Chief Obinna’s laughter echoed across the square, cold and mocking. “You’re a fool, Chidera. Love cannot change tradition.”

The crowd was silent, eyes flicking between the chief, the trembling girl on the stone slab, and the young man who dared to defy the gods.

“Enough of this,” Chief Obinna waved a dismissive hand in the air, with the other he raised the blade higher, ready to strike. “The gods demand their due—”

Before he could finish, Chidera lunged forward, knocking the blade from his hand. Gasps tore through the crowd as the weapon clattered to the ground. Chidera stood, chest heaving, a mix of fury and fear on his face. “This is the real foolishness," he hissed.“The gods don't care about a sacrifice,” Chidera said, his voice growing louder and more confident. “This is all just a pathetic ploy to keep power."

Chief Obinna smiled then. It wasn't the smile of a man threatened. It wasn't even the nervous smile of a man that had been caught stealing and was now facing judgement.

No. It was the smile of a man that knew something no one else did. The action caught Chidera off guard and suddenly he wasn't so sure anymore. He stumbled backwards as the Chief moved towards him. Slowly. Menacingly. When they were within inches of each other, the Chief whispered ever so lightly in Chidera's ear.

“Is that what you think, boy?”

Chidera swallowed the lump in his throat. What had he done?

Chief Obinna stepped back decidedly. “If you truly believe that the gods are not interested in this sacrifice and that the tradition that has kept this village is a lie,” he paused to sweep his gaze across the silent crowd. There was that smile. “Then we shall put it to test.”

Chidera's brows furrowed in confusion, the crowd began to whisper again and a terrified Amaka squirmed on the altar.

“I will not move an inch from this spot, and we shall see if the ceremony continues or not.”

Was this some sort of trick? Chidera thought. Nothing was going to happen. Or so he hoped. The Chief's confidence left him questioning his stance.

Minutes passed and nothing happened. Just when everyone was sure that their chief was mad, a slight breeze began to blow. Gentle at first, but then it picked up until it was practically a tornado. Leaves, rubble and dust flew in the air, but the villagers remained rooted in place. Amaka was still held firmly by the guards. 

The people watched in horror as vines sprung up from the ground and wrapped themselves around the girl's wrists and ankles allowing the guards to step back. The dagger that had been knocked out of the Chief's hand rose in the air with no assistance. Shouts of terror rang out among the crowds but still, they stayed to watch. The blade dropped suddenly, wedging itself in Amaka's chest. A small, strangled sound escaped her mouth before she went silent.

“No!” Chidera screamed. His anguish causing him to drop to his knees. Beside him, Chief Obinna laughed but Chidera had no fight left in him. Everything he believed had just crumbled and his precious love was lost. He was so sure that nothing would happen.

It wasn't over. The wind blew even harder. Up ahead, thick black clouds swirled in the sky, blocking out the sun and plunging the village into a thick darkness. The gods were angry.

Chidera lifted his face to the sky as chaos ensued around him. The villagers ran for cover, crying out for forgiveness. None of it mattered to Chidera. He was a fool and his village would pay for it.

Somewhere behind him, he could hear Amaka's mother wailing. The sound was loud and piercing. It was the sound of a mother who had lost her child. Willing himself to look in her direction, Chidera locked eyes with her and managed to whisper a soft “Forgive me,” before black clouds closed around him too.