Altered Awakening
15 years ago on a beautiful sunny day in the Benin kingdom, Deacon Maduk was on a mission to the temple in Benin kingdom so he decided to make a quick drop on some Old family friends. He knocked twice on the door then went ahead to occupy his mind with how fast time had moved since the last time he came here, he smiled at the thought of seeing everyone again as he adjusted his hat. Now he heard footsteps approaching till it stopped just before the door on the other side.
Chiodi: Who is it?
"It's me" He answered.
"You who?!" Chiodi demanded.
"It's me jare! Open the door. My voice alone has my identity."
"Come on! You can do better, Everyone can say that." Chiodi scoffed.
Another voice came from within, a female's voice. "Enough Chiodi, Let him in. I bet he's tired from the journey."
The door unlocked and gently went open as Chiodi jumped on The Priest hugging him tight. "Maduk! You look well. We've missed you coming around."
"It's good to see you again Chiodi, You look well too. I hope this build you've acquired comes with equal strength." He chuckled as he hugged him too.
"What?" Chiodi let go, "I'm strong enough to whoop you now. Wanna try?"
He patted his shoulder as he walked in, "Hahahahah! Bet you can."
Chiodi was all over Maduk releasing a flood of questions he seemed to have been pulling up on their way to the sitting room, "No Chiodi, the Pope doesn't become invincible on getting the title." He explained.
"Uh? So why doesn't anyone see him?" Argued Chiodi.
"It is said that he is bestowed with a light that not everyone is worthy of seeing" Maduk defendes as they arrived in the sitting room.
"Chiodi, You wouldn't even let him breath the air in this house for a few second before choking him with your questions, eh?" An older male voice inquired.
The sitting room had a polished blue colour with a large golden sculpture sitting one his right hand side,it had an innate source of light glowing softly through the room and two beautiful red sofas were placed on both sides of a nicely decorated large table which had a black plate bearing a pile of kola nuts,a man who shared sharp alikeness with Chiodi but much older and an elegant woman with long braids running down her shoulders looking past her 40s sat on both sides smiling at Maduk. The woman quickly wrapped her hands around him in a very compassionate hug, "Nwa mara nke ọma, How are you?"
"Good evening Mama,I'm fine. You look well too" He hugged her.
"Ah, You've grown!" Eze, Chiodi's father exclaimed as he hugged Maduk. Eze and Nneka were parents to Chiodi and Chioma.
"Good evening Papa."
"It's so good to see you again Maduk!" Eze said rubbing his hand against his jaw.
"Ehen! Maduk, you arrived earlier than expected. I was already preparing you a nice meal but it's not ready yet. It's your favorite vegetable soup." She gestured him to sit, " For now rest your feet a bit, it'll be ready soon. Tell us all about your doings while we wait."
"It's fine mama, I just came to let you guys know I had arrived. I'll be heading to the temple to deliver a message then after that I'll return." He smiled adjusting his hat, "I've also been day dreaming about your cooking through the journey."
"Really? That warms my heart" She delightfully said.
"Ah yes, you'd better hurry my boy because I also enjoy my wife's cooking and I won't hold back! Plus I want to hear all of about the Holy Lands!" Eze laughed as he sank back to the sofa where he was sitting in.
"Don't mind him Maduk, Take your time. We have the whole night" She flickered her eyes past Eze.
"Hahahaha! Hope Olofi is doing well too?" Eze asked with laughing eyes.
"Dada is fine, he sends his regards. He's completely taken by the weight his title carries and he hopes you will understand" Maduk replied directly.
Nneka: Of course we understand, he's welcome anytime and so are you. Don't forget that.
"Gee nwa m nti, the world always needs fixing. Sometimes because of change and other times because of those who don't want change." He used his thumb to scoop from a substance he held on a piece of paper then sniffed it into each nostrils and returned his teary red stained eyes to Maduk, "But as long as we have people who are aware of the effects of this two things then the world can always be fixed, Olofi is aware and playing his role properly. We know he's working hard." Eze added.
"What he's doing is very important. All we can always do is pray for safety. For both of you." She concluded.
Chiodi stood behind ping-ponging his gaze through everyone,enjoying the scene and the warm feeling it came with.
"Thank you Papa and Mama" Maduk said softly.
"And what about me?" Chiodi demanded slyly. "Aren't you going to thank me too?"
"What for?"
"You don't want me to say it out." Chiodi winked at Maduk.
"I almost forgot, Chioma would be home when you got back. She's taken an apprenticeship as a tailor few blocks from here" Nneka said as she walked to the kitchen.
"Ah yes, she's making beautiful dresses, Beautiful I tell you! I'm certain you'll be impressed." Eze added with much joy flickering in his tired eyes.
Maduk knew the state of things and worried about their financial survival time to time. He knew how hard Eze and Chiodi worked everyday to keep their bellies fed,
Maduk decided that when he returned he'd convinced them about moving to the Holy Lands.
Chiodi wrapped his right hand around Maduk's neck giggling at how fast to him Maduk had frozen after hearing Chioma's name. "Damn! Are those goosebumps I see. Now you remember why you should thank me right?"
Eze laughed at Chiodi's words as Nneka returned to the room with a towel she used to dry her hands, "Maduk, if you don't go settle your business this two overgrown boys will keep teasing you."
"Wasn't that the purpose of bringing Chioma up after everything else?" Eze turned to his wife protesting.
"It wasn't, only a man would think that way"
Maduk had a dim spark in his eyes seeing how happy they still were after many years, He smiled as he announced his exit "I'll head out now. Thanks Mama. Till I return Papa."
Maduk waved at Chiodi who kept waving with a wide grin as Maduk headed for the temple. It was dark already. Night merchants were preparing to take their shift, firewood burning at almost every corner with huge pots sitting on the setting.
Children happily ran around playing into the night, flames at different corners lit up the night with their shadows dancing on the wall and the smoke humbled to silken threads as the wind blew them into the cloudy sky.
Chattering at every spot, Elderly men sat in circles playing local board games. Songs and happy voices were the night's music. What a wonderful sight Maduk wondered as he walked past towards the temple.
He thought of settling here one day, in the midst of this tranquility where he could build up a family with someone special. he couldn't help but think about Chioma with an anxiety to see her building up within him.
Chiodi closed the door behind him heading back to the sitting room to join Eze and Nneka as the door knocked again, he hurried to the door smiling at how easily they had just missed eachother's path, "Chioma, you won't believe it! He.."
He stopped halfway as he opened the door to see two hooded strange looking men standing at the entrance and not Chioma.
An overwhelming pressure fell on Chiodi causing his heart to skip leaving his body suddenly heavy and his eyes cloudy with a strange feeling threatening to choke him.
In a flash Chiodi slammed the door and ran to the sitting room, "Two men! Two hooded scary..." Chiodi gasped.
A force unhinged the door and flinged it aside as both men walked in filling the entire house with a monstrous pressure.
The hooded man behind giggled sinisterly, "The door was locked, what do you expect."
Eze jerked from his chair, standing in front of the men with a I've-had-enough expression, "What's this?! Who are you?"
Both men giggled sinisterly as the first moved closer to Eze.
Chiodi joined Eze as he faced them, "What do you want?" From the pressure Chiodi was certain they were gifteds like Maduk.
Without doubt he stood no chance against this two so the only way out of this was to stall till Maduk returned.
The first hooded man moved closer to Chiodi glaring at him through the hood as he pointed out his thumb and placed it on Chiodi's forehead, "You, To wake you up."