Song: MzVee — Who are you?

*Unedited*

Somewhere in my swirling mind, I knew I had to get up and run as fast as I could. The flow was steady and each rock was just getting more painful than the last. The wind blew against my already open wounds, making them burn and hiss under the scorching sun.

I made sure to protect my face with my arms, before I finally struggled to sit up. There was a bit of muffled shouting that my brain could barely process as I did so, but I ignored them and tried standing.

Almost immediately, I was shoved back down viciously. The hailstorm stopped.

Wondering why they would stop their attack and who had pushed me, I lowered my arms, just to stiffen at the sight of the person before me.

It'd been months since I'd seen him. His eyes were red and he was considerably thinner than before. His head was bald in some places and his clothes were dirty. A nasty odour emanated from his body and his face had gotten a thousand more wrinkles; making him look older than he really was.

"Fofo," I whispered, my voice getting caught in my throat. We never agreed completely, yet seeing him like this, so emaciated, it made my heart hurt.

"I am not your father!" The rage in his eyes was fiery enough to burn through my soul.

He wasn't here to save me.

"You..." his sentence was left incomplete as he looked at me like he was wishing I was never born. His lips settled into a grim line, then he brought a bottle from behind him. It was a bottle of alcohol.

To my horror, he lifted the bottle and poured its whole content on my head. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box of matches.

I knew what he was trying to do, yet I couldn't move. The fear had taken hold of my body and made it its own. The thought that the man who brought me into this world was the very same one who was trying to take me out... it wasn't something that my brain could process within those few minutes.

"This, is for my wife," he struck the match against the box. It caught fire.

"Father," I whispered again, numb. I couldn't remember how my limbs worked. I knew I had to run, but I couldn't. I couldn't get my own body to obey me.

There was a distracting sound that prevented my father from dropping the match; he turned around instead to look at Kofi who had opened his door. That single distraction saved my life.

With energy I had no idea was stored inside of me, I let out a strangled cry and jumped up, pushing my father to the ground. He wasn't expecting it, so he fell easily. He was watching me with wide eyes, while struggling to push me off.

I wrenched the lighter away from his hands and threw it away from his reach. I realised too late that that was a terrible mistake, because anyone could grab it and I was still doused in alcohol.

I took my attention off my father for a second, just to gaze at the lighter desperately, praying that it would somehow come back to me. Luckily, Kofi was having the same thoughts, because he dashed forward and grabbed it before anyone else could.

Fofo grabbed onto my hair and shoved me down. He pinned both my hands above me with both of his, trying to use his lower body to keep me on the ground but I had the weight advantage because I'd been eating, unlike him.

I easily threw him back down and jump off, backing away from him cautiously. Everyone else was just still, unsure what to do next as I swayed there, hating the smell of the blood staining my face, arms and thighs.

"Elorm, get back in," Kofi ordered.

His voice was a little bit foggy, and I knew that that hit to my head had caused some damage. I took a step forward, finding rather unfortunately that my old wounds had began acting up due to the action.

I draped my arm around my ribs and balanced all my weight on my uninjured leg, limping as fast as I could. Once they saw that I was heading to safety, the people began their assault once more.

I was forcefully thrown back onto the ground when someone both wise and wicked targeted a stone at my bad leg, throwing me off my balance. Kofi was sitting in the car with his door opened, watching me.

I was too dazed to see what his expression looked like, but I wished that he would just help me. My father wasn't spared from the hailstorm. He too was receiving his fair share of the people's anger. He was too weak for that so I began crawling to the space in front of him so that I could intercept the rocks, when he finally came.

"What's going on over here?" His loud voice immediately signalled the end of the hailstorm.

I sighed in relief, covering the wound on my head with my palm. There was harmattan dust blowing all over, sending sand particles into the wound.

"Elorm?" He half-whispered. I didn't hear anything else as he rushed forward and knelt beside me. He touched my chin and lifted my head.

He was clothed in traditional wedding attire. He looked no different from before, you would've never known that he was on his deathbed earlier that year. He had grown a little bit of a beard though; I assumed that it was his attempt to look older since he was chief now.

"Elorm," he whispered again.

"You... you're getting married," I pushed the words past the knot in my throat, feeling the resulting burns.

I couldn't focus on his face when my brain was swirling the way it was. His touch was soft as he lifted me into his arms.

"Chief," came a soft voice I wouldn't forget anytime soon. Diamond, Michael's wife.

"She's hurt," he replied. His voice had a hint of remorse to it, like he didn't want to hurt her. I refused to believe that he'd developed feelings for her during this short time. It wasn't possible.

There was a mixture of hateful comments thrown at me as the chief took me into his palace.

I closed my eyes and only opened them again when I felt the softness of a high-quality mattress. I blinked once, twice, to clear my sight and focused on the chief. "Congratulations, I guess," I said. My throat was tight because it hurt so badly that it was even causing me physical pain.

"You killed my father," came his insensitive reply.

I choked out a laugh, relaxing my aching head on the pillow and closing my eyes. "If only you knew what kind of man your father was. God realised that he was a threat to humanity and took his life at the best possible time."

"You and your boyfriend killed him."

My eyes flew open. "Unless you're talking about yourself—"

"You and Kofi."

"You're so naïve," I sighed. "No, I did not develop feelings and date or marry anyone during the few weeks we were separated."

"You broke up with me."

"So you go and get married? Really?"

He sat beside me, resting his chin on his fists. I wondered how he was comfortable putting his sharp elbows on his thighs. "When I woke up in the hospital, Diamond was there with me, not you. You just killed my father and you didn't have the decency to at least wait for me to wake up so that you could explain things to me. You eloped with your boyfriend. Don't judge me for marrying the person who was there for me when I was at my lowest."

I laughed, shaking my head a little. This boy didn't know how much I had gone through just because of him. "How did she know you were in the hospital?"

"I don't know, she never told me and I don't care. She was the one next to me when I woke up and that's all that matters."

"Reminds me of little mermaid." I muttered.

"What?"

"Do you remember how you ended up in that hospital?"

He paused for a moment to think about it. "Yes, but it's not clear. I remember you telling me that you killed my father."

"Anything else? Do you remember how I looked or anything?"

He frowned. "No, and why are you asking me this?"

"Never mind," I sighed, realising that this was a hopeless case. I didn't have the energy to fight anymore. I just wanted to go to bed. "You're right, Kofi is my boyfriend. I wish you and your wife a happy married life." But I hoped that if he still had some feelings left for me, that would hurt him.

He nodded, but everything hurt too badly for me to try and read his body language. I just wanted to go to sleep.

"As soon as you're fine, your trial will begin."

"Excuse me?" His words shook the sleep off me. "My trial?"

"What, did you think you could take a life and get away with it? Everyone knows what you did, Elorm, and you're going to be tried for it. If you're found guilty, you will be punished accordingly. I was simply waiting to be married for a few weeks before I sent my guards to come and get you from the city, but you made things easier for me by coming here yourself."

"You have to be joking," I propped myself up on my elbows, just to look at his face and make sure that he wasn't trying to be funny.

"I don't want to do this, but it's only fair. I am the chief now, I have to be fair."

"Wow," I whispered, dropping back onto the bed and staring at the ceiling, "who would've thought?"

"I'm giving you the chance to defend yourself. Left to the villagers, you will be dead before you can even utter a word," he said, like I was supposed to jump up and give him a standing ovation.

"Thank you, for the chance to defend myself. You know what? I dodged a bullet. You don't and you will never deserve me."

He ran his hand through his hair, letting out a breath. "I have tried countless times to obtain my father's body to have an autopsy done and to bury him, but they have hidden him. There's no proof that what you're saying is true."

"You don't even have the decency to find out what happened before you come here accusing me, just like always! Every single time you make this mistake, you never learn from it. Wow... how could I have been so blind for so long?" I laughed, feeling stupid and very sorry for myself.

"I will leave you to rest," he didn't waste a minute getting out of the room.

I steeled myself against that familiar burning in my eyes, willing myself not to shed anymore tears over that cow dung. In a way, I'm glad all these experiences opened my eyes to what kind of person Michael really was.

If I had married him when I was supposed to, who knows what he would've done to me? In all honesty, I felt sorry for that jewellery girl. I wondered how she'd feel when he started doing the same thing to her.

"What a sorry excuse for a man," I said to myself, pulling my hair in frustration. To think the idiot was going to try me for being there when his rapist father beat me up and suffered from a heart attack.

"You had better leave before I scratch your ugly face off," I spat when I heard the door open again.

"Calm down, sheesh. All this aggression," it was a person I never liked from the moment I met her. For no reason.

"Linda."

"Surprise," she laughed, coming up to me. She was wearing a maternity dress shaped like a tent, which did little to hide her swollen belly.

I gasped, taking in how huge she was. "How many babies are you carrying in there?"

She frowned, but there was a playful glint in her eyes. "Three."

"Wow. Jake really knows how it's done."

She huffed. "Stop that!"

"Did someone call my name?" The door opened again and another familiar face — this time, one I actually liked, which wasn't a regular occurrence in this stupid village — poked his head in.

"Jake? Where did all that beard come from?" I asked playfully.

He laughed and came to stand beside his girlfriend, his hand automatically cradling her huge belly. "Haven't you heard? It's the latest fashion."

"Ugh, I've tried talking these two idiots out of it but they won't listen."

"You're just going to get ugly," I told him.

He rolled his eyes. "I look manlier."

Linda was about to say something, but they both gasped. "Did you feel that?" Jake asked excitedly. His hand began circling her belly, not leaving any space for hers.

I assumed they felt a kick; or three.

She frowned and slapped his hand. "They're in my body, of course I felt it."

"Ah," he whined, "you've become so mean. This pregnancy thing is so horrible, especially for us the fathers."

He got a well-earned glare. I thought she was about to slap him, but she simply came and sat beside me, exhaling deeply like she was trying to control herself. "To think he actually has the balls to say that."

"I know right," I laughed.

She caught me staring at her beautiful yet simple ring, then she lifted it, showing it off. "We're getting married soon after they're born."

"Soon? Okay, if you want all your wedding photos to showcase your—"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence," she glared at him again, but he just burst out laughing. "You're such a pig," she threw a pillow at him.

He caught it and smiled at both of us.

Seeing them together like that... it made me wonder whether Michael and Diamond would become like this one day. They... they were going to make love tonight... and have children... and grow old together.

"Elorm," Linda tried touching me to bring my attention back to them, but at the sight of dirt and blood all over my body she stopped midway.

"What? I'm here," I snapped, not rudely, but to pretend as if I never left.

Looking at them, the smiles — or cute glares on Linda's part — were replaced by crestfallen looks. "He didn't really tell us what happened," Jake began, obviously realising why I fell silent, "he just told us that you killed his father and left."

Linda nodded in agreement. "They told us you ran away to become a prostitute too."

"Then," I frowned, "what, you guys don't believe them?"

"They all sound so far-fetched," Jake laughed. "You killed the chief? Really, look at him and — no offense — look at you. Even if you did, we want to hear your side of your story."

I wanted to pull my hair out out of frustration. If only Michael was like this. If only he wanted to hear what I had to say one on one without taking me in front of corrupt elders — also the jury who would certainly declare me guilty — like these normal people.

"He beat me up. See, I was kidnapped and forced into prostitution. Luckily, the man who received me, Kofi, did not force me to sleep with anyone. The chief arrived there because Michael had followed me, then he tried to sleep with me. I resisted, then he beat me up and broke my leg and ribs. He had a heart attack before he could really do anything."

Both of them were silent after I was done. They shared a look, then looked back at me. Linda very carefully took my hand that wasn't bloodied and squeezed it. "You were... are you okay?"

"I'm fine. These past months have been trying, but I'm fine." I smiled gratefully. I wouldn't admit it but the concern they were showering on me made me feel so much better.

"He's planning to have you tried. It's like he doesn't realise how much hate the people have for you."

"I know right," Linda shook her head, "Michael can be so foolish sometimes."

"Sometimes?"

They both laughed. Jake came and sat beside Linda and his hand went to her belly again. The way she glared at him, I knew he'd been doing that all the time and it pissed her off.

I smiled at the young couple, wondering if I'd ever have anything like that. The door opened again and Kofi poked his head through. I don't know why I laughed when I saw him, maybe it was because of how cautiously he was acting.

"Who are you?" Jake said immediately, his tone growing defensive.

Linda rolled her eyes and faked a yawn. To me, she whispered, "He thinks he's so macho because he let his beard grow for a few weeks."

I giggled before replying, "This is Kofi, the man I told you about."

Jake instantly relaxed and sat down. "Hi, thanks for what you did for Elorm. She's a dear friend."

A puzzled look crossed his face, but I gave him a look that commanded him to roll with it. He shrugged, "You're welcome."

The audacity of this man.

He sat on the opposite side of the bed, his eyes scanning me all over. "Were they throwing tiny knives at you or what? You're bloodying the bed."

"Kofi, these two are Jake and Linda," I ignored him, "Jake, Linda, this is Kofi."

"Nice to meet you," Jake stretched his arm for a handshake, but Kofi just stared at it.

I glared at Kofi, but he still didn't budge. "Sorry, he's antisocial." I apologised.

Jake retracted his hand with a knowing smile.

"Thanks, really. Even her name has been through a lot," Linda laughed at her own joke.

Kofi smiled a little. He was probably wondering why these people were thanking him when he did literally nothing for me. Nathan and Wolfgang were the ones they should be thanking, but I was not ready to narrate the entire story. "You're very welcome."

I wanted to slap him so badly.

"Can you excuse us? I need to have her wounds cleaned." Kofi said.

Linda smiled a very mischievous smile and looked between both of us. She passed her expression to Jake who also looked between both of us multiple times and returned his gaze to her, wearing a similar smile.

I would have objected, but I just told Michael that we were together so that would backfire.

"Of course. Take your time," Linda said slyly. "The walls are noise proof."

"No, not everyone likes to get pregnant with triplets like you. Be gone," I replied. Jake laughed, but Linda just gave me one of her maternity glares.

"Get well soon, Ellie," Jake said, helping Linda up.

"We'll come and see you again, soon." She snatched her arm away from Jake, who pouted disapprovingly. They left, bickering adorably on the way.

"I thought they'd never leave," Kofi huffed, rolling his eyes. He got up and went to the bathroom, coming back with a first-aid kit.

"Life must be so hard for the anti-social. They're so adorable, how can't you see that?"

"Too adorable. Annoying, to be precise," he dropped the box beside me and opened it. Even the sight of the methylated spirt made my wounds burn. "How are your ribs?"

"Worse."

"I warned you, you idiot."

"Yes, you're a man of your word. You didn't help. You would've just watched me die."

He stopped whatever he was doing just to glare at me. "I obviously wouldn't have. They were throwing stones at me too."

I rolled my eyes. "That doesn't matter anyway. Just get on with it."

He scanned my entire body, then looked at me disapprovingly. "Just bathe. There are too many cuts."

"No," I whined, "I want to sleep."

"I can do all the work, you relax."

"No!" I shot up, wincing when my ribs paid for my carelessness. "You're never bathing me again!"

"I've already done that so many times, what's the difference?"

I frowned, then smiled mischievously. "You just want to see me naked, don't you?"

"Yes."

I gasped, taken aback by his bluntness. "That's creepy."

"But you asked. Is that not the answer you expected?" He rolled his eyes. "Come on."

I could bathe myself, really. I just felt too lazy and everything hurt. Besides, he was right. He'd done it continuously for almost four weeks, another time made no difference. He had just draped a towel around me when we heard the door open.

Unfortunately, we didn't close the bathroom door. Michael and Diamond and Linda and Jake walked in, looking stupefied. I rolled my eyes and pressed my side against Kofi's, who was glaring at all four of them like he wished they would be incinerated.

"I didn't expect you to take my advice so soon," Linda laughed, going to sit on the bed. Jake followed her, but she grabbed both his hands before he could touch her belly again.

"We can't really keep our hands off each other," I was shocked, to say the least, hearing those words fall from Kofi's lips. Did he know about my plan? Or he just thought of it too?

Michael was struggling to regain his composure, but I could see how triggered he was getting. I smiled triumphantly as Diamond put her hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.

"Can you please put on decent attire? Your chief wants an audience with you," Diamond said.

"Have you heard of knocking? You could have caught us in the act, you know?" I retorted. Jake and Linda were making funny faces as they were trying to hold in their laughter. Michael and Diamond were triggered like the fools they were and even Kofi managed a smile.

"Two minutes," Michael said, and they both left.

Once they were gone, everyone but Kofi burst into laughter. He just smiled and pulled away from me, murmuring something about finding me clothes.

"He's so jealous," Jake laughed.

"I know right. Serves him right."

"What was that about though?" I asked, going to sit beside them. The sheets were dirty and bloodied and it was disgusting to sit on them, but I had no other option.

"He's formally updating you about the date of your hearing and the lawyer that is to be provided to you since you can't afford one and nonsense like that," Jake answered.

"The nerve of that boy," I spat.

"Careful Ellie, he's chief now."

"I can never truly respect him after everything. To think his virgin butt has the audacity—"

"Wait, what?" Jake blurted, cutting me off.

"What?"

"What did you say?" It was Linda this time. "There is nothing virgin about Michael."

I paused, observing them carefully to see if they were joking. "You're joking right? He told me—"

"He lied to you," they both began laughing at my expense, "Michael, was a complete player. Also known as an f-boy."

"F-boy?"

"He slept around throughout senior high. It is a miracle that he didn't contract something nasty."

I wanted to be surprised, but I really wasn't. I used to see Michael as an angel, literally someone who could not do wrong, but not anymore. But I was angry. The idiot played me like a violin. "He's such a pig."

"No, you're stupid for falling for that," Linda laughed, "couldn't you tell when you did it?"

"They never did it," Kofi cut in, throwing some clothes at me. I never realised when he left or when he came back.

I took the clothes uncertainly. "You... you knew?"

"You weren't acting like someone who'd lost their virginity, and I just guessed it, to be honest. Thanks for confirming."

"Oh wow, I thought... wow. He was able to hold back. He must... I know he's married and you have a boyfriend," she gave Kofi an apologetic look, "but I have to admit, if he decided to wait for you, he must really love you."

"If he loves her, he wouldn't be married to another woman," Kofi retorted. He threw a comb and a can of shea butter at me, expecting me to comb my own hair like it was my job. I let them fall on my lap.

"True. True. Let's not forget that he lied to her too," Jake replied.

I sighed, drawing the clothes up to my chest. "I'll go and change in the bathroom." I left and put on the clothes, grateful to Kofi for remembering to take some along. I completely forgot.

I went back to the room and Michael and Diamond were back. She had her arm slung through the space his bent elbow created.

Apparently, Linda and Jake were there for moral support. The room was big enough that we weren't crowded. Kofi came to lean on the wall beside me while the two royals faced us.

"This would be normally done in the throne room, but for old time's sake, we can do it here. Elorm Enam Nutsugah," I scoffed, "on the sixth of February, twenty nineteen, you will be tried before a jury of twelve, facing murder charges pertaining to the death of Chief Gabriel Amegah."

"That was his first name? How ironic."

Michael fixed a deathly glare on me. "Bear in mind that I am now chief. It may seem like a joke to you, but according to the constitution of Ghana, I do have the right to legally try and punish you for your crimes, including verbal abuse. You shall not leave the village unless you are given permission to do so, or else you will become a fugitive from the law..." he stepped forward, coming closer than I would've liked, "and I will hunt you down."

"Are you done?" Kofi asked, faking a yawn. "You can step away from my girlfriend now, chief," he said the last part mockingly.

'Chief' Michael glared at him too — which was the apparent punishment he was boasting so much about — but didn't step away. He kept on looking at me and I saw his façade break. His eyes were burning with want and jealousy, and I could feel the whole atmosphere get sucked away, leaving only both of us.

I was so angry with him and I wanted to hate him, but it wasn't that easy. Especially when he was looking at me like that.

"Leave. All of you." He ordered.

I could hear shuffling of feet as Linda and Jake left, but Kofi and Diamond stayed put.

"Chief..." Diamond sounded reluctant. She was afraid of me, I knew.

"You must be stupid if you think I take orders from you." Kofi retorted.

But I knew we had to have this talk. I was ready to defend myself now. "Kofi, please."

"I don't take orders from you either," he retorted.

"You heard the chief," Diamond spat.

"You of all people, are a special kind of stupid if you think I'm taking orders from you."

"You will not talk to me like that, you insolent boy!" The jewellery girl said, stamping her foot and trying to look intimidating. "I am the queen!"

"Of some insignificant village I can buy ten times over," he laughed.

"Kofi, please," I begged.

Michael wasn't even listening to them. He was looking at me like I was the only thing in the world.

"You really want to be alone with him after everything?"

"What is it to you anyway?" I snapped. "Leave me alone."

He looked at me for a couple of seconds, then shook his head as if he didn't know what he was doing. He walked away without another word.

"I trust you chief. I will be waiting in our room." He gave no indication as to whether he heard her; he probably didn't. She left with a sad shake of her head. I felt a little bit of pity for her.

When we were finally alone, Michael came even closer. He slid his hands up my arms, making me hiss in pain when he touched some of the swellings and cuts.

"I'm sorry," he said, settling his arms around my waist and pulling me to him.

"For what exactly? Want to make a list?" I asked angrily, throwing his arms off me.

"Elorm," he put his arms around me again, drawing me near.

I couldn't help my body's reaction to him. I grew warm all over due to our proximity, especially where our lower bodies collided. To be honest, more like his lower body and my stomach but it was the same thing.

"You're married," I said with no conviction. I was turning to putty in his arms.

"I don't love her."

"Then why did you marry her?"

"I needed a wife to become fully established as chief. She seemed like a good option; popular amongst the people, educated, beautiful, pleasant—"

"Does she know she's in an open marriage?" Don't get me wrong, I didn't like the jewellery girl, but I wasn't about to help him cheat on her.

"I told her not to expect any affection from me and I gave her the freedom to have any partner she wants outside of the marriage, so yes."

Well... I didn't know how to respond to that. "What do you want?"

"You. You of course," then his lips came crashing down on mine.

I wanted to push him away. Really, I did, but I was suffering from temporary muscle failure. I could only stand there, wide-eyed as he kissed me urgently.

"Kiss me back," he whispered against my lips, "seeing you with him drives me crazy." He grabbed me even tighter — if that was even possible — and began kissing me with renewed vigour.

I couldn't help it, I kissed him back. My hands wove through his hair as his lips lowered to my neck, sending delicious shivers down my spine. He grabbed my leg and put it on his hip, returning his lips to mine.

I pushed him back, finding it hard to keep up with the urgency of his kisses. He stopped, took a few deep breaths, and kissed me again. Calmly this time.

His hands cupped my face as his lips melded with mine like they were taking notes on what I felt like, if he never got the chance again. He sent me to the wall and leaned over me, taking his time even though our bodies were growing hotter by the second.

"Say the words," he said against my lips, "and I'll leave all this behind and traverse the world with you. I love you so much Elorm, and I can't see you with him. It hurts so badly."

"I can't," I replied quickly, before our proximity and my body could take over my brain. I hadn't forgotten why we came to the village in the first place.

"Careful, boy, that's my girlfriend you're kissing."

I screamed involuntarily, while Michael flinched and jumped away. Had he been here the whole time?

"I asked you to leave!" Michael said, clearly flustered. He was needlessly adjusting his clothes.

"So that you could kiss my girlfriend? That's an abuse of power, don't you think?"

The next seconds were spent with Michael blubbering like a fish.

Kofi rolled his eyes and held out his hand to me, "We have somewhere to be. Right now."

I nodded and fixed my uncombed hair a little before taking his hand. He tugged me away, but before I left, I stole a glance at Michael. His eyes were burning with rage at our conjoined hands.

* * *

Longest chapter ever! I made a new account yesterday, follow me @championette_ on Instagram, I make aesthetics!

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