"I present to you all, the Angel of death," the chief said with open arms. The people took steps back. What was happening. Some even fell on their knees. Their hopes came crushing down on them. They stared at him and then at Mia.
Everyone knew that she was usually of best behaviour but what had she done to deserve being treated like that. One could not miss her messy hair. It was like she had been beaten. They did not think there was mistake that would make them treat her this way.
Then they looked at the messenger. His life and death was unknown. He had been stripped off his shirt but they had failed to remove his pants and boots which was a shame. His chest was wounded and if they could see his back, they would not miss the whip wounds on his back.
"I hereby sentence the angel of death to death. He is not even an angel or messenger but just a lost kid. He played you all and you fell for it. But do not worry, I have poisoned him with strong tonic that can take down an elephant.
"If he was an angel, he would not have been affected by the poison but since he is not, he is of no use. He dares to disguise himself as one of the messangers of our gods. Blasphemy of the first level! We have also decided to punish this unfilial daughter to watch her actions of poisoning him. Wake her up," the chief said and someone with wooden bucket filled with water poured it on her.
She stirred awake and looked around confused. It did not take her long to know where she was. She looked up and saw the crucified Marx. She was shocked that he was still alive. Though barely, she was sure that he had a chance of surviving. In few hours maybe he would be back.
She stood up and looked at everyone then her father. Now that she had the spotlight, she might as well try to do her part.
"It has been years longer than anyone of us knows. We have all been following the wrong footsteps. We are not a progressive society but a regressive one.
" We act as strangers to each other yet we all say that we are one. We cannot continue following this archaic and barbaric ways. In the past, we are told stories where women were not used but were cared for.
"Women are not supposed to be viewed as property or assets. We all have the ability to do almost everything you men can do. We are not asking for you to leave us to do the things you do. We are asking that you could at least treat us like fellow humans too.
"We don't want you to command every actions we do. We need you to be considerate of us also. You should also know of a womans pride. None of us ladies here enjoys walking with our bossoms naked.
"We don't even enjoy walking with our even most privates part being almost open to all you. You should also consider the feelings of us women. We don't like it that we cannot sit down without kneeling in order to hide our privacy yet it is always not enough.
"You all are brothers and fathers, and husbands. No brother enjoys seeing their sisters private parts. It used to be a taboo but you have made it common morally correct. Every brother should fight to protect his sister's privacy not the other way round.
"You should not do it just because everyone is doing it. You don't enjoy seeing others lusting at your sisters right? Why do you still let them walk naked? Just because you enjoy to seeing your neighbour's sister's bare body?
"You are the most disappointing people in our lives. we once thought that you would protect us but yet... You are fathers but you are the fore front perpetrators of these acts. How do you allow your daughters to walk almost fully naked?
"Is this how you treat the ones you love? Or is it that father's don't love their daughters like we think you do? You are the first man we ever met yet you were the first ones to force us into these situations.
"Fathers are like our warriors who we should look up to but our fathers are nothing but our main oppressors. We know that there is not more we can do but at least we have some things in which we can help in.
"We can also help in the farms rather than just staying at home and market selling. Even our mothers have failed us. They are the ones we can only talk to but they are the ones who enforce these rules. We are..."
Mia's speech was like an outburst of what every girl in the village ever wanted to say. They were all tears as they heard Mia's words. Her tears were their own and her grievances were their own. Tears all fell to the sand.
Some men who did not find their culture apppealing felt her words but it felt like an insult towards people like her father and the old men. They were too hard headed to even feel their daughter's grievances.
The chief had stood up and marched towards her and slapped her while she was still in the middle of her speech. It was not that he did not care but he had to think about the other older men. He could not just fall out especially when he was their leader
"Silence here! I think that I have been too soft on you. Take him to the cliff of sacrifices and offer him to our ancestors," the chief said. Mia felt like a thunderbolt had been struck on her. She even felt her ability to stand disappear.
" You can't do it dad. He is just a 16 year old boy," she begged but her pleas fell on deaf ears
" Draw the cart. Those who want to witness it should all follow. The cliff of ancestors will be offered a sacrifice to today," the chief said.
" What are you all staring at ? Will you do nothing as he dies? Will you just witness someone who is here to fight for you get killed!" Mia was losing her mind. Even her tears had ran dry. She just sobbed and fell on her knees as the cart was drawn.
The cart started heading outside towards the cliff which was about a kilometer away. Mia just kneeled miserably as they approached the cliff. No one ever survived a fall from that cliff. This was because in the ocean edge of the cliff were sharp rocks.
It was around 100 meters long and everyone knew that there was no surviving such a fall. A while later, they were all standing in front of the cliff edge. Marx was untied from the cross and shoved towards the edge of the cliff. He was just a few centimeters away from falling.
The chief did not have to give the command. The youths knew what they had to do. Bows and spears were given to each one of them. Around fifty youths who could be termed as men. The rules were simple. Fire at him until he was pushed to the edge.
All that was being awaited was the chief's command. The chief looked at the cart but his daughter was missing. At least she did not have to watch his shameful acts.
"Fire!" The chief said with a wave of his hand forward.
The first person to fire used a spear. The ladies closed their eyes with their hands but it was just one eye as the other one peeped through the fingers. The chief did not even bat his eye from the spear.
"Stop!!!" He shouted but it was too late. The shot was fired and there was no taking it back. Those who closed their eyes opened them and covered their mouths with their hands. Their eyes were wide with shock. No one could stop it.
Mia was standing in front of the spear. She had her arms open. She closed her eyes and waited for her fate to be sealed. She did not even listen to her mother's cry telling her to stay away. She just gave a smile as she felt the spear pierce through her belly and shot from the other side then to the ocean.
She stood for some seconds and fell back on Marx on his chest. Blood seeped from her lips and more blood poured from her belly. There were two pained cries one from her mother and one from the other ladies.
Mia turned herself and sat next to him still leaning on his chest. She reached for his hand and brought his hand to her breast.
"I know that you can feel this. I have repaid my debt for you. If you hear me, I am sorry for I cannot accompany you any more as your guide. Sorry for my selfish actions. I think I am going to die. Am scared..."