Partial Obedience – Episode one

Chapter One

Episode 1

The ticking of an old wall clock could be heard in an old but tidy room with a broken wooden window and cracked walls, little drops of rain drumming on the patched roof and the voices of little children laughing and playing outside in the rain.

On the little chair close to the window, is a beautiful sixteen years old girl who is lost in her thoughts while staring into space, thinking about her life before the banging on the door brought her to reality.

“Who is that, and why are you knocking on my door like that, do you want to break it” Eliza yelled.

But the banging continued, making her wonder who it was. It wouldn’t be her mother who is yet to arrive from her journey or her little brothers, then who could that be, she thought

Out of anger, she went towards the door and opened it only to meet someone she never expected to see, her late grandmother’s ghost (Nena). Out of fear, she tried closing the door but it was too late for her, her grandmother has already casted a spell on her preventing her from moving.

However, Eliza’s mother has always made sure her children especially Eliza, stays away from their grandmother being an evil witch and powerful priestess in the village, due to the bad prophesy she made, which is about to be manifested.

At last, she found her tongue and asked “grandma, please what are you doing here, I thought you are long dead, please what do you want from me.

“Haaahaaahaaa” she laughs “Yes I am dead, but the grave cannot stop me from fulfilling the promise I made long time ago, that is why I am here” exclaimed Nena (Eliza’s grandmother).

“While you were still a child, sixteen years ago, a prophecy came from the Oracle, stating that you will be the next chief priestess of the great Oruka shrine which has been without a priestess for years now. You are now of age Eliza, it’s time for you to take up your place or face the consequences.”

“No! that’s not possible, my life has been a wretch right from birth, I’ve never tasted luxury for once everything has been eating from hand to mouth, how do you expect me to cope with all these problems huhn” Eliza exclaimed

“You will surely have all you hope for, Nena said, but you will serve as the priestess of the great Oruka shrine or else you will be punished. It is either you take it or leave it” And with that she vanished into thin air

Eliza couldn’t believe her eyes, “what if all Nena said is true” she thought

“Noo, Noo it can’t be true, I will never succumb to such prophecy, nooo nooo, I hate you grandma, I hate you nooo……..

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

Juliet POV (Eliza’s mother)

On getting home after the all day journey, I kind of notice little noise coming from my daughter’s room; at first, it’s more like a mumbling sound but later came out as a loud scream, I never expected Eliza to be at home by this time of the day, because I noticed some of her colleagues going to the stream, why will she be at home.

Being curious, I open the door to get room only to find the idiot screaming.

“Elizabeth, Eliza, wake up, wake up” tapping her roughly, wake up ooo

“Noo, nooo, I won’t take it nooo” she yelled

“Ahn ahn, Eliza what is wrong with you”

“Oh mother, you are back” she stated, yawning and stressing

“Nooo, I’m not yet back, I’m still on my way to the village stupid girl”

“I’m sorry mother, welcome ma, what did you bring” Eliza asked

“Sorry for yourself, ehn, I came back only to meet you here shouting noo,noo like a pregnant woman who is about to deliver a goat, you did not even cut the pumpkin leaf I asked you to prepare before I arrive, what is wrong with you”.

At this point, it became dawn on Eliza that she has been sleeping all along and what transpired between her and Nena was only a trance.

She was still trying to comprehend what happened before she heard her mother’s thunderous voice.

“Will you get up and go to the stream to get water before I land you, I was even talking to you and you are lost in your thoughts.

“Ok, mother I will be on my way”

“You better be fast, we have a lot to do” Juliet said as she watch the exiting figure of her daughter.

“Hmmm, why will Eliza be sleeping and at the same time shouting at this time of the day, hope it’s not what I’m thinking, hmmmmm, she sighed going into deep thought.

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

On her way to the stream, Eliza kept thinking of what Nena told her, it was so strange that she never believe it was a trance.

“Anyway every detail that stupid witch told me are bunch of rubbish, like seriously who does that in this century, a priestess for that matter” she thought

Still contemplating on that matter, she sighted Maria, her best friend and class mate, on her way to also fetch water.

“Maria, Maria, please wait for me” she yelled while taking to her heels to meet up with her.

Maria on the other hand stopped immediately she heard her name, she recognized Eliza running to meet up with her, and rolled her eyes

“Geez, Maria I’ve been calling you since forever but you kept on walking like a zombie, thank God you heard me at last, Eliza said while trying to catch her breathe

“Mtcheewww” Maria hissed, walking ahead of her

Eliza wondered what will be wrong with her friend early this morning, so she decided to catch up with her.

“Maria, what’s wrong with you this morning, why is your face like that of a pregnant viper” she said in a mockery tone almost laughing

“Like seriously, Eliza, you still have the guts to insult me after all you have made me go through this morning”

Shocked by Maria outburst, Eliza asked “Huhn, ok I’m sorry please what have I done wrong” she asked

“Hmmm, remember you promised to come to my house this morning to assist me with my house chores and afterwards we will go to the stream together, but you didn’t. To make things worse my step mother came back from the farm and beat me mercilessly just because I couldn’t finish up in time, and her children are making things worse for me” she yelled bursting into tears.

“Oh my God, I’m sorry about that, I have forgotten and apart from that I over slept this morning. Gosh that step mother of yours is so wicked, why would she beat you this way? Take a look at you face it’s swollen, and that her useless children are also fun of getting on my nerves. Don’t worry I will see what do about your face, let’s quickly get to the stream” She said

“Ok, no problem” Maria said

“Come on smile for me, Maria the prettiest girl in the village, you know I don’t like it if you cry like this” Eliza said trying to cheer Maria up

“Which pretty girl, you and I knows that you are the prettiest girl in the village” Maria said

“Hmm, really, what about Natasha”

“Natasha? That spoilt brat? Mtcheewww” She hissed “I hate her more than the devil, she is too proud”

“Anyway, let’s forget about her and talk about something important” Eliza exclaimed

They both continued their journey talking about other things. Few meters to the stream, they sighted junior (Eliza’s 9 years old younger brother) running furiously like a mad dog towards them, he almost ran pass them if Eliza hadn’t called him, bringing his attention towards them.

“Junior, what is it, why are you running speedily do you want to injure yourself”

“Ahhh Sister Eliza something bad has happen, something bad, he yelled, panicking

“What is it junior, you are making us scared” Maria chipped in

.

Please say something about this episode

.

Love y’all

Vickie Dora