The people present there wondered in awe how this new god will pull Udeku's shrine down and cage Udeku in the process.


The Strongest Deity 7
The Strongest Deity 7


It was indeed a great and deadly challenge because Udeku got very angry, although he didn't do anything to them as they were ranting on how they will disgrace him.

After the ranting, they went back and promised to come back in three days to do as they promised.

Towards midnight that day, Udeku began his judgement and killed them all in one night. He later wiped out all their sons and daughters and left their home desolate. Since that time, no one dares to go against Udeku and the story remains untold for fear of Udeku and Ima wants to start an unsuccessful coup against Udeku. It will definitely turn out bloody, if this 'pride of a new god did not live up to His name'. We will be doomed for sure.

Grace! Grace!! Mercy called Grace and she was brought out of her reverie at the second time her name was called. You just zone out leaving us here. Mercy asked with a smirk.

Hmmm! Grace exhaled deeply. I'm reminiscing about the whole situation and the new deity. Grace replied truthfully.

Do you have any other suggestions apart from the one at hand? Mercy asked in anticipation. Everyone's attention was drawn to her. No I don't. She murmured.

Listen, I know trusting this new deity is risky, but we don't have any other escape than this. I rather die trying to escape from the grips of Udeku than summiting myself willingly to him. I will never do that. Ima snapped.

Grace I understand your fears but I assured you that we will not be destroyed like this worshipers. I have faith in the new deity because He assured me that He would rescue us from this situation. Ima assured her firmly.

Ima I want to ask, how did you know the exact thing that I was thinking? Grace asked in confusion. Everyone's gaze fell on her with the same confused countenance.

It was revealed to me as it was going on, in your mind. I explained calmly. Do you have the ability to read minds now? Mark asked curiously. 

I'm as surprised as you guys. Maybe I'm a vessel he can use to send messages. I thought aloud. If that's the case, we want to be His vessel too. Can you ask Him to speak to us? Grace asked cunningly. 

You have doubts about Him and you want to know if I was the one that was cooking it up? Ima asked Grace mockingly. No, I just want to hear Him speak. Grace interjected.

That's good, if that's your reason. I told her sincerely. But before I ask him, there's something else I want to show you all. I told them calmly.

E..ehmmm, none of you asked me the meaning of those numbers I was saying earlier. My words came out more like a statement than a question.

Yeah, that's true but we don't understand the meaning of those numbers or do you? James asked curiously. We don't. The others echoed in unison after his question. 

Those numbers are called Bible quotations and those names I called before the quotations are called the Bible books. I explained in detail.

How the hell do you know all these things? James asked with interest. He taught me. I replied honestly with a smile as I brought out the “Holy Bible“ as HE called it and shew it to them. The cover was all black while the inside was white.

When I showed it to them, they were afraid to touch it but I urged them to take it and check it out. Nothing will happen. You won't disappear if you touch it. Ima assured them with a smile.

James was the first to get it, soon he collected it from me and checked it out. He opened it but didn't understand what was written inside it. They all took turns to check it out.

I don't understand what is written inside. Do you understand it? Can you read it? Mark with curiosity.

Strangely, yes I do understand immediately I stare at it and can read it. I replied sincerely. But how? Mercy asked almost immediately. When He gave me the Holy Bible as He called it, He asked me to open it and start reading. At first, I didn't because it was ridiculous and utterly impossible for me to understand but I obeyed and stared at what was written inside and suddenly, I began to read them. I explained thoughtfully.

It was indeed strange. I opened a particular book in the Holy Bible called the book of Psalms 147 vs 5 where He had instructed me to open. In this Bible portion, He talked about his power. He told me that there were other places in the Bible where He talked about how powerful he was. I explained to them carefully.

I've never heard of any gods that can make one speak that the person has not seen or understand.

Can we meet this God already James asked eagerly. He might be the savior we are looking for. 

I AM the God of all fresh. Is there anything too hard for me to do? (Jeremiah 32:27). All power belongs to me( Matthew 28:18). Everyone stares at me as if I have grown two horns. Where did that speech pop up from? Mark asked worriedly.

Don't stare at me like that. I warned them. I don't know where it popped up from. I told you that I'm a vessel he uses. I explained yet again. Please believe me. I pleaded with them.

I'm trying so hard to hide my fears. I don't understand myself anymore. I'm acting weird and I don't like it. I don't want to scare my friends. I calmed myself, gathered the little courage that was left in me and continued. I was not the one that said those words. It just came. I pleaded once more, hoping that they would believe me.

No problem, it's obvious that this new deity wants His presence to be known. James snarled.

E..ehmmm,” I..I AM” my friends want you to speak to them. I said to the new Deity. I call on you to speak to them. I called out to Him. But strangely, He never responded to my call. Infact, He never spoke. It was as if HE was not here earlier. I became embarrassed and angry. Why will He keep silent on me at this time, when I'm trying to convince my friends about Him.

Are you sure that your new god is real? Grace was the first to ask. I almost believed you. Why is He not speaking if He's truly the powerful god as he claims? Grace asked mockingly.

Maybe he's shy to speak to us now. Mercy reasoned. Let's go home and come back tomorrow. Maybe he will speak to us then, Mercy suggested.

What do you mean? Mark cut in. By tomorrow we would have only 24 hours to make the sacrifice and you're saying we should give him time. Mark barked angrily.

And what choice do we have? James asked in frustration. Let's go home and pray that the new god speaks to us by tomorrow. We can't afford to lose our lives to Udeku without a fight. James encouraged everyone with a small smile that didn't reach his eyes.

We all left for our respective homes dejected and angry.


*GRACE HOUSE *


When Grace came back home, she was not in her best of mood. She was very moody. It went unnoticed by her parents. They were in their living room discussing when she came back around 6 in the evening. Her mom, Ann, was not pleased at all. She had been worried over her daughter's sudden change of character. She would leave the house around 7 in the morning to God knows where and will be coming back around 6 in the evening as if she's the owner of the house.

Grace where the hell have you been? Ann asked Grace in annoyance.

Mom, I went out with my friends. She replied respectfully. To do what exactly, she asked in anger.

Mom, you are shouting. She muttered. Why wouldn't I shout, when you and your father have decided to make us crazy in this house. Ann snapped in fury. She couldn't understand what exactly was happening in her home anymore.

Ajayi her husband has decided to sacrifice her only daughter to Udeku in the name of appeasing Udeku and now her daughter no longer stays at home anymore. She goes out in the morning and comes back when she pleases.

Things are no longer peaceful as it was before. It was as if there was an invisible war going on in her home. She was so worried that things might go out of hands if care is not taken.

Her Grace is no longer the happy and peaceful child she was. She's always angry for no good reason and moody all the time. I can understand if it was because of the sacrifice. She said to herself. She wished that her child would come back to her happy and joyful self. It pains her heart that things had torn apart in her home.

Grace quietly walked past her mom and went straight to bed. She was too tired to quarrel with anyone including her mom right now. Everything has gone south already. She doesn't want to die yet. She doesn't want to die prematurely in the name of being a sacrificial lamb to the useless deity, Udeku.

She lay down on her bed while facing upward, she was looking at the ceiling as if the ceiling held the solution to her problem. Her mind drifted to the meeting she had with her friends. She wondered why the new deity had refused to speak to them when Ima called Him. 

The silence of the new god was so frustrating and annoying. It was as if the deity was trying to test their patience. She had almost believed Ima about Him. She thought that the new god would save their kingdom and stop these killings once and for all.

I really hope that he will speak to us by tomorrow. By tomorrow morning, we would have less than 24 hours to come up with a solution and definitely become the lambs of sacrifice to the deity, Udeku.


She was lost in her reverie that she didn't know when a tear escaped her eyelid and rolled freely down her soft cheek. When she noticed that her face was wet already,

 she immediately wiped her tears and allowed herself to be driven into the dream land.