Reborn In Darkness

Episode 24

After almost half an hour of arguing, he sighed and asked me to get back to him as he would consult his friends for help.
“No” I snapped bluntly.
“Am not leaving till you tell me something tangible. How do I know where to find you? Am not leaving this vehicle forget it? If it’s your friends call them now and ask for the solution. You don’t get it do you? Am leaving under hell and I am yet to marry the man I love. I want all this sorted out before that and this is my only chance” I spoke calmly this time stating every word carefully.
He was silent for a while and then decided to drive the car.

“Where are we going?” I asked.
“To get your answers” he carelessly responded.

After driving in circle in a certain shanty compound, he asked I follow him outside to some house he was pointing a finger at. I smiled in my head happy that now I was going to get my solution.
“Let me remove this jacket I feel hot” he signaled turning back to the car as I waited outside.

I was staring around when I heard the car engine reviving and by the time I realized what was happening, he drove away at a great speed leaving me mouth open in the middle of the road.
“That b—–d! “ I snarled angrily.
“Oh God, what now?” I asked myself, feeling desperate. Luckily I had carried some money so I walked to bus station a few meters from where I was damped and got onto the bus to town.

At home I had to face Feli who kept teasing me of my desperate acts.
“There is no way out for you fey, whatever you do will lead to a dead end. Go on and get married. I cannot wait till then” she teased with a laugh. She was still talking when I heard a soft knock on my door. Quickly I pushed her into the closet and walked out shutting the door close.

“Coming!” I shouted the second time the knock came.

Daniels stood by the door smiling at me. He looked happy and I wondered why.
“My love, I have just received a call from my parents from Kafue, they are coming a week before the wedding and guess who my mother met?” he smiled at me.
“Okey? Whoever it is has got you excited and I cannot guess who, so will you say it already” I smiled back as we walked inside the living room.

“He stopped me and held me by the waist his mouth still curved in a smile.
“Ritah” he announced proudly making me draw up sharply like he was telling me someone important had died.
“What? Who?” “I asked panicking hoping he would tell me something different.
“Babe I said Ritah” he made a face wondering why I seemed shocked and rather disappointed and not happy.
“Oh yeah I heard you right then” I sighed sitting back in the couch.
“Is there a problem Felicia? I thought you would be happy since you said you will call her for the wedding, in fact I thought you already did”

“Yeah sure am happy love, am not just so sure she wants to come though. The last time I spoke to her she seemed not so interested and the thing is the matron has replaced her already” I stammered as I tried to hide the truth.

“It doesn’t matter my love, she can just come and be there for you. You were complaining of your old friends not being at our wedding. I want this day to be special and if not cerebrated with our friends then it wouldn’t be as exciting now will it?” he shrugged casually.

“No it wouldn’t be. So what did she say to your parents?” I asked coughing as I asked
“Nothing much, mom told me she seemed surprised about the wedding but she agreed to travel. “ Daniels answered.
“Hm. She surely will” I nodded my head my hands sweating.

A week later, it was a day before the wedding and I had not been myself with thoughts of Ritah coming for the wedding, how to trace the Witch Doctor faking to be a pastor. I kept hoping Ritah would not show up. I wished I had a way of communicating with her and tell her not to come or threaten her whatever I could do to keep her from coming. Unfortunately I had no way of doing it as I didn’t have her line.
“Am going to Kafue” I told Feli that afternoon after the final preparations for the wedding were done. I have to stop her from coming”

“Hm. You are too late Felicia, that friend of yours is here already, she is in Lusaka” she added calmly

I looked at her and shook my head.
“So what now?” I asked knowing she already had something to say or planned.
“So what? So nothing Felicia. Let her come to the wedding. Am going there too” she smiled widely
“What? No” I snapped standing up.
“Why do you want to go for the wedding? “ I asked irritated.

“Well, I cannot tell you but I need to be there or there will be drastic consequences” she warned sternly.

“You know what? Do whatever you want. If I were you I would not think of going near a church” I shrugged to scare her away but she wagged her tail shaking her head.
“Am not as weak as you think I am” she smiled and this time I didn’t want to argue, I had to find a way of leaving the house without her and I had to think fast. I felt I had come a long way to have her expose me on my wedding day.

“Yeah sure” I sighed settling down as I took my hot cup of coffee. I had a few hours before I was to wake up and go to the matrons to prepare as I had refused to sleep over her place as per Felis order.