In Calico's gymnasium a large crowd of people stood in a circle getting ready to welcome their guests for the event. One of the very first North vs South dance offs were about to start and everyone was excited. For some Southerners it was the first time they had ever laid witness to a Northerner.
Rosemary High's dance club was the guest that day and amongst their numbers stood Nami who was uncomfortable with the whole situation. She had agreed to do the 1v1 battle up against Calico's finest, but the number of people who would be watching her was nerve recking. She had her reasons for doing this and due to those reasons, she wasn't going to back down.
The Rosemary dance club's first team had the dance floor and to say that they were uncoordinated was understatement. Nami could list a number of reasons as to why they were this way as she attended one of their practice sessions. Most of the guys were serious with the sessions, but some had too big an ego to join the practice sessions and most of the girls only joined to increase their follower count.
The leader of the dance club Samantha was as serious as she was stiff. Her choreography had a lot of enthusiasm, but no style. Leading most of the dances to appear basic and repetitive.
The Calico dance club far out did Rosemary's when it was their turn on the floor. Sure, there were some rigid people within their numbers, but they were just outliers to the majority. They were all good dancers in their own right and their wilder more aggressive style of dancing out shone Rosemary's rigid and monotonous style.
It was finally Nami's turn to dance and her nerves began to skyrocket. She was so busy analyzing other people's dances that she completely forgot that she'd be dancing too. The announcer asked for Rosemary's finest and Nami was lightly pushed by Samantha causing her to lightly stumble in the dance circle.
She looked at her opponent and it only made matters worse. She was going up against a guy named Devonte who was a tall, light-skinned and green-eyed male who instantly stole the favor of the crowd.
The announcer disclosed the rules of the 1v1. Saying that each of the contestants would choose a song and dance half of it and the other half will be danced by the opponent.
Now Nami had to choose a song that she not only could dance to, but the crowd would enjoy as well. That would've been simple if she listened to any modern songs that were hot with her generation, but her taste in music was vastly different than the tastes of her peers.
Either way you cut it she was in a massive disadvantage. Devonte chose his song and stepped up to the floor. A song everybody in the circle began singing as he danced to it. His moves were a good mix of fluid and robotic and the crowd was behind him every step in the way.
Nami was really close to calling it quits, but she remembered why she was there and quickly sucked it up. She danced the song Devonte chose and as a slight tease she copied some of his moves and stepped up to his face as a subtle declaration of war. By doing this the crowd went wild and cheered for Nami.
The announcer came to her and asked for a song request as it was now her round. Nami thought [Fuck it.] and chose her favorite song, a song native to her Oasis of birth. As se expected the song wasn't as popular, but due to its simple nature she was able to get the crowd to join her in her dance. When it was Devonte's turn to dance Nami noticed his struggle to match the beat and melody as Amapiano dances were vastly different to his style of dancing, but to Nami's surprise he was quick to catch on.
The dance off concluded and Nami was shrouded with praise by the Southerners. The announcer came to calm everyone down before announcing the verdict. Unfortunately for Nami, she didn't win the 1v1, but she did do what she set out to do since the beginning.
It was time for the Rosemary team to return to the North, but Nami requested for them to leave her behind. Samantha was a bit skeptical, but Nami was able to convince her. Saying that she had friends in the South.
With them gone Nami began being bombarded with students from Calico who were praising her. She was eventually pulled out by Devonte who practically shooed them away.
"Thanks for getting me out of there, I don't do well with popularity." Nami thanked, already feeling drained.
"No problem. Hey, are you busy after this?" Devonte asked.
"Uhm yes really, I am looking for a friend of mine." Nami answered innocently, not noticing the guy's advances.
"And who might this friend of yours be? Who knows, maybe she'd want to join." Nami giggled.
"No, it's a guy friend of mine. His name is Mohammed." Devonte's eyes grew wide in shock.
"Oh shot, you're that girl?" Nami looked at him questioningly.
"What girl?" She asked.
"Yo, look I'm sorry, I didn't know you were with Mohammed. I think I can help you though." Devonte said as he gestured for Nami to follow him.
"Yo Cap." He got the attention of another dark-skinned guy who was on the other side of the gymnasium talking to some chick. The dark-skinned guy ran over to Devonte and asked him "What's up?"
"Nathaniel this is Nami." Devonte introduced.
"Oh yeah I saw her on the dance floor already, what did she want to see me?" Nathaniel asked.
"No like this is Mohammed's Nami." Now Nami was really curious.
[Why am I referred to as Mohammed's Nami?] She wondered.
"No. Fucking. Way! You're her?" Nathaniel asked.
"I don't know what you mean by that." Nami answered honestly. "Look I'm looking for Mohammed, so can you guys help me or not?" Nami asked.
"Oh, don't worry Nami, I got you. My car is outside, I'll take you to Mohammed." Nami followed Nathaniel to his car, but before she got in, she got in she looked at him skeptically.
"Try anything funny and you will regret it." Nami said before sitting in the passenger seat of his Isuzu D-max.
"I see you got a little bite on you malady, but I can assure that you're in safe hands." Nathaniel said as they drove off.
"So, tell me how you two met? You and Mohammed that is." Nathaniel asked, sparking up conversation between them.
"It's not much of story, we just met on the first day of school. I was looking for the Combat club register and he was looking for the exit. After that we hit it off."
"Wait a minute, you're in Combat?" Nathaniel asked.
"Yep, I only joined the dance club because I wanted to see Mohammed. He told me that he used to school at Calico, so I knew it was a matter time I would find someone who knew where he lives." Nathaniel laughed a bit.
"Damn girl you're a true ride or die." Nathaniel complimented.
"The thing is there was a misunderstanding between us, so I wanted to clear things up between us. He didn't come to school during the week, so I decided to take matters into my own hands." Nami explained.
"Do you mind if ask what the misunderstanding was about?" Nami sighed before speaking.
"Mohammed thought I spread some rumors about him that got him in trouble. He didn't even give me a chance to explain myself! I swear to God once I see him Imma give him a piece of my mind!" Nami blurted out of frustration, clenching her fist while she imagined using Moe as a personal punching bag.
"I can see where Moe is coming from, I mean y'all practically don't know each other and then out of the blue rumors start popping up about him."
"I know, but still it's stupid to just assume someone is guilty without hearing their side of the story. He's acting like a child." Nathaniel stopped the car in front of his house, but he didn't unlock the door.
"Listen Nami. Life here in the South is different from your comfortable life in the North. People can die because of trusting snakes. So please don't villainize my friend for having trust issues." Nami was surprised with how serious he became, but she understood what he meant. She had read many articles that explained why the North and South are separated.
"Okay." She answered. Nathaniel unlocked the doors and flashed her a smile.
"Let's go see the man of the hour." The two walked out with Nathaniel locking the doors on his way out.
He knocked on the door to his house and after a brief silence Moe came to open the door. He stood there frozen when he saw Nami next to Nathaniel and before he knew it, he was met with a punch that sent him tumbling back.
"Yo, I thought you said you understood!?" Nathaniel had to hold Nami to stop her from pouncing on Mohammed.
"I do, I just wanted to get that out of my system."
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After Mohammed healed from his painful punch to the ribs, he sat down next to Nami on the living-room couch. Nathaniel had gone to the kitchen to find something for them to eat.
"So, about Monday. I am sorry for blowing off at you. It was uncalled for me to accuse you without hearing your side of the story." Mohammed started with his apology.
"It's fine Moe, I forgive you..." A brief silence befell the two friends who sat awkwardly next to each other.
"Can you tell me why you didn't come to school for a full week. I don't want to believe you were suspended so early, or was it because you didn't want to see me?" Nami asked feeling a stinging sensation in her chest after asking him that. For some reason, she honestly didn't want him to answer that question.
"No, it wasn't because of you. Something else happened." Moe said. A huge weight was lifted off of Nami's shoulders, but she didn't understand why. She noticed how tense Moe became and figured that he wasn't comfortable talking about it.
"It's okay Mohammed. You don't need to tell---"
"I do! I need to just get this off my chest." Moe shouted nervously.
Nami allowed him to calm down and waited for him to speak. Moe fiddled with his fingers, his head turned down with his gaze focused on the floor.
"M-My dad he...he has was released earlier this week." Nami eyes grew in a mixture of shock and rage. She stood up abruptly, getting Mohammed's attention.
"Let's go." She said. Moe looked at her in confusion.
"Where are we going?" He asked.
"To face your father." It was Moe's turn to be confused.
"What do you mean? We can't face that man, he'll kill you!" Moe protested.
"Oh yes we can, and I'll give him an earful." Nathaniel popped out of the kitchen after hearing the commotion.
"Woah, hold your horses. This is Ahamed Binyam we're talking about. The leader of the most notorious gang in Newark. That's not the type of person you want to mess with." Nathaniel said, voicing Mohammed's concerns.
"Mohammed's life was going just fine without him, who is he to pop out of nowhere and disrupt everything!"
"He's dangerous Nami! You'll only be throwing your life away!"
"What about yours Mohammed! Didn't you tell me that you were going to take your family outside of the South!? Please, tell me how you're doing that right now!" The room went quiet and Nami sighed her frustration out.
"I just can't sit back and watch you waste your dream away Mohammed. So please, let's go confront your father. You shouldn't worry about me." Nami asked with a softer tone. Moe seemed to be lost in thought as he was pulled between the two decisions.
Nami stepped closer to Mohammed and took his right hand in hers. Moe looked at Nami who had a small reassuring smile on her.
"I got your back, so trust me." Nami said, tightening her grip on his hand. Moe's mouth hung open for a little bit, but it turned into a smile.
"I'm sorry for bitching so much about this. Nathaniel, let's go!" Nathaniel looked at the two and chuckled.
"You two gotta death wish. I still got a life to live, but I'll help you out." Nathaniel said as he walked out the door flailing his car keys around.
The two jumped in Nathaniel's car and they drove off. Nami kept her hand wrapped around Moe to eliminate his doubts and it worked like a charm.
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In front of Moe's house Moe stood alongside Nami, ready to face his dad. Nathaniel remained in the car, just in case they needed a quick escape, or so was his reasoning.
Moe stared at the doorknob, hesitating to open it. Nami held his free hand and held it tight, reassuring Moe that he was not alone in this.
Moe took a deep breath and a long sigh before twisting the door knob and entering the house with Nami right behind him. On the couch sat his siblings who were watching T.V. Greshme was the first to notice Mohammed's entry and she jumped out of the couch to tackle her brother with a hug. Hassan watched in both confusion and shock. His mother peaked out of the passageway with the same look on her face, but Moe's gaze locked on to the man of the hour as he appeared through the beaded doorway of the kitchen.
He tied his hair in a messy man bun. Nami noticed the look in Moe's eyes and that was all the conformation she needed as she walked to the man with a furious look in her eyes.
"You must be one of Mohammed's frie---" He was cut off as Nami fired a heavy kenpo double punch that sent him flying back into the kitchen, his back making contact with the fridge that was 5 meters behind him.
Infuriated he sat up staring daggers at Nami who just gave him a cold stare back.
Everyone else was frozen not knowing what to do.
The man stood up and blitzed Nami. Grabbing her by the throat, but just as he was about to slam her on the floor, Nami wrapped her legs around her his arm and flipped him over her.
She stood up and stared at him as he slowly stood up giggling in his deep voice.
"It's been 8 years since I last had a proper fight. But now isn't the right time. Say what you want to say." Mohammed said as he brushed the dust off of him.
Nami was about to speak, but she was cut off by Mohammed who stood in front of her.
"All these years I suffered with the trauma you left on me. All those nights I spent twisting and turning from the nightmares you caused! I'm through with it all! I'm through hiding from you! I'm through being afraid of you! I don't care if everyone one else has forgiven you, but you'll be receiving no such treatment from me. I hate you...Ahamed Binyam I hate you! And so, I will not be returning to this house until the day you leave. But hear this Ahamed, I will take my family out of this hellhole, and if you so much as lay a finger on them, then you will be answering to me." Mohammed walked out of the kitchen in a rush and straight into his room.
Nami followed after him and saw Moe packing all of his clothes in a small case.
"Moe? Are you oka---" Nami was cut off by a hug that had come out of nowhere. Moe held Nami tight almost as if he refused to let go of her. Nami froze in place as a little blush began forming on her. She could feel his pulse that raced like crazy. He was shaking frantically.
"Thank you." He whispered, which sent shivers down her spine. Moe broke the hug and went back to packing his things, leaving Nami petrified.
Once he was done, he said. "Let's go." Snapping Nami out of her petrification.
She followed him outside the door and was surprised when he stopped in front of her. Hassan and Greshme both stood in the doorway.
"I'm coming with you." Greshme said.
"But you can't Gresh, who will help mom with the cooking?" He asked.
"I will." He heard the deep voice of his father behind him. Nami was on her guard as she stared daggers at the man before her.
"Go with Greshme, Hassan will stay to look after your mom?" Ahamed said.
Moe had a weird feeling about this all.
[Was this already discussed he wondered.]
"Fine." Was Moe could say as he walked out of the door with Nami and his sister in tow.
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After having a little celebratory dinner at Nathaniel's place, Nami and Moe were dropped off at the border as Moe wanted to speak to Nami privately. It was a bit quiet for the first few minutes, but Moe broke the silence.
"Thanks again, Nami. You helped me a lot today." Moe thanked yet again as he still couldn't believe what happened.
"It's nothing really, I just wanted you to come back to school is all." Nami admitted.
"You do, don't you? Then I want you to be straight with me. What is going on in Rosemary?" Nami was slightly taken aback with Moe's perception.
"I know it sounds ridiculous, but I believe that there's a mage working behind the scenes." Nami answered.
"A Mage?"
"Yep, one able to possess other people, but I'm not sure about their limitations." Nami admitted.
"And what role do I play in this?"
"I need you to be my guinea pig." Moe looked at Nami questioningly.
"I don't know much about hypnosis or possession, but I know a few tactics to combat their abilities. Thing is I need to be sure about their limitations before I make any major moves. I'll need you to tell me about your father." Moe looked at Nami as if she was crazy.
"I know there's a lot of trauma behind them, but I'll be able to combat their possession if you tell me." Nami explained.
"If what I tell you becomes public---"
"I know. But I need you to trust me in this." Moe sighed, but the dark look in his eyes remained.
"Fine, but first give me your hand, your dominant hand." Nami gulped but followed his demand.
"My family comes from a long line of Mages that was nearly killed off a while back. My family is Royalty." Moe said as he began drawing symbols on her right palm.
"So, are you like a prince or something?" Nami asked with a light chuckle in an effort to hide her nerves.
"Yes." He answered plainly. There was a bit of a silence between them, and Moe looked to be hesitating with the symbols he drew.
"Why are you telling me this?" Nami asked, letting her curiosity get the better of her.
"Royal Bloods like my family have the ability to draw our mark on the people who submit to us. Now say your name." Mohammed demanded.
"Nami." Her voice came out in a squeak as her nerves got the better of her.
"Your full name." Moe demanded still dawning a menacing look.
"N-Namibia Mandisa." Mohammed's eyes glowed a light amber before Nami began feeling a burning sensation on her right palm. It burned so bad that it brought Nami to her knees.
Once the burning had subsided Nami looked at her palm and noticed the mark of a horse imprinted on her hand. The mark slowly faded away afterwards.
"What did you do to me?" Nami asked in horror.
"I've made you my slave."
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