"Zaire, don't leave today.", I said. I'm somnolently laying my head on Zaire's chest. His arms around my shoulders. This is what I wanted to say to him, after what Tom mentioned. My day was long enough and I didn't want to extend it by questioning Zaire. I just wanted to rest.
Zaire kept quiet and rubbed Zendaya's back. He didn't want to promise Zendaya something that he knew he can't fulfill. It was hurtful that he had to leave. There was no way that he can stay with Zendaya the whole night unless he desires to wake up in front of his ancestors, ready to take him to Heaven.
After Zendaya has fallen asleep, Zaire slowly moved away from Zendaya as he unwrapped his arms around her. He quietly and slowly shifted from her. Just one look at Tom, then Tom knew that it was time. He slowly approached Zaire and twisted so that he will be in a position where Zendaya can comfortably sleep. Tom was very delighted when this happened.
"It is shame you're are going to die", Tom thought.
Zaire gently carried Zendaya and carefully laid her on top of Tom. He then took a good last look at Zendaya and turned. He was about to take a step when he heard," Where are you going?".Just by the voice, he knew that it was Zendaya.
****
"I asked a question Zaire.", I said as l lifted my head so that I can stand up. Zaire slowly turned to face my direction. From his face, I could tell that he was not going to provide me with the answer I seek.
I stood up and went to him and look straight into his eyes." Where are you going?"
Zaire didn't know what to say. "It would be so easy just to tell Zendaya what I'm. ", Zaire thought, but he can't tell her the truth right now. He is running out of time. If he doesn't leave now, then there is no tomorrow for him.
" So you not going reply."Zaire had no time to explain nor argue with Zendaya, so held Zendaya's shoulder and look straight into her eyes. Then suddenly his eyes turned blue. He stared straight into her eyes for some time and soon Zendaya fell on his chest. She was deep asleep as if she had never wake up. Zaire quickly carried her back to Tom. He was feeling bad, but he had no choice." Please forgive me", Zaire whispered to Zendaya's ear and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek.
"Tom please take care of her. I may not come back."It honestly breaks Zaire's heart that this could be the last time he sees Zendaya. He was supposed to depart today in the noon but he didn't as he was still embracing the moment with Zendaya. Being with Zendaya was like an escape from his reality. The sad aspect about escaping your reality is that at some point you will have to come back. You can't always run away. This was the Zaire situation no matter how where far he runs, he had to come back. Zaire knows that his father is probably beyond angry right now. If he doesn't leave tomorrow, then it's hard to tell what will happen. His father is not a man that you want to anger.
"Of course, I will try my best "Tom replied, and then Zaire flew from there. For just a few seconds, it was like he was never present and this gave Tom a chance to execute his plan. He was not going to waste time.
********
I don't know how I have arrived at this place. I could hardly see as it is dark and filled with mist everywhere. The trees don't have leaves and there are graves. It seems like a graveyard and I think I'm sitting on top of a grave. My body got chills.
" Hello", I asked as I stand up. I wander around, trying to find Zaire or Tom."Zaire are you here. Tom, where are you? Anyone around.Tom"
"I don't believe that you call Tom. But really who trusts a snake.", A voice of a man spoke, but I don't know where it comes from. It feels like it's all over the place.
"Who is there?"
"Just tell me how can you trust a snake? Zendaya, you should know better ", the voice continued. Its tone sounded relaxed but I can't say the same about myself. I'm so terrified. My heart beats rapidly and I can't stop breathing heavily.
" Who are you and how do you know my name?"I
"Zendaya, you're my niece. Now, you tell me what kind of uncle would l be if l didn't know your name." The voice replied.
"My uncle"
"Yes, your uncle. Uncle Leka. Have you never heard of your uncle Leka?", the voice spoke, but this time it wasn't all over the place. It was beside me, but still, I could see the body.
Uncle Leka, I have heard of him. He is my father's older brother. He was already old, but not yet married when he disappeared into the Evil forest. He was a fearless human and he went anywhere as he pleases. He was a hunter and the Evil forest was like his home. He used to spend most of his precious time here, and he often tells people that the forest is not as evil as they think. Though he did spend most of his time in the evil forest, he did come back to his home until when he stopped. He didn't return and no one could tell where he had vanished to. Years passed and he still didn't return. This forced his parents to believe that he is not alive. They had to do his funeral, without his body. This is common in Amari.
"Are you alive?" I asked. I was beginning to be more relaxed.
"No, and Zendaya I'm sorry that I can't protect you.", he said.
"What do you mean about that?"
"Zendaya you shouldn't have left the village, no matter what."
"Yes, you shouldn't have? another voice added. A young boy's voice.
" Who is that?"I inquired.
" There are many of us here.", a female voice stated.
"You're not safe here and you shouldn't have trusted Tom." My uncle asserted.
"I know but now Zaire will protect me"
"How can you trust a stranger?", my uncle questioned. His tone reminded me of my father. This is what my father would've said. It was dumb to trust a total stranger, but I can't help it.
" I don't know", I replied.
"Zaire may protect you, but he can't always be there. Where is he now?"
"I don't know."
"Silo is coming", a boy warned. I can hear footsteps coming from all directions.
"What is that?"I asked, I was starting to be nervous again." Uncle, what is that?"
I kept asking, but no one replied. The footsteps were getting closer. I then saw red eyes approaching me. I turned to run away but saw other red eyes. The red eyes were approaching from different directions. After a while, l saw creatures that I can't explain what they are. They had some human features, but the other one was very tall(twice my height). It was like they were made of clay. Though they all look like clay humans, you could tell who was female and who was male.
I'm so terrified, I can't even move. As the other one is about to grab me, I wake up. Oh, it's a dream but to my surprise, I wake up in the place exactly like in my dream. The only difference was Tom was present.
"Tom, what are we doing here and we're in Zaire?"
"You tell that you forget what happened.", Tom said.
After what Tom said I then remembered what happened, Zaire stared at me with blue eyes, then after that, I don't know what happened. How did I get here is something that I don't know. "Where is Zaire?", I inquired.
I'm afraid I can't tell you that, but what I can say is goodbye, Zendaya. It was a pleasure knowing you. Hahaha, I lied it was not a pleasure."Tom said with that intimating expression.
" What do mean?", I asked. I was starting to be nervous considering what I just dreamed. My dream could come true and maybe my uncle was right. I shouldn't have trusted Tom. But the truth is I am not the one who trusted him, it's Zaire.
"I wish I could stay but I don't have time. But there is your friend, he can entertain you."Tom said while using his head to point something that was in the dark. When I turned to look, I saw just red eyes. It was clear that my dream is going to happen. My heart started to pounds very fast. I'm sorry terrified and I wish I could wake up again. I wish this was just another dream.