Soon, the moderator announced about the mentioning of the rules.The moderator handed over to one of the four men seated on the high tables who stood up and stepped out.
"The silent violent lions !...he shouted
"No betrayal !... the crowd responded
"The red and the black door !
"Enter and no step out !... the crowd responded.
Naive Saliki became terrified,he looked sideways, back and front, everyone was concentrated.He attempted asking Rinny question but had to shut down and remain quiet.The man on the high table continued with his speech.
"We all know that this group has been in existence before any among us joined, it was operated first by the founder and since then,those that had same mindset with them has been joining for the growth of the group, we've been abiding by the rules and regulations of this group and all have been well with us.We have been violent within and silent without, no opposition,no controversy.We also know the penalty for disobedient members,no member steps into the group and goes out unpunished.This is to say that,once you are in with us, you can't quit.Our riches and wealth wasn't from the source of washing alone, homosexuality and drinking of prostitute's blood has been our laid foundation. The spell casted makes our customers listen and hearken to us when we request for any amount of payment..."
Saliki's body began to freeze,he looked sideways again, everyone was still,he couldn't look back,he turned towards Rinny and asked.
"Please Rinny ! Can I get out of here ?
"Don't make any attempt or else, you pay with your life "
"Why didn't you inform me earlier that this is what it's all about "
"You needed money so quick and here you are. Shut up ! or else you want to attract the leaders attention towards you and believe me, you can't withstand their questions "
Saliki placed his hands on his head
"I am finished !....he said.
The man on the high table continued by calling on the new members.
"....now, I am aware that there are new members here with us,we can't overlook them,we have to be sure that they are truly our members.They have to pass through the lion's den before they are worthy. As a new member,we expect that you stand up and step out from the crowd before us for your full initiation "
The new members stood up and we're stepping out one after the other, standing in a cue and facing the crowd.
"Saliki ! Didn't you hear the instruction ? Don't get yourself penalized tonight "
"This is not what I want, I didn't ask for this. Please ! let me go back and never return again..."
At this moment, Saliki began to sob and emotionally pleading.
"Saliki ! there's no turning back,go out there now before I get everyone's attention towards us"
Saliki fearfully stood up, quietly walking out to the front , when he got there,he joined the cue.
"We are amazed for having these number of new members for the first in forever, following the procedures of our initiation, five old members should step out too and have a kiss with each new member. "
Five members stepped out as the kissing begins. Getting to Saliki,he shouted
"Wait ! Just wait !
Everyone turned towards him,he gathered up some courage and spoke out loud.
"What are you all doing ? this is stupidity,I had no intention of this gathering resulting to this,I wasn't expecting this.Please ! I need to go back home,I don't want it anymore, have mercy on me and let me go... Please ! Hear my plea and pardon me "
Everyone laughed out loudly
"The silent violent lions !
"No betrayal !.... the members responded
"The red and black door !
"Enter and no step out !...they echoed
"it's obvious that we are hearing of this and it's a pity that there's no two options about it unless you choose death "
The man turned towards Saliki and said.
"My friend ! don't make this life miserable for yourself, don't let the dead hear your cry.If you step out here, then be ready to face the repercussion which is death. Your only option is "Join or die ", your death will be counted down to the next day, you have within forty- hours to come back,if not,then say your goodbye. We will let you go back tonight, but be rest assured that after forty-eight hours is the dead end, the ball is in your court to play"
Saliki couldn't wait to make another choice, he ran out from the hall, back to his apartment.
Getting home, Jasco was not around, Saliki rested at the wall tirelessly,he recalled back what Rinny told him at the beginning,he remembered the punishment of the gods,he recalled back his parents warning,he thought of being swallowed up by the earth,his eyeballs began to swim in the ocean.
Back there in the village, the elders have waited for the return of Saliki as the decided to strike.Sending the warning Mrs.Tinu, she was informed that the son has only forty-eight hours to return,if not, the gods will perform it's worst . Mr.Tinu became hopeless because there is no way she could reach to his son neither could she contact him.She starts to die silently in thought.
On the other hand, Saliki eventually visited the prophetess who speaks of Oluwa.Saliki never knew that he is jumping into the fire from the pan. Saliki hastily and ignorantly asked for help from a stranger who directed him to the prophetess.
At first, Saliki narrated his ordeal to her, she claimed that Oluwa will intervene and he only has the power to subdue all curses or speech of the evil. This alone called the attention of Saliki towards believing that, he is on the right side of the prophetess. She requested for payment which she included the bringing of two pregnant boiler fowl,two Calabash for sprinkling it's blood and two pots for cooking the rest and offering it to Oluwa.
Saliki shouted in dismay but accepted the request all because of his life, though he pleaded if he can pay some penny,he was denied of the opinion and hearing from the prophetess,he has only forty hours to provide the items.
Saliki ran back home,checked for his pocket, the money he had wasn't enough to purchase those items.Saliki thought going into theft.
It's twenty-two hours,a seller along the road begins to shout.
"He's a thief ! Look at him over there ! He has stolen my fowl, somebody catch him !
In no time, the seller was laying curses upon the thief, the thief ran far away with two white fowl in his hands, eventually,he was Saliki. Saliki was breathing heavily.
When he got to a hidden dark spot, keeping the fowl,he went for the remaining items.Thirty-four hours, Saliki has made provision of the listed items.
Saliki didn't go back to the apartment,he hid inside the bush, sitting on the ground with his back resting at a tree.Saliki was breathing heavily, sweating profusely. Saliki knelt down with tears on his face and lifted his voice to Oluwa and said.
"Oluwa ! Oluwa ! I haven't seen you but I know that you exist,I am tired,I don't want to die,if you are real ,Oluwa ! show yourself. If I die,I live for nothing,if I live,I will buy more items to sacrifice to you .I am not ready to die.Oluwa ! curse them that curse me , this is what the man of Oluwa spoke,let thunder fire them that wants to fire me, even the gods, break their mirrors ,secure me and shame those evil group . Oluwa ! I am the only child of my parents,I am innocent, be my judge".
Saliki didn't stop his prayer until his voice was fainting.Saliki hurried back to the prophetess, getting there,he greeted the prophetess who replied and collected the items. The prophetess took the fowl, killed it and sprinkled the blood inside the Calabash and put the others into the pot. She uttered some spiritual words and assured Saliki that God has forgiven him. She told Saliki to go back home and let Oluwa fight for him.
Saliki was amazed on how quick everything was done.He reliably and happily appreciated the prophetess.
It was for six hours, Saliki was at home with Jasco, narrating his ordeal to Jasco describing the prophetess whom he thinks have settled Oluwa. Jasco shouted in surprise
"Saliki ! What have you done ? Oooh ! Saliki ! I am out of this room "
"What are you trying to say ?.... Saliki asked surprisingly.
"Saliki ! you are a dead man !
"Come on Jasco, what's going on ?
"Saliki ! that lady isn't a real prophetess, she works in hand with the ancestors and spirit of the graves, she also works for we the cult members "
Saliki stood up , opening his mouth wide,he looked at the clock, immediately it chimed,it was forty-eight hours, standing still, black blood gushed down from his nose, touching it, his ankle wriggled.Saliki screamed out louder, soon,his head turned backward.
Saliki stiffened, standing still. Jasco ran out of the room as fast as his legs could carry him.Eventually, Saliki felled to get ground and turned into ashes.
Mrs. Tinu screamed out loudly, seeing the ongoing incidence through the mirror of the high priest as the elders flip their head in annoyance.