BEHIND THE RED DOOR 🧣

source

“Please…please don’t kill me, please let me go, please…no, no!!!”. Cynthia screamed and jumped up from her bed. She checked the time, it’s exactly 1:30am, this is the fifth time she’s having this dream since she got married to Jasper.

“Why am I going through all these? God , when will you put an end to my pains, I don’t love my husband, but it’s not my fault “ she murmured.
She can still remember their last fight…

“Jasper, I need a child, your mother needs grandchildren too, she taunts me every day thinking I’m the problem, not knowing it’s actually her “precious son”. Better give me babies or I will expose you” she made it sound like a warning, it scared Jasper.
“Babe, I am trying, you know I…”
“you are not trying Jasper” she cuts him short, “ you are not doing anything, do you think it’s the hard pounding that’ll get me pregnant? or your money and gift you’ve showered me with?
See, I am tired of hearing the same thing, I want action, i want to feel the joy of motherhood, I want to carry my own baby, I want to be happy. But look at me, I’m stucked in a loveless marriage with a man who cannot produce a single sperm.
“I am sorry Jasper, if my words hurt” she hugged him tightly. “I am just tired of pretending to be happy” she said and sorrowful tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably.

Jasper was helpless, he knows there’s nothing he can do about it, he’s dried. But this woman here needs words of consolation, so he said “sweetheart, I am sorry you’re passing through all this, but it’ll soon be over, Doctor said it all, we just need time. I’m taking my medication properly, I promise you that everything will be fine. Just be patient with me pls”.

She had looked at him and admired his gentleness.
This guy has it all, he is tall and magnificent,his appearance exuded confidence and authority. Even the tribal mark on his face could not conceal his prestige and splendor.
But there’s something in him that discomforts her.

It wasn’t her choice anyways, but her father’s. Being a businessman just like Jasper, he needed to form a closer alliance with him “that young man is extremely rich and famous, I am blessed to have what he likes” he had said. And so he married her off to a man they barely know.

🦋🦋🦋
Her thoughts was distracted by her husband’s soft pecks “Honey, you’re awake, are you okay?” He asked.
“ I had that dream again” she said looking terrified.
“Is it the same door dream? Babe, I have told you to stop thinking about it, it’s just a dream”. Jasper said feeling so nervous.
Why will she keep on dreaming about that door?” He asked himself. He knew she’ll get hurt if she ever finds out anything about the door. So it’s better she doesn’t get too curious about it. In things like this , it’s very okay to know little. Obsessive curiosity is dangerous.

He can remember vividly the first day he met her, she was very beautiful, delicate and fragile, with a stunning countenance. He admired her exquisite and outstanding features, he had decided to make her his own .
Now his heart ache with pity for her, she’s too good to go through all these, he breathed a sigh of regrets.
“Sweetheart, It’s okay, come to bed” he said and cuddled her back to sleep.

But who can sleep after a reoccurring nightmare. She looked at her sleeping husband and replayed the dreams in her mind…

In the dream, She was doing her normal house chores when she came across a red door, it was very attractive that she walked towards it, she placed her hand on the door knob and was immediately teleported to another world.
There she met men in red, these men always chased and killed her.
“This is the fifth time I’m stabbed dead in the same dream and by the same man, o God! Please help me, I don’t want to die” she muttered and climbed down from the bed.

She first went to the toilet and then proceeded downstairs to get a glass of water, on the staircase, she stopped by a black door, all the doorways in the mansion had black doors, so she had never payed attention to this ‘always closed’ door.
She scrutinized the door and noticed some light scratches, she peeled off the paint and receive the greatest shock of her life. It’s actually a red door!

But why is it coated with black paint?
After taking some seconds to decide wether to go in or not, she finally turned the doorknob and pushed open the door…
She stepped inside and felt a cool breeze that sent a chill down her spine, the ghostly atmosphere gave her goosebumps.
This room was covered in darkness, with only a few flickering black candles casting eerie shadows across the wall which was painted with deep red colour, She could hear different sounds from different animals. She smelled doom from the burning incense and other mysterious fragrance that filled the room.

There was a long center table that had pots and calabash of different sizes, there were various magnificent and intricately carved objects, she walked towards one of the objects and peeped behind it and saw a drum filled to the brim with what looks like blood.

She was scared no doubt, but she knew this is the reason why her marriage is is fruitless so she decided to destroy the altar, she started from breaking the pots to pulling down linens, within few seconds, she was done.

🦋🦋🦋
Jasper was interrogated by his master - the old leader of their secret cult. He was asked to kill his wife, but he politely refused “Master, I’m sorry but I can’t do it anymore, I can’t kill Cynthia, I’m getting older without a child,she’s all I got.
“Then you’ll lose your life” the old man said. He whirled around three times and push out a wildfire to burn him but Jasper was very much prepared for this, He had gone for repentance and reconciliation the moment he discovered what his wife did. So he uses the word of God as his weapon to fight. He was already tired of this society he joined out of frustration and poverty.

When the old man knew that he’s going to lost his battle, he cursed him “ Ungrateful son, I took care of you and made sure you don’t lack anything, but you can’t even serve me without the things of the world. Instead you rebel and broke our covenant. I disown you today, I won’t take back all that I have given you but I’ll leave with your legs, that is the price” he laughed then summoned up his last energy and disappeared.

Three Years Later

“Mummy, what happened to daddy’s legs?” Victor, their first born asked. He has grown into a handsome, outstanding and very inquisitive child.
“Daddy had and accident” Cynthia answered him.
“Why didn’t you take him to the hospital?, doctor would’ve treated his legs well” the little boy said pouting. He always look cuter this way.
“Will Daddy’s leg be fine?”he asked fidgeting with his mother’s hair.
“No…I mean yes…maybe” it’s Jasper’s fate and she wasn’t expecting that question.
“Mummy?…”
“it’s okay Victor, I have told you this many times, stop interrogating me about things you already knew” she said in frustration.

She later felt sympathy for the boy, he caressed his head and apologized “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to raise my voice on you”.

She understands him, he may be mocked by his peers in the future, but that does not matter, she loves Jasper - that man prefers to be crippled just to protect her. They all love each other now , much more than before, and that is what matters most.
She turned to her son
“Victor”
“Yes mummy”
“You have to love your Daddy the way he is, he is a good man. Daddy loves you so much” she told him with a bright smile.
Jasper, who was listening to them from the sitting room beamed with joy, she loves them both so much and he’s happy they love him too, leaving behind all that he has done in the past.