Chapter 5: Blackout and Escape

As I finish for there, I pretend say I wan use toilet. Na lie, I go next room cut the wires. If dem wan do evil, make everywhere dark. That way, nobody go know which woman dem touch.

I waka soft for corridor, carry small penknife. I find the fuse box, old and rusty, for wall behind kitchen. I cut the main wire, cover am with dry leaves. For this village, once light off, nobody fit repair till morning. I clean my hand for wall, look around—nobody see me.

Outside, party still dey. Inside, my sister’s friend don dey wobble, dey hold her head. My sister dey try support her.

Halima dey slur her words, dey complain say head dey turn. She dey lean on my sister. I act like say I no see anything, but my eyes dey sharp.

I whisper to my sister, “She don drunk—make she rest.”

I talk am low, so Halima no go suspect. My sister nod, concern show for her face.

“Okay, brother, help me carry her go bridal room.”

She no fit carry Halima alone, so I join her. My hand steady, but my mind dey plan next move.

I raise hand stop her. “No, I hear say for this village, bride no dey enter bridal room till groom enter. Groom still dey drink, so make she rest for next room.”

I speak with confidence, like say I sabi all their custom. For village, once you mention tradition, everybody go quiet.

My sister nod, we help carry her. She sleep as she touch bed. As I see her for red wedding gown, I just bone, drop the kitchen knife I carry for bedside.

Her body just collapse, mouth open, she dey snore small. The red gown fine, but the evil for her mind no show for her face. I leave the knife close, just in case. My sister look me, confusion for her eye, but I nod, signal say I dey control everything.