Chapter 1: Consequences of Disobedience
Stella was working as a hairdresser when she received a call from a new customer who wanted her to come over to her house to braid her hair and that of her two children.
She went to the customer's house and braided the hair of both the customer and her children.
After completing her service, the customer gave Stella 20,000 Naira to appreciate her effort. Stella was pleased because the money was more than she had expected.
The following year, Stella was walking along the street, minding her own business, when she heard a voice calling out to her.
She turned to see a man in a flowing white robe with a long, bushy beard. He had an urgent, almost desperate look in his eyes as he approached her, delivering a dire warning in a quivering voice.
"Young lady, the Lord said you should not leave your house on the 16th of November this year. Instead, you should fast on that day and ask for divine favor from heaven. Peace be unto you," the prophet said before leaving.
On that day, Stella received a phone call from the customer who had given her 20,000 Naira the previous year.
The customer asked her to come and braid her hair, saying she had gone to Stella's shop but hadn't found her there. Stella told the customer that she couldn't come because she needed some rest.
"No problem, but that means you'll lose my business. I'll go somewhere else to braid my hair, and you'll miss out on the 20,000 Naira I have prepared for you," the customer said, trying to change Stella's mind.
"Okay, please give me a few minutes, and I will come to meet you. I just need to get some things sorted out," Stella replied.
"You don't need to come to your shop. I'll text you an address. You can come to my house, as you did last year, to braid my hair and my two children's hair."
"Don't worry, I remember where you live."
"I've changed my location. I'll text you the new address."
"Okay, no problem. Send me the address."
Stella held the phone in her hand, her fingers trembling slightly. The temptation to ignore the prophet's warning was strong, but something inside her told her it was a bad idea.
She stood there for a few moments, torn between the promise of money and the nagging feeling that something was very wrong.
Moments later, she received a text message: "Take a bus to Festac Town and get off at the second gate junction. Then call me, and I'll come and pick you up."
The customer called her back, and she answered.
"Hello, I have seen the address. I'm coming right now," Stella said.
"Okay, I'm expecting you. Bye," the customer replied, ending the call.
Stella stared at the address. Something about the situation didn't feel right, but the lure of the money was strong. As she gathered her things and prepared to leave, she couldn't shake the sense that she was walking into danger.
Stella left the house without telling anyone, as there was no one at home. She took a bus to Festac Town and got off at the second gate junction. She called the customer, who asked her to wait at the junction.
Five minutes later, a car pulled up behind Stella. It was the customer's car. Stella's phone rang, and the customer told her to come to the car. Stella approached the car hesitantly, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Good morning, ma," Stella greeted her.
"Morning. How is work?" the customer asked.
"Fine, ma."
"Do you remember my face?"
"Yes, ma. You called me to braid your hair and your two children's hair last year."
"Good. Get in the car, and I'll take you to my house so you can braid my hair."
Stella entered the car, and the customer zoomed off. She drove Stella to a bungalow, got out of the car, and went inside to call an old man.
"Big Daddy," she called out to the old man, "I've brought the woman I want to use for the sacrifice to renew my wealth."
"Good. Where is she?" the old man asked.
"She's in the car. She doesn't know what she's doing anymore."
"Okay, go and command her to come out of the car and follow you. She will cooperate."
"Okay," she said and did as instructed.
Stella followed her to a room, and the old man asked her to kneel down. The old man carried a traditional pot wrapped in black and red cloth and placed it on her head.
"Hold the pot!" the old man commanded, and Stella obeyed. The old man began to chant incantations as he placed his hand on the pot.
He then took the pot down to the floor, grabbed a razor blade, and cut some of Stella's hair, placing it inside the pot while saying more incantations.
"Once I have finished the ritual, take her to a remote location where no one will find her," the old man cackled. "When you return, I will give you further instructions to bring you greater wealth and power."
"Okay, Big Daddy. Now, follow me," the customer commanded. Stella stood up and followed her like a zombie to the car.
The customer opened the back door and told her to get in, and Stella obeyed. The customer then got into the driver's seat and drove off.
She dropped Stella in a forest and drove back to meet the old man. When she arrived, she found the old man sitting outside his house, his face hidden in the shadows of the setting sun.
As she approached, she saw his eyes glittering with an unnatural light.
"Welcome, my daughter," said the old man.
"Alright, sir, I have dropped her in the forest."
"Good, follow me." She followed the old man into a room.
"Sit down and wait for me here. I am coming," said the old man. He went out and returned with the pot he had placed on Stella's head.
"Take this pot to your house. At three o'clock in the morning, go to the front of your house, dig a hole, and put the pot inside. Say the incantation words I taught you, cover the pot with sand, and go to sleep. Let me know what happens when you wake up."
"Okay, sir, I will do as you have said. Thank you." She took the pot, put it inside a poly bag, and left.
Meanwhile, Stella was in a deep sleep, lying on the ground in the forest. She later woke up and realized she was in a forest. She looked around and saw that she was surrounded by bushes.
"What? Where am I? How did I get to this place?" She was confused and didn't know what to do.
"Hello! Is there anybody around?" she shouted with all her strength, hoping someone could guide her out. But there was no one.
"God, please send a helper to me," she prayed. "Wait a minute," she said to herself. "But I don't know how I got here. Who brought me?" She thought deeply but couldn't remember anything.
"God, please, I need a helper to lead me out of this forest because I don't know the way to the main road."
"Hello! Is there anybody around? If there is, please, I am lost!" she shouted at the top of her voice. "Hello! Please, help me!"