“Who is this?” I screamed, holding the picture of the girl who looked exactly like me.
My hands were shaking so much that the picture almost fell.
Chief Dozie didn’t answer. He just grabbed my ankle and dragged me out from under the bed with a force I didn’t know he had.
“Leave me alone!” I shouted, kicking him in the face.
But he didn’t stop. He was desperate. He was terrified of the creature standing in the corner.
“Chidinma!” I cried out to my sister. “Who is the girl in this picture? Why does she look like me?”
Chidinma, who was still blocking the door with the knife in her hand, started laughing.
It was a wicked, soulless laugh.
“That was Nneka,” she said coldly. “Our first sister. The one Mama and Papa sold to Chief Dozie five years ago.”
My heart stopped beating for a second.
“Mama and Papa?” I whispered. “Sold?”
“Yes!” Chidinma shouted, her eyes bulging.
“How do you think Papa built that house in the village? How do you think Mama bought her new car? They sold Nneka to Dozie for his ritual!”
I felt like the ground was opening up to swallow me.
My own parents? The people who sent me here last week to ‘take care’ of my sister?
“But the ritual failed,” Chidinma continued, her voice dropping to a sinister whisper.
“Nneka’s spirit was too stubborn. She died, but she refused to give Dozie the full wealth. And she took my legs as revenge.”
She pointed the knife at me.
“That is why you are here, Adanna. You are the second half. You are the spare key. Once we take your legs tonight, Nneka’s curse will be broken, and I will walk forever!”
“Enough talk!” the short creature roared from the corner.
Its red eyes were burning brighter now. The room was getting hotter.
“The time is going! If I don’t smell blood in the next two minutes, I will take the husband’s head!”
Hearing this, Chief Dozie went wild.
He pinned my hands to the floor.
“I’m sorry, Adanna! I don’t want to die!” he screamed.
“Chidinma, bring the cutlass! Cut the left leg first!”
“No! Please! Jesus!” I begged, struggling with all my strength.
But Dozie was too heavy.
Chidinma walked towards me, raising the sharp kn|f£ high above her head and brought was bringing it down…
