"Very well," the dibia said, his voice calm, though disappointment flickered across his face. He gave a slow nod to the guard. "Give her the drink. Let the gods decide."
The guard stepped forward carrying a carved calabash and placed it in Ego's trembling hands.
Only then did she see its contents.
The liquid was thick and murky, a sickly mixture of dark red and muddy brown. Shreds of half-crushed green leaves floated lazily on its surface, while tiny bubbles clung to the rim. When she raised it to her nose, a foul stench assaulted her senses—a nauseating blend of rotten fruit, stale blood, and bitter herbs. Her stomach churned.
For a long moment she simply stared into the calabash.
What if it is poison?
The thought settled heavily in her mind.
But what choice did she have?
She looked around the shrine. The three guards stood ready, their expressions cold and unmoved. Even if she refused, they would beat her until she surrendered. She had seen enough of them to know they would not hesitate.
Besides...
I am innocent.
If the gods were truly just, then they would defend her.
She tightened her grip around the calabash.
The dibia watched her carefully.
"Shake it well," he instructed. "Then drink every drop. Leave nothing behind."
Ego closed her eyes for a brief moment.
Her mother had once told her that holding one's breath made bitter medicine easier to swallow. She inhaled deeply, held it, and shook the calabash until the herbs swirled together.
Then she lifted it to her lips.
She drank.
The liquid was thick and gritty, coating her tongue like wet clay. She fought every instinct to spit it out. Mouthful after mouthful disappeared down her throat.
The larger leaves refused to go down.
They lodged against her throat, forcing her to chew them. Their bitterness exploded across her tongue, making her eyes water. She gagged several times but forced herself to swallow until the calabash was empty.
She lowered it slowly.
The entire shrine became silent.
Every eye remained fixed on her.
Even the crackling fire seemed to grow quieter.
One minute passed.
Nothing happened.
Another minute.
Still nothing.
Whispers began spreading through the room.
Five minutes later, Ego was still standing.
Her breathing was steady.
Her face retained its color.
She looked from one accusing face to another.
A tiny flame of hope stirred inside her.
The gods have spoken.
I am innocent.
Her in-laws exchanged uneasy glances.
Chielo's confidence began to fade.
Nnadozie frowned.
Even the dibia seemed unsettled.
This was not what anyone had expected.
Ten minutes passed.
Ego remained exactly where she stood.
No confession.
No trembling.
No collapse.
Nothing.
The dibia narrowed his eyes.
"Ego."
She looked at him.
"Yes, Nnayi?"
"How do you feel?"
"I am well."
There was firmness in her voice now.
She took a step forward, almost wanting to prove to everyone gathered that the accusations against her were nothing but lies.
Then—
A sharp pain stabbed deep into her lower abdomen.
She froze.
Her brows knitted together.
Perhaps it was only fear...
Perhaps her stomach was reacting to the horrible concoction.
She tried to take another step.
A second wave struck.
This one was far worse.
It ripped through her body like a heated knife.
Her knees weakened.
The confidence on her face vanished.
She could suddenly feel her heartbeat hammering violently against her ribs.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Each beat harder than the last.
Her chest tightened.
Air refused to enter her lungs.
She drew a breath—
It wasn't enough.
Another.
Still not enough.
Her body gasped desperately as though the air inside the shrine had suddenly disappeared.
A murmur swept through the gathering.
Someone stood.
Another leaned forward.
Ego barely noticed.
The pain spread upward through her chest and into her shoulders. Her legs became impossibly heavy.
She tried calling out.
Nothing came.
Only a faint rasp escaped her lips.
Her vision blurred.
The torches around the shrine stretched into dancing streaks of orange.
Faces became shapeless shadows.
She staggered.
The room tilted.
Then her legs finally gave way.
She crashed onto her back with a dull thud.
A scream rose somewhere in the room.
Or perhaps it was only inside her head.
She could no longer tell.
She felt warm liquid filling her mouth.
She tried swallowing.
Her throat refused.
The fluid spilled through the corners of her lips and trickled from her nostrils.
Her entire body convulsed.
Her fingers curled tightly into the earth.
She heard distant voices.
Some shouting.
Some laughing.
Someone was praying.
Someone else was praising the gods.
Above her stood the old priestess, Chielo, Nnadozie, and the others.
Their faces floated above her like ghosts.
Some wore smiles of satisfaction.
Others watched with grim silence.
Only the priestess remained unreadable, her eyes fixed on Ego with an expression she could no longer understand.
The faces slowly dissolved into darkness.
The pain disappeared as suddenly as it had come.
Her body felt strangely light.
Peaceful.
So... this is how it ends.
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Obim..."
Her lips moved weakly.
"I am coming."
Her eyes closed.
Darkness swallowed everything.