Chapter 6: Blood for Blood

Halima people sharp, she hear quick say Musa dey show me kindness. Panic catch her, she cough blood, doctor talk say she fit no last this year. But from my last life memory, after Musa die, she use one miracle medicine, recover quick. If you ask me, her sickness na fake.

For Naija, we sabi act sickness well. I just dey look am, dey laugh for mind. If e like, make she roll for ground, my mind no dey there.

But e no concern me—I no wan involve myself.

Na so I lock myself for room, dey read old storybook, dey sip zobo. Wahala wey no concern me, e no dey kill me. Zainab dey always peep inside, dey check if I dey alright.

But she just no wan leave me alone.

Sometimes, e be like say Halima get spirit wey dey follow me. Even if I hide, she go still find my trouble. I just dey pray make these ten days quick end.

Middle of the night, Musa burst enter my room, no mind Zainab wey dey block am.

Him shadow big for door, like masquerade. Zainab panic, drop lantern, almost burn curtain.

"Aisha, Halima dey critical. Doctor Sani talk say she fit no last till morning."

His eyes red, voice crack. For Naija man to cry for another woman matter, na big deal. I just sigh.

I rub my eyes, still dey sleep.

"So why you dey find me? You wan make I follow am die?"

The sarcasm inside my voice thick. Even Musa pause, shock for small second.

Before I finish, he rush grab my wrist. Before I fit react, knife flash, cold touch my skin. He really cut my wrist, use bowl collect my blood. I struggle with all my power, but I no fit move at all. Before he leave me, the bowl don half full with my blood.

E be like film. The pain no dey, but the humiliation loud. Blood dey flow, but my spirit dey strong. Zainab dey cry, beg am, but e no answer.

"Doctor Sani say, since you survive arrow for chest and your wound heal quick, your blood fit be that special spring blood wey fit wake person from death. Aisha, to save life dey urgent. I owe you—I go pay you back. Zainab, hurry bandage Madam wound."

For him mind, na logic. For me, na betrayal. For my village, dem talk say if person use your blood anyhow, your spirit fit vex for am. But I just bone, dey look am.

As he talk finish, he carry my blood run comot.

I dey wonder, if na my blood go save Halima, who go save me? For this life, everybody dey use person.

Because of system setting, even as blood still dey flow, I no feel any pain. Na only my eyes, uselessly, red like pepper.

My tears dry, but anger dey burn for chest. I look mirror, see my reflection—weak but proud.