Afflicted – Episode 5

AFFLICTED  Episode 5

AKOTO

(voice trembling)

Don’t do this to me, Kes, my love! I can’t live without you! You’re the only woman I love! Can’t you see what is happening here? This hypocrite is interested in you! He wants you, and that’s why he’s attacking and afflicting me! Don’t allow yourself to be swayed by this devil worshipper!

Reverend Obuobi’s hand is in his pocket, and he has unwrapped a candy in his pocket.

He removes his hand and quickly puts the toffee in his mouth, and rolls it between his molars.

REV. OBUOBI

(savagely)

Don’t listen to him, Kesewaa! Yes, it is true that God wants you to be my partner in His Vineyard! I’ve seen the vision many times, but I have been quiet because it disturbs me! But look, this man has blasphemed against me, a true vessel of God, and because of that the spirit in me is going to strike him down this very second! Look, he’s going to be struck down like a cripple, and his hands shall be like that of a leprous man, and he will become an imbecile until he confesses to his devil worship and the ritual he wanted to use to ki*ll Kesewaa!

Reverend Obuobii then chomps down hard on the strange candy in his mouth, breaking it to pieces.

And then, amazingly, incredibly, Akoto’s mouth begins to twist to the left!

The people looking at him gasp with absolute shock!

Akoto’s fingers suddenly bend inwards until they resemble those of a leprous person!

Thick saliva drools from his mouth, and his legs suddenly shrivels into malformed trunks, and he falls down hard on the platform!

He begins to make strange gurgling sounds like a retarded person, and he begins to lick the platform!

There is absolute shock everywhere!

The auditorium is stunned into silence!

Akoto Nyameboame, one of the handsomest, wealthiest, God-fearing bachelors in the world, has suddenly been reduced to a grovelling fool!

Bishop Osuanyi stares at the boy, and suddenly he moves forward, his face filled with sudden fear and compassion.

BISHOP OSUANYI

(trembling)

Reverend Obuobi! This man is a powerful man in society! The law will descend on us for this!

REV. OBUOBI

I never touched him! Did anybody see me touching him? I’ve done no wrong! He insulted me, and got his just punishment! All he needs to do is confess that he uses occult powers, and he’ll be free!

Kesewaa, shocked, moves away from the flailing hands of Akoto as he tries to hold her legs.

AKOTO

(weeping, grovelling)

Keshiwap…Keshiiiwaaap! Pleassh helpsh meesh! Ohhhh, my lovesh Keshiiiwaaap! I begsh yoush helpsh meesh pleeeaaashh!

KESEWAA

Oh, Akoto, Akoto! I warned you, but you wouldn’t listen! See what has happened to you because of your devil worship!

REV. OBUOBI

Let this be a lesson to all of you who think you can insult or challenge me, an anointed man! Ushers, come and pick up this sinner and take him to the Miracle Room. Put a chain on him and tie him to a post! Let’s hope he confesses, and I will make him whole again!

About five ushers approach the pathetic, broken body of Akoto and pick him up.

They carry him through a door.

Kesewaa looks after them and shakes her head slowly.

How can Akoto deceive her like this?

He is nothing but a wicked, selfish man who dabbles with occultic powers!

She feels so thankful to God!

She picks the microphone, and soon begins to sing powerfully!

More voices join in!

They have just witnessed another incredible miracle of how God protects the anointed Reverend Obuobi, and they are all in the spirit!

AFTER SERVICE…

Bishop Osuanyi opens the Miracle Room and enters.

The programme is over and people are leaving, but he has come straight to the room to look at Akoto Nyameboame.

The Ushers have put a chain around his neck and padlocked it to one of the concrete pillars in the room.

Akoto is sitting in one corner, crippled and leprous, his mouth twisted and drooling saliva, his fingers curled terribly inward, his legs terrible malformed stumps.

Bishop Osuanyi begins to tremble, and tears of compassion come to his eyes.

Behind him the door opens slowly, and he turns.

Reverend Ebow Obuobi is standing in the doorway, smiling a very dangerous smile as he looks at the Bishop.

The Bishop walks unsteadily towards him.

BISHOP OSUANYI

(shattered)

The boy is right, isn’t he? He said we should test the spirits, and it is true. I have been so blind, Ebow. You’re my dead sister’s son! We never knew your father! I raised you as my son and sent you to England to learn the Bible, to become a great man of God, and to lead this church one day. But you didn’t only learn Biblical Theology when you went to England, did you? You learnt the Dark Arts too, didn’t you? You sold your soul to the Devil! You’re not of God! You’ve been using demonic powers all along! Oh, how blind I’ve been!

Ebow Obuobi enters the room fully and closes the door behind him.

He smiles slyly.

REV. OBUOBI

I’ve been where you would never dare go, Uncle. Yes, I learnt something much, much more powerful! Something that will bring me money, power and get me anything I want! I travelled to the far reaches of the Earth and gathered the mightiest powers on earth! This is my time, old man, and you better not stand in my way!

The Bishop sits down wearily on a chair and looks at his nephew with horror.

BISHOP OSUANYI

Dear Lord, Ebow! You’ve become a devil! And you’re going to cause havoc in my church! Akoto is right! You only attacked him because of Kesewaa, didn’t you? You want Kesewaa for yourself!

Ebow clasps his hands together and smiles evilly.

REV. OBUOBI

Ah! Kesewaa! The fairest lady of them all! Nobody is as sweet as she is! Mmmm, have you seen that incredible figure of hers? Shapely like figure like a bass guitar, and those shaking buttocks…. Aaaahhhhh, so delicious-looking! And she is greedy too, for money and power, just like me! Oh, yes, I need her! We’re going to get married and become powerful together! I can’t wait to screw that delicious butt on her!! Yummy!! My third leg is even stiff already thinking about all the different ‘one corner’ styles I’m going to give Kesewaa, hehehehee!

*********************

The Bishop is trembling badly now.

He raises his right hand and points an unsteady finger at the Reverend.

BISHOP OSUANYI

No, I will not let you destroy this church with your evil, Ebow! This church is based on sound biblical principles! You don’t preach the Gospel anymore! You only preach prosperity and a load of garbage, and use your demons to perform those miracles! And you’re doing it all for money and power! No, I won’t let you destroy anybody anymore! I’ll let everybody know about you!

The smile vanishes from Ebow’s face.

His eyes are now hard and nasty as he looks at his uncle.

REV. OBUOBI

You know, that is why you’re like this, a nonentity and an under-achiever! Did you see how your church was filled tonight with people with money because of my prresence? You’ll always be nothing, just a two-pesewa irrelevant pastor! Grow up, Uncle! The world is changing! There’s money to be made!

His face was twisted with sick greed that absolutely disgusted the older man.

REV. OBUOBI

People are not interested in your ‘repent or burn in hell’ crap! They want to marry, have money, and sin! So you give them what they want by forgiving their sinful natures and promising them big monies! The church is now huge business, bringing in millions of cedis!

He gave a bark of a laugh.

REV. OBUOBI

You can be rich and powerful, but no, you always prefer the same old shitty way of doing things! I’m taking over your church whether you like it or not! You can choose to be with me, or wallow in self-pity. Don’t force me to hurt you! What is it going to be?

BISHOP OSUANYI

Oh, no! I will not let you! I’m a Christian, and I’ll not lose my soul because of you! They’ll know about this!

REV. OBUOBI

Alright, Uncle, have it your way then!

He smiles, turns and leaves the room.

The Bishop looks at Akoto miserably.

BISHOP OSUANYI

(weeping)

Sorry, my friend. I’ll get someone to help you! I’ve been so blind, Akoto. Please forgive me.

The Bishop also leaves the room, intent on telling the other pastors and Elders the true colours of Obuobi.

Quickly he emerges in the church room.

All the Elders, junior pastors and the Bishop’s wife are bunched together and chatting.

The Bishop sees Kesewaa and her parents preparing to leave.

They are chatting to Ebow Obuobi.

With determined steps the Bishop walks towards them.

Ebow Obuobi looks at the Bishop approaching, and then he gently takes his hand from his pocket.

There is a strange toffee with a white covering in his hand now.

It is the same toffee he had eaten before striking Maame Akua and crippling Akoto!

He unwraps the candy as he speaks a strange language under his breath in a chanting manner, and then he pops the toffee into his mouth.

Bishop Osuanyi has reached the little group now.

He raises his hand and he points at Ebow.

The Bishop tries to speak, and that is when Reverend Obuobi clamps down on the candy hard, breaking it.

Bishop Osuanyi grips his throat immediately as a great agony suffuses his body.

He cannot speak now as he fights for breath, his accusing eyes fixed with horror on the reverend.

He makes gurgling and choking sounds in his throat.

His wife sees him and begins to run towards him.

Reverend Obuobi bites on the candy harder, and it crumples to smaller pieces in his mouth.

Immediately the Bishop Osuanyi screams with dreadful pain; it feels as if every vein and muscle in his body has been severed!

Blood spurts from his mouth, nose and ears.

Kesewaa screams!

Mrs. Osuanyi screams!

Other people are also screaming when Bishop Osuanyi crashes to the floor.

Reverend Ebow Obuobi chews the candy harder!

Bishop Osuanyi begins to thrash terribly on the floor, muttering painfully!

Reverend Obuobi swallows the rest of the candy, and the Bishop goes limp!

People crowd around the Bishop.

An Elder who is a doctor kneels and checks for the pulse of the Bishop.

There is none.

Bishop Osuanyi Ayeh is dead!

 

Story continues…

©Aaron Ansah-Agyeman

All Rights Reserved.

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