Chapter 4

All Alone In This Wicked World

*Rhoda point of View.*

"Irene, we are siblings remember, I am your big cousin, I think I recognise what is about to happen here, I will rather die in hunger than to lick the feet of my younger one, remember this saying, when the mouse laughs at the cat, there is a hole nearby."

She laughed out so wickedly and ended up spitting on my face, I took up the rag on the floor to wipe it off trying so hard to hold back my tears.

"I should be scared right? Now I am the cat you just laughed at, where is the stupid hole nearby, oh let me help you think." She walked slowly around me, placing me in the middle.

"Your dead parents, maybe you are planning to die and join them, besides you have no one on your side, or you think you can locate uncle who is still far in the village thinking of his own family? My dear before your wings start growing, know this today, you are all alone in this world Rhoda and your stupid parents are dead."

"How dare you speak of my parents that made you all what you are today? you need to respect your senior," I said about hitting her when aunty Imose started clapping her hands.

Fear gripped me instantly and I went on my knees, "Aunty I was just correcting Irene, she has no regard for her senior."

"Nwa teacher." My aunty said coming close to me but I was shocked to see Irene in serious tears.

"Mom, she hit me, she keeps telling me we are nothing and we became somebody in this life because of her dead parents, she told me I have no one in this world and she is not scared of you."

Hot tears left my eyes hearing all the lies Irene spoke from her lips," Aunty please she is lying, you have to believe me, I never said those."

"Mother, she is trying to tear our family apart, how can your biological daughter lie to you?" She cried the most.

"Irene go to your room and let me handle this slut myself, no one dares lay a finger on my child."

"Thanks, mom and one more thing mom, you promised me 100 thousand naira to change my clothes."

"Your father already transferred the money, go in, you need rest."

I couldn't believe everything going on, then my aunty pulled me by the ear as I screamed in pain.

"You think you can blah blah blah your mouth right? When I am finished with you, you will not dare raise your stupid voice on my daughter or hit her in this short life you have.

"Aunty for the sake of your late sister, show mercy on me, I didn't hit your daughter, you just have to believe me."

"That's why I will not hit you okay because of my stupid late sister, that always thinks she can have everything because she married a rich man, this is your punishment."

She pushed me into an empty storeroom with just a short window and locked me in.

"Aunty please, don't do this to me, I might die in here, please aunty, allow me do another cleaning in the house as my punishment, don't lock me in here, aunty I know you have some humanity in you, please show mercy and, I am still your relation." I cried out for mercy but I could only hear her footsteps fading gradually.

My aunt truly left, she locked me in here again, I might die here without food.

*Dream*

"Rhoda we are sorry you have to go through this, please be strong, and survive this." My mom said to my dad.

"Father, mother, you left me all alone in this wicked world, in a world where family means nothing to some persons, where love can easily be bought over money, what did I do wrong in this life?"

"Rhoda you need to keep on living, God is always with you, he has kept you alive."

"God??" I scoff.

"Why did he take you both from me? Why do I have to go through hell in your sister's hands?"

"Rhoda, do not question the Almighty, remember what the word said, the heart of man is desperately evil, you will meet a helper one day, right now, we need to go."

"Father, mother, no, don't leave me again."

I screamed in tears and noticed I was dreaming when my eyes opened.

"I wish I could just forever live in this dream than living in this wicked world alone with no one to trust."

I have been locked in here for two days without food, I should be dead by now but why am I still breathing? I cried the most and touched the necklace on my neck, remembering the last happy moments I had with my parents.

I started singing a song to express my emotions.

*Instrument plays.*

*Father, mother, father eh, *

*Mother, father, mother eh*

*You were the pride of my womanhood.*

*You were the source of my happiness.*

*My parents, I love you so much.*

*Father, why did you leave me?*

*Mother, why did you leave me?*

*how I wish the dead could speak.*

*how I wish I got to say goodbye.*

*My parents , I miss you so much.*

*Instrument continued as she buried her face, crying out her life, suddenly the thunder started rumbling.*

"Aunty, aunty, I need water please, I am thirsty, help me, I have served the punishment already, give me water please," I said in a faint voice hitting the door but I got no response.

I am so thirsty, I felt the rain is about to pour down, the thunder sound so scary and the lighting as well.

The breeze increases and I felt so much cold, shaking on the floor, I need to cover up with something, luckily I saw an old blanket under the table, I rushed to get it, luckily I found fresh fruits that's hasn't gotten spoilt yet, I was amazed how possible but I am so hungry to think of it.

The heavy downpour started and I noticed a spot leaking from the zinc, "Water." I said in excitement, opening my mouth to drink .