CHAPTER 288
Amina led Ellis Barker to a room in the mansion, where maids were waiting. As soon as Amina entered, the maids knelt as a sign of respect. Amina instructed the maids to prepare Ellis for the bamming ritual. They quickly began to arrange Ellis and dress her in traditional attire suitable for the ceremony. In a matter of minutes, Ellis was ready for the ceremony.
Amina expressed her concern, saying, “You shouldn't have agreed to participate in the ritual, Ellis.”
Ellis looked at Amina and responded with determination, “Amina, you would do the same if you were in my place.”
Amina, with a resigned sigh, acknowledged Ellis's strong will but warned, “You have no idea what you're about to face.”
The two of them left the room and headed towards the mansion's gardens. There, they found Angelo Messina, Akeem, and a group of men gathered around a large mud pit. Curious, Ellis asked what they were waiting for.
Angelo Messina looked at her and responded with a mysterious look, “You'll see soon.”
Then, a young man appeared in the garden, seemingly unaware of what was about to happen. Akeem's men stripped him and, fearlessly, covered his face with mud, creating a clay mask, part of the ritual. They then used bamboo sticks to deliver blows to his bare back, causing pain and, at the same time, marking him as part of the tradition.
While the men conducted the procedure, Akeem interrupted the process and, with a solemn gesture, handed one of the bamboo sticks to Ellis.
The ritual was strange and disconcerting for Ellis, who watched with keen eyes. When Akeem paused the ritual, he took one of the bamboo sticks and handed it to Ellis, saying, “Now it's your turn.”
Ellis looked at the bamboo stick, still confused about what was expected of her, and asked, “What should I do?”
Akeem calmly explained, “Strike the young man's back with the bamboo.”
She wanted more details and inquired, “How many times?”
Akeem enigmatically replied, “Until the young man receives the god Korofo.”
Akeem's answer left Ellis apprehensive, and she asked, “When will that happen?”
Akeem responded with a calm voice, “You'll know at the right moment.”
With trembling hands, Ellis approached the young man and began delivering blows to his body. As the ritual proceeded, her thoughts drifted to her goals and the motivation that had brought her to this point. After some time, the men began to shout and celebrate. That was when Ellis snapped back to reality and saw the young man with a bloodied and trembling body on the ground. The men were celebrating, shouting “Korofo,” while Ellis observed the scene, deeply affected, especially with the blood now staining her hands from the bamboo.
Akeem, with a smile, turned his attention to Ellis and announced, “Now, Black Axe is loyal to you, Ellis Barker.”
Then, the ritual continued with other procedures, including the “Devil's Corridor,” where the young man had to crawl through Akeem's legs, a tradition that tested courage. The ritual culminated with the young man drinking the blood from a cut on his thumb and chewing a kola nut, a tradition symbolizing unity and energy.
To the sounds of traditional chants and songs, the young man rose like a reborn figure, now known as the “Aye Axeman.” He was warmly embraced by the men present, who welcomed him into his new position.
Ellis absorbed the impact of that moment, realizing that she had made a deep and risky commitment by accepting Black Axe's loyalty. Ellis had earned the respect and allegiance of the Black Axe, but the price of this alliance was far from over.
***
Ellis Barker still had blood-stained hands after the initiation ritual as Akeem Omoregie approached her. He realized that Ellis was likely thinking that he and his group were brutal due to the ceremonies she had witnessed. However, Akeem felt the need to clarify that the Black Axe was much more than its outward appearance suggested. He began to explain:
“I understand that you might think we are brutal due to the ritual, but you need to know that the Black Axe represents more than that. Nigeria has the world's second-highest unemployment rate. Many people turn to the Black Axe because we are the only source of protection and commercial connections. We provide food and a quality of life that many would not have otherwise.”
Ellis, with a firm look, replied, “I don't care about who you are or what you do. All I want from you, Akeem, is for you to be loyal and help us find Jake.”
However, Akeem didn't seem willing to stop there. He continued his explanation, saying, “It's important for you to know that not all Black Axe members are criminals. We have members in the Nigerian armed forces, in the army, navy, and air force. We have members in universities, and even priests and pastors are part of our organization.”
Ellis eyed Akeem suspiciously, not wavering from her focus. She responded, “Yes, and you have the governor too. But to be honest, all I want from you, Akeem is for you to be loyal and find Jake.”
Akeem then posed a question that caught Ellis off guard, “What if I told you I could offer you something more?”
Curious, Ellis inquired, “Something more, like what?”
Akeem, with an intriguing look, proposed, “For example, information about what happened to Donna.”
Ellis's eyes widened as she stared at Akeem, then she said, “What happened to Donna? Tell me what happened to my daughter?”