[STORY] CRUSHED (Episode 04)

Episode 04.

I had become the shadow of myself I didn’t care about the way I looked anymore I didn’t care who looks at me or who doesn’t I still followed them to church but my ears are always plugged with ear piece that if any usher comes around to stop me, I would show such the stuff I am made of.

I remembered one occasion when I was seated amongst the congregation in the adult church. An usher came to my side and pulled me with such force that I had to bite her hand. What sort of a woman does that! “I am a lady myself and not a small girl. That I am an elder’s daughter doesn’t mean you can drag me however you like” I screamed into her ears.

She was a very short woman so it was easy to speak straight into her ears. She was shaken by what I said to her that she staggered before pulling my ears “Your dad must hear about this” she said as she pulled me out of the auditorium since I was already becoming a distraction to the church We met mummy on the way and she just scoffed “Have you seen for yourself now? The girl needs prayers” she said as she moved past us She dragged me on and on and I struggled to get myself freed “It’s a lie o Mercy. You were never like this and it is a lie…the devil has failed over your life” she said on and on I saw that she was approaching the elder’s office and that was where daddy was. I quickly bit her finger and she staggered back as she wriggled in pains. I picked up my shoes and started running towards the church gate. Even I knew that I was becoming a nuisance already but I didn’t care Not at all! Alice saw me and came running towards me but I was determine to jab her if she ever tried to stop me. Wouldn’t she just leave me alone? After the incidence two weeks back, she had called my line severally but I had refused to pick up.

I had avoided her like plague She was a Jesus’ girl after all! “Catch her for me please” That was daddy’s voice Oh my God! I am in serious soup! The security man and Alice got to me at the same time and held me Alice looked into my face softly “Oh my God! What is going on with you Mercy? You have never been violent. Why would you start within just three weeks? Why? What happened?” she asked on Daddy patted the usher on the shoulders before he started to pull me into his office Alice looked at me as I was dragged. She looked so caring.

I reached out towards her as I started screaming “Alice, save me! I don’t want to go into his office. I don’t want to go please. Save me” I cried bitterly but she shook her head “He’s your dad. He knows the best” she said, tears in her eyes already The earth stood still I shook my head in total surrender and regret. Could nobody look past the daddy, elder, pastor thing? Couldn’t anybody feel my pain? “God bless you my sister” he said as he locked the door and pushed me inside the inner office He looked at me for a moment and I looked at him too fearlessly “You have finally become a nuisance” he said and I looked at me, shaking my head “And you? You have not only become a nuisance. You are a nonsense!” I said Since the incidence, I had lost every pint of respect I had for the once noble personality of my father.

I had lost it all! He laughed loudly as he slapped me playfully on my face “Stop touching me! Would you stop that please!” I cried again “I love you Mercy. Don’t see it as a punishment or molestation. See me as your husband. I took your virginity. You are mine. I love you” he said and started coming near me again. Immediately I saw him approaching, I quickly stood form the chair and dodged I developed a strong allergy from the three words ‘I love you’. Those were part of the words he spoke to me while he ravaged me. I would never appreciate someone telling me that anymore.

He followed after me and I stood for a moment “What would you gain from all these things Mr. Brown? Aren’t you supposed to be in the church? Is the sermon today not to be handled by you?” I asked on He nodded like an agama lizard Dark passion written all over his face “Yes I will go. Only after you have satisfied me. Only after you have said you love me too and you show it” he said like an evil beast and I loathed him immediately What could save me from another painful experience today? “Remember I have good plans for you. Remember I pay your expensive fees. Remember, you dress well. Remember everything” What? If I scream now, who would save? Wouldn’t I expose this man after all? He caught me and pulled me down. His strength overpowered me and I could not move again. Within two minutes, it was over and he stood up, went on his knees beside his table to pray while I looked and picked up his bible. “Stand up and lets go” he said and I looked at him from where I was with great abhor I shook my head as tears ran down my face He came near me and pulled me with a hand which I bit as if I was going to chop off a chunk of his flesh.

He screamed “I rebuke you in Jesus’ name” he screamed as he downloaded two dirty slaps in my face I saw different stars before I tumbled and fell into a settee. He pulled me by the arm again as he opened the door. He closed the door and locked it. He left me on the porch of his office as he left for the main auditorium I was battered! I didn’t know what could happen next ‘Is this how this would continue?’ I cried on There was nobody available. I tried to sit up but I couldn’t bear the sight of myself I couldn’t even forgive myself either. I said I was going to really be a devil What had happened to my resolve? “Should I just go and take the mic and confess to the whole church? Should I tell the whole world how devilish this man I call father is?” I shouted into the air. “No please. Don’t” a voice said from behind me.

I turned back to look at the person talking Alice! Her fair face was as red as pepper! Tears kept falling down her face as she came close to me, sat down and hugged me tightly I was dazed What was going on? What did she know? Why was she crying? “I am sorry. I am really sorry” she continued saying as she cried harder I had to forget all my worries and focused on this crying woman After weeping for a while without me moving, she looked into my face.

Her eyes were blood shot “What is it?” I asked her and her mouth scattered again as she burst into another round of tears “I know. Now I know…what was being cooked that had burnt down the whole house. Now I know” she said and I looked stunned I smiled to cover everything up. “What do you know?” She looked deep into my eyes again “Exactly what is making you cry. Exactly what has made everyone to term you possessed” she said My legs grew weak She must not know! How would she be looking at me henceforth? Many ‘how’ questions flooded my mind “What are you saying? I am just going through some emotional issh….i am..plus… please?” I stammered and she covered my mouth “I understand my dear. What a very young girl of your age is going through…ah! It’s too much…it’s too much oh Lord!” she cried on and my heart shook vehemently in its cage “What are you saying? Because daddy beat me inside? I was being rude that’s why” I tried to justify the whole situation She held my hand and smiled ruefully “You need not lie. What you did is understandable! Being rude by plugging your ears in the church as you didn’t want to hear your molesters preaching. Biting Mrs. Haruna as she dragged you into the hole of your molester and eventually being thrown away like pure water sachet after being crushed. I understand” she said truthfully and my heart dropped How did she know? The truth was what she had said but I could not contain it.

The truth of course is bitter! I stood up and backed her “What are you saying Alice? Exactly what?” I said, feigning ignorance She touched my shoulders and I balked “Don’t touch me. You know absolutely nothing about me. You can’t just say what you like and think you know how to talk. Leave me alone!” I almost shouted “You mean I am wrong?” she asked “Yes you are wrong! How dare you say that about me? How dare you say that about my father? How could you belittle a man of God like that?” I said further, looking away from her She looked shocked “You don’t need to run away from the tru…” she wanted to start saying again “There is no truth in what you are saying ma. Stop it!” I screamed and I started walking away from her

Where should I go to? If I stayed around these people, I would be battered the more What should I do? How did this lady find out? How?

She was the only person I still had in the whole wide world asides Mr. Brown who still listened to me. Why would she find out? It’s a battle I can fight I need nobody else to fight with me.

“Mercy” I heard a voice call out It was a very dear voice But, I didn’t want to see him at that time “Mercy” Jean called out again Jean was our Proprietor’s son and he had been a friend from childhood. We did almost everything in common until we got to J.SS 2 when there was a huge gap between us.

We no longer spoke on phone nor did we gist as we normally did as kids Now that we are in the senior class, I realized that I was attracted to him.

Everything about him appealed to my senses I never showed it nor told anyone about it though.

Exactly what he wanted for me now is what I don’t understand.

As much as I loved him and really did care, I wouldn’t want him near me because if he did, I would really hurt him.

He didn’t seem to like me though He just saw me as a friend I saw him more than that; hence he should leave me alone!

For now, all male gender should leave me alone!

“Mercy” he called as he moved close I was walking like I was being chased “Leave me alone!” I screamed so loudly that my voice rang in the whole compound of the church.

I ran towards the gate but I was bundled into the dark room of the security department of the church.

I panted as air rushed through my nasal cavity as if I had oxygen tubes attached to it. …..it gets tougher please.

To Be Continued….

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