*”STRUCK DOWN”*
[EPISODES 14 & 15]
*_EPISODE FOURTEEN_*
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“Jesus!” Debby screamed out of her sleep. Charity who was fast asleep didn’t make a move.
“Jesus….what did I just see in my dream?” Debby whispered as she recalled being chased by a masquerade. She tried running and was almost escaping when a wall from nowhere blocked her path.
The masquerade laughed in victory and dealt with her before she woke up.
“This isn’t the first time I’m having this kind of dream. I’ve had something similar before, but what does this mean?” She thought to herself.
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Early the same morning, Charity was up and preparing for the day’s work. When she was almost done preparing and had 15mins to leave the house, she walked into the room to speak with Debby who kept responding feverishly.
“What’s wrong? Are you down with malaria or something?” Charity asked concerned as Debby nodded weakly
“Chai….sorry you hear. Anyway I’m on my way to work now and I might come home late- you know how Mondays are now.
I’ve kept breakfast for you….in case you want to eat this morning.” Charity said
“Okay….thank you.” Debby said in more like a whisper and Charity grew concerned at this point.
“Babe you’re not okay at all. What is wrong with you?” Charity said, giving her her full attention this time by sitting beside her and feeling her body temperature.
“I don’t know. I had a very bad dream before I woke up this morning and it’s not the first time.” Debby said.
“What dream?” Charity asked and Debby narrated the dream to her.
“Hmm…. masquerade? I don’t know, did you have anything to do with masquerade in the past of what? Or wait….was your father once a masquerade or something?” Charity asked investigatively as Debby felt amused.
“What kind of……what kind of question is that Charity? What has my dad got to do with my dream?” Debby asked, coughing in-between.
“It has things to do with it o. According to what I’ve been learning from church, what your father or grandfather has done in the past can affect your present life, especially when he has a covenant that involves his descendants.
For example, if your dad or grandad had a covenant that his descendants would unfailing serve a particular god, that god would come for you and frustrate you in your marital life, academic life, work life and in your dreams until you align to the covenant made by someone in your lineage and serve such.” Charity explained and at this point Debby started coughing. This made Charity rush to the fridge in the kitchen to fetch water for her.
“Thank you.” Debby said as soon as she was done drinking.
“Won’t you go to work? It’s past 7 already and you need to leave early to catch a bus.”
“Life first before work. Let’s talk about your health first. Plus I can just call my boss right now and ask for a day off or something. It’s no big deal.” Charity said and Debby gave a light smile.
“Yes it’s a big deal. I don’t want you giving a lackadaisical attitude towards work on a Monday. Start going already before you arrive late for work. I’ll be fine.” Debby said and Charity stared at her to be sure she heard right.
“I’m serious. You don’t have to worry about me, I’ll be fine. Plus the angels would do a good job in taking care of me, so go.” Debby urged her.
“Hmmm….okay then. Please take it easy okay. You don’t need to do anything around the house; anything chore can wait till I’m back please.” Charity said and Debby nodded.
As soon as Charity left, Debby decided to take a shower to see if that’d help her feel better.
Her thoughts were filled with scary and unrealistic things all through the time she was in the bathroom, especially when she closed her eyes.
“Jesus what is happening to me?” She whispered to herself as she laid back on her bed, still feeling very weak.
Few hours later, she got up from bed and realized she had slept off.
“And it’s afternoon already.” She said with a sigh as she took the breakfast Charity had kept for her to eat.
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Mama was selling in the market when she felt a nudge to pray. She immediately handed over her shop to her sales girl and went into the inner room to obey. Since she had no idea of what to pray about, she decided to pray in tongues.
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Debby sat on a stool in the kitchen to make zobo. She saw the leaves Charity had kept to prepare them and decided to keep herself busy with it, since its preparation wasn’t a stressful process. She bent down to drop the bottle she had filled when she began to feel seriously dizzy.
She tried maintaining balance but fell down instead.
“Jesus Christ, what’s happening to me?!” She said panting. At this point, fear had gripped her completely.
All of a sudden, she began hearing voices so loud and tangible but with no one in sight.
The more afraid she was, the louder the voices she heard.
When it seemed the voices had fizzled out, her body began convulsing. This made her scream loudly and pass out.
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Charity felt uneasy where she was seated in her office. She initially ignored what she felt but its persistence made her give the uneasiness attention.
“Something is wrong somewhere, what could that be?” She reasoned within. After few minutes a thought flashed through her mind and she decided to call Debby to see how she was faring.
“Why isn’t she picking up her call kwanu? Is she sleeping?” She thought within and got back to work.
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“Jesus! Babe!” Charity called out and rushed to Debby immediately she walked into the kitchen.
She saw a red liquid spilled on the floor. This made her anxious and scared but she grew calm on discovering it was zobo that got spilled and not blood as she initially thought.
“But I asked her not to do anything now. What kind of trouble is this one kwan?” Charity thought aloud and paced around, confused on what to do.
“Why you panicking over nothing? Just tap her, she’s awake already.” A voice within spoke to her and she did so. Debby responded like a normal person who was being tapped to wake up fromsleep.
“Where am I?” Debby asked, trying to recall what had happened to her.
“In the kitchen. You were trying to prepare zobo and you probably tripped or something.” Charity responded. She had wanted to scold and ask why she would enter kitchen when she knew she wasn’t feeling fine, but decided to swallow it.
“Charity…..” Debby called out.
“Yes I’m here. What is it?”
“Chief…..”
“Chief? Wait, who’s this Chief you’re always…..” Charity was about asking when a call came in.
“Hello Ma.”
“Hello Charity dear, how are you?”
“I’m doing well, thank you Ma.”
“Can I speak with my daughter, please?”
“Okay Ma.” She said and handed over the phone to Debby.
“Hello mummy.” Debby said, trying so hard to maintain a good voice so her mom wouldn’t suspect anything was wrong with her.
“Hello dear, how are you doing today?”
“I’m fine Ma.”
“You sound dull. Is something wrong?”
“No Ma I’m fine. I just woke up from sleep that’s why.”
“Oh okay. I just wanted to hear your voice and also inform you you’d soon come over here.”
“Over where?”
“What do you mean by over where? Wouldn’t you love to see you mother again?”
“No…. I mean yes but what would I be coming over to do? I’m okay here with Charity.”
“Yes dear, I know. But I want you here so you can have easy access to a mentor.”
“A mentor? What for?” Debby asked as her mother chuckled to her hearing.
“Deborah remember you’re new in the faith and are still a baby in Christ. You need to be fed steadily and guided by an adult so you wouldn’t be moved here and there by strange doctrines.”
“Hmmm okay but Charity can play that role perfectly, right?”
“Hmmmm…..well, maybe.”
“Yeah so I don’t need to come home because I want to be mentored.”
“Okay then, if you say so.”
“Yes Ma.”
“I hope you’re having a nice time with Charity over there, and you’re fine too.”
“Yes Ma. Charity is doing a wonderful job in taking care of me and feeding me daily with the Scriptures.”
“Okay, give the phone back to her let me speak with her.”
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At 11pm the same day, Charity and Debby were on their bed in their room gisting.
“So in less than an hour we should be praying, right?” Debby asked.
“Yeah sure. There’s even a book I bought today I’d like us to read after prayers.”
“Oh really, what is it about?” Debby asked and Charity began narrating the little she knew about the book.
As Debby was listening attentively, she began to feel very dizzy. Charity talking in front of her seemed like she had been split into two.
“Babe……I feel off.” She called Charity’s attention.
“Off? Off as how?” Charity asked and it was then she observed closely to notice her friend was sweating profusely.
“Debby what is wrong with you?” Charity asked and rushed to her.
“I….I don’t…..under….. understand.” She said in-between serious hiccups.
“Shhh shhh…..stop talking already.” Charity cautioned and just then her body started shaking vigorously.
“Jesus…..Debby what is it nwww…..God please have mercy.” Charity said, seriously panicking
©Princess Stories
*”STRUCK DOWN”*
*_EPISODE FIFTEEN_*
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Charity’s alarm rang loudly, which she woke up to she turn off and forced herself up.
“Jesus.” She whispered and turned to see Debby soundly asleep.
For Debby’s sake she had been awake all through the night, praying. For some days now she figured she didn’t scream out of sleep because of a bad dream whenever she kept an all-night vigil.
Though it was tiring and very stressful, she was happy her prayers could keep the bad dreams away.
“Good morning.” Debby said, snapping Charity out of her thoughts.
“Morning dear. How was your night?”
“It was nice, I slept like a baby.”
“Hmmm…..thank God.”
“Yes o, thank God o. For three days now the nightmares have stopped. I thought it was going to last forever.” Debby said and Charity nodded weakly. She wasn’t aware of the sacrifice Charity had made those three nights she slept well.
“What would you like to have for breakfast?” Debby asked
“Breakfast? Why so soon? You haven’t even done your morning prayers.”
“Yeah I know, and I would. I’m just asking in advance. I slept on an empty stomach last night so I’m hungry already.”
“That doesn’t excuse the fact you have to observe your morning prayers.”
“Okay o. Let me do it now before….” Debby said and got in the mood of worship after a whispered opening prayer.
When Charity was sure Debby was praying, she turned over kn her bed to sleep.
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Debby was settling down to have her breakfast that morning when she heard a knock on her door.
“Who is it? Hold on, I’m coming.” Debby said and left her food to answer the door.
“Mum?” She asked to be sure of who she was seeing
“Mommy what are you doing here?” Debby asked as she disengaged from the hug her mother had pulled her into.
” I came to spend the weekend with you dear. Since it’s Saturday already and I’m less busy, I decided to come over to spend time with you because I’ve missed you so much my dear daughter.” Mama Eunice replied as Debby gave a nod and let her into the living room.
“Charity is sleeping so let me keep you entertained with something before she wakes to greet you. Would rice and stew do?”
“Yes dear, thank you.” She said and with that she entered into the kitchen to get it done for her. After she had eaten to her fill and had an alone time with her daughter, she desired to see Charity.
“Isn’t Charity up yet?” She asked and just then Charity walked into the living room.
“Speak of the devil, we were just talking about you.” Mama Eunice said as Charity smiled and came closer for a hug.
“How have you been my dear daughter?”
“I’ve been doing well, thank you ma’am. I hope it’s not been long you came.”
“No not really.”
“Okay then. Have you had something to eat?”
“Yes yes. Debby just cleared the table not too long ago.”
“Alright then. Once again you’re welcome Mama.” Charity said and Mama pulled her closer to herself.
“Thank you. So tell me my daughter, how has Debby been? I hope things have been going on smoothly.” Mama Eunice asked quietly, Debby not being anywhere around.
“Things have been going on fine Mama, we thank God.”
“Are you sure? There’s nothing to tell me at all about Debby? Are you very sure?” Mama asked as Charity sighed and decided to open up to her
“Mama to tell you the truth, Debby has been behaving strangely these days in ways I don’t understand.”
“Behaving strangely? How?”
“I won’t say it’s her fault per say but for a week now Debby has been sick. She’s down with this strange sickness that makes her sweat profusely, cough seriously and wake up each night from a terrible nightmare.
Mama do you know that for the past three days now, I’ve kept an all-night vigil on her behalf? And those days have been the times she didn’t scream out of her sleep because of a terrible dream.”
“Hmmm……this is serious, this is more than serious.”
“It is Mama. And the thing is I don’t even know the cause of all these. I’ve been praying enquiry prayers to find out what the problem is but I don’t seem to be getting any answers.”
“Hmmmm…….. intentional God. Now I understand.” Mama thought aloud
“Understand what Mama?”
“The divine instructions I’ve been receiving lately. I’ve been praying for a week now after a dream and preaching of the importance of a mentor in the life of a new believer and I recieved the conviction that my daughter needs a mentor, someone to guide her through this journey at least for sometime.
I then asked God to show me the particular mentor He has prepared for my daughter and He revealed it to me too. So He knew this time would come and had kept a mentor set just for her.”
“Ohh hmmm……. wonderful. He’s really intentional and has every soul He saves in mind.”
“Yes o.”
“Okay so mummy this mentor of hers, where is she abi how would the mentorship be asin how are we going to go about it?”
“Yes I’ve discussed with her and Deborah is going to be staying with her in her house.”
“Ohh….”
“Yes I want her in her house so she’d learn really fast.”
“Oh okay Ma so when would she be leaving.”
“Exactly that’s why I’m here. She’d be leaving with me..”
“Oh okay but is she comfortable with the arrangement? I mean have you discussed this with her?”
“Yes I have. I talked it over with her on the phone last week so she’s aware of it.”
“Aware of what?” Debby asked on coming out of the kitchen where she’s been eavesdropping on their conversation.
“You’ve been listening to our conversation, haven’t you?” Her mom asked
“Well, maybe….and I heard something about relocating and mentorship.”
“Yes dear, remember I told you over the phone about this.”
“I do remember but I thought I objected the idea, telling you Charity can play that role in my life.”
“No dear, she can’t. God has a particular person out there for you to mentor and train you the way you should.
Okay let’s look at Paul for example…..if God had wanted just anyone for him, he would’ve directed him to the congregation in the church but no, he sent Ananias, just one person, to him. You have your own personal Ananias my daughter, just anyone won’t do.” Her mother explained but it seemed not to sit well with her.
“She’s right dear. Just go with her so you’d grow at the pace God wants you to. And from there you’d learn alot of things like submission, patience, the things of the Spirit and even hearing from God itself. Remember I’m also growing in faith too, and you need someone who’s very matured in faith to guide you into overcoming this obstacle on your way already.” Charity said, referring to the strange ‘sickness’.
“Hmmm…….but I’ll miss you.” Debby said pouting.
“I know dear, but nobody said you wouldn’t come visiting.” Charity said and Debby sighed.
“Okay then, I guess I’ll go with mom. But is this step really necessary?”
“Of course yes it is, for you to grow in faith and not backslide.” Charity said and Debby nodded.
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“Welcome home dear.” Mama Eunice said as soon as they walked into their family house.
“I’ve missed this place.” Debby whispered loud enough for Mama Eunice to hear her. As her eyes ran through the pictures on the way, her gaze fell on their family picture.
“Daddy, I miss you so much.” She said as she felt the pictures with her hands, almost tearing up.
“You don’t have to cry dear daughter. The father of the fatherless and husband of the widow is there to comfort us.” Mama Eunice whispered as she came close to the picture her daughter was feeling.
“So when would I be going to my mentor’s house?” Debby asked with a snif.
“Tomorrow evening. I’ve missed your presence alot so I want to have you around for sometime before sending you to her.”
“Hmmm…. Okay.”
“Yes, so let’s go to bed now, it’s 7pm already.”
“Bed? Nooo mummy that’s too early o. Besides, 7pm in Charity’s place is time for prayers so we have to pray now before any other activity.”
“Oh really? Okay o, but you know I like to sleep early and prefer to pray in the wee hours of the day.”
“Thankfully I still remember that.” Deeby said with a chuckled. Her mom giggled as well.
“So for how long would the prayers be?”
“An hour and 30mins. Usually it’s an hour but I masterminded the extra 30mins when I couldn’t get enough of the Scriptures.”
“Hmmmm……an hour and 30mins….Charity really did a good job on your spiritual growth o”
“Abi o, you see?”
“Oya na, let’s start already.”
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“Are you done packing already?” Mama Eunice asked. It was afternoon already and Debby was preparing to go to her mentor’s house that evening.
“Almost done Mama, almost done.” She said, still running around her room, trying to locate a few things.
“Okay I think I’m set now.” Debby said and with that they left the house, flagged down a taxi, and were off to meet Debby’s mentor.
“Hello Mrs. Grace, we’re at the gate.” Mama Eunice said over the phone.
“Okay, we’re waiting.” Mom said and turned to Debby.
“She said she’s coming.”
“Okay Ma.”
“Oh wow, look who we have here.” A woman who opened the yard gate for them said as she ushered them into the compound.
“Please sit down.” The woman said as they say on the couch in the living room.
“Mummy Grace this is the girl I told you about that I’d bring for mentoring…..her name is Debby and she’s well behaved.”
“Good evening Ma.” Debby greeted
“Good evening my daughter, how are you today?”
“I’m very fine thank you Ma.”
“Okay. So she’d be staying for how long?” Mummy Grace asked
“For as long as she needs to stay to grow and be deeply rooted in the word of God.”
“Okay then. That isn’t a problem at all.” She said and turned to Debby with a warm smile.
“You’re welcome dear.”
“Thank you Ma.” Debby replied
“I’d like to be going now, I want to get to the shop before the sales girl closes it day; you know it’s evening already.”
“That’s alright Ma.”
“Yes so I’d come visiting as often as I can. I’m sure she wouldn’t give you any headache, she’s a well brought up lady.” Her mom said and turned to smile at her.
“Okay then, see you soon.” Mummy Grace said as she escorted her out.
“Just make yourself comfortable and feel at home here, okay?” Mummy Grace said to Debby when she came back to the living room.
“Follow me, let me show you to your room.”
Our Debby has relocated bayi o🥳🥳🥳
*_To be Continued…_*
©Princess Stories
