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THE MASQUERADE

Everyone has a past. Everyone comes from a past. Our past shapes our future by what our predecessors do. Who we are, who we become, who and what we stand for all boils down to what our ancestors were. Have they tampered with something evil? Could they have perhaps tied down their future generations in a deadly deal because, in that moment, it didn't sound like it was such a bad idea?

In the old times, when life was simpler, when foreigners or missionaries haven't graced Africans with their presence, they knew only the ways of the ancient gods, taught to them by their fathers and their fathers to their fathers before them. Each land, each village, each family believed in a god, had a shrine or place of worship in their home. Sometimes, they seek the help from older gods and saw it as a good thing to bring it home with them. They took part in rituals; they presented them with sacrifices and lived majorly to please them. Unknowing to their simple minds... that could be their downfall for generations to come and generations after that, for what we don't know is greater than what we actually know.

This time, during this nightmare, I found myself tied to the trunk of a gigantic tree. Its branches were long and stretched out as far as possible, most of it tilting because of its weight. I looked left and right; the surrounding was unknown to me, grasses tall and stretched out as far as my sight could go. I had to conclude this was a forest or bush of some sort. Then, I lowered my eyes to my body and realised the only thing I had on was a white wrapper and there was no footwear on my feet. My eyes shifted to the side of my leg and there stood a strange idol made out entirely of clay with strange carvings on it. I'd never seen it before.

My heart began palpitating as it gradually dawned on me what was happening. I was well aware of the fact I'd been having nightmares, and a part of me told me this was one of it, although I wasn't sure. Everything felt quite real. The moment I lifted my eyes from the idol, I startled in a gasp. There it stood, less than five steps away from me. The same masquerade. It was still, like a statue. I stared at it, dreading the moment it might actually make a move. This scene of a nightmare was new to me. I've never experienced this part. The longer it stared, I stared back. This right here, this moment was familiar. It was trying to scare me. I mean, it had so many opportunities to kill me, but never did. The only thing I ever felt or got from it was fear.

I gulped down, drew in a deep breath as I lifted my chin up. Somehow, I'd replaced the fear in my eyes with a growing confidence.

"I'm not afraid of you... not anymore." My voice was unfamiliar to my hearing, bolder than I've ever been. It neither said a word nor made a move.

"You think troubling me every night will make you get what you want? Yes... maybe a few months ago or weeks... you could've gotten me, but not now... now, I know who I am and I don't belong to you. I never have and never will... Now, I belong to Jesus and he will save me from your clutches." I continued, the level of my confidence heightening by the minute, different from what I'd ever felt. Where had this feeling been all the years of my life, when I felt lost, confused and didn't know how to believe in myself? I'd missed out on so much.

It moved, and then another movement. I heard its voice, low at first but eventually audible to my hearing. I couldn't make out its words, but it was clear he was speaking in the native dialect then I realized... he was saying incantations. He danced, whether or not there was a beat. His incantations continued, and so did his dance. The masquerade made its way closer, still chanting its incantations, and continued doing so as it danced around the tree it tied me to. I didn't want to ask what it was doing. I was well aware of the fact that it was trying to achieve something, to most probably break my spirit.

My breathing was louder and my heart racing fast by the second. I knew I couldn't let it win. Not now, and never again. I would have to do something I've never really done on my own. Drawing in a deep breath, I closed my eyes and tried my possible best to ignore the fact that it tied me to a tree. I was beside a devious god, and being danced around by a masquerade. Then, I drew in a calm and deep breath, trying my best to shade out the masquerade's voice.

"Heavenly Father, I know I haven't been the best of myself and I haven't asked for your help in forever, but your grace has brought me back on your path. I'm grateful. I truly believe with you by my side, the enemy stands no chance with me. This moment, I call upon you, intervene in my situation and prove the enemy wrong." I prayed nonstop, every word flowing out of my mouth flawlessly, and with each passing second, my faith deepened. Not once did I falter or doubt his capabilities. He was all I had, the only weapon I could wield against this evil in front of me.

I noticed the sudden silence. I no longer heard incantations or movements. Gradually, I opened my eyes. He was nowhere to be seen. Is that it? Was it defeated? I looked down and realised I'm still tied to the tree. The moment I lifted my eyes, and there it was. This time, it was without its mask. My eyes widened at the revelation of who was behind it all this time. Kamalu. He glared at me, holding the mask in one hand. He wouldn't move. It was strange and eerie. I should have known; I should have guessed all this time. Unconsciously, I'd presumed a spirit or something out of my imagination wore the costume.

"You will die. Everyone in your family will die." He said and suddenly, I woke up in a startle, breathing heavily and my heart beating faster than normal by the second. My eyes lurked around and I realised I was back to reality. I felt the bed move and turned to my side to see Lota shaking while her eyes remained shut. It was almost as if she was convulsing.

"Lotachukwu." I called her name in full as I drew closer and lifted her into my arms. She kept doing the same. I couldn't understand what was going on with her. This has never happened to her.

"Lota, wake up." I called as I tried to touch her face, but I couldn't. My hand was shaky as fear of the uncertain slipped in.

"Lota, Lota." I called again, louder this time, throwing away fear and rocked a bit violently, but nothing changed. Then I bent and placed my ear on her chest to listen to her heartbeat. It was slow. I felt confused, but as I stared at her, I remembered Kamalu's words.

Everyone in your family will die.

I shook my head in refusal. He can't win. I won't let him do this again, never again. Gently, I set her head back on the pillow and hurriedly picked up a torch off the bedside table, then turned it on. Within a second, I was off the bed and on the other side of the room, a hand on the door. I looked back at her.

"Hang on, Lota, I'll be back." I said and ran out of the room. I ran as fast as I could all the way downstairs and towards the main door. Quick, I unbolt every bolt on it that was built to keep what was outside, out and protect those in. Once I pulled the door open, I ran as I've never done before towards the guest house. In front of it, I banged on the door continuously and loudly until it opened and Eze stood in front of me.

"Kasie..."

"Where's Cergio? I need his help." I said all at once as I hurried in past him and towards the rooms.

"What's going on?" Eze asked, but there was no time for me to stand and explain to him and then later do the same when I see Cergio.

Cergio just came out of his room, and I hurried to him.

"Come with me. Lota is dying. He wants to take her. Help me stop the masquerade." I reported all at once, barely catching my breath from all the running I'd done.

"A second." He said before hurrying back into his room, and I was glad he didn't ask any question that could lead to chit-chat and waste the time we didn't have. The moment he was out with his bible in one hand, we hurried out of the guest house. I lead the way, my strides fast, but he was being slowed down because of his bad leg.

We got into the house and made our way up the stairs. We got to the room and met mum and the others already there. They must've heard my voice or woken up from all the movements I made. Either way, it was good they were here. Two heads are better than one. I climbed onto my side of the bed and sat beside her, still shaking. This time, her breathing was heavier, louder, and faster.

"We need to call a doctor or someone." Jachi mentioned in fear.

"We all know this is nothing a doctor can handle. Cergio is here. He'll help." I was quick to give a reply.

"How? I say we call Kamalu and earnestly apologise..."

"No! Uncle Chimdi, we can't. Please, let's stop wasting time and allow Cergio to pray for Lota."

"Pray?" Mum asked, and quickly, I nodded. "He's a pastor. I've given my life to Christ and I hope everyone of you will do the same. God is all we've got against this evil." I explained, and they stared at me with a look on their faces that made it hard for me to know if they understood my point or not.

Regardless, this wasn't the time to get into all of that. Right now, there's a battle in front of us and we're fighting to only win.