Chapter 2: River Prison and Pearls

True crocodile don die tey tey.

Now, na the merfolk dey rule the four rivers.

But not too long ago, General Umaru, wey dey serve under the merfolk, suddenly crocodile scale begin grow for him body.

My papa, the king, no waste time—dem throw Umaru enter water prison sharp sharp.

I don become the fine wicked mermaid princess.

I even dey swim like say I be Mami Water pikin, people dey fear to look my eye. Na so system send me go the water prison make I pull the crocodile scale for him chest.

I dey swim go water prison, slow slow.

The system dey nag for my head.

See as even jellyfish dey pass you. Just talk small, you don begin cry. See as everywhere full of pearls!

You too dey detailed with your wahala—abeg, use your wrapper pack those pearls. Finish this quest, return for real world, you fit open jewelry shop.

My own na to dey collect wahala, but this one pass my power. I hold my chest full of pearls, dey pant, finally reach water prison.

Small cold breeze dey enter from the river mouth, make everywhere get goosebumps.

Umaru dey tied for center of the cell.

Him cloth don tear, blood stain everywhere.

Na real prison o, with coral walls and seaweed dey wave for the window. As I reach, e open him eyes, cold shine dey inside.

Fear catch me, my pearls fall, scatter everywhere.

Na so pearls just dey roll for sand, like pepper sellers dey chase thief for Mile 12, everybody dey shout.

The system vex again.

I no fit do again. If person no sabi, dem go think say you dey bring bride price come.

Forget am. Just follow script, pull the crocodile scale for him chest. You fit do am?

I sniff, swallow my tears, squeeze my hand, talk:

I fit.

The system sigh.

Hurry up. And abeg, talk something wicked.

I hold my sleeve, waka go meet the male lead, hand dey shake as I talk the line wey system give me:

You this bastard, you think say you deserve... crocodile scale, Umaru.

My voice shake like generator wey fuel dey finish. The system nearly craze.

Na Umaru.

Umaru.

System talk am, I repeat.

Umaru.

Umaru.

...

After we drag the matter reach more than twelve times, the system just give up.

No wahala, Umaru dey shameful too.

Umaru dey look me, cold, no trust.

Princess, wetin you dey plan again? If you wan kill me, do am fast.

I bite my lip, hold my tears, hand dey shake as I touch him chest.

Abeg, Umaru, make I try pull this scale—no vex if e pain.

As I touch am, Umaru chest move small, but e just hold himself, dey grind him teeth:

Make I see whether princess get mind.