Chapter 5: Blood and Oil

Around midnight, one sharp scream scatter everywhere from my sister room.

The scream bend the night, even crickets stop to sing. E be like say thunder land for our roof. The cry wake goats, even birds begin fly for dark. I heart jump, sweat dey my palm.

I jump wake, rush go her door.

My body no touch ground as I run, eyes red, fear dey my chest.

But to surprise me, my mama don already block the entrance.

Mama tie two wrappers, her body block door like wall. She no even blink.

I try force pass, she just kick me fall for ground.

Her leg sharp, I roll for floor. Sand enter my mouth, pain bite my knee.

My sister cry dey reduce small small.

Her voice dey fade, like person wey dey drown for deep river. I bite lip, heart dey cut.

I dey panic, tears almost come out.

Sweat dey my face, I dey tremble. For inside dark, everything feel cold.

"Mama, abeg let me enter! My sister dey call for help—she no go survive!"

I beg, voice high, tears gather for eye. I no even care say people fit hear me.

My mama look me like say I be goat.

She hiss, raise chin. "Nonsense. You no get sense."

"Wetin you sabi? Your sister dey cry now, but who know how she go dey enjoy soon? Go sleep, no spoil your in-law matter. If I no see benefit tomorrow—if you delay your sister from marry—try me see if I no go finish you."

Her voice strong like iron.

Words heavy, fall like stone. For that moment, I fear my mama.

I swallow spit, sit down for outside my sister door till day break, my head just dey turn.

Mosquito bite me, cold blow me, but I no move. Every time my sister cry, my heart dey break small. I whisper prayer for inside my mind.