" You now belong to me for my amusement. Get yourself ready and put yourself together. Stop wailing because soon, you'll have to give me enough pleasure else I'll finish you off " a man said in a coarse voice. Even though it was dark, Abina could still se

" Put her inside the hut and guard the entrance. Make sure you guard her with your life " the man said pointing at one of the men who had carried Abina.

Abina was taken into a dark hut. There was no light and it smelled bad. Abina couldn't believe that her mother just sold her. She had trusted her with her life. She thought Akuba had finally changed but never knew she was going to get her sold. Abina wondered what her crime was. She had been a good girl and respected Akuba. She never complained to anyone hoping that Akuba was going to one day treat her as her own daughter.

Abina sat inside the hut with tears rolling down her cheeks. Then she remembered her past again.

***

" Go, run away please " Abina's mother said with tears streaming down her cheeks as she held her stomach. Blôód was oozing out without stopping. Abina had walked in and saw her mother in tears.

She ran towards her crying. There was a knîfé planted inside her mother's stomach. She cried and held the knîfé trying to pull it out. But her mother pleaded with her to run away.

Abina's hand was still holding the knife when some men walked into the room.

" She killed her. She killed her mother. She's a witch. Get her " one of them shouted.

" Run, Abina , run and don't look back "

Those were the last words Abina heard from her mother. She stood up in tears and ran out of the room. She kept running straight reaching out for the nearest bush.

****

The past triggered rivers of tears which flowed down Abina's cheeks. She wished she was never born.

********

The next morning, Serwa woke up. The house was looking unkept. The dishes used the previous night haven't been washed. She walked to Abina's room to wake her up.

She walked in and met an empty mat. She began to shout Abina's name. Akuba walked into the room asking Serwa why she was shouting. Serwa told her mother that Abina wasn't in her room nor was she outside.

Akuba told Serwa that it was possible that Abina had left to fetch firewood early that morning. They all sat outside the house waiting for Abina but she never showed up.

" I knew it, I knew that girl was up to no good. Maybe she has run away with a boy " Akuba said making some facial gestures.

" But Mama, I've not seen Abina with any man before" Kisi said in defense.

" Shut up and say what you know. Tell me, where is she?. We have been here waiting for almost two hours and she is nowhere to be found" Akuba

Kisi left her mother outside with Serwa and walked into the house. She went to Abina's room and all her belongings were still there intact. Abina was very quiet and obedient to her mother. Something wasn't right and she could feel it.

*******

Back in the palace, the prince was restless. He wondered how the maiden disappeared right in front of his eyes. If only he had gotten closer and grabbed her. Maybe he wouldn't have lost her.

Prince Kofi wondered where he was ever going to find the dancing maiden. Something suddenly occurred to him. When he was chasing the dancing maiden. He had followed her closely till they came out of the bush. She ran towards a particular house. The woman has said that the dancing maiden didn't enter into her house but something told him she lied.

Prince Kofi decided to do some investigations to know how many children the woman has. He decided to ask questions. Prince Kofi left the palace all alone.

Some said Akuba had two daughters while some said three. Prince Kofi decided to find out directly from Akuba.

When he got to Akuba's house, Serwa was outside. She was so happy the prince visited them. She ran in to call her mother and Kisi.

Prince Kofi greeted Akuba and praised her for having beautiful daughters. Serwa and Kisi blushed, so did their mother.

The prince asked Akuba about her third daughter. Akuba told the prince she had just two daughters.

" Oh, you mean Abina? We have been searching for her since the morning and no one knows where she left to " Kisi said.

EPISODE 4

THE DANCING MAIDEN

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