't think it'd be this easy."
"You didn't think what would be so easy?"
"Breaking you."
* * *
When I woke up again, Kofi was gone. There was a dent where he'd slept. I'd slept so much that I was sluggish. I was hungry again, and my stomach was just begging me to go down to the kitchen. Before I could get out of bed though, the door opened and Michael walked in. I felt my whole body bristle with anger. Where was he when I was suffering outside? Probably sleeping with his fiancée so that she could pin her bastard child on him.
"How are you?" He asked, looking uncomfortable.
"I'm fine," I spat, with more vehemence than necessary.
He sat on the bed. "I'm sorry."
"For what, exactly? I can't possibly imagine what to start forgiving you for."
He ignored me. "Where have you been?"
I sat up. "You mean you don't know?"
"Know what?"
Somehow, I felt relief that he didn't know. Deep down, I still cared, and I still believed that he cared. It would hurt me to know that he'd known yet he didn't do anything to help me.
"Nothing."
"I didn't see you among the prostitutes when they left." He said.
"Yes, I didn't go."
He looked at me. "Why not?"
I wondered where Kofi was. "Why are you here?"
The look on his face morphed into guilt. "There's something I should've told you from the beginning."
Fear gripped my heart. I know that tone, that look. It was the same as the time when he'd confessed to me that he'd just used me to forgo his responsibilities as chief. Just like before, I didn't know what it was, but I was already so scared. Scared that he'd say something that would send me spiraling into despair. "What is it?"
"Elorm," he drew nearer to me. "it's your brother. Elikem."
"W-what happened to him?" I asked, just as tears pricked my eyes.
"He went missing Elorm." He turned his head away, unable to look into my eyes.
I gasped, the tears running down my cheeks. Not Elikem. Not him. Please, God, not him. If anyone didn't deserve any of this, it was him. He was just a baby born to the wrong family. He hadn't done anything to anyone. "W-what do you mean?"
"He disappeared. Nobody knows what happened. One day he was there, the next he wasn't."
I choked back a sob, but I couldn't stop myself from wailing. Michael turned to me, torn between comforting me and maintaining his distance. I made it easy for him by getting up from the bed and resting my head against the wall, crying my heart out. The thought of my innocent little brother suffering in anyway had my chest tightening with grief. He didn't deserve this.
I looked at the ceiling, wondering where God was.
"He's i-innocent," I managed to push the word past my loud sobs. I wiped my neck which was now wet with tears. My chest hurt both physically and emotionally. He didn't deserve this.
I didn't hear anything from Michael for a while. Then I heard him make it to his feet. "It's your fault after all. If you weren't such a whore, none of this would've happened."
I stiffened, anger and sorrow surging through me and creating a horrifying new emotion. "My fault?" I whispered.
"Yes, your fault. There are consequences for your actions Elorm. Your innocent brother paid for your whoring. There are rumours that someone took him and killed him as revenge for what you did to our village. For leaving us without a chief."
I scoffed. "If I remember correctly, you never even wanted to be chief. And why didn't you just marry someone else? Your father didn't have to say anything. He didn't have to turn the village against innocent people!"
"They're not innocent people! It's their fault you're like this," he sneered. "your parents, I mean."
My eyes widened. "What about my other brothers? Are they okay?"
"Hungry, but fine. Even that's your fault. Why do you have to be such a whore?"
I chuckled bitterly. "I'm a whore? I'm a whore? No Michael. The real whore is your pregnant fiancée."
He stiffened. "What nonsense are you saying? Etornam and I haven't had sex."
"Of course, you haven't," I mocked him. "the child isn't yours. I doubt she even knows whose it is." It was easier to dwell on rage and anger than on sadness. Sadness made you feel helpless; like there was nothing you could do. You only sit and watch as the darkness pulls you under, wrapping you in the cold of despair.
But anger allowed you to lash out. Anger and rage wanted you to lash out. They weren't content with just torturing you. They wanted everyone around you to feel some of the pain you felt, be it emotional or physical. Anger was a monster. Anger made you a monster.
"Shut up! Etornam is nothing like you! She's a decent girl!"
I laughed again. "You've lied to yourself so much that you've even begun to believe it."
"If you don't shut up that whore mouth of yours!"
"What will you do?" I laughed. "Beat me? Go ahead. Show me how much of your father's son you are."
His eyes blazed. "I wonder how I could've ever thought I was in love with you."
I didn't let my voice or expression betray how much his words had hurt me. "Same here. I don't know how I could've forgotten that you used me. Point of correction, you tried to use me. You never believed me, did you? You always thought I really was guilty of all the allegations they mounted against me."
"No. I have to admit you had me fooled for a while."
I shook my head, wiping the tears away. "You're a fool. You're a real fool, and I hope that someday, you'll realise how wrong you are. Most of all, I hope that it'll be too late."
He glared at me. "I should've never even stepped foot in this cursed place."
"No, I'm glad you did. Your arrival here opened my eyes. I won't ever stay up at night, crying for you again. I'm glad you showed me who you really are. I'm glad you killed the love I had for you." I said, a note of finality to my voice.
He looked shocked for a second, then the expression faded into one of anger. "Likewise. Have a nice life. I hope you find the satisfaction you seek in the arms of all those strangers."
"And I hope you find the satisfaction you seek in raising another man's child."
He started for me, then stopped, probably reconsidering his decision to hit me. He turned around and stormed out of the room, whilst I crumpled to the ground, crying. The love I felt for him wasn't dead. It was dimmed, sure. But not dead. I still loved him, and that was why it hurt so badly.
To top it all off, my brother was gone. My innocent brother, who was too young to even know the difference between good and evil. My God, he hadn't even had the chance to utter his first words! How cruel could this world be? Who could even think of harming such a helpless being?
I'd somehow ended up in a child pose, hiccupping violently and sniffing after my crying session. I suddenly felt my stomach twist horribly, and I rushed to the bathroom, vomiting my guts out. I stared into the toilet bowl, surprised to see clear water. My body was rejecting the pool water I'd drank to keep hydrated.
I leant over the bowl, vomiting again. I heard the door open, and just from the power of his presence, I knew it was Kofi. I leant against the wall and weakly rinsed my mouth. When I went out, he was looking at me curiously.
I noticed the mountain of food resting on a tray in his hands.
"Are you okay?" He asked, putting the tray on the bed.
"I think my body is just rejecting the pool water."
"You drank the pool water?" He asked, shocked.
At this, I felt the anger rising for the first time since my time spent outside. "How else did you expect me to survive?"
He frowned. "Don't talk to me like that."
I lowered my gaze to my feet as the fear crawled up my spine. I hiccupped again, violently.
"Why were you crying?" He asked.
I looked at him. "Michael came in here." I didn't think it was necessary to tell him about my brother. He wouldn't even care.
He nodded, accepting my explanation. "Come."
I went and sat beside him. Even though I was stronger now, he still fed me. I was sure he knew that I'd kill myself from eating too fast if he let me feed myself.
I was still hungry when he stopped feeding me. I looked at him expectantly, but he just picked a spoon and began to eat himself.
"Why are you half starving me?" I asked.
"Because I want to." He said.
I had a lot more questions, but I daren't ask them.
"I have to admit, even though your obedient self pleases me, I like you more when you're angry and defiant."
"Why?" I asked.
He chuckled, sounding like he didn't even believe himself. "I live a boring life. You're a nice change." He grinned at me.
I refocused my gaze on the food. "Can I have some more? I mean, if you want to give me some."
"When you ask like that, it's hard to say no." He replied, feeding me another spoon.
* * *
Ugh, these chapters made me sad, but they're necessary. I just hate to see a woman being oppressed by a stupid male.
Let's just hope Elorm can save herself!
I hate Michael by the way.
Heck I hate every male character, even Nathan and Wolfgang. They didn't try hard enough. But Elorm doesn't need them. She can take care of herself ;)
See you in the next chapter!
Don't forget to vote! 🌟