I had a dream.

I was held down by heavy chains. The cold breeze reminded me that I was outside on a chilly night. Then, some women wearing black dresses appeared. They encircled me and held hands. They said nothing. I was confused. Five year old me was shivering. Then, the face of one of the women came into focus. It was my mother. I called her but she didn't answer or even give me a reassuring expression to promise that she would answer me soon like she always did when engaged in a conversation (gossip) with Aunty Anome.

I tried to move the chains or wiggle out of them but it seemed as if my tiny frame was no use. Then, something happened. The women started to mumble something.

(pauses telling the story to cry)

Suddenly a dark almost-see-through shapeless ugly creature appeared. Then, it.... It happened so fast. I couldn't do anything but scream.

It possessed me. It was painless but I felt different in a bad way.

Then, they let go of each other's hands. My mother rushed to me and hugged me. I could never forget her words.

"I am so proud of you. You were chosen from the womb. I will tell you the story when we wake okay?"

I couldn't speak. Deep down, I new something was wrong. The women left. I was alone. I was still in chains. Suddenly, I felt a seriously painful sting at the back of my neck.

I tried to rub it with my hands but I was still chained. I felt the pain flow into my veins. A black snake wrapped my neck and slithered to my front.

It spoke.

In the pain, I could only hear a few of it's words.

"It is a brand. You....kill.... never escape or else......no freedom....... together forever.....spirit guide......death....death...death......kill every one that stands against us......death.... promotion.....death.... promotion....."
Then, I closed my eyes and sank into darkness.

Pain woke me up that morning. I checked my neck it was still hurting. I felt it but nothing was there. I went to tell my mother that I had a bad dream and I was having some pains.

She frowned and said: "It was not a dream. (She sighed) I have something to tell you."

She took me to our yam plantation and I sat on a stump. She told me to stand. I stood so she sat and placed me on her laps.

"Ogonna, my girl, I have a story to tell you."

"I'm hungry. I want food I don't want story."

Then, she did something I never thought she could. She held a fist and I felt the back of my neck hurt. She tightened her grip and I felt the pain become even more excruciating. I cried and begged her to stop. She didn't. She continued until I fell to the floor. I didn't understand. She didn't stop until I spoke in an unknown language to her. She smiled and unclenched her fist. I didn't know what I said or how it came but, it worked.

"Our girl is already my senior." She said then bowed her head.

She made me sit. I refused to sit on her.

She told me the 'story'.

"Before I had you, many prophesies came that the next human leader of our coven will be my second female child. I was the happiest young woman on earth until, I married your father who is a Christian. It was against the rules of our coven. I had to pay sacrifices to appease the gods or my head would be cut off. I tried killing him. It didn't work. So, I paid the sacrifices. When I had your sister, I tried to initiate her but it didn't work. You grandma tried. It didn't work. Probably because she was dedicated on the alter of the most high by your father. I killed him in the end before you were born. When you were conceived, I killed him. When you were born, you were dedicated on the river I got you from. The river gods asked me to dip your head in the river the times on the day you were born. I did so. You were the chosen one. I was once again the happiest young woman on earth. "
The rest was an even longer story. I dozed off into a nightmare or a morningmare?