Chapter 1 Broken Engagement
Raven sits lazily on a chair staring deeply on the screen of her laptop. Her physical appearance is rough, hair unkept, traces of dried mascara revealing her eye bags. Her lips are covered with chocolate traces. She bends down in attempt to pick a half bottle of Vodka when her phone rings besides her laptop. She unintentionally kicks and breaks the bottle but nonchalantly stands up from the chair, walks a few steps and slumps down on a couch to receive her call. Groggily, while Wiping her running nose.
"Hello?"
"Oh God. How are you dear? I saw your Facebook and Whatsapp post, about Daniel. It breaks my heart that you have to go through such."
"Shit happens mom, real life is so much stranger than fiction."
".....But is the wedding really called off, or are you both working on it?"
She spoke to herself "After many broken relationships, I finally met Daniel and spent the past year preparing to dedicate my life to the man I thought was my true love. Only for him to tell me he found someone else! A week before the wedding. (Mimicking) "Someone more grounded" he claimed. (Back to her phone) the wedding is off mother. He said I spend too much time with fictional people when I should be in the real world with real people!
(Realize her mother's silence) I know she is working hard not to utter a i-told-you-so. Daniel isn't the first person to try to pry me out of the land of the non-existent and he isn't the first to leave my life for it.
(Stands up) probably not the last. I would like to think I have to lose myself in books, I have been a librarian for a year now and one of my tasks is to help identify great books. It is a perfect job isn't it? All I do when I am not behind the desk at work is read. (Walks
about) if I don’t keep reading how will I know of I have found the next great thing? There is some unification for a bookworm who reads an awesome book before its mainstream.....(she pause as a knock is heard. Opening the door, Mrs. Felicia enters, concern allover her face)
"Raven! Look at you!"
"Mom, you could have told me you were going to drop by. I don't look my best right now."
"Oh come on, sure I won't mind. I understand, I really do."
"Thank you mom" raven replied weakly
"Although he was good for you, but what is important is your happiness. Maybe this will encourage you to try to get out more?*
"I do not want to go out mother. I am happy being an introvert. I do not care how poor or anti- social I am! If that's good enough for him..." she fights back tears
"Alright, wipe your tears. Anything I can do for you?"
"No thanks mom."
"Let me know if you want to go out for a break or anything. I will take my leave now, please take care of yourself self. Do not think too much, organize yourself, you have your whole life ahead of you. see you later alright."
"Alright mom. I will call you tomorrow." She walks back to her chair staring at her laptop. talks to herself.
Osupa Dudu. An unfinished fantasy play I found on Goodreads, a site where authors write books in real time.
She stands up again, her voice becoming more energetic and to no one in particular.
"I discovered it this morning after finishing everything on my to-be-read-list, and then surfing the internet for more books by my favorite author, ELLS.
I stumbled upon this partially finished yoruba fictional story after rolling through her catalog over a period of three days!"
She walks back to where her laptop is. "It features the ultimate, non-redeemable character, Ogigi
agadi ologun. That is Shadow warrior of Osupa Dudu town. Whose soul is so black the sun can't warm it's depth. The violent, huge warrior rules a Kingdom where there is no daylight, only the fog and grayness of twilight. He spends his lifetime in battles and dismantle anyone in his path."
"There is no peace, no love, no hope in Osupa Dudu, only death and destruction and a warrior who doesn't know mercy or forgiveness. I love it!" She swigs around then sits on the couch again.
"The book speaks to me, which is
why I keep hitting refresh on my browser in the hopes that the author has updated more chapters. Thinking about the warrior makes me shiver, he is definitely not civilized, which fits my unhappy mood today." She glance at the television and sits up straight , exhausted. sound of a silent knock comes in as she stands up to opens the door, Ronke walks in.
"Oh my God raven look at you, you are a mess, you should be over him by now. He isn't worth. You will definitely find someone who will love you unconditionally.
"Thanks. Come sit."
"Tell me how was your day? You look drained out."
(Sighs) I spent the day alternatively crying and reading, I am exhausted.
"Crying I can understand, but reading what with ur current state?"
"What else? My four all-time favourite plays; The Blood of a stranger, The lion and the jewel, Native son, Kunrumi, and now Osupa Dudu. I read them over and over all day".
Ronke stares at her, concern and pity evident on her face.
"You were supposed to to be in the final stages of panning your wedding this week, not stuck in your house".
"What can I say my friend, all I can do now is spend what is left from the wedding fund on books so I can escape from my miserable life".
She tries to conduct herself but sighs deeply, followed by few hiccups. soon after, she bursts into tears. While her friend consoles her
"Easy now, easy. How long will you continue to indulge yourself with books? huh? you really need to work on your introverted life style. You need a change, a distraction asides books!"
" Like what?"
"Exercise, outing, shopping, maybe?"
"My relationship with Daniel has always been like a roller coaster; a brief periods of ecstasy followed by months of despair".
" Ummm…….Okay…?'
"He never complimented me, always made me felt bad about myself. So outing is no option, I am a mess right now. "
" ……Well that is irrelevant I think. But you can..."
Raven cutts in "Exercise? I have done thirty minutes of yoga religiously everyday in my room for the past three years!"
Ronke mutters "That is a no."
She stands up abruptly "Books are my calling; my sav…."
"….Saviour and companion. You have repeated it countless times Raven." Ronke sighs.
(Watches her walk towards the table. As she continue reading, she walks father away to the right, drawing all the attention on her. Oblivious to Raven, she brings out picture of Raven, attached it to a book with white clothing. She then began chanting slowly. Satisfied, she hides it under the couch.)
This is what I can do to help. "See you later Raven." She retracts towards the door after peck after her cheeks and a wave from Raven.
(intrigued Raven on her computer) "Take me away mysterious CR."
To no one in particular. Soliloquies, her mood suddenly brightens "Part of the fun is figuring out who is whom before the author reveals it. Just for your enlightenment, I figured out the Fool, the Betrayer, the Devoted-but-Doomed, the Revolutionist, the Villain, the Manipulative, the Diabolic, The Love Interest, the Day Dreamer, the Oppressed, A bunch of minions…(Pause) could the violent, mysterious, and scary Shadow Warrior actually be an hero? What do you think? No not possible, a creature like him can never have a compassionate interest. Why? Because no one in their right mind would want to be with him. (Walks to the right) This is something different entirely, how can a play have no hero or love interest, only directions of conflicting issues? How can CR write such a play? The shadow warrior is not like CR previous characters. He does not fit in and somehow something about him makes me feel uneasy or should I say scared, as if he is real."
"Whenever I read his lines, I can almost hear his deep voice in my head. (Pause, as if searching the audience) Silly, absurd, is it not? Do not look at me that way. It is the sign of a great author, and not me going crazy. Besides what kind of a reader fears fictional stories? (She walks back reluctantly towards the couch with her laptop and sits on the part where Ronke had placed the charm, she shudders a bit) I have been locked in a silent battle with him since the first act. It is difficult to read his mind, but I find myself compelled to reread every one of his lines. Ah! I am fed up! (She close the laptop, infuriated) The last thing I need today is a story to dissect. Ronke might be right, I need a distraction, not another stupid man giving me a headache! (She stands up, looks down at the laptop) You are not making it any easier Shadow warrior, you and every other man in this planet earth! What are you waiting for, why don’t you just tell me your story like every other character does and relieve me of this puzzle? You are stressing me out you know? Of cause you are imaginary, I do not expect you to answer. I know what will make this easier, wine! (She stands up and walks to a table on the left. Sights a leftover unfinished bottle of wine and grabs it, she walks back to the couch then drinks the whole bottle) Why can’t the heroes in plays be real? I hate my life, there is no happily-ever-after in real world but misery!"
Already getting tipsy, with an exhausted expression) " I would give anything for a fresh start you know, another chance to be with someone worthy of a hero instead of a judgmental man with insecurity issues. I will die a crazy old woman, I am certain of it."
Finally she succumbed and doze off on the couch. While she sleeps, low chants is heard in the background. Three women dressed in white enters. Amongst them is Ronke, a white dove in her hands. She follows the women to surround Raven, while chanting. Then she raises the dove circulating it above her head, after which the trio stands beside each other .
"Speak child, your desire. The deity hears you." The first woman commands.
"Thank you mother." (Raises the dove up) Listen! OpenYour hears wide!! The shackles that has befallen you. The misfortunes that placed itself like an apparel on you; No more shall they torment you. Go! A new world awaits you! (She release the dove)
"Ase!" They all echoes.
